prophet Joel in the Capella Sistina. The subject excited his imagination, and inspiration informs the whole of his composition. But as a likeness of Mrs. Siddons, it confessedly fails. Yet I do not believe that this was intended by the artist-mere identity was lost in the magnificence of his design; and perhaps from the late Mr. Harlow's picture of her as Queen Katherine, the most correct notion may be acquired of the features and expression of Siddons. When Reynolds modestly inscribed his name upon the hem of her garment, he bestowed greater longevity than he received. "The actor only shrinks from Time's award, The picture will, in distant times, astonish those who never heard of the actress; and one general impression of unappropriated grandeur will be all the result of this amazing portrait. To return at length to Shakspeare and his first engraver. The catalogues tell us that Droeshout engraved, besides the head of our poet, portraits of John Fox, the martyrologist; Richard Elton; John Howson, Bishop of Durham; and Lord Mountjoy Blount. That he was also employed upon Haywood's Hierarchy of Angels, and executed a print of Dido stabbing herself, for Stapylton's octavo Virgil. The head of Shakspeare is confessedly inferior to some of these works. It has been therefore supposed that he engraved after a very coarse original, if indeed he did not work from personal recollection, assisted by such hints as might be given by those who desired this embellishment for their book. Some ten years ago I was shewn a C picture, which appeared to be painted by the very artist who supplied Droeshout with the likeness of Shakspeare. The figure is a half-length. The dress of the person is like that of Shakspeare-the ruff is in form the same. On the left hand, at the top of the canvass, is painted anno 1602, ætat. 25. On the right, in the taste of the Shepheard's Calendar, is this quibbling emblem-Sperando, ferendo, vivo, vinco. He wears moreover "a seal-ring, probably of his grandfather's," the arms on which are plain enough for a herald to interpret. Distance is nothing with such painters. If their subject had a heap of coins before him, you step up to the picture, as you would to the table, and may peruse the evidence of many a king's reign. Who this person was I know not, but I owe him my attentions, for thus shewing me the exact manner in which Shakspeare was painted. Here were therefore no volunteer infidelities, as Mr. Steevens subsequently asserted, on the part of the engraver-we may rest assured that the engraving was scrupulously faithful to an indifferent original; I mean indifferent only as to its style of art; for as to its resemblance, we may be confident it was deemed perfect by those who best knew the man, most regarded and most regretted him. "The stage," in language no less true than complimentary, “despair'd day but for his volume's light. To Heminge and Condell, therefore, it was essential to perpetuate his countenance with his works. Though his hasty but immortal compositions had none of his own care, to that of his fellows they were every way entitled: they constituted the precious stock of their company-the great possessors, as they were once angrily called, were the true heirs of his inventions, with a re |