holds the Vox Populi to be the Vox Dei, and if broken in upon and routed by intruding Magiftrates, foon rifes like the Phoenix, more beautiful from the wide Spreading fire of the Police!"

As I found my friend's oratorical fit was upon him, I waited till he had recovered, and then promifed to attend him to the next meeting of the "Friends of Free Difcuffion." The evening being arrived, after entering and taking my feat, I liftened with attention to the bold and uniform eloquence of thofe about me: my friend Ranter foon arofe, and I was in but little pain for him, knowing he confidered himlelf, upon the credit of his lungs, as an excellent Orator: neither was I furprited at the applaufe that followed every fentence in which the words, Reform, Reprefentation, General Good, duice et decorum eft pro patria mori, &c. &c. followed in rapid fucceffion. In short, my friend continued to "cleave the general ear with horrid fpeech," to the great fatisfaction of the audience, and fhouts of applaufe graced the conclufion. I thought this a fair opportunity of ipeaking in my turn, and role with an intention of itating fome errors that

had crept into the speeches of my predeceffors. But no fooner had I began with calmness to controvert a few licentious opinions, and contradict a few turbulent potitions of thefe frequenters of Liberty-hall, than instead of the audi alteram partem, which I expected, a new argument struck my aftonifhed ears, and the words "down with him," "filence him," "turn him out, &c." with hiffes, and other tokens of anger, became as diftin&t as they were audible. Deeming my character at stake, for a while stood firm as the Acroceraunian Promontory; but men are but men, and I was foon obliged to make a precipitate retreat. My friend was kind enough to follow me down stairs; and as we walked home together, I could not help expreffing my indignation at their conduct. "Oh Heaven," cried Ranter, "what a hornet's neft you brought about your ears! I believe you, my dear Caius, to be a very honeft and fenfible fellow, but you was guilty of a dreadful overfight." "-"What overfight?" exclaimed I, in great furprise? "Why," replied Ranter with a fhrug, 'you spoke on the wrong fide!"

CAIUS FITZ-URBAN,

2d January 1797.

period, that I begin to apprehend it is a promile not likely to be performed. Among other reafons for wifhing for this publication, one was to fee a genuine copy of the Prologue, which, like Mr. Pye's, I am

informed, originally expreffed fome doubts of the authenticity of the Piece. A copy of it has lately fallen into my hands, and therefore, to do justice to the writer, I folicit your infertion of the following lines, which were intended to conclude it. By comparing them with the Prologue, as inferted in your Magazine for April 1796, p. 272, you will fee that the Author was not fo firm a believer as he has been generally fuppofed. I am, &c.

C. D.

After the lineWhile Shakespeare's radiance fhone with double light,

It proceeded as follows:

As different our attempt, so may a fate
Far different on this night's performance wait.
From deep oblivion snatch'd a play appears,
Which claims refpe&t, fince Shakespeare's
name it bears.

ΑΝ

That name, the fource of wonder and delight,

To a fair hearing has at least a right.
We afk no more-with you the judgment

lies:

No forgeries escape your piercing eyes!
Unbiafs'd then, pronounce your dread decree,
Alike from prejudice and favour free.
If no effulgent spark of beavenly fire,
No ray divine, the languid fcene infpire,
If no internal proofs denote its worth,
And trace from Avon's banks its happier birth;
With just disdain the dull attempt discard,
And vind cate the glory of your Bard.

But if, the ordeal pafs'd, you chance to find
Rich fterling ore, though rude and unrefin`d,
Stamp it your own; affert your poet's fame,
And add fresh wreaths to Shakespeare's ho-
nour'd name.

MR. GEORGE SELWYN.

N infinity of witty fayings, finart repartees, and bon mots, have been repeatedly related and publifhed of Mr. Selwyn. The writer of the following anecdote does not remember ever to have feen it in print: he had it from unqueftionable authority.

A notorious gamefter had, by an extraordinary run of good luck at a gaming-houfe in St. James's Street (in a party where a fon of the House of Rutland was the principal if not only lofer), been enabled to fet up a carriage and handsome equipage. Selwyn, who had heard of the affair, which had very much diftreffed the young Nobleman in money matters, met him very shortly after his fuccess, and paid him, in his droll manner, fome very fine compliments on the elegance of his carriage, and his taste in the choice of his liveries." Why, aye," returned the ether, "I really think they are very well, but I am at a lofs for a motto to the arms I have had painted on the pannels of my

coach."-"I'll help you to one, if you will give me leave," replied George. "What think you of Manners make the man ?”

MARQUIS TOWNSEND, when Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, was by fome means or other detained at a little public-houfe one evening; probably he was returning from an excurfion, and found it was too late to reach Dublin that night. Be that as it may, his Excellency liked his landlord's wine fo well, that he got vaftly good-humoured, and in a merry cue dubbed his landlord Knight. In the morning, when his Lordship recollected fome circumstances that had paffed the preceding evening, he would fain have treated the wh. le as a joke; but the Knight was not to be put off fo: he was a Knight, and so he'd remain. However, a few arguments made him rather more tractable; and he said, in all the fimplicity of an Irishman, Fait, I do not care much about it myself, but I must go up stairs and confult my Lady. FELIX.

A

REV SIR,

W.

W. James the 3. And the Dr. told this Gentleman how many Original Letters he had feen under the Queens own hand, the Bricklayers Wife, and others concerned in the matter: & a long Letter alfo in Cypher, which cost him fome pains: all which made it out clear to him, & he thought 'twould to any body, that it was all cheat & Impofture. It chanced at this time that Sir Godfrey Kneller coming down to draw the Dr Picture by M. Pepys's order, was prefent. Wat de Devil (fays he) de Prince Wales te Son of a Brickbatt Woman, be Got it is a lye, I am not of his Party, nor fhall not be for him. I am fatistiet wit wat te Parliament has done: but I must tell you wat I am fure of, & in wat I cannot be miftaken: His Fader & Moder have fat to me about 36 time a piece; & I know every Line & bit in their Faces. Be Got I could paint K. James juft now by memory. I fay the child is fo like both, that there is not a Feature in his Face but wat belongs to Fader or Moder; this I am of, & be Got I cannot be mistaken. Nay te Nails of his Fingers are his Moders te Queen that was: Dr. you may be out in your Letters and Cyphers, but be Got I can't be out in my Lines. Soon after the Coronation of the Prince of O. having fome difcourfe with S. Geo:

Hewitt (then newly made a Lord) about the late Revolution, he told me when K. James was at Salisbury, if he had gone to dinner at Warminster, as he had promited, his bufinets had been done there. He & Captain Cornelius Wood who was then prefent faid St. Geo: He & I had done his bufineis: for that Wood was to be Exempt of the Guard, and I should have commanded it, & the Lord Churchill would have gone in the Kings Coach, being in waiting with the Gold headed tick. Kirk, Lanier (taid S. Geo:), and many others of our party being there, & moft of the Guards & army that were pofted there, right for our purpofe, we were refolved to carry him a Prisoner to the Prince of O. But if Dunbarton, Scarfield, or any other of the Popith Officers fhould endeavour to rescue him, then said S. Geo: little Wood & I, that were on horfe-back, were to have fhot him, & if that had mifs'd, then Lord Churchill, that was provided with a Pocket Piftoll & a Dagger, would have fhott him or ftabb'd him in the Coach, for there was no other way of faving themfelves after attempting the thing. But as it pleafed God, faith the Informant, his Majefties Nofe very happily fell a bleeding, by which his going to Warminster was prevented.

THE above Houfe, from its elegant manner of building, is intended as a contrast to the antient manner of the

Architecture below: of which remain few comparative specimens.

the house. In vifiting the Charter-house, the obferver will find a whimsical contraft of ancient and modern building, the hall, the kitchen, chapel, cloifters, &c. are well worthy the attention of the Antiquary and curious traveller. In the Hail is a good whole length portrait of the Founder.

P.

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