The biographers of Farquhar, who differ in some articles concerning him, all agree that he was married, in the year 1704, to a lady, who was so violently in love with him, that, despairing to win him by her own attractions, she contrived a vast scheme of imposition, by which she allured him into wedlock, with the full conviction that he had married a woman of immense fortune.
The same biographers all bestow the highest praise upon poor Farquhar for having treated this wife with kindness; humanely forgiving the fault which had deprived him of that liberty he was known peculiarly to prize, and reduced him to the utmost poverty, in order to support her and her children.
This woman, whose pretended love was of such fatal import to its object, not long enjoyed her selfish happiness—her husband's health gradually declined, and he died four years after his marriage. It is related that he met death with fortitude and cheerfulness. He could scarcely do otherwise, when life had become a burden to him. He had, however, some objects of affection to leave behind, as appears by the following letter, which he wrote a few days before his decease, and directed to his friend Wilks:—
"Dear Bob,
"I have not any thing to leave you to perpetuate my memory, except two helpless girls; look upon them sometimes, and think of him that was, to the last moment of his life, thine,
"George Farquhar."
Wilks protected the children—their mother died in extreme indigence.
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
| DRURY LANE. | COVENT GARDEN. | |
| Sir Harry Wildair | Mr. Elliston. | Mr. Lewis. |
| Alderm. Smuggler | Mr. Dowton. | Mr. Quick. |
| Colonel Standard | Mr. Barrymore. | Mr. Farren. |
| Clincher, Jun. | Mr. Collins. | Mr. Blanchard. |
| Beau Clincher | Mr. Bannister. | Mr. Cubitt. |
| Vizard | Mr. Holland. | Mr. Macready. |
| Tom Errand | Mr. Wewitzer. | Mr. Powell. |
| Dicky | Mr. Purser. | Mr. Simmons. |
| Constable | Mr. Maddocks. | Mr. Thompson. |
| Servants | Mr. Fisher, &c. | |
| Lady Lurewell | Mrs. Powell. | Miss Chapman. |
| Lady Darling | Miss Tidswell. | Miss Platt. |
| Angelica | Miss Mellon. | Mrs. Mountain. |
| Parly | Mrs. Scott. | Miss Stuart. |
| Tom Errand's Wife | Mrs. Maddocks. | |
| SCENE—London. | ||