and manager of those at Leeds, Bradford, Doncaster, Wakefield, and Pontefract. These theatres comprised the York circuit. He was a painstaking manager, and was in the habit, when a new piece was being introduced, of viewing it from the gallery. On one occasion, noticing some slovenly acting, he began to hiss vigorously. The “gods”, not being so hypercritical, and not recognizing him, cried, “Turn him out”, and turned out he was from his own theatre. During the Assizes, Races, and the winter, York was the favourite resort of the nobility and gentry of the north; concerts, dances, and card parties at the Assembly Rooms, and plays at the Theatre being the fashionable amusements. John Coleman, a later lessee, is said to have prepared his own playbills, which were couched in grandiose language. In this connection, a story is told to the effect that one morning at rehearsal, he exclaimed to the property man: “Have you all ready for to-night?” “Yes, all except the pedestal.” “The what?” thundered Coleman. “The pedestal,” was repeated. “What is that for?” roared the lessee. The property man took down the playbill and pointed out the words: “On this occasion Mr. Coleman will descend from his pedestal and enact the part of Bob Hawkins.” The introduction of railways was welcomed by George Hudson, a draper in College Street. He took the foremost position in promoting the construction of a line to York. His name became one of the most prominent in the railway world and he was spoken of as the Railway King. He was thrice Lord Mayor of York and represented Sunderland in Parliament for fourteen years. The railway crisis ended his public career. York is a garrison town with cavalry and infantry barracks on Fulford Road, and there is a summer camp of 1600 acres at Strensall. Around the city are considerable tracts of land known as strays and belonging to the freemen of the city. The strays contain altogether 743 acres. The Micklegate Strays of Knavesmire, Hob Moor, and Scarcroft have been recently acquired by the Corporation. York is the assize town for the North and East Ridings. The city itself has been a county from early times, and has a sheriff and an assize of its own. The judges’ lodging is a large brick house in Lendal. The courts are within the castle yard, and the approach of His Majesty’s judges is announced by a fanfare from the high sheriff’s trumpeters. The city is in the midst of an agricultural district, and on market days one hundred and fifty carriers’ wagons come heavily laden with passengers and produce for the open-air market held in Parliament Street. For the accommodation of the public there are above two hundred inns and taverns. In the “Black Swan”, Coney Street, is preserved a coaching-bill, of which the following is a copy:-- CENTER “YORK FOUR DAYS STAGE COACH Begins on Friday the 12th of April 1706.