the preterite used for the participle, matter, it now remains to speak of is very inelegant, if not altogether the versification. In this part of incorrect. Between the 75th and the performance, the gentleman has 84th lines, is a most singular ac-been peculiarly unfortunate; there count of the origin of Fashion, with are so many rough angles in his some wonderful things she did, and tortured prosody, that the best genalso something the earl of Salisbury eral comment, I can possibly make, did! is comprised in the 225th line of the poem itself, Are they to learn, the author should unite Wisdom with wit, & profit with delight? Who thank the show'r denied the thirsty plain, Were all its blessings scatter'd on the main? If the cold soil no genial heat expand; The sunbeam wasted on the desert land! 1.153. In the four last of these lines, not content, like the poet of last year, with sporting on the verge of nonsense, the author plunges in at once, and rivals the renowned Colley Cibber of diving memory. Voracious harpies, they the food defile. l. 193. heart"-Sir, did you?-1.203 This is a specimen of familiar satire-Begging pardon for the allusion, these lines are like stale pancakes, they are sour, and they are fiat. Satire is not often wielded with a dexterous hand; the princi-thorns. pal requisites of good satire are wit and judgment, and these are seldom properly assimilated by those who possess them. Having noticed some errors of The most regular and connected lines are in the beginning and end-Between the 159th and the 184th lines, there are some decent verses, and good sentiments-The best conceit in the poem is, There are some others, but "numero pauci labuntur.” the morals, manners and feelings is perhaps more decided than any other object of such universal attention. That, the drama's laws the drama's patrons give, and that the stage but echoes back the public voice, are frequent and on the whole not untrue remarks. Yet it also may be asserted that auditors in their turn, are essentially influenced by the performances. The sentiments of the world are constantly progressing from change to change, and the Stage among other causes, has a very powerful operation in producing the effect. Taking this performance"abovo," it appears like an unfinished hall, In particular the influence of hung here and there with a piece Theatrical performances on proof tapestry, which though it may nunciation and delivery, is strikattract for a moment, is soon for-ingly great. People in general gotten in the surrounding rudeness have no determinate idea of proof the place. priety in the utterance of language, In conclusion-This poem holds and are ready to receive any imno mean rank, among productions, pression as a standard, which an delivered before the Phi Beta Kap-eminent actor may be disposed to pa Society. Although it is not the stamp. Hence arises the necessity most splendid performance, which of keeping a check on Stage pronunhas come from this holy brother-ciation; and hence too results the hood, yet it is not the least so.-Mr.great effect which injudicious actWhitwell's good sense will showing may have on the public taste. him, that I do not intend to hurt his It should therefore be a primary feelings, by any high strains of flat-principle with the Manager to suftery, when I express my opinion fer nothing but pure English to be that he may say in the words of Columella, "Nec sum primus ho rum nec ultimus." FOR THE EMERALD. THE ORDEAL.....No. 1. INTRODUCTORY. uttered from the Boston Stage; and in laying his emphasis, the actor should be careful of conveying the most complete sense, of which the sentence pronounced may be susceptible. An attention paid to these objects by Garrick, extorted a compliment from Edmund Burke, in Parliament, which will not soon be forgotten. He said, that himself and every member of the house, that consummate master of elowere under infinite obligations to Bid scenic virtue form the rising age, And truth diffuse her radiance from the stage EVERY exhibition for public a-quence, for the lessons they had remusement, is a subject of public investigation. The Theatre in a peculiar manner is subjected to general observation; as its influence on ceived from him in their own art; and he moved that Mr. Garrick alone, of the whole kingdom, should be made an exception to the rule which closed the galleries on a de- | criminations of passion, instead of bate, then about to be taken up. being led away by the pomp of But this is not all; the perform-shew, and declamatory vehemence. ers should be reminded that by their In comedy, it should be the manager's endeavor, not to suffer any obscenity or indecency to be uttered; or any appearance of buffoonery to be observed. These catches of vulgar admiration "betray a very pitiful ambition in the fool that uses them." The dress in comedy should be nicely observed; let every performer be in character, as respects the fashion at the period represented, as well as the individual appearance. Any anachronisms in this particular, betray palpable ignorance, and are at the same time disgusting to the mind of a man of sense. A nation's taste depends on you, Perhaps a nation's virtue too. While the Manager therefore, is attentive to his own interest, he must also consult the effects, which his Such salutary purposes as the representations may be calculated foregoing, it will be our endeavours to produce. Do not let him merely to effect. We do not mean wanthink of his purse, and be content-tonly to cut away the flesh, but ed to vend that commodity which where the wound can only be cured will sell best; but says Lord Shaftsby the lancet our hand will be found bury, he may know by certain tokens that his audience is disposed general intend, in our numbers, to We in steady and unflinching. to receive noble subjects, and to taste a better manner than that give a concise character of the play which, through indulgence to him- represented, to introduce any exemself, more than to the world he may then to offer either a general or parplifying anecdote respecting it; and be pleased to make his choice." ticular account of the performance. In tragedy he should often exhi- The report of acting on this week bit the best historical pieces, by will not be made, excepting in genewhich the scope of common know-ral terms; as well because, we are ledge is enlarged, and the usurpa- willing to make allowances for the tion of forgetfulness is resisted. Perhaps the most accurate information, upon particular subjects of ancient history, is that which is obtained after seeing some of our best tragedies performed. As a subject of polite literature, plays should be consulted for the purity of their style; their acumen of thought, and elegance of expression. All rant, fustian and bombast should be care-gible dullness of the objects of it, fully avoided; and in time the pub- and uninteresting, from the constant lic taste may be recalled to true dis- repitition of its censures. few first performances, as because we presume the company is not yet to be considered as formed. Besides, we wish to view the new performers in many characters before we can estimate their importance. We confidently expect soon to see a number of recruits in the company, or else the task of criticism would prove unavailing, from the incorri SPEED THE PLOUGH (Morton.) Monday, Oct. 13. The intention of this play was laudable. To free the English stage from the vile immorality, incoherence and ill-designed feeling which pervaded it; from its German importations, of character without consistency, and sentiment without virtue: Mr. Morton wished ....To bid the reign commence, Of rescued nature and reviving sense. He has happily succeeded in his undertaking. He reconciled the favors of the German stage, by abruptness and mystery, but not by immorality and licentiousness; and he revived a taste for the genuine English comedy, by the charms of native integrity and honesty, and the useful mirth which pervade the whole piece. This evening, a Mr. and Mrs. Poe, Mr. Turnbull and Mrs. Dykes appeared, as new performers. Our opinion of their respective merits, cannot yet consistently be announced. But in respect to some other parts of the performance, we do not conceive it necessary to withhold our remarks. When Ashfield and wife, anxious for their daughter's welfare, determine on opening her trunk to discover the contents of a letter they saw her throw into it, Mr. Powell as Ashfield was palpably incorrect in his part; and for that reason lost an opportunity of conveying much excellent moralityAfter attempting to open the trunk, Mr. Powell says, "I am sure she is innocent," and leaves it unopened. Now there is no such expression in the play; but there is a deal of matter which was entirely omitted by Mr. P. must that father and mother be, Thus Messrs. Usher and Dickenson conducted respectably. But the play on the whole lagged with considerable heaviness; which it is perhaps but candid to attribute to a first night's representation. For the Emerald. DESULTORY SELECTIONS, AND ORIGINAL REMARKS. 6 SOMETHING NEW IN DOMESTIC ECO NOMY. We have not taken animals enough into alliance with us. In one of the most interesting families which it was ever my good fortune to visit, I saw a child suckled by a goat. The Gull should be taught to catch fish for us in the sea, the Otter in fresh water. The more spiders there are in the stable, the less would the horses suffer from the flies. The great American fire-fly should be imported into Spain to catch musquitos. Snakes would make good mousers; but one favourite mouse should be kept to rid the house of cock roaches. The In the play, the box is opened; toad is an excellent fly catcher, and and the letter taken from it. Then, in hot countries a reward should be conscious guilt renders them (Ash- offered to the man who could disfeld and his wife) cowardly, "What cover what insect fed upon fleas ; ra tan libre, a quien falta su Alguacil. for, say the Spaniards, no ay criatu- | Would you load it with parisatical luxury? Oh no: every ornament would conceal a grace, would rob it of a charm. A simple and light CROSS PURPOSES A DIALOGUE. I HAVE to inform you, that I was robe, complaisantly accommodating married since I saw you. So much the better. itself to her ravishing form, hair turned up with taste, or flowing Not so much the better; for my gracefully; a single rose-and you wife proved an arrant shrew. So much the worse. will behold one of those elegant and airy nymphs with which Albani has Not so much the worse; for she embellished his lovely compositions. brought me a fortune. So much the better. Not so much the better; for with the money I bought a great number of sheep, which died of the rot. So much the worse. Not so much the worse; for I sold the wool, and with the produce I built a house. So much the better. Not so much the better; for my house was burned. So much the worse. Three things a wise man dare not seen The Bees go forth upon an April morn But when was woman true... Of woman kind, (she cried :) Virtues Not so much the worse; for my Like violets in shade and solitude: wife was in it. LOVE. LOVE does not awake in the heart of a virtuous woman those violent feelings the offspring of a delirious imagination. It does not at once occupy her soul; it steals into it. It is not like a devouring fire; but as the genial warmth of spring, it animates and fertilizes. It is so timid and unassuming, that it appears abashed; it is so generous that it resembles friendship.-De chesse de la Valhere. WOMAN. HER elegant and delicate figure carms the eye while it awakens desire, and the bosom of this new Hebe, agitated with a sentiment which she cannot define, fills the soul with involuntary pertuation. Tell me what art is capable of embellishing this celestial perfection? Would you cover it with diamonds? While evil eyes hunt all our failings out Southey's Madoc. In the following neat little Epigram there is equally the sentiment of affection and the spirit of poetry. LINES Addressed by a Gentleman to his Wife on HAPPINESS. Do you wish for happiness? En |