LETTER CLXXI.

DR BEATTIE TO MISS VALENTINE.

Edinburgh, 28th May, 1784.

"Many interesting matters have happened since I have been here; and if I had time, I could write a wondrous long letter of news. The election of Scotch Peers; the meeting of Parlia ment; the state of parties; the old and the new ministry; Pitt and Fox; the General Assemblyall these things are now forgotten; and nothing here is spoken or thought of but Mrs Siddons. I have seen this wonderful person, not only on the stage, but in private company; for I passed two days with her at the Earl of Buchan's. Her powers in tragedy are beyond comparison great.

* Miss Margaret Valentine, daughter of Mr John Valentine, in Montrose, by Jean Beattie, sister of Dr Beattie, and now the wife of Mr Professor Glennie; || to whose affectionate care, during several years, while she had the superintendance of his family, Dr Beattie was so highly indebted, and which he so gratefully remembered in his will.

| Vol. I. p.
40.

I thought my old friend Garrick fell little or nothing short of theatrical perfection; and I have seen him in his prime, and in his highest characters: but Garrick never affected me half so much as Mrs Siddons has done. Indeed the heart that she cannot subdue must be made of other materials than flesh and blood. In the Caledonian

Mercury' you will see, from time to time, some critical observations on her action, which are very well written. The encomiums are high; but I assure you they are not above her merit. James, too, has seen her, and is transported. He never till now, he says, knew what acting was. It was very difficult to procure places; but by the kind attentions of the Duchess of Gordon, and Lord and Lady Buchan, I was nobly accommodated, and in the very best seats in the house. In private company, Mrs Siddons is a modest, unassuming, sensible woman; of the gentlest and most elegant manners. Her moral character is not only unblemished, but exemplary. She is above the middle size, and I suppose about thirtyfour years of age. Her countenance is the most interesting that can be; and, excepting the Duchess of Gordon's, the most beautiful I have ever seen. Her eyes and eye-brows are of the

deepest black. She loves music, and is fond of the Scotch tunes; many of which I played to her on the violoncello. One of them ("She rose and let me in," which you know is a favourite of mine,) made the tears start from her "Go "on," said she to me, " and you will soon have

eyes.

your revenge;" meaning, that I would draw as many tears from her as she had drawn from me. She sung "Queen Mary's Complaint" to admiration; and I had the honour to accompany her on the bass."

LETTER CLXXII.

DR BEATTIE TO SIR WILLIAM FORBES.

London, 1st July, 1784.

"Our friend Sir Joshua Reynolds is in perfect health and spirits. I dined with him the day after I came to town, and on Sunday last, when General Paoli, Dr Johnson, Mr Boswell, and several others were there. Sir Joshua's picture of Mrs Siddons is one of the greatest efforts of the pencil. He agrees with me, that she resembles Garrick in her countenance. Old Mr Sheridan,

who piques himself not a little on having been instrumental in bringing forward that incomparable actress, assured me the other day, that in every comic character, from Lady Townly to Nell the cobler's wife, she is as great and as original as in tragedy. I asked Tom Davies, (the author of Garrick's Life,') whether he could account for Garrick's neglect, or rather discouragement, of her. He imputed it to jealousy. "How is it “possible,” said I, " that Garrick could be jealous "of a woman?" "He would have been jealous "of a child," answered he, "if that child had "been a favourite of the public: to my certain

knowledge he would." Johnson has got the better of his late illness; but has the look of decline. Wine, I think, would do him good, but he cannot be prevailed on to drink it. He has, however, a voracious appetite for food. I verily believe, that on Sunday last he ate as much to dinner, as I have done in all for these ten days past. I sat an hour with Johnson the other day, and he spoke of you with great kindness; * and

* Dr Johnson's acquaintance and mine first began when he came to Edinburgh in the year 1773, on his tour to the Hebrides. As he lived in the house of my friend Mr Boswell, with whom I was extremely intimate, I was very much with

sympathised with my situation, in a manner that did honour to his feelings."

LETTER CLXXIII.

DR BEATTIE TO SIR WILLIAM FORBES...

Hunton, near Maidstone, Kent, 14th July, 1784. "I am now, my dear Sir, arrived at a place, where external nature wears a face of the most profound tranquillity; and sit down to thank you for your two last letters, which came to hand the day before I left the town. It is so far fortunate, that Mrs B's removal to Musselburgh was attended with so little inconvenience. My confidence in your friendship and goodness entirely satisfies me, that you will soon put matters on a

Dr Johnson at that time; and ever after, when I had occasion to go to London, I uniformly experienced from him the utmost kindness and attention. Sir Joshua Reynolds, Mr Langton, Mr Boswell, Dr Beattie, being our common friends, formed a sort of bond of union between Dr Johnson and me; to which cir cumstance I attributed much of the notice with which he honoured me. It is unnecessary for me to say here how highly I respected the talents and the virtues of that truly eminent and good man.