is talent for acting in the
part of the Earl of Essex, and other important characters, he applied
himself to the study of Pantomimical representations at Lincoln's Inn
Fields Theatre. To retrieve the credit of his theatre Rich created a
species of dramatic composition unknown to this, and, I believe, to any
other country, which he called Pantomime. It consisted of two parts, one
serious, the other comic; by the help of gay scenes, fine habits, grand
dances, appropriate music, and other decorations, he exhibited a story
from "Ovid's Metamorphosis," or some other fabulous history. Between the
pauses of the acts he interwove a comic fable, consisting chiefly of the
courtship of Harlequin and Columbine, with a variety of surprising
adventures and tricks, which were produced by the magic wand of
Harlequin; such as the sudden transformation of palaces and temples to
huts and cottages; of men and women into wheelbarrows and joint stools;
of trees turned to houses; colonnades to beds of tulips; and mechanics'
hops into serpents and ostriches.

It is a most remarkable fact that the Pantomimes that Rich brought out,
all of them could be written down as successes. In the exhibition of his
Pantomimes, Mr. Rich always displayed the greatest taste. He had also
acquired a considerable reputation as a performer of the motley hero
under the name of "Lun Junr," as he was so designated on the bills at
that time, and he was the first performer who rendered the character of
Harlequin at all intelligible in this country. To others he taught the
art of silent, but expressive, action, the interpreter of the mind.
Feeling was pre-eminent in his Miming; and he used to render the scene
of a separation with Columbine as graphic as it was affecting. Excellent
were his "statue scenes" and his "catching the butterfly;" so also were
his other dumb show performances.

Of Rich, Garrick wrote:--

"When Lun appeared with matchless art and whim,
He gave the power of speech to every limb;
Though masked and mute conveyed his quick intent,
And told in frolic's gestures all he meant."

Rich, however, erred in thinking himself a better actor than a
Pantomimist; and, in fact, he thought himself a finer actor than the
great Garrick himself. "You should see _me_ play Richard!" was a
favourite cry of his.

In 1782, after seeing the Pantomime of "Robinson Crusoe," Walpole said,
"How unlike the Pantomimes of Rich, which were full of wit, and
co