"The original had belonged to Mr. Felton, and is now in the Shakspeare Gallery, Pall Mall."

I have no doubt but the above indorsement will

any variation, except an occasional visit to Cambridge, walking, to London in the morning, six days out of seven, for the sake of health and conversation, and returning home in the afternoon of the same day. By temperance and exercise he continued healthy and active until the last two years of his life, and to the conclusion of it did not relax his attention to the illustration of Shakspeare, which was the first object of his regard. He died the 22d of January, 1800, and was buried in Poplar chapel.

To the elogium contained in the following epitaph by Mr. Hayley, which differs in some respect from that inscribed on the monument in Poplar chapel, those who really knew Mr. Steevens will readily subscribe :

"Peace to these ashes! once the bright attire
"Of STEEVENS, sparkling with ætherial fire!
"Whose talents, varying as the diamond's ray,
"Could fascinate alike the grave or gay!

"How oft has pleasure in the social hour
"Smil'd at his wit's exhilirating power!
"And truth attested, with delight intense,
"The serious charms of his colloquial sense!
"His genius, that to wild luxuriance swell'd,
"His large, yet latent, charity excell'd;
"Want with such true benificence he chear'd,
"All that his bounty gave his zeal endear'd.

"Learning, as vast as mental power could seize,
"In sport displaying and with grateful ease,

Lightly the stage of chequer'd life he trod,

"Careless of chance, confiding in his God!

"This tomb may perish, but not so his name
"Who shed new lustre upon SHAKSPEARE's fame!”

SHAKSPEARE'S MONUMENT.

THE following remarks on the Monumental Bust of Shakspeare, in the Church of the Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon, in Warwickshire, is printed from my Pamphlet, 1825, with additions. I have also given an interesting account of the Chancel of the above church, which is extracted from an elegant work now in course of publication.

"The town of Stratford-upon-Avon, illustrious in British topography as the birth-place of SHAKSPEARE, is situated on the south-western border of the county of Warwick, on a gentle ascent from the banks of the Avon, which rises in a small spring at Naseby, in Northamptonshire; and continuing its meandering course in a south-westerly direction, approaches Stratford in a wide and proudly swelling stream, unequalled in any other part of its course. The town is distant eight miles south-west from Warwick, and ninety-four miles north west from

* Vide No. 4, "Views of Collegiate and Parochial Churches in Great Britain, from drawings by J. P. Neale." The engravings of which are very suitable to the illustration of the present work, especially the fourth plate, which shows Shakspeare's monument, his grave stone, and those of his family, &c. &c.

London. The Church stands at the south-eastern extremity, from which it is approached by a paved walk, under an avenue of lime trees, which have been made to form a complete arcade."

"The chancel, the eastern part of which is represented in Plate IV., is the most beautiful as well as the most perfect division of this Church, and was erected between the years 1465 and 1491, by Thomas Balsall, D. D. who then held the office of Dean. It is separated from the transept by an oaken screen, which originally formed a part of the ancient rood-loft; and which was glazed in the year 1813. Five large ornamented windows on each side, give light to the chancel; they were formerly decorated with painted glass, the remains of which were taken out in the year 1790, and transferred to the centre of the great eastern window, where they still remain, though in a very confused state. On each side of the eastern window is a nich, boldly finished in the Florid style of pointed architecture. In the south wall, near the altar, are three simular niches, conjoined, in which are placed the concessus, or seats, for the priests officiating at mass; and immediately adjoining them is the piscina. These objects are all shewn in the Plate. On each side of the chancel is a range of stalls belonging to the ancient choir, remarkable for the grotesque carvings which ornament the lower part of each

seat.

"Erected against the north wall, within the communion rail, is a curious altar-tomb of alabaster, to the memory of Dean Balsall, who died in 1491. The front is divided into five compartments, in each of which is sculptured some remarkable event in the history of Our Saviour: 1st. The Flagellation; 2nd. The leading to the Crucifixion; 3d. The Crucifixion; 4th. The Entombment; 5th. The Resurrection. At the west end are two niches, in one of which is the figure of a saint, and in the other are three figures of doubtful appropriation. At the east end are likewise two niches, one containing the figure of a saint, and the other three figures, one of which appears to represent St. James. This tomb, which has formerly been painted, is seven feet six inches in length, by about three feet six inches in height, and is covered by a slab of marble, in which an engraved brass figure of Dean Balsall and an inscription, were originally inlaid, but have been long since torn away. The letters t. b. the initials of his name, and thu, carved in stone. still remain in several places. Against the eastern wall of the chancel is a monument, in memory of John Coombe, Esq. the subject of a well known satirical epitaph, ascribed to Shakspeare; he died on the 10th of July, 1614."

"The next monument, that claims our attention, is against the north wall, (being elevated about five feet from the floor,) erected above the tomb