| Citation |
PP-P.783.241
13 Dec 1783:22 (13/1633)
London, Oct. 1. The following curious anecdote of Garrick
is not generally known, although it is as curious a fact as
his powers ever produced. When Garrick was last at Paris,
Preville invited him to his villa. Preville was reckoned
the most accomplished comedian of the French theatre. Our
Roscius, being in a gay humour, proposed to go in one of the
hired coaches that go to Versailles, on which road the villa
of Preville was. When they got in, he ordered the coachman
to drive on, who answered, that he would do so as soon as he
got his compliment of four passengers. A caprice
immediately seized Garrick: he determined to give his
brother player a specimen of his art. While the coachman
was attentively plying for passengers, Garrick slipped out
of the door, went round the coach, and by his wonderful
command of countenance, a power which he so happily
displayed in Abel Drugger, palmed himself on the coachman as
a stranger. This he did twice and was admitted each time as
a fresh passenger; to the astonishment and admiration of
Preville. He whipped out a third time, and addressing
himself to the coachman, was answered in a surley tone.
"That he had already got his compliment," and would have
drove off without him, had not Preville called out that as
the stranger appeared to be a very little man, they would,
to accommodate the gentleman, contrive to make room!
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