ANECDOTE of GARRICK, in the Character of Lear. [From the fecond Volume of Ireland's Illustrations of Hogarth's Works.] WHEN Garrick first came upon the stage, and one very fultry evening, in the month of May, performed the character of Lear, he, in the four first acts received the customary tokens of applaufe: at the conclufion of the fifth, when he wept over the body of Cordelia, every eye caught the foft infection, the big round tear ran down every cheek :at this interefting moment, to the aftonishment of all prefent, his face affumed a new character, and his whole frame appeared agitated by a new paffion; it was not tragic, for he was evidently endeavouring to fupprefs a laugh: in a few feconds the attendant nobles appeared to be affected in the fame manner; and the beauteous Cordelia, who was reclined upon a crimson couch, opening her eyes to fee what occafioned the interruption, leaped from her fofa, and with the majesty of England, the gallant Albany, and tough old Kent, ran laughing off the ftage. The audience could not account for so strange a termination of a tragedy, in any other way than by fuppofing the dramatis perfonæ were feized with a fudden phrenfy; but their rifibility had a different fource. A fat Whitechapel butcher, seated on the centre of the first bench in the pit, was accompanied by his mastiff, who being accustomed to fit on the same seat with his master at home, naturally thought he might enjoy the like privilege here;-the butcher fat very back, and the quadruped finding a fair opening, got upon the bench, and fixing his fore paws on the rail of the orchestra, peered at the performers with as upright a head, and as grave an air, as the most fagacious critic of his day. Our corpulent flaughterman was made of melting ftuff, and not being accustomed to a play-house heat, found himself much oppreffed by the weight of a large and well-powdered Sunday peruke, which, for the gratification of cooling and wiping his head, he pulled off, and placed on the head of his mastiff; the dog, being in fo confpicuous, fo obtrufive a fituation, caught the eye of Garrick, and the other performers; a mastiff in a churchwarden's wig (for the butcher was a parish officer) was too much; it would have provoked laughter in Lear himself, at the moment he was moft diftreffed: no wonder then that it had fuch an effect on his reprefentative. A Defcription of a very beautiful SNIPE. Shot December 13, 1791, near Dereham, Norfolk, by Mr. Collifon, of that Town. ΤΗ HIS bird is unique in the peculiar elegance of its plumage, which appears to a common obferver orange and white. It correfponds in its principal particulars with the common fnipe of Pennant, the Scolopofe gallenago of Liaus, its weight being nearly four ounces, the length to the end of the tail twelve inches, its bill is three inches long, of a dufky colour at the bafe, and of a dark cinereous green at the end; the head is a dull white, and divided lengthwife, with three light-coloured orange lines, one paffing over the middle of the head, 7 and one over each eye; the chin is cream-coloured; the neck and breast cream-coloured and yellow, or rather varied with light orange and white undulated. The fcapulars are beautifully ftriped lengthwife with light orange spots; the quill feathers white; the back an intermixture of deep orange and white, with a few feathers spotted with brown; the belly white; coverts of the tail orange and white; near its bottom a broad bar of orange, like the common fnipe, but not quite fo deep, and ends in a light orange and white; the legs like the common fnipe. AFFAIRS AFFAIRS of FRANCE, continued from Volume LXXXIX, Page 466. THE meffage fent by the national affembly to the king, as ftated in our laft number, was as follows: 6 SIRE, Scarcely had the national affembly adverted to the fituation of the kingdom, when they perceived that the troubles, which still agitate it, have their fource in the criminal preparations of the French emigrants. Their audacity is fupported by German princes, who misunderstand the treaties figned between them and France, and who affect to forget, that to the empire of France, they are indebted for the treaty of Weftphalia, which guarantees their rights and their fafety. Their hoftile preparations and menaces of invafion call for armaments, that absorb immenfe fums, which the nation would have joyfully paid to its creditors. It is your province, fire, to put an end to these hoftile measures, and to speak to foreign powers in a language that beTell comes the king of the French, them, that wherever preparations against France are permitted, France can see enemies only; that we will religioufly observe the oath to make no conquests; that we offer them the good neighbourhood, the inviolable amity of a free and powerful people; that we will refpect their laws, their customs, and their conftitutions; but that we infift upon our own being refpected. Tell them, that if the German princes continue to favour preparations directed against the French, we will carry among them, not fire and fword, but liberty. And let them calculate what may be the confequences of the alarm of nations, For two years that French patriots have been perfecuted on the frontiers, and that rebels have there found fuccour, what ambaffador has spoken in your name as he ought? Not one. If the French, who were driven from the country by the revocation of the edict of Nantes had affembled in arms on the frontiers; if they had been protected by the princes of Germany, fire, we appeal to you, what would have been the conduct of Louis XIV? Would he have fuffered fuch affemblies? Would he have permitted fuccours to be given by princes who, under the name of allies, act like enemies? What he would have done for his autho. rity, let your majefty do for the fafety of the empire, and the fupport of the conftitution. Sire, your interet, your dignity, the infulted greatnefs of the nation, all dictate a language very different from that of your ambaffadors. The nation expects from you energetic declarations to the Circles of the Upper and the Lower Rhine, the electors of Treves and Mentz, and the bishop of Spire. 'Let them be fuch, that the hordes of emigrants may be inftantly difperfed. Prefcribe an early period beyond which no dilatory anfwer fhall be received. Let your declaration be fupported by a di rection of the force entrusted to you, and let the nation know who are its friends and its enemies. In this fplendid meafure we fhall recognife the Defender of the Conftitution. • You will thus fecure the tranquillity of the empire, which is infeparable from your own; and you will accelerate those days of national profperity, in which peace shall reftore order and the reign of the laws, in which your happiness fhall be connected with that of all the French.' The king anfwered : 'I will take the meffage of the national affembly into the moit ferious confideration. You know that I have omitted nothing to fecure the public tranquillity at home, to maintain the conftitution, and to make it refpected abroad.' In confequence of this meffage, his ma jefty went, on Wednesday, the 14th of December, to the national affenbly, and delivered the following fpeech; GENTLEMEN, I have taken your meffage of the 29th of last month into ferious confideration. In a cafe that involves the honour of the French people, and the fafety of the empire, I thought it my duty to be myself the bearer of my answer. The nation cannot but applaud thefe communications between its elected and its hereditary reprefentative. You have invited me to adopt decifive measures to effect a ceflation of thofe af femblages abroad, which keep up an odious difquiet and fermentation in the midst of France, render an oppreflive auginentation of expence ipdifpentable, and expose Η liberty liberty to greater danger than a declared and open war. You defire me to make declarations to the neighbouring princes, who, contrary to the rules of good neighbourhood, and the principles of the law of nations, protect these affemblages,-that the nation can no longer fuffer this want of refpect and these fources of hoftility. In fine, you have given me to understand, that one general emotion is felt by the nation, and that the voice of all the French is for war, in preference to a ruinous and degrading patience. Gentlemen, I have long thought that our circumstances required great circumfpection in our meatures; that having fcarcely yet weathered the agitations and ftorms of a revolution, and in the first effays of an infant conftitution, no meafures were to be neglected that could preferve France from the innumerable evils of war. These measures I have conftantly employed. On the one hand, I have done every thing to recall the French Emigrants to their country, and induce them to fubmit to the new laws which a great majority of the nation has adopted. On the other, I have given amicable intimations: I have made formal requifitions, to prevent the neighbouring princes from giving them a fupport, which is calculated to flatter their hopes and encourage them in their rafh deligns. The emperor has done all that could be expected from a faithful ally, by forbidding and difperfing all ailemblages within his territories. My measures at the courts of other princes, have not been equally fuccefsful. Unconciliating anfwers have been given to my requifitions. Thefe unjuft refufals call for refolutions of another kind. The nation has manifefted its wishes. You have collected them, you have weighed the confequences, you have expreffed then to me by your meffage. Gentlemen, you have not anticipated me. As the reprefentative of the people, I felt the people's injuries; and I am now to inform you of the refolution I have taken to demand reparation.-(Repeated applaufes and fhouts of Vive le Rei). I have fent a declaration to the elector of Treves, that if, before the 15th of January, he do not put a ftop, within his territories, to all collecting of troops, and all hottile difpofitions on the part of the French who have taken refuge in them, I fhall henceforth confider him in no other light than as the enainy of France. (Shouts of applause and Vive le Roi). I fhall make fimilar declarations to all who continue affemblages contrary to the tranquillity of the kingdom; and by fecuring to foreigners all the protection which they ought to expect from our laws, I fhall have a right to demand a fpeedy and complete reparation for all the injuries which Frenchmen may have received. I have written to the emperor, to engage him to continue his good offices, and, if neceffary, to exert his authority, as head of the empire, to avert the evils which the obftinacy of certain members of the Germanic body, if longer perfifted in, cannot fail to occafion. Much may undoubtedly be expected from his interpofition, fupported by the powerful influence of his example; but I am making, at the fame time, the requifite military arrangements, to render thefe declarations refpected. And if they fhall not be attended to, then, Gentlemen, it will only remain for me to propofe war; war, which a people that have folemnly renounced conquest never make without neceffity; but which a nation, happy and free, know how to undertake when their fafety and honour command it. But in courageoufly adopting this refolution, let us haften to employ the only means that can fecure its fuccefs. Turn your attention, Gentlemen, to the state of the finances; establish the national credit ; watch over the public fafety. Let your deliberations, ever governed by conftitutional principles, take a great, high-spirited, and authoritative course, the only one that befits the legiflators of a great empire. Let the conftituted powers refpect themselves, in order to be refpected; let them give mutual aid instead of mutual impediment; in a word, let it appear, that, although they are distinct, they are not hoftile (applauded). It is time to convince foreign nations, that the French people, their reprefentatives, and their king, are but one (applauded). It is to this union, and also, let us never forget it, to the refpect we pay to the government of other itates, that the fafety, refpectability, and glory of the empire are attached. For my part, Gentlemen, it will be in vain to endeavour to render irksome the exercife of the authority which is entrusted to me. In the prefence of all France I declare, that nothing fhall weary my perfeverance or relax my efforts. It shall not be my fault if the law does not become the protection of the citizens and the ter ror ror of the disturber (fhouts of Vive le Roi). I fhall faithfully preferve the depofit of the conftitution, and no confideration fhall induce me to suffer it to be infringed (applauded). If men, who wish only for disorder and troubles, take advantage, from this firmness, to calumniate my intentions, I will not stoop to repel by words the injurious fufpicions they may circulate. Those who watch the progrefs of government with an attentive but unprejudiced eye, muft fee that I never depart from the conftitutional line, and that I feel feriously how glorious it is to be the king of a free people.' This conclufion was followed by continued acclamations of Bravo, Long live the King of the French!" The prefident answered : The affembly will take your propofitions into confideration, and communicate their determination by a message.' The drynefs of this anfwer, and the affectation of avoiding the words fire and majefty, gave general diffatisfaction, which was marked by warmly refuming the acclamations of Vive le Roi!-As foon as the king had retired, feveral members moved, that the fpeech fhould be printed, and fent to the eighty-three departments. M. Bazire moved, to add the prefident's anfwer, to fhew to France, that in circumftances calculated to infpire enthufiafm, the affembly had guarded against it. M. Daverhoult faid, the anfwer might be worthy of the affembly, but it did not accord with the fpeech, which contained no propofitions. The fpeech was ordered to be printed, and fent to the departments. pre In conformity to the answer of the fident, the national affembly sent a deputation to the king with the following addrefs: 'SIRE, In the language which your majefty held to them, the national affembly recognised the king of the French. They feel more than ever how truly valuable is harmony between the two branches of power, and a free and open communication, which is the defire, and will be the welfare of the empire. Sire, the affembly will direct all their attention to the decifive meafures which you announce; and if events fhall make these measures neceffary, they promise to your majefty more true glory than was ever obtained by any of your ancestors. They promise to Europe the new fpectacle of a free people, outraged in its immutable love of liberty, arming the hand in union with the heart. The French people will every where oppofe their enemies with vigour, from the Rhine to the Pyrenees, from the Alps to the Ocean. All Francé fhall be covered by the regards of a good king, and by intrepid and faithful foldiers. Behold, fire, the family that deferve your love-these are your friends-these will never forfake you. All the reprefentatives of the French people-all true Frenchmen guarantee, on their heads, the defence of a constitution to which they have fworn, and of a beloved king whose throne they have established.' On Monday, December 19, the minifter of justice notified to the affembly, the royal veto to their fevere decree against the nonjuring clergy. the king, the elector of Treves thought In confequence of the measures taken by proper to intimate to the emigrant princes, the neceffity of avoiding any affemblages in hoftile array, recruiting, or other proceedings, that might give umbrage to the French nation. On Saturday, December 24, M. la the following address: Fayette appeared at the bar, and delivered The national affembly is acquainted with my principles. I fhall be content to exprefs how much I feel the marks of approbation it has bestowed on the choice which the king has been pleased to make of me, and to profefs my profound respect for the reprefentatives of the French nation, and my unalterable attachment to the French Conftitution.' This addrefs was received with loud and repeated plaudits; and the president an fwered: : The minifter for foreign affairs then appeared, and informed the affembly, that the emperor, in January laft, had tanfmitted to the king the complaints to the diet of the empire, on the abolition of the feudal fyftem, in the lands poffeffed by feveral German princes in Alface and Lorraine that the king, in his anfwer, had juftified the decrees of the national affembly, declined the interpofition of the Germanic body, and renewed the offer of a just indemnification to the parties interested; that this anfwer having been fubmitted to the diet of Ratisbon, the Conclufum of the diet was, that all things, both temporal and spiritual, must be put upon their ancient footing, agreeably to the treaties and conventions; and that the emperor had addreffed a letter to the circles of the empire, confirming the faid conclu fion; and alfo a letter to the king, declaring his determination to fupport this conclufion, as head of the Germanic body. The fame day, the military committee prefented a report on the ftate of the frontiers, the refult of which was, that they were in the be poffible ftate of defence wherever they were expofed to attack by land, and from Dunkirk to Hunninguen, an extent of 160 leagues, guarded by 130,000 effective men; that the arfenals were well fupplied with arms, especially cannon and ammunition; that the troops of the line in actual fervice amounted to 100,500 men, the artillery to 37,700, and the volunteer national guards to 85,024-in all 224,324 effective men; that 54 battalions were yet to be formed, and the troops of the line to be augmented to their full complement, which together would raife the number of the land forces to 340,000, without including auxiliaries. At the fame time, the decree propofed by the military committee, to enable the king to raife M. Luckner and M. Rochambeau to the rank of marthal of France, was paffed. On Thufday, December 29, was drawn up by M. Condorcet, approved by the national affembly, and prefented to the king, by a deputation from the affembly, the following MANIFESTO, to all States and Nations. At a moment when, for the firft time fince the epoch of their liberty, the French people may fee themfelves reduced to the neceffity of execifing the terrible right of war, their reprefentatives owe to Europe, to all mankind, an account of the motives I which have guided their refolutions, and an explanation of the principles which direct their conduct. The French nation renounces the undertaking of war with the view of making conquefts, and will never employ her forces against the liberty of any state.' Such is the text of their conftitution; fuch the facred vow by which they have connected their own happiness with the happiness of every other people; and they will be faithful to them. But who can confider that as a friendly territory, in which exifts anarchy, waiting only the prospect of fuccefs, for the moment of attack? Is it not equivalent to a declaration of war, to give places of strength not only to enemies who have already declared, but to confpirators, who have long fince commenced it? Every thing, therefore, compels the powers eftablished by the conftitution for maintaining the peace and fafety of the public, to employ force against rebels, who, from the midst of a foreign land, threaten to tear their country in pieces. The right of nations violated-the dignity of the French people infulted—the criminal abuse of the king's name, employed by impoftors, to conceal their difaftrous projects-their diftruft kept up by finifter rumours through the whole empire-the obftacles occafioned by this diftruft to the execution of the laws, and the reeftablishment of credit-the means of corruption exerted to delude and feduce the citizens-the difquiets which agitate the inhabitants of the frontiers-the evils to which attempts the most vain and the most fpeedily repulfed may expofe them-the outrages ftill unpunished which they have experienced on the territories where the revolted French find an afylum - the neceffity of not allowing the rebels time to complete their preparations, or rife up more dangerous against their countryfuch are our motives. Never did any exift more juft or more urgent. And in the picture which we have drawn, we have rather foftened than overcharged our injuries. We have no occafion to roufe the indignation of citizens, in order to inflame their courage. The French nation, however, will never ceafe to confider as a friendly people, the inhabitants of the territory occupied by the rebels, and governed by princes who offer them protection. The peaceful citizens, whole country their armies may occupy, fhall not be treated by her as enemies, nor even as fubjects. The public force, |