DIFFICULTIES OF MANAGERS.

Were the public aware of the difficulties and mortifications which daily, nightly and hourly beset the managers of theatres, far from thinking their situation enviable or their labour over paid, they would allow that their emoluments, be they what they may, are hardly, dearly earned. No one ever complained more loudly of this than Garrick, who though more freely obeyed than most others, was kept in a state of constant irritation, and unremitting exertion to repress the heart burnings, the jealousies, to overrule the objections and resist the importunities of actors and actressess on the casting of parts. This he always considered as the worst part of his situation, and as such frequently spoke of it, in terms of acerbity, or ridicule, as the case happened to affect him. "There's Palmer," said he one day to a circle of friends "a useful actor, but the greatest coxcomb upon earth: I had a part of considerable importance (sir Brilliant Fashion in Murphy's Way to Keep Him) to put into his hands; but I well knew that if I had offered it in the ordinary way, I should have had a hundred hums and has! so how do you think I managed him?” (Nay it is impossible to guess) was the reply.

'I'll tell you then,' said Garrick. 'At the reading he did not seem to like the piece; so I took him aside and said my dear Palmer I intend that you shall play sir Brilliant.' 'Mr. Garrick!' he returned, drawing up.-'I do indeed my dear boy; there is not such a figure for it as yours in the company, and you shall have the finest suit of clothes,' down dropped the kimboed arms of Palmer; his countenance brightened in an instant, and he answered with a smile, well, if it will oblige you, Mr. Garrick.' 'To be sure it will,' I cried, and the public too; the dress shall be magnificent.' and I,' said Palmer, will endeavour to do my best in it.'

It was on such occasions as these, that the great British Roscius and Esopus, displayed his talents for mimickry, which he possessed in a degree superior perhaps to any man then living. In relating this anecdote of Palmer he gave so accurate a picture of that actor's voice, action, face, and utterance, that a gentleman who was present, and from whom the anecdote was re

ceived, declared he never afterwards saw Palmer without thinking of the magnificent suit of clothes.

The very suit alludedto is still remembered it was truly magnificent. At that time the splendid and solemn fopperies of dress had not given place to the plainness of dress which now prevails. And the clothes of sir Brilliant might without any violation of propriety be such as those with which Garrick tickled the vanity of Palmer. The ground was a most beautiful purple velvet, wove and cut in a Mosaic pattern, which consisted of a number of lozenges of purple and silver. and in the middle of every lozenge was loosely tacked a large silver spangle. These consequently played with the motion of the arms and body, and displayed a brilliance seldom equalled in dress.

MISS HANNAH MORE, AND DR. JOHNSON.

MR. BURK E once observed to sir Joshua Reynolds, " What a delight you have in your profession!"-" No, sir," said Dr. Johnson, taking up the question with his usual deep-toned emphasis of strong conviction, "No, sir, Reynolds paints only to get money." A spirited argument was the consequence of this unexpected declaration, in which miss More, with a gallantry inspired by her love of the arts, took a decided part against the doctor, and was cloquent in defence of the disinterestedness of sir Joshua; insisting, with much reason and truth of her side, that the pleasure experienced by the artist, while working with his pencil, was derived from higher and more luxuriant sources than guineas and bank notes. "Only answer me," said the moralist, in a solemn and impressive tone, "Did Leander swim across the Hellespont, merely because he was fond of swimming?"

SHARP THE PAINTER, AND GEORGE THE THIRD.

The following anecdote of SHARP the painter will be found interesting, not only as it relates to an artist of great and deserved celebrity, but as it serves to display in a strong light the good nature and mild disposition of the old king of England.

During his apprenticeship with sir William Beechy, Sharp and his master were at Windsor castle, painting for the king

Young Sharp was left in the painting room to prepare some colours, and while earnestly engaged in his business, he heard the repeated cry of Sharp, Sharp, Sharp, which is used as an abbreviation of the term "look sharp," and which imports this meaning to the domestics of the king's household when the king is coming, and every one must be in his station to receive his majesty, in the different apartments through which he usually passes to his own private chamber.

From the manner Sharp was called, he thought something unpleasant had happened to sir William Beechy, and in the utmost confusion ran down stairs, where, on the turning of the staircase, he stumbled on his majesty and threw him down. The reader may easily conceive the mutual confusion that was felt on the occasion. When the king recovered himself, he asked poor trembling Sharp his name, and who he was, and then

went on.

Some of his majesty's attendants immediately began to lecture Sharp very severely, on being in the way when notice had been given that the king was coming. Sharp said, very innocently, that he was called in a great hurry, and had run down stairs under an impression that sir W. Beechy had been taken 'suddenly ill. This occasioned the gentlemen in waiting to ask the name of the young artist, who replied, that it was Sharfi. An immdiate laugh followed the reply, and the king was instantly made acquainted with the particulars of the accident, who was so pleased with the joke, that his majesty went into the painting room, and entered into a familiar conversation with Sharp, on the whimsical incident.

From this time young Sharp became the object of the king's notice, and his majesty has ever since patronised him. The queen, princesses, and the king, have sat to him, and his portraits of this illustrious family are not only fine specimens of the art, but highly esteemed for being correct likenesses of that virtuous and beloved monarch, her majesty, and their beautiful daughters.

Mr. Sharp has not only distinguished himself as a portrait painter; he has produced many classical and historical pictures, and copied several pictures of this description for his majesty,

who has mentioned his labours in terms of flattering approbation. He lately painted a portrait of Farmer Jessy, the original inoculator of the cow pox, for the members of the vaccine institution, who, in compliment to his excellent picture, presented him with a handsome piece of plate, bearing an appropriate inscription.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE:

SALE OF WILD BEASTS.

The most valuable and curious collection of animals ever exhibited to the people of any nation was that which the deceased Mr. Pidcock had brought together, and shown for several years at his menagerie over Exeter Change, London. At particular seasons certain portions of the collection were drawn in large covered carriages up and down to the great fairs in England for the purpose of exhibition. In these journies many accidents happened by oversetting and otherwise; animals were killed, and in one or two instances the loss sustained was very heavy. From the unnatural state of confinement, close air and other causes also several dropped off yearly, and one large elephant which had cost an immense sum of money, died of drinking for the gratification of those who chose to be at the expense of treating him for the curiosity of seeing an elephant swig porter out of a pewter pot. Notwithstanding these losses Mr. Pidcock not only kept up, but progressively increased the number and the value of his collection, for many years before he died, when a public sale of the whole then in the menagerie took place by vendue. Lord Stanley and a crowd of amateurs of the first rank and opulence attended, and bought some articles; but the principal purchasers were showmen who bought, in the way of their business, intending to exhibit their shaggy companions at country fairs Pidcock had done before them.

It is to be observed that the people of London were gratified, some time since, by the exhibition of a stupendous elephant, which died by poison, administered in a clandestine manner, by some insidious enemy. The huge bones of this Asiatic quadruped were afterwards preserved, and on the present occasion the skeleton was put up for sale. The auctioneer informed his hearers that it was the only one in Europe, a great national curiosity, worthy the attention of a virtuoso. The first sum bidden was twenty guineas, which increased to forty-nine. Two gentlemen then continued to bid against each other, and the skeleton was finally knocked down for fifty-five guineas, to à gentleman of the faculty. The skeleton of the spermaceti whale, sixty-six feet long, which formerly appeared in Rackstraw's museum, sold for nine guineas. A stuffed rhineceros produced the important sum of five shillings. The horn of this scarce animal was also put up. The auctioneer observed "Show the horn; it is a very fine one, and let the ladies and gentlemen, who are partial to horns, have a good opportunity to indulge their fancy." The horn sold for one pound two shillings. A very fine preserved monkey, denominated the Satyr, attracted much attention. He was knocked down to a lady, who professed herself fond of extraordinary subjects, for two pounds four shillings. A preserved baboon, bearing a watchman's lantern and rattle, sold for one pound twelve. This effigy appeared as capable of performing his duty as many of our nocturnal guardians. Many scarce and beautiful birds, sold at low prices, and the whole that sold on the first day, consisting of 205 lots, produced about 1401, only.

On the next day the elephant which arrived a short time since in the Lord Keith Indiaman, was disposed of by private contract. Two lions were sent to the tower, as the property of the prince of Brunswick, and the remainder of the savage collection remained to be purchased by the best bidder. A lion and lioness of majestic deportment, were sold to a person named Miles, for two hundred guineas. Both these animals were so tame, that a child might caress and play with them without danger. It was stated that they had been taken in a French prize, going as a present to Bonaparte. A royal Bengal tiger sold for eighty guineas, and