even appear in this church on the Lord's day, from liability to arrest for debt. Yet Shakespeare lived to make the stage worthy of the utmost contrivance and embellishment of art. Shakespeare lived to relieve his father from distress in his old age. Shakespeare lived to become a teacher of the world, so long as time shall last. And, what deserves to be commemorated more especially in this place, Shakespeare lived to receive, as a benefactor, the blessings of the poor, not forgetting them, we may be sure, while he lived, inasmuch as he remembered them when he died.

Having taken up and expatiated on several other topics in relation to his subject, Dr. Wordsworth concluded his memorable sermon in the following terms:-Shakespeare is one of whom, judged of in the character up to which he grew, the Church of Christ has no need to be ashamed; because in him, as a poet, poetry has fulfilled every purpose for which in the mercy of God she was given to our fallen race as, next to Revelation, His most precious boon; and because in him as a man, the Gospel has exemplified that truest element of the Christian character, of which it is written and fulfilled as on this day-"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." And, therefore, though this tercentenary commemoration points confessedly to the year of his birth, yet it was the day of his death which we celebrated yesterday; as the Church has ever been wont to celebrate not the birth-day, but the death-day -as being the truer and more glorious nativity—of her saints and confessors.

But, my brethren, if, not having seen, we honour and we love our departed brother for his works' sake, how greatly-how infinitely-more ought we to love and to bless HIM who made our brother what he was, and gave him to us; not to become (as human genius, alas! has sometimes proved) an instrument of desolation, but of culture, refreshment, of fruitfulness; not to resemble the full but faithless reservoir, which, when it has burst its barriers, carries death and ruin in its course, but the varying, yet ever-faithful Nile; which, while it is the grandest of all rivers, and while it is subject no less than the feeblest rivulet

to the law which regulates its boundless floods, is at the same time the most beneficent in its influence, and the sweetest in its taste. And as in the surface of that majestic stream the traveller sees a true reflection of the heavens which are above his head, so in the poetry of Shakespeare the reader may behold no uncertain image of the word of God; may behold shining in its depths the starlike truths of the Bible; may behold and may adore the SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, overclouded, we must confess, from time to time, with the mists of earth, but still shedding around His divine rays, and lighting up all with faith and hope, with love and joy.

THIRD DAY: MONDAY.

THE "MESSIAH."

The event of this day was the performance of Handel's Messiah," in the pavilion, to the enjoyment of which nearly two thousand auditors assembled. The leading artistes who had given their services were Madame Parepa, Madame Laura Baxter (in the unavoidable absence of Madame Sainton-Dolby, who was unfortunately seized with sudden indisposition), Mr. Sims Reeves, Mr. George Perren, Mr. Patey, and Mr. Santley; and Mr. Alfred Mellon as leader. There was a band and chorus of five hundred performers. The chorus had been selected from the following celebrated societies:-The Festival Choral Society and Amateur Harmonic Society, Birmingham; the Sacred Harmonic Society (who sent down entirely at their own expense fifty picked members of their chorus), London; the Festival Choral Society, Worcester; and Holy Trinity Church, Stratfordupon-Avon. The orchestra comprised a hundred and twenty instrumentalists, including Mr. Blagrove as leader, and Mr. Harper, the celebrated trumpeter.

The Messiah,'" the Times said on the following day, "went off admirably. A larger assemblage of voices has often been heard, but the magnificent choruses could scarcely have been executed with greater vigour and precision. Mr. Sims Reeves, recovered from his indisposition,

was in excellent voice, and sang to perfection, Comfort ye my people,' and 'Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron.' The consummate execution of Mademoiselle Parepa, the steady artistic singing of Mr. Santley, the powerful organ of Madame Laura Baxter were thoroughly appreciated by a most attentive audience, and, under the masterly conduct of Mr. Alfred Mellon, the vast musical machine moved on without hitch or impediment.

"It might be objected that there is little apparent connection between Shakespeare and Handel's 'Messiah,' and that the performance of the latter is, therefore, somewhat out of place at a Shakespearian festival. But it is always to be borne in mind that among the literary admirers of Shakespeare are many persons who, from various reasons, would not choose to attend theatrical performances, and that in an universal collection it is as well to consult the greatest number of tastes. Besides, the work which the English place at the head of musical classics may be reasonably thought worthy of association with the chief classic of English literature. At the Garrick jubilee of 1769 the oratorio of 'Judith' was performed."

MISCELLANEOUS CONCERT.

In the evening there was a miscellaneous concert, which was more numerously attended than the oratorio of the morning, the prices being considerably lower, whilst the vocal artistes were the same as above mentioned, with the addition of the gifted pianiste, Madame Arabella Goddard, and Mr. Charles Coote as pianoforte accompanist. The programme was drawn out with strict regard to the occasion, the melodies selected being those associated with the words of Shakespeare. The Daily Telegraph noticed the audience and concert in the following terms:

"The amphitheatre presented a brilliant appearance from the strict observance of evening costume by all who entered the area, and the élite of the county may be said to have graced the concert

with their presence. Macfarren's overture to 'Romeo and Juliet,'

Mendelssohn's expressive overture and incidental music to 'A Midsummer Night's Dream," so wonderfully illustrative of the subject, and Allridge's Shakespearian overture, re-arranged for this festival by Mr. Alfred Mellon, and introducing the airs, Soft flowing Avon,' "Sweet Willie, O,' and 'Ye Warwickshire lads and ye lasses,' were included in the instrumental portion of the programme. Madame Arabella Goddard charmed her hearers with her pianoforte fantasia of 'Where the bee sucks,' and this being enthusiastically encored, the fair executant paid a delicate compliment to the natives of Stratford by showing them the treasures of harmony enshrined in 'Home, sweet home.' Mr. Sims Reeves having evoked an encore by his charming rendering of 'Blow, blow, thou winter's wind,' repeated the last verse; Mr. Santley gave the recitative and aria, 'Pieta rispetto,' from Verdi's 'Macbeth; Madame Parepa contributed Weber's grand scena, 'Portia,' and, still more to the delight of the company, 'Bid me discourse ;' and Mr. George Perren sung in his best style, Come live with me and be my love.' The duet, I know a bank,' by Madame Parepa and Madame Laura Baxter, and Stevens's glee, 'Ye spotted snakes,' by Mesdames Parepa and Baxter, and Messrs. Perren and Patey elicited the warmest applause. The concert terminated a little before eleven."

The third day of the festival was thus brought to a close amid universal satisfaction.

FOURTH DAY: TUESDAY.

The programme for to-day comprised excursions to Charlecote in the morning, and a performance of the "Twelfth Night" by the Haymarket Company in the evening. Through the kindness of H. Spencer Lucy, Esq., the Committee were enabled to announce that the picturesque grounds and hall so associated with the deer stealing story, would be thrown open to visitors holding excursion tickets, which were sold at 5s. each. As already observed, the weather was fine throughout the entire festival, and on this day specially brilliant and favourable to the excursionists. A very considerable number consequently availed themselves of the opportunity of inspecting the fine old mansion and park, highly interesting in themselves, and doubly so by reason of the Shakespearian associations. The worn and grey park paling-constructed without an iron nail-the soft winding Avon, the lime tree, the elm, the spreading

oak and sycamore, the herds of deer, "full of the pasture," skudding timidly away on the approach of a strangerJaques fat and greasy citizens"-attracted the attention and delighted the excursionists as they drew near to the venerable mansion. The house itself, an architectural curiosity, built in 1558—the first year of the reign of Elizabeth-by the Sir Thomas Lucy, of alleged persecuting memory, contains much to interest the antiquary and virtuoso. On being ushered into the hall-which brings at once to mind the olden time of pikes and bows, and bucklers, profuse hospitality, and hearty revelry—the strangers inspected a fine collection of portraits of the Lucy family, who have been settled at Charlecote for nearly seven centuries. On proceeding to the drawing room, they found another set of pictures-valuable works of the old masters decorating the walls; the ceilings beautifully gilded, the floors of polished oak, and the furniture in fine keeping with the solidity and proportions of the mansion. The library was next visited, and found stored with the best and oldest editions of Shakespeare, and amongst the furniture, a set of nine chairs and two cabinets made of ebony, inlaid with ivory, which were presented by Queen Elizabeth to the Earl of Leicester, at Kenilworth, at which place they had been purchased for Charlecote. After examining lots of other curious furniture and objects of interest, and fully satisfying themselves with their visit to the hall, a number of the party proceeded to view the magnificent little church of Charlecote, erected by Mrs. Lucy, on the site of the old one pulled down some fifteen years ago. Several splendidly executed monuments, in white marble, are here to be seen, including that of the famous justice, Sir Thomas Lucy, and of another Sir Thomas, who was killed by a fall from his horse, in the time of Oliver Cromwell. The latter, a marvellous work of sculpture by Bernini, was erected by the widow of the unfortunate cavalier.

Having "done" Charlecote and the charming neighbourhood, the excursionists found it nearly time to return to dinner, and prepare for witnessing the performance of