to re-open at least one of them, and consequently there was an end, pro tempore, to the business.

The public stock of harmless pleasure was now "impoverished" by the death of a great contributor to the Italian stage, and of a very popular one to the English stage-events that perplex the proceedings of management in no slight degree. The premature demise of Bellini was a matter of deep regret, as well as of great injury, and in both points of view especially to Drury Lane, which had the honor, if not of introducing, at all events of familiarizing, the exquisite talent of this gifted composer to an English audience. The beauties of Bellini's style were comparatively unknown, and certainly unappreciated in this country, until the performance of La Sonnambula, adapted to our own stage, brought them before the judgment and taste of the public. The charm which rendered their own even more talismanic than it otherwise would have been, was the execution of its melody by Madame Malibran; and connected as the reputation of composer

comes one whom you, above all others at present, ought to take a peculiar interest in contemplating. You have done extraordinary things, I hear, with GUSTAVUS the THIRD, but HE did something more extraordinary with him." I was then introduced to a man (whose nomme de circonstance was Löwen) of venerable aspect, of easy deportment, and whose figure, though bent by time, bespoke considerable dignity. He was affable, gentlemanly, and extremely intelligent. As he passed on, I naturally inquired who he was; and my feelings of astonishment and curiosity may be imagined, when I was informed, "That is Count Ribbing, the last survivor of THE REGICIDES of Sweden."

and singer was with that of Drury Lane theatre, it may not be irrelevant for its manager to record a mournful, but most singular circumstance, that Bellini and Malibran died in the very same month, on the very same day of the month, and at the very same age-the first on the 23rd September, 1835, and the last on the 23rd September, 1836, having both completed their 28th year-" so wise, so young, they say, do not live long!" It was but a few months before that he had visited this metropolis, and was a witness to the triumph achieved by Madame Malibran, in his ablest and favourite work, La Sonnambula; to see which, it appears by the humorous letter of the Prima Donna, given some pages back, he had by some accident to pay.

The other death referred to was that of Mr. Pocock, who died, exactly to a day, one month before; and finding that event thus recorded amongst my own memoranda, made and circulated at the time, I cannot do better than transcribe it. "The stage at any

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period of its existence could not afford to lose a man "of so much worth and talent; but at the present "moment, when it is on the verge of its decay, when "nearly all its bright stars have faded away, when "the nobility are forsaking, the gentry becoming sick "of it, and the public at large flying away from it— "the loss of one of its ornaments is doubly to be

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regretted. Mr. Pocock was one of the most volu"minous, and at the same time most successful "dramatic authors of the present times-especially in

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pieces combining the marvellous and the humorous, consequently the effective-superadding to "such power of composition the talent of a distinguished artist. It was in the prosecution of this art (the pictorial), that Mr. Pocock was, it is under"stood, a pupil of Sir William Beechey, about "28 years ago; but feeling the dramatic spark "kindling within him, he since that period confined "his abilities chiefly to writing for the theatres. Mr. "Pocock's first piece, as well as my memory serves,

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was a musical farce, entitled, Yes or No,' brought out at the Haymarket in 1808, which, like most of "his productions, was deservedly successful. From "that period to the close of the last season he has

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produced on an average two pieces a year, notwithstanding a partial secession from public life, after "the death of his uncle, Admiral Pocock, and his "accession to the Maidenhead property. Amongst "his most popular pieces may be reckoned Hit or "Miss, Miller and his Men, Maid and Magpie,

Rob Roy, John of Paris, Husbands and Wives, "The Omnibus, Cent. per Cent., Robber's Wife, "Ferry and Mill, Scan. Mag. King Arthur, &c. "The best evidence that can be adduced of Mr. "Pocock's respectability and station in private life is, "that he was Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Berks, and one of His Majesty's Justices of the "Peace.

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The death of such a man, if a loss to the public, must be a still greater one to that profession

"which was so much assisted by his abilities, and ad"vanced in respectability by his association."

Mr. Pocock always bore in mind the maxim handed down to us from Pliny, "Never do anything but what "deserves to be written, nor write any thing but "what deserves to be read ;" and if a similar eulogy could be passed upon all of us, what an irreproachable set of people we should be.

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CHAPTER XII.

Repeal of the Union" carried-State of the dramatic world examined-An actor's theory and practice at variance-His former and present salaries at greater variance-Horne Tooke's opinion of expedition-Industrious fleas-No unanimity-Shakspeare neglected for want of actors-Demonstration of the rents of yesterday and to-day-Reduction of prices, and vitiation of taste-List of company-Macbeth's music-Othello's attraction-A tragedian proves his own want of it-An article of engagement-The JEW and the Jewess-Mr. Balfe-The Provost of Bruges-Distinction between a tuck-hunter and a tuft-hunter.

"THE Repeal of the Union" now became a question much more discussed in the theatrical, than it is ever likely to be in the political world; and although attended with as many difficulties as the junction was first of all carried through, this bill did what the other never will-PASS. The two grand objects sought to be attained by uniting the interests of the two patent theatres were, a reasonable reduction of the exorbitant salaries that had been some time back demanded and paid, and the allotment of a particular class of entertainment to a particular theatre. To