a most beautiful fish and landed three kelts; they also rose and hooked a very large fish, which got away; but, all things considered, it was a most glorious day's sport, and all killed in the last two streams that were fished.

After receiving the Isla, the Tay now takes a more south-westerly course, betwixt the parishes of Kinclavin and Cargill, and on this reach of the river there are some beautiful streams, which abound in the silversided salmon; the river then resumes a more southerly direction, passes the village and spinning-mills at Stanley, and on this part of the river the Earl of Mansfield has some beautiful reaches of the river, and many pretty streams for sport; and after receiving the small river Shockie, and about a mile further south the river Almond, the Tay passes through the beautiful vale and past the grounds and palace of Scone (Lord Mansfield's), and past the "fair city" of Perth. After passing between the woods and romantic hills of Kinnoull and Moncrieff (from the top of the last named hill is one of the finest views in Scotland; to describe the scenery and view from Moncrieff hill is far beyond my humble pen-it must be seen to be appreciated); a few miles further down, the Tay receives the river Earn-a noble stream, and good salmon river. Having now received the whole of the streams of Perthshire, great and small, with the exception of those falling into the Forth, from the south-west corner of the country, the Tay gradually expands into an arm of the sea, from a mile to three miles in breadth, though generally shallow, and separating the fertile Carse of Gowrie and part of Forfarshire on the north from the kingdom of Fife on the south. At Dundee the firth is contracted to about two miles in breadth; but it again widens, and about eight miles below that thriving sea-port it expands into St. Andrew's Bay and the German Ocean.

Such is a brief outline of this noble river, and for the benefit of the angling sportsman his quarters ought to be at Perth; between Perth and Dunkeld there are some noble reaches of the river, and in the neighbourhood of Dunkeld much of the river belongs to the Duke of Athol, and although much has been said about the stoppage of the road through Glentilt (his deer forest), his grace is a most generous and kindhearted sportsman, and is very liberal with his fisheries, as many of the officers from the Perth barracks who have been quartered there can testify, and many others, the only course being to ask and receive: the old gun-smith at Perth (Ancell) will furnish you with flies of the right sort, as he is well acquainted with every reach and stream of the river. The present season has commenced under the most favourable form, and the river in first-rate order at this present writing.

Grampians, March 10th.

Gooseberry Fair-Mad Bull-Ryan's Circus-Practical Jokes—“The Light of other Days has faded”—Astley's-Covent Garden-The Road of 1810-Rail of 1847— Milton's Works: he of the Mews, not Muse-A few words upon the Tricks of the Chaunters-Advice to the Inexperienced.

At the end of our last chapter we left our readers just as we were about to proceed to the far-famed Gooseberry Fair in Tothill Fields. Our walk through the narrow streets that led from Horseferry-road (where we landed) to the scene of amusement was enlivened by Billy Sanders's jocosities and tricks upon the unwary. The fair, which we reached in due time, was exactly in the state described in the lines of one of poor Charles Mathews's comic songs, which heads this chapter: an infuriated bull, who had been most cruelly baited, had broken from his stake, and was now tossing everything that came in his way. Never was there such a scene of noise and confusion-men halloing, women screeching, boys shouting, curs barking, and donkeys braying. During the animal's progress, gingerbread stalls were overturned, E. O. tables capsized, lottery boards broken down, counters upset, and temporary booths carried away. At length a tall man rushed out of the crowd, "Have at him, Griper," he cried; at the same time slipping a ferociouslooking bull-dog, who, in a moment, pinned the nearly-maddened brute. 66 Tegus," for it was no other than him, now dexterously threw a lasso over the head of the bull; and, with the assistance of the populace, drew the running noose so tight that they speedily captured the cause of all the excitement.

In the mean-time, under the direction of Frank Alderson, we had taken refuge upon the platform in front of Ryan's Circus, and had witnessed the scene from this thickly-congregated spot; consisting of an assemblage of terrified old women, frightened children, timid men, and prudent persons like ourselves. The clown, who was part proprietor of the " valuable stud of horses," had an eye for business; for, after urging all that came within his reach to walk up and take refuge from the "hinfuriated hanimal," he immediately compelled us to

A A

take" checks" for the performance, the prices being raised upon this occasion only-boxes one shilling, pit sixpence, and gallery fourpence. Never was there such a wind-fall to a manager as that produced by the cry of " Mad bull!" The platform and interior of the circus were entirely filled; and it required a good deal of packing to clear the ring for the “grand entrée of Mr. Ryan's unparalleled stud of horses." The circus was brilliantly illuminated within, and gentlemen and ladies took their seats. The band now struck up the march in "Lodoiska ;" and, as it consisted of a shrivelled drum, a spasmodic clarionet, a squeaking fiddle, and some jangling cymbals, it gave Alderson an opportunity of spouting the following lines, which drew down a burst of applause from the gallery :-

"Silence that puppy in the boxes," shouted the leader of the orchestra, whose pride was evidently hurt at this remark. The Widdicomb of the ring then made his appearance, dressed in a most splendid Hussar suit, of light blue and silver, the lace of which was somewhat tarnished ; yellow boots, with high brass heels and spurs, a white satin sash, and a shako, adorned with a huge, white, flowing feather, completed his costume. After making sundry obeisances to the audience, he proceeded to state that after the grand entrée of beautifully caparisoned steeds, Mademoiselle Rosalvina Ronconi would have the honour of dancing the sailor's hornpipe upon her highly-trained mare "Bianca ;" to be followed by the Protean evolutions of Master Ryan. No sooner had the performance commenced, and every eye was attracted to the arena, than Sanders commenced his practical jests. He first began by pinning together the tails of the coat of an elderly gentleman with the skirts of an antique-looking spinster, then passing a small piece of whip-cord round the buttons of a sedate personage he attached it to the shawl of a gaudily-dressed damsel. He then placed straws up the collars and labels upon the backs of those who sat before him, with some vulgar jocosities written upon them; describing the wearer as having "Strayed from Clerkenwell prison," requesting that "ugly might be taken home and chained up," or calling upon the public to kick, buffet, or otherwise ill-use the unfortunate victim of his plaisanteries. The performance terminated; and, as the Master of the Ring made his appearance to thank the audience for their kind patronage, and was in the midst of a most flowing harangue, informing them that there would be a repetition of it every quarter of an hour, down went the grand chandelier, which hung over the centre of the circus; and which was composed of tin-foil, tallow candles, and laurel leaves. Then commenced the skrieking of females, the yells of the males, and the cries of "Shame!" from the respectable portion of the public; in the midst of which the Master of the Ring threw a light upon the subject by opening a side window, which gave Alderson an opportunity of shouting forth the following appropriate lines:

"Dark needs no candles now,
For dark is light,"

The doors were now opened; and along the passage Sanders had

strewed a line of detonating balls, all of which exploding at nearly the same time sounded like a feu de joie. Of course our readers will have fixed the grand joke upon the hoaxer; who, being a warm-hearted creature, and having had his fun, repaid the manager for the breakage of his lustre, and the purchase of a new worsted cord which had suspended it, and which had been cut away by his mischievous hands.

We now strolled through the fair, visiting all the wonderful sights, from the penny view of the "Battle of Trafalgar" to the one shilling representation at Scowton's Royal Amphitheatre; where, according to the bills, we were gratified by the following performance:" Unequalled! Unparalleled!! Attractive novelties!!! Powerful and highly

trained double stud of Persian, Arabian, Spanish, Hanoverian, and British horses, Syrian, Egyptian camels, elephants, wild zebras, trained deer, and other quadrupeds; combined with an extensive establishment of equestrian and dramatic artistes, troop of gymnastic performers, voltigeurs, antipodean wonders, tight and slack rope dancing.'

We then tried our luck at the wheels of fortune, "for the small charge of von penny a time." We then entered the "Monster" hempen tavern, kept by one of the fighting men of the day; and here the hoaxer nearly got into trouble in consequence of one of his practical jokes being discovered by the proprietor. Had it not been for our old friend Tegus, who happened, fortunately for us, to be at the bar, regaling himself with a glass of "hot elder wine," we should have been roughly handled; he stepped forward immediately, and made it "all right" by ordering at Sanders's expense some half-dozen glasses of brandy-and

water.

As the hour of dinner was approaching, we quitted Tothill-fields; Alderson surprising some yokels by the theatrical tone in which he spouted forth the not inappropriate lines--

"Fare thee well, most foul, most fair."

pass over our dinner, which consisted of all the Piazza luxuries, until the hour arrived when a coach was at the door to take us to Astley's, then in its glory.

After a slow and rumbling drive, we were set down at the door of the celebrated Amphitheatre. To describe my sensations at the appearance of the house and the performances would be impossible, and any sketch would fall so short of the reality, that I will not attempt it; suffice it to say, for days and nights I could think of nothing but Astley's. It was a scene of enchantment-a fairy dream, upon which I loved to linger. The" entertainment by man and horse" consisted of the "Blood-red Knight," a most gorgeous spectacle, interesting in its plot and splendid in its stage effects; some magnificent riding in the ring; and a comic pantomime.

Both Kirkonnel and myself were now so thoroughly innoculated with a taste for the drama that we could think of little else; delighted, therefore, were we to find that our friend Alderson had procured us orders for Covent Garden Theatre, which had been re-built and opened the previous September. The play was " Henry VIII." and "The Waterman." Kemble, Cardinal Wolsey; Cooke," Bluff Harry;" Charles Kemble, Cromwell; Mrs. Siddons, Queen Katherine; Mrs. Davenport, The Old Lady; and the pretty Miss Bristow, Anne Boleyn. In the

after-piece we had the following concentration of talent :-Incledon, Liston, Blanchard, Mrs. Davenport, and Miss Bolton (afterwards Lady Thurlow).

In the council scene in " Henry VIII.," where Cranmer appears, every sentiment that bore upon the case was applied to the recent imprisonment of Sir Francis Burdett in the Tower. When the Lord

Chancellor uttered the lines

"It stands agreed

I take it, by all voices, that forthwith

You be conveyed to the Tower a prisoner,"

there was a great deal of hissing; which was renewed when the Archbishop exclaimed

"Is there no other way of mercy

But I must needs to the Tower?"

When the King said—

"I had thought I had had men of some understanding

And wisdom, of my council;"

a burst of applause burst forth from pit, boxes, and gallery; so great at that period was the popularity of " England's pride and Westminster's glory," the late Sir Francis Burdett.

The Drury Lane company were now acting at the Lyceum; and never shall I forget my delight at the following performance, which took place for Mathews's benefit:-"The Clandestine Marriage," and "Killing no Murder;" the hero of the night acting Lord Ogleby in the comedy, and Buskin in the farce, with songs and imitations. What a galaxy of talent were here assembled ! Powell, Dowton, De Camp, Mathews, Raymond, Melvin, Penley, Horn, Philipps, Oxberry, J. Johnstone, Knight, Wrench, Wewitzer, and Jerry Sneak Russell; Mesdames Sparks, Orger, Edwin, Chatterley, Mountain, Harlowe, Bland, and Powell. Misses Duncan and Ray.

At the little theatre in the Haymarket, as it was called, we had Bannister, C. Kemble, Mathews, Jones, Liston, and Farley; Mesdames Gibbs, Glover, C. Kemble, Davenport, Liston, Mathews, and Miss H. Kelly. And nothing could exceed the fun, pathos, and broad grins of the audience, which the following performances elicited:" Love Laughs at Locksmiths," "Children in the Wood," and "Tom Thumb." Bannister's Risk was all life and humour, while his Walter brought tears into the eyes of many these were speedily turned into shouts of merriment when Mathews and Liston appeared in the afterpiece.

Those, indeed, were the palmy days of the drama! Alas! fallen now-never, I fear, to rise again. For let us turn our steps towards Covent Garden, where "throats from Italy and feet from France" now warble and caper on those boards once graced by the majestic Siddons, the classical Kemble, the pathetic O'Neil, the impassioned Kean.

""Tis true 'tis pity, and pity 'tis 'tis true"

(to quote the words of old Polonius) that the works of Shakespeare are now no longer tolerated upon this stage, except in an Italianized form, and with the foreign aid of ornamental music. How beautifully has Akenside described the genius of that mighty spirit, that Proteus of the