I cannot omit this opportunity of mentioning another singular deviation from European habits. Having received a formal invitation to dinner from a "citizen of credit and renown,' we repaired to his abode at the appointed hour, and sat down to dinner with a number of persons, amongst whom were some ladies. We were unacquainted with any of the party except our entertainer, and we were beginning to make some internal reflections upon the strange appearance of things in general, when the unceremonious manner of some of the guests withdrew the veil of mystery, and informed us that we were dining at a table d'hote. We were, however, treated with the greatest civility by the promiscuous party, who drank the king's health out of compliment to our

nation.

The manners of the men, though they may appear rough and coarse to a fastidious observer, are cordial, frank, and open. It has been the fashion among travellers to accuse the Americans of an habitual violation of veracity in conversation; but, as far as my observation went, this accusation is without foundation. Their thirst for information might be construed, by a person disposed to criticise, into an inquisitiveness bordering upon impertinence.

The manners of the women are so easy and natural, that they soon dissipate the unpleasing impression which is generally excited at first by the drawl of their pronunciation and the peculiarities of their idiom. Some of their expressions and metaphors are s singular as to be nearly unintel ligible, and lead to strange misconceptions.

66

Upon one occasion, the conversation turned upon a lady who was described as being quite prostrated.' On inquiring what had happened to her, I learned that being quite prostrated," was being very ill in bed.

Many of their expressions are derived from their mercantile habits. A young lady, talking of the most eligible class of life from which to choose a husband, declared that, for her part, she was "all for the commissions." This elicited from my companion, the major, one of his best bows, in the fond presumption that she alluded to the military profession-not at all; the sequel of her conversation explained, but too clearly, that commission merchants were the fortunate objects her preference.

MR. MACREADY.

This celebrated tragedian, whose performances have excited the admiration of every cultivated mind, was born March 3, 1793, in Charles-street, Fitzroy-square, where his father, at that time a member of the Covent Garden company, then resided. After having been the usual time at a private academy, he was removed to Rugby School, where his talents and industry were so beneficially exerted, that few students have left that seminary with a higher reputation for classical acquirement.

Having been disappointed in his intended destination-the Bar, he directed his views to the Drama, and, before he had attained the age of 17, made his debut as Romeo at Birmingham the applause he received decided him in his choice, and from that instant he determined

"To wake the soul by gentle strokes of art,

To raise the genius, and to mend the heart."

After leaving Birmingham, our hero performed with undiminished success at Liverpool, Dublin, Bath, and Newcastle; after which he was solicited by the proprietors of Covent Garden to accept of a temporary engagement, but he declined their offer, and soon after entered into a negociation with the rival establishment, which negociation, like many others, was never concluded At Covent Garden he was finally engaged, and appeared on the boards of that house for the first time September 16, 1816, in Orestes in The Distrest Mother, and was well received. He repeated the character several times, after which he performed Mentevoli in The Italian Lover. By a vivid delineation of Gambia, in The Slave, he confirmed the most sanguine presages of improving talent; and in the cha racter of Pescara, in Shiel's Tragedy of The Apostate, he shone forth a great original genius. His Richard has many beauties, and his Rob Roy is the conception of a mind both vigorous and poetic. When the Spectacle of the Coronation was revived, he personated the aged and dying monarch, Henry IV. and rendered it most impressive. But the greatest triumphs he has achieved, have been in Virginius and Caius Gracchus: in either of these characters, the actor attains the highest pinnacle of his art: the union of intellect, of boldness,

of beauty of delivery, and grace, renders every scene in which he is concerned most effective.

When Mr. Macready was performing at the Birmingham Theatre, in August, 1823, he had left the house after the tragedy of Hamlet, in which he had delineated, with his accustomed ability, the philosophic prince, and was proceeding on foot to his lodgings, when he approached a small cottage in flames, surrounded by a concourse of people, eager to look on, but loth to assist: he instantly threw off his coat and waistcoat, and with the agility of a harlequin, sprung intò the parlour window, from whence he soon issued with an infant in his grasp, and was received by the speechless mother in an agony no words can describe. The hat, coat, and waistcoat of the adventurous hero were gone, and he darted through the crowd as he was, towards his lodgings: no one could tell the name of him who had so gallantly ventured his life; and a pecuniary reward of considerable amount was offered to the unknown by a committee of gentlemen. A circumstance occurred which brought him forward against himself: a poor fellow was apprehended selling a handsome coat, in the sleeve of which was written Mr. Macready's name: he was sent for by the magistrates, and identified the coat stolen from him at the fire. The papers now lauded his modesty more than his intrepidity, and the thunders of applause that greeted him on his re-appearance at the theatre, must have been the most grateful to a feeling heart. Mr. Macready's goodness did not stop here: his benefit took place shortly after, and it was a complete bumper. He received in an anonymous letter a bank-note for ten pounds, as a tribute to his humanity and courage in rescuing the cottager's child from the flames. Mr. Macready instantly called upon the unfortunate couple, who had lost their all in the flames, and presented them with that sum, saying he had been only the mean instrument in the hand of God in procuring it for them: he also promised to assist the infant as it advanced in years, and we have no donbt he will fulfil his word.