DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70031#0108
GARRICK. [ENGLAND,
houses, that the heat of the weather and the crowds,
occasioned a fever which Was called the Garrick fever.
In 1747, he became joint patentee of Drury Lane
theatre, which laid the foundation of his fortune, and
introduced on the stage many salutary reforms. Two
years afterward he married Mademoiselle Violetti, an
Italian stage dancer, of extraordinary beauty. In 1763
he and Mrs. Garrick made a visit to Italy; and at Paris
he saw the celebrated Madame Clairon, whose future
excellence he predicted. During this tour he was
every where enthusiastically received. He returned
to England in 1765, and in 1766 he brought out
the Clandestine Marriage, a comedy, written in con-
junction with the elder Colman. In 1769 he cele-
brated a fete in honour of Shakespeare, called the
Jubilee at Stratford upon Avon. This, in the form
of an entertainment, was afterwards produced at
Drury Lane, and met with uncommon success. In
1776 he relinquished his concern in the theatre, for
35,0001. Loaded now with wealth and reputation,
triumphing over all his rivals, and cherished by per-
sons the most distinguished for rank and talents, Gar-
rick, at the age of 60, turned his thoughts to retiring
from the stage. The last character he performed was
Don Felix in the Wonder, in which he even sur-
passed himself. According to custom he was desirous
of addressing the audience, but his feelings were too
much affected;—his tears were the only expression
of his gratitude, and the sympathy of the audience
the best eulogy, and most flattering mark of distinc-
tion which Garrick had received. On closing his
theatrical career he retired to Hampton, where he de-
voted his hours to literature, blest with the society of
houses, that the heat of the weather and the crowds,
occasioned a fever which Was called the Garrick fever.
In 1747, he became joint patentee of Drury Lane
theatre, which laid the foundation of his fortune, and
introduced on the stage many salutary reforms. Two
years afterward he married Mademoiselle Violetti, an
Italian stage dancer, of extraordinary beauty. In 1763
he and Mrs. Garrick made a visit to Italy; and at Paris
he saw the celebrated Madame Clairon, whose future
excellence he predicted. During this tour he was
every where enthusiastically received. He returned
to England in 1765, and in 1766 he brought out
the Clandestine Marriage, a comedy, written in con-
junction with the elder Colman. In 1769 he cele-
brated a fete in honour of Shakespeare, called the
Jubilee at Stratford upon Avon. This, in the form
of an entertainment, was afterwards produced at
Drury Lane, and met with uncommon success. In
1776 he relinquished his concern in the theatre, for
35,0001. Loaded now with wealth and reputation,
triumphing over all his rivals, and cherished by per-
sons the most distinguished for rank and talents, Gar-
rick, at the age of 60, turned his thoughts to retiring
from the stage. The last character he performed was
Don Felix in the Wonder, in which he even sur-
passed himself. According to custom he was desirous
of addressing the audience, but his feelings were too
much affected;—his tears were the only expression
of his gratitude, and the sympathy of the audience
the best eulogy, and most flattering mark of distinc-
tion which Garrick had received. On closing his
theatrical career he retired to Hampton, where he de-
voted his hours to literature, blest with the society of