In an autograph book now prepared for visitors one thousand six hundred and sixty names and addresses were entered during the ten days over which the late festival extended. Amongst the first names signed in this volume are the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher (Brooklyn), and "ton Seyers" (Pugilist!). The total number of visitors during the period referred to was two thousand eight hundred. The gardens at the rear of the house are laid out very neatly and planted with flowers mentioned in Shakespeare's plays. And in the Museum may be seen :—

Deed made in 1596, proving that John Shakespeare, father of the poet, resided in the house called the birth-place.

MS. document. The original fine levied on the purchase of New Place by Shakespeare-Easter Term, 1597.

The celebrated letter from Mr. Richard Quyney to Shakespeare, 1598, asking for a loan of £30; the only letter addressed to Shakespeare known to exist: quoted in the above biography.

Original grant of four yard lands in Stratford fields— William and John Combe to Shakespeare, 1602.

Copy of court roll, 1602. Surrender by Walter Getley to William Shakespeare of premises in Chapel Lane, Stratford (copyhold of the Manor of Rowington), which the poet specifically devised by his will.

Declaration in an action in the Borough CourtWilliam Shakespeare v. Philip Rogers, to recover the price of malt sold by Shakespeare, 1604.

Assignment of lease of a moiety of the tithes of Stratford-upon-Avon-Ralph Huband to William Shakespeare,

1605.

Deed with the autograph of Gilbert Shakespeare, brother of the poet, 1609.

Original precepts in the Borough Court in Shakespeare's suit against John Addenbrooke, 1609.

Settlement of Shakespeare's estates in 1639 by his daughter, Susanna Hall; his grand-daughter, Elizabeth Nash; and her husband, Thomas Nash.

Declaration of uses relating to New Place and other Shakespearian property, 1647. Susanna Hall, daughter,

and Elizabeth Nash, grand-daughter of the poet, are parties to this deed.

Disposition of New Place and other estates of Shakespeare, made by his grand-daughter, Elizabeth Barnard, in 1653.

Probate of Lady Barnard's will, 1669.

Shakespeare's gold signet ring, with the initials W.S. and a true-lover's knot between.

Charter of foundation, 22 Edwd. IV., 1482, by Thomas Jolyffe, of the Free Grammar School at Stratford, at which Shakespeare was educated.

Ancient desk, said to have been Shakespeare's, removed from the Grammar School.

Cast, considered to be the best, from the bust in the Chancel, by G. Bullock-two only were taken.

The old sign of the Falcon at "Drunken Bidford," where Shakespeare is said to have drunk too deep.

Model, in plaster, of Shakespeare asleep under the crabtree, by E. Grubb.

Shakespeare's jug, from which Garrick sipped wine at the jubilee in 1769.

A phial, hermetically sealed, containing juice from mulberries gathered from Shakespeare's mulberry tree. The tree was cut down in 1758.

Specimen from an original copy of "The Merry Wives of Windsor."

Portrait of Garrick, in the character of Kiteley.—Sir J. Reynolds.

Portrait of Mrs. Garrick-supposed to be by Gainsborough.

A variety of interesting articles discovered in making the excavations at New Place, the last residence of Shakespeare.

Having now hastily disposed of the principal places associated with the immortal name of Shakespeare, I will take a hurried

RETROSPECTIVE GLANCE AT THE TOWN.

Stratford-upon-Avon is, I need hardly say, a thoroughly English town in its appearance, manners, and customs.

There is a sort of Gradgrind description of it in the "Post Office Directory," which, for those who delight to "condescend upon particulars," I had better quote. charming little official brochure says:

That

"Stratford-on-Avon is a municipal borough, market and union town and railway station, on the junction line of the West Midland and Great Western Railways in old Stratford parish, division and union of its own name, Barlichway, diocese and archdeaconry of Worcester, and deanery of Kineton, South Warwickshire. It is the centre of several turnpike roads, and on the old road from London to Holyhead, eight miles south-west of Warwick, eight south-east from Henley-in-Arden, ten north-east from Kineton, ten and a half north-east from Shipstonon-Stour, and ninety-four from London by the road, and one hundred and two by rail."

Its antiquity is discovered by the visitor at a glance. Variety of gables form the façade of some important buildings. Few houses have been constructed in accordance with fashionable principles of street architecture. Oaken floors are to be found in many of them, and massive beams of oak strengthen the walls. They are placed in horizontal and vertical positions, whilst diagonal stays of oak tie up these beams substantially in all directions. The windows are bay -not a few the genuine bow, many dormer. In the very old houses, the "sashes" are of lead, very small panes, diamond and square. The customs of old English towns still prevail. Here are to be found the stocks which raised the ready ire of Lear-not the identical pair, let me observe, but looking sufficiently antiquated to suggest the idea of their having done active service on the ankles of knaves at the somewhat misty period when that choleric worthy reigned in Britain—“every inch a King." Here is that terror of very small farmers and cottagers who keep goats, pigs, and horned cattle of a vagrant character-the pound. In Stratford, the matin bell is rung, and "the curfew tolls the knell of parting day." Here may be seen the beadle resplendent in scarlet and gold. And last, but not least, in our dear love, as the aforesaid Lear remarks, here, calling away at his lawful calling, is the town crier a direct descendant of, and true heir-at-law, for aught I know, of

the gentleman whom the poet had as lief hear speak his lines as a "mouthing player."

The manufactures and trade of Stratford are not extensive, although the inhabitants are naturally business-like and formal in their habits-anything but ideal, poetical, or artistic. Staid, regular, and temperate; squalid poverty, theft, and drunkenness are almost unknown amongst them; and if cleanliness be next to godliness, as has been well bethought, no people can be more adjacent to that which "is profitable unto all things." Public worship-church going, at least is nearly universally observed. I hope it does not "fulfil the law" with some; but certainly John Milton would have been suspected of something worse than Unitarianism or polygamy by not a few Stratfordians.