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rest of his countrymen, and be added to an immense pile of human bones deposited in the charnel house at Stratford. But though this may account for the oddness of the injunction, it is no apology for the harshness of the sentiment or the meanness of the verse.

EDWARD and GEORGE HERBERT.

THE history of the human mind can hardly ex

hibit a more eccentric and unaccountable character than the celebrated lord Herbert, of Cherbury, who served as ambassador in France, with great reputation, under James the First, and was created a knight of the Bath, and made a peer; but in the rebellion he sided with the parliament. He died in 1648, aged 69. He was at the same time a deist and an enthusiast; a man of high courage and a knight errant; he professed the most refined principles, while he acted by the falsest maxims of morality.

When he was in France, and was on a visit at the duke of Montmorency's, it happened one evening, that a daughter of the duchess de Ventadour, of about ten or eleven years of age, went to walk in the meadows with his lordship, and several other ladies and gentlemen. The young lady wore a knot of ribband on her head, which a French chevalier snatched away, and fastened to his hatband. He was desired to return it, but refused. The lady then requested lord Herbert to recover it for her. A race ensued; and the chevalier finding himself likely to be overtaken, made a sudden turn, and was about to deliver his H 3

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WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE,

"Thou smiling queen of every tuneful breast,
Indulgent Fancy! from the fruitful banks
Of Avon, whence thy rosy fingers cull

Fresh flowers and dews, to sprinkle on the turf
Where Shakspeare lies:-

AKENSIDE.

IT is to be lamented that the indefatigable industry of so many commentators as have engaged in the laudable work of illustrating and explaining the works of our immortal bard, should have failed in collecting those particulars which would have given an exact picture of his private and domestic character. The life of Shakspeare, by Rowe, has been adopted by all the succeeding editors, not from any high admiration of the performance, but from the want of more correct and more ample information. Yet a few tra ditional circumstances have been gleaned; and, in a volume like the present, it would be altogether unpardonable to pass, unnoticed, the name of Shakspeare.

His father had filled the first civil office in the borough of Stratford-upon-Avon, but becoming reduced,

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