SEASON, 1817-18. EAST INDIA SHIPS, With their Managing Owners, Commanders, Principal Officers, Surgeons, Pursers, Time of coming afloat, &c. Amb. Rivers Rob. Simmons S. Jas. Lee Apr. LONDON, Published for the European Magazine by Asperne 32 Cornbill May 188 Mr. Charles & Wathens. COMEDIAN. Engraved by Mever from an original Painting by & Drummond Efq! RA (WITH A PORTRAIT, ENGRAVED BY HENRY MEYER, FROM AN ORIGINAL PAINTING BY SAMUEL DRUMMOND, ESQ. R.a.] HIS valuable Comedian, whose me- those he preferred were, of all others, rits have made an impression on the books which his father wished him the public mind, which, we are con- to leave unnoticed. Bell's British Theavinced, will prove as lasting as it is tre, The Beauties of the Dramatists, powerful, was born on the 28th June, and a Collection of Farces, were the 16, and is the younger son of Mr. volumes he singled out from the num James Mathews, a bookseller of much berless sermons and theological tracts worth and respectability, in the Strand. with which the shelves of the shop His brother William and himself re- groaned. The Tradesman's Assistant ceived their education at Merchant Tay- was neglected for the Spouter's Comfor School. The former, who was de- panion; and he longed for an opportu Signed for the church, entered himself nity of reciting, in public, some of the of Pembroke College. Cambridge, and fine speeches which he had treasured up took the degree of Master of Arts in in his memory in private. This oppor that university Having completed his tunity soon occurred: he heard, that tadies there, he altered his original in-bard by there were spirits at work," tention, and became a member of the who, like himself, having souls above Middle Temple, where, in due course, either buttons or books, were resolved he was called to the Bar. In 1801, he to become the mimic representatives of Went to the West Indies, with the view kings and heroes. In short, a private of practising at Tobago; but unfortu- play was to be exhibited; the scene of bately fell a victim to the climate in a action was a small room up one pair of fe mouths after his arrival in that stairs, over a pastry-cook's shop in the island. He was a gentleman of consi- Strand. Here an elderly French lady derable learning and talents, and very gave evening lessons to a few select much respected by a large circle of pupils, who, in return for her French acquaintance. exercises, proposed to treat her and her friends with an English tragedy. This intelligence no sooner reached our hero, than he felt an unaccountable desire to learn French. So laudable an inclination could not but be encouraged, and he was accordingly sent to acquire the true Parisian accent at this evening academy. The ceremony which took place at his introduction may easily be imagined; instead of Boyer's. Diction Charles, the object of our present attention, was intended for a bookseller, and at the age of fourteen, three years before he quitted Merchant Taylors' School, was bound apprentice to his father. Nothing could be more prudent than this measure, but articles of indenture have no power over the inclinations. Young Mathews was fonder of reading books than selling them; and |