Booth  was  the  Aristo  of  the  profession.  He  was  not  only
nearly  related  to  the  Earl  of  Warrington,  but  in  1704  he  married
a  daughter  of  Sir  William  Barkham,  Bart.,  of  Norfolk.  A  scholar
of  the  great  and  terrible  Dr.  Busby,  he  shone  in  acting  in  the
Latin  plays  at  Westminster.  He  was  intended  for  the  Church,
but  he  caught  stage  fever,  ran  away  from  school  at  the  age  of  17,

1  Comf  arisen  between  the  two  Stages.  '  Spectator,  370.
z64  SOCIAL  LIFE  in  the  reign  of  QUEEN  ANNE.
and  joined  the  theatre  at  Dublin.  When  he  came  to  London  he
became  a  pupil  of  Betterton's,  and  profited  by  his  master's  in-
structions. He  was  joint  patentee  in  Drury  Lane,  but  he  left  the
stage  at  the  early  age  of  46.     Died  1733.
Of  the  minor  actors  Pinkethman  stands  first.  He  was  low
comedy,  and  his  great  ambition  was  to  please  the  gods.  We  have
heard  a  good  deal  about  him  in  this  book  in  his  various  characters
as  caterer  for  the  amusement  of  the  public.  Gildon,  of  course,
can  say  nothing  good  of  him.
Sullen.  But  Penkethman  the  flower  of

Critick.  Bartholomew  Fair,  and  the  idol  of  the  rabble ;  a  fellow  that  over
does  everything,  and  spoils  many  a  part  with  his  own  stuff.
Be  this  as  it  may,  he  is  very  honourably  mentioned  throughout
the  Spectator,  although  Steele '  gives  him  a  good-humoured  rap
over  the  knuckles.  'Mr.  William  Bullock  and  Mr.  William
Penkethman  are  of  the  same  Age,  Profession,  and  Sex.  They
both  distinguish  themselves  in  a  very  particular  Manner  under  the
discipline  of  the  Crab-tree,  with  this  only  difference,  that  Mr.
