Having viewed whatever appeared most worthy of inspection in Blenheim castle and park, our travellers returned to Woodstock, where they dined, and, in the evening, set off for Whitney, whence, that night, they reached Bybury in Glocestershire. Here they found a very good inn, and a young woman, who did not officiate as a servant, paid her respects to the ladies; upon seeing this person, our hero thought her very handsome, and after his Maria, one of the most charming girls he had ever beheld; and they afterwards found, upon enquiry, that she was reckoned the beauty of the vale of Evesham. They learned that the most commodious apartment for supper was a public room, where several parties were sitting at different tables. There had been, it seems, a play in an adjoining barn; and the greater number of the spectators were at supper in the wide and extensive theatre; but a few of the higher order were promoted to the dining room, and our travellers overheard some dramatic criticism. A decent substantial looking man declared himself extremely delighted, and was proceeding with particulars, when a great, stout, portly figure entered in a dress which appeared to be an old sailor’s jacket bespangled with whip-cord, and whispering something to the waiter, was shewn to a box facing that of Hamilton. The company was at first silent, and then began a clapping, but not so loud as to prevent the waiter’s voice from being heard bawling, “eggs and bacon for the ghost, and a pot of mild ale,” and soon after, “for the queen, a glass of crank hot and strong, beef steaks and onions for Ophelia.” Hamilton having heard this order, conceived that the gentleman in the blue jacket, though really so abounding in flesh and blood, was intended to be the ghost of the elder Hamlet. Accordingly he accosted him; “I find, sir, that by being too late, these ladies and I have missed the performance of a very excellent tragedy.” “Yes,” replied the other, “if you know any thing of London plays, you would have been astonished with us.” “You acted the ghost, sir.” “Yes, and Laertes.” “But had you not to change your dress?” “No; I had no dress to change with. I should indeed have taken off the armour, but the taylor was on the stage playing the king.” “Where is your Hamlet?” “Gone home to supper with the sexton, who acted the part of the grave-digger. I assure you, that bating his now and then forgetting his part, our Hamlet is a capital actor; but here comes the fair Ophelia bearing a mug of porter.” The mistress of the Danish Prince was arrayed in a green jacket and a red petticoat, that proved Monmouth-street to extend to distant parts of the kingdom. But as she was a fine likely girl, her habiliments appeared to the best advantage, and she sat down by a young farmer, who appeared smitten with her charms, while she seemed nowise to discourage his addresses, and it required no ghost to discover what would be the result. Our