[ [85] Swiney's Licence for the Opera is dated 17th April, 1712.
[ [86] For a further account of Steele's being given a share of the Patent, which he got through Marlborough's influence, see the beginning of Chapter XV.
[ [87] See vol. i. 284-285.
[ [88] That is, he had been the chief of Collier's Company at Drury Lane at his opening in November, 1709. See ante, p. 94.
[ [89] Martial, x. 23, 7.
[ [90] This is a blunder, which, by the way, Bellchambers does not correct. "Cato" was produced at Drury Lane on 14th April, 1713. The cast was:—
| Cato | Mr. Booth. |
| Lucius | Mr. Keen. |
| Sempronius | Mr. Mills. |
| Juba | Mr. Wilks. |
| Syphax | Mr. Cibber. |
| Portius | Mr. Powell. |
| Marcus | Mr. Ryan. |
| Decius | Mr. Bowman. |
| Marcia | Mrs. Oldfield. |
| Lucia | Mrs. Porter. |
[ [91] "The Laureat" says these Irish actors were Elrington and Griffith, but I venture to think that Evans's name should be substituted for that of Griffith. All three came from Ireland to Drury Lane in 1714; but, while Elrington and Evans played many important characters, Griffith did very little. Again, I can find no record of the latter's benefit, but the others had benefits in the best part of the season. The fact that they had separate benefits makes my theory contradict Cibber on this one point; but what he says may have occurred in connection with one of the two benefits. Cibber's memory is not infallible.
[ [92] Genest's record gives Wilks about one hundred and fifty different characters, Dogget only about sixty.
[ [93] Horace, Ars Poetica, 121.