MACREADY.

THE following incident displays Mr Macready's courage and humanity, in so pleasing a point of view, that we are confident our readers will be gratified by its recital:-When Mr Macready was performing at the Birmingham Theatre, in August 1823, he had left the house after the Tragedy of Hamlet, in which he had delineated, with his accustomed ability, the philosophic Prince, and was proceeding on foot to his lodgings, when he approached a small cottage in flames, surrounded by a concourse of people, eager to look on, but loath to assist: a cry of distress was heard from within: he instantly threw off his coat and waistcoat, and with the greatest agility sprung into the parlour window, from whence he soon issued with an infant in his grasp, and was received by the speechless mother in an agony no words can describe. The hat, coat, and waistcoat of the adventurous hero were gone, and he darted through the crowd as he was, towards his lodgings; no one could

tell the name of him who had so gallantly ventured his life; and a pecuniary reward of considerable amount was offered to the unknown by a committee of gentlemen. A circumstance occurred which brought him forward against himself: a poor fellow was apprehended selling a handsome coat, in the sleeve of which was written Mr Macready's name: he was sent for by the police magistrates, and identified the coat stolen from him at the fire. The papers now lauded his modesty more than his intrepidity, and the thunders of applause that greeted him on his re-appearance at the Theatre must have been the most grateful tribute to a feeling heart. Mr Macready's goodness did not stop here: his benefit took place shortly after, and it was a complete bumper. He received in an anonymous letter a bank note for ten pounds, as a tribute to his humanity and courage in rescuing the Cottager's child from the flames. Mr Macready instantly called upon the unfortunate couple, who had lost their all in the flames, and presented them with that sum, saying, he had been only the instrument in the hand of God in procuring it for them.

EDMUND KEAN.

From

THERE are few actors, perhaps not any, who have been so long accustomed to the stage as this gentleman; few who have experienced more of its vicissitudes than he has. his infancy he has, in truth, been devoted to the theatre. Mr Kean is the son of Aaron Kean, whom some describe as a builder, and others as a tailor, and of a daughter of George Saville Carey. He was born in November, 1787, in Castle-street, Leicester-square. No sooner was he able to walk, than he was placed at Drury-Lane theatre, to act in the subordinate parts of pantomime; and to qualify him for this purpose, he was committed to a celebrated posture-master, who soon gave to his frame an unnatural flexibility. When the infant Kean was only two years old he was brought forward as Cupid, in 'Cymon.' As might have been expected, from the several operations which he had undergone, his health was injured, and his limbs were so frightfully distorted, that he was chosen to fill the

character of a Devil in a Christmas Pantomime. By the kindness, however, of some of the actors, surgical assistance was procured for him. His limbs were supported by irons, and by the time he attained his fifth year he began to outgrow his bodily defects. He continued at the theatre till he was seven years old, when a ludicrous accident, which happened while he was performing one of the 6 black spirits and white,' in Macbeth, occasioned him to be dismissed from the theatre. He was then sent to school in Orange Court, but he soon grew tired of tasks, and intreated his mother to send him to sea. As

she was averse from complying with his scheme, he stole away, and entered himself as cabin boy on board of a ship which was bound to Madeira. With the ship he soon grew more disgusted than he had been with the school, and accordingly he set his wits to work to contrive the means of escaping. Taking advantage of a cold, he feigned lameness and utter deafness, and he enacted his part with such skill and perseverance as to obtain belief; in consequence of which, after having been two months in the hospital, he was sent home. On his return home, his