THE MIMIC.

LORD Robert Cullen the son of the celebrated physician, and who finally officiated as a judge in the court of session, possessed amazing powers of mimicry which were manifested in his earliest yeats, One evening, when his father was going to the theatre, he entreated to be taken along with him, but for some reason was condemned to remain at home. Some time after the departure of the doctor. Mrs. Cullen heard bim come along the pas age, as if from his own room, and say at her door, Well, after all, you may let Robert go." Robert was accordingly allowed to depart for the theatre, where his appearance gave no small surprise to his father. On the old gentleman coming home, and remonstrating with his lady for allowing the bey to go, it was discovered that the voice which seemed to give permission had proceeded from the young wag himself.

In maturer years Cullen could not only mimic any voice or mode of speech, but enter so thoroughly into the na'ure of any man, that he could supply exactly the ideas which he was likely to use. His imitations were therefore something much above mimicries-they were Shakspearian representations of human character. He has been known, in a social company, where another in. dividual was expected, to stand up in the character of that person, and return thanks for the proposal of his health; and this was done so happily, that when the individual did arrive, and got upon his legs to speak for himself, the company was convulsed with an almost exact repetition of what Cullen had previously uttered, the manner also, and every inflection of the voice being alike. In relating anecdotes, of which he possessed a vast store, he usually prefaced them with a sketch of the character of the person 1eferred to, which greatly in creased the effect, as the story then told characteristically. These sketches were remarked to be extremely graphic, and most elegantly expressed.

When a young man, residing with his father, he was very intimate with Dr Robertson, the principal of the University, and the celebrated author of the life of Charles V. To show that Robertson was ill to imitate, it may be mentioned, from the report of a gentleman who has often heard him making publie orations, that when the students observed him pause for a word, and would themselves mentally supply it, they invariably found that the word which he did use was different from that which they thought suitable. Cullen, however, could imitate him to the life, either in his more formal speeches or in his ordinary discourse. He would often, in enter ing a house which the Principal was in the habit of vi siting. assume his voice in the lobby and stair, and when arrived at the drawing room door, astonish the family by turning cut to be-only Bob Cullen.

Lord Greville, a pupil of the Princinal' haina has

THE MIMIC.

LORD Robert Cullen the son of the celebrated physician, and who finally officiated as a judge in the court of session, possessed amazing powers of mimicry. which were manifested in his earliest yeas. One evening, when his father was going to the theatre, he entreated to be taken along with him, but for some reason was condemned to remain at home. Some time after the departure of the doctor. Mrs. Cullen heard bim come along the pas age, as if from his own room, and say at her door, "Well, after all, you may let Robert go." Robert was accordingly allowed to depart for the theatre, where his appearance gave no small surprise to his father. the old gentleman coming home, and remonstrating with his lady for allowing the bey to go, it was discovered that the voice which seemed to give permission had proceeded from the young wag himself.

On

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In maturer years Cullen could not only mimic any voice or mode of speech, but enter so thoroughly into the na'ure of any man, that he could s ipp y exactly the ideas which he was likely to use. Hi imitations were therefore something much above mimicries-they were Shakspearian representations of human character. has been known, in a social company, where another individual was expected, to stand up in the character of that person, and return thanks for the proposal of his health; and this was done so happily, that when the individual did arrive, and got upon his legs to speak for himself, the company was convulsed with an almost exact repetition of what Cullen had previously uttered, the manner also, and every inflection of the voice being alike. In relating anecdotes, of which he possessed a vast store, he usually prefaced them with a sketch of the character of the person 1eferred to, which greatly in creased the effect, as the story then told characteristically. These sketches were remarked to be extremely graphic, and most elegantly expressed.

When a young man, residing with his father, he was very intimate with Dr Robertson, the principal of the University, and the celebrated author of the life of Charles V. To show that Robertson was ill to imitate, it may be mentioned, from the report of a gentleman who has often heard him making public orations, that when the students observed him pause for a word, and would themselves mentally supply it, they invariably found that the word which he did use was different from that which they thought suitable. Cullen, however, could imitate him to the life, either in his more formal speeches or in his ordinary discourse. He would often, in enter. ing a house which the Principal was in the habit of vi. siting. assume his voice in the lobby and stair, and when arrived at the drawing room door, astonish the family by turning cut to be-only Bob Cullen.

Lord Greville, a pupil of the Princinalls hamina bean