tragic and comic, derived from them, into the language of every civilized people. The former of these is, we know, conftantly applied to objects of terror and distress; the latter, to those of mirth and pleafantry. There is, however, a more comprehensive distinction of our feelings, which it is proper first to confider.

WHEN We examine the emotions produced in our minds by the view of human actions, we fhall obferve a divifion into the serious, and the ludicrous. I do not think it neceffary to define or analyse feelings with which all are well acquainted. It is enough to obferve that ferious emotions are produced by the display of all the great paffions which agitate the foul, and by all those actions which are under the jurifdiction of the grand rules of religion and morality; B &

and

and that ludicrous emotions are excited by the improprieties and inconfiftencies of conduct or judgment in smaller matters; fuch as the effects of falfe taste, or trifling paffions. When we now apply the words tragic and comic, we shall at once perceive that the former can relate folely to such subjects as occafion ferious, and the latter to fuch as occafion ludicrous emotions.

Now, although the practice of writers has fréquently introduced ludicrous parts into the compofition called a Tragedy, and serious parts into that called a Comedy, yet it has ever been understood that what conftitutes the effential and invariable character of each is fomething which is expreffed by the terms tragic and comic, and comes under the head of Serious or ludicrous emotions. Referring therefore to a future confideration, the

pro

propriety of introducing ferious parts in a Comedy, I fhall now lay down the character of Comedy as a dramatic compofition, exhibiting a ludicrous picture of human life and manners.

THERE are two fources of ludicrous emotions which it is proper here to diftinguifh. One of these arises from character, the other from incident. The first is attached and appropriated to the perfon, and makes a part, as it were, of his com-. pofition. The other is merely accidental, proceeding from awkward fituations, odd and uncommon circumstances, and the like, which may happen indifferently to every perfon. If we compare these with regard to their dignity and utility, we fhall find a further difference; fince that proceeding from character belongs to a very refpectable part of knowledge, that of human manners; and has for its end

the correction of foibles: whereas that proceeding from incident is mean and trivial in its origin, and answers no other purpose than present mirth. 'Tis true, it is perfectly natural to be pleased with rifible objects, even of the lowest kind, and a faftidious averfion to their exhibition may be accounted mere affected nicety; yet, fince we rank Comedy among the higher and more refined fpecies of compofition, let us affign it the more honourable office of exhibiting and correcting the ludicrous part of characters; and leave to Bartholomew Fair the ingenious contrivances of facetious drollery, and handicraft merriment.

THE following fources may be pointed

out from whence comic character is derived.

NATIONS, like individuals, have certain leading features which diftinguish them

them from others.

Of thefe there are

always fome of a ludicrous caft which afford matter of entertainment to their neighbours. Comedy has at all times made very free with national peculiarities; and, although the ridicule has often been conducted in a trivial and illiberal manner, by greatly overcharging the picture, and introducing idle and unjust accufations, yet I think we need not go fo far as entirely to reject this fort of ludicrous painting; fince it may be as important to warn against the imitation of foreign follies, as thofe of our own growth. Indeed, when a Frenchman or Irishman is brought upon our stage merely to talk broken English, or make bulls, there can be no plea either of wit or utility to excufe the illiberal jeft: but, when the nicer diftinctions of national character are expofed with a juft and delicate ridicule, the fpectacle may be both