Samuel Lewis, in his History of Islington,' published in 1842, describes the 'Castle public house and tea gardens at the northern termination of Colebrooke (sic) Row, Islington' (see LAMB), and asserts that 'in the house next to this tavern, Colley Cibber lived and died' (chap. ix. pp. 351, 352). The Castle no longer exists.

Cibber was buried by the side of his father and mother, in a vault under the Danish Church, situated in Wellclose Square, Ratcliffe Highway (since named St. George Street). This church, according to an inscription placed over the doorway, was built in 1696 by Caius Gabriel Cibber himself, by order of the King of Denmark, for the use of such of his Majesty's subjects as might visit the port of London. The church was taken down some years ago (1868-70), and St. Paul's Schools were erected on its foundation, which was left intact. Rev. Dan. Greatorex, Vicar of the Parish of St. Paul, Dock Street, in a private note written in the summer of 1883, says:

Colley Cibber and his father and mother were buried in the vault of the old Danish Church. When the church was removed, the coffins were all removed carefully into the crypt under the apse, and then bricked up. So the bodies are still here. The Danish Consul was with me when I moved the bodies. The coffins had perished except the bottoms. I carefully removed them myself personally, and laid them side by side at the back of the crypt, and covered them with earth.

Cibber was the only English actor ever elected a member of White's, which originally was situated at Nos. 69 and 70 St. James's Street, 'near the bottom on the west side.' In 1755, two years before Cibber's death, it was removed to the position it has so long held, Nos. 37 and 38 St. James's Street. He was also one of the original members of the 'Spiller's Head Club,' which met at the Inn of John Spiller, Clare Market, Lincoln's Inn Fields. The house, if standing,

cannot now be identified, and Clare Market has changed greatly for the worse since Cibber's day.

He was frequently found at Tom's Coffee House, which stood at No. 17 Russell Street, Covent Garden. This building was taken down in 1865, and on its site was erected the National Deposit Bank.

ner.

lor's RecJohn Tayords of my

Life.

Mr. Murphy told me also that he was once present at Tom's Coffee House, which was only open to subscribers, when Colley was engaged at whist, and an old general was his partAs the cards were dealt to him, he took up every one in turn, and expressed his disappointment at every indifferent one. In the progress of the game he did not follow suit, and his partner said, 'What, have you not a spade, Mr. Cibber?' The latter, looking at his hand, answered, 'Oh, yes, a thousand!' which drew a very peevish comment from the General. On which, Cibber, who was shockingly addicted to swearing, said, 'Don't be angry; for, I can play ten times worse if I like.'

Till's De

Particulars

lish Corona

I cannot let slip the present opportunity in mentioning that the house in which I reside (No. 17 Russell Street, Covent Garden) was the famous Tom's Coffee House, memorable in the reign of Queen Anne, and for more than half a century scriptive afterwards; the room in which I conduct my business of the Engas a coin-dealer is that which in 1764, by a guinea tion Medsubscription among nearly seven hundred of the nobil- als. ity, foreign ministers, gentry, and geniuses of the age, became the card room and place of meeting for many of the now illustrious dead, till in 1768, when a voluntary subscription among its members induced Mr. Haines, the then proprietor, to take in the next room westward as a coffee room, and the whole floor en suite was constructed as card and conversation rooms.

6

SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE.

1772-1834.

'OLERIDGE'S associations with London began when he

COLER

was but ten years old. He entered the Blue Coat School on the 18th of July, 1782. Charles Lamb, in his Essay, 'Christ-Hospital Five and Thirty Years Ago,' describes Coleridge's experiences there; and Coleridge himself has frequently told the story of his school life.

1832.

The discipline of Christ-Hospital in my day was extra Spartan. All domestic ties were to be put aside. 'Boy,' I remember Boyer saying to me once when I was crying, the first Coleridge's Table Talk, day of my return after the holidays, 'boy, the school is your father; boy, the school is your mother; boy, the school is your brother; the school is your sister, boy; the school is your first cousin and your second cousin, and all the rest of your relations. Let us have no more crying.'

James Gilman's Life

Continuing an account of himself at school, Coleridge says: 'From eight to fourteen I was a playless day-dreamer, a helluo librorum, my appetite for which was indulged by a singular incident; a stranger who was struck by my of Coleridge, conversation made me free of a circulating library in vol. i.chap. i. King Street, Cheapside.' The incident indeed was singular. Going down the Strand in one of his day-dreams, fancying himself swimming across the Hellespont, thrusting his hands before him as in the act of swimming, his hand came in contact with a gentleman's pocket; the gentleman seized his hand, and turning round . . . accused him of an attempt to pick his pocket; the frightened boy sobbed out his denial of the intention, and explained to him that he thought himself swimming the Hellespont.

Coleridge went to town [in 1782], and Buller placed him in the Blue Coat School. The family, being proud, thought them