“Blow, wind—come, rack, in ages yet unborn, Our castle’s strength shall laugh a siege to scorn”— the theatre fell a victim to the flames within fifteen years from the prognostic! These preparations against fire always presuppose presence of mind and promptness in those who are to put them into action. They remind one of the dialogue, in Morton’s _Speed the Plough_, between Sir Able Handy and his son Bob: “_Bob_. Zounds, the castle’s on fire! _Sir A_. Yes. _Bob_. Where’s your patent liquid for extinguishing fire? _Sir A_. It is not mixed. _Bob_. Then where’s your patent fire-escape? _Sir A_. It is not fixed. _Bob_. You are never at a loss? _Sir A_. Never. _Bob_. Then what do you mean to do? _Sir A_. I don’t know.” {17} A rather obscure mode of expression for _Jews’_-harp; which some etymologists allege, by the way, to be a corruption of _Jaws’_-harp. No connection, therefore, with King David. {20} The Weekly Register, which he kept up without the failure of a single week from its first publication till his death—a period of above thirty-three years. {21} Bagshaw. At that time the publisher or Cobbett’s Register. {22} The old Lyceum Theatre, pulled down by Mr. Arnold. That since destroyed by fire [16th Feb., 1830] was erected on its site. [The Drury Lane Company performed at the Lyceum till the house was rebuilt.] {23a} The present colonnade in Little Russell Street formed no part of the original design, and was erected only a few years back. {23b} An allusion to a murder then recently committed on Barnes Terrace. [The murder (22nd July, 1812) of the Count and Countess D’Antraigues (distantly related to the Bourbons), by a servant out of livery of the name of Laurence—an Italian or Piedmontese, who made away with himself immediately after.] {24a} At that time keeper of Newgate. The present superintendent (1833) is styled Governor! {24b} A portentous one that made its appearance in the year 1811; in the midst of the war, “with fear of change Perplexing nations.” {25} “_The Living Lustres_ appears to us a very fair imitation of the fantastic verses which that ingenious person, Mr. Moore, indites when he is merely gallant, and, resisting the lures of voluptuousness, is not enough in earnest to be tender.” —JEFFREY, _Edinburgh Review_. {26} This alludes to two massive pillars of verd antique which then flanked the proscenium, but which have since been removed. Their colour reminds the bard of the Emerald Isle, and this causes him (_more suo_) to fly off at a tangent, and Hibernicise the rest of the poem.