retiring, occasionally, during the course of a concert, to supply the chords of their instruments with needful rosin: following their example, he likewise retires for a few minutes. It happened, on one of his nights, that Mrs. D. was observed, by a prying wag, through the crevice of the stage door, settling the composer's neckcloth, or chinbib; which done, the lady bestowed on her beloved a kiss. The same prying wight also observed Miss Dibdin, an amiable and beautiful young girl of about 17, through the Venetian blind of the opposite box, and said, on the performer taking his seat, unconscious, no doubt, of her being his daughter, "Dibdin, I say, Dibdin, why did not you take your rosin from t'other side ?"

MACKLIN, AS SHYLOCK."

MACKLIN was very particular in Shylock; so much so, that he requested Bobby Bates, who performed the part of Tubal, not to speak until he saw him standing on a certain spot; "nay," said Macklin, "not till you see me place my right foot on this nail," (pointing with his stick to the head of a large nail which was driven into the stage.) Bobby promised to remember the old

man's instruction; and, that he might have a better view of the nail, he marked it in a conspicuous manner with a piece of chalk. At night, Macklin had forgotten the nail; therefore, when Tubal entered, and remained, for some time, without speaking, Macklin exclaimed, in an under voice, "Why the d-1 don't you speak?""Sir," replied Bobby, "put your right foot upon the nail." This so disconcerted the veteran that it was with great difficulty be finished the part.

LOUIS XIV., AND MOLIERE.

LOUIS XIV. was informed, that the officers of his household had expressed, in a most offensive manner, how much they were mortified at being obliged to dine at the table du controleur de la bouche, with Moliere, valet de chambre to the King, because he performed as a comedian ; and that celebrated genius had absented himself from their dinners. Louis, desirous of putting an end to the insults offered to one of the first men of the age, said, one morning, to Moliere, "They tell me, that you make meagre fare here, and that the officers of my chamber do not think you fit to eat with them. Perhaps you are hun-、 gry; I wake, myself, with a good appetite; sit

down to table, and let us have breakfast." Moliere and his majesty took their seats; Louis helped his valet to the wing of a fowl, and himself to another, and ordered the entrées familières to be admitted. The most distinguished and favoured of the household made their appearance. "You see," said the king, "I am feeding Moliere, whom my valets-de-chambre do not think sufficiently good company for them." From that moment, Moliere had no occasion to present himself at the table of persons on service, as all the court were pressing in their offers of service.

EPIGRAM ON THE LATE J. P. KEMBLE,

When he superintended the re-building of CoventGarden Theatre.

Actor, and Architect, he tries

To please the Critics one and all :
This bids the private tiers to rise,

And that the Public tears to fall.

GEORGE AND DAVID GARRICK.

GEORGE, the brother of the celebrated David Garrick, was particularly attentive to him, and, on coming behind the scenes, usually inquired, " Has David wanted me?" On its being once asked, how George came to die so soon after the demise of

his distinguished relative, it was answered "Da

vid 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.