TO THE THIRTEENTH VOLUME.. SINCE our last address to the reader, the return of PEACE has dissipated the gloom which prevailed over the country. Independently of the sensation with which this great event has inspired us, in common with every true lover of his country, we have reason, as humble instruments in the service of Literature and the Arts, to rejoice at a change by which the interests of all concerned in their cultivation, will be so beneficially affected. With regard to the MONTHLY MIRROR, we may with truth affirm, that, under all circumstances, and through all seasons, it has been our uniform endeavour to render it worthy of the encouragement it has received from the public; and, we believe, it will be readily conceded, on the part of the subscribers, that we have rather exceeded than fallen below the point which we had fixed as the standard of our exertions. We commence our thirteenth volume with a striking likeness of Mr. QUICK, in the character of SPADO, in the Castle of Andalusia, from the much admired painting by GAINSBOROUGH DUPONT, in the possession of THOMAS HARRIS, Esq. and in No. 76 will be given a portrait of NATHANIEL LEE, the celebrated dramatic poet, (of whom no head has yet appeared) from an original picture in the possession of J. P. KEMBLE, Esq. ERRATA IN OUR LAST. Page 415, in the Note, for " Prime," read "Rime." P. 416. L. !, for "Pragge," read "Piagge." L. 2, read “ selve” with a capital. L. 8, place a comma after "thoughtful." Four lines from the bottom, read "In these, the most eccentric orbs." MONTHLY MIRROR FOR JANUARY, 1802. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MR. QUI Č K, [With a Portrait.] MR. JOHN QUICK, one of the richest and most natural comedians that ever trod the English stage, was born in London, where his father carried on the business of a brewer. He was little more than twelve years old when he first embraced a theatrical life; and after distinguishing himself as the hero of various itinerant companies, was engaged by Mr. Foote, at whose theatre, in the Hay-market, he made his first appearance before a London audience. The merit he displayed in Beau Mordecai, in Love à-la-Mode, performed for Mr. Shuter's benefit, procured him an engagement at Covent-Gar den, where he gradually rose to the first rank in his profession, and enjoyed, for a series of years, the confidence of the manager, and the uniform approbation of the audience. He relinquished his situation a few seasons ago, in consequence of a bad state of health, which would not permit him to lend his services so constantly as the theatre required. He re-appeared very recently on the Drury-Lane boards; and, though a previous engagement rendered his stay here extremely short, it is most probable that the abilities of this favourite and valuable comedian will be permanently secured to Drury-Lane before the commencement of another season. While in the joint management of the Bristol theatre, Mr. Quick married the daughter of a respectable clergyman, by whom he has a son and a daughter, who sustain those characters with exemplary propriety. Mr. Quick is about fifty years old. His mother, who escaped from a fire in Drury-Lane, a few years ago, is still living. We subjoin a list of the Characters performed by Mr. Quick. *Robin Hood ........................ Little John. *Highland Reel .......... *Belle's Stratagem ........ M'Gilpin. Hardy. Don Cæsar. *Which is the Man ........................... Pendragon. Lovegold. Bold Stroke for a Wife .... Miser................. 'Animal Magnetism ................ Doctor. Fashionable Levities ..................... Sir Buzzard. *Lie of the Day.................................... Lover's Quarrels Woman's a Riddle Alibi. Sancho. Aspin. Abroad and at Home ................................ Sir S. Flourish. Jovial Crew *Golden Pippen Justice Clack. Momus. Clandestine Marriage ................ Sterling. *World in a Village ........ Allbut. *Retaliation........................................................................ Old Rebate. How to Grow Rich ............... Smalltrade. Richard the Third ................... King Richard. The Characters marked thus (*) were original. MARQUIS D'ARCY. THIS nobleman was Governor to the Regent Duke of Orleans, and when he was once entreated, during an engagement, by another nobleman, a courtier, to prevent his royal pupil from exposing himself to danger, replied, very spiritedly and sensibly, "Les princes ne sont nés que pour la guerre, pour s'y faire distinguer par leurs belles actions, et pour montrer par leur example aux troupes à combattre avec vigueur. Vous y passez bien, mon prince y passera bien aussi, et puis qu'il peut acquerir de la gloire en cette occasion, bien loin de l'empecher, je l'y conduis, et tant que j'en aurai l'honneur d'en être Gouverneur, je le menerai par tout. Il seroit inutile sur la terre s'il n'apprenoit pas son metier." Had Cardinal Dubois inspired the Regent with equally good notions, he would most probably have become a most excellent, as well as a most able, man. Princes would do as well as other persons, had they persons of virtue and of sense and spirit put about them in early life. The illustrious Fenelon completely reformed his stubborn and violent pupil, the Duke of Burgundy; and it was always the boast of the excellent Duke de Montausier, that he had made his pupil, the Grand Dauphin as he was called, Louis the Fourteenth's only son, an honest man. The Duke, indeed, never flattered his pupil, but told him, with great respect, as well as with great truth, whatever he observed wrong in his conduct. |