business connected with the erection of the pavilion. Mr. Atkinson was a clear headed and sound counsellor. Mr. Nason, a member of the finance Committee, and very regular in his attendance, as became a medical practitioner. Mr. James Bennett must be always a useful coadjutor in every matter involving dramatic performances, and when authorised by the Committee, discharged the duties allotted to him conscientiously. Mr. Morgan, as correspondent of the Birmingham Post, and proprietor of the Stratford Chronicle, gave full and regular publicity to the proceedings, and as assistant Hon. Secretary worked for a period night and day in forwarding the business. Messrs. Thompson and Colbourne were generally present at the weekly meetings, but as architects of the building their time and attention were fully occupied. The other members either resided at a distance, or were so engaged in their own affairs, as to have little time to devote to the public service. To the above list several valuable members were subsequently added. Amongst these the first place must be assigned to Mr. William Greener, gunmaker, whose constant attendance and active services made it a matter of regret that the Committee had not had the benefit of his co-operation from the commencement. Messrs. Langford and Chance, of the Birmingham Gazette, came also rather late into the field, but made up for that in some measure by the regularity of their attendance, and the interest they took in the proceedings. Amongst those who, whilst not connected with the Committee, were amongst the most active and useful friends of the cause, I am bound to record the names of Mr. Robert Walker (ex-mayor), and Mr. John Lane, Solicitor, whose absence from the roll of the Committee must be regarded as a serious loss to the celebration. By their exertions the fund was first established, and by their ability as financiers, had they been on the Committee, the exchequer would have been much benefited, whilst grave mistakes might have been prevented in the important business of expenditure. As some curiosity will probably exist hereafter to know not only the names but the occupations of the Committee, and the part enacted by each, or the degree of service rendered to the memory of Shakespeare in 1864, I have thought it not irrelevant to make this brief notice here of the respective claims of the members on the gratitude of those who, looking back to the memorable year, may regard their labours with approval; and I now return to the narrative. On the 7th September, the date last mentioned, the building Committee brought up their first report, in which they stated that having taken into consideration the various purposes for which a building would be required in the celebration of the Shakespeare tercentenary, they recommended the erection of a structure capable of accommodating five thousand persons, and the immediate advertising for tenders. At the next meeting, on the 21st September, a difficulty which might have become serious was removed, when Mr. R. H. Hobbes informed the meeting that an excellent site had been obtained for the erection of a spacious decagon building for the festival, Mr. T. Mason having in the kindest manner consented to place his paddock in Southern's Lane at the disposal of the Committee. It was then proposed by Mr. Hobbes, seconded by Mr. Charles Flower, and resolved :- "That the best thanks of the Committee be given to Mr. T. Mason for his liberality in granting the use of the field in Southern's Lane for the tercentenary festival, and the Committee engage to make compensation, and to repair all damage that may be done, and to give up possession as soon as possible after the 31st April next." That matter of somewhat important detail having been disposed of, it was moved by Mr. Bennett, seconded by Mr. Kendall, and resolved: "That steps be immediately taken to form branch Committees at Birmingham and other towns, to co-operate with the general Committee in Stratford, in making arrangements for the tercentenary celebration." Messrs. Cox, Bennett, and the Secretary, were authorised to act in the matter, and to proceed to the neighbouring towns for the purpose mentioned in the resolution. This was the first step taken towards obtaining the co-operation of the country. As authorised, we proceeded to Birmingham a few days afterwards. At this period the London Committee were "making the running;" every copy of the Athenæum contained the names of magnates of all descriptions added to their lists. The hopes of Stratford were, comparatively speaking, anything but brilliant. I never, however, despaired of the attractions of the birth and burial place of Shakespeare, and, in an article I published at this period, prophesied that wherever a statue might be founded the festival would be in Stratford-upon-Avon. It so happened, however, that on the evening prior to the visit of the Stratford deputation to Birmingham a public meeting had been held there, on behalf of London-the Rev. Dr. Miller in the chair. We thought the field preoccupied, but determined nevertheless to call upon Dr. Miller. He received us with courtesy, admitted the claims of Stratford upon Birmingham under all the circumstances, and suggested that a conference, to which he kindly offered accommodation in his own house, should be held by the friends of the celebration, with a view of coming to a common understanding respecting the somewhat conflicting interests of London and Stratford, to see what amount of support could be extended to both by the people of Birmingham, keeping at the same time in view their own project of a Shakespearian library. We at once adopted the Doctor's suggestions, and waited upon a number of influential gentlemen, who all consented to attend the conference on receiving timely notice to that effect. The holding of this conference was, however, postponed from time to time, for one reason and another, and ultimately Dr. Miller, not approving of some portions of the Stratford Committee's programme, declined to have anything to do with the conference. It was not therefore till the 18th December that any action was really taken in Birmingham on behalf of Stratford, when Mr. Holliday, the Mayor, convened a town's meeting, which was attended by Mr. E. F. Flower, Mr. Cox, and Mr. W. Greener. Speeches having been made by the Mayors of Birmingham and Stratford, it was moved by Alderman Hawkes, seconded by Mr. S. Timmins, and resolved:-"That this meeting fully recognises "Town Hall, Stratford-upon-Avon, 1863. "As the town in which Shakespeare was born, bred, and educated; which he chose for his home in the decline of life, and in which he died and was buried, Stratford-upon-Avon is assuredly the most appropriate spot for a tercentenary celebration in his honour. The better to secure this object in 1864, the following noblemen and gentlemen have agreed to act as President and Vice-presidents, and a local Committee has been appointed with power to add to its numbers. [Here the list of the Vice-presidents and local Committee, which appears in full hereafter, was given, as it stood at this early stage of the business.] "The festival will be extended over four or five days. "On Saturday, the 23rd of April, there will be a banquet for ladies and gentlemen, at which the Earl of Carlisle will preside, and deliver an address. He will be supported on the occasion by many Members of both Houses of Parliament, and others eminent in the walks of art, literature, and science. b "On other days there will be Excursions to various places in the vicinity of Stratford-upon-Avon, illustrative of incidents in Shakespeare's life, under the guidance of gentlemen well qualified for the task; Critical Analyses of Shakespeare's Plays; a Grand Oratorio (to which many of our leading vocalists have already consented to contribute their services), and a Miscellaneous Concert. The comedy of 'As You Like It,' and one of Shakespeare's tragedies will be represented by a combination of metropolitan and provincial talent. There will also be a Shakespearian Fancy Ball. "One day will be devoted exclusively to popular amusements. "Each day's proceedings will be fully specified in a subsequent prospectus. "The substantial objects to which the pecuniary results of the festival will be devoted, are "1st-The Endowment of one or more Scholarships to one of the Universities, open to the competition of those who have received their education at the same school at which Shakespeare received his, viz., The Free Grammar School founded by King Edward VI. "2nd-The Erection of a Monumental Memorial at Stratfordupon-Avon. "The Committee respectfully solicit your favourable consideration of their enterprise, and trust that with your countenance and co-operation the issue may be worthy of the cause. "While they reserve to themselves the privilege of expanding or modifying their programme according to circumstances, they beg to assure you that the larger the funds with which they may be entrusted the more energetic will be their efforts to render the occasion august and memorable. 66 'Signed on behalf of the Committee, "Secretary. "Donations and subscriptions will be received by Messrs. Glyn and Co., Messrs. Smith, Payne, and Smith, and Messrs. Hanbury and Co., Bankers, London; Messrs. Greenway, Smith, and Greenway, Bankers, Warwick; the Stourbridge and Kidderminster Banking Company, and the Warwick and Leamington Banking Company, Stratford-upon-Avon. "Subscribers are requested to specify the object for which they desire their subscriptions to be appropriated, viz., M for the Monumental Memorial; S for the Scholarship; and F for the Festival Fund." Of this document no less than twenty thousand were circulated, the greater number through the post office. It was also deemed advisable and desirable that the co-operation of the great societies and organisations of the |