a jealous apprehension of his not monopolizing the good graces of an audience, absolutely and point-blank refused to play at all for my benefit; although in the example I have just before related, I was the only one who performed for him. Respecting the two entertainments I have mentioned, some of the inhabitants of Swaffham in Norfolk may remember, that having, previously to their performance received an anonymous letter not very courteous, on the subject, I placed it in the most conspicuous part of that town, signed with my answer and name at full. An anonymous reply succeeded as my answer and name again, and in fact a paper war of this description-poetical and prose. My antagonists had attacked my entertainments, whose contents they but anticipated before they made their appearance; and therefore it is not to be wondered, that they declined with the contest the illiberal attempt to prejudge the public against what they never Some of the party whom I had just grounds for suspecting of this cruel attack, have since paid the debt of nature; and therefore to dwell longer on the matter would appear to me unmanly and contemptible. saw. There is another being, which Norfolk brings to my remembrance, whose power I have to thank for depriving me wantonly of one situation; and who afterwards having it in his option to make amends, which he seemed to promise, impudently and unfeelingly refused it. This creature is a well-known deceiver of actors. he had not quitted the county, on the sea-beach, and the cloudy day, united to my own gloomy conceptions of his character (for I cannot find he has lost his character) brought to my recollection these lines of Savage: I lately observed for I saw him "Darkling he glides along the dreary coast, Yet still I will essay to follow 66 A life my foes may learn to live, "And hold it still a triumph to forgive." Near Newcastle under Lyne, in a village church-yard, I remember to have seen a very striking epitaph, and which may not be unacceptable to the moral reader : “ C*****s B****w came to visit me with half a pint of "poison: write this on my grave, that all who read it may the stone covered; but, from what I learned, she must probably be in the recollection of many now living in those quarters, if not of the C*****8 B****w, who I understood was then in existence. At the same time, I know nothing of the truth of the charge or the parties. The accusation may be the invention of some slanderous wretch; and it would give me uneasiness, if, in gratifying my horror at this inscription, I should sanction the unmerited disgrace of my neighbour. In these quarters I remember one of the instances which life has to record of palpable hypocrisy, and I am concerned to add, in a female-a Mrs. S****tt. A Mr. W****n was our manager, and nearly all the company were dissatisfied with an unusually long and expensive journey we had taken into Wales, as well as other vexatious oppressions: nor was this Mrs. S****tt the most temperate of any in her animadversions during his absence. One day, however, rendered it absolutely imperative that I should speak to him my complaints, and endeavour to remonstrate. He proved passionately restive under the observations I made, and was coming up quick time to me with clenched fists, apparently to mill (that I believe is the technical term now among the fancy of pugilists for punishing with blows). This amiable mediator instantly stepped between, and exclaimed with all the pathos of theatrical deception-" You shall not strike my dear Mr. « W****n!”—and warmly deprecated my injustice. I left them with this quotation from Hamlet "Man delights not me-no, nor woman neither." I could recount cases of much deeper hypocrisy, but having mentioned some examples, by no means the worst, as proofs of human corruption, I hope they will suffice to guard the unwary youngster, who, warmed and delighted with the sunshine of society and the thousand charms of vegetation's face, may unsuspiciously grasp a nettle, as well as thoughtlessly crush the rose-bud. My time in Wales was so short, that it would be illiberal to form a general conception of the modern Cambrian in the small circles I passed; but I must own a generous familiarity in the higher classes I encountered-a boon that imparted pleasure to remember, and served to level in fatigue the " lofty mountain's weary side," after a long walk on my return to Shrewsbury. This company breaking up, I was engaged to join another in Staffordshire; but, after a long and distressing journey, when I congratulated myself on nearly reaching the destined town, I was informed that the manager, disappointed of his licence for Ashby de la Zouch, had suddenly dissolved his company; but had lent them some scenery and dresses to try their fortunes in the neighbouring villages, until the lapse of a few months, when he should reopen his scheme. This republic I was compelled to enter, and resolved to be as cheerful as possible, besides entering into the true spirit of the stage-struck hero. In one little village, where we exclaimed " Here pitch "our tent," we had not asked any sort of permission or forbearance from one magistrate, owing to the incorrectness of our information. But, alack and a well-a-day! poor Shakspeare's text was lamentably true, when Richard began, "Now is the winter of our discontent- " behold the actor and the usurper's government met at once their revolution, from the indubitable authority of that ancient ambassador to Thespis, vulgarly yclepped a constable. "Winter of dis"content" it was-credit and finances sympathized. However, as our seats were erected, and we explained to the satisfaction of the gentleman, |