―――― ON MR. WARTON, M.P. When they talked of their progress, improvement, and stuff, He blocked all their bills, snorted loud, and took snuff, ――――:o:―――― In that amusing book, “The Reminiscences of Henry Angelo” (published by Colburn and Bentley in 1830), some account is given of the satirical writer, Anthony Pasquin, whose real name, by the way, was Williams. This man who had been originally brought up to the profession of an Engraver, threw aside the graving tool, and adopted the less respectable calling of a satirical lampoonist. He was an unprincipled impudent sponge, who spoke ill of every one, and forced himself on the hospitality of all who knew him, so that it was said of him that “he never opened his mouth but at another man’s expence.” In 1786 he contributed to a weekly paper then appearing, entitled _The Devil_, from which Angelo quotes part of a long Parody upon the Deserted Village, written by Pasquin asserting the inferiority of the actors then upon the stage, to their predecessors, an assertion frequently made by elderly people even in these days. INNOVATION. Sweet Playhouse! best amusement of the town, Where often, at half-price, for half-a-crown, I’ve with such glee my opening visit paid, When oysters first are sold, and farces play’d: Dear boxes! where I scarce my nose could squeeze, Where play, and dance, and song were sure to please; How often happier than a king or queen, While loud applause has marked the well-play’d scene. How often have I paused on ev’ry charm, The speaking silence, the expression warm, The never-failing start, the gushing tear, The broken accents trembling on the ear; The moon that vainly tried to pierce the shade, Impervious scene for love or murder made; How often have I blessed the parting day, When, tea removed, I hurried to the play; And both the galleries, from labour free, Wept at the actor’s woe, or shar’d his glee; While many a first appearance has been made, The young contending as the old survey’d, And many a gentleman walk’d o’er the ground, While hisses, cat-calls, off! and groans, went round; And still as each repeated effort tir’d, The stage-struck wight became still more inspir’d. The rival Romeos that sought renown, By holding out, to tire each other down; The Scrub right conscious of his well-chalk’d face; While bursts of laughter echo’d round the place; The timid Juliet’s side-long looks of love, The critic’s glance, who would those looks reprove: These were thy charms, sweet playhouse, joys like these, With quick succession taught e’en Rich to please. These round the theatre alternate shed Laughter and tears――but all these charms are fled.