nother play: with some opposition on the part of a
discontented few, "the Way to get Married" was accepted as a
substitute for that which was promised.

Influenced by a laudable zeal for the discharge of his duty, Mr.
Wood, though still very feeble, ventured to promise himself to the
public for the character of De Valmont on Friday. As soon as his
name appeared in the bills, a report was circulated through the city
that he was to be assaulted: that is to say that he had so highly
offended that _high and mighty body of gentlemen_ apprentices and
else who swagger in good broadcloth clothes and brass buttons in the
theatre, by not leaving his bed of sickness for the amusement of
their high mightinesses, that they had resolved to hiss and drive
him off the stage. Those who were most prompt to condemn the
insolence and indecency of the band alluded to, thought that such a
design would be an outrage too unjust, too stupid even for such
persons as their high mightinesses; and, therefore, refused to give
it credit. In this, however, they very much underrated the _modesty_
and _good nature_ of their "high mightinesses," since half the
barbers in the city were amused with the threats uttered by those
doughty champions of what they would do to Mr. Wood. The consequence
was that that gentleman felt it necessary to humiliate himself with
an apology, in order to escape the wrath of a set of obscure chaps,
not one of whom perhaps could reasonably aspire to sit in his
company.

The private character of Mr. Wood is almost as well known as his
professional: by the most respectable part of the community he is
highly valued for his personal worth. No one could suspect him of
wilfully neglecting his duty, or acting the part of dishonour.
Indeed, what motive could he have to injure Mr. Cone? He cannot,
surely, look upon that gentleman as a rival. But, if he could
harbour such a wish, his moral and intellectual character stands too
high, to allow a suspicion of his employing such means--means so
base and so bungling, that it may well be wondered at how even their
high mightinesses could think of them. The truth is, no such thing
was imagined--the whole had its root in causes which more deeply
concern the public than Mr. Wood or Mr. Cone. A set of ignorant
self-conceited young despots have erected themselves into a body of
riot, for the purpose of controling the theatr