To CHUTE 30 APRIL 1754 79 misled by dissimilitude of names, or by the Septuagint, may, for very good reasons, imagine—but it is literally the commencement of my Lady Rich's7 epistle to Farinelli, on the recall of General Wall,8 as she relates it herself. It serves extremely well for my own lamentation, when I sit down by the waters of Strawberry, and think of ye, O Chute and Bentley! I have seen Creusa? and more than agree with you: it is the only new tragedy that I ever saw, and really liked. The plot is most in teresting, and, though so complicated, quite clear and natural. The circumstance of so much distress being brought on by characters, every one good, yet acting consistently with their principles towards the misfortunes of the drama, is quite new and pleasing. Nothing offended me but that lisping Miss Haughton,10 whose every speech is inarticulately oracular. I have been forced to agree with Clermont11 for seventy pound:12 Pope, 1751. HW, who considered War more accurately observed,' but added burton 'all-arrogant and absurd' (GRAY that the catastrophe 'does not satisfy' i. 39), is here alluding to his Divine (Mason's memoirs of Whitehead in White Legation of Moses, 1738-41 (see HW to head's Poems, Vol. Ill, 1788, pp. 74-6). Montagu 11 May 1769, MONTAGU ii. 278). 10. In the r61e of the 'Pythia' (Genest, 7. One of the daughters and co-heir op. cit. iv. 388). 'Mrs Haughton, formerly esses of the Lord Mohun killed in a duel of Drury Lane playhouse,' died 6 Dec. with Duke Hamilton (Mary Berry). Eliza 1771 (GM 1771, xii. 571). She acted at beth Griffith (ca 1692-1773), m. (1714) Drury Lane 1753-62 (Dougald MacMillan, Sir Robert Rich, 4th Bt. Her penchant for Drury Lane Calendar 1747-1776, Oxford, singers is mentioned by HW to Mann 1938, pp. 333, 89). When Garrick revived 22 July 1744 OS, MANN ii. 481. Creusa the following season, Whitehead 8. Richard Wall (1694-1778), born in wrote to Dodsley from Leipzig 1 April Ireland, diplomatist and lieutenant-gen 1755, 'I still find the "Pythia" does not eral in the Spanish service; ambassador to please; though she plays the part sensibly, England 1747-April 1754, when he was yet everybody tells me she seems to have recalled to Madrid to become secretary no idea of the fury and vehemence of her of state for foreign affairs (MANN iii. 504, character where she is to assume an air of n. 10, iv. 426, n. 10). inspiration' (Ralph Straus, Robert Dods 9. By William Whitehead (1715-85); ley, 1910, p. 111). poet laureate, 1757. Creusa, based on the 11. Jean-Frangois Clermont (1717-1807), Ion of Euripides, was first performed at called Ganif; French painter in England Drury Lane 20 April 1754 with Garrick for many years, returning to France in and Mrs Pritchard in the leading parts, 1754 (Anecdotes, Works iii. 449; SH Ac and was acted nine times that season counts, ed. Toynbee, Oxford, 1927, 74). (John Genest, Some Account of the Eng He 'painted in grotesque, foliages with lish Stage, Bath, 1832, iv. 388), and three birds and monkeys' (Works, loc. cit.). times in 1755 (London Stage 1660-1800, 12. On 2 July 1754 HW paid Clermont pt 4, ed. G. W. Stone, Carbondale, 111., £73 IOJ. for painting the Library ceiling 1962, i. 420-4, 426-7, 471, 479). William at SH (SH Accounts 5). For a further ac Mason thought that the play had been count of the ceiling see post HW to unduly neglected, remarking that 'there is Bentley 17 March 1754. HW's pencil hardly a single tragedy of English man sketch for the ceiling is now WSL. ufacture, in which the three unities are