her, and kisses her arm." I could mention many other whimsical errors having birth from the same cause, but shall intrude no further than to state that Mr. Simmons, (father of the talented little actor of that name, who so many years delighted the town at Covent-Garden,) being a receiver of tickets and orders at the theatre, was so convinced of my inability to write a plain and legible hand, that he actually, one evening, refused an order of mine because he could read it. Dibdin's Reminiscences.

READING SOCIETIES. THE establishment of reading societies is a feature almost peculiar to modern times, and deserves attention, not more as a new organ of instruction, than as a fresh auxiliary to individual and social happiness. Besides that we are made acquainted with a greater number of books than our solitary means could command, the plan secures, in some degree, the perusal of them, by the parties with whom we stand connected, and with several of whom we may be on terms of intimacy. Hence we are always more or less furnished with materials for rational conversation, which, in the estimation of a well-instructed mind, is the principal charm of companionship. It is an excellent improvement, which distinguishes many of the societies alluded to, that meetings are regularly convened, for the purpose of mutual discourse, on the various publications which may have engaged our private reading. The prospect of having to advance an opinion on the merits of a work awakens a closer attention to the sentiments of the author, and to the nature of the subject; and the opportunity of hearing the remarks of different members, which compose the body, strengthens or corrects the views we have entertained, enlarges the sphere of our knowledge, and keeps up a glowing and perpetual interest. The beneficial influence which results from the adoption of this practice, may well excite surprise that it is not more general. No critical acumen, no logical accuracy, no talent for public speaking, is necessary to carry the design into effect. We have only to ascertain the design of the writer, to recollect some of his principal arguments and illustrations, and then to express ourselves with all the freedom of the most familiar intercourse.

Hathaway's Essays.

I had the pleasure of sitting next Dr. Ashe at dinner, when he began a story with "As eleven of my daughters and I were crossing Piccadilly,-" "Eleven of your daughters, doctor ?" I rather rudely interrupted. "Yes, Sir," rejoined the doctor, "I have nineteen daughters all living; never had a son; and Mrs. Ashe, myself, and nineteen female Ashe plants, sit down one-and-twenty to dinner every day. Sir, I am smothered with petticoats."

Dibdin's Reminiscences.

LITERARY LABOUR. IT will be recollected, that many of the arts and sciences which embellish society are the fruits of patient application; and, therefore, an occasional glance at the silent, but glorious evolutions of the mind, would compel sentiments of lively gratitude. The artificer goes to his daily labour, and by means of his tools and materials constructs the intended piece of mechanism; but he seldom calls to remembrance the skill of the inventor, or the laborious investigation in which he was exercised before he gave his discovery to the light of day. The scholar is enraptured as he passes from one object of study to another, and receives fresh ideas of order, harmony, and grandeur. How numerous the struggles with obscurity! How profound the inquiries! How undivided the attention to logical accuracy, which preceded the formation of the different systems, to whose accurate arrangements he is indebted for the lights and facilities which direct him in his studies. We sit round our family fire-side, and are delighted while we listen to a member of the domestic circle, reading the composition of some superior author; the force of his arguments, the aptness of his illustrations, and the frequent introduction of natural and, beautiful imagery, enchain the attention and engage the heart. But how rarely do we pause to consider the midnight toil endured in collecting the materials, in conducting the process of thought, and in diffusing over the whole the colours and visions of poetry. Hathaway's Essays.

KELLY AND THE CHRISTMAS TURKEY.

WHEN Mr. Kelly lived near the OperaHouse, I remember his calling on me one day, about Christmas, 'n a hack, to ake me to his home to meet Madame Bolla, Signors Naldi, Morelli, and some other musical "stars," at a dinner party. As our way lay through Windmill-street, I asked Kelly to permit my making a

momentary visit to the late eminent surgeon, Mr. James Wilson, with whom I had the pleasure of many years' intimacy, and who then occupied the spacious mansion, museum, and anatomical theatre of the celebrated John Hunter. Kelly, of course, made no objection to my calling, but begged to wait for me in the coach, which I would not hear of; Kelly gave as a reason, that he had an insurmountable antipathy to the bare idea of any thing relating to anatomy; and having heard of many frolics practised by surgical students upon their friends, he felt averse from entering a house which he understood was full of subjects, skeletons, and preparations. I assured him that all those affairs were at the back of the premises, and perfectly detached from the part of the house we should visit. The door opening while I spoke, we walked in together; and I left Kelly in a parlour, while the servant conducted me to Mr. Wilson. In the apartment where this able professor of the knife and probe (which he applied only, as the critics do, (ahem !) to "mend, and not to wound,") was sitting, was a large table, on which I distinctly saw three naked bodies extended, their heads hanging over the edge of the board, and an attendant, who instantly, on my entrance, threw a cloth over them, at the same time remarking to his master, that they were the finest and cheapest he had ever seer.. How much I was surprised, and whether or not as greatly alarmed as poor Kelly would have been, the reader will hereafter determine; at the time, I affected to take no notice, but briefly paid my compliments, and stated the cause of my intrusion, which was a message to the surgeon from my friend, Mr. Lewis, then an invalid. Wilson pressed me to stay dinner; I told him of my preengagement; and Mr. Wilson, on learning Mr. Kelly was in the house, went and fetched him into the sanctum sanciorum. I then jokingly rallied Kelly on his fears, the nature of which I related to Wilson, who laughed heartily, adding, "I am sure, Mr. Kelly, upon reflection, would be more pleased than alarmed if he were to inspect three subjects I have bought this morning.' "B-b-bou-bought?" stammered Kelly. "Yes," replied Wilson; "I purchased them of a man who provides me with such things from a ground in the country." "And how do you get them conveyed?" asked I. "By the stage," said Wilson, very coolly; and as these are uncommonly beautiful, and perfectly fresh, though they came a great way, if you have a coach at the door, you shall

66

carry which of the three you please home with you." Kelly was too much astonished to make any reply; but, his back being towards the table, which he had not yet perceived, and to which Wilson advanced.-Mike kept retreating, and deprecating any further mention of the subject, or rather subjects; when his retrograde progress, Hibernice, being suddenly impeded by the board behind him, he instinctively extended his arm to save himself from a fall; and never shall I forget the climax of horror his countenance exhibited when his hand pressed on the clay-cold bosom of as beautiful a ready-plucked Christmas turkey as ever came from the poultry-ground of a Norfolk dealer. Wilson immedi. ately removed the cloth; and I need not attempt to describe the hearty laugh which followed the unlooked-for eclaircissement, nor the complete change of sentiment in Kelly as to admitting the finest of the three unplumed corses into the coach with us.

Dibdin's Reminiscences.

BULLS. "By the powers!" exclaimed Mike, "Harry Johnston's mad; his leap was as absurd as his making me act harlequin. What could induce him?" "Why," replied I, "it was not very unnatural; in the warmth of the instant, carried away by the cacoethes ludendi, ("that's Latin," said Kelly,) he forgot he had walked up a flight of stairs before dining." "Or, perhaps," rejoined Kelly, "he thought the room below had walked up stairs with him."

An Irishman ax'd "whether the weather-glass had fallen up or down ;" and another countryman of mine (poor Pat!) going on the secret expedition, being dunned by a comrade for a debt of ten shillings,-tore a one-pound note in two, and the creditor accepted one of the halves as payment of his demand. A friend of mine lately translated "Tam Marti quam Mercurio " into "more military than civil."

I mentioned in the outset of these important records, that Mr. Aikin had answered for me at the font; I ventured on my first interview, to hint at such a circumstance, observing I had the honour to be spiritually related to him; his answer, in the mellow and gentlemanly half-Irish accent which distinguished him, was, "Shiver me, Sir, I remember the ceremony, but, upon my honour, I did not recollect you ;' which was by no means astonishing, considering we had never met since the said ceremony had taken place.

Ibid.

LETTER TO AN ACTING-MA

6

NAGER.

"SIR,-I have took the liberty of Trou. bling you with those few lines, to Ask you if you have an Engagement Vacant in Your Company. To Let You know My Accomplishments, I am Active and Ready, Quick at my Lessons, And further, Sir, the Cheif which i Can Play is Norval in Douglas,' and Lothair in the Miller and his Men;' and have no Objection of being Usefull at the Sides as a Pheasant, &c. As My Inclination for treading the Stage is So Strong, That i am like Lothair, Without the Stage my life is But a Blank,' my Services is Useless to Others and Miserable to myself. And further, i have to State, i am Very Expeditious at Writing Plays, and have no Objection of Supplying you with a Melodrame Every 3 Months free of Expence; and i have one now in my Possession Which i have lately Wrote, Entitled The (Assassins of the forest,) in 5 Acts, Which, sir, is yours, if you think Proper to Engage Me."

"Sir, I Take the Liberty of Inclosing a few Lines to Inform you that I am a Beautyfull Whistler If you Please to Give Me one Trial on the Stage.

Sir, I Remain your Obt. Set.

For Answear."

mountable; and he at length determined on dropping the rhyme between the first and third, so that only the second and fourth should harmonize. Ultimate, or pen-ultimate, or ante-pen-ultimate, were all one to Maturin; he despised the jingle, and could not accomplish it. He completed three lines; and a friend, who assures me that Maturin communicated the fact to him, has given them to me: they are,

"Stars of Erin, shine out! shine out!

The night of thy sorrow is past
And the dawn of a joyous day—"

Thus far the poet proceeded; and it may appear incredible that he could proceed no farther. After many attempts he produced two final lines, but rejected them both. One was,

"Rises upon thee at last." But the measure was incomplete, and he changed it to,

Rises on thee and for thee at last."

And here the measure was superabundant. In a transport of rage he flung the paper into the fire. It is worthy of remark, too, that his principal reason for being dissatisfied with the last line was, that its termination too closely resembled Moore, who, he said, had established a sort of copyright in the expression.

It was not inability to conquer the dif

the Royal Circus.

Ibid.

Anecdotes and Recollections.

Notings, selections,

Anecdote and joke:

Our recollections;

With gravities for graver folk.

MATURIN.

On one occasion, shortly after the publication of "Melmoth," the king's visit to Ireland inspired the patriotism of her poets with grateful sensibilities; and Maturin, amongst the rest, thought the opportunity a good one for a poetical compli. ment to the monarch. Accordingly he set about his poem, but was at a loss to fix upon a measure that would equally suit the purpose and his own taste. A continuous stanza would never answer; it should be something at least alternate, that would preserve him from the labours of perpetual rhyme; he fixed upon the alternate octo-syllable measure. But Maturin's skill in this species of composition was certainly inferior to his genius. In vain he endeavoured to check the exuberance of his fancy, and chain it down to right syllables: the difficulty of producing four perfect lines alternately was insur

sion to it; it was rather a rooted aversion to it that produced the difficulties. He had a natural distaste to the constant return of sound arising from the restraints it threw upon his luxuriant fancy; and he required more preparation for a stanza than he would for a chapter of romance.-New Monthly Magazine.

HUMANITY.

THINE hopes-lost anchors buried in the deep,
That rust, through storm and calm, in iron sleep;

Whose cables, loose aloft and fixed below,
Rot with the sea-weed, floating to and fro.
MONTGOMERY.

THE SHEPHERDS OF SCOTLAND.

THERE is, I believe, no class of men professing the Protestant faith so truly devout as the shepherds of Scotland. They get all the learning that the parishschools afford; are thoroughly acquainted with the Scriptures of truth; deeply read in theological works; and really, I am sorry to say it, generally much better informed than their masters. Every shepherd is a man of respectability-he must be so, else he must cease to be a shepherd. His master's flock is entirely committed to his care, and if he do not manage it with constant care, caution, and decision, he cannot be employed. A part of the stock is his own, however, so that his in

terest in it is the same with that of his master, and being thus the most independent of men, if he cherish a good behaviour, and the most insignificant if he lose the esteem of his employers, he has every motive for maintaining an unimpeachable character.-Blackwood's Mag.

CURRAN.

THE single exercise that he most frequently repeated for the purpose of improving his action and intonation, was the speech of Antony over Cæsar's body, from Shakspeare's "Julius Cæsar." This he considered to be a masterpiece of excellence, comprising in itself, and involving in its delivery, the whole compass of the art. He studied it incessantly, and pronounced it with great skill, but though he delighted his auditors, he never entirely satisfied himself; he uniformly recommended it as a lesson to his young friends at the bar.—Curran's Life, by his Son.

RUINS OF HOLY PLACES.

FOR what survives of house, where God
Was worshipped, or where man abode,
For old magnificence undone;
Or for the gentler work begun
By Nature, softening and concealing,
And busy with a hand of healing—
The altar, whence the cross was rent,
Now rich with mossy ornament-
The dormitory's length laid bare,
Where the wild rose blossoms fair;
And sapling ash, whose place of birth
Is that lordly chamber's hearth-
She sees a warrior carv'd in stone
Among the thick weeds stretched alone,
A warrior, with his shield of pride
Cleaving humbly by his side,
And hands in resignation prest
Palm to palm, on his tranquil breast.
WORDSWORTH.

EARLY RISING.

THE morning of every day is the beginning of every man's life. One of your greatest errors for I know you well, and do not mean to flatter you one of your greatest errors is, that you do not seize on these beginnings of life so early as you might do. You lived yesterday to a good old age, and died last night after the powers of your mind and body were entirely exhausted. But I must remind you, my friend, that you have spent the greater part of the youth of this day in the state of the dead. The great business of your life was up before you; you have been running after it this whole afternoon, and I am afraid you will not overtake it till old age overtakes you.-Gener.

COMEDY AND TRAGEDY.

BARON HOLBAIRCH, in a conversation on theatrical works, thus describes Come

dy and Tragedy:"The business of a comedy is always a marriage, and that of tragedy a murder. All the intrigue turns on this question-Shall they marry, or shall they not marry?--Shall they kill, or shall they not kill? They shall mar. ry-they shall kill, and so ends the first act; they shall not marry-they shall not kill, concludes the second act. A new means of marrying and killing presents itself, which is the substance of the third act. A new difficulty arises, and prevents the marriage and the murder, and this forms the fourth act. At length, wearied with the contest, they marry and they kill, which completes the piece."

The Gatherer.

"I am but a Gatherer and disposer of othe men's stuff."— Wotton.

A YOUNG man who was being lately examined by the minister of Chelsea, prior to the confirmation, was asked, among other questions, "Who is the mediator between Almighty God and his people?" after a pause and scratching his head, replied, "The archbishop of Canterbury !!!" A roar of laughter followed, the minister covered his face with his book, and turned away to catechize some other person.

A WITTY writer says, in praise of laughter-"Laughter has even dissipated disease, and preserved life by a sudden effort of nature. We are told that the great Erasmus laughed so heartily at the satire by Reuchler and Von Hutten, that he broke an imposthume and recovered his health." In a singular treatise on laughter, Joubert gives two similar instances. A patient being very low, the physician, who had ordered a dose of rhubarb, countermanded the medicine, which was left on the table. A monkey in the room jumping up, discovered the goblet, and having tasted, made a terrible grimace. Again, putting only his tongue in it, he perceived some sweetness of the dissolved manna, whilst the rhubarb had sunk to the bottom of the cup. emboldened, he swallowed the whole, but found it such a nauseous potion, that, after many strange and fantastic grimaces, he grinded his teeth in agony, and in a violent fury, threw the goblet on the floor. The whole affair was so ludicrous, that the sick man burst into repeated peals of laughter, and the recovery of

cheerfulness led to health.

Thus

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