"As her first appearance was on Drury Lane stage, and in the full meridian of its glory, the date is easily ascertained; but to save the gentleman's trouble, as he seems a bad calculator, I will inform him, it was in Mr. Crisp's "Virginia," in the year 1754, (29 years ago) and that she was then as pretty a plump rosy Hebe as one shall see on a summer's day.

"She had the honour, (an honour never conferred on any other person) of being introduced as a young beginner by a prologue written and spoken by Mr. Garrick, in which the following lines are to the present purpose.

"If novelties can please to night, we've two;
Tho' English both, yet spare 'em, as they're new.
To one, at least, your usual favor show;
A female asks it-can a man say—no?
Should you indulge our novice yet unseen,
And crown her, with your hands, a tragic Queen ;
Should you, with smiles, a confidence impart
To calm those fears which speak a feeling heart,
Assist each struggle of ingenuous shame
Which curbs a genius in its road to fame:
With one wish more, her whole ambition ends,
She hopes some merit to deserve some friends."

"And now give me leave, sir, to tell your correspondent a story on the first coming to England, of Signor Trebbi.

"A worthy gentleman, the editor of a newspaper, paid him a morning visit, and informed him he was a public writer, and had characters of all prices. I understand you, sir,' said Trebbi, and have heard of you; I have no guineas to throw away so ill; but I am a writer too, et voila ma plume! this is my pen;' showing him a good English oaken towel. Signor Trebbi was so good as to leave me his pen, the only one I shall make use of against malevolence in future, when the writer does me the honour of making himself known to me.

" I am, Sir,

"Your obedient humble servant,

"Saturday, October 18, 1785."

"RICHARD YATES."

SHAKSPEARE AND QUEEN ELIZABETH.

It is well known that Queen Elizabeth was a great admirer of the immortal Shakspeare, and used frequently (as was the custom with persons of great rank in those days) to appear upon the stage before the audience, or to sit delighted behind the scenes, when the plays of our bard were performed. One evening, when Shakspeare himself was personating the part of a King, the au

dience knew of her Majesty being in the house. She crossed the stage when he was performing, and, on receiving the accustomed greeting from the audience, moved politely to the poet, but he did not notice it! When behind the scenes, she caught his eye, and moved again, but still he would not throw off his character, to notice her: this made her Majesty think of some means by which she might know, whether he would depart, or not, from the dignity of his character, while on the stage. Accordingly, as he was about to make his exit, she stepped before him, dropped her glove, and re-crossed the stage, which Shakspeare noticing, took up, with these words, immediately after finishing his speech, and so aptly were they delivered, that they seemed to belong to it:

"And though now bent on this high embassy,

Yet stoop we to take up our Cousin's glove !"

He then walked off the stage, and presented the glove to the Queen, who was greatly pleased with his behaviour, and complimented him upon the propriety of it.

FAREWELL DINNER TO JOHN KEMBLE.

THE friends and admirers of Mr. Kemble,

anxious to mark his retreat from the stage with those honours which his high professional character deserved, invited him to a splendid banquet; at which it was intended to present him with a superb silver Vase, bearing a suitable inscription. The entertainment took place on the 26th June 1817, at the Freemasons' Tavern-but the Vase not being completed, its presentation was necessarily postponed to a future day.

At half-past seven o'clock, the Stewards (who were composed of the principal performers of Covent-Garden and Drury-Lane Theatres) entered the room, ushering in Lord Holland, Mr. Kemble, the Duke of Bedford, Lord Erskine, Lord Petersham, the Marquis of Worcester, the Marquis of Lansdown, the Earl of Aberdeen, J. W. Croker, Esq., T. Campbell, Esq., the Rev. G. Crabbe, T. Moore, Esq., H. Twiss, Esq., B. West, Esq., President of the Royal Academy; --Flaxman, Esq., R. A., Mons. Talma, &c. &c.

Lord Holland took the Chair, supported on his right hand by Mr. Kemble, and on his left by the Duke of Bedford.

After the cloth had been removed, Non Nobis Domine was performed in a very superior style, by several singers of first-rate eminence,

The King-The Prince Regent―The Queen and the rest of the Royal Family-were drank with the accustomed honours, and were followed by the usual airs.

Lord Holland then rose and said-" Gentlemen, in pursuance of the proceedings of this day, I hoped to have the honour and satisfaction of presenting to my friend, who sits near me, the piece of plate which it is your wish to bestow on him, as an indication of the high sense you entertain of his abilities. But, unfortunately, I am prevented from performing that grateful duty—the rich and beautiful work, designed for the Vase, not being yet completed. Here is, however, a drawing of the Vase, which will be handed round the room. I have also a copy of the inscription intended for it, which, if you please, I will read to you."

His Lordship then read as follows:

To J. P. KEMBLE, Esq. on his retirement from the Stage, Of which, for 34 years, he has been the ornament and pride; Which to his learning, taste, and genius, is indebted for its present state of improvement;

Which, under his auspices, and profiting by his constant labour, most worthily directed to the support of the legiti

inate drama, and more particularly to the glory of

SHAKSPEARE,