Quin

(James), a celebrated performer on the English stage, was born at London in 1693, He was intended for the bar; but preferring Shakspeare to the statutes at large, he, on the death of his father, when it was nece ary for him to do something for himself, appeared on the stage at Drury-lane, In’ 1720, he first dis played his comic powers in the character of | Falstaff, and soon after appeared to as great advantage in sit John Brute; but it was upon Booth’s quitting the stage that Ouin appeared: to full advantage, in the part of Cato. He cons tinued a favourite performer until the year 1748, when, on some disgust between him and Rich the manager, he retired to Bath, and only: came up annually to act for the benefit of his friend Ryan; until the lo of two front teeth spoiled his utterance for the stage. While Quin continued upon the stage, he constantly kept company with the greatest geniuses of the age. He was well known to Pope and Swift; and the earl of Chesterfield frequently invited him to his table: but there was none for whom he enter tained a higher esteem than for the ingenious James Thomson. Mr. Quin’s judgment in the’ English language recommended him to his royal highne Frederick prince of Wales, who appointed himeto instruct his children in speaking and reading with a graceful propriety; and Quin being informed of the elegant manner in which his present majesty delivered his first gracious speech from the throne, he cried out in a kind of ecstacy, * Ah-~{ taught the boy to speak!” Nor did his majesty forget his old tutor; for, soon after his acce ion to the throne, he gave orders, without any application being made to him, that a genteel pension should be paid to Quin during his life. Mr. Quin, indeed, was not in absolute need of this royal benefaction; for as he was never married, and had none but distant relations, he sunk 20001, which was half his fortune, in an annuity, for which he obtained 2001. a-year; and with about 20001, more in the funds, lived in a Aire manner during the latter part of his life at Bath, from whence he carried.on a regular correspondence with Garrick, and generally paid a visit to his friends in the metropolis.once a year, when he constantly, pa ed a week or two at. Garrick’s villa at. Hampton. He diced of a fever in 1766. Agee eh 58