GEORGE RICHARDS, the well-known comedian, for many seasons associated with the late Eugene Canfield, was a member of Emerson’s Minstrels about five years, commencing 1870; he was a regular comic. Mr. Richards was born in Somerville, Mass., January 3, 1854. MACKIN and WILSON were one of the premier song and dance teams of minstrelsy during a period when that style of performance had its greatest vogue many years ago. Jimmy Mackin and Francis Wilson (then known as Frank Wilson) were boys in their ’teens when they formed a partnership that lasted for seven years; during which time they played engagements with some of the foremost minstrel organizations of their day. Their initial appearance as a team was at the Metropolitan Theatre, Indianapolis, Ind., August 7, 1871. July 1 following, they began a brief engagement with Sam Sharpley’s Minstrels. Their first New York appearance was at the Comique, commencing September 16, 1872; they reappeared there October 28, following, after which they opened in Chicago with Arlington, Cotton and Kemble’s Minstrels, December 2, same year. They remained with the above organization the balance of the season, and part of the next one, commencing August 26, 1873. September 3, 1874, they began a season’s engagement with Birch, Wambold and Backus’ famous San Francisco Minstrels in New York, after which they joined Emerson’s Minstrels, July, 1875. Later they were with Hooley, Haverly and Maguire. They rejoined Emerson’s Company in Detroit, September 30, 1875; January 13, 1877, they left Emerson; and nine days later became members of Sweatnam and Fraser’s Minstrels in Philadelphia. There Mackin and Wilson decided to head their own organization, and accordingly on the twenty-first day of May, 1877, Mackin and Wilson, Sutton and “Bernardo’s” Minstrels left Philadelphia to win fame and fortune; they did neither. The thrilling account of the trials and tribulations of this little band are best explained in Mr. Wilson’s own letter, which will be found elsewhere in this volume. The name of the company underwent several changes before its dissolution in September, 1877; the obsequies were held in Cleveland, Ohio. Mackin and Wilson next engaged with Neil Bryant’s Minstrels in New York, opening October 8 following; they closed December 8. Shortly after this they joined Simmons, Slocum and Sweatnam’s Minstrels in Philadelphia, where they remained until the end of the season, May 11, 1878; this was followed by a supplemental tour, after which Mackin and Wilson separated, each going their respective ways. JAMES F. MACKIN was an exceptionally clever clog dancer and good performer, when with Tom Sullivan he joined Harry McCarthy’s Minstrels in Indianapolis, Ind., September 14, 1870. The team was known as Mackin and Sullivan; they continued with the company until it closed, January 26, 1871.