He was of all comedians the chastest and closest observer of nature.

Johnson never seemed to know that he was before an audience; he drew his character as the poet designed it .-- DAVIES.] There was one story, at least, that this actor used to relate with much unction after a visit which he once paid to Dublin.

The hero of the affair was an Irishman, named Baker, who relieved the monotony of his work as a master pavior by acting Sir John Falstaff and other parts.

When he was in the streets, overseeing the labours of his men, this pavior-artist usually rehearsed one of his characters, muttering the lines, gesticulating, and almost forgetting that he was without the sacred walls of a theatre.

The workmen soon got accustomed to these out-of-door performances, and everything proceeded with the utmost smoothness, until one exciting day when Baker chanced to be alone with two new paviors.