The Birth of Modern Theatre by Norman S. Poser

Author:Norman S. Poser
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Published: 2018-09-16T16:00:00+00:00

Eventually, Garrick was able to obtain for his brother the position of Collector of Customs at one of England’s ports, perhaps through his friend the Duke of Devonshire. The job was a sinecure; Peter collected the salary while a deputy did the work for a lesser amount.54 Garrick’s correspondence contains other examples of his use of his friendships with the aristocracy to obtain favors.55 He asked Sir Thomas Mills to speak to the chairman of the East India Company about getting a clerical job for a neighbor, “a very honest young man & bred to accounts.”56 Mills was a shady character (himself the owner of a lucrative sinecure as receiver general of Quebec), who was rumored to be Lord Mansfield’s natural son. We don’t know whether Garrick’s neighbor got the job.57

It was sometimes said of Garrick that his ruling passion was the love of fame. But when Boswell tried to denigrate Garrick, saying that he assumed the airs of a great man, Johnson disagreed:

Sir, it is wonderful how little Garrick assumes . . .. [C]elebrated men. . .have had their applause at a distance; but Garrick had it dashed in his face, sounded in his ears, and went home every night with the plaudits of a thousand in his cranium . . .. Garrick did not find, but made his way to the tables, the levees, and almost the bed-chambers of the great. Then, Sir, Garrick had under him a numerous body of people; who, from fear of his power, and hopes of his favour, and admiration of his talents, were constantly submissive to him. And here is a man who has advanced the dignity of his profession. Garrick has made a player a higher character.58

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