was a man of great learning and judgment, was here playing off a joke upon the credulity of poor Steevens, little imagining that it could be taken seriously, that Shakspeare had put into the mouth of the Prince of Denmark, in reference to the superintending wisdom of Providence, a figure taken from the exalted occupation of a skewer maker. Be this as it may, the reader has seen how gravely this interpretation was adopted by Steevens himself, from whom, such is the force of imitation, it has been copied with equal solemnity, by Dr. Drake, in his "Shaksand his Times."

peare

HENDERSON.

THE father of this celebrated actor was an Irish factor in the city of London, and resided in Goldsmith Street at the time of the birth of this his son, who was baptized March 8, 1746-7. One year after his birth, the father died, and left his widow and two children, both sons, with a very slender provision. At the age of two years, he was removed, with his mother, to Newport Pagnel, in Buckinghamshire, where he continued ten years, and afterwards went to a boardingschool kept by Dr. Sterling, at Hemel Hemp

stead, where he resided little more than twelve months. From thence he returned to London, and having discovered a taste for drawing, was placed for a short time as a pupil to Mr. Fournier. While he remained with Fournier, he made a drawing, which was exhibited at the Society of Arts and Sciences, and obtained a premium, about the year 1767.

In the early part of his life, his mother put into his hands a volume of Shakspeare, which he perused so often, and with so much delight, that he became inspired with a passion for representing, on the stage, characters which he read with so much satisfaction. His reception into the Theatre met with many and very extraordinary impediments. In 1768, he got himself introduced to Mr.George Garrick, who, on hearing him rehearse, gave it as his opinion, that his voice was so feeble, that he could not possibly convey articulate sounds to the audience of any Theatre. Not discouraged, however, by this repulse, he continued to pursue his favourite object.

A few years afterwards, having formed an acquaintance with Becket, the bookseller, through his means he obtained an introduction to Mr. Garrick, (the Manager.) At this gentleman's

levee he attended for a great length of time, both unnoticed and neglected, till, at last, he resolved to attempt, by other means, to exhibit himself before the public. Still, however, he experienced the mortification of being rejected every where.

In 1770, he offered himself to Mr. Colman, who would not condescend even to hear him.It is said the first essay he made in public was by delivering Mr. Garrick's Ode on the Jubilee in a room at Islington, for the benefit of one of the inferior retainers of the Theatre. At length, after more than two years attendance, Mr. Garrick was prevailed upon to hear him rehearse, but the opinion which this trial produced was by no means favourable. The manager declared, that his voice was not sufficiently melodious or clear, nor his pronunciation articulate enough; or, to make use of his own terms, "that he had in his mouth too much wool or worsted, which he must absolutely get rid of before he would be fit for Drury Lane stage." However, not to discourage him entirely, he furnished him with a letter to Mr. Palmer, the manager of the Bath company, who, on this recommendation, engaged him at a salary of one guinea per week.