to account for the single remaining instance, I have then only to say
that I prefer _deformed_ to _deforming_, as an epithet applied
disparagingly to Time's hand as more in accordance with Shakspeare's
practice, who was not in the habit of repeating the same idea, which, in
the latter case, would occur again in the word "defeatures" in the
following line.

MR. HALLIWELL may, doubtless find other instances, perhaps more
felicitous than these; at present, all I can say is that he has failed
to show that the use of the passive for the active participle was common
with Shakspeare. As to other variations between the grammatical usage of
Shakspeare's day and that of our own, I call assure him that I am not
quite so ignorant of the fact as he imagines.

SAMUEL HICKSON

August 1. 1850.

* * * * *

ENGLISH COMEDIANS IN GERMANY.

I am glad to be enabled to reply to MR. BOLTON CORNEY'S Query (Vol. i.,
p. 439.) respecting a German book of plays.

The learned illustrator of the _Curiosities of Literature_ would find
the information he desires in the _Vorrath zur Geschichte der deutschen
dramatischen Dichtkunst_ of the formerly celebrated J. Christoph
Gottsched (Leipzig, 1767-69, 2 vols. 8vo.). But as this book, now
somewhat neglected, would perhaps be difficult to be found even in the