No reply to the above can be found. The following letter from Arne to Garrick must have been written soon after the above: “Sept. 3rd. Dear Sir,—Having just received a letter from the ingenious author of the two operas, and ‘Pennyworth of Wit,’ under your kind inspection, wherein he begs concealment of his name, till the fate of one or other of his pieces is determined.”
Arne enclosed a copy of his unnamed friend’s letter, which need not be produced here. He then finished his own as follows: “Now give me leave to wish you would consult your assured friend in the musical productions of your theatre, which (waving your own consequence, undeniably the first with the public) might produce the best second dish at the feast. Though half a ghost myself, I have more honour than the whole ghost in ‘Hamlet.’ He was forbid to tell the secrets of his prison house——I tell them not, through principle; but this I may say, in confidence, you actually want strength for the exhibition of musical performances—and why should you?—Mr. Garrick, though I wish him immortal, to the grief of the discerning world, is not so—sickness, pain, mortality may intervene. Let it not be said, that so great a master of his art is deaf or blind to rising merit. I tell you bona fide, that the young woman and young girl [Miss Weller’s sister] whom I recommended, are real objects of your notice, as handsome women, complete figures, and promising actresses, abstracted from their utility as singers. Pray be so obliging as to let me hear from you as soon as you come to town, and be assured that if my skill or connexions are of any value, they shall be exerted to the utmost, in testimony of the respect with which I am, Dear Sir, your faithful friend, and humble servant,
“ThoS AugNE. Arne.”
There is yet another letter from Arne to Garrick, and a characteristic reply, both undated, but which probably were written in 1775:
“Nov. 17. Sir,—As you have causelessly dropped the friend, I have sense enough to write at a becoming distance. You will undoubtedly hear, by the freshest advice, the tête-à-tête alteration between your brother and me. How could it happen otherwise, when the first salutation I received was ‘Dr. Arne, we have considered of the farce, and protest against it’; which nearly led me into a mistake; for how could I suppose he meant the farce you had first promised to do, and after the last rehearsal concluded on? But on his warm repititions, I found that I should have protested against the farce that has been so long acting ex-parte managers, and tragedy on the composer’s part. I answered, ‘I am not surprised, it tallies exactly with the treatment I have all along received,’ (meaning not only on account of the farce, but the discharge of two young women,[25] handsome, perfect figures, and possessed of better talents than most on either stage have set out with:) I scorn to retract my words, and think Mr. G. Garrick[26] will equally scorn to aggravate them. The young women brought three very good houses for the opening of a season, and met with more public applause than I have ever heard; and though inexperience, mixed with sensibility, might intimidate Miss Weller so as sometimes to exceed the exact sound, it was so little that the audience were not susceptible of it. If you had no intention to retain them, one night’s performance had surely been sufficient for their condemnation; but they had not then been supplanted by my son’s application;—permit me to give you joy of the acquisition. As to singing in tune, by my salvation! not above three in both theatres can do it, though several have had nearly twenty years’ experience. I did not, as has been done to you more than once, impose my young pupils on you as finished singers; why then should they be discharged for what you knew before their appearance, especially after three warm receptions? Your public declaration this morning appeared as meant to complete the many shocks which I and mine have received—it was ineffectual: I shall think myself happy to be mistaken. If you are willing to show a friendship which I shall deem an honour to receive, it will not be sufficient that you perform the piece; I shall have the presumption to hope that you will further its success; though I fear that the cold breath of the manager, like a wintry blast, has chilled the hearts of his dependents; it is a distemper as catching as the itch. There has been but one decent rehearsal which was in your presence; though, even then, two principals were absent; nor can I expect any better, till the manager will either graciously appear, or at least send his general mandate: and, but for the respect due to the author, I had long since withdrawn the prettiest music, in the light style, that I ever wrote; but I will not, uncompelled, incur the resentment of a gentleman, a man of fortune and a scholar, respected by the first personages of the University of Oxford, by assuring him, from your promise, that his piece will be performed with all possible expedition; then, that it is in rehearsal, and now, by writing him word that you ‘protest against it’? I once had a sparring of this kind with Mr. Rich; he generously acknowledged that he had not treated me kindly, and misunderstanding was the cement of our friendship ever after. May this candid explanation prove equally successful! It shall not be my fault if it does not, being ever desirous of proving myself, your real humble servant,
“ThoS. AugNE. Arne.”
Garrick’s reply is very short and sharp:
“Dear Sir.—I have read your play and rode your horse, and do not approve of either. They both want particular spirit which alone can give pleasure to the reader and the rider. When the one wants wits, and the other the spur, they both jog on very heavily. I must keep the horse, but I have returned you the play. I pretend to some little knowledge of the last; but as I am no jockey, they cannot say that the knowing one is taken in. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant. D. G.”
Endorsed “Designed for Dr. Arne, who sold me a horse, a very dull one; and sent me a comic opera, ditto.”