pieces to the prompter's call-boy, might he not, by some astounding turn of luck, choose MINE? The chance of such an event, however far removed from probability, seemed not at greater distance from it than the chance of a prize in that famous pecuniary speculation, annually set afloat by government for the moral benefit of all loyal subjects: and my venture, besides, would have this advantage over the pecuniary one, that it might be made without expence, whether terminated or not by profit. At any rate, the matter appeared to me to be worth another trial; although, not to be too hazardous, I resolved to commit one only of my dramatic children to a new ordeal. And the PLAY, as the elder of the two, being but properly entitled to the priority of fresh adventure, that was once again transmitted to the House over whose destinies yet presided the glorious Coterie, of whom worthy mention hath been already made in these Confessions.

My intention executed, I determined to let the ordinary business of life possess my thoughts as fully and exclusively, as though a fate, more important to me than that of empires, were not once again suspended in the managerial balances. In truth, my philosophy was called to no extraordinary trial upon the occasion; for so certain did I feel, if a passing reflection upon

the subject obtruded itself, of ere long receiving back my Piece, and with it the customary theatrical reply, that I rather feared than hoped for the arrival of an answer. A fortnight, the

longest period I had ever previously been permitted to remain in suspense, passed away without intelligence: a faint joy diffused itself within my bosom, that my sentence was as yet delayed: three weeks expired-a month-five, six weeks-two months!-I then grew pale, and wondered. Hope, for delicious moments, painted the air around me with her day-dreams: but apprehension, again, pictured far darker things: yes, even that my Play (of which I had no copy) was mislaid-lost-had been made property of dishonourable hands-was gone from me beyond prospect or possibility of recovery! These last ideas were too tormenting for endurance beyond the close of the succeeding week: that period having passed, my resolution wast taken; and it was no other than to proceed to the House in person, and insist upon the redelivery of my Piece. Accordingly, I dressed one morning for this especial purpose; and was in the act of setting out from the street-door, when the Post-man placed a letter in my hands, whose purport proved as follows:

"be kind enough to favour him with a call at the Theatre some "morning, and at as early an opportunity as you can make it "convenient.

"I am, Sir,

"Your very hble Servt.

66

O! the wild mountings of a hope, so long that struggled with the fiend adversity, when called, like birds from winter-sleep by spring and sunlight, to soar all-buoyant up to joy at last!-Bear with me, even in my poetics, Reader: the ecstacy of the moment in which the lines I have repeated met my view, inspires me even yet in the remembrance of it: despite the melancholy close to every bright anticipation; despite rejections still to thee untold; despite the fact, that my dramatic path was checquered, truly, by "a gleam of prosperous shine," yet neither usefully nor permanently enlightened.—But I forget that the very ecstacy I speak of, may appear to need elucidation.

Know, then, that the "Mr." whose desires were communicated to me in the note above cited, was no other than that mighty theatrical monarch, whom to distinguish by a title worthy of himself, I would fain revive a good old

custom, once prevalent with such as talked of kings: videlicet, I would observe the form wont to be observed with one of the eighteen Louis' to whom right royally has pertained the crown of France; presuming not otherwise to speak of the said "Mr. ," than as His Majesty

of

Theatre, STEPHEN le Gros. And to HIM was I summoned!-Could I doubt to what intent?-Was not Acceptance legible in every word of this brief note, to me how more transporting than that sublime of epistolary favours, a line from royalty itself?

It may be superfluous now to say, that I altered not my intention of visiting the Theatre, but only changed the object of that visit. However, I did not think it necessary to acquaint his theatrical Majesty, on my admission to his presence, of the design with which I had been possessed just previously to starting. Neither did it appear to me of any moment, to lay before his said Majesty the history of REJECTIONS ONE TO SIX, (four of which were from the House he governed,) in the olden time awarded to that identical Piece, which, I had now the assurance of King Stephen himself-enthroned in awful state in a vast chair constructed purposely to contain so vast a person-in his peculiar theatrical apartment-his secretary seated at a distance that expressed profundity of reverence

-his robe, of imperial purple, mantling his mighty form with a dignity in every fold-was (O! ye gallery Gods!) ACCEPTED-and, preparatory to its actual performance, would require only certain alterations, which his Majesty most graciously condescended to afford his reasons for putting me to the trouble of making with what expedition might be possible. And while, majestic in his style, he talked, and bade conviction follow all he said, heavens! what capacity of soul, not less than corporal immensity, appeared in Stephen, whom I so fitly, as I deem, title le Gros! In truth, his every word gave evidence of cultivated intellect; and came, aided by his deep sonorous voice, and eye alight with genius, with a power, peculiar, and resistless. And when, on more intimate acquaintance with this gentleman, (for whom I retain every sentiment of respect,) and with the elements of his chaotic sovereignty, 1 perceived him struggling in the midst of difficulties, which no human being, with powers so cramped as his, might have been enabled to subdue-invested with but the nominal rule of a Theatre, whose real governors were persons, to say the least of them, without a knowledge of theatrical affairs—a Theatre, whose very properties were less at his command than that of the law's relentless