The inquiries of "DRAMATICUS," and others in your number for Nov. 10.,
prompt me to say that should any of your correspondents happen to
possess information answering the following queries, or any of them, I
shall be thankful to share it.
1. What became of the natural child of Elizabeth Barry, the actress, who
died 1713; and whether the Earl of Rochester, its father, was really
Wilmot (as Galt assumes) or Hyde, on whom that title was conferred at
Wilmot's death? The former mentions a natural daughter in his last will;
but he names it "Elizabeth Clerke," and does not allude to its mother.
Mrs. Barry's will mentions no kindred whatever. But Galt describes her
as daughter of Edward Barry, Esq., a barrister of Charles I.'s
reign.--Who was he? Spranger Barry, the actor of fifty years later, Sir
William Betham and myself have succeeded in connecting satisfactorily,
and legitimately, with the noble house of Barry, Lord Santry; but I
cannot as yet show that Mrs. E. Barry inherited her theatrical talent
from an identical source.
2. Of what family was Mr. Barry, the Secretary to the Equivalent
Company, who died about 1738? I possess immense collections on the name
of Barry, but I cannot identify any London will or administration as
this individual's.
3. Whether Sir Robert Walpole's Secret Government Lists of the
Pretender's adherents, agents, and emissaries in London (who were
supposed to be under the evil-eye of Jonathan Wild) still exist, and are
accessible?