Year: 1863

made a trip to Paris in 1857, when he was
in the height Of his powers and fame. He
travelled for amusement, q mere tourist,
anxious to visit beautiful country which
he might claim his own, The family Of
the English actor was Of French extrac:
tion; they Asd from tho country upon the
revocation Of the edict Of Nantes.


In the mail coach which bore them from
London to Dover, Garrick found for fel-
low-trayeler Sir George Lewis, . gentleman
he had met several times before in company;
and had known for constant freqnenter Of
Drury Lane Theatre. They took advaIl-
tage Of this casual encounter to improve
their acquaintance each was delighted
with the other. After crossing the Chan
mel together, they came to Paris in the same
vehicle, but when they reached the capital
they separated. The actor went to the
house of the friends who were expecting
him, and Sir George took up his lodgings
in one of those splendid furnished houses
Of the Quarter de la Chaussee d Antin,
which then began to be very fashionable
quarter of the town. The two travelling
companions had promised to see a good deal
of each other during their stay in Paris,
but the very different life each Of them led
rendered it impossible for them to execute
their resolutions. Sir George Lewis was
man between 45 and so years old, with
very singular face, whose irregular and
prominent features made his physiognomy
most eccentric and expressive. During the
whole journey Garrick had admired that
countenance, thinking what an efoet II.
could produce on the stage. Despite his
age, which should have cooled the ardor Of
his character, and should have engaged him
to abandon the follies Of youth, Sir George
Lewis lived in the midst Of dissipation and
pleasure. He had come TO Paris to amuss
himself by gaily spending d large legacy
unexpectedly bequeathed to him. He was
passionately fond Of gaming, and the satis-
faction of his passion led him into MIXED
company, as indeed are all companies where
gambling is indulged, since these men are
valued by the sum Of money they are able
or willing to stake on the cards, a test which
allows many sharpers to slip in. The actor
lived in very different sort Of society, and
during the four months of their stay in
Paris the two travelling companions scarcely
met above two or three times:


Justas he was aboutleaving Paris, GafFick
called upon Sir Geo. Lewis to bid him good
bye andinquire if he had any commands for
London. 10 his horror he found that the
unhappy gentleman had been assassinated
the previous evening. His body had bekN
found that very morning in the forest Or
Bondy, covered with wounds, and bathef
in blood. Deeply touched, Garrick exerte
himself to ascertain as much as possible
the details Of the deplorable event. H(
found that Sir George had been one Of the
party Of pleasure to visit chateaU In the
environs Of Bondy, where large company
Of spOrtsmen and gamblers were assembled.
He intended to remain there q few days:
The first evening Of his visit he won large
sum of money at the gaming table.


In the afternoon Of the second day he
received a note from Paris, engaging him to
a gallant rendezvous, and Immediately on
receipt of it he babe adied to the company.
They tried to detain him, less out Of poi
liteness, perhaps, than desire Of winning
back the money he had taken from them,
and this desire was so vehement as to carry
them to the resolution Of dismouhting his
carriage. But Sir George Lewis was : man
Of will, and he determined to return 70 Paris
on horseback. He leaped on his horse and
galloped away. Further than that Garrick
could learn nothing. The police were in
clned to believe the catastrophe one Of the
usual adventures then frequent in the forest
of Bondy; but Garrick pointed out to them
that Sir George Lewis's pistols were found
loaded in his holsters, and that, while his
purse had been taken from him, his gold
watch, gold snuf-box and diamond ring
were untouched, from whence he cohcludedj
firstly, that Sir George Lewis had not been
attacked by banditti, but by some acquain.
lance, who perfdiously took him of his
guard and, secondly, that the personal
property lay untouched merely because the
robber was afraid Of compromising himself:


The society assembled at the chateau was
then secretly scanned by Gairick and the
police, and suspicion alighted on an Italian
called the Chevalier Gaetan. This Italian
was proved to have left the chateau shortly
after Sir George Lewis, and, despite his ex.
PLANTATION, he was arrested. But no direct
evidence could be brought against him, and
the noble proprietor Of the chateau; who
was naturally anxious that no slch.clOtd as
crime should rest on his frieHhs," used.
every exertion to procure the liberation Of
the Italian. AT this moment Gariick in
tcrfered. He begged the police to. allow
him To make an examination, which he de-
clared was decisive. Garrick, as everybody
knows, was famous for his play Of feature
he could assume whatever coutteuance he
pleased. The police fetched the ltaRhn
from the Jail, and took him, well escorted,
to Sir George Lewis's rooms. Uneasy and
perplexed at this move, (for he had been
visitor at Sir George Lewis hohse) he duess
toned the police agents what they were 60.
ing to do with him. No reply was made to
his inquiries until they reached deeeaseds
house, when the Chief Of Police said:


"Sir George Lewis is not dead. He ae-
euses you of attempting to assassihate him.
am gOiug to confront you both"


The Italian trembled; he could scarcely
sneak his confidence all forsoOk him. He
was carried into the room where Garriek
stood. The great actor represented Sir
George Lewis to the life; he had his face,
| c,..,,ro oYprnssion gesture. and IL was in