the spectators demanded the fulfilment of the promise of baiting him to death, and began to destroy the building: to conclude, the poor beast was brought back, and other dogs set upon himwithout effect, when he was stabbed to death with a sword.

The newspapers contain the succeeding article, under the date of January 25, in the above year. "This day, his Majesty, with most of the court, went into Hyde Park, where the guards exercised before the Morocco ambassador. His Excellency seemed pleased with the manner of our military. discipline. The soldiers were gallantly accoutred, and the officers magnificently. In return, the ambassador's followers exercised after their manner, which, though strange to us, was excellently. performed, and with most admirable agility, their horses being very tractable and well-managed.

"Some of their performances were throwing of lances, which, with incredible swiftness and dexterity, they would catch again before they fell to the ground. They did likewise, upon full speed, take off a ring hung up for that purpose upon the end of their lances, very rarely missing, shewing great skill in several other diversions. ever was seen in the Park so great an appearance of coaches."

Scarce

In addition to the common amusements of the day, the public was gratified with a most, magni

ficent exhibition, in honour of the birth of a branch of the Royal family of France in 1682, The ambassador from that court resided at St. James's square, and, finding his own mansion too small to accommodate all his expected visitors, he borrowed that of the Duke of St. Alban's. Every precaution was taken to secure the company from insult and pressure on their way to the entertainment, and the houses from assault, during the progress of it, "both the houses being barricadoed, and all little enough to keep off the mobile," says the Loyal Protestant.

Government contributed to this end by sending parties of the horse and foot guards, and to the general exhilaration, by permitting the Royal musicians and trumpeters to perform on the occasion,

Two scaffolds were erected in the square at six in the evening, on which arbours were placed, that concealed the sources whence plenty of wine flowed for the use of the populace; and at night, ten pillars, each supporting four vases of inflammable matter, illuminated the area, and a stage 18 feet by 16, and 12 high, covered with deep blue drapery, adorned with golden fleurs de lis, at the bottom of which was a representation of the sea, with boys bearing the French standard, and sporting with dolphins; at two of the angles were figures of Discord and Envy; on the stage already described was a second, eight feet high, covered

covered with white sarsnet, decorated with dolphins, supporting Fame.

A variety of brilliant and excellent fireworks terminated the pleasures of the evening, which was distinguished by one act on the part of the mob, which had better been omitted; and that was the total demolition of one of the arbours, by throwing it into a large bonfire, because the wine had ceased to run from it.

The same month produced an affray that originated from the most perfect harmony. Several gentlemen serenaded the Duke of Monmouth at his house in Soho square; whence they went to the lady Stanford's, and were paying her the same compliment, when the servants of the Duke, conceiving the music an affront, sallied forth, and severely beat the innocent musicians, who were but ill-requited for thus sacrificing their rest, except that the Duke afterwards did them the honour to be very angry with his domestics.

Other accounts of the same occurrence declare that the songs and music were intended as an insult.

The licensing of ballad-singers procured the publick better entertainment in the time of Charles II. than we now receive from the hoarse pipes and discordant notes of that elegant class of females.

John Clarke, bookseller, rented the licensing

of

of all ballad-singers of Charles Killigrew, Esq. master of the revels, for five years, which term expired in 1682. "These, therefore, are to give notice (saith the latter gentleman in the London Gazette) to all ballad-singers, that they take out licenses at the office of the Revels at Whitehall, for singing and selling of ballads and small books, according to an antient custom.

"And all persons concerned are hereby desired to take notice of, and to suppress, all mountebanks, rope-dancers, prize-players, ballad-singers, and such as make shew of motions and strange sights, that have not a license in red and black letters, under the hand and seal of the said Charles Killigrew, Esq. master of the revels to his Majesty; and, in particular, to suppress one Mr. Irish, Mr. Thomas Varney, and Thomas Yeats, mountebank, who have no license, that they may be proceeded against according to law."

It would be wrong to dispute the propriety of this superintendance at so distant a period as the present; but it might as well have occurred to the master of the revels, that precautions should be taken to prevent improprieties in the established theatres, which, it will appear, was not the case, as on the 27th of April, 1682, Mr. Charles Deering, son of Sir Edward Deering, and Mr. Vaughan, quarrelled in the Duke's play-house, and, mutually drawing, rushed upon the stage,

where

where they fought without interruption' till the former was severely wounded.

One of the most curious and ingenious amusements ever offered to the publick ear was contrived in the year 1682, when an elm plank was exhibited to the King and the credulous of London, which, being touched by a hot iron, invariably produced a sound resembling deep groans.

This sensible, and very irritable board, received numbers of noble visitors; and other boards, sympathising with their afflicted brother, demonstrated how much affected they might be by similar means.

The publicans in different parts of the city immediately applied ignited metal to all the wood work of their houses, in hopes of finding sensitive timber; but I do not perceive any were so successful as the landlord of the Bowman tavern in Drury Lane, who had a mantle tree so extremely prompt and loud in its responses, that the sagacious observers were nearly unanimous in pronouncing it part of the same trunk which had afforded the original plank.

The following paragraph is from the Loyal London Mercury, Oct. 4, 1682. "Some persons being this week drinking at the Queen's Arms tavern, in St. Martin's le Grand, in the kitchen, and having laid the fire-fork in the fire

to