born in Edinburgh in
1789, and educated at the High School. Several years of his life were
spent in the West Indies. He ultimately married, returned to his native
country, and there embarked in commercial speculations, in the leisure
between which he wrote the _Log_. Notwithstanding its popularity in
Europe and America, the author preserved his incognito to the last. He
survived his publisher for some years, and it was not till Mr. Scott's
death that the sons of Mr. Blackwood were aware of his name.

* * * * *

CHANCES FOR THE DRAMA.

The royal patent, by which the performance of the regular drama was
restricted to certain theatres, does not appear to have fostered this
class of writing. Dr. Johnson forced Goldsmith's _She Stoops to Conquer_
into the theatre. Tobin died regretting that he could not succeed in
hearing the _Honeymoon_ performed. Lillo produced _George Barnwell_
(an admirably written play) at an irregular theatre, after it had been
rejected by the holders of the patents. _Douglas_ was cast on Home's
hands. Fielding was introduced as a dramatist at an unlicensed house;
and one of Mrs. Inchbald's popular comedies had lain two years
neglected, when, by a trifling accident, she was able to obtain the
manager's _approval_.

* * * * *

FULLER'S MEMORY.

Marvellous anecdotes are related of Dr. Thomas Fuller's memory. Thus, it
is stated that he undertook once, in passing to and from Temple Bar to
the farthest conduit in Cheapside, to tell at his return every sign as
they stood in order on both sides of the way, repeating them either
backward or forward. This must have been a great feat, seeing that every
house then bore a sign. Yet, Fuller himself decried this kind of thing
as a trick, no art. He relates that one (who since wrote a book thereof)
told him, before credible people, that he, in Sidney College, had taught
him (Fuller) the art of memory. Fuller replied that it was not so, for
_he could not remember that he had ever seen him before;_ "which, I
conceive," adds Fuller, "was a real refutation;" and we think so, too.

* * * * *

LORD HERVEY'S WIT.

Horace Walpole records Lord Hervey's memorable saying about Lord
Burlington's pretty villa at Chiswick, now the Duke of Devonshire's,
that it was "too small to inhabit, and too large to hang to your watch;"
and Lady Louisa Stuart has preserved a piece of d