silent influence of Shakespeare's poetry on millions of young hearts in England, in Germany, in all the world, shows the superhuman power of human genius. If one looks at that small house in a small street of a small town of a small island, and then thinks of the world-embracing, world-quickening, world-ennobling spirit that burst forth from that small garret, one has learnt a lesson and carried off a blessing for which no pilgrimage would have been too long. Though the great festivals which, in former days, brought together people from all parts of Europe to worship at the shrine of Canterbury exists no more, let us hope, for the sake of England more than for the sake of Shakespeare, that this will not be the last Shakespearian festival in the annals of Stratford-upon-Avon. In this cold critical age of ours the power of worshipping, the art of admiring, the passion of loving what is great and good, are fast dying out. May England never be ashamed to show to the world that she can love, that she can admire, that she can worship the greatest of her poets. May Shakespeare live on in the love of each generation that grows up in England. May the youth of England long continue to be nursed, to be fed, to be reproved, and judged by his spirit. With that nation, that truly English, because truly Shakespearian nation, the German nation will always be united by the strongest sympathies; for, superadded to their common blood, their common religion, their common battles and victories, they will always have in Shakespeare a common teacher, a common benefactor, a common friend. Mr. Mayor, Professor Leitner, Professor of Arabic at King's College, London, has the address from the German nation, and will present it to you."

Professor Leitner then presented the address, in the name of the Hochstift, to the Corporation of Stratford. He said it had been suggested to him that since the Hochstift represented on this occasion the nation of Goethe, and the Mayor and Council of Stratford the nation of Shakespeare, it would be right to present this document in a more public, though less formal, manner. With that suggestion he saw no difficulty of complying, and would therefore take

the opportunity at the banquet of presenting it to the Corporation before the assembled public. Till then he would have it thoroughly understood that the Hochstift, proprietors of the house of Goethe, looked to the Stratford Corporation, trustees of the house of Shakespeare, as the most worthy representatives of the nation of Shakespeare on the present occasion. Professor Leitner then conveyed the greeting of the Hochstift to the Corporation, and amid considerable applause formally deposited the address, without reading it, in the hands of the Mayor and the Corporation.

The following is a translation of the address:—

"The Free German Hochstift for the spread of Sciences, Arts, and General Enlightenment, from their seat in the House of Goethe, sends its voice to the whole German nation by congratulating on the tercentenary of Shakespeare's birth, through this document, and addresses this letter to the Mayor and Council of the town of Stratfordupon-Avon.

"Once, as their blood, so was the language of the nations of the Saxons on this and that side of the German Ocean, the same. Sprung from one stem, two separate branches have developed into a separate and perfect growth. On the one side was formed that English tongue which enabled the greatest poet and painter of the human heart and of its passions, whose cradle stood on the banks of the Avon, to give expression to the creations of his mind; on the other side grew that German mother tongue in which Goethe, the greatest among the host of admirers of Shakespeare, described with graphic touches, as before him no mortal, the macrocosm the universe, together with the microcosm man. Once our country sent to Britain's shores that heroic youth which came as deliverers and successfully established a new Saxon nationality against the invasion of Latin races and influence. Shakespeare's poems, in return, restored to us the mothers' travail of Germania, at a time when, in a century of civil revolution, they were almost forgotten in their own country. Old Teutonic virtues gained their

footing as emancipators and expellers of Latin corruption, and, establishing themselves victoriously, gave birth to a new heroic youth; but this time one of the intellects which forced its way through storm and oppression into light, and grouped the brilliant host of our writers round the bold forms of Schiller and Goethe. As England's sons, wherever they be on this globe, so do all Germans thankfully praise the one and only William Shakespeare. May the kindred of blood once more assert its power by uniting into one fellow-feeling all the members of the race of the Saxons on this or that side of every sea. This we wish by our greeting:

"Hail to the memory of William Shakespeare!
"Hail to the town of Stratford-upon-Avon!
"Hail to the people of England!

(Signed by the Executive of the Hochstift.)

"Given in Goethe's House on Sunday Jubilate.”

The address was tastefully illuminated, the vignette displaying a medallion of Shakespeare in gold and blue; at the foot is a scroll, at either end of which is a wreath, enclosing a sketch of Goethe's house, and another of Shakespeare. On the scroll at the foot is inscribed a sentence from Kückert "This is my people, the great people, which out of its bosom daily sends its sons. They carry back to its bosom the nations of every tongue; and at the banquet mingle, in wonderful oneness of song, the varied languages of the world.”

THE BANQUET.

This appropriate commencement of a series of holidays entitled the Festival Week," took place pursuant to arrangement in the pavilion. On the floor, or central part of the building, there were placed ten rows of tables; of these one was a cross or head table, at which the President and more distinguished of the guests were seated. Three other rows of tables were arranged on the stage, and these, set off with the wings and side scenes, made a very pleasing picture. In the lower tier, or what might be called the "pit boxes," tables were also placed, at which, as in other parts of the building, ample justice was done to the "Shakespearian dishes." The upper galleries were occupied by spectators, who looked on with all that gratification that is to be derived from witnessing enjoyments which one is not permitted to share. The decorations of the pavilion were in good taste, but several of the mottoes around the building were not very happily selected. The following from "Julius Cæsar," for instance, were somewhat ominous and apologetic:

"O that a man might know
The end of this day's business ere it come."

And

"In such a time as this

It is not meet that every nice offence
Should bear its comment."

The tables were, however, very beautifully decorated with flowers mentioned by Shakespeare, and there were also a number of busts and statuettes which formed appropriate and agreeable objects of decoration. On one was placed a bronze representing Ophelia in her "brainish apprehension" distributing flowers for "thoughts and remembrance." Another was occupied by the pendant to this, a figure

of Hamlet a thoroughly artistic representation of the character. Romeo and Juliet, the details of the dress, jewels, &c., being most minutely carved, were on a third table. On the centre was placed the beautiful memorial bust of Shakespeare-a copy in bronze the exact size of the original having been expressly produced for this occasion. This bust is the work of Mr. Felix M. Miller, professor of sculpture, Government School of Art, London, and is believed by many to be one of the most successful likenesses ever produced. It formed, together with the Ophelia, Hamlet, &c., above-named, a portion of the collection illustrative of Shakespeare's plays, which Messrs. Howell, James, and Co., of Regent Street, London, had arranged for exhibition during the festival.

Lord Carlisle, accompanied by Lord Leigh and several others, arrived as above stated, at Stratford-upon-Avon shortly after two o'clock. On his entrance to the town, and when on his way to the pavilion, Lord Carlisle was enthusiastically cheered. Within the pavilion a very hearty reception was also given to his lordship, and on his taking the chair he was cheered by repeated rounds of applause.

Amongst the company present, who numbered seven hundred and fifty, the following were observed :—The Earl of Carlisle, K.G., Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland (the President), his Grace the Archbishop of Dublin, the Lord Bishop of St. Andrews, the Earl of Shrewsbury, Lord Leigh (Lord-Lieutenant of Warwickshire), the Earl of Warwick, Lord Wrottesley, the Hon. F. Byng, the Earl of Harrowby, the Right Hon. C. B. Adderley, M.P., Mr. C. N. Newdegate, M.P., General Ainslie, Mr. J. C. Ewart, M.P., Sir Charles Mordaunt, M.P., Sir R. N. C. Hamilton, Bart., Mr. E. F. Flower (Mayor of Stratford), Dr. Brockhaus, Professor Max Müller, Dr. Leitner, Sir William_Fraser, M.P., Hon. Chandos Leigh, Lord Houghton, Sir J. Paxton, M.P., Sir Lawrence Palk, M.P., Hon. F. Ponsonby, Mr. C. M. Caldecott, Mr. W. Holliday (Mayor of Birmingham), the Lord Mayor of York, Mr. Charles Swain, Mr. Martin F. Tupper, Sir N. W.