doubts and scruples vanish into air, thin_air.'"-"I have no longer any doubts," answered I, "as to the sensation you will produce; but tell me, my dear Dick, is your mind absolutely made up to try your chance in tragedy? Perhaps a previous attempt in genteel comedy would be an advisable step prior to your grand essay.' "Genteel co medy" reiterated Dick, with the most contemptuous smile," my good Sir, how very grovelling are your ideas on these subjects. No, no; tragedy, immortal tragedy for me;

I love the sad and sentimental queen Of sighs and tears, and her will I in

voke.'

Besides, my wardrobe, on which, by the way, I have expended a good round sum, is purely tragic every thing splendid and unique. Such robes, such feathers, such stars and spangles! had I met you sooner I would have regaled your eyes with the sight, but my luggage is already in Bath, and I am all impatience to be after it. I shall be so busy during my stay, however, and so bored with complimentary visits, that I cannot give you the promise of a letter: the newspapers must satisfy you as to my success, for soon

Through all the island will the tidings fly,

And ev'ry tongue will echo-have you seep him?

When shall he be here? which of the city gates

Shall open to receive him?'"

Hallo! waiter, bring the bill; time presses and I must be off." The bill was brought, and Dick and 1, after a mutual interchange of good wishes, took our several ways, he to gather imperishable laurels in Bath, and I to the silence of my chamber, to indulge my musings on the all-confident and vivacious spirit from which I had just parted.

.. Poor Diek! thou wert then in the hey-day of thy spirits; a fine, gay, lively fellow, with a purse as light as thy heart, admired and courted by all who knew thee; but

"Where be thy flashes of merriment

Chance first threw me into the way of Dick, and I know not how it was, he had the knack above all the men I ever knew of taking you, as it were, by surprise; you should, like him do your best against it. There was something so easy, and withal so pleasant, in his manner, that you must have acknowledged he was the most captivating fellow in the world. I remember the first day I met him was at Tom Bate's. Tom was a pleasant soul in his way; he had a certain dry method of his own that gave an admirable effect Dick was a Chameleon, and dis to his comical stories. But Dick! played as many different degrees of

humour in the course of an hour, as that fanciful animal is said to ex

hibit colours in the day. I was never fond of making acquaintances; indeed, I believe, I am remarked for a certain formality of manner, which I most likely inherit from my mother, whose ancestors came originally from Spain, but the deuce was in the fellow, there was no getting over him. The glance of his eye was sufficient to melt the very starch in the frill of a Spanish grandee. It was useless to look cold upon him, for the mercury in his constitution rose higher in frosty weather. Some called him a rattle, and others a mad cap, but none could deny him the palm of pleasantry. For my own part, I was not twenty minutes in his company, till I found that I loved him; and from that day I felt an interest in his future fortunes for which I could not easily account. I saw him the child of genius, ardent, aspiring, and full lents, I have said, take but a right of hopes; if this young man's tadirection, he will probably shine in the world. But I too well knew that a spirit like his was just as and I sighed as I thought on the likely to pursue a wrong course; fate which too commonly attends unguided genius.

predeliction for the stage, and I I had for some time suspected his augured no good from his connec tion with some young men of rank and fashion, who were distinguished in the higher circles as amateur actors. My suspicions were further strengthened, by observing among his books, a new edition of Mrs.

Luchbald's acting plays;"" Shakspeare's tragedies;"-" Siddons on gesture and action,' and "The Thespian Preceptor." His chambers too, exhibited every mark of a theatrical propensity. In one corner lay the robes of Richard, in another the dress of Macbeth, while the inky cloke of Hamlet occupied a more conspicuous situation. The walls. exhibited numerous portraits of celebrated performers, in their favourite characters; under each of which was written, by the pencil of Dick, a brief panegyric on their re spective merits. In short, every thing I saw in his apartments convinced me of the new excitement which his spirit had received. His manner and appearance, I also observed, had undergone a considerable change; his pace was exactly squared to the gait of a tragedian, at the moment of his deepest musings. His air was lofty and reserved; and he spoke in blank verse, occasionally embellished by some apt quotation from some of the many plays he was continually studying. His slightest remarks on the commonest topics were delivered with pompous precision; and his most trivial actions displayed theatrical dignity. In fine, his whole manner and air gave an admirable picture of the mock heroic. It seemed that he was suddenly seized with a desire to take on the grand and melancholy, and disdaining the buskin of the laughter-loving Muse, he assumed the sock, and wrapped himself in the robes of her graver sister. To his intimates, however, and that he was kind enough to consider me one, was sufficiently proved by his asking my opinion on his favourite scheme (although, by the way, he had previously determined to adopt his own), he laid aside, in some measure, his newly acquired reserve, and on the occasion of his flight to Bath, he seemed so far elated with his subject, as to throw into his discourse a dash of his former pleasantry.

I remember calling at his lodgings one day, when I surprised him rehearsing, with stentorian lungs, the part of Richard, which he had undertaken to play at one of the minor theatres," for the benefit of the widow, and five children of a deceased professional gentleman."

He motioned to a chair as I entered, and I sat me down, in sad civility, to listen to his ravings: unfortu nately, however, "I am nothing if not critical," and I therefore begged leave to object to his using certain contortions of face and body, which I conceived completely outstepped that golden rule which Hamlet endeavours to impress upon the players, but which he was pleased to assure me were admirable points. Poor fellow! it was a pity after all to damp his ardour; but, had I not interposed, I verily believe that the vehemence of his action in depicting his supposed encounter with Richmond, would heve been fatal to his landlady's china, for the poker, which he flourished in lieu of a sword, was taking a fine sweeping direction towards the brittle ware, when, by a fortunate movement of my cane, I luckily averted the threatened blow. It was then that, seeing his total incapacity to raise any other sensation in an audience than absolute derision, I ventured, with due timidity, to assure him that, however bountiful nature liad been to him in other respects, she had not, in my poor judgment, bestowed on him the slightest particle of theatrical talent, "Let not the opinion, or the advice of others, my dear Dick," said I, " encourage you in this pursuit, for which, be assured, you are by no means fitted. I ought to know something of these matters, for I have lived long enough, not only to have witnessed the dawning of Kemble's genius, but to have beheld the great Garrick ere his was on the wane: his voice is still in my ears, and his figure is now before me. That picture there bears him some faint resemblance, but no painter can give you an adequate idea of Garrick as Zanga, in which character he is there represented. I remember having heard it said, that Young made considerable alterations in this tragedy, in compliance with the suggestions of that great man. The first scene, in particular, was nearly re-written, as the entrance of Zanga, in the original, was delayed to the second act, which did not agree with the taste of Garrick, who loved to produce an early, as well as a strong impression. Kean, who completely fails in sus

66

taining the dignity of Zanga, reminds me, notwithstanding, much more forcibly of Garrick, than Kemble did, even in his best days. His hurried entrance, in particular, during the raging of the storm, accords more, not only with the acting of the mighty master" in that particular part, but in my opinion, with the spirit of the character itself, than the stately and measured step of Kemble previous to his delivery of the opening speech. But these remarks, which have been suggested by the view of that picture, are beside our present question.' "Well then," said Dick," although I perceive you are tinctured by the prejudices of the old school, I should wish you to tell me candidly what you think of my talents as an actor.

'Nothing extenuate nor set down aught

In malice.""

You

"I thank you for the hint," said I, "but as I have already offered you my opinion, I have only to repeat it now. You have not, in my poor judgment, the slightest notion of describing a passion, or delivering a sentiment; your utterance and action out Herod, Herod' in fact, they outrage all propriety. seem to mistake fury for force, and bombast for dignity; your acting has not even the merit of being a laughable burlesque on tragedy: for it partakes more of the ravings of insanity, than the rantings of a buffoon: it is a strange infatuation, this turn for the theatricals." I added, "I have known in my time, many excellent young men who were filled with the same delusion, which generally ended in their joining some strolling company. I would not have you, my dear Dick, be equally misled, as your friend Hamlet says

to his mother,

'Lay not the flattering unction to your soul.'

That you are in the possession of talents which you do not own. You perceive speak home to you, my young friend; but you should not reject a wholesome medicine, because it happens not to please your palate. The feeling of charity is always to be commended; and there

fore, I give you full credit for the motive which has, no doubt, influenced you in espousing the cause of the widow and her five children; but the world is inclined to be censorious, and your vanity will be charged with an act which is dee to a more commendable feeling.""I despise the world," said Dick, "and am equally regardless of its praise or censure. With regard to your opinion of my talents, I thank you for the pains you have taken to discover my possible defects, but

By the faith of man I know my price.'

I feel that in acting I am destined to excel, and that in time the unanimous voice of an admiring people will hail me as a brilliant star. But my hour is almost come," he added, looking at his watch, "Sir Robert Ranter, and my friend the Major promised to meet me this evening at the theatre; we are to have a dressed rehearsal, and Lady Betty Bunt assured me, by her fair hand, that she would not fail to be present.

'Limbs do your office and support me well,

Lead me but to her-then fail me if you can!"

But I turn from this digression, and resume my narrative. Five years had elapsed from the time of Dick Spouter's departure from town, during which time I was in total igno rance of his fate, when I chanced to stroll, one fine morning in the last spring, into St. James's Park, and there, taking a place on one of the rustic seats, I was insensibly led into a train of thoughts, which ren

dered me almost unconscious of be

ing seated next a stranger, who kept eying me between the snatches of time which he whistled, apparently to while away the time. Perceiving after a while that my musings were so narrowly observed, I prepared to shift my quarters, when the stranger started up, and placing himself full before me, he exclaimed, "Oh! world, thy slippery turns-what! and will you too cut an old friend, because he happens to be without a sixpence to buy his breakfast ?" the

voice, was a voice of other years, but the appearance of the outward man was so far reduced, both in the flesh, and its exterior appendages, that it was not without some difficulty I discovered the features of Dick Spouter. But how unlike the Dick Spouter of former days, was the wasted and woe-begone figure that stood before me!

66 meagre were his looks, Sharp misery had worn him to the bone."

His coat, hat, and pantaloons were all of a dingy brown: yet, notwithstanding his broken down and dilapidated appearance, and in spite of the gay crowds that were passing at the time, old recollections came so thick upon me, that I could not resist the impulse which I felt to shake him cordially by the hand. "Poor Dick," said I," the world, I perceive, has dealt hardly with thee, and thou hast been buffetted about on its rude stage. Thy morning dreams of glory are quite dissolved."-" Aye," said Dick, with a rueful smile,

And like the baseless fabric of a vision

Leave not a wreck behind.!'

I have been sadly treated by Dame Fortune since I saw you: you perceive I am quite cut up. A curst infatuation for acting came over, me, and led me from every thing sober and sensible. I have lost all my little fortune in following a vain chimera, and my health is ruined into the bargain: no one will know me now in this contemptible attire. I have neither money nor friends; in short, you behold before you the miserable remnant of a strolling player.""I have little doubt of your sufferings, my poor Dick," said I; "but come along, and we will talk further on the subject. You have not breakfasted I suppose ?"-"Why, no;" replied Dick,

to tell you the truth, I have not experienced the comfort of a regular meal for many months, nor have I slept upon a softer bed than this," he added, pointing to the bench on which we had been seated. "Good God!" said I, "you have not surely passed the night here ?"

I took him by the arm, and hurried him away, for his gestures and appearance, 1 perceived, began to attract observation; and after walking in silence for a few moments, for I found my heart too. full to speak, and his I fancy was not much lighter, we found ourselves seated in a neighbouring coffee-room before a cheering fire, and a plentiful breakfast of tea, coffee, toast, and eggs, at sight of which goodly fare poor Dick seemed to regain something of his former self. But it was quite evident from his hollow eye and broken voice, that he was falling a victim to some inward malady. His language too was at times incoherent, and more than ever made up of quotations from various dramatic authors. He gave me a brief outline of his unfortunate career in pursuit of histrionic fame, but I forbear to repeat it here; for, with the exception of the manner in which his adventures were detailed, and to which I should despair of doing adequate justice, there was little in them. beyond the usual quantum of crosses and disappointments to which all strollers are subject, but it was really surprising, after all he had endured, that his passion for theatricals was still unabated. He spoke with his usual

ardour of the profession, and attri buted his ill success to every other cause but his want of talent. It is true that, when stung by the memory of some particular suffering, he curst in the bitterness of his soul, the fatal infatuation by which he was first influenced. But the poison was too deeply rooted for even misfortune to eradicate; and, "hugging his dear destruction," the moment of his bitterest railings, was often followed by a burst of his former enthusiasm. He seemed still to fancy that he possessed no common talents for the stage, and that one day or other the world would acknowledge his merits. The depraved taste of unenlightened audiences, the want of discernment in the managers with whom he was at times engaged, and the intrigues of more fortunate rivals, were always the rocks on which he foundered. In short, from his first appearance in Bath, where, as far as I could learn, he was most unequivocally damned, to his last attempt in a miserable barn, when the receipts of the house amounted to three and sixpence, he had undergone a series of misfortunes and privations, that might well have broken down a more elastic spirit. His wardrobe, on which he had expended nearly all his fortune, in the full anticipation of ultimate success, became a prey to the depraved companions with whom necessity had cast him; and he was even destined to witness the entire ruin of his cherished hope, his Hamlet's dress" of cut velvet and black bugles," which, as he said, he valued as he did the apple of his eye. "There, even there," cried Dick, "where I had garnered up my heart, the hand of spiteful envy left its mark." But the incident, touching his favourite dress, affords so good a specimen of the crosses by which he was surrounded, and is at once so characteristic of the strolling fraternity, that I shall endeavour to relate it, as far as my memory serves me, in his own language. "We halted the next day," said Dick, in continuation of his adventures, "at a town in Staffordshire, of which I forget the name. Our manager was resolved to make an impression, and we were all considerably elated by

hearing that the place was fashionably filled, and that the races were about to commence. Our operations immediately began. A large out-house was hired, over which we hung our battered standard, and caused to be painted in large characters, "Theatre-Royal." The sanction of the mayor was procured, and we sent forth flaming bills, announcing the arrival of our company, which, "for acting, dresses, scenery, and decorations, was decidedly the first in England." The next point of consideration was our opening play, and here it was that our grand deliberations commenced. Our company was chiefly made up of raw recruits, and each of them proposed a piece in which they could display their individual talent in some favourite part, and our ma nager, as was his custom, heard every one's opinion, and always followed his own. I had long sighed for an occcasion of showing off," continued Dick, “in one of Shakspeare's characters, and I thought the present a golden opportunity too precious to be lost. My Hamlet's dress I had carefully reserved, and I knew that the general wardrobe had nothing like it. In fact, it was a very costly affair, and it had attracted general admiration when I first displayed it at a theatrical party given by the Empress of all that was tasteful, Lady Betty Bunt," here Dick sighed, hung bis head, and then continued. "It came to my turn to speak, and I immediately proposed Hamlet, reserving to myself the principal character. The general voice was against me, and the manager shook his head. However, I produced my dress, and my wishes were ultimately carried. How my heart panted when I saw the play announced the day following: the part of Hamlet by a celebrated performer, who has been engaged for a limited number of nights.’

The morning dawn'd and heavily in