's lodgings, and sent it up along with Mr. Supple's letter, by one of
his servants, who desired me, by his lord's order, to return in a week. - I did
so, and was admitted to his lordship, who received me very courteously, told me
he had perused my play, which he thought, on the whole, was the best coup
d'essai he had ever seen; but that he had marked some places in the margin,
which he imagined might be altered for the better. - I was transported with this
reception, and promised (with many acknowledgments of his lordship's generosity)
to be governed solely by his advice and direction. - Well then (said he) write
another fair copy with the alterations I have proposed, and bring it to me as
soon as possible, for I am resolved to have it brought on the stage this winter.
- You may be sure I set about this task with alacrity, and although I found his
lordship's remarks much more numerous, and of less importance than I expected, I
thought it was not my interest to dispute upon trifles with my patron; therefore
new-modelled it according to his desire, in less than a month.
    When I waited upon him with the manuscript, I found one of the actors at
breakfast with his lordship, who immediately introduced him to my acquaintance,
and desired him to read a scene of my play. - This he performed very much to my
satisfaction, with regard to emphasis and pronounciation; but he signified his
disgust at several words in every page, which I presuming to defend, Lord Rattle
told me, with a peremptory look, I must not pretend to dispute with him, who had
been a player these twenty years, and understood the oeconomy of the stage
better than any man living. I was forced to submit, and his lordship proposed
the same actor should read the whole play, in the evening, before some gentlemen
of his acquaintance, whom he would convene at his lodgings for that purpose.
    I was present at the reading; and I protest to you, my dear friend, I never
underwent such a severe trial in the whole course of my life, as at that
juncture! for although the player might be a very honest man and a good
performer, he was excessively illiterate and assuming, and made a thousand
frivolous objections, which I was not permitted to answer: However, the piece
was very much applauded on the whole; the gentlemen present, who I understood
were men of fortune,
