tainment, he established a reputation with the good, and augmented his sway among the depraved.

This play was performed at Drury-Lane in 1721. The merit of the graver scenes, from which the most powerful effect was produced at the time it first appeared, has since been much obscured by imitations which have surpassed the original; but to Steele are due the honours of originality, and of teaching an audience to think and to feel, as well as to laugh and applaud, at the representation of a comedy.

The scenes, wherein Bevil and Indiana are concerned either together or separately, have ever been considered as elegantly written, highly refined, and deeply interesting. There is, notwithstanding, a degree of languor which pervades some of those scenes in the representation; nor has the remaining part of the comedy force sufficient to buoy up those characters, which, upon the stage, sink into insipidity, through the lifeless weight of mere refinement.

But though neither the extravagant raptures of love, nor the brilliancy of wit, are here to be found; sprightly dialogue, nervous sentiment, with affecting incident, are excellent substitutes: and if, in the character of Cimberton, the author has at times degraded his muse, to comply with the degraded taste of the auditors of that period; the readers of this will pardon such a fault in one, who seldom offended against good manners: and they will surely set a peculiar value on the whole drama, as the work of Sir Richard Steele.

This celebrated author added to his other profes

sions, that of a politician; and his pen was of infinite use to the party whose opinions he adopted. He was indefatigable in producing pamphlets, essays, and other political writings, in support of his friends, and to the annoyance of their adversaries.

As Steele took all the liberty with the press which the press would give, and sometimes a little moreso, as he ranged himself with the strong or with the weak, on the ministerial or on the opposition side of the question, was he alternately punished or rewarded.

About the middle of Queen Anne's reign, this author was both a placeman and pensioner-towards the end of it, he found the resignation of all such profit necessary; and having procured a seat in parliament, was expelled from that house for writing seditious libels.

On the accession of George the First, he was taken into favour, on account of his former disloyalty; was appointed surveyor to the royal stables at Hampton Court; was put into the commission of the peace for the county of Middlesex; obtained a patent from his majesty, which made him manager and governor of the royal company of comedians, during his life, and received the honour of knighthood.

Sir Richard was now once again chosen a representative in parliament, and obtained a more lucrative appointment than ever, as one of the commissioners for inquiring into the estates forfeited by the late rebellion in Scotland. But neither this, the income which arose from his various other sinecure places,

nor a fortune and estate which marriage had brought him, were sufficient to supply that idle luxury in which he lived, and the bounty he bestowed upon the necessitous. He was so inconsiderate, that his very best deeds lost that virtue which they would have derived from premeditation.

Although, from his careless character, the gifts which Steele bestowed upon the poor may be ascribed to his want of thought; still the advice, the admonitions, which he generously gave to the world, can admit of no such conclusion-for he certainly did not write without thinking.

THE

CONSCIOUS LOVERS.

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE I.

SIR JOHN BEVIL'S House:

SIR JOHN BEVIL and HUMPHREY discovered.

Sir J. Bev. Have you ordered, that I should not be interrupted while I am dressing?

Humph. Yes, sir; I believe you had something of moment to say to me.

Sir J. Bev. I'll tell thee, then. In the first place, this wedding of my son's, in all probability, will never be at all.

Humph. How, sir, not be at all! for what reason is it carried on in appearance?

Sir J. Bev. Honest Humphry, have patience, and I'll tell thee all in order. I have myself in some part of my life lived indeed with freedom, but I hope without reproach: now, I thought liberty would be as little injurious to my son; therefore, as soon as he grew towards man, I indulged him in living after his own manner. I knew not how otherwise to judge of