seldom espoused, meeting with a certain sporting gentleman under the Piazza, in Covent-garden, they retired to an adjacent tavern, to take a main at hazard for five guineas. Tom soon lost his first stake, and, with much resignation, ate his supper, and drank his bottle. His adversary, however, after supper, proposed to him a second main, which Tom, at first, refused to engage in, saying, he believed he had not money enough. about him to answer the bet; but this was overruled by his adversary replying, that his word was sufficient for a hundred. They renewed the party, and, in a few hours, Tom won two thousand four hundred guineas. Tom's wife, who was very affectionate, sat up all night, as usual; sent every where in search of him, and was not able to gain any tidings. At last, he returned from his nightly vigils. Her inquiries were naturally very pressing to know where he had been, and what had kept him out so long; to all which he made no other answer than by peremptorily saying, "Bring me a Bible."-" A Bible?" she re-echoed with some ejaculation; "I hope you have not poisoned yourself."-" Bring me a Bible," continued Tom. "I suppose," she resumed, "that you've lost some great sum; but

never mind, we can work for more.”—“ Bring me a Bible, I say." "Good Lord, what can be the matter?" said Mrs. King; "I don't suppose there can be such a thing in the house, without, indeed, it be in the maid's room." Thither she went, and found the part of one without a cover, which having brought to Tom, he fell upon his knees, and made a most fervent oath never again to touch a die or a card; whilst she, all the time, endeavoured to alleviate his grief, of which she considered this as the effusion, owing to some very considerable loss which he might have sustained. When he finished, he rose up and flung fourteen hundred pounds, in bank-notes, upon the table, saying, "There, my dear; there's fourteen hundred pounds, I've won to night; and, by to-morrow noon, I shall receive a thousand pounds more; and I'll be d▬▬d if ever I risk a guinea of it again."

ROYAL CURIOSITY.

In the year 1797, when "The Castle Spectre" and "Blue Beard" had just been produced, his Majesty commanded them both for one evening's performance; to which gracious message the managers returned, in substance, the following re

ply:"That, highly flattered by his Majesty's peculiar distinction, they would gladly comply with the command; but begged of the Chamberlain to apprise his Majesty, that the performances must commence at three in the afternoon, in order to finish by twelve at night."

GALERIA CAPIOLA.

THE age of Macklin was protracted to an unusual length; however, it was far exceeded by Capiola, a celebrated player and dancer, who was brought upon the stage as a novice, at what age is unknown; but ninety-nine years after, at the dedication of the theatre by Pompey the Great, she was shown upon the stage again, not for an actress, but as a wonder. Neither was this all; for, after this, in the solemnities performed for the life and health of Augustus, she was shown upon the stage a third time.

SCOTCH THEATRICALS.

IN the month of August, 1746, the first stone of the old Edinburgh Theatre was laid by Lacy Ryan, of Covent-garden. This building, which was situated on the south side of the Canon-gate, was finished in the course of the following summer. At 2s. 6d. for pit and boxes, and 1s. 6d.

and 1s. for the first and second galleries, it was capable of containing from £60 to £65. Although it was built without the sanction of the law, and in defiance of an Act of Parliament, (10th George II.) it may be considered as the first regular establishment of a Scottish The

atre.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

WHEN Crebillon, the French tragic poet, published his " Catilina," it was attended with an honour to literature, which, although now probably forgotten, (for it was only registered in the news of the day,) it becomes a collector, zealous in the cause of literature and the drama, to pre

serve.

At the time "Catilina" was given to the public, the creditors of the poet had the cruelty to attach to themselves the produce of his piece, as well as the bookseller's, who had printed the tragedy; and at the theatre where it was performed. The poet, much irritated at these proceedings, addressed a petition to the King, in which he shewed, that it was a thing yet unknown, that it should be allowed to class among seizable effects the productions of the mind; that

if such a practice were allowed, those who had consumed their vigils in the study of literature, who made the greatest efforts, by this means, to render themselves useful to their country, would see themselves in the cruel predicament of not daring to publish works, often precious and interesting to the State; that the greater part of those who devote themselves to literature require, for the necessaries of life, those succours which they have a right to expect from their labours; and that it had never been suffered in France, to seize upon the fees of lawyers and persons of other liberal professions.

In answer to this petition, a decree was immediately issued, from the King's council, commanding a replevy of the arrests and seizure of that of which the petitioner complained. This honourable decree, bearing date May 21st, 1749, was thus entitled, " Decree of the Council of his Majesty, in favour of M. Crebillon, author of the tragedy of Catilina,' which declares, that the productions of the mind are not among seizable effects." Louis XV. not only testified his esteem for Crebillon, by having his works printed at the Louvre, but also by erecting to his memory a tomb of marble.