concluded, when he threw himself back in his chair in triumph.

"Not a word more-that decides it," he exclaimed, "I won't hear another word-" to a little sharp-faced man, who had determined to secure the best chance of the next speech by keeping his mouth ready open for utterance. Well, Merchant, we see you at last. I thought you were dead, but they talked of catchpolls."

66

"Permit me to introduce a young gentleman-Mr. Richard Savage-who is particularly anxious for the honour of an introduction to Mr. Lovell."

66

Very happy indeed to see Mr. Richard Savage," returned Lovell, rising, and with his hand extended on his breast, bowing profoundly." You rogue," to Merchant-"Mr. Savage, I hope, is anxious for more honour than he can derive from an introduction to Jack Lovell."

"If we might request the favour of your joining us in a bowl of punch," suggested Merchant, with a persuasive softness, "over here at the side table ?"

Lovell licked his lips with evident satisfaction.

66

"A bowl of punch! Why, ah!-yes. We'll leave the commonalty, and adjourn."

When the punch had gone round, Merchant, in few words, opened our business to him.

"What!" cried Lovell," one of us, is he? Mr. Savage, give me your hand. I wish you well-I wish you happyI wish you prosperous, and therefore, perhaps I ought to say, I wish you would run away from authorship from authorship as fast as your good sense will carry you. And so you have written a play a little comedy-mirth-inspiring comedy! Bless the ingenious young rogue," turning to Merchant, "what a set of teeth he shows! I hope he'll always find employment for 'em."

He regarded me attentively for some moments.

"He'll do-he'll do," he exclaimed, "I see it in every lineament. And you think Jack Lovell can be of service to you? Jack Lovell imbibes new life from the flattering compliment. What he can do, that will he do. Can he say more? Even as I empty this glass," drinking it off,

"so empty my heart of all its friendship, and make use of it."

'Why," said Merchant, "your acquaintance with the players

"I know 'em all," returned Lovell, "all! not a man Jack, but Jack knows the man."

"Ah!

I

66 Do you think," observed Merchant, "that Wilks or Cibber could be prevailed upon to look at it ?” "Um!" said Lovell, shaking his head. Wilks and Cibber are great men now, and I'm a little man now. Time was, I was a great man then, and they were little men then. Fortune turn thy wheel,' as old Kent says; but she has turned it, and it went over me long ago. knew them all-Betterton, majestic Betterton-and Powel who loved a bowl of punch better-no, as well as I do. I'll tell you what," he added, after a pause, " there's Bullock. I dare say you have a part will suit him. I'll write to him." "A capital comic actor, Bullock," said Merchant ; "Lopez will fit him to a miracle."

"Then to Bullock-innocent beast! I knew him when he was a steer-to him will I write," cried Lovell. "Fetch pen, ink, and paper."

Merchant hastened down stairs to procure them.

"A very good fellow, Merchant," said Lovell, when he was gone; "but he'll never make any thing. He wants perseverance-application, without which nothing ever was done, and therefore, I suppose, nothing can be done. Ah! Video meliora, proboque; Deteriora sequor;'

that is to say, I can see his mote in spite of my own beam. There is no help for it but this," applying to the bowl.

"Mr. Savage," he resumed, setting down his glass, and squeezing my hand, "you will make a more graceful figure with the town than I have done. I know it. We must be friends. In your success I shall behold my own. Yes, yes, I'll say to you in the words of Dryden,

'Unprofitably kept at Heaven's expense,

I live a rent-charge on His providence;