physician to the Emperor of all the RussiasShakespeare commands a troop of horse-Johnson is superintendant of mail coaches—and, in the absence of Fletcher, (who has absconded) Beaumont is managing director of a provincial fire-office.

The contemporaries of these, in searching after the characters immortalised by the bard of Avon, would perhaps be surprised to find the blind Lear an optician in Fetter-lane, while Edgar sells ale in Fenchurch-street-Macbeth and his wife are set up in a fruit-stall in Vinegar-yard, Drury-lane the melancholy Jacques is established as an apothecary and accoucheur in Warwick-street, Golden-square-Angelo is celebrated as a fencing-master in Albany-Romeo having been promoted to a Captaincy, is beating up for volunteers in the cause of liberty-Paris is in full practice as a popular physician; and Hamlet himself keeps a silversmith's shop at the corner of Sidney's-alley.-Otway is a Major-General in the army-Milton breaking horses in Piccadilly -Rowe and Waller in partnership, as stationers, in Fleet-street; and Isaac Newton flourishing as a linen draper in Leicester-square-Alexander Pope, made straight, and fattened up, acts tra

gedy at Drury-lane-Addison sells globes in Regent-street-Richardson and Swift keep lotteryoffices in the City-Congreve's pieces, (which continue to go off remarkably well) are cannon, not comedies-and Farquhar, instead of a poor author, is a rich banker in St. James's-street.

Gay," in wit a man, simplicity a child,” makes dolls in Goswell-street-Cowley is a blacksmith -Phillips is poetical only in his prose-Prior till very lately was an Ensign in the 12th Regiment of Foot-Collins, instead of odes, makes glass chandeliers-Butler grinds Greek at Harrow-and Cowper may be seen writing his "Task" at the table of the House of Lords any day during the sitting of Parliament.

CHRISTIAN NAMES.

WHATEVER difficulties may exist as to Sir, or Sur-names, there seems to be a particular rank and consequence attached to Christian Names, which deserves some notice; especially as there has been a variation in regard to them. Formerly abbreviated names appear to have been most polite. The highest personages in the land would call their untitled sons, Bill and Billy ; Bob and Bobby; Jack and Jacky; Ned and Neddy ; and even their titled daughters, Lady Betty instead of Lady Elizabeth; Lady Jenny instead of Lady Jane; and Lady Fanny for Lady Frances. But now we never hear of a Lady Betty or a Lord Harry, but all the beau monde are Henrys and Elizabeths; Johns and James's; Francis's and Edwards. Poets and others used (studiously as it would appear) to shorten the names of their

* Many seem to doubt whether we should write Sir name or Surname. I judge it myself to be a matter of indifference; if, as the French say, the latter imply a name super-added to the Christian name, then it betokens family, and is equivalent to Sire-name, or the name of a man's ancestors.

mistresses and favorites, as the following curious passage, from Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy, will serve to shew. Speaking of the great changes wrought by time in love matters, "After marriage," says he, "when the black oxe hath trodden on her toe, she will be so altered and wax out of favor, thou wilt scarce know her. One grows too fat, another too lean; modest Madge; pretty pleasing Peg; sweet-singing Susan; mincing merry Moll; dainty dancing Doll; neat Nancy; jolly Jenny; nimble Nell; kissing Kate; bouncing Besse, with black eyes; fair Phillis with white hands; fiddling Frank; tall Tib; slender Sib; will quickly lose their grace, grow fulsome, heavy, dull, and out of fashion." This account, of which the attempt at alliteration is not the least curious part, may be considered as about 200 years old; but much lower than that, the full name in many instances, was accounted vulgar and plebeian, the shortened noble and genteel.

This change among the gentry, upon the principle of High Life below Stairs, has led to sad confusion in the Servant's Hall, &c. Our maid. servants will no longer condescend to be Bettys and Mollys, and Sallys and Jennys, as they used

to be; though it should be attended with ever so much confusion to call them otherwise. Nay, if their masters or mistresses make a point of calling them so, yet it is fifty to one if any of their fellow servants dare do so, or will do so, in consideration of their own rights and privileges. Betty or Betsy, Fanny or Molly, in the nursery, or bedchambers, is sure to be Elizabeth or Eliza, Frances and Mary in the servants' hall and kitchen, if not indeed Miss Elizabeth, Miss Frances, &c. Amongst the upper servants, even the full Christian Name is not sufficiently dignified; but they must all be called by their Surnames, and for grandeur-sake, their lords and ladies, masters and mistresses like to have it so, though they care not to what extent they Dolly and Betty all the inferior servants, which I think very hard; especially as the latter, since the Christian Names have been dispensed with, are obliged to Mr. and Mrs. the Butler and Housekeeper into the bargain. Some of our short Names are, it must be admitted, extremely inelegant; Bob, Bill, Dick, Numps, Tom, Nick, &c. Moll, Bett, Sall, Madge, &c. The Spectator complained long ago, that our proper Names, when familiarized in English, generally dwin