and Shylock, in the procession. It says little, however, for the knowledge of Shakespeare in that fashionable city, that the scene which was considered to be representative of "King Lear," is to be found only in Nahum Tate's version of the tragedy, is no part whatever of the original work. Tate regarded the poet's work as "a heap of jewels unstrung and unpolished," and resolved, "out of zeal for all that remains of Shakespeare," to re-model the story. He made Edgar the lover of Cordelia. Edmund in a jealous rage hires two ruffians to carry her off, but she is rescued from their attack by the gallantry of Edgar. This scene of the ruffians and the rescue was a favourite one with the audience, and in the pageant it did duty as an extract from Shakespeare. It may be noted that at this time it was the fashion to make the play terminate happily, the curtain de scending upon Lear joining the hands of Cordelia and Edgar in quite the "Bless ye my children" manner of the comic drama. This was the version of "Lear" which Garrick, Fowell, Barry, and even Kemble, were content to present to their audiences. The last act "from the text of Shakespeare" does not appear to have been restored to the stage until the year 1823, when under Elliston's management Edmund Kean played Lear at Drury Lane. Even then the loves of Cordelia and Edgar were retained, and the earlier acts remained as Tate had altered them. It was reserved for Mr. Macready in later times, among many other services to the stage, to make a clean sweep of Shakespeare's adapters, and to present to the public the tragedy in its integrity. The part of the Fool, persistently omitted for long years and years, then re-appeared upon the stage.
But one more note concerning the "Jubilee."
On the 23rd April, 1816, there was some attempt at a celebration of the second centenary of years since the death of Shakespeare. At Drury Lane "Romeo and Juliet" was performed, followed by a recital of "Garrick's Ode," by Mr. Pope, and a re-production, for one night only, of the pageant from the "Jubilee." At Covent Garden Mr. Kemble played Coriolanus, and Garrick's "Jubilee" followed, "the Pageant by the whole of the Company" Mr. Kemble representing Wolsey, Mr. Charles Kemble Macbeth, Miss Stephens Ophelia, Miss O'Neill the Tragic Muse, Miss Foote Cordelia, and Mr. Betty, Hamlet, volunteering his services for the occasion. New songs and choruses were introduced, and the entertainment was repeated on the two following nights.
Mrs. Siddons did not appear, having retired from the stage in 1812; though in some subsequent years she favoured the public with special performances, her very last appearance on the stage being in 1818.
TREASURE-TROVE.
