"O Portugal! whene'er I see thy name What proud emotions rise within my breast! To _thee_ I owe--from _thee_ derive that fame Which here may linger when I lie at rest. When as a youth I landed on thy shore, How little did I think I e'er could be Worthy the honours thou has giv'n to me; And when the coming storm I did deplore, Drove me far from thee by its hostile threat-- With feelings which can never be effaced, I learn'd to commune with those writers old Who had the deeds of they great chieftains told; Departed bards in converse sweet I met, I'd seen where they had liv'd--the land Camoens grac'd." I venture to add the titles of two interesting volumes which have been printed subsequently to the publications of Lowndes and Martin. It may be a useful hint to students and collectors:-- "BIBLIOTHECA LUSITANA, or catalogue of books and tracts, relating to the history, literature, and poetry, of Portugal: forming part of the library of John Adamson, M.R.S.L. etc. _Newcastle on Tyne_, 1836. 8vo. "LUSITANIA ILLUSTRATA; notices on the history, antiquities, literature, etc. of Portugal. Literary department. Part I. Selection of sonnets, with biographical Sketches of the author, by John Adamson, M.R.S.L. etc. _Newcastle upon Tyne_, 1842. 8vo." BOLTON CORNEY. * * * * * RECEIPTS TO THE BEGGAR'S OPERA ON ITS PRODUCTION. Every body is aware of the prodigious and unexpected success of Gay's _Beggar's Opera_ on its first production; it was offered to Colley Cibber at Drury Lane, and refused, and the author took it to Rich, at the Lincoln's-Inn-Fields theatre, by whom it was accepted, but not without hesitation. It ran for 62 nights (not 63 nights, as has been stated in some authorities) in the season of 1727-1728; of these, 32 nights were in succession; and, from the original Account-book of the manager, C.M. Rich, I am enabled to give an exact statement of the money taken at the doors on each night, distinguishing such performances as were for the benefit of the author, viz. the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 15th nights, which put exactly 693l. 13s. 6d. into Gay's pocket. This is a new circumstance in the biography of one of our most fascinating English writers, whether in prose or verse. Rich records that the king, queen, and {179} princesses were present on the 21st repetition, but that was by no means one of the fullest houses. The very bill sold at the doors on the occasion has been preserved, and hereafter may be furnished for the amusement of your readers. It appears, that when the run of the _Beggar's Opera_ was somewhat abruptly terminated by the advance of the season and the benefits of the actors, the "takings," as they were and still are called, were larger than ever. The performances commenced on 29th January, 1728, and that some striking novelty was required at the Lincoln's-Inn-Fields theatre, to improve the prospects of the manager, may be judged from the fact that the new