| Citation |
SCGGA.783.100
25-29 Nov 1783:42 (1/81)
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. 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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