J.--Sir, it is not true; his character in that respect is misunderstood: Garrick was, to be sure, very ready in promising, but he intended at that time to fulfil his promise; he intended no deceit; his politeness, or his good nature, call it which you will, made him unwilling to deny, he wanted the courage to say _No_, even to unreasonable demands. This was the great error of his life; by raising expectations which he did not, perhaps could not, gratify, he made enemies; at the same time it must be remembered that this error proceeded from the same cause which produced many of his virtues. Friendships from warmth of temper too suddenly taken up, and too violent to continue, ended, as they were like to do, in disappointment; enmity succeeded disappointment, his friends became his enemies, and those having been fostered in his bosom, knew well his sensibility to reproach, and they took care that he should be amply supplied with such bitter potions as they were capable of administering. Their impotent efforts he ought to have despised, but he felt them; nor did he affect insensibility. G.--And that sensibility probably shortened his life. J.--No, sir, he died of a disorder of which you or any other man may die without being killed by too much sensibility. G.--But you will allow, however, that this sensibility, those fine feelings, made him the great actor he was. J.--This is all cant, fit only for kitchen wenches and chamber maids; Garrick’s trade was to represent passion, not to feel it. Ask Reynolds, whether he felt the distress of Count Ugolino, when he drew it. G.--But surely he feels the passion at the moment he is representing it. J.--About as much as Punch feels. That Garrick himself gave in to this foppery of feelings, I can easily believe; but he knew at the time that he lied. He might think it right, as far as I know, to have what fools imagined he ought to have; but it is amazing that anyone should be so ignorant as to think that an actor will risk his reputation by depending upon the feelings, that may be excited in the presence of 200 people, on the repetition of certain words which he has repeated 200 times before in what actors call their study. No, sir, Garrick left nothing to chance; every gesture, every expression of countenance, and variation of voice, was settled in his closet, before he set his foot upon the stage. [Illustration: text decoration] MR. ALEXANDER GARDNER, of Paisley, has in hand a little series of books, which he proposes to name “The Antiquarian Library.” The series will consist chiefly of original works, and will be introduced by the following books from the pen of Mr. William Andrews: “Gibbet Lore: Remarkable Chapters in the Annals of Great Britain and Ireland,” “Obsolete Punishments,” “History of Bells and Wells: Their History, Legends, Superstitions, Folk-lore, and Poetry.” The History of Gilds. BY CORNELIUS WALFORD, F.S.S., _Barrister-at-Law_.