"I will fight him with the contents of the basket, He is more used to them than I am; and if he ever did kill anybody in America, it was with that sort of thing."

Hill seized by the root a large cabbage from the basket. "Now, let him take one, and let us go at it. He is used to cabbage, and his father before him, who was an honest tailor, and would never have been ashamed either of his own language, or a fellow-countryman in a foreign land."

The scene that followed was ludicrous in the extreme. All parties adjourned to a splendid dinner; and whenever Hill afterwards said, "Go to blazes," in some company, there were divers winks, aud finger gyrations which were enjoyed by the initiated, who understood the facts connected with the goose and the cabbage.

Mr. Hill gave two entertainments in Paris; and in March, 1839, returned to London, and brought out "Wife for a Day" at the Haymarket theatre. He played in London until September, when he left in the steamship "British Queen" for the United States.

CHAPTER XVI.

"Throw physic to the dogs, I'll none of it."

AN ENGAGEMENT IN BOSTON, 1841-LATE APPEARANCE-ILLNESS—MR. HILL RESOLVES TO LEAVE THE STAGE-ENTERS AS A STUDENT IN THE OFFICE OF A DISTINGUISHED SURGEON IN BOSTON-MATRICULATES IN THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY-PURCHASES BOOKS AND INSTRUMENTS OF ALL KINDS FOR THE PRACTICE OF SURGERY

ANECDOTES.

Mr. HILL considered himself of an impulsive and excitable disposition. Those who knew him best will corroborate his views of his own character.

While playing an engagement in the Tremont theatre, Boston, in 1841, he suffered from illness consequent upon anxiety and over-exertion in his endeavors to reach Boston in time to prevent disappointment to the manager and the public. Telegraphs and express cars were not then, as now, available in emergencies. Mr. Hill had missed the usual route. He determined, however, to come over-land from New York to Boston at any risk of health or expense, rather than not fulfil his engagement.

The manager considered Hill's arrival in time to play an impossibility, and was accordingly prepared with a change of pieces.

A notice had been placed in the lobbies of the theatre, and outside of the ticket-office, announcing the non-arrival of Mr. Hill. Many went away after reading the notice, but enough remained to make a toler

able house; and the performance of the "Heir at Law" had commenced. Just as the cue had been given for the entrance of Dr. Pangloss from the left hand of the stage, on bustled Hill from the right hand side, wearing an overcoat covered with mud, boots in like condition, and an umbrella, as it was raining hard. He had that moment entered the theatre by the stage door.

The audience and actors were surprised at this in terruption, and a shower of hisses greeted his entrance.

Hill walked down to the foot-lights, took off his cap and handkerchief with which it was tied upon his head, and with one of his peculiar looks addressed them.

"Hello, what's the matter on ye? This is the first time I ever got hissed. What's it all about, ye dar'n critters. ?"

By this time the applause was deafening. The audience had discovered the intruder to be the expected Hill.

He gave them a humorous description of the cause of his delay, and the incidents of his journey; and told them "he was willing, if they were willing, and the manager was willing, to put on his fixins, and do his best in the performance of the characters in which he had been announced to appear."

Play, play," came from all parts. of the house. The comedy was stopped, and a fight farce substituted to give Mr. Hill time to dress.

Without much delay he appeared in one of his favorite parts, and never with greater effect, or more to the satisfaction of the audience.