means which he sometimes took to give a stronger resemblance of the persons, whom he brought on the scene.

In this,, the lecturer observed, that Foote was not singular; for Moliere had recourse to, similar practices.

THE remaining part of the lecture contained some observations on masques and pastoral dramas, and concluded with a high commendation, of Fletcher's Faithful Shepherdess.'

THE fourteenth lecture treated of those theatrical compositions which have been translated into English. Mr. CROWE spoke of the different styles of translation, and shewed which were adapted to the closet, and which to the stage. He then characterized the English translations, of Eschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Plautus, and Terence; and noted some of the English dramatists who have borrowed from them. He proceeded to the moderns ; the Italian, Spanish, French, and German theatres; and mentioned what our authors had brought from thence, The

lecture concluded with observations upon the difficulty of bringing foreign comedies upon the stage with success, and pointed out the causes of failure, in some of the attempts which have been made.

Published by LONGMAN, HURST, REES, and ORME, Paternoster Row; J. HATCHARD, Bookseller to Her Majesty, 190, Piccadilly; and WILLIAM MILLER, Albemarle Street.

William Savage, Printer, Bedford Bury.

THE DIRECTOR.

No. 16. SATURDAY, MAY 9, 1807.

'Tis pleasant, through the loop-holes of retreat,

To

peep at such a world.

COWPER'S Task, b. iv.

ABOUT three weeks ago, I was walking with my old friend SIR VICARY VELLUM, in the evening, from Cornhill towards Mr. King's, the auctioneer, near Covent Garden, to be present at a sale of prints, with the hope of procuring some uniques. While I was expatiating with my friend upon the beauties of the ancient engravers, Goltzius, Aldegrave, Passe, Cross, Marshall, Loggan, Stock, Vaughan, &c. he bade me, in a very sudden but serious manner, take notice

of the scene before me.

Observe,' said he, the splendour of these shops; see with what elegant variety of articles each window is stored; look at yonder glass cutter's, and at this jeweller's; examine the perfection of workmanship in this steel ware: and, again, reflect how the wilds of Russia and of India have been explored for these hides of the bear and the leopard. Such are the blessings of industry, and of a well-directed commercial spirit.'

I CONFESS, though I had never before made similar reflections, I was struck with the justice of my friend's remark, and with the dazzling splendour of the scene before me.' It was approaching fast towards eight o'clock; the light of day had wholly retired; the street and patent shop-lamps began to burn; while the rattling of coaches, the glare of flambeaux, and the incessant motion of the people, hastening to their last rendezvous, produced on my mind a very extra-● ordinary effect. My friend resumed, stopping me in the midst of the crowd, 'You

have here a very singular and impressive scene: those gay folks decorated with feathers, or armed with cocked hats, are hastening to the fourth act of the play, because they cannot leave their dinners time enough to be present at the first. At the hour when Edward III. was preparing for his supper, do his descendants think about their dinners. But,' continued he, 'on many accounts the streets of London are interesting in the evening. I have been at Paris, at Petersburgh, at Vienna, and at Berlin; and Europe has nothing like Cheapside or Fleet Street, to boast of. Cleanliness, civility, splendour, and excellence of manufactory, are all to be enjoyed here. You may be gratified with a diamond large enough for the turban of an Indian prince; you may command muslin of the finest texture; you may procure glass, cutlery, cloth, books, shoes, and hats, of all kinds, and of the finest quality—if you have only money in your purse.' Moreover, to the eye of humanity, an evening in London may afford a still