standard for the judgment of foreigners on English diagnostics.

Having now noticed all the characters which bear any striking resemblance to the Americans, it only remains that I should point out a few circumstances the explanation of which may tend to prévent any misconception of their trans-Atlantic brethren, on the part of those who from time to time have enjoyed a collateral laugh with Mr. Matthews at the Lyceum. There is one of the dramatis persona that is entirely got up, and is the furthest from any thing American: I allude to the smooth-spoken gentleman, Mr. Pennington, who endures the sarcastic animadversions on his country and his countrymen, with so much exem plary meekness and manly fortitude. The evident intention of Matthews in introducing this person has been, I conceive, to intersperse his jokes with a sort of serio-comic conversation pretended to be held at various times between himself and Mr. Pennington; wherein he takes occasion to praise the Americans for their liberality, hospitality, valour and wisdom, while Mr. Pennington is made to quote with great discrimination, but without acknowledgment, the patriotic sentiments of the afore-said Anglo-American lady, Miss Wright.

Let my readers peruse the following extracts from the eloquent, though in many parts mistaken, work of this lady on America, and I will engage that unless that gentleman deviates very materially from his accustomed course, they will hear the

same observations nearly verbatim, the next time they go to see Matthews:

"It is to be regretted, that our country is visited by so many travellers of this description, and so few of any other kind. We are a young people, and therefore perhaps despised; we are a people fast growing in strength and prosperity, and therefore perhaps envied. We have doubtless errors; I never yet saw the nation that had them not; but is equally certain that we have many virtues. An enemy will see only the former; the friend who would wisely point out both, nothing extenuating nor setting down aught in malice,' would do as kindly by us, as honourably by himself. Will no such man ever come from your country?

"I often lament, that we should be visited only by the poor or the busy, the prejudiced or the illiterate of the English nation. Their reports are received for lack of better, and form the texts from which the European journalists draw their reports of our character and our institutions.

"All this were very ridiculous, if it were not very mischievous. Cutting words cut deep; and I fear that we are human enough to feel ourselves gradually estranged from a nation that was once our own, and for which we so long cherished an affection, that I am sure would have grown with our growth, and have strengthened with our strength, had not the pen yet more than the sword destroyed it.

"A traveller is, of all men, most at the

mercy of

these nameless trifles; it is a pity, however, that nations should be laid at their mercy too, or rather at the mercy of a jaded traveller's distempered mind. Would it not be a good rule, that when a tourist sits down with pen and paper before him to pass judgment upon the world around him, he should first ask himself a few questions:

Am I ' in good health and good humour? in a comfortable ' room and an easy chair? at peace with myself and 'all men about me?' I have a notion that some such short catechism would save volumes of misstated facts and mis-represented characters, and keep the peace not only between man and and man, but nation and nation, in a manner undesired by statesmen, and undreamed of by philosophers."

While endeavouring to convict the famous Comedian of plagiarism, it is not worth while to do it only by halves, and I shall therefore transcribe the account which Mr. LAMBERT gives of a Review, not only that my readers may be able to remark the co-incidence between it and Mr. MATTHEWS's description of a similar scene, but also because it will be new to many of my country readers who have not witnessed that gentleman's performance, although it will undoubtedly seem old to those who have been so fortunate.

"I happened, not long since, to be present at the muster of a Captain's company, in a remote part of one of the counties; and, as no general description could convey an adequate idea of the achievements of that day, I must be permitted to

go a little into the detail, as well as my recollec

tion will serve me. The men had been notified to meet at nine o'clock, armed and equipped as the law directs,' that is to say, with a gun and cartouch-box, at least; but as directed by the law of the United States, with a good firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, and pouch with a box to contain not less than twenty-four sufficient cartridges of powder and ball.' At twelve o'clock, about one-third, perhaps half, the men had collected; and an inspector's return of the number present would have stood nearly thus: One Captain, one Lieutenant, Ensign none, Serjeants two, Corporals none, Drummers none, Fifers none, Privates present twenty-five, ditto absent thirty, guns fifteen, gun-locks twelve, ramrods ten, rifle-pouches three, bayonets none, belts none, spare flints none, cartridges none, horse-whips, walking-canes, and umbrellas, twenty-two.

"A little before one o'clock, the Captain, whom I shall distinguish by the name of CLODPOLE, gave directions for forming the line of parade. In obedience to this order, one of the Serjeants, the strength of whose lungs had long supplied the place of a drum and fife, placed himself in front of the house, and began to bawl with great vehemence, All Captain Clodpole's company to parade

there! Come, gentlemen, parade here! Parade ' here!' says he; and all you that has'nt guns, fall 'into the lower eend.' He might have bawled till this time, with as little success as the Syrens sung

to Ulysses, had he not changed his post to a neighbouring shade; there he was immediately joined by all who were then at leisure: The others were at that time engaged either as parties or spectators at a game of fives, and could not just then attend. However, in less than half an hour the game was finished, and the Captain was enabled to form his company, and proceed in the duties of the day.

"Look to the right, and dress!

They were soon, by the help of the non-commissioned officers, placed in a straight line; but, as every man was anxious to see how the rest stood, those on the wings pressed forward for that purpose, till the whole line assumed nearly the form of a crescent.

"Whew! Look at 'em!' says the Captain. Why, gentlemen, you are all crooking here at 'both eends, so that you will get on to me by and by: Come, gentlemen, dress! dress!'

"This was accordingly done; but, impelled by the same motive as before, they soon resumed their former figure, and so they were permitted to remain.

"Now, gentlemen,' says the Captain, I am going to carry you through the revolutions of the ' manual exercise; and I want you, gentlemen, if you please, to pay every particular attention to the word of command, just exactly as I give it ' out to you. I hope you will have a little patience, gentlemen, if you please, and I'll be as short as