as yet shewn himself, and that he was fitter
to exhibit entertaining compositions for the stage, than to echo those
of other poets upon it.

But he received still higher encouragement by the patronage of the earl
of Orrery, who was a discerner of merit, and saw, that as yet, Mr.
Farquhar's went unrewarded. His lordship conferred a lieutenant's
commission upon him in his own regiment then in Ireland, which he
held several years[2] and, as an officer, he behaved himself without
reproach, and gave several instances both of courage and conduct:
Whether he received his commission before or after he obliged the town
with his first comedy, we cannot be certain.

In the year 1698, his first Comedy called Love and a Bottle appeared
on the stage, and for its sprightly dialogue, and busy scenes was well
received by the audience, though Wilks had no part in it. In 1699
the celebrated Mrs. Anne Oldfield was, partly upon his judgment, and
recommendation, admitted on the Theatre.

Now we have mentioned Mrs. Oldfield, we shall present the reader with
the following anecdote concerning that celebrated actress, which
discovers the true manner of her coming on the stage; the account we
have from a person who belonged to Mr. Rich, in a letter he wrote to the
editor of Mrs. Oldfield's Life, in which it is printed in these words;

SIR,

In your Memoirs of Mrs. Oldfield, it may
not be amiss to insert the following facts, on the
truth of which you may depend. Her father,
captain Oldfield, not only run out all the military,
but the paternal bounds of his fortune, having
a pretty estate in houses in Pall-mall. It was
wholly owing to captain Farquhar, that Mrs.
Oldfield became an actress, from the following
incident; dining one day at her aunt's, who kept
the Mitre Tavern in St. James's Market, he
heard miss Nanny reading a play behind the bar,
with so proper an emphasis, and so agreeable
turns suitable to each character, that he swore
the girl was cut out for the stage, for which she
had before always expressed an inclination, being
very desirous to try her fortune that way.
Her mother, the next time she saw captain Vanburgh,
who had a great respect for the family,
told him what was captain Farquhar's opinion;
upon which he desired to know whether in the
plays she read, her fancy was most pleased with
tragedy or comedy; miss being called in, said
comedy, she having at that time gone thro