1832.] Suggestion for the Celebration of Shakspeare s Birth-day. 399 



least one night in the year, and to deserve the poet by appreciating his 

 wisdom and gentleness. Let it not be supposed that such a celebration 

 of his birth-day would degenerate into any thing theatrical or common- 

 place. We can talk of Shakspeare without eternally calling him " our 

 immortal bard," and the " sweet swan of Avon." There are meetings 

 to be held out of the Freemason's Tavern and of course out of the 

 Garrick Club, where at the dinner the other day, they forgot to mention 

 the name of Shakspeare, until some one recollecting that Garrick owed 

 a few trifling obligations to the au f hor of Hamlet and Richard, pro- 

 posed this very celebration which we are now suggesting an idea that 

 was immediately rejected, on the score of inconvenience and innovation. 

 But let the reader try the experiment ; let him assemble some half-dozen 

 friends, if he object to a larger party, and revel for an evening upon 

 recollections of Bardolphs and Benedicks. He will find that we have 

 advised him well, and in " the sincerity of love and honest kindness." 



Of course there are many great names in English literature that might 

 be made the annual instruments of calling friends together for a similar 

 purpose and we should like to see similar honours paid to them, even 

 by public meetings. When a nation is blessed (or rather, was) with a 

 Pitt Club, we can see no especial objection to the establishment of a 

 Hampden Club. A few lovers of poetry and lofty principle might pos- 

 sibly be called together once a year in Milton's name. There are thou- 

 sands we hope that would not hesitate to join as many Spencer and 

 Fielding Clubs as might be formed. But Shakspeare was of all others 

 a social genius, and stands first in more senses than one. Milton him- 

 self regarded him with " wonder and astonishment." Cowper thought 

 it praise enough 



" To fill the ambition of a private man, 



That Shakspeare's language was his mother tongue." 



And Wordsworth, an authority no less illustrious, exclaims in one of 

 his sonnets 



We must be free, or die, who speak the tongue 

 That Shakspeare. spake." 



The season of the year in which the birth-day falls is an argument 

 for its celebration that season, to use his own words 



" When proud-pied April, dressed in all his trim, 

 Has put a spirit of youth in everything." 



The sanctity and loveliness of the time has been beautifully touched 

 upon, in some verses that celebrate 



" The hallow'd morn when Will was born, in the spring-time of the year. 



" Some morn symbolic of his mind elastic, warm, serene ; 



Whose smile expansive lighted up man's universal scene ; 



Whose subtle spirit everywhere could penetrate and cheer 



On such a morn our Will was born, in the spring-time of the year." ' 



Shakspeare Songs, by John Ogden. 



After all these quotations, it would be presumptuous to conclude 



