to speak to Mrs. Kemble; and then, returning to his room, was observed to totter in his gait. Mrs. K. noticed him with anxiety, and assisted him to his chair, and, when seated, he looked over a number of "Galignani's Messenger;" but, getting worse, his friend and physician, Dr Schole, was sent for, who arrived instantly, and found him in the position described, but altered, and exhibiting very unfavourable symptoms; his left side had suffered a decided attack, and he could with difficulty articulate. He seemed extremely anxious to spare the feelings of Mrs. K.-Dr. Schole, with the assistance of his old and attached servant, George, helped him to his bed; and, while in the act of conducting him there, a second attack took place so suddenly, that his clothes were obliged to be cut asunder, in order that he might the more easily be let blood. But nature was fast exhausting; nor could he even make use of his speech, after a few words, which he uttered on Dr. Schole's arrival; he, however, assented or dissented by signs of his head until within two hours of his complete extinction. In fine, a third attack, on Wednesday, the 26th inst. just forty-eight hours since the first, proved fatal; and though, to a stranger, he might appear to suffer, it is the opinion of the doctor, that he was long insensible to acute feelings of pain. The English clergyman was also present."

His funeral took place, as stated in the above letter, on the Saturday ensuing the 1st of March, in a piece of ground adjoining the cemeterie, on the Berne road, procured under the direction of Mrs. K.

The Dean of Raphoe, who was then living at Lausanne, read the funeral service at the house of Mr. K.; and Mr. Cheeseborough, the resident clergyman, performed the melancholy service of the grave. The age of 66 is recorded on the coffin. Mr. Cheeseborough read prayers to Mr. K., when he could attend to them, and was with him when he died. The death of Mr. K. was sincerely felt by all persons at Lausanne, and his remains were followed to the grave by all the resident English, and by many Swiss. The English had no parties during the week, and one foreign lady put off a splendid party on account of Mr. K.'s decease.

PROVINCIAL THEATRICALS.

Ar an inn in a market town, where a company of comedians were murdering the language of some of our best dramatic writers, an Irish gentleman sat in the kitchen smoking his pipe, and regarding with pleasure a fowl that was roasting for his supper. A tall meagre fellow stalked in, and, after an earnest melancholy look at the fowl, he retired with a sigh: he repeated the visit a second time, and exclaimed-"That fowl will never be done in time."-" What do you mean?"

said the Irishman, "That is for my supper, and you shan't touch a feather o'it."-" Oh, (replied the other,) you misunderstand me; I do not want the fowl, but I am to play Oroonoko this evening, and we cannot begin for want of the jackchain !"

THE CONSCIOUS LOVERS."

VICTOR, in his letters, says, that "this comedy was the last blaze of Steele's glory. I sat by him in Burton's box, at the first performance; all the performers charmed him but Griffiu, in the character of Cimberton. The comedy was received with unusual applause; and his royal patron, to whom it was dedicated, (George I.) sent the author a present of £500. Whilst the play was in rehearsal, the surly old critic, Dennis, published a scurrilous pamphlet, to prejudice the public against it; and, amongst other scandalous things, he called Sir Richard, in his preface, "An Irish twopenny Author," alluding to the Tatlers and Spectators. This base vulgar treatment enraged me, rashly, to enter the lists, as you have seen the very young puppy bark at and nibble the heels of an old mastiff. Sir Richard was pleased with the attempt, and only in

VOL. II.