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Order was again restored: but, upon the appearance of Miss Searle, hostilities were ungenerously renewed betwen the partisans of Miss Mudie, and the Anti-Roscianites. All was noise and confusion. When it was found that any interference would but "more embroil the fray," the remainder of the comedy was converted into pantomimic show, not a word being heard; and the curtain fell on the most imperfect performance ever witnessed on a London stage.

THEATRICALS INTERDICTED AT CAMBRIDGE.

Copy of a Letter from Lord North, respecting a Showman. To the Right Worshipful, my loving Friende, Mr. Dr. Hatcher, Vice Chauncelour of Cambridge.

"If your neighbour Robinson, good Mr. Vice Chauncelour, have told you that he hath licence from me to shew certayn games, suerly I must needs confesse that he abuseth me therein, or els, I have to muche abused myselfe in consenting to as great vanitie. Howbeit, I do assure myselfe he hath nothing to shew under my hande for any games, or if he have, it is for lawful games, which neither you nor any justice can restrayne;

seeing the lause doth alowe them. Sir, I do so muche mislyke theis vayne and idle stories, as I wyll consent to none of them. I do utterly mislyke any assembly of people, without the servis of God, or her Majesty, and therefore gyve my. consent to withdraw hym from any of his showes, although he have warrant for the same, which you shale not find treue.

"Concerning my man and usher, though all things be not treu, according to the informacion gyven me, so do I not leave all to be untreu ; and therefore leave the order to your good consideration, who I, heare, hath alredie handlid the matter with good wisedome; for which I hartily thank you, and howe muche more easely you shall deale with me and my man, so muche more a cause I have to thank you, and shall be the redier to requite it to your bodye; but if you fall to accusashuns of slander, I trust you wyll gyve me justice, which will appeale for the same, even in greate and grievous slanders ministered agaynst me. So I leave you to the mercies of our Heavenlie Father, whoe ever bless you."

"In haste, from Kirtling, 20th Sept. 1580,
"Your treue friend,

"ROGER NORTH."

MADAME CLAIRON.

THIS celebrated lady, destined to be so distinguished, was of the lowest extraction: the daughter of a violent and illiterate woman, who, with blows and menaces, drove about the child, all day, to manual labour. "I know not," said Clairon, of herself, "whence I derived my disgust, but I could not bear the idea to be a mere work-woman, or to remain inactive in a corner." In her eleventh year, being locked up in a room, as a punishment, with the windows fastened, she climbed upon a chair, to look about her. A new object instantly absorbed her attention: in the house opposite, she observed a celebrated actress amidst her family, whose daughter was performing her dancing lesson: the girl Clairon, the future Melpomene, was struck by the influence of this graceful and affectionate scene-"All my little being, (she relates) collected itself into my eyes; I lost not a single motion: as soon as the lesson had ended, all the family applauded, and the mother embraced the daughter. That difference of her fate, and mine, filled me with profound. grief; my tears hindered me from seeing any longer; and when my beating heart allowed me to re-ascend the chair, all had disappeared."

The

This was a discovery!-From that moment she knew no rest; she rejoiced when she could get her mother to confine her in that room. happy girl was a divinity to the unhappy one, whose susceptible genius imitated her in every gesture and motion; and Clairon soon shewed the effect of her ardent studies, for she betrayed all the graces she had taught herself, in the commonest concerns of life. She charmed ber friends, and even softened her barbarous mother; and, in a word, she became an actress, without knowing what constituted an actress.

FOOTE, AND THE MAYOR.

THIS humourist, travelling in the west of England, dined one day at an Inn. When the cloth was removed, the landlord asked him how he liked his fare. "I have dined as well as any man in England," said Foote. "Except Mr. Mayor," cried the landlord. "I do not except any body whatever," said he. "But you must," bawled the host." I won't.". "You must."-At length, the strife ended, by the landlord (who was a petty magistrate) taking Foote before the Mayor, who observed, it had been customary in that town, for a great number of years, always to

except the Mayor, and, accordingly, fined him a shilling for not conforming to this ancient custom. Upon this sage decision Foote paid the shilling, at the same time observing, with great shrewdness, that he thought the landlord was the greatest fool in Christendom, except-the Mayor.

POPE'S EPITAPH ON MACKLIN.

SEVERAL years before his death, Mr. Macklin happened to be in a large company of ladies and gentlemen, among whom was the celebrated Mr. Pope.-The conversation having turned upon age, one of the ladies addressed herself to Mr. Pope, in words to the following effect:-" Mr. Pope, when Macklin dies, you must write his epitaph."-"That I will, madam," said Pope; "nay, I will give it you now."

"Here lies the Jew

That Shakspeare drew."

THE ACTOR AND THE DAISIES.

A SON of Thespis, who had been some time upon the stage, was walking in the fields early in the year, with a young man who had just entered the profession; suddenly the veteran ran out of the path, stopped instantly, and putting forward his foot on the grass, exclaimed, with ecstacy,

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