Il Luftuofo, ed il Gaudiofo; Il Giocofo ed The Author of these pleafing poems of this little volume. Midfummer Eve; or, The Country Wake. The Western Mail: Being a Selection of in 17-. Now first published. 12mo. Mawman, 45. 1801. The plan of this work is not a new one. We have feen it excuted already in "The Poft-Boy robbed of his Mail," and other performances of the fame kind. The vices and follies of the times are not ill depicted. They are fet in their proper light, and in a manner likely to create difguit rather than invite imitation. The Author is an attentive obferver of life, and his letters may be read with advantage by the thoughtlefs and diffipated part of fociety. Domestic Union; or, London as it should be! containing, Obfervations on the prefent State of the Municipality of London; with Hints for its Extenfion and Improvement: together with Remarks on the Weft India Docks in the Isle of Dogs ; the Wapping Docks; the Projects for improving London-Bridge, &c. Walter. 1800. 1 4to. This pamphlet is by the Author of "The Portentous Globe !" and his fentiments are not thofe of a careless obferver. They comprife objects of general intereft, and deferve the attention of thofe who are capable of influencing the fentiments or directing the conduct of public men. Improvements have been frequently impeded by narrow views and selfish confiderations they therefore cannot be too much canvaffed and difcuffed. The Author fays, he has lived long in the midst of the commercial community, and has had fome opportunities of ob ferving the defiderata of public convenience. He is therefore entitled to a candid hearing; and agreeing, as we do in general, in opinion with him, we cannot but with fuccefs to his plans. A Serious Call to a devout and holy Life; abridged from the original Work of the Rev. W. Law, A. M. 12mo. Hatchard. 1801. It was the opinion of Dr. Johnson, as recorded by Bolwell, that Law's Serious Call was the finest piece of hortatory theology in any language; and to the opinion of fuch a man who would not fubmit his judgment? We have not been able to compare the prefent abridgment of the work of this pious and well-intentioned afcetic with the original. We can, therefore, only obferve on this occafion, that the circulation of fuch a performance, at the prefent conjun&ture, is calculated for the advantage of religion and virtue. Pandora's Box, and the Evils of Britain with effectual, juft, and equitable Means for their Annihilation, and for the Preferation of the Peace, Happiness, and Profperity Profperity of the Country. By John The plan here recommended for the relief of the poor chiefly applies to the commercial poor; and the Author is of opinion, that a rate of one penny in the pound fhould be raised on the commercial produce of the whole country, which would fhortly, he supposes, reduce the poor rate on the rent of land and houfes perhaps as low as fixpence in the pound, and the general expence of providing for the whole poor of the country be very confiderably decreased. The good intention of the Author is evident; and whether his plan is adopted or not, he is entitled to the thanks of the community. The Juvenile Preceptor; or, a Course of moral and fcientific Inftructions for the Ufe of both Sexes. Vol. I. containing Spelling and Reading Lessons not exceeding One Syllable. 12mo. Champante and Whitrow, &c. 1800. Mr. George Nicholfon, of Ludlow, the printer of this volume, feems to be the compiler of it. It is introductory to an intended feries; is judiciously executed; and deferves the notice of parents, and thofe who are concerned in the education of youth. LYCOPHRON.-L. 72-76. Στένω σε, πάτρα, καὶ τάφους Ατλαντίδος Deffeo te, patria, et fepulchra Electræ appearance and its use, a blown bladder, Primum cana falix madefalto vimine parvam Texitur in puppem, cafoque inducta jis Venco Vectoris patiens, tumidum fuperenatat CAS amnem. L. 4. 132. Dardanus, whofe hands and feet were extended in fwimming, is called TT fans from his refemblance, in the act of fwimming, to a four-footed animal. This epithet, if applied to rópxos, is fuperfluous and nugatory; if to the fwimmer, it forms a part of the comDardanus fwimming was Tarfaxes in appearance. R. LIST OF SHERIFFS APPOINTED BY HIS MAJESTY IN COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 1801. ·Camb. and Hunt.-Richard Eaton, of Cumberland.-Poftponed. Derbyshire. Richard Arkwright, of Cromford, Efq. Devonshire.-Peter Bluet, of Holcombe Regis, Efq. Dorfetfire.-Thomas Rofe Drew, of Wootton Fitzpaine, Efq. Effex.-John Archer Houblon, of Hallingbury place, Efq. Gloucestershire-Thomas Smith, of Stapleton, Efq. Herefordshire. Jolin Skip, of Ledbury, Efq. Hertfordshire.-Thomas Fitzherbert, of Shenley, Efq. Kent.-Edward Auften, of Godmerfham, Efq. Leicestershire.-Thomas March Phillips, Northamptonfire. Jofeph Sibley, of Shrophire. Richard Lyfter, of Rowton, Eiq. A Somerfetflire.-John Band, of Wookey, Efq. Staffordshire.-Thomas Bainbridge, of Woodfeat, Efq. County of Southampton.--William Garrett, of Leighhoufe, Havant, Efq. Suffolk. Charles Streynfham Collifon, of Sproughton, Efq. Surrey.-Bryan Barrett, of Stockwell, Sufex-William Borrer, of Hurft Per- Worcestershire. - John Zachary, of Areley, Efq. Yorkshire. Richard Thompson, of Wetherby Grange, Efq. SOUTH WALES. Brecon. Matthew Gwyn, of Abercrave, Elq. Caermarthen. Thomas Stepney, of Cardigan John Palmer Chichester, Pembroke.-Morgan Jones, of Kilwendog, Efq. Radnor.-Thomas Hodges Fowler, of Abbey Cromhire, Efq. NORTH WALES. Anglefea-John Price, of Wern, Efq. Caernarvon.-William Harvey, of Bodvel, Efq. Denbigh.-Edward Lloyd Lloyd, of Penylan, Efq. Flint.-David Pennant, of Downring, Etq. Merioneth.-Jonathan Paffingham, of Hendwr, fq. Montgomery-Jofeph Lyon, of Vagnor Park, Efq. THEATRICAL JOURNAL. JANUARY 29. NEW Mulical Farce, called, "THE VETERAN TAR," was prefented for the first time at Drury Lane Theatre, the Characters being as follow, and thus reprefented: ran Tar, is the Captain of an English cutter, which was wrecked in a ftorm, but fortunately fo near the fhore, that the Captain and all his crew efcape from the perils of the main. Philip Sturdy, fon of the old Captain, after having with difficulty climbed a rock, arrives at the cottage of a farmer; but, not being able to make any body hear at the door, he gets in at the window. The farmer (a huge feeder) is at this time very impatient for his fupper, but, being alfo drowfy, falls afleep before it is ready. Philip Sturdy, without ceremony, helps himfelf to all the table affords, and Cicely, the Farmer's daughter in-law, having brought the fupper, and found the Farmer afleep, fhares the repaft with the hungry Tar, and both join in perfuading the Farmer, when he wakes, that he had devoured the food himfelf. The Farmer, having been under the care of a Quack Doctor, who had recently phyficked him into a delirium, with fome helitation believes their ftory, though the craving of his appetite is strongly in oppofition to it. Old Sturdy, ignorant that his fon had efcaped the fury of the ftorm, is in great anxiety, and the fon is equally uneafy refpecting the fate of his father. Philip afcends a rock, in the hope that he may be able to defery his father; and in this fituation warbles a train fuggefted by the recent ftorm, and the contrafted ferenity of the ocean. The old man wanders near the fpot, and, ftruck by the voice of his fon, imagines that he is deceived by fupernatural founds. At length they meet, and a very affecting interview takes place. It appears that Philip had fallen in love with Cicely, the Farmer's ftep daugh. ter; but Old Sturdy will not confent to let his fon marry till he has difcharged his duty to his country. Soon after a French privateer is feen near the coaft. Philip fummons his crew, they an a veffel, attack the privateer, bring the French flag upon the ftage, trample upon it, and aife the English ftandard in triumph. The father naturally rejoices in the valour and victory of the fon; and the Piece concludes with the intended marriage of Philip and Cicely, with the confent of all parties. There is nothing very new either in the fable or the characters, nor brilliant in the dialogue; the tendency of the Jatter, however, is, to animate the nafional spirit of Eaglifhmen at an im portant crifis: indeed, Tom Sturdy is a fort of naval Rolla, and harangues his brother failors with as much enthufiafi as the Peruvian hero does the foldiers of Ataliba when about to fight with the legions of Pizarro. The mufic is extremely pleafing; most of the airs were encored; and the piece went off with great approbation. The Compofer of the mufic is Dr. Arnold; the drama is the work of his fon. 14. At the above Theatre, Shakfpeare's King John was revived, with fplendid decorations; and, the principal characters being fupported by the beft abilities of Meffrs. Kemble, Barrymore, Wroughton, Powell, and Mrs. Siddons, it has fince attracted several crowded houses. FFB. II. A new Comedy, called "THE POOR GENTLEMAN," was produced at Covent Garden Theatre: the characters as follow, viz. Sir Robert Bramble Mr. MUNDEN. ton (the Poor Mr. MURRAY. FarmerHarrowwheel Mr.TOWNSHEND. Frederick Bramble Mr. LEWIS. Dame Harrowwheel Mrs. POWELL. Lieutenant Worthington, after having his wife killed in his arms as he lay in his tent, lofing himtelf an arm in the famous defence of Gibraltar, and living for a number of years with his only child Emily in the wilds of Canada, comes at lalt to refide in England, at a farmer's houfe near Tunbridge. His daughter Emily, his late wife's aunt, Mifs Lucretia M'Tab, and a faithful old Corporal, his fervant, are his com panions in this retreat. Scarcely have they fettled in the farmer's house, when Sir Charles Cropland comes to purfute, with the aid of Olla-Pod the village apothecary, infidious designs againft Emily's virtue. Sir Robert Bramble, and his nephew Frederick, newly arrived from Ruflia, are about the fame time introduced as friends and protectors to the Lieutenant and his daughter. His nisfortunes, A misfortunes, however, thicken. friend, for whom he was engaged to the amount of 5ool. dies; and the Lieutenant, unable to difcharge the debt, is in danger of fudden imprifonment. Sir Charles, after ftriving in vain to feduce Emily, prepares to carry her off by force; but Frederick Bramble refcues her from Sir Charles's attempt. Sir Robert Bramble and his nephew makes eager offers of their friendship. The alarming debt is fecretly difcharged by Sir Robert. Frederick and Emily discover a mutual attachment, and Sir Robert consents to make them happy. Sir Charles owns his error, and is forgiven. The Lieutenant fees his daughter provided for, and his debt freely difcharged. Mifs M'Tab, after fome quarrels and ill-humours, ftill retains the Lieutenant's kindness; and the inferior persons are gratified in feeing the felicity of the patrons to whom they are attached. This Piece is the production of Mr. Colman; and, indeed, the general ftyle of the characters, the turn of the fentiments, and the nature of the incidents, bear a strong resemblance to what we have seen in some of his former pieces. The characters are drawn with confiderable fpirit, particularly thofe of Sir Robert Bramble and his fon, the Lieu. tenant, and Dr. Olla-Pod, the latter of whom is a highly comic being; for, uniting the characters of an apothecary, a sportsman, and a Cornet of Volunteer Cavalry, his manners and language are a whimfical compound of the medical and military nomenclature. We fcarcely need add, that this part is admirably hit off by Fawcett. Mr. Lewis's character is a kind of fecond Belcour, always prone to the adoption of extravagant and diffipated manners, but continually checked by nice fentiments of honour and feelings of humanity. It is, we think, one of this excellent Comedian's happiest performances. The rest of the characters were well fupported, and the Piece went off with unqualified applause. This Comedy, like Mr. Colman's Heir at Law, concludes with an Epilogue by the different dramatis per fonæ. 12. The good taste of the Acting Manager revived Shakfpeare's Tragedy of Cymbeline with much new scenery, superb dretes, and other decorations. |