e empty
eminence of his attitudes, were so nicely observed, that had he not been
an entire matter of nature, had he not kept his judgment, as it were a
centinel upon himself, not to admit the least likeness of what he used
to be, to enter into any part of his performance, he could not possibly
have so compleatly finished it.'

Mr. Cibber further observes, that if, some years after the death of
Mountford, he himself had any success in those parts, he acknowledges
the advantages he had received from the just idea, and strong
impressions from Mountford's acting them.' 'Had he been remembered (says
he) when I first attempted them, my defects would have been more easily
discovered, and consequently my favourable reception in them must have
been very much, and justly abated. If it could be remembered, how much
he had the advantage of me in voice and person, I could not here be
suspected of an affected modesty, or overvaluing his excellence; for he
sung a clear, counter-tenor, and had a melodious, warbling throat,
which could not but set off the last scene of Sir Courtly with uncommon
happiness, which I, alas! could only struggle through, with the faint
excuses, and real confidence of a fine singer, under the imperfection of
a feigned, and screaming treble, which, at least, could only shew you.
what I would have done, had nature been more favourable to me.'

This is the amiable representation which Mr. Cibber makes of his old
favourite, and whose judgment in theatrical excellences has been ever
indisputed. But this finished performer did not live to reap the
advantages which would have arisen from the great figure he made upon
the stage.

He fell in the 33d year of his age, by the hand of an assassin, who
cowardly murdered him, and slid from justice. As we imagine it will not
be unpleasing to the reader to be made acquainted with the most material
circumstances relating to that affair, we mail here insert them, as they
appear on the trial of lord Mohun, who was arraigned for that murder,
and acquitted by his peers. Lord Mohun, it is well known, was a man of
loose morals, a rancorous spirit, and, in short, reflected no honour on
his titles. It is a true observation, that the temper and disposition of
a man may be more accurately known by the company he keeps, than by any
other means of reading the human heart: Lord Mohun had contracted a
great intimacy with one captain Hill, a man of scandalous morals, and
despicable life, a