The Sun.
London, England, 1830-04-13 00:00:00

MRS. GARRICK.

We have heard that in the character of the late
Mrs. Garrick there was a singular mixture of parsi-
mony and liberality. She has been known to give
501. at one time to the poor at Hampton, and on the
instant deny herself the common comforts of life.
Her wine-cellar she did not open for years together,
and a dish of tea was the usual extent of her hospi-
tality. She always stated herself to be poor, as an
apology for the ruinous condition in which the house
and offices at Hampton remained. To save fuel arid
secure herself from damp, a room in the attic served
" for parlour, for kitchen, and hall." She kept one
female servant at Hampton, who resided with her
many years ; and to compensate the poor woman
and a numerous family (for her wages were small
indeed), the house and grounds were shown to visi-
ters unknown to the old lady. The furniture of the
house at Hampton was exactly as it was left by
Garrick ; and, except the curious old china arid the
paintings, worth very little. The chairs, sofas, and
chandeliers in the drawing-room (the fashion of the
times in which Garrick lived) were unworthy a com-
mon tavern of the present day. There were several
portraits of Mrs. Garrick in different apartments,
taken when young, by which it would seem her ap-
pearance was then extremely fascinating; but age
sadly dilapidates the human countenance, as Mr.
Cruickshank's admirable drawing clearly proves.
Mrs. Garrick'sgreatest pride was (when health would
permit) in promenading her picturesque grounds,
and explaining with enthusiastic delight the age and
date of each tall tree, planted by herself and Mr.
Garlick. We believe there is not another instance
of a person living to witness so many noble trees
grew from saplings to complete maturity, in the life•
time of the proprietor and occupant. During the
summer months she would indulge in an occasional
walk on the lawn and terrace, on the banks of the
Thames, at the end of which Garrick built the mau-
soleum for the statue of Shakspeare, and the cele-
brated chair; here Mrs. Garrick would sip her tea,
and in the society of one female or so, recount the
pleasures she had enjoyed in the same place, in
the society and conversation of her husband, and
their noble and learned guests. Though Garrick
cordially loved his wife, be was anxious that, after
his death, she should not only continue a widow,
but remain in this country; his will contains many
severe restrictions on these points. In case she
married or went abroad, she was riot only to be de-
prived of one-third of her income, but entirely of the
houses and furniture, both at Hampton and on the
Adelphi-terrace. After the death of Garrick, the
father of Mr. Evans, the bookseller, in Pall-mall, a
great friend of Garrick's, was called upon by the
executors to value the library, all of which remained
except the old plays; they are in the British Museum.
The entire property consisted of the mansion,
grounds, furniture, library, and various tenements at
Hampton, and the house, furniture, and library, on
the Adelphi-terrace. Notwithstanding Mrs. Gar-
rick's constant complaint about her poverty, and the
narrowness and inadequacy of her income, she left
nearly 70,0001. behind her. She was a rigid Ca-
tholic; and when at Hampton, if health arid the
weather permitted, used to attend the chapel at Isle-
worth on a Sunday.
Mrs. Garrick's letter of remonstrance against
Kean's Abel Drugger was brief—" Dear Sir, you
don't know how to play Abel Drugger." His reply
deserves also to be recorded, and placed to the credit
of his gallantry--" Dear Madam, I know it."—
Dramatic Magazine.