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Duke of Monmouth was a good judge of dancing, and a good dancer himself; when he returned from France, he brought with him St. Andre, then the best master in France; the Duke presented him to the stage, the stage, to gratify the Duke, admitted him, and the Duke himself thought he might prove a mighty advantage to 'em, though he had nobody else of his opinion: a day was published in the bills for him to dance, but not one more besides the Duke and his friends came to see him; the reason was, the plays were then so good, and Hart and Mohun acted 'em so well, that the audience would not be interrupted for so short a time, tho' 'twas to see the best master in Europe."

On the union of the king's and the duke's companies in 1682, according to Downes, though Cibber says it was in 1684, Hart retired from the stage; but Mohun continued to perform till, at least, 1685, when he appeared in the character of Lord Burleigh, in Bank's Unhappy Favourite.

When major Mohun was born, and when he died, are unknown; of his parentage we are also uninformed, but that is of little consequence ; he having, by his merit as an actor, and his valour as an officer, left a double fame behind him; whilst many, who inherited wealth and titles, have scarcely left a trace of their existence: unless, like the loathsome slug, a sordid slime mark their once devious way!

SHarding, Del.

BHarding Jun" Sc".

ROBERT NIXON.

the Cheshire Prophet.

From an Original Picture in the Poffeffion of Owen Salisbury Brereton Esq.

Pub. July 16.1793. by E.& S. Harding. Pall Mall.

ROBERT NIXON,

WHOSE prophecies have been so long celebrated, lived in the reign of

king James I. and was a mere ideot; he was employed by several farmers, followed the plough all day, and afforded them merriment at night he was a short, squab fellow, with a great head, and goggle eyes; used to drivel as he spoke, which was in a hoarse voice, and very rarely; had a particular spite against children, and would frequently run after them to beat them. The people had a strange reverence for his stupidity, not only relying implicitly on his predictions, but imagining even his silence to be portentous.

He was at length taken into the house of Thomas Cholmondley, of Vale Royal, Cheshire, Esq; where he lived when he composed his famous prophecies, which he is said to have delivered with the gravity and solemnity of an oracle; it being observed that, though he could not speak intelligibly when uninspired, in uttering his prophecies he spoke plainly and sensibly.

The most remarkable of his predictions are supposed to have had relation to the civil war between king Charles I. and his parliament; the death of that monarch; the exile and restoration of Charles II; the abdication of James II. and the consequent revolution.

Nixon's prophetic fame reaching the ears of James I. he ordered him to be brought to London, that he might see so extraordinary a personage. On being informed of the honour intended him, he wept bitterly, and begged that he might not be taken to court; giving for a reason, that "he should be starved there:" which, not withstanding every precaution, tradition says really happened; the officer to whose care he was assigned, going in a hurry with the king from Whitehall to Theobalds, leaving Nixon locked up without provisions: by which accident he was unfortunately starved to death.

Subjoined is the account the present owner of the painting, from which the print of Nixon has been engraved, has been pleased to give of the accident that put it into his possession.

"Being on a visit to Mr. Cholmondley of Vale Royal in Cheshire, and caught in a shower of rain on horseback about a mile before I got there, I went into a cottage near the road; and stepping on a piece of canvas at the door, I thought it particular there: so, taking it in my hand, I found on the side next the ground the face I sent you; which being so odd a one, I asked some account of it; to which the woman [of the cottage] answered, Lord! it is our Nixon's head, which was thrown out of the Hall-house the other day, and I brought it home. From her I purchased it."