, by extraordinary applications, to have his
foot so far relieved, that he might be able to walk on the stage, in a
slipper, rather than wholly disappoint his auditors. He was observed
that day, to have exerted a more than ordinary spirit, and met with
suitable applause; but the unhappy consequence of tampering with his
distemper was, that it flew into his head, and killed him in three days,
I think, in the seventy-fourth year of his age.

That Betterton was as good an actor as ever lived, and that he shone
most conspicuously in parts of dignity and fire, is pretty certain; yet
his externals were such as would at first sight be thought very
unfavourable. The famous TONY ASTON, in a work called "A brief
Supplement to Colley Cibber," gives the following picture of Mr.
Betterton, the fidelity of which has never been questioned.

"Mr. Betterton though a superlative good actor, laboured under ill
figure, being clumsily made, having a great head, a short thick neck,
stooped in the shoulders, and had fat short arms, which he rarely lifted
higher than his stomach. His left hand frequently lodged in his breast,
between his coat and waistcoat, while with his right he prepared his
speech. His actions were FEW, BUT JUST. He had little eyes and a broad
face, a little pock-frecken, a corpulent body, and thick legs, with
large feet. He was better to meet than to follow; for his aspect was
serious, venerable and majestic. In his latter time he was a little
paralytic. His voice was naturally low and grumbling; yet he could tune
it by an artful _climax_, which enforced universal attention, even from
the fops and orange-girls. He was incapable of dancing even in a country
dance, as was Mrs. Barry; but their good qualities were more than equal
to their deficiencies. Betterton was the most extensive actor from
Alexander to sir John Falstaff."

"His younger cotemporary, Powel, who was only forty, when Betterton was
sixty-three, attempted several of Betterton's parts, as _Alexander_,
_Jaffier_, &c. but lost his credit, as in Alexander he maintained not
the dignity of a king, but out-heroded Herod; and in his poisoned mad
scene out-raved all probability, while Betterton kept his passion under,
and showed it most, as fume smokes most when stifled. If I was to write
of him all day, I should still remember fresh matter in his behalf."

The following facetious story of Betterton and a country tenant of his
is related by Aston.

Mr. Betterton