his professional career? A thou-f more time to those he has made sand excuses are made for the veteran, and whatever be the effect of his system, as failure is never attributed to his ignorance-but a young man has to contend with doubts and prejudices and has seldom credit for any thing but success. who is desirous of securing property by professional skill, and knows that as he cannot rely on the support of a splendid reputation, he must succeed by superior care, diligence and fidelity. judice as injurious as unfounded prevents his employment, and checks the influence of those talents which might ripen in time for the benefit of society. We do not advance these remarks In professional pursuits it is a with any disrespect to age or a wish received opinion, that experience to supplant its honors in favor of is the employer's best security, younger pretenders. He, who is and that experience is in propor-advanced in life, has most commontion to age. It is evident that if ly secured to himself connections youth is always an objection to em- and formed interests in society ployment this belief is erroneous, as which place him above the necessity a man may pass away a great part of recommendation. It is the young of his life with no experience at all. man, who at the moment when the But this in some cases is the truth,greatest facility should be made to and complete justice is only to be his pursuits, has the most dificult expected from those, who have by obstacles to contend with-A prea greater variety of practice been more conversant with similar cases, 'but common transactions and every day practice are within the compass of those talents, which generally fall to the young adventurer, and re- The young man is the future hope "quire attention rather than genius, of his country. The time will arand care more than experience in rive when he in turn will be old, the person employed. These qual-when he shall lead the armies or diities are most to be expected from rect the councils of the state-They a young man. The physician or then, who open to the young advenlawyer of eminence is engaged in a turer pleasing prospects, who asvariety of great and important cases sists him up the hill and enables which take his mind from the smal-him to meet with successful oppoler concerns of the profession; is sition the enemies of his progress, the young man, who is emulous may be classed among the wise menof their fame, knows he must rise as of their country. E. they did by slow advances from small beginnings and is sure not to neglect the little matters that arise. Let experience determine where most attention is found, where the FOR THE EMERALD. THE ORDEAL.....No. 21. greatest care, the most intimate en- | King John (Shakespeare) and Highland trance into the feelings or interest. Reel. Friday, March 13. Is it expected from those, whose King John is an extremely irregula concerns are multiplied, whose avo-production. In the story, it is wanting cations are almost innumerable, in interest, not having any principal obwhose fortune is establised and whose ject of attention to enchain the mind, character is secure; or from him, dents and motives, without engaging it and distracting it by unexpected inci who just beginning life, has formed by a due gradation of previous explana fewer connections and can devote tion. Shakespeare's historical plays are said to be neither tragedies nor comedies, and therefore are not subject to any of their laws But though we need not search in his productions for what cannot be found, a preservation of the unity of action; yet to render a play interesting, the incidents, however various, should be made subservient to the principal story, which should be seen to progress; but they should not be distinct actions which might as well belong to another production. tered thoughts and speaking looks, Did, with his iron tongue and brazen Sound one unto the drowsy race of night. These lines were finely expressed.— The remove of John, not because he had killed Arthur, but because his nobles had deserted him; and afterwards his satisfaction in finding Hubert's-story false, afforded further proofs of excellence. Mr. Caulfield in the part of Faulconbridge was highly respectable. This gentleman in abrupt sentences is most generally perfect, but in set speeches he is apt to fall into toning his words.Hence while we were gratified with the bluster of his expressions to Austria; half the beauty escaped of those lines spoken to John, beginning There are, nevertheless, in the play before us, some original characters of an important grade in the scale of merit. The gloomy, weak, undecided, cruel and inconsistent prince, in John; the humorous, animated, faithful and courageous chief in Faulconbridge, and the ambitious, passionate, grieved and insulted mother in Lady Constance, are impressions of character which the geuius of Shakespeare alone could mould. There are scenes and descriptions in this play, which cannot be surpassed; though it may be doubted whether the author paid that attention to it which he had done to many of his previous pieces. The materials might compose a most admirable tragedy; an emenda- Hubert in Mr. Usher had a repredation has been attempted, but with-sentative which did not discredit the out success. Yet there is perhaps no part; but, if any thing could have other play, in which a good poet might heightened our contempt for the charexert his abilities to more advantage, acter of John, nothing could be so than in an alteration of King John. effectual as to see him influenced by such a Pope's legate, as poor Mr. Turn bull made. But wherefore do you droop? Why look you sad? Be great in act as you have been in thought, &c. So much of this play is taken up in the pageantry of regal magnificence, that a perfect representation of it could The scenes of Lady Constance are not reasonably be expected, in a Thea-wonderful; and an actress of abilities tre, where there seldom is seen a show can render them astonishing in their which is not productive of some strange effects. Mrs. Cibber formerly, and absurdity or laughable blunder. The Mrs. Siddons in later years, considered characters in general were respectably that part as important as any one they filled; but often where excellence was could perform. We were therefore hoped, mediocrity only was realized. not a little surprised that Mrs. Powell's talents in this part, being considered within their peculiar sphere, should have produced such singular sensations in the audience. When Lady Constance throws herself upon the ground in pronouncing Mr. Fennel as King John did not take advantage of all the opportunities for the display of his talents. In the scene before Angiers, his declamation was indistinct; and he wanted spirit and fire, in the utterance of the remarkable lines to Pandulph, expressive of his determined resolution not to be governed by the domination of the Pope. Here I and sorrow sit : Here is my throne, let kings come bow to it! she ought previously to have exeited His abilities shone conspicuously in the tenderest sympathy in her hearers the several interviews with Hubert and for her griefs and disappointment.— the death scene. When he solicits This some actresses have effected ;Hubert to murder Arthur, by abrupt but when Mrs. Powell sunk suddenly transitions, sudden allusions, half ut-upon the stage, the event was so un expected (from any previous notice) that instead of observing the tears of grief in the audience, we saw only the stare of astonishment or the smile of unfeeling vulgarity! We cannot dismiss this play without acknowledging the merit of Mrs. Dykes in Arthur. In the scene with Hubert she sensibly affected us; in truth she deserves much commendation. On the whole, King John wanted in terest. The two first acts jogged heavily, and the last consisted of an interchange of striking and spiritless representation. el, and in his bye-play, he shewed a still further judicious attention to the part. Mr. Caulfield in Edgar acquitted himself respectably: but not so well as on the first night of performance. His recollection was not so perfect as before. In the scenes of madness however, he certainly performs with great effect; but in the lover he is compara tively inferior. As a champion in the last act he was greeted with deserved approbation; and we know of no character more calculated to influence an audience in favor of an actor than that of Edgar. We hope Mr. C. will feel the effect of it, at his benefit. Mrs. Poe, as Cordelia, has once received our have an opportunity to engage Mr. Fen- King Lear (Shakespeare) and Sixty- Mr. Usher deserved our estimation third Letter. Monday, March 14. in the character of Kent, as much as before. Mr. Fox is exactly where he was, It has been strongly objected to the in the part of Edmund, without evincplay of King Lear, as generally repre-ing progressive improvement, or resented on the stage, that the catastro-markable skill of personation. phe is rendered happy: that Lear and Cordelia triumph, and Regan and Goneril are punished. It is considered, that the death of Lear and Cordelia were necessarily produced in the original, and besides, that the interest arising from this circumstance, is not only more affecting, but more agreeable to human nature. This doctrine however, seems contrary to the opinion of the best critics, who have decided, that if other excellencies are equal the audience will always be dismissed better pleased from the final triumph of persecuted virtue. Dennis says, though the wick. ed sometimes prosper and the guilty suffer, and the poet by representing life in this aspect, may represent it truly, yet the poetical persons in tragedy ex ist no longer than the reading or the This comedy cannot reasonably exrepresentation the whole extent of tort approbation from the unwilling, their entity is circumscribed by those; from prescriptive reputation. For at its and therefore, during that reading or first appearance it was violently assailrepresentation, according to their mer-ed, and though it sustained the attack its or demerits they must be punished or rewarded. If this is not done, there is no impartial distribution of poetical justice, no instructive lecture of a particular providence and no imitation of the divine dispensation. The test of public opinion has been in favour of the alteration, and the lovers have been generally dismissed with decided approbation. The personation of Lear by Mr. Fen nel was improved in some particulars since the last representation; his voice was more audible and distinct. emphasis was in some respect improv His The Natural Son (Cumberland) and the and preserved a respectable ground, it still has been subject to the objections of critical sagacity and perhaps to the. disguised insinuations of envious rivalship. The part of Lady Paragon was written expressly for Miss Farren, and the author seems to think is worthy of her abilities. The Fable is partly borrowed from Tom Jones by Fielding, particularly as respects the relation ship of the mother of Blushenly to his benefactor and patron Sir Jeffery Latimer. Major O'Flaherty in this play, as in' the West-Indian, has honour, courage, gallantry; his bulls are mistakes of tion, and partakes not of the virethe tongue and not of the thought;lence that mostly characterizes his for says Mr. Cumberland himself "the writings. He was born in the year 1588, and died in 1667. (From his Epithalamiz, 1620) Soldier! of thee I ask, for thou cans'?: art of finding language for the Irish character on the stage consists not in making him foolish, vulgar or absurd, but on the contrary, whilst you furnish him with expressions, that excite laughter, you must graft them upon sentiments, that deserve spplause. This part was performed by Mr. Ber-What greater bliss than, after all thy nard with much effect. His deport best, Having known sorrow, judge of jąș and rest: harms, ment was starched and stiff as an officer To take a wife that's fair, and lawful should be, and no shaft fell short for want of skill in the archer. Mr. Dykes played Sir Jeffery with spirit. But Mr. Poe in Blushenly was a bad lover and a worse gentleman, Jack Hastings, by Mr. Downie, was spiritless, excepting in his nose, which like Bardolph's resembled a live coal. We have seen Mr. Dickenson to more advantage than in Dumps; but he performed chastely-and Mr. Powell as Rueful was greeted at his second appearance with decided marks of approbation. The character of Lady Paragon was well performed by Mrs. Stanley; her deportment was elegant, but her tones wanted modulation. Mrs Shaw also was highly pleasing as Mrs. Phabe Latimer. For the Emerald. DESULTORY SELECTIONS. AND ORIGINAL REMARKS. = GEORGE WITHER. thine; There tell what thou hast 'scap'd, Lƒ How many round thee thou hast slaugh- How oft thyself hath been near hand How many times thy flesh hath wound. Whilst she, thy fortune and thy worth Doth weep and kiss-and kiss and weep LOVE MAKES A MAN HUNGRY. I have been much amused with the observation of FIELDING, in his "Tom Jones," that love makes a man hungry" In strong and healthy constitutions (he says) love hath a very different effect from what it causes in the puny part of the species. In the latter it genOf the numerous productions of erally destroys all that appetite his poet, few have been entirely which tends towards the convers preserved. He was a leading sa- tion of the individual; but in the tyrist of his age; and his Epitha- former, though it often induce forlamia, though written in honour of getfulness and neglect of food, as Elizabeth, daughter of James I. on well as of every thing else, yet place her marriage with Frederick Count a good piece of well-powdered but Palatine, early in 1652, shews him tock before a hungry lover, and he to have been at that time no favor- seldom fails very handsomely to ite with the court. Wither raised play his part." This, indeed, ap himself many enemies, and passed pears to me to be the true manly great part of his life in a prison.-effect of love. What then can we The following piece, which is little say of those mewling poetasters, known, may contribute to the a-who are always fainting and dying, musement of the general reader, who never eat a hearty meal, nor as it is of a miscellaneous descrip- form a healthy wish-Certainly, THE EMERALD. these too plainly declare themselves! nument, to shew that heaps of moto be of "the puny part of the spe-ney have been piled there before." cies." THE DIFFERENCE OF CHARACTER. Godwin's "Walking Philosopher" is an improvement and apparently a copy from this original; it is the Delettanti dismounted. The descriptions and remarks of FIELDING have been considered as the very expressions of nature.— THE CLERGYMAN AND THE PLAYER. He has given a correct sketch of When doctor Stonehouse entertwo opposite characters in the fol-ed into holy orders, we are informlowing picture . note. - ed, that he took occasion to profit. "The same taste, the same im- by his acquaintance with GARRICK, agination, which luxuriously riots in order to procure from him some in these elegant scenes, can be a- valuable instructions in elocution.. mused with objects of far inferior Being once engaged to read prayers, The woods, the rivers, the and to preach at a church in the lands of Devon and of Dorset, at-city, he prevailed upon Garrick to After the service, tract the eye of the ingenious trav- go with him. eller, and retard his pace, which the British Roscius asked the docdelay he afterwards compensates by tor, what particular business he had swiftly scouring over the gloomy to do when the duty was over ?— heath of Bagshot, or that pleasant« None," said the other. "I tho't plain which extends itself westward you had (said Garrick) on seeing from Stockbridge, where no other you enter the reading-desk in such object than one single tree only in a hurry." "Nothing (added he) sixteen miles presents itself to the can be more indecent, than to see a view, unless the clouds in compas- clergyman set about sacred businesssion to our tired spirits, kindly open as if he were a tradesman, and go their variegated mansions to our into the church as if he wanted to prospect. get out of it as soon as possible." prayer-book," replied the player, why you tossed them backwards and forwards, and turned the leaves as carelessly as if they were those of a day-book and ledger." "Not so travels the money-me- He next asked the doctor, "What ditating tradesman, the sagacious books he had in the desk before justice, the dignified doctor, the him?"-" Only the bible and praywarm-clad grazier, with all the nu-er-book."- "Only the bible and merous offspring of wealth and dulness. On they jog, with equal pace, through the verdant meadows, or over the barren heath, their horses measuring four miles and an half per hour with the utmost exactness; the eyes of the beast and his master being alike directed forwards, and employed in contem-Steakes, began in the following manner:-" Mr. Steakes, be so good as plating the same objects in the same "If I do (remanuer. With equal rapture, the to wag your chops."good rider surveys the proudest plied the witness) I hope to show boasts of the architect, and those more of the wag than you do.". fair buildings, with which some un- The retort was felt, and the learned known name hath adorned the rich gentleman became, as the witness cloathing-town; where heaps of humorously observed, quite chop bricks are piled up as a kind of mo-fallen. A Barrister at the Surry sessions, examining a witness of the name of |