IT

BEN JONSON AND BISHOP CORBET.

appears to have been formerly the custom for strangers to introduce themselves with a propitiatory cup of wine, which preceded their appearance. There is a story told of Ben Jonson and Bishop Corbet, which illustrates this practice, and is, at the same time, so characteristic of both, that it has every appearance of being genuine. "Ben Jonson was at a tavern, in comes Bishop Corbet (not so then) into the next room. Jonson calls for a quart of raw wine, and gives it to the tapster. • Sirrah!' says he, carry this to the gentleman in the next chamber, and tell him I sacrifice my service to him.' The fellow did, and in those terms. Friend,' says Bishop

Ben

Corbet, 'I thank him for his love, but tell him from me, that he is mistaken, for sacrifices are always burnt!'"-Merry passages and jeastes. Harl. MSS. No. 6395.

PROVINCIAL POETICS.

To a play bill published by a country manager, the following attractive invitation was added :

"Let none be afraid, from the country to come,
As the moon is engaged, for to light them all home;
But should she herself that honour decline,

The stars have agreed with more lustre to shine.

Doors open at six, to begin about seven;

At home, safe in bed, between ten and eleven."

FIRST EDITION OF SHAKSPEARE.

PERHAPS," says Mr. Beloe, "there is no book in the English language, which has risen so rapidly in value, as the first edition of the works of our great natural English poet, Shakspeare.” "I can remember," says he, 66 a very fine copy to have been sold for five guineas. I could once have purchased a superb one for nine guineas. At the sale of Mr. Munro's books, it was purchased for thirteen guineas; and I was once present when thirty-six guineas were demanded for a copy."

The highest price it has ever yet brought at our book sales, is £112: 7s. which the late Mr. Boswell paid for the copy that belonged to Kemble.

FOOTE AND SIR F. B. DELAVAL.

WHEN Our English Aristophanes first heard of the late Sir F. B. Delaval's death, the shock of losing so intimate a friend had such an effect on his spirits, that he burst into tears, retired to his room, and saw no company for the whole day. Next day, at noon, coming down to dinner, he

asked his treasurer, with swoln eyes, when they intended burying him?" Not till next week,” replied the other, "as the Surgeons are first to examine his breast and head." This last word recovered the wit's fancy, and repeating it with some surprise, asked, " and what the devil will they get there? I'm sure, I've known poor Frank these five and twenty years, and I never could find any thing in it."

CAPELLI MARQUIS ALBERGATI, THE ITALIAN ACTOR AND DRAMATIST.

THIS singular individual was, at once, the Rowe, the Congreve, and the Garrick of his time. He was a native of Bologna. His early years, devoted to idleness and the most licentious pleasures, gave little promise of his future eminence, either as a dramatist or an actor. But at the age of thirty-four, nature awakened him to a sense of the powers with which she had endowed his mind, and he wisely resolved to make every amends for his hitherto ill-spent years, by the severest study. The possessor of great though hitherto concealed talents, and of a mind amply stored with the knowledge of the world, matured and digested by that reflection, from which even

his profligate life had not wholly exempted him, he, at about the age of forty, burst upon the public attention, both as a comedian, and an elegant, correct, and sublime dramatic author. The grandeur and the pathos of his ideas as a tragic writer, and the wit, humour, and, facetiousness, he displayed in his comic powers, quickly acquired for him the highest reputation; and his acting continued to be the admiration of Italy, until his death, which event happened in 1802.

WYCHERLEY AND JAMES II.

JAMES II. was so much pleased with Wycherley's comedy of the "Plain Dealer," that he released him from prison, where he had been confined seven years, by paying his debts, and settled on him a pension of £200 a year. His majesty, afterwards, gave him a proof of esteem, which, perhaps, no prince ever gave to an author, who was only a private gentleman. Wycherley happened to fall sick of a fever, at his lodgings in Bow Street, Covent Garden, when the King did him the honour to visit him; and finding his body much weakened, his spirits miserably depressed, and his memory almost totally gone, he commanded him, as soon as he should be able

to take a journey, to go to the south of France; believing that the air of Montpelier would contribute, as much as any thing, to restore him; assuring him, at the same time, that he would order him £500 to defray the expenses of the journey. Wycherley, accordingly, went into France, and having spent the winter there, returned to England in the Spring, entirely restored to his former vigour, both of body and mind.

BILL OF KILKENNY THEATRE ROYAL.

By his Majesty's Company of Comedians.

(The last night, because the Company go to-morrow to

Waterford.)

On Saturday, May 14, 1793,

Will be performed, by command of several respectable people in this learned metropolish, for the benefit of Mr. KEARNS,

THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET. Originally written and composed by the celebrated Dan. Hayes of Limerick, and inserted in Shakspeare's works. Hamlet by Mr. Kearns, (being his first appearance in that character,)who, between the acts, will perform several solos on the patent bagpipes, which play two tunes at the same time.

Ophelia by Mrs. Prior, who will introduce several favourite

airs in character, particularly "The Lass of Richmond Hill,” and "We'll all be unhappy together," from the reverend Mr. Dibdin's Oddities.