converse sweet I met,
I'd seen where they had liv'd--the land Camoens grac'd."

I venture to add the titles of two interesting volumes which have
been printed subsequently to the publications of Lowndes and Martin.
It may be a useful hint to students and collectors:--

"BIBLIOTHECA LUSITANA, or catalogue of books and tracts, relating to
the history, literature, and poetry, of Portugal: forming part of
the library of John Adamson, M.R.S.L. etc. _Newcastle on Tyne_, 1836.
8vo.

"LUSITANIA ILLUSTRATA; notices on the history, antiquities,
literature, etc. of Portugal. Literary department. Part I. Selection
of sonnets, with biographical Sketches of the author, by John
Adamson, M.R.S.L. etc. _Newcastle upon Tyne_, 1842. 8vo."

BOLTON CORNEY.

* * * * *

RECEIPTS TO THE BEGGAR'S OPERA ON ITS PRODUCTION.

Every body is aware of the prodigious and unexpected success of
Gay's _Beggar's Opera_ on its first production; it was offered to
Colley Cibber at Drury Lane, and refused, and the author took it to
Rich, at the Lincoln's-Inn-Fields theatre, by whom it was accepted,
but not without hesitation. It ran for 62 nights (not 63 nights, as
has been stated in some authorities) in the season of 1727-1728; of
these, 32 nights were in succession; and, from the original
Account-book of the manager, C.M. Rich, I am enabled to give an
exact statement of the money taken at the doors on each night,
distinguishing such performances as were for the benefit of the
author, viz. the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 15th nights, which put exactly
693l. 13s. 6d. into Gay's pocket. This is a new circumstance in the
biography of one of our most fascinating English writers, whether in
prose or verse. Rich records that the king, queen, and {179}
princesses were present on the 21st repetition, but that was by no
means one of the fullest houses. The very bill sold at the doors on
the occasion has been preserved, and hereafter may be furnished for
the amusement of your readers. It appears, that when the run of the
_Beggar's Opera_ was somewhat abruptly terminated by the advance of
the season and the benefits of the actors, the "takings," as they
were and still are called, were larger than ever. The performances
commenced on 29th January, 1728, and that some striking novelty was
required at the Lincoln's-Inn-Fields theatre, to improve the
prospects of the manager, may be judged from the fact that the new
tragedy of _Sesostris_