The Sun.
London, England, 1823-08-28 00:00:00

G ARRI&k: AND YIRSi SIDDO NS.

The follo*ing Particulars, are published of the
first introduction of. the above distinguished Ac-
tress to the London stage.
The late Earl of Avi.t:suun-v having seen Mrs.
SIMMS'S perform at Cheltenham in the summer
of 1773, forty-eight years ago, spoke to Garrick
in such admiration oilier theatrical talents, as to
excite his earnest attention; who, therefore-
without losi of time, wrote to his friend, Mr.
Bate (now Sir Henry Bate Dudley), as follows :a-
-" HAMPTON, JULY 21, MO;
" DEAR BATE,--lf you pass by Cheltenham in your way to
Worcester, I wish you would see an actress there, a Mrs. Sid-
dons ; she has a desire, I hear, to try her fortune with us ; if
she seems in your eyes worthy of being transplanted, pray de-
sire to know upon what conditions she would, make the trial,
and I will write to her the post after I receive your letter. Pay
our compliments to your lady, and accept of our warmest wishes.
for an agreeable journey and safe return to London.
6 Yours, my dear Sir, most sincerely,
(Signed) D. GARRICK,
• " Addressed to the Rev. Mr. Bate."
An immediate reply so fully confirmed the
opinion of Lord Aylesbury, that a negociation
was entered into, and an engagement agreed upon
between Mr. Bate and Mrs. Siddons for the
term of three years, at a weekly stipend of six
pounds to Mrs. Siddonsrand an inferior one for
Mr. Siddons,' during the Drury-Lane season,
which appears to' have been duly ratified from
the subjoined letter
64 HAMPTON, AUGUST 15,1775.
DEAR BATE—Ten thousand thanks for your very clear,
agreeable, and friendly letter; it pleased me much, and who-
ever cells it a jargon di ttnintellißible stuffshould be knocked
down if I were near him. I must desire you to secure the lady
with my best compliments, and that she muy depend upon every
reasonable and friendly, encouragement in my power; at y'
same time,. you must intonate to y' husband, that he mast be
satisfy'4l 'with the state life in which it has pleased graven to call
her. You see how much I think myself obliged to your kind
offices, by the flattering quotations I make' from your own book.
V' account of the Lis bells, alarms me ! When shall we be in
shapes again ? How long noes the lady count ? When will she
be able to appear ;. Pray complaat your good.offices,And let the
know all we are to trust to,. Should not you, get some memo-
randum signed by
her and her husband, and of which I will
send a lac-simile copy to than, under a frank, if you will let
me know their address.
" I laughed at the military etratagenis of the Covent Garden
Generals, whilst I had your genius to oppose them. If she has
merit (as I am sure by your letter she must have) and will he
wholly governed by me, y 1 will make her theatrical fortune ; if
any lady begins to play us tricks, 1 will immediately play off'
my masked battery of Siddono against her. I should he glad.
to know her cast of.parts or rather what parts she has done,
anti in what she likes herself' best—those I would have mark d,
and above all, my dear Farmer, let me know about what time
she may reckon to lye-in, that we may reckon accordingly upon
her appearance in Drury Lane. I repeat this to you, because it
is of the utmost consequence.
" Pray let me hear from you again en answer to this. I
make no compliments or excuses to you for the trouble 1 give
you, because I feel by
myself that you take pleasure in alit:.
cue..
(Signed) " D. GARRICK..
" I am, my dear Farmer, most sincerely yours,
" Mrs. Garrick joins with mein every good wish for you and
your lady.
" Rev. Mr. Bate, Ilop-pole, Worcester."
From the statement now given, the early dis-
play
unrivalled
preeminence raised this celebrated actress to unru
is manifested of that genius which progres-
sively
pregeminence ; for though, .from whatever
cause at the close of her first engagement she
retired to the Theatre at Bath, it was but for a
short season, to
re-appear in the capital in
cloudless splendour. Lord Erskine, and 'a few
literay friends at the bar, had the merit of ,prin-
cipally promoting her
subsequent return to the
liondon stage,