, an actress of great merit, whose piaiden name was Raftor, was born
, an actress of great merit, whose
piaiden name was Raftor, was born in 1711, and shewed a
very early inclination and genius for the stage. Being
recommended to Cibber, he immediately engaged her
at a small salary, and she made her first appearance
on the stage in boy’s clothes, in the character of Isnienes, the page of Ziphores, in the play of “Mithridates,
” at Drury-lane theatre. Continuing to improve in
her profession, she added both to her salary and her fame.
In 1731 her performance of Nell in the “Devil to pay,
”
fixed her reputation as the greatest performer of her time
in that species of character, in which for more than thirty
years she remained without a rival. In the next year,
1732, she united herself in marriage with George Clive, a
gentleman of the law, and brother to baron Chve; an
union which was not productive of happiness to either
party. They soon agreed to separate, and for the rest of
their lives had no intercourse together. Mr. Clive, if we
mistake not, died at Bath in 1780, but we doubt whether
he was brother to the baron of the exchequer, as above
mentioned. In 1768, Mrs. dive’s intimate friend Mrs.
Pritchard quitted the stage; and the succeeding year she
determined to follow her example; but certainly might
have continued several years longer to delight the public
in various characters adapted to her figure and time of life,
as to the last she was admirable and unrivalled. From this
time Mrs. Clive retired to a small but elegant house near
Strawberry-hill, Twickenham, where she passed the remainder of her life in ease and independence, respected
by the world, and beloved by a circle of friends; at which
place, after a short illness, she departed this life, December 6, 1785. A'more extensive walk in comedy than that
of Mrs. Clive cannot be imagined; the chambermaid, in
every varied shape which art or nature could lend her;
characters of whim and affectation, from the high-bred lady
Fanciful, to the vulgar Mrs. Heidelberg; country girls,
romps, hoydens, and dowdies; superannuated beauties,
viragoes, and humourists. To a strong and pleasing voice,
with an ear for music, she added all the sprightly action
requisite to a number of parts in ballad farces. Her mirth
was so genuine, that whether it was restrained to the arch
sneer and the suppressed half-laugh, widened to the broad
grin, or extended to the downright honest burst of loud
laughter, the audience was sure to accompany her. Mrs.
Clive, in private life, was so far above censure, that her
conduct in every relation of it was not only laudable but
exemplary. For her benefits she introduced some trifling
pieces on the stage, written by herself or hejr friends, but
of no great merit.