CHARLOTTE CIBBER.

COLLEY Cibber had a daughter of the name of Charlotte, who married a Mr. Starke. She was brought up to the stage; but her subsequent life was one continued series of misfortunes, affliction, and distress, which she sometimes contrived a little to alleviate by the productions of her pen. About the year 1755, she had written a novel for the press, "which," says Mr. Samuel Whyte, who relates the melancholy tale, "I accompanied my friend, a bookseller, to hear read. She was at that time a widow: her habitation a wretched thatched hovel, situated on the road to Islington, not very distant from the New-River-head; where, at that time, it was customary for scavengers to deposit the sweepings of the streets. The night preceding, a heavy rain had fallen, which rendered this extraordinary seat of the Muses nearly inaccessible, and we could only approach, by wading almost knee-deep in the mud. We did not attempt to pull the latchstring, but knocked at the door, which was opened by a tall, meagre, ragged, figure, with a blue apron, indicating, what otherwise was doubtful, that it was a female before us; a perfect model for the Copper Captain's tattered landlady,

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that deplorable exhibition of the fair sex, in "Rule a Wife." She, with a trembling voice, and constrained smile, desired us to walk in. The first object that presented itself was a dresser; clean, it must be confessed, but wretchedly furnished. To the right, we perceived the mistress of the house, sitting on a broken chair, under the mantle-piece, by a small fire. At the authoress' feet, on the flounce of her dingy petticoat, reclined a dog, almost a skeleton, who saluted us with a snarl :- Have done,' said she, Fidele, these are friends."

"The tone of her voice was not harsh; it had something in it humble and disconsolate, a mingled effort of authority and pleasure. Poor soul! few were her visitors of that description; no wonder the creature barked! A magpie was perched upon the top ring of her chair; and on her lap was placed a pair of mutilated bellows-the pipe was gone. These were used as a succedaneum for a writing-desk, on which lay displayed her hopes and treasure, the manuscript of her novel; her inkstand was a broken tea-cup; her pen was worn to a stump; a rough deal board, with three hobbling supporters, was brought for our convenience; on which, without further ceremony, we

contrived to sit down, and enter upon business. "The work was read, remarks made, alterations suggested, and agreed to, and thirty guineas demanded for the copy. The squalid hand-maiden, who had been an attentive listener, stretched forward her tawny neck, with an eye of anxious expectation. The bookseller offered five guineas; our authoress did not appear hurt; disappointments had rendered her mind callous; however, some altercation ensued, which terminated by the bookseller doubling his first proposal, which was accepted."

Such is the story of the once admired daughter of Colley Cibber, poet laureate, and patentee of Drury-Lane Theatre, who was born in affluence, educated with care and tenderness, and who, though possessing considerable talents, terminated her miserable existence on a dunghill !

THE PRINCE OF ANNAMABOO, AND STEPHEN KEMBLE.

WHEN Stephen Kemble was manager at Newcastle, and the houses were rather flat, no less a person arrived in town than Prince Annamaboo, who offered his services for a very moderate con

sideration. Accordingly, the bills of the day announced," that, between the acts of the play, Prince Annamaboo would give a lively representation of the scalping operation; he would, likewise, give the Indian war-whoop, in all its various tones; the tomahawk exercise, and the mode of feasting at an Abyssinian banquet."

The evening arrived, and many people attended to witness these princely imitations. At the end of the third act, his highness walked forward, with dignified step, flourishing his tomahawk, and rending the air, exclaiming, "Ha, ha! ho, ho!" Next entered a man with his face blackened, and a piece of bladder fastened to his head with gum the Prince, with a large carving knife, commenced his scalping operation, which he performed in a style truly imperial, holding up the skin in token of triumph. Next came the war-whoop, which was a combination of dreadful and discordant sounds: lastly, the Abyssinian banquet, consisting of raw beef-steaks; these he made into rolls, as large as his mouth would admit, and devoured them in a princely and dignified manner. Having completed his cannibal repast, he flourished his tomahawk again, exclaiming "Ha, ha! ho, ho!" and made his

exit. The next day, the manager, in the middle of the market-place, espied the most puissant Prince of Annamaboo, selling pen-knives, scissors, and quills, in the character of a Jew pedlar. "What!" said Kemble," my Prince, is that you? Are not you a pretty Jewish scoundrel to impose upon us in this manner." Moses turned round, looked surprised, and replied, "Prince be hanged!-I vash no prince, I vash no prince; I vash acting, like you. You vash kings, princes, emperors, to day, Stephen Kemble to-morrow! I vash humbug—you vash humbug-all vash humbug."

GARRICK.

THE diffidence of Garrick, at first, withheld him from trying his strength upon a London Theatre he thought the hazard too great; and, therefore, commenced his noviciate in acting with a company of players, then ready to set out for Ipswich, under the direction of Mr. Gifford and Mr. Dunstall, in the summer of 1741. The first effort of his theatrical talents was exerted in Aboan, in " Oroonoko;" and met with applause, equal to his most sanguine desires. Under the assumed name of Lyddal, he not only enacted a variety of characters in plays, particularly Chamont, in the "Orphan;" Captain Brazen, in the