to move; and Moliere was at last obliged to hold by the side scenes, and let the ass slip from under him, who went forward, and presented him self to the audience.

GEORGE FREDERICK COOKE, AND THE LIVER

POOL MANAGERS.

DURING Kean's visit to Whitehaven, in 1823, he related the following anecdote of George Frederick Cooke. When George was playing at Liverpool, the managers found great difficulty in keeping him sober; but, after repeated transgressions, he solemnly promised not to offend again during his stay. In the evening of the day on which the promise was made, George was not to be found, when wanted for Sir Pertinax Mac Sycophant; the audience grew impatient; the manager stormed, and all was in "most admired disorder."

After a long search, one of the managers found him at a pot-house near the Theatre, where he was drinking, with great composure and perseverance, out of a very small glass. "Oh! Mr. Cooke," exclaimed the irritated manager, "you have again broken your solemn promise. Did you not tell me you would give over drinking?" George surveyed the manager with the most provoking

coolness, and said, "I certainly did make such a promise, but you cannot expect a man to reform all at once. I have given over drinking, in a great measure," holding up the small glass, in exultation, to the Manager's nose.

ASSERTION WITHOUT PROOF.

MR. BOADEN, the author of several popular theatrical pieces, gave Drury Lane Theatre the title of a wilderness. This reaching the ears of Sheridan, he did not forget it, for when, a short time afterwards, he was requested to accept a tragedy, by Mr. Boaden: "No, no;" said Sheridan, "the wise and discreet author calls our house a wilderness-Now, I don't mind allowing the oracle to have his opinion; but it is really too much for him to expect, that I will suffer him to prove his words."

COOKE'S EXPLANATION OF THE FAMILY PLATE.

A BOASTFUL gentleman in America happened to mention to Cooke, when the latter was in one of his Mac Sarcasm humours, that his family was amongst the oldest in Maryland. Cooke asked him if he had carefully preserved the family plate? and on being questioned as to his meaning, replied, "The fetters and handcuffs."

GARRICK, AND DR. HILL.

IN 1759, Dr. Hill wrote a pamphlet, entitled "To David Garrick, Esq. The Petition of I in behalf of herself and sisters." The purport of it was, to charge Mr. Garrick with mis-pronouncing some words, including the letter I-as furm, for firm-vurtue, for virtue-and others. The pamphlet is now forgotten, but the following epigram, which Mr. Garrick wrote on the occasion, deserves to be preserved

To Dr. Hill, upon his " Petition of I, to David Garrick, Esq.”
If 'tis true, as you say, that I've injured a letter,

I'll change my notes soon, and I hope for the better;
May the just right of letters, as well as of men,
Hereafter be fixed by the tongue and the pen!
Most devoutly I wish that they both have their due,
And that I may be never mistaken for You.

GARRICK'S EPIGRAM.

Written soon after Dr. Hill's furce, called "The Rout," was acted.

FOR physic and farces,

His equal there scarce is;

His farces are physic,

His physic a farce is.

PLAY LICENSING, IN THE TIME OF KING

CHARLES.

THE disgusting and overstrained fastidiousness of our present licenser, whose delicacy cannot tolerate even passages of a decidedly loyal tendency, is not without example in the earlier times of our drama. These tasteless and officious personages have always been more ready to prove their authority than their judgment. The most delectable of them, Sir Henry Herbert, in his examination of "The Wits" of Davenant, had, it appears, marked a number of harmless interjections, which might have subjected the poet to some punishment; but Charles, who probably suspected his Master of the Revels of a tendency towards Puritanism, interfered, and Sir Henry has thus recorded his spleen and disappointment. "The King is pleased to take faith, death, 'slight, &c. for asseverations, and no oaths- to which I do humbly submit as my master's judgment; but, under favour, do conceive them to be oaths, and enter them here, to declare my submission and opinion."

SPRANGER BARRY.

WHEN the affairs of the Dublin Theatre took

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an unfavourable turn, and, unlike Mr. Sheridan, he left every department unpaid and unsatisfied, the angry tradesmen used to besiege his door, vowing, that though they had frequently been paid off with words, this time they would not depart without their money. Mr. Barry would then desire to see them. A single claimant was admitted at a time. After a conference of some time, he returned with a pleased and satisfied countenance, to the anxious and expecting crowd of creditors below. Judging by the reception he had met, what was likely to be their own chance, he was eagerly interrogated by the gaping crowd.—" Well, you have seen Mr. Barry ?"-"Yes."- "You have got your money?"—"No."—" A part of it?""Not one shilling. But Mr. Barry spoke to me so kindly-seemed so distressed to keep me waiting-promised me so faithfully, that, the next time I called, the money should be forthcoming-that he has, I know not how, got the better of my anger, and I could not find it in my heart to press a gentleman any further."

BARON, THE FRENCH COMEDIAN; AND DOMI

NIQUE, THE HARLEQUIN.

THE actors of the French Theatre were de