him. Nell, who knew how to mimic every thing ridiculous about the court, presently ingratiated herself with the merry Sovereign, and retained a considerable share in his affections to the time of his death. "I am ashamed," says Mr. Pegge, in his Curialia, "to confess, that I find Mrs. Eleanor Gwynne among the ladies of the Privy Chamber to Queen Catharine."

Her residence was in Pall Mall, in the house afterwards Dr. Graham's Temple of Health, and now Payne, the bookseller's. She was munificent in her charities, and she instigated the King to erect Chelsea Hospital, as an asylum for disabled soldiers. The ground on which it stands was given by her as an encouragement of the design.

- Mrs. Gwynne had, by the King, two sons, of whom the elder was successively created Earl of Burford, and Duke of St. Albans (and bence the present title) Lord Beauclerc; the younger died at Paris in 1680. She survived her royal protector a few years, and died in 1691.

SHAKSPEARE VERSUS BURBIDGE.

ONE evening, when the tragedy of " Richard III." was to be acted, the poet observed a smart damsel trip behind the scenes, and slily whisper

to Burbidge (a favourite player, and an intimate of Shakspeare, who was to perform the part of Richard) that her master had gone out of town in the morning, and that her mistress would be glad of his company after the play, and that she begged to know what signal he would use. "Three taps on the door, my dear, and 'Tis I, Richard the Third," was the answer which Burbidge returned. The girl decamped, and Shakspeare, whose curiosity was by this time sufficiently excited, followed her steps till he saw her enter a house in the city. He found, on making inquiry in the neighbourhood, that the owner of the mansion was a wealthy merchant, but superannuated, and who was exceedingly jealous of his young wife. At length, the hour of rendezvous approached; and the poet, having given the appointed signal, obtained instantaneous admittance. Nothing could equal the indignation of the lady, when she found herself in the arms of a stranger. He flattered and vowed; she frowned and stormed: but it was not in woman to resist the soft eloquence of a Shakspeare; in a word, the bard supplanted the player. The representative of Richard appeared: no sooner had he given the appointed number of taps, than

Shakspeare, putting his head out of the window, demanded his business. " "Tis I, 'tis I, Richard the Third," replied the impatient Burbidge. "Richard !" rejoined the other," Knave, begone! know, that William the Conqueror reigned before Richard the Third."

LINTON, THE MURDERED MUSICIAN.

LINTON, a musician belonging to the orchestra of Covent Garden Theatre, was murdered by street robbers, who were afterwards discovered, and executed. A play was given for the benefit of his widow and children, and, the day preceding the performance, the following appeared in one of the public prints:

"Theatre Royal Covent Garden,

her

"For the benefit of Mrs. Linton, &c. "The widow,' said Charity, whispering me in the ear, must have your mite; wait upon with a guinea, and purchase a box ticket.' "You may have one for five shillings,' observed Avarice, pulling me by the elbow.

"My hand was in my pocket, and the guinea, which was between my finger and thumb, slipped out,

"Yes,' said I,' she shall have my five shillings.'

"Good Heaven!' exclaimed Justice, what are you about? Five shillings! then you get value received for your money.'

"And I shall owe you no thanks,' added Charity, laying her hand on my heart, and leading me on the way to the widow's house.

"Taking the knocker in my left hand, my whole frame trembled. Looking round, I saw Avarice turn the corner of the street, and I found all the money grasped in my hand.

666

Is your mother at home, my dear?' said I, to a child who conducted me into a parlour. "Yes,' answered the infant, but my father has not been at home for a great while; that is his harpsichord, and that is his violin, he used to play on them for me.'

"Shall I play you a tune, my boy?' said I. "No, sir,' answered the boy, my mother will not let them be touched; for, since my father went abroad, music makes her cry, and then we all cry.' I looked on the violin-it was unstrung. I touched the harpsichord-it was out of tune. Had the lyre of Orpheus sounded in my ear, it

would not have insinuated into my heart thrills of sensibility equal to what I felt-it was the spirit in unison with the flesh.

"I hear my mother on the stairs,' said the child. I shook him by the hand. Give her this, my lad,' said I, and left the house.

"It rained-I called a coach-drove to a coffee house, but not having a farthing in my pocket, borrowed a shilling at the bar."

NAT. LEE.

CIBBER says, that Lee " was so pathetic a reader of his own scenes, that I have been informed by an actor who was present, that while Lee was reading to Major Mohun at a rehearsal, Mohun, in the warmth of his admiration, threw down his part, and said, 'Unless I were able to play as well as you read it, to what purpose should I undertake it?' And yet," continues Cibber," this very author, whose eloquence raised such admiration in so capital an actor, when he attempted to be an actor himself, soon quitted the stage, in an honest despair of ever making any figure there."-The part which Lee attempted, and failed in, was Duncan, in Sir William D'Avenant's alteration of Macbeth.