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not a more complete site in the kingdom than this extraordinary hill. Those who have visited Bath know Lansdowne Hill very well, the road over a portion of it being delightful, much frequented, especially by company residing in the Crescents, and leading to the "Lansdowne Pillar" and the Race Course. That pillar was raised by George Granville, Lord Lansdowne, in 1780, in memory of his " renowned grandfather," Sir Bevil Granville, "who conquered, dying in the Royal cause, July 5, 1643," in a battle between the Royalist and the Parliamentarian armies.

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This hill is now the scene of most active labours. To be sure, the workmen do not yet work by torch light, as did the men during the operations connected with building Fonthill Abbey; but, from sun-rise till sun-set, there are to be seen three or four hundred workmen, in different directions, attended by immense numbers of carts, &c. &c. hastily engaged in building walls about ten feet high with Bath stone, levelling irregularities or hillocks on the summit or about the hill, forming roads, and laying out grounds for the plantation of upwards of 200,000 young trees. summit of the hill is preparing for the erection of a Saxon Tower, from the top of which will be seen Fonthill Abbey, a distance of near 35 miles! That Abbey might now be seen from Lansdowne Hill, but for a portion of the high hill at Warminster, which obstructs the view. The height of the Saxon Tower, which is to be an extraordinary structure, will obtain for Mr. Beckford a clear view of his recent residence of Fonthill Abbey. The peculiarity of Lansdowne Hill, and of the contemplated Saxon Tower, perhaps may be better imagined when it is stated, notwithstanding the frequent elevation of the roads, that, during the whole journey from Bath to Fonthill, no view of Fonthill Abbey is obtained until the traveller approaches within about four miles of it.

Mr. Beckford's present residence is in the Lansdowne Crescent, which is in Bath, but built on the rise of Lansdowne Hill. Such portions of the hill, together with its summit, completely close upon his residence, with one exception of about two or three acres of ground, now used as a common field, have been pur

chased. The possession of that small spot is requisite to the more complete and satisfactory arrangement of Mr. Beckford's plans respecting his grounds, and to the agreeable formation of a road from his residence to the Saxon Tower, &c.; but although the other purchases were managed agreeably enough to all parties, Mr. B. has not been able to get possession of that small piece of ground. It is stated in Bath, that its proprietor asks eight thousand pounds for it; that Mr. B. has offered £6000 for it without success; and that such is Mr. B.'s determined character, not to depart from his word once given, arrangements are making to do without the contested spot.

There were several paths and roads across the hill. These have been closed, especially those about Moger's farm, and new ones opened in other directions, under the orders of Magistrates met in session, which orders are stuck up on boards in different parts of the grounds. A vast extent of wall is already raised about the hill; many spots are ready for the plantation of trees; and the entire circuit is by some means enclosed against the public.

LEDYARD'S EULOGIUM ON WOMEN.

THE following testimony to the universal benevolence of the female character is borne by Mr. Ledyard, an accurate observer of human nature, and one of the first geographical missionaries employed by the African Association. "I have always remarked," says he," that women in all countries are civil and obliging, tender and humane; that they are ever inclined to be gay and cheerful, timorous and modest; and that they do not hesitate, like men, to perform a generous action. Not haughty, nor arrogant, nor supercilious, they are fond of courtesy, and fond of society; more liable, in general, to err than man; but, in general, also more virtuous, and performing more good actions than he. To a woman, whether civilized or savage, I never addressed myself in the language of decency and friendship, without receiving a decent and friendly answer. With man it is often otherwise. In wandering over the barren plains of inhospitable Denmark, through honest Sweden,

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and frozen Lapland, rude and churlish Finland, unprincipled Russia, and the wide-spread regions of the wandering Tartar-if hungry, dry, cold, wet, or sick, the women have ever been friendly to me and uniformly so; and to add to this virtue, (so worthy the appellation of benevolence), these actions have been performed in so free and kind a manner, that, if I was dry, I drank the sweetest draught, and if hungry, I ate the coarsest morsel with a double relish."

DEATH OF JOHN PHILIP kemble, Esq. THIS eminent tragedian died in Lausanne on the 26th of February, 1823. The following particulars of his death are contained in a letter from that place.

"Our great tragedian is no more! and he who, in histrionic art, could so well depict the final pangs of nature, has been called on in turn to act the part in sad reality. I have seen the physician who attended him, and, anxious to obtain particulars of the latter days of so great a character, for my own satisfaction, and for your information, I hastily subjoin the result. On Sunday the 23rd instant, he was, in his own estimation, so very comfortable, that, on sending away his hairdresser, he requested that he should say to his friend, Mr. Precote, that it would give him pleasure to learn, that, after the operation of shaving, his friend was as well as he was. In fact he seemed on that day in particularly good spirits. The next morning he rose apparently quite well, breakfasted at nine, and subsequently went to an adjoining room to speak to Mrs. Kemble, and when returning to his room was observed to totter in his gait. Mrs. Kemble noticed this with anxiety, and assisted him to his chair, and when seated, he took up a number of Galignani's Messenger; but getting worse, his friend and physician, Dr. Schole, was sent for, who arrived instantly, and found him in the position described, but already altered and exhibiting very unfavourable symptoms-his left side had suffered a decided attack, and he could with difficulty articulate. He seemed extremely anxious to spare the feelings of Mrs. Kemble. Dr. Schole, with the assistance

of his old attached servant George, helped him to his bed, and in the act of conducting him there, a second attack took place, so suddenly, that his clothes were obliged to be cut asunder, in order that he might the more speedily be let blood. But nature was fast exhausting; nor could he ever make use of his speech after a few words he uttered on Dr. Schole's arrival. He, however, assented or dissented by signs of the head, until within two hours of his complete extinction. His last intelligible words were "George, George!" and you may imagine the feelings of an attached and faithful servant to so excellent and worthy a master under such circumstances. In fine, a third attack, on Wednesday the 26th instant, just forty-eight hours after the first, proved fatal; and though to a stranger he might appear to suffer, it is the opinion of the Doctor that he was long insensible to acute feelings of pain. The English clergyman was also present. Mr. Kemble was particularly esteemed here, and is much regretted by all classes. The funeral is to take place to-morrow, and will, doubtless, be numerously and respectably attended."

Mr. Kemble was born at Prescot, in Lancashire, on the 1st of February, 1757. Like many other eminent actors, he may be said to have been cradled on the stage. At the time of his birth, his father, Mr. Roger Kemble, was manager of a company of comedians, who had a regular routine of performances in Lancashire and some of the neighbouring counties. And we learn from a play-bill of that time, that when Kemble was only ten years old he played in his father's company, at Worcester, the part of the Duke of York in the tragedy of King Charles the First. The early part of his education he received in the Roman Catholic seminary at Sedgley Park, Staffordshire. He was afterwards, in the year 1770, sent by his father to the university of Douay, in order that he might be qualified for one of the learned professions. Nature, however, had obviously "picked and chosen" him from the world for a peculiar destination. Even at Douay he had rendered himself remarkable by his recitations of Shakespeare; and on his return to England he made his appearance at Wolverhampton, in the character of Theodosius in The Force

of Love, without any extraordinary success. His second appearance was in Bajazet, in which he produced a stronger impression. The provincial life of an actor presents little besides anxiety, toil, and uncertainty. Of these Mr. Kemble was not without his share. He has often related to his friends the vexation he felt at continued neglect, while men of stronger lungs and more boisterous action were honoured with attention and applause. At York he distinguished himself by recitations, and at Edinburgh by delivering an able lecture on sacred and profane oratory. It was, however, a Dublin audience which first appreciated his merits. In 1782 he appeared in that city in the character of Hamlet; and in 1783 came out in the same character at Drury-Lane Theatre. His reputation was immediately established; but it was not until the year 1788 that he became the monarch of the stage. In 1787 he married Mrs. Brereton, daughter of Mr. Hopkins, the prompter of Drury-Lane Theatre, of which, in the following year, he became the manager.

With the exception of a short interval he continued manager until 1801. During this period his conduct in his arduous situation was remarkable for firmness, diligence, integrity, and talent. His single energy accomplished a complete reform in the whole system of scenic dress and decoration. Macbeth no longer sported an English General's uniform; men of centuries ago no longer figured in the stiff court dresses of our own time; and "Cato's full wig, flowered gown, and lackered chair," gave way to the crop, the toga, and couch. Nor were the improvements in the scenery less remarkable and important. The consequence was an ensemble, such as had never been seen before in any modern theatre. At the close of the season of 1801, he devoted a year to travelling abroad, and on his return in 1803, he purchased a sixth share of Covent-Garden Theatre, became manager, and appeared for the first time on those boards in his favourite character of Hamlet, on the 24th of September. Here he continued his career with eminent success, both as a manager and a performer, until 1808, when the tremendous fire broke out, which destroyed the theatre. The raising of the present noble edifice, the O. P. riot of 1809, Kemble's taking leave of the

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