tent performers; he endeavours to entertain his audience with every new production of the stage; and, if he should not find himself so amply remunerated as his predecessors were, it may be that many of the good people of Croydon, at this time of pecuniary pressure, find it necessary, in paying a rigid attention to the busy concerns of trade, to forego the delights of the drama.

Assemblies.

At Croydon, are two very spacious and convenient rooms for this purpose, having orchestras and proper accommodation for the band. One of these rooms is at the King's Arms inn, and the other at the Grey-hound, where the gentry of the town, and its vicinity, have a monthly ball, with cards for the amusement of those who may not be disposed to join the dance. The expenses are defrayed by subscription, and the assemblies are held on the Monday after every full moon.

Billiards.

For the amusement of gentlemen, who may be inclined occasionally to pass an hour at

this pleasing game, Mr. Boon, at the Greyhound has fitted up a room, and provided a very good table at great expense. The terms are, for each game, in the day time 3d. at night 6d. on account of fire and candles.

At Mr. Whiting's also is another table, where a person is always in attendance to mark the game. The terms are the same as at the Grey-hound.

Hunting.

For those who are partial to this strong and healthy field diversion, Croydon is the centre of attraction, being situated in the midst of a fine sporting country, in which are several noted packs of Fox-hounds and Harriers. In the parish is Mr. Maberly's famous pack of fox-hounds, kept at Shirley; at Croham also Mr. Thomas Meager keeps a pack of harriers. At the Oaks, about three miles distant from the town, is the Earl of Derby's celebrated pack of Stag-hounds. At Merstham, six miles distant, Mr. Jolliffe keeps a pack of foxhounds; at Beddington, two miles, and at Sanderstead, three miles from Croydon, are packs of harriers.

In the town are excellent Livery Stables, kept by Mr Morton, Mr M Carty, and Mr Parnham; a circumstance productive of great convenience to the numerous gentlemen who attend the field, and affording the utmost facility to this pleasurable pursuit.

The Sporting Magazine of January, 1793, gives the following account of an economical Sportsman, then, or lately before, resident at Croydon. This was Mr Osbaldeston, who was the youngest son of a gentleman of good family but small fortune in the North of England, who having imprudently married one of his Father's servants, was turned out of doors with no other fortune than a favorite hound, big with pup, whose offspring have since been a source of profit and amusement to him.

This Mr. Osbaldeston went to London, where he officiated as an attorney's clerk, and in spite of popular prejudices against the profession, is said to have been an honest man. This honest limb of the law, being married, has at least half-a-dozen children, whom, with as many couples of hounds, and a brace of hunters, he maintains . . . . . . out of what? To support himself, a wife, six children, twelve dogs, and two horses, he has not a penny more than Sixty Pounds per annum ; and, if possible,

DD

to increase the miracle, be did this in London for many years, paying every body their own, and keeping a tight coat for Sundays and Holidays.

But to explain this seeming paradox, after the expiration of the time which Mr. Osbaldeston, owed his master, he acted as an accountant for the butchers in Clare market, who paid him in offal; the choicest morcels of this he selected for himself and family, and with the rest he fed his hounds; his horses were lodged in his cellar, and fed with grains which he had from a neighbouring brew-house, and on damaged corn, with which he was supplied by a corn chandler whose books he kept in order.

Once or twice a week he hunted during the season, and by giving a hare now and then to the farmers over whose grounds he sported, secured their good will and permission: besides which, several gentlemen, struck with his extraordinary economy, winked at his going over their manors with his moderate pack.

Accident, however, removed this uncommon character to Lewes, in Sussex, where on the same stipend he maintained the same family: "Curiosity," says a gentleman who paid him

a visit there," led me to visit this extraordinary party; about their dinner time the twolegged part of it were clean, though not superfluously clothed, and seemed to live like brothers with the surrounding animals-it looked in short like the golden age: Mr. Osbaldeston seemed and acted like the father of the quadrupeds as well as of the bipeds, and as such decided with the utmost impartialityFor Master Jackey having taken a bone from Jowler, he commanded instant restitution,and on the other hand, Doxy, having snatched a piece of liver from Miss Dorothea, was obliged on the spot, to restore it to the young lady."

"The family afterwards removed to Croydon, Surrey. His residence at Croydon, was in Pound-street, next to the chapel, where he still continued to keep his hounds in his garret, and to hunt with them as before. He had a small stable for his two horses, which he used to drive in a phaton. He continued in this situation till he died. One of his daughters is still living in the town, supporting herself by her own industry.

He is well remembered by several persons now living in Croydon, for his singularity;