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make, to retrieve in some measure the character of our declining art. I understand that your expectations are high; let me know your terms, and if it be possible I will most gladly meet them, and do all in my power to secure your assistance, and give complete scope to the full development of your talents." He concluded by ¦ expressing his "belief and confidence that he would not become an antagonist, should he decline enrolling himself as a co-operator." | The offer itself was handsome enough; but the hope with which it concluded was scarcely reasonable, on several grounds. Mr. Kesa had hitherto been shut out from the National Theatres, and it was, therefore, his duty to others, no less than himself, to attach himself to that which offered him the best prospect of fame and remu. neration. The question, therefore, had he not been tiel by un implied, if not formal, engagement with Drury Lane, wenli have been a purely business one. After complimenting Mr. Macready on his perfect fitness for the task he had undertaken, in language worthy of the occasion, he declined the offer, on the ground the neither his inclination nor interests pointed to London just then and that he had, moreover, a contract which, although merely implied, would give Mr. Bunn a preference, if he required him sa do. Disclaiming any notion of personal antagonism, he added. “But surely you could never suppose that my acceptance of an engagement with the manager of any other great theatre would involve hostiny to you To have expected such a sacrifice would have bee absurd and irrational. Without referring to that part of Mr. Kean's jetter. Mr. Macready expressed in becoming terms his regret that his proposal should have been declined. Mr. Kean naturally de sired a more exclusive position than could have been conceded to him under Mr. Macready's management, setting the probable amount of remuneration wholly out of sight; and he, therefore, actal wisely in accepting an offer from Mr. Bunn of 50%, a-night at Drag Lane for twenty nights. There could be no unfair antagonism this; but it seems to have made Mr. Macready's adherents of the prese very angry notwithstanding. On the 8th of January, 1888, Mr. Ke appeared as Hamlet with distinguished success, and seems at opt to have established his position as an actor. His performance extended to forty-three nights, and would have lasted much longin but that an engagement in Edinburgh demanded his presence that city. On his return to town in March, he was invited to a peb he dinner, at which a silver vase worth 2001. was presented to his bearing a highly complimentary inscription. During his first gazement in London. Mr. Kean appeared in only three characterst Hamlet. Richard III.. and Sir Giles Overreach. Hamlet was acted twenty-one nights; Ri hand III. seventeen; and Sir Giles, five The gross receirts amounted to 13.2897., being a nightly average of 90% The elder Kean, in the zenith of his fame, had played to an sven of 4547, for a corresponding number of nights; but the prices admission were then considerably higher. The number of perse present was nearly the same. If this be not, a test of deser know not what is. On his return from Edinburgh a hostile rique

ad been formed against him, which to people not behind the enes seemed unaccountable; but, on the whole, we cannot think that he had much reason to complain. Success has its penalties as ell as its advantages; and if the balance be satisfactory, we must content to take the sweet with the sour. Desiring to obtain a Lovelty of the highest character, he applied to Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, in whose Lady of Lyons" he had made a great hit in the winces, to write him a play on his own terms; but Sir Edward blended "heavy engagements" for not accepting the offer. In 1839 Mr. Kean made a similar engagement with Mr. Webster to that which he had made with Mr. Bunn, of 50l. a-night and a benefit. This arrangement, like its predecessor, was extended. On its teranation he once more crossed the Atlantic, and at Boston, in 1839, arrowly escaped being killed by the fall of part of the machinery; actor beside him having been crushed to death on the spot. He tas here seized with an attack of bronchitis, which compelled him ⚫ abandon several engagements. After a visit to the Havanna he eturned, in June 1810, to the Haymarket, where he added Macbeth ahis list of London characters, with entire success. In the ensuing esson he played Romeo to Miss Ellen Tree's Juliet. On the 29th January, 1842, he was united in marriage to that amiable and complished actress; and thus secured not only a most congenial rtner in life, and a handsome addition to his fortune, but an inaluable coadjutor in his theatrical pursuits. By a pleasant coinidence they were called upon to play in the "Honeymoon" immeately after their marriage. At Glasgow, in the following February, heir combined performances secured for them 10007. in a single eek. Wishing to pay a farewell visit to his American friends, Mr. Kean again crossed the Atlantic accompanied by his wife, and at the d of the first year had realised a larger amount of profit that had Der been made in that country in the same space of time. A new play, which had been purchased of Mr. G. Lovell, called "The Wife's Secret, and for which Kean had paid 400l., proved universally tractive. In 1846 he ventured on the production, in Amefie, of King John" and "Richard III." on a scale of splendour Bever before witnessed in that country; but the taste of Brother Janathan for pageants, however magnificent, seems to have fallen short of the enthusiasm exhibited for the same pieces in this country. In a word, the expenses of their production far exceeded the receipts. In 1847 Mr. and Mrs. Kean returned to England, and hearing that their friend Mr. Calcraft, the lessee of the Dublin Theatre, had fallen into difficulties, crossed over to Dublin to play for his benefit; and after fulfilling a series of engagements Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Dublin, they returned the Haymarket in January 1848, where they appeared in "The Wife's Secret" no fewer than thirty-six times; her Majesty honouring them with her presence at their benefit. In 1849 Mr. Kean was selected by her Majesty to conduct the Windsor Theatricals; a series of private performances at Windsor Castle; a commission which he executed to the entire satisfaction of the Queen and

her Court. On the 28th of March, 1849, Mr. Kean had the misfortune to lose his mother, who died at a pleasant retreat near Horndean, which had been purchased for her by her son. During the seasons of 1848-49 and 1849-50 he accepted an engagement with Mr. Webster at the Haymarket. In the ensuing January he was again intrusted with the management of the Windsor Thes- i tricals. The joint management of Mr. Kean and Mr. Keeley at the Princess's Theatre commenced on the 28th of September, 1850, and, terminated on the 17th of October, 1851; a very prosperous season of nearly thirteen months. The chief novelties were a play called "The Templar," by Mr. Slous; "Henry IV." revived with great splene dour, and with an historical accuracy unprecedented on the stage, Bartley playing the part of Falstaff; this piece ran twenty-two nights; Pauline," from the French, the first of the new romantic school, and although of no great account, rendered very successful by the seting of Mr. and Mrs. Kean; "Love in a Maze," a comedy by Boursicault, who received 5001. for it: the loss to the management upon this play is said to have exceeded 12001; "The Duke's Wazer, for which Mr. Slous received 1501., his former play having been presented to the management; and a translation from the French, only moderately successful. Her Majesty took a box at the Princess's Theatre, for the first time, for the season 1851-52. M Kean now entered upon the management alone. His first great revival was "King John," which ran thirty-one nights, and commanded at Windsor; a magnificent pageant, which proved attractive. To these succeeded “ The Corsican Brothers," which, might have been expected, proved immensely successful. It repeated sixty-six times during the season, and has been played some 180 times. The Easter novelty by Tom Taylor was an entire failure, as was "The Trial of Love," for which Mr. Lovell received 4001. There is a great deal of charming poetry in this play, but it defective in construction, and bears much too close a resemblance "The Wife's Secret;" the author having selected the same period time and the same class of characters. It was wholly unproductive For the season of 1852-53 Mr. Wright was engaged for three years but voluntarily gave up his engagement at the end of the tas However popular elsewhere, he was a failure at the season. theatre. "Mont St. Michel," an adaptation from the French Bayle Bernard, proved a failure. To this succeeded “Anne Blake, a play in three acts, by Westland Marston, for which the author ceived 300l. This ran many nights, was highly eulogised by press, and approved by the audiences that witnessed its performance but brought but little profit to the management. There is mad beautiful poetry in this piece, as, indeed, there is in every produs tion of Mr. Marston's pen; but it was found deficient in those inportant elements of dramatic success, action and incident. “Cupid" by Mr. Douglas Jerrold, proved a failure, although commanded Windsor by the Queen before it was produced at the Princess "Macbeth ran fifty-three nights, and drew crowded homes 'Sardanapalus," a gorgeous spectacle, ran sixty-one mights,

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th were exceedingly productive. "Marco Spada," the Easter e, ran forty-six nights; but was not proportionably attractive. Le season was altogether a profitable one. In 1853-54 "Richard II." although put on the stage with great splendour, was a failure, in which the absence of Mrs. Kean, from illness, may have had a d deal to do. "Faust" and "Marguerite," belonging to an order lodrame, which is, we confess, little to our taste, ran sixty-seven hts, and The Courier of Lyons" twenty-six. The season for 54-55 opened with a play by Mr. Douglas Jerrold, which was only ared eleven nights, and then withdrawn. It is impossible to ertain the absurd imputation that Mr. Kean desired its failure, en we consider the great sacrifice which that failure entailed upon

He paid Mr. Jerrold 6001. for his two pieces, and is stated have lost above 10007. by them. Surely no man of common sense ald humour his spleen at such a cost. In "Louis XI." Mr. an acquired fresh laurels by his successful exposition of that aracter. An admirable and highly complimentary criticism in The Times" newspaper ranks his impersonation of Louis as highest effort of his genius. It was played sixty-one nights, al was only interrupted by "Henry VIII." which closed the season, Cer a career of upwards of one hundred nights. A great increase the attractions of this play, brilliant as they were, was the reapearance, after her long secession from the stage, of Mrs. Charles an as Queen Catherine. Any dramatic performance more accuWe in costume and magnificent in its pageantry has never been roduced on any stage. The Pantomimes of the Princess's Theatre ave been always productive. The last ran nearly eighty nights. Hamlet" is often acted there, and always with success, and even the comedy of "The Rivals" has been performed thirty-two times a the course of the last two seasons. Mr. Kean's good taste and his pains, and that of his wife, have rendered this little theatre one of he most agreeable places of resort in the metropolis. We trust, wever, that the vast success of most of his revivals will not induce im to discontinue those liberal commissions to dramatic authors which have done him so much honour.

KEBLE, THE REVEREND JOHN, M.A., Vicar of Hursley, bear Winchester, eminent as a Church Poet, was born about 1800, and having finished his education at Oriel College, Oxford, where he attained a high academical position, he was appointed some years terwards Professor of Poetry in that University. If the value of bis Christian Year" be estimated by the number of editions, in all forms, which have appeared of it during the last few years, it would ake precedence over any single volume of verse of our day. Mr. Keble now confines himself exclusively to his clerical duties, and his parish is said to be so perfect a seat of High Church, that it is the boast of his friends that it does not contain a single dissenter. Beside the "Christian Year," which has gone through upwards of faty editions, he is the author of "The Child's Christian Year," the "Lyra Innocentium," "The Psalms of David in English Verse,"

"Sermons, Academical and Occasional," and a series of discourses "On Primitive Tradition."

KINGSLEY, THE REV. CHARLES, Rector of Eversley, Hants, Honorary Canon of Middleham, and Author in Prose and Poetry, was born at Holne Vicarage, on the borders of Dartmoor, in Devonshire, June 12, 1819, and was educated at home until the age of fourteen, when he became a pupil of the Rev. Derwent Coleridge, son of the poet, and afterwards a student at King's College, London; whence he removed to Marine College, Cambridge. After gaining a scholarship and several prizes he took a first class in classics, and a second class in mathe matics. His original intention was to study the law, b, et devoting some time to preparation for that profession, te berated a clergyman. His first cure was Eversley, a moorland parh Hampshire; and that living becoming vacant after he isd bea curate about a year and a half, he was presented to it by patron, the late Sir John Cope, Bart. Mr. Kingsley is ancient family in Cheshire, the Kingsleys of Kingsley, in the forel of Delamere, in that county, who date from a period anterer the Conquest, and who suffered severely during the Civil Wars freza their fidelity to the cause of the Parliament. His ancester's ess mission to raise a troop of horse has long been in the family it is signed by Oliver Cromwell and Ireton. This Kingsleys younger brother emigrated to America among the Pilgrim F thers," where the family still flourishes, and where one of them Dr. Kingsley, who was Classical Professor at Yale College-lates died, distinguished and lamented. General Kingsley, who o manded a brigade at the battle of Minden, was one of the Re Charles Kingsley's ancestors. In 1844 he married Fanny, daugh ter of Pascoe Grenfell, Esq. (many years Liberal member for Truro, and afterwards for Great Marlow) and the Hon. Georgiana St. Leger. As a clergyman, Mr. Kingsley is noted for his ster adherence to unsparing, uncompromising truth, and for his earnes desire to have Christianity translated into our every-day life, beth individual and national, and welded into our social system. He no "mealy-mouthed rector," content to don the religious cloak one a week for Sunday wear. Those who listen to him hear brave startling things, not smug conceits and smooth conventionaltas. He has an original method of expounding Scripture to his ri parishioners and poorer country clods. He is known among mm 1 of the working-class as the "Chartist Parson." His palpit utter ances have not always been acceptable in high places. He is wh Tennyson has called a "Soldier-Priest. He has a fearless speech and a spirit ever restless with a purpose of good-always in maris attitude in the presence of oppression, wrong, and the workers iniquity. Mr. Kingsley has mingled largely with the working classes, as may be inferred from his "Alton Locke." He is one a small body of men who, ever alive to the miseries of the operative classes, were more especially aroused to action by the revelations