Given to the watchmen to drincke att the king's returne from Ireland ---- 00 02 06 1691.--Given to Stockes and ye watchmen to drincke att the bonefire and fire workes att the king's returne from Ireland ---- 00 10 00 Oct. 12.--Paid the labourers and carters for four dayes' worke in laying and spreading the gravell ---- 01 06 00 Making a grand total of £4. 1s. 0d. for a St. Paul's parish fête; but this was in 1690. This festival was of sufficient note to engage the artist's attention, and an engraving of it was sold by "B. Lens, between Bridewell and Fleet Bridge in Blackfryers." Convent Garden has been the abode of talented and noble men. Richardson's Hotel was the residence of Dr. Hunter, the anatomical lecturer; and in 1724, Sir James Thornhill, who painted the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, resided in this garden and opened a school for drawing in his house. Moreover, for the honour of the Garden, be it known, that at Sir Francis Kynaston's house therein situated, Charles the First established an academy called "_Museum Minervæ_," for the instruction of gentlemen in arts and sciences, knowledge of medals, antiquities, painting, architecture, and foreign languages. Not a vestige remains of the museum establishment now-a-days, or the subjects it embraced, unless it be _foreign languages_, including wild Irish, and very low English. Even as late as 1722, Lord Ferrers lived in Convent Garden; but this is trifling compared with the list of nobles who have lived around about this attractive spot, where nuns wandered in cloistered innocence, and now, oh! for sentimentality, what a relief to a fine, sensitive mind, or a sickly milliner! In the front of the church quacks used to harangue the mob and give advice gratis. Westminster elections are held also on the same spot--that's a coincidence. A CORRESPONDENT. * * * * * Manners & Customs of all Nations. * * * * * AFRICAN FESTIVITIES.