On the pedestal there is the following quotation from "Hamlet," Act i., Scene 2, adapted :

"Take him for all in all,

We shall not look upon his like again."

Beneath, an inscription tells that

"The Corporation and Inhabitants of Stratford, assisted by the munificent contributions of the Nobility and Gentlemen of the neighbourhood, rebuilt this edifice in the year 1768. The Statue of Shakespeare was given by David Garrick, Esq."

The Hall, an upper room 60 feet long and 30 wide, has in it several large paintings of some interest. At one end of the apartment is a full-length portrait of Shakespeare by Wilson, in which the poet is represented in a sitting posture, as if in the moment of inspiration. It is not a picture of high art. The portrait of Garrick by Gainsborough is at the opposite end. It was presented to the Corporation by the actor himself, and is a good likeness. He is figured leaning against a pedestal, on which appears a bust of the great dramatist, a taste for whose works he did so much to create. Another of the paintings is a full-length of Queen Anne, purchased at the sale of the paintings belonging to the College. There is here, too, a portrait of John Frederic, Duke of Dorset, who at the time of the jubilee was Lord of the Manor and High Steward of Stratford. It was presented by the Duchess, but is only a copy, and not a particularly good one.

When the Town Hall was rebuilt in 1768, the Corporation presented the freedom of the burgh to Mr. Garrick, a copy of which was enclosed in a beautiful box made from the wood of Shakespeare's mulberry

tree. This tribute seems to have led Garrick to set about instituting a jubilee in honour of Shakespeare. Extensive preparations were made for some time before. An amphitheatre, capable of holding a thousand spectators, was constructed on the Bankcroft beside the Avon. The festival lasted from Wednesday 6th to Friday 8th September, 1769, and immense crowds were gathered from all parts of the surrounding country. We refer to Mr. Wheler's History of Stratford for details. An annual festival is now held in Stratford, by the Shakespeare Club, on the 23d April, the birthday of the illustrious poet.

CHAPTER VII.

THE COLLEGE.

Chantry founded by John de Stratford-Charter of Henry V.-College suppressed by Henry VIII.-Buildings sold to John Combe-Pulled down in the end of last century.

IN 1332 John de Stratford, archbishop of Canterbury, founded in connection with the parish church of Stratford, then a rectory, a chantry of five priests, two of whom, the warden and sub-warden, were perpetual. At different times in the reign of Edward III., he gave them lands and revenues for their support, and bestowed on them the patronage of the church.

It was not, however, till 1353 that the mansion, which was subsequently termed the COLLEGE, was built for their residence by Ralph de Stratford, bishop of London. Henry V., in the beginning of his reign, granted them a charter which conferred many privileges, and it seems to have been after this that the Church of Stratford acquired the title of Collegiate. The College was suppressed in the thirty-seventh year of Henry VIII., and the buildings were granted by Edward VI. to John, Earl of Warwick, afterwards Duke of Northumberland. On his attainder they reverted to the Crown, in whose possession they remained till sold to John Combe, the well-known usurer on whom Shakespeare wrote the famous epitaph. He made it his residence till his death in 1614. As the dramatist was an inti

mate friend of Combe, and had made Stratford his settled home, at least since 1610, we may be assured he was a frequent guest at the College. Unfortunately, however, nothing of it now remains but the site. After passing through many hands, it was sold in the end of last century to a gentleman, who disposed of all the pictures, family portraits, and furniture, and in 1799 and 1800 pulled down the whole building. Happily its appearance may still be seen from wood-cuts in Knight's and also in Halliwell's "Shakespeare," where elevations of the interior of the quadrangle and of the outside are given, as well as a view of the fine old hall of the College, with its arched ceiling of stucco-work. The position of the College was on the west side of the churchyard, and it was enclosed by spacious gardens. Perhaps it need hardly be added, it was not called a College in the modern sense of the word, having had nothing whatever to do with education.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE CHURCH-WITH SHAKESPEARE'S MONUMENT AND TOMB.

Stratford Church, an old structure in the regular form of a cross-Old timber steeple-Alley of limes-Niches at west door-The aisles-Chancel erected by Dean Balshall-Charnel-house-The monumentDescription-The bust of Gerard Johnson-Barbarity of Malone-The mischief may be undone-Proofs that the bust is a genuine likenessNo engraving gives its expression-Two men in Shakespeare-Engraving in folio of 1623-The-tombs of the Shakespeare family— Anne Hathaway-The Poet-Quaint lines-Thomas Nash-Dr. Hall and Mrs. Hall-Dr. Balshall's tomb-John Combe's monument-His character-Monument of the Clopton family-Ancient font-Reflections.

We now retire from the hum of the town to visit the grand old cathedral which contains the monument and the tomb of Shakespeare. The "solemn temple," where the ashes of the immortal poet repose in peace, is by far the most memorable place associated with him, since all else has become so sadly changed. This venerable pile, surrounded by tall elms which have waved beside it for generations, with its walls of yellow oolite now mellowed with age, its graveyard dotted with tombstones, and its numerous monumental tablets and inscriptions within, looks more like a mausoleum for the dead than a church for the living. The foliage of the trees in the churchyard affords a cool and delightful shade in leafy June, while the solemn stillness, unbroken save by the gentle murmur of the Avon, adds a sacredness to this retired spot.

The Collegiate Church is a very old structure,