Georgian Books, Memoirs of Richard Cumberland

I hope I shall in no wise hurt the feelings of a lady, who now most worthily fills a very elevated station, if, in speaking of my humble productions In the course of my subject, I cannot avoid to speak of one of the most elegant actresses that ever graced the stage. When I brought out my comedy of The Natural Son, I flattered myself that in the sketch of Lady Paragon I had conceived a character not quite unworthy of the talents of Miss Farren (age 47): it is saying little in the way of praise, when I acknowledge the partiality I still retain for that particular part, and indeed for that play in general. It was acted and published in the same season with the Carmelite, and though I did not either in that instance, or in any other to my knowledge, obtrude myself upon the public to the exclusion of a competitor, still it was so that the town was pleased to interpret my second appeal to their candour, and the newspapers of the day vented their malignancy against me in the most opprobrious terms. So exquisite was the style, in which Miss Farren gave her character its best display, and so respectable were her auxiliaries in the scene, particularly Mr. John Palmer, that they could never deprive the comedy of favourable audiences, though their efforts too frequently succeeded in preventing them from being full ones. It was a persecution most disgraceful to the freedom of the press, and the performer^ resented it with a sensibility, that did them honour; they traced some of the paragraphs to their dirty origin, but upon minds entirely debased shame has no effect.