of European potentates," was the exclamation of the Ver

monter.

"Those imposing ceremonies, sanctioned by religion, and made sacred by time, have their effect," remarked the general. "Imposing ceremonies! Yes, they have their effect on those who are kept in ignorance by impostors." Then turning from the general (who bowed, but could not smile) to Spiffard, the merchant continued. 66 My young friend, every American must feel proud when contemplating the simplicity and wisdom of our institutions."

"Will they not last forever?"

It is certain that

"Forever is a long day," whispered Cooke. "That is a question not for us to answer. they will be imitated, and as certain that they will be looked upon with jealousy and enmity-misrepresented and plotted against by those who will be interested to destroy them, and perpetuate their own power."

Doctor Cadwallader seeing that many of his guests were evidently disappointed in not finding the entertainment they expected from the eccentricities of George Frederick, and concluding that it was only when the wine was in, that the humour would come out, addressed the tragedian in a tone, and with the intent, to attract the attention of the company. "I have had my professional and guardian glances unceasingly directed to you, my patient, knowing how long you have suffered from your late illness, and I perceive that you are more afraid of madeira than I think necessary."

"Doctor," said Cooke, with a glance from the corner of his eyes over his shoulder, “I need not tell a man of your expe

rience, that a burnt child dreads the fire.' I believe I shall for the future follow the example of this venerable gentleman at my elbow, Mr. Spiffard, who has, like myself, in early life drank so freely of wine, that now, to qualify it, he takes nothing but water."

"But, as you have not yet attained his venerable age, or had either opportunity or inclination to injure yourself in that way, I advise, as your physician, that the water-drinking be put off until to-morrow."

"To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow.'

"So, here's a bumper toast. The first cultivator of the vine. I prescribe a bumper of madeira to you, and one of Manhattan water to your venerable neighbour-unless he returns to his former ways, and takes wine for the remainder of the daycome, fill! Here's to the memory of the first cultivator of the

vine, and inventor of the exhilarating liquor pressed from its fruit."

Every glass was filled with madeira, except that of the water-drinker. Every one repeated the toast literally, except Cooke, who added the name of " Bacchus," as the inventor of the liquor he loved.

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"Another bumper for Mr. Cooke, as a punishment for altering the toast," cried out one of the company who had not been so cautious in his libations during the feast.

"I submit to the punishment. I have generally found it easier to receive than to pay. I am bound to take what my physician prescribes." And having drank a second bumper, he added, "This is better than any prescription I have swallowed of your ordering of late, my dear doctor. Call you this punishment?"

"I think, sir," said Spiffard, addressing Cadwallader, "that Mr. Cooke ought to be enjoined to take a tumbler of the medicine Doctor Davenport prescribed when called in at the late consultation."

"That would be punishment."

"And you deserve it for robbing the inventor of wine of his due, and giving it to another."

"What, sirr, what! Would you transfer the worship from Bacchus to any other hero or divinity? Who, sirr, who? Who but the jolly god invented this heart-cheerer?"

"Cassio says, the devil."

"False reading; he called the invisible spirit of wine by that name-not this visible and beautiful creature, nor its creator. Besides, sirr, that was when his head ached.”

But, sir, I appeal to Doctor Cadwallader. Who did you mean, sir, by the first cultivator of the vine and inventor of the wine-press?"

"Noah, to be sure."

"What, old Captain Noah?" said Cooke.

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Surely."

"Then, Mr. Cooke," said the governor, again, and drink with you to Captain Noah."

"I fill your glass

"With all my heart. I will do him all the justice in my power, and endeavour to make up for my unintentional disrespect."

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"O, thou invisible spirit of wine!"' slyly whispered Spif

fard.

"I do not wonder," Cooke continued, "that the old gentleman exerted his wits to invent wine after being so long waterdrenched. A good rule should work both ways. 6 Mix water

with your wine,' says the philosopher; if the rule is good, then it is good to mix wine with your water."

"Good, good!"

"Most assuredly I am not an admirer of that word 'mix ;" but these grave and learned doctors, who are my very worthy and approved good masters,' say (and I doubt them not, though I cannot account for the fact) that I have too much water in my system. What, then, is the remedy? Captain Noah's, to be sure. Wine! generous wine!"

The visible wine and the invisible spirit of wine, had produced very visible effect; and but for the interference of the young Mentor at his elbow, the convalescent tragedian would have soon shown symptoms of his old complaint. Spiffard, assisted by one of the physicians, contrived to substitute a decanter of wine-and-water for that of wine which was at his side, and by filling for his friend, kept him in that moderate state of excitement which merely exhibited him to advantage.

A few songs were introduced; and in this part of the entertainment Spiffard amply contributed; for his knowledge of music, and stores of the best songs of every description, made him an invaluable guest at any musical or convivial party, and rendered it easy for him to prescribe his own course, and persevere in it, in respect to his water-drinking. Nor numbers, nor examples, with him wrought to swerve' from his resolves.

The conversation turned naturally upon actors and acting. Cooke's remarks on his contemporaries of the stage, were always liberal-when he was himself. He gave Kemble all the praise he deserved, although it was evident that he placed him far below Mrs. Siddons, in the scale of histrionic excellence. Garrick and Henderson he had only seen, but never played with. He professed to aim at the one in Richard, and the other in Falstaff. In Sir Archy and Sir Pertinax, he remembered their author, old Macklin; but he played them even better. When descanting on the merits of others, he undesignedly impressed upon his hearers a conviction of his own pre-eminent talents in his profession.

Surely actors should avoid the appearance of slighting those who preceded them. The fame of an actor only lives in the praise of those who follow him. He leaves no impress of himself, but as he is imitated by others. We are apt to bestow our admiration on those who "strut their hour on the stage" before us, and doubt the testimony of writers who have recorded the merits of their contemporaries. This was not a failing of Cooke's. Happily this day was one of his brightest. He exerted himself to please, and was successful.

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CHAPTER XVIII.

Conversation and coffee-Politeness and harmony.

"Black spirits and white, blue spirits and gray,
Mingle, mingle, mingle; ye who mingle may.'

"It is certain that either wise bearing, or ignorant carriage; is caught as men take diseases, of one another: therefore let men take care of their company."

Let me see wherein

My tongue hath wronged him: if it do him right,
Then hath he wronged himself; if he be free,
Why then, my taxing like a wild goose flies,
Unclaimed by any man."

"How blest are we that are not simple men!
Yet nature might have made me as these are,
Therefore I will not disdain."

"Their own hard dealings teaches them to suspect
The thoughts of others."

"Of government the properties to unfold

Would seem in me to affect speech and discourse.

**** The nature of our people—our city's institutions-
You are pregnant in."

"Sour-eyed disdain and discord shall bestrew

The union of your bed with weeds so loathly
That you shall hate it both."

"Who can come in and say that I mean her,
When such as she is, such is her neighbour.'

"My face is visor-like, unchanging."-Shakspeare.

THE company removed early from the dinner-table and the wine, exchanging the fumes of the cigar for those of the fragrant berry, the exhilarations of the decanter and the song for those of the tea-pot and the music of female conversation.

The handsome general left the dining-room before the company broke up, and was not found in the drawing room. This gentleman had not been introduced to Spiffard; and although he most courteously addressed the young man with smiles and a manner intended to be condescendingly encouraging, the water-drinker shrunk from him with a sensation approaching

to something between dread and loathing. He answered his questions politely, but with great brevity, and withdrew his eyes from the fine features and mild glances as soon as his unwilling reply to the superficial remark would in decency permit. Yet, by a strange anomaly of feeling, he looked for this man in the drawing-room, and seemed to be relieved when he discovered his absence. Cooke was here really the lion of the evening. He was fully alive to the pleasures of society, and in that happy state of confidence and self-possession, which prompted to eccentric sallies, and enabled him to meet on equal ground the opposition of those who did not choose to submit to his occasional dogmatism. The water-drinker was always the same, when not assailed on his weak side: and he was at this time in unusual spirits. His musical powers and his conversation had produced their full effect, and he was pleased to see that the man, in whom he took so great interest, had escaped unscathed from the dangers of his recent situation.

Doctor Cadwallader, one of the oldest and most popular physicians of the city, well known and highly esteemed in every literary as well as fashionable circle, had issued invitations very generally for this evening, and Mrs. Cadwallader had done the same; consequently the suite of apartments were filled by the young of both sexes, companions or admirers of the young ladies, and with professional men of every description, some of whom were expressly invited for the purpose of meeting the famous tragedian: the females of the doctor's family alone formed a brilliant circle; but, in addition, the rooms were almost crowded by belles and their mamas, who wished to see Richard and Sir Pertinax surrounded by a dramatis personæ of every-day life.

Cooke went through the forms of introduction with all the easy ceremony of the old school, and by the suavity of his manners, softness of his voice, good humoured smiles, and occasional archness, won the hearts of the old ladies, and the admiration of the young.

"I never will believe," whispered Mrs. Temple in the ear of Mrs. Cadwallader, "I never will believe that such a pleasant old gentleman can be guilty of the acts which have been attributed to him."

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My dear," said the elegant Mrs. Cadwallader, "these men are strange deceitful creatures. Even our husbands are not always the same amiable pieces of perfection they once were, or as we wish them to be."

Mrs. Temple's husband seldom came home sober, and