There is a curious specimen of ancient architecture at the sign of the
Cock and Magpie public-house, facing Craven Buildings. Smith, in his
_London_, says, "The late Mr. Thomas Batrich, barber, of Drury
Lane, (who died in 1815, aged 85 years,) informed me that Theophilus
Cibber was the author of many of the prize-fighting bills, and that he
frequently attended and encouraged his favourites. It may be here
observed, that Drury Lane had seldom less than seven fights on a Sunday
morning, all going on at the same time on distinct spots." At present,
the fights are between the apple-women and the dogberries, respecting
the _legal tenure of stalls_:

"Bess Hoy first found it troublesome to bawl,
And therefore plac'd her cherries on a _stall_."

KING.


Drury Lane will always be interesting to the theatrical loiterer,
from the number of _stars_ that have _irradiated_ from its
_horizon_. If the wise Solon had lived in our times, he would no
doubt have felt a local attachment to this neighbourhood; for he
frequented plays even in the decline of life. And Plutarch informs us,
he thought plays useful to polish the manners, and instil the principles
of virtue.

P.T.W.

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