It also appears that a work of some extent on the present state of literature, and literary men, in this country, had been nearly compleated. It was written in the administration of Mr. Pitt, and was inscribed to the Right Hon. W. Windham. The idea originated, in what was perhaps a misconception, that literature was on the decline among us, from the want of patrons. As he advanced in life, he was probably convinced that he was in error, for the work was never published, and as it should seem, never finished. Our friend had also prepared for publication, some notes on two plays of Shakspeare. He, somewhere in “the Recollections,” confesses, that he was prompted to this, by a wish to exercise the irritable curiosity of George Stevens. He first began with intimating in some Morning Paper, the intention of examining the edition of Shakspeare by Malone, then recently published, with the hint that the critical attention of the author would also be extended to all the other annotators. Several columns were accordingly filled with notes on the Tempest. The bait took, Mr. S. ever restless and impatient where Shakspeare was concerned, used every effort in his power to discover the author, and even condescended to reply to some of his observations, through the same channel of communication with the public. But he did not succeed; the work, however, became, in its progress, so very amusing, that annotations on two plays were ready for publication. Something more serious, in all probability, diverted his attention from this lighter employment, which he seems to have laid aside altogether. Preparations were also made for a publication of a facetious kind. He proposed to give an account of the witty publications of earlier days, and had taken as a motto, Jest and youthful jollity, Quips and cranks and wanton wiles, Nods and becks and wreathed smiles, Sport that wrinkled care derides, And laughter holding both his sides. The following books formed part of the stores from which he intended to have extracted his materials. “Dainty Conceits, with a number of rare and witty Inventions, never before printed. Made and invented for honest Recreation, to passe away idle Houres. By Thomas Johnson. 1630.” “Wit’s Private Wealth stored with Choice of Commodities to contente the Minde. 1639.” “Essays and Characters. By J. Stephens. 1615.” “Sir T. Overbury’s Characters. 1627.” “Coffee House Jests. 1677.” “Wit Restored. 1658.” “A Banquet of Jests. 1640.” “Micro-cosmographie, or Characters. By Earle. 1628.” “Pasquil’s Jests, with Mother Bunch’s Meriments. 1629.” “Wits, or Sport upon Sport. 1672.” “Richard Ward of Wit, Wisdom, Folly, &c. 1674.” “F. Mere’s Wits Commonwealth. 1636.” “Wits Recreation, ingenious Conceits, Medicines for Melancholy. 1667.” “Ford’s Panegyrick, Apothegms, &c. 1660.” “The Book of merry Riddles. 1629.”