ing all that is mortal of the remains of Shakspeare, conveys his benediction to the respecter, and his curse to the violator, of the peace of the grave. This inscription, with the Latin distich and the verses on a tablet underneath the tomb, is given in our notice of the church in our last volume, at the page previously referred to, marked as a foot-note. Within seven years after Shakspeare's decease a monument, the one represented in the engraving, executed with no mean skill by an unknown artist, was erected to his memory. He is represented under an arch in a sitting posture; a cushion is spread before him, with a pen in his right hand and his left resting on a scroll of paper.

Approach! behold this marble. Know ye not
The features? Hath not oft his faithful tongue
Told you the fashion of your own estate,
The secrets of your bosom? Here then, round
His monument, with reverence while ye stand,
Say to each other, "This was SHAKSPEARE'S
form,

Who walk'd in every path of human life,
Felt every passion; and to all mankind
Doth now, will ever, that experience yield,
Which his own genius only could acquire."
AKENSIDE.

Below his monument, and on each side of his grave, are deposited his wife, and the principal part of his own family.

We now proceed to a notice of the Stratford Jubilee, which was celebrated on Monday last, the anniversary of our bard's natal and St. George's day. In our last number of the MIRROR, we promised to give an engraving in illustration of this festival. On consulting our artist, however, as to the practicability of our plan, we regret to say that he could not possibly accomplish an engraving, on the extensive scale we contemplated, in time for our publication. We have, therefore, no alternative but to lay before our readers an authentic and interesting account of the festive proceedings. Our illustrations preserved in former volumes, with the present one, may be pleasantly referred to on reading the subsequent renarks.

Stratford Jubilee.

IN the year 1768, the corporation of Stratford-on-Avon, assisted by the subscriptions of the neighbouring gentry, rebuilt their Town-hall; soon after which the celebrated George Alexander Steevens

visited his friend, the late Mr. John Payton, the proprietor of the White Lion Inn, at Stratford, who having invited several of his acquaintances to spend the evening with his entertaining visitor, the conversation turned upon Shakspeare, the Mulberry Tree, and finally upon the newly-erected edifice, when regret was expressed that they possessed no statue to occupy the empty niche left in the north front. Shakspeare's occurred as the most appropriate; and Steevens, delighted with the idea, suggested an application to his friend Garrick, then in the zenith of public favour, to give a benefit at his theatre, or otherwise promote a fund towards defraying the expense of the proposed statue of Shakspeare. This hint being approved by the company, Steevens observed, that as Garrick was fond of praise and profit, he would, if it were possible, turn the measure to his pecuniary advantage, at the same time that the intimation would gratify his vanity; and under this conviction Steevens addressed him on the subject. Steevens's engagements taking him to Worcester in a day or two following, he there received Garrick's answer, which in no manner declined the general wish expressed by the application; and a correspondence then took place between Garrick and the corporation, in which he acquitted himself with so much address, that the freedom of the borough being voted to him, it was conveyed in a box made of Shakspeare's mulberry tree, which highly flattered the well-known vanity of Garrick. Such were the incidents, however unpromising in their first appearance, to which this remarkable festival was indebted for its origin. Flattered by this judicious compliment, Garrick conceived the idea of celebrating the jubilee; and his proposed plan being highly approved of by the corporation, he determined on its taking place the ensuing autumn. A magnificent octagonal amphitheatre, capable of holding one thousand persons, was erected upon the Bancroft, close to the Avon, somewhat resembling the Ranelagh rotunda; within was an orchestra for one hundred performers. The first opening of the jubilee was announced by the discharge of thirty pieces of cannon, twelve cohorns, and some mortars (ranged upon the margin of the Avon), at five o'clock on Wednesday morning, September 6, 1769. The corporation met at eight o'clock, and having appointed Mr. Garrick steward, invested him with the insignia of his office-viz., a medallion (on which was carved a bust of Shakspeare, richly set in gold,) and a wand, made from the mulberry-tree. A public break

fast then took place in the Town-hall, after which the company proceeded in regular order to the church, where the oratorio of Judith, under the direction of Dr. Arne, was performed; after which the company walked in procession to the amphitheatre, preceded by vocal and instrumental performers, where, at three o'clock, upwards of seven hundred ladies and gentlemen sat down to an elegant dinner, at which Garrick presided as steward. In the evening, there was a brilliant assembly at the amphitheatre, and the whole town illuminated. A large transparency was displayed from the win. dow of the room where Shakspeare was said to have been born. Fire-works were let off the whole night from a temporary building erected for that purpose. The second day's entertainments commenced with a public breakfast at the Town-hall, from whence the company adjourned to the amphitheatre, where the ode, on the dedication of the newly-erected hall to the memory of Shakspeare, was performed. A public dinner was given at three o'clock, and the town, at night, again illuminated; with five additional transparencies for the five front windows in Shakspeare's Hall. His bust in the

chancel was adorned with festoons of

laurel, bays, &c.; and at the head of his gravestone were garlands of flowers and evergreens. The masquerade at the amphitheatre was attended by upwards of one thousand persons, some of whom paid the enormous sums of fifteen and twenty guineas for a very so-so Spanish dress; so great was the demand, and short the supply. On Friday the weather continued so unfavourable, that the page ant, representing Shakspeare's principal characters from his plays, which it was intended should walk in procession from the college to the amphitheatre, was abandoned. The race, however, upon Shottery-meadow, for the Jubilee cup, value fifty guineas, took place, and was won by Mr. Pratt's horse, Whirligig. Garrick danced a minuet at the assembly in the evening, and thus closed a ceremony, which excited the greatest interest at the time, although by some it was treated as a subject worthy only of ridicule. An annual minor jubilee" was contemplated the next year, but none took place. In 1794, Mr. Malone enter. tained a serious intention of promoting a conmemoration of the jubilee, but abandoned his design in consequence of the national gloom which the revolutionary war in France had excited.*

From the same respectable source we extract the following letter:

The Times, April 23, 1827.

Stratford-upon-Avon, Monday, April 23. THE gala festival, in celebration of the natal day of Shakspeare, commenced this morning, and the contrast between the animated bustle of the inhabitants and visiters on this day, compared with the stillness of the preceding, was most striking. During the whole of Sunday, the several stage-coaches from London and the neighbouring towns were crowded with passengers, and vehicles of every description were put in requisition at Birmingham, Warwick, Leamington, and the adjacent villages, to convey the im

mense number of individuals who were anxious to witness this splendid pageant, the first upon any scale of magnitude that has taken place since the Garrick jubilee, on the 6th, 7th, and 8th of September, 1769.

The festival was conducted by the Shakspearian Club established at Stratford-upon-Avon, who, anxious to do honour to their illustrious townsman, (Shakspeare,) and to show their loyalty to their ennial Commemorative Festival on St. sovereign, have proposed holding a TriGeorge's day, the 23rd of April, and to continue the same on the two following days. The subscriptions received for this purpose on the present occasion have been most liberal, and far exceeding the expectations of the committee, whose good taste and liberality evinced yesterday in the various proceedings of the ceremonial reflect upon them the highest credit.

Soon after six o'clock, the inhabitants instrumental performers parading the were serenaded by the various bands of town, and subsequently by the ringing of bells, firing of cannon, &c.

The arrangements in the line of procession were very judicious, and controlled by the committee, wearing sashes and medals, assisted by about fifty constables. The whole being in readiness at eleven o'clock, the pageant of Shakspeare's dramatic characters, filled up by actors from Mr. Raymond's company, and amateurs, moved from the Guildhall in the following order :

The Royal Standard of England. Full Military Band in uniform, playing "Warwickshire lads and lasses." The Committee of the Shakspearian Club, two abreast.

The Banner of the Club. St. George on horseback, in armour, and bearing the ancient sword of the Corporation Armory, used for similar

purposes since Edward III. Melpomene, the Tragic Muse, in a darkcoloured car, drawn by four Fiends. Lear.-Edgar, as Mad Tom. King Lear.

Richard the Third.-Gloucester. Prince of Wales. Macbeth.-Three Witches surrounding the burning Cauldron, with Music. Banquo, as Ghost. Macbeth. King John.-Cardinal. Faulconbridge. King John.

Othello.-Iago. Othello. Hamlet.-Ghost. Hamlet. Grave Diggers, with the Song. Romeo and Juliet.-Romeo. Juliet. Friar Lawrance. Banner of Shakspeare's Arms. Thalia, the Comic Muse, drawn in a Car by four Satyrs. Tempest.-Caliban.

Trinculo.

Ariel.

Prospero. Winter's Tale.-Shepherd. Autolycus. As You Like It.-Audrey. Touchstone. Midsummer Night's Dream.-Oberon. Titania, Queen, in a Car, drawn by Puck and Fairies. Bottom, with the Ass's Head.

Merchant of Venice. Shylock. Portia,

as Doctor of Laws. Merry Wives of Windsor.-Sir John Falstaff. Mrs. Ford. Mrs. Page. Henry the Fifth.-Henry the Fifth. Pistol. Bardolph.

Union Flag. Members of the Club, wearing the various medals struck for the occasion,

four abreast.

The procession, which had a most brilliant effect from the splendour of the armour, dresses, banners, chariots, and other decorations by Mr. Palmer, passed through the principal streets, amidst the plaudits of an immense congregation, to the birth-place of Shakspeare, which stil remains in its former state. In front of the house a temporary hustings had been erected, and upon the cavalcade arriving at the spot, che officiating gentlemen having taken their places, the bust of Shakspeare was crowned by Thalia and Melpomene, and an appropriate address was delivered.

At the conclusion, the procession moved on to the church, where the epitaph inscribed on the grave-stone of Shakspeare,

"Good friends, for Jesus' sake! forbear

To dig the dust enclosed here: Blest be the man that spares these stones, And curst be he that moves my bones." was sung in an excellent manner by amateur vocalists, the music by Dignum. The procession, at the termination of divine service, returned to the site of the intended new theatre, which is partly erected, where the mayor, assisted by the corporation, laid the chief corner-stone in due form. This part of the ceremoRial, as well as the grand dinner to the

members of the club in the evening, are described by our concluding remarks. Shakspeare's Hall was fitted up in a most superb manner for the occasion. In various parts of the room were scrolls; over a painting of Shakspeare, upon white ground, "We ne'er shall look upon his like again ;" and above that of Garrick," He suited the action to the word."

Over the principal entrance within the hall, there was a transparency, repre senting the sun breaking through dark clouds, and a portrait of Shakspeare. So great was the demand for tickets for the dinner, that a great number of individuals were disappointed in obtaining admission. In the evening, various parts of the town were illuminated, and several amusements, shows, &c. provided for the gratification of all classes. On Tuesday there was a public breakfast and a masquerade, in a temporary amphitheatre, and on Wednesday, a concert, ball, &c. Much surprise was manifested at the absence of the London performers, and their conduct in not being present fully and freely contrasted with that of Garrick, King, and others, who assisted in the Jubilee of 1769.

The crowds of persons from the neighbouring towns and villages had by this time much increased, and many families of rank and eminence had arrived; and presented an animated display of beauty the streets, houses, and elevated positions, and fashion. The populace, in general, were remarkably orderly; indeed, we never witnessed so much decorum on a similar occasion. This is principally attributable to the very efficient exertions committee, aided by the active co-operaof Mr. Gwinnett, the secretary to the tion of Mr. Ashfield, the head constable, who had taken the precaution, early in the morning, of removing all suspicious persons from the town, or placing them in custody. Many of the houses were decorated with laurel, or a bust of Shak. being marshalled around the arena, and speare. At the theatre, the procession upon the stage, the ceremonial of laying the first stone commenced. The spot selected was upon the curve of the horseshoe, in the pit, the outer walls of the building having been erected to about ten feet in height, so as to afford facilities for the occasion. The coins, medals, and inscription plate, having been deposited in the vacuum, the upper stone was lowered, under the guidance of the secretary to the theatre; the Mayor officiating. This done, the band struck up the national anthem: after which a paltry song was sung to the music of Macbeth, com.

mencing with "When winds are warring -Earthquakes and mountains tearing."

The new building is pleasantly situated, and commodious. It will be entitled The Shakspeare Theatre," and will be opened by Mr. Raymond's company in the next autumn. The panels are to be filled up by illustrations of Shakspeare, and a splendid drop-scene will then be exhibited, representing the bard in the centre of a temple, surrounded by the kings and heroes of his plays.

Soon after four o'clock, a splendid entertainment was served up in Shakspeare's Hall, which was decorated in the style we have before described. The Mayor presided, supported by Mr. Canning, of Foxcote, the members of the corporation, and upwards of two hundred gentlemen of the first respectability, including the members of the club.

The evening was passed with the ut most hilarity.

The front of the Shakspeare Hall was brilliantly illuminated in the evening, as was the Falcon-inn, where Shakspeare passed his convivial hours, and where the sittings of the club are now held. Several other places also displayed variegated lamps, and in the Rothes-market a fair was held, the principal attraction being the Olympic Equestrian Circus. The

day was fine, and we never witnessed more happiness and unanimity than were exhibited on this most interesting festival, nor did we hear of one accident to mar the general joy. Late at night there was a grand display of fire-works.

The Months.

SPRING SONG.

ROSE! Rose ! open thy leaves! Spring is whispering love to thee. Rose! Rose ! open thy leaves ! Near is the nightingale on the tree Open thy leaves,

Open thy leaves,

And fill with balm-breath the ripening eves.

Lily Lily! awake, awake!

The fairy wanteth her flowery boat :

Lily Lily awake, awake!

Oh! set thy sweet-laden bark afloat.

Lily, awake!

Lily, awake!

And cover with leaves the sleeping lake.
Flowers! Flowers! come forth! 'tis Spring!
Stars of the woods, the hills, and deils!
Fair valley-lilies, come forth and ring
In your green turrets your silvery bells!
Flowers, come forth!

'Tis Spring! come forth!

On the same exhilarating theme we now give an original outpouring of the spirit of poesy, for which we are indebted

to the author of " Ahab;" a poem, from which it will be remembered we gave an extract of much beauty in a recent number, which we can recommend to our readers as possessing much that is calculated to please a meditative mind.

THE COMING OF SPRING.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "AHAB."
(For the Mirror )

THE frost is gone! the Robin's glad
He seeks his native tree;

And his heart, so lately cold and sad,
Now melts in melody.

His little breast win rapture fills,

Right pleas'd he looks around,
And sings aloud, till all the hills

Return the joyous sound.

In every hedge, so lately white,

Peeps forth the freshen'd green;
And the hips and haws, all redly bright,
On their thorny stems are seen.

And slowly down the sloping eaves
The loosen'd waters run;
While the gladden'd earth once more receives
The kisses of the sun.

Each tree puts forth its leaf anew,

Each hedge its flow'ret shews;
All round where'er the eye can view
With new-born beauty glows.
The Blackbird now, with joy elate,
Begins to whistle clear;

And the Chaffinch warbles to his mate,
"Sweet, will you, will you, kiss me, dear.""
All bail! all hail! thou growing year,

My spirit greets thee kind;

All hail, ye skies, so warm and clear,
That come to calm my mind.

The tuneful current of my breast,
By winter frozen long,
Now waken'd from its icy rest,

Again shall flow in song.

Again I'll seek my grassy nooks,

And woods where wild-birds breed.
And opening Nature's ample books,
Some useful lesson read.

And gather from her treasur'd heap
Of minstrel themes a store,
Content if they but break their sleep
When I shall be no more.

S. R. J.

MORTIMER, EARL OF MARCH.

(To the Editor of the Mirror.) SIR,-I beg to add one or two memoranda relating to Mortimer, earl of March, of whom mention is made in your description of the Castle of Nottingham, (No. 240.) In the parliament, begun the 2nd of Edward III. he caused himself to be advanced to the title of

The song of many chaffinches ends nearly in this way. Among bird-fanciers a "kiss me-dear chaffinch," as the term runs, is valuable.

this Roger, in his castles of Ludlow and Wigmore; so likewise in his forests and parks, with great tiltings and other pastimes.

measure;

But hereupon he grew proud beyond insomuch as his own son, Geoffrey, called him the king of folly. He also kept the Round Table in Wales, for pride, in imitation of king Arthur. His other acts of extravagance and indecencies being made known to the king, he was surprised at Nottingham Castle, he was accused in parliament of high crimes and misdemeanours, and being found guilty, received sentence to be hanged and drawn, which was executed at the common gallows, called the Elmes, near Smithfield. His body was buried in the Grey Friars, and many years afterwards at Wigmore. So great is the vicissitude of human greatness!

This eminent but unhappy man married Joane, daughter of Peter, son of Geffery de Glenvil, or Genevil, lord of Tian, in Ireland, and had issue four sons; viz. Edmund, Sir Roger, Sir Geffery, lord of Towyth; and John, who was slain in a tournament at Shrewsburye. As also seven daughters, viz. Catherine, wife of Thomas Beauchamp, earl of Warwick; Joane of James lordAudley; Agnes, of Laurence, earl of Pembroke; Margaret, of Thomas, son of Maurice, lord Berkeley; Maude, of John de Cherleton, son of John, lord Powys ; Blanche, of Peter de Grandison; and Beatrix, first of Edward, son and heir of Thomas, of Brotherton, earl marshal of England, and afterwards of Sir Thomas de Braose.

ARMS. Bany of six o. and az. on a chief of the first; three pallets between two esquires, best dexter, and sinister of the second, on inescutcheon; arg.

The last earl of March was Edward, who afterwards became king of England, by the title of Edward IV. By this means the castle of Wigmore, with its vast possessions, and the honours of the house of Mortimer, merged into the possession of the crown, in whom it has ever since remained. I am, Sir, &c.

H. W. DEWHURST,

THE FAIRY'S FUNERAL.
For the Mirror.)

THE sun had long sunk with his rays in the west,
Midst the rich-coloured clouds that escort him to

rest,

Panks' Dormant and Extinct Baronetage, VOL ipage 368.

As I roam'd o'er a spot so romantic and grand,

The moon was pursuing her course in the sky,
Like the queen of the heavens sailing on high;
Not a cloud intercepted her silvery beam,
And her shadow danc'd light on the still flowing
stream;

Scarce a breath of the zephyr was felt through the air,

All nature appear'd to be slumbering there.

On a sudden I heard, as I wander'd along,
The soul-thrilling sounds of melodious song-
Scarce as loud as the notes of the lark in the sky,
Yet plaintive and sad as the breath of a sigh.

I look'd, and beheld in a lonely spot near,

A band of sad Fairies surrounding a bier,
On which there appear'd, by Death's arrow laid
low,

A form even purer and whiter than snow-
A figure so lovely-too lovely to tell-
E'en heaven itself must have wept when it fell.
As I gazed, the sad Fairy-throng ceased to be-
wail,

And the sound died away on the soft blowing gale,

When one from the midst of the throng stepp'd

away,

Aud leant o'er the bier as she chanted this lay:
No more, alas! on summer day,
Shalt thou in the sunbeams play;
Or recline upon the rose,
While the cooling zephyr blows,

Lamented Fairy Queen!

No more in Fairy halls and bowers,
Deck'd with Nature's gayest flowers,
Shalt thou hold thy phantom court,
Or begin the lively sport,

Lamented Fairy Queen!

No more shalt thou, in shady dell,
Sing as sweet as Philomel,
For thou'rt gone from realms of night,
Onward to the land of light-

Adieu, our Fairy Queen!
Cease, ye zephyrs, cease to blow,
Cease, ye ripling streams, to flow,
Lest the gentle zephyrs blowing,
Or the ripling streamlets flowing,

Disturb our Fairy Queen!
As she ended, the group gathered closer around,
And the flower-form'd bier slowly sunk in the
ground;

No vestige the Fairy Queen's burial betray'd, E'en the night-dew appear'd on the spot where

she laid.

This sad office o'er, like the dew-moisten'd flowers,

The fairies in sorrow retir'd to their bowers; E'en their footsteps re-echoed along the night air,

So silent and still was the solitude there.

L. D E.