The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-08-20
From the Boston Courier.
AUTHORS NOT FATHERS.


Mr.. Walter Savage Lander has been calling
the attention of the British public to the fact
made known by William Howitt-that some OF
Shakspeare's descendants are in needy circum
stances, with view of procuring relief for
them. But it is quite impossible that any
descendant of Shakespeare should be in want,
because there has been no such person in exist.
ence for nearly one hundred years. Shakespeare
died in 1915, leaving two daughters only, Su.
sauna and Judith. Judith married Mr.. Thomas
Quincy, short time before her fathers death.
Three Sons were born to her but they all died
before her, and she herself died in 1862.
Susanna, the older daughter, married DR..
John hall, and died in l649. The sole issue
OF this marriage was daughter, Elizabeth
Hall, who was born before her grandfather
death, and is mentioned in his will, though
called his niece" word used at that time to
denote relationship generally. She was twice
married; first to Thomas Nash, and to Sir
John Barnard but she never had any children,
and died in 1910. With her ended the direct
line of Shakespeare.
1t Is curious how few of the great men of
England, whether in literature, science, or gov.
eminent, have left descendants. The line of
Shakespeare is extinct, as We have seen (; 80 is
that of Milton, Bacon, Newton, Harvey, Pope,
Gibbon, johnson, Swift, Lord Mansfield, Pitt,
Fox, Gray, Cowper, Collins, Thomson, Gold
smith, Gay, Congreve, Hume, Bishop Butler,
Locke, Hobbies, Adam Smith, Bentham, VOL.
laston, pavy, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Flaxman,
Gainsborough, Sir Thomas Lawrence, either
were never married, or never had children.
Burke's son died before him, and so did Smol.
let's daughter. Addisons daughter died un-
married. We are not aware that there are any
lneal representatives of Chaucer, Spenser, Dry
den, Jeremy Taylor, Hooker, or Barrow We
have mentioned only such names as occurred
to us without book !; little research might
doubtless much increase the list.
LEAD MINES OF WISCONSIN. " The Grant
County Herald estimates that five-sixths of the
entire Iced product OF the Northwest lead region
is raised from the mines of Wisconsin, and
within Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette counties
This leaves very small proportion as the pro-
duct of Iowa and Illinois. Some of the facts
relating to the mines, as stated by the Herald,
are rather peculiar. Wisconsin mines average
an annual product of over 81, 600, 600, which is
mostly sold in St. Louis for gold. The smelters
and miners are particularly partial to god and
will not have anything to do with paper money
if they can avoid it. The Herald says tina;
banks which start there, and endeavor to alb
sorb the gold and supply paper currency, gen
orally wind up in short time. The workmer
refuse to take paper money, and will not pay il
out unless when going away from home or the
like. Sovereigns rule there at $3.50.
The annual allowance to Queen Victoria il
close on $2,O00,000, in hard cash. She hat
other advantages, such as being exempt from
house rent and taxes, having her different
palaces kept in repair, and so on. She has the
income of the Dachy of Lancaster, which il
! about $4,000 more. She has appropriated
to herself, since his birth, the Prince of Wales
| Sl25,OOO, from the rental of his Duchy of Corn
wall estates. In word, she is very well pro
vided for, it must be admitted. Her husband
has Parliamentary life-dower of $l5O,OOo pei
annum, and about as much more accruing from
! lucrative appointments, which his aaectionats