WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR. I. With Portraits of Lord Byron and the Countess Guiccioli, and a View of Newstead Abbey. LIFE OF LORD BYRON. In One Volume. Fifth Edition. II. BOGLE CORBET; OR, THE EMIGRANTS. III. LAWRIE TODD; OR, THE SETTLERS. IV. SOUTHENNAN. In Three Volumes, post 8vo. LIVES OF THE PLAYERS. 66 BY JOHN GALT, ESQ. AUTHOR OF 99 "" "The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. SHAKSPEARE. LONDON: HENRY COLBURN AND RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET. 1831. PREFACE. ALTHOUGH this compilation will probably be among the most amusing books in the language, still the author can lay claim to very little merit. The subject was suggested by a literary friend, and he had only to select from abundant materials. In one respect he may not be deemed undeserving of some indulgent consideration. The world is well aware that many of the early adventures of those who in riper life have added to our harmless pleasures, are difficult to describe in such a manner as not to render some of the most entertaining objectionable. His object, however, was to produce a parlour-book, and the rule he prescribed to himself was to introduce nothing into it that would not be tolerated on the stage by the most fastidious. In this he is sensible that he may be questioned by those liquorish epicures who care not for the woodcock without the trail. The nature of his task necessarily directed him to disregard dates and minute circumstances, save in a few epochal events, and to study the general appearance rather than those particular markings which distinguish |