Born, a.d. 1762. Died, a.d. 1816

YET another victim to Royal caprice and selfishness! The child of an Irishman and of the daughter of a Welsh clergyman, Dorothy Bland was born in Waterford about the year 1762—that southern Irish city which has given to the stage three of its best actresses—namely, Kitty Clive, Maria Pope, and the subject of this sketch. Under the name of Miss Francis she made her début on the Dublin stage in 1777, as Phœbe, in “As You Like It.” Her success seems to have been rather moderate, in consequence of which, and also because of a row which she had with Daly, the manager, she went to Cork, where she was warmly received, and afforded a free benefit, by which she cleared the munificent sum of 40l.!

Nothing succeeds like success; and in consequence of the favourable reception afforded to her by the good people of Cork, who were charmed with her archness of manner and her sportive simplicity, Daly made the young actress an offer of three guineas a week, if she would only return to Smock Alley. She accepted this engagement, but soon left Dublin again. Daly acted rudely towards her, which she resented, and in 1782 she went to England, where she was engaged by Tate Wilkinson to appear at the Leeds Theatre, as Calista, in “The Fair Penitent.”