 treacherous as to let him forget what he
had said to me, before he went out of town, in regard to Earl Sheerwit's opinion
of my play, which he now professed himself ignorant of; and I was extremely
mortified at hearing from his own mouth, that his interest with Mr. Vandal was
so very low, as to be insufficient of itself, to bring a new piece upon the
stage. I then begged his advice, and he counselled me to apply to Earl Sheerwit
for a message in my favour to the manager, who would not presume to refuse any
thing recommended by so great a man; and he was so kind as to promise to second
this message with all his power. - I had immediate recourse to the worthy
gentlewoman my friend already mentioned, who opened the channels of her
conveyance with such expedition, that in few days, I had a promise of the
message, provided I could assure myself of Mr. Vandal's being uningaged to any
other; for his Lordship did not chuse to condescend so far, until he should
understand that there was a probability (at least) of succeeding; at the same
time in which I was blessed with this piece of news, I was startled at another,
by the same canal of communication; which was, that Mr. Marmozet, before he
advised me to this application, had informed the Earl, that he had read my play,
and found it altogether unfit for the stage. - Though I could not doubt the
certainty of this intelligence, I believed there was some misapprehension in the
case; and without taking any notice of it, told Mr. Marmozet the answer I had
been favoured with; upon which, he testified much joy, and promised to ask Mr.
Vandal the question proposed. - I waited upon him in a day or two, when he gave
me to understand, that Mr. Vandal having professed himself free of all
engagements, he had put my play into his hands, and represented it as a piece
strongly recommended by Earl Sheerwit, who (he assured him) would honour him
with a message in its favour; and he desired me to call for an answer at Mr.
Vandal's house, in three days. - I followed his directions, and found the
manager, who, being made acquainted with my business, owned, that Mr. Marmozet
had given him a manuscript play, but denied that he had mentioned Earl
Sheerwit's name. - When I informed him of the circumstances of the affair, he
said, he had no engagement with any author
