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his distinguished relative, it was answered "David wanted him."

MRS. ROBINSON.

THIS lady has been no less distinguished for her genius as a writer in verse and prose, than for her exquisite beauty and personal misfortunes.

She was the daughter of Darby, who, failing, and dying soon after, his widow took her lovely daughter to London, where, at sixteen, she was induced to marry a young attorney, of specious appearance, of the name of Robinson. Her husband, soon after, falling into difficulties, Mr. Garrick encouraged her to try the stage, for subsistence; and, at nineteen, she played several parts with success, when the beauty of her person created interest and favour.

One night, after she had played the part of Perdita, she received from the Prince of Wales, by the hands of Lord Malden, a lock of his Royal Highness's hair, enclosed in a billet, with these words, "To the adorable Perdita-Florizel, to be redeemed;" written in his own hand. The lock and the billet are now in the possession of Sir Richard Phillips. The vanity of a young woman in her situation rendered her an easy prey, and she soon after became the public mistress of the handsomest

prince of his age; living in a style of Oriental splendour. Some jealousies soon after caused a separation, when she obtained an annuity of £500 per annum, for the remainder of her life, with £250 for her infant daughter by Mr. Robinson. The habits of luxury which she had acquired, during her royal connexion, could not be shaken off. and she yielded to a sincere attachment to Colonel T——; and, in a journey by night, to render him a personal service, she caught cold, followed by a severe fever, and lost the use of the sinews of her knees, being then only twenty-two. This malady she never overcame, and was unable to stand upright, or walk, during the remainder of her life.

She now devoted herself to poetry and literature; and many of her pieces, in feeling and high-wrought sentiment, will never be surpassed. She maintained her personal fascinations, and might have been considered one of the loveliest women in England, till her forty-second year, when her sedentary life, joined to her incessant application to her pen, brought on a dropsy of the chest, of which she died.

JOY KILLS AS WELL AS GRIEF.

"MISS SMITH, a young lady who played the character of Amelia, in the comedy of "The Twin Rivals," at Covent Garden Theatre, some years ago, died, last week, in this town (Norwich) in the following extraordinary manner. A young gentleman of a good family and great expectancy had long had a tendre for her, but did not make her any serious offers, because he feared his friends would object to the match, on account of the young lady's want of fortune, she having given up every shilling of some property which had been bequeathed to her, to rescue her parents from ruin. Her theatrical prospects not appearing very promising, the young gentleman generously told her, that if she would quit the stage, he would make her his wife, in spite of any objections of his friends; as she really loved him, the excess of her joy was such, that she sunk into his arms, and died immediately." (From a letter, dated Feb. 1779.)

MR. HOLLAND AND MRS. ELE.

Holland, the tragedian, who flourished about 1760, was a great favourite with the fair sex; and the distinction with which some of them

honoured him, has rendered him famous in the annals of gallantry. Among the chief of his amours, stands his intrigue with Mrs. E-le, which detail, we have little doubt, will amuse our readers.

Our tragedian had received many letters, signed "Leonora." Some of them, replete with extravagant praise of him, as an actor; and others, declaring," that the writer should have thought herself blest, if he had fallen to her lot as a companion for life; but, as fortune had cruelly denied her that extreme gratification, she should enjoy no rest till he had assured her, in the most solemn manner, that he would attempt nothing against her virtue, if he was indulged with an interview;" the letter, which contained this declaration, enclosed a present of four lottery tickets, and mentioned, that a servant would call for an answer in a few days.

Our hero's curiosity being hereby worked up to the highest pitch, he sent a most loving answer. Near a month elapsed before the impatient actor received a reply; which, however, when it came, set his heart at rest. The fair one breathed the most tender sentiments, and assured him, that they remained unchanged. She had been ill,

and was ordered to the country for the recovery of her health. She desired him to accept a diamond ring, and wear it, constantly, for her sake. In about six weeks from this period, the Lady returned from the country; and, in a letter, penned in the usual strain, assured him, that she had now determined to venture on an interview, and that she would call on him at his lodgings on the Sunday morning. In this irksome interval, our tragedian's soul was continually up in arms, and formed ten thousand plans of the manner in which he should receive her Ladyship, or her Grace.

The happy moment at length arrived; and a plump well dressed female entered Holland's dining-room, when he exerted the utmost powers of his elocution in thanking her for the unmerited favour she conferred on him; calling up all the assistance of stage-trick, by counterfeiting confusion, terror, &c. &c., on which the lady accosted him in this manner: "Sir, you may spare yourself your declarations and transports for another person. I am not the lady who has been your correspondent, but an intimate friend, who can refuse her nothing; and, as she found herself incapable of meeting you alone, I undertook the