of a Pope, it is difficult to imagine that he could draw together 85,000 persons in a town which has only 45,000 inhabitants. The external length of the building is near 500 feet, and the circumference 1440 feet.".

OLIVER CROMWELL AN ACTOR.

In the year 1607 was printed, by G. Eld, for Simon Waterson, a "pleasant comedie," entitled,

Lingua, or the Combat of the Tongue and the Five Senses, for superiority." This play is a very memorable performance; Oliver Cromwell having performed in it in the character of Tactus, which, it is ridiculously pretended, first inspired him with sentiments of ambition.

JOE GRIMALDI, AND THE COVENT GARDEN MANAGERS.

THIS " facetious mime," we regret to say, has this season, (1823-4), been incapacitated by illness from figuring away with the tufted head and salt box, and his son has succeeded him in the office of grinner general: we can imagine the state of anguish the Covent Garden Manager and his deputy must have been thrown into by so fatal an occurrence. We will endeavour to

convey it to our readers; but prose is insuffiwe must therefore borrow the aid of

cient ;

verse.

The pantomime was all rehears'd,

And puff'd off in the bill;
When, full of grief, in Fawcett burst,
To Kemble, crying," hear the worst:
Great Joe Grimaldi's ill."

Grimaldi ill?" the monarch cried,
"Say, what then shall I do?

Had I Macready at my side,

Clown's part with him would I divide,
And show folks something new.
"But is it true-my Fawcett, say,

Has Fate thus spoke her will?—
Is all we've done for many a day
Cut up, our hopes all cast away;
Is Joe Grimaldi ill?

"He is, he is,-that woeful brow
Declares my piteous lot;
But, come, cheer up, and tell me how
To act in this dire moment now,-

For some one must be got."

"I've heard," said Fawcett; as he spoke,
Great Kemble felt less pain,

"He hath a son, all full of joke :

Could he be got, 'twould take the spoke

Out of our wheel again."

Cried Kemble," Bring him hither straight,
Then puff him in the bill;

The son will share the father's fate

Be grinn'd at—I'm with joy elate,
Though Joe Grimaldi's ill."

BARRY'S POWERS OF PLEASING.

SPRANGER BARRY, to his silver-toned voice, added all the address and powers of persuasion. A carpenter, to whom he owed some money for work at the Dublin theatre, called at Barry's house, and was very clamorous in demanding his money of the servant. Mr. Barry, overhearing him, said from above, "Don't be in a passion, but do me the favour to walk up stairs, and we'll speak on the business." "Not I," answered the man; 66 you owe me one hundred pounds already, and if you get me up stairs, you won't let me leave you till you owe me two."

WIT OF LE GRANDE, THE FRENCH ACTOR.

It was the custom, in France, for the king to command the comedians to play before the court, when held at Versailles, Fontainbleau, or any other place. This command was given on a day when the tragedy of Mithridate, by Racine, had been announced, and the best actors were obliged

to perform at Versailles; when those, who remained, appeared on the stage at Paris, the hissing was so great, that they were obliged to retire. Not being able to give another piece, they were generally inclined to dismiss the house, and return the money, Le Grande excepted, who had an utter aversion to this expedient. "No, no, my friends," said he, "the house is a good one, and must not be dismissed; only suffer me to address the audience." Accordingly, he came on the stage with a very humble air, dressed for his part; he approached the lamps, and with a grie vous countenance thus addressed the pit:

-

"Ladies and Gentlemen,-Our best performers, Messrs. Beaubourg, Ponteuil, and Baron, and Mademoiselle Du Clos, have been obliged to go and appear before their majesties; we assure you that we are sorry from our hearts, not to have so much merit as they have, for it would give us still more pleasure than it would give you. We must either have shut up the theatre, or must now perform the tragedy. We honestly confess it will be performed by the worst of actors; nor can you well conceive how bad; for, since I am sent here to speak the truth, I am obliged to own that I play the part of Mithridates

'myself!" A burst of laughter prevailed through the whole house, and the actors were willingly suffered to proceed.

COOKE, AND THE SCOTCH MANAGER. DURING one of the seasons when the celebrated George Frederick was delighting some of our northern neighbours in "the Land of Cakes," with his inimitable performances, the night being very hot, and the Tragedian having acted his best, towards the close of the evening, as might be guessed, he felt not a little fatigued. The managerial monarch perceived this, and, between one of the scenes in Bosworth Field, he took the mimic hunchback into his dressing room, and unlocking a corner cupboard, he selected a wee thistle glass, and filling it with native whiskey, presented it to George Frederick, exclaiming, 66 Here, Maister Kuke, I dinna-think this will hurt ye."-"No," says George, glancing at the size of the glass, no, 66 my friend, not if it was vitriol."

ANTIENT PRICES OF ADMISSION TO THEA

TRICAL ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE Cost of admission to the theatres in the

days of Elizabeth was very moderate.

"Let me