the place of course had to be lighted; but, although I had been very economical in my outlay, there was only one penny left in the treasury, with which we purchased a candle. This served to throw a light upon the movements of the first robber (the money-taker); but what was to be done for candles, as the room was in darkness? At length, a gentleman presented himself, and tendered sixpence for a seat in the pit. Pit and gallery were both alike, being composed of forms which we had borrowed from a schoolmaster, on the promise of returning them next morning before school-hours. The sixpence I seized with alacrity, and immediately called out: "Dear me, what a time the boy is gone for the candles: here, go and fetch a pound; he'll be all night," addressing myself to Mr Black, who, by his grins and sly winks, seemed to congratulate me upon having procured the means of lighting the place. The pound of candles having arrived, they were very expeditiously stuck into a wooden chandelier, constructed of six pieces of lath nailed across, and nails driven in for sockets. One gentleman, who sat under it, would be saved the expense of bear's grease for a long period, if he had been accustomed to use that article, his head having been well anointed with melted tallow, which at intervals dropped upon him; his coat receiving a greater share than might be deemed desirable. A numerous party assembled; in fact, I was very much elated with my success, having nearly two pounds in the house, which, considering all circumstances, was excellent business.

'I adopted rather a novel method of announcing the entertainment. We had no bills; and the watchman's rattle I had used at the fair was the property of the Punch-and-Judy-man. I tried to borrow a bell, but without success. Where I lodged, I perceived in the kitchen a brass pestle and mortar, which I got the loan of from the landlady; and issued forth, with the mortar slung to a piece of string. With the pestle, I made noise enough to collect a crowd, to whom I thus addressed myself: "Ladies and gentlemen, you will think it strange, no doubt, that I should be kicking up such a row with the

pestle and mortar, and some of you may think I am mad, or have lost my senses, which is nearly as bad; but a peculiar circumstance—that is, the want of funds-has prevented me from announcing in the usual way a talented performance, which is to take place this evening, in Mr Smith's granary; and necessity, which has no law, and is the mother of invention, suggested that I should borrow my landlady's pestle and mortar, and by these means apprise you of my intentions."'

After enduring a variety of hardships, Mr Miller started a theatre in Glasgow, at which Macready, Fanny Kemble, Mrs Charles Matthews, and other dramatic notables starred; but as he infringed the patent of the previous Glasgow manager, he became involved in litigation- dark clouds came over the western drama, and, like Mr Owen, he was immured in a Glasgow jail. On being liberated, he turned vintner, but again fate predominated, and again he was placed in durance vile. Set at liberty a second time, he resumed the showman life, his booth being erected on a site in Glasgow Green, exactly opposite the theatre lately tenanted by him. In inviting the public to behold the penny wonders in his new establishment, he adverted to former days with a philosophy truly admirable; and to the call the people of Glasgow, whose kindness of heart is well known, liberally responded. Unfortunately, this new enterprise came to a sudden and melancholy end. The theatre was one night destroyed by fire; nothing was insured; and poor Miller was once more a ruined man. After this incident, he began a wandering life, making a public appearance here and there, and in this pursuit he is probably still engaged.

It is impossible to peruse the memoirs of this unfortunate individual without pitying the writer, and wishing him well quit of a line of life which seems beneath his varied talents. If his little book has the effect of deterring young men from plunging heedlessly into a theatrical career, it will not have been written in vain.

A SPORTSMAN IN INDIA.

HAVING in my young days acquired a taste for country sports, I carried this with me to India, where field recreations, in the way of extirpating wild animals, were of a more serious kind than I had been accustomed to. Not at all daunted, I became expert at hunting the jackal, the leopard, and the tiger. I had frequently heard of elephant-catching, and resolved to enjoy that noble sport also. To secure the accomplishment of my wishes, I sought an intimacy with the most expert hunters; and the little knowledge I possessed of the language, enabled me to explain my wish to accompany the next hunting-party. I professed willingness to obey every rule and instruction-I gave assurances of my courage and contempt of danger; which, accompanied with certain gratuities, obtained me the confidence of Tagore, one of the most expert and courageous elephanthunters in India. Accordingly, I received his instructions how to act under various circumstances which might arise during this dangerous enterprise. In my earnestness, I frequently anticipated my tutor's instructions, and came to such just conclusions under difficult and trying occasions of probable danger, that Tagore seemed to place great reliance on my coolness and judgment. It was therefore arranged I should have the management of a female elephant with the next hunting-party.

Week after week passed in exercises occupying my thoughts by day and my dreams by night, until I verily believed I was master of all that could be required in the capture of an elephant. By kindness, and by often presenting favourite food to the female elephant I was to mount, I became familiar with her peculiarities, and secured her attachment, which I considered important, since, in cases of extreme danger, the elephant often

preserves her rider. She would raise her leg for me to mount, caress me with her proboscis, and attend even to my whispered commands. Tagore noticed all these particulars, and confessed he had no doubt of my competence to meet any emergency. At length the day arrived, and our journey was commenced. We had to recruit ourselves at a distance from our starting-point, which required eight hours' travelling to accomplish. I was liberal to my elephant, as if she had been an Italian marchesa, whom I could captivate with bon-bons; and my expectation was answered. Tagore was surprised and gratified. Often while I was applauding her, I saw her little sparkling eyes turned upwards, and her proboscis came regularly over her broad forehead to receive my tribute of acknowledgment. I practised dismounting slowly, and regaining my seat expeditiously, to the entire satisfaction of Tagore.

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In this way we travelled through jungles, over tracts of sedgy grass, up mounds, and down ravines, till we came into an open level country surrounded by gently - rising ground, covered with wood. We were approaching a grove with our minds raised to the highest pitch of excitement, when Tagore uttered an exclamation, and pointed to some straggling trees; my heart swelled with rapture, but I could not discover to what he would call my attention, till, shading my eyes from the sun's rays, and the heat refracted from the yellow dry jungle-grass, I saw a tremendous elephant! 'Excellent,' cried I; that is the fellow we must capture!' We will attempt it,' replied Tagore. We slung our cables and small cords on our arms, covered ourselves with cloths the colour of the elephants, and couched close on their necks. 'Follow me,' said Tagore; the animals know their business; do you be steady and act with me.' Proceed,' said I. As we jolted along, I perceived the huge elephant was very dark, with remarkably clean tusks of surprising length. I felt an indescribable sensation of delight at being about to enjoy what I had so long and so ardently desired. In perfect dependence on the skill of Tagore,

and confidence in myself, I recalled the directions I had received.

Tagore slackened pace as he approached the monster, which seemed not to regard us, but continued to pluck branches from the limbs of a tree which stood in front of others that straggled on the edge of a neighbouring forest. Our elephants made a slight curve in their line of approach, and took some of the torn branches, at which the monster snorted so loud that my beast trembled. I was in a profuse perspiration, not altogether from alarm, but from being confined beneath my cloth, and receiving the humidity of the animal. I soon found myself on the left side of the monster, and my beast caressing him by rolling her proboscis over his head and shoulders. Tagore and his elephant were entirely hidden from me by the enormous bulk of the male, but I found by the gradual sidelong movement of the whole group, that we were placed so as to bring the legs of the male elephant near the trunk of a large tree. This was the moment to be seized. I slid cautiously down with my ropes, and found Tagore had already fastened his strongest rope round the tree. Our elephants became more assiduous in engaging the attention of the monster, or, as it were, more eloquently speaking the prologue of their loves. Tagore, with his finger on his lips and a nod to me, placed a noose round one leg of the enormous beast; the leg was raised, and kept suspended during a minute. It appeared an hour of the greatest excitement; and when the foot descended, the ground shook beneath us. I looked at Tagore; he was collected, but the pupils of his eyes were unshadowed by their lids, and large drops of perspiration trickled from his brow. During this period, his elephant rubbed the leg of the monster with her proboscis, as if to disguise the application of the ropes. This was the act for which Tagore waited: he drew the noose tight; in an instant we doubly secured it from slipping with smaller cords, and retreated to the rear. Our beasts immediately came jogging towards us. We regained our seats, covered ourselves with our cloths, and took a triumphant look