| Citation |
VGR(NP.783.015
27 Dec 1783:31 (105)
London, Sept. 27. . . 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 answerd, that he would
do 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 for a stranger. This he did twice and was admitted
each time into the coach 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 surly tone, "that the 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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