ALLUDED TO IN WILDER'S FAREWELL EPILOGUE. IN the year 1756, when Mr. SHERIDAN, after an interregnum of two years, was called from England to resume the government of Smock-alley, he procured, among other confiderable acquifitions, the affistance of Mr. and Mrs. WILDER. They came out, Saturday December the 17th, in MACHEATH and POLLY, which they performed to crowded houses upwards of twenty nights, befides benefits; and long after the Beggar's Opera continued in fashion. The Cock-and-Bull, a favourite fong, was also then introduced by WILDER with great success; and the Oracle, an Opera in two acts by Mrs. CIBBER, was got up, in which Mrs. WILDER, particularly excellent in girls' parts, performed CYNTHIA, and WILDER, OBERON, to whom fhe playfully gives the name of CHARMER.In course of time, when Mossor affumed the reins, WILDER was appointed his deputy. The attachment was an unfortunate one, and involved him in perpetual difficulties: As a kind of recompence for which, Mossor offered to surrender in his favour. He next joined the standard of BARRY, and afterwards followed the fortunes of the late THOMAS RYDER, 'till his power was fuperfeded; and, as RYDER himself led the way, he engaged under the banners of his fucceffor. WILDER was upwards of forty years on the Stage the last thirty-two of which he spent in Dublin, and never once forfook his colours while his employer was able to ftand his ground. His first Wife dying in that interval, he married a second, still living, who by her personal advantages, virtue and conciliating manners, does honour to her noble extraction In the year 1788, WILDER became fo difgufted with his fituation, he quit the Stage, and applied himself wholly to his : original original occupation, a Painter. His last appearance was for his own benefit, Friday, May 16th, 1788, when he performed his two most capital parts, Colonel OLDBOY in Lionel and Clarissa, and Major BENBOW in the Flitch of Bacon. After which he came forward, in great agitation, and addreffed the audience; but with difficulty proceeded, almost subdued by his feelings; his tears, which he struggled to fupprefs, frequently choaked his utterance; floods of fenfibility poured from every eye, and at every pause the houfe attefted the poor fellow's honeft affertions with reiterated burfts of concurrent acclamation.-It was a trying, an affecting crifis: his auditors to a man seemed emulous who fhould moft do honour to his exit-fuch is the prevalence of a good Character! The following authentic Anecdote furnishes a ftriking proof of the reduced state of the stage in Mossor's time, and of WILDER's unfhaken fidelity. About the year 1766, early in May, two favourite performers, united in a fecond benefit, as compenfation for arrears of falary. Dr. Fleury, a friend of both, took places, and, at the usual time, fent his servant to keep them. At feven o'clock he went, with two ladies, to the house; but, to his great furprize! found the servant on the outside playing ball. The doors had not been opened: however they foon got in, and, when the curtain drew up, only one lady, the Countess of Brandon, appeared in the Boxes. The band confifted of one folitary Fiddler, and a minuet in Abel's 1ft Overtures, ftrummed over and over, was the fum of his Performance. Her Ladyship, finding her situation rather awkward, joined the Doctor's party in the Lattices.-The Play was the FATAL CURIOSITY: The MANAGER himself, with the strength of a refpectable company, acted in it; yet the receipts fell short of five pound!—In this Period also, June 1760, poor WILDER had the additional misfortune of breaking his thigh; yet he behaved in-suffering all as one that fuffered nothing. THEATRE MR. WILDER'S FAREWELL EPILOGUE, FRIDAY, MAY XVITH, MDCCLXXXVIII. TWICE fixteen winters,-yes, juft twice fixteen, A faithful fervant on your boards I have been; Some in their wane, but more before their prime, Yet ere I quit this tragi-comic walk, A moral may start forth, no doubt you'll catch it, At least I promise not to fling the hatchet.-- 15 Defpoil'd Defpoil'd of rule in unaufpicious hour, When the firft THOMAS was restored to pow'r, Who stemm'd the torrent of licentious rage, Promoted order and reform'd the stage, With him, oblig'd to call in foreign aid, My first campaign on this lov'd foil I made : Pitch'd battles twenty I fucceffive fought, And ample treasures to his coffers brought; For years, encourag'd by your kind support, I kept my poft; the Captain was my forte. Did e'er, what will not Time! Macheath fhow dull, I reinforc'd him with the Cock-and-Bull. Thus the old Bard, if fame record not wrong, Revived the Spartan glory with a song; And with, like him, the Oracle to arm her, My OTHER-SELF drew crowds, to fee-her Charmer. What time impetuous HARRY fill'd the throne, The man I ferv'd; his cause I made my own. In the brief course of his fuccefslefs reign, I broke a limb; was twelve times prisoner ta'en; 20 25 30 35 And, tho' to honours and diftinction us'd, Like Belifarius, I the crown refus'd: Secure in adverse gales-tho' weak my parts To find a safe afylum in your hearts. 40 Fir'd with that hope, these boards I dauntless trod, Nor Nor when the fecond THOMAS loft the field Did I retreat; your favour was my shield. Those days, Heaven knows! of toil and peril paft, 45 Like a worn troop-horse, now you see me caft Yet Oldboy ftill and Benbow to the last. As great folks use, to reft I now retire, My little garden and my cheerful fire; The gratitude I feel-I owe to you Still, as I may, disposed to your commands The curtain drops-difmifs me with your hands. 50 5.5 THEATRE |