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 THE LATE MR. HOLCROFT himself so well satisfied, that he was long in the habit of reciting it to all companies, and on all occasions. This was very well once in a way; but his prose contributions to the « Keep the Line" were of a much more formidable character and Angelo, who liked a little of the Table Talk,' to himself, was sometimes tempted to break: the line, steer a-head of him in his awful career, and pour in a broadside of raillery, for the protection of the rest of the party, which Fitzgerald returned with more weight of metal, though his guns were not so sharply served. This at all events operated a diversion, in every sense of the word, and the dialogue certainly went off with more applause than the poet's monologue. When the latter, however, which was sometimes the case, became irritable and personal, the Fencer generally closed the contest, exclaiming, "Well, never mind, Fitz, keep your temper, and tip us the Prologue to Columbus." 93 KENNEY. THE LATE MR. HoLcRoFT Was an excellent reader of his plays, and always believed that he should have succeeded as an actor. Asking Lewis if he remembered him on the stage, and what was his success. “ remember him," said Lewis, " only when acting with him, as the original representative of Figaro, in his ovn play of the Follies of a Day, on which occasion, at the fall of the curtain. old Harris came up with great good-humour, and shaking him by the hand, said, 'I give you joy, the play has got over your acting, and nothing can give a stronger proof of its intrinsic merits,' " KENXEY.