Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

rocity gave way, and, in process of time, they became polished and enervated. It was their pride to boast of the warlike exploits of their hardy progenitors, and of the honour they had acquired by combating with, and conquering, worlds of much larger extent than their own. The Bulians particularly excelled in encountering their enemies in their air balloons, and, even at the time we vifited them, were faid to excel the neighbouring planets in their dextrous management of those curious machines. They had juft then concluded a war in which they fingly oppofed four enormous planets, and were willing to affume to themselves the honours of victory. To us, however, it appeared to have been a fort of drawn battle on all fides.

BULIA, emerged in thofe diftreffes which war always occafions, and in that luxury which a partial refinement always introduces, prefented to our view, a people of a mixed, and almost heterogeneous character: proud, and yet vain; infolent and yet courteous; benevolent, and yet too often inhuman; generally capricious, yet fometimes fteady. Their chief delight was to command other worlds, but, alas, they wanted the virtue to command themselves! They were not deftitute of heroism, but deficient in refolution. They affumed the appearance, and the airs of bravery, but "their courage was raised by an affront, and died in a duel!"

SUCH were the men of Bulia, when we vifited them. The character of their women was equally mixed, and, if poffible, more undefinable. -But of them I fshall have enough to say when I give you the character of Selaw, the king's eldeft fon. My balloon friend, has juft now brought me a literary work, which he calls, The fecond tumble of Reynardam; tranflated from the Bulian; a production read with infinite pleasure by the Bulians, who ever delighted in mountebanks and tumblers!

[ocr errors]

MORNING PAPERS.

NEWS-PAPERS were perhaps never in more general estimation, than at present, but the chief object of them is nearly loft. Intelligence, domestic and foreign, is what, properly, conftitutes a news-paper; whereas dirty abuse, illiberal reflections, and party malevolence, now form the chief articles of a news-paper, and he that throws the most dirt, and exhibits the profoundest skill in the fcience of impudence, is fure to fucceed the best! Trading-orators, like trading-juftices, fend elaborate accounts of their own honesty, and, on paying their fees, are chronicled, heraldized, and pofted, as the only men on whom the salvation of the country can depend!

NEVER were the conductors of these literary mushrooms so puzzled to know which side of the queftion to take in their political capacity, as they have been lately. It was curious enough to obferve the violent oppofition, which during Lord North's administration, and immediately afterwards, took place between these important members of the community!-how they pa ragraphed one man, and be-paragraphed another! -how the Poft black-balled Charles Fox, and the General washed him white again!-how the Herald appointed ftable administrations, and the Public overturned them!-how the Ledger reported certain facts, and the Gazetteer contradicted them! -how the Daily kept accumulating money by advertising, and cared neither for one fide, nor the other!-In these dreadful times it required some skill to conduct a morning paper; but the cafe is quite altered now!-Mr. Fox no fooner came into administration, and proposed his India bill, than, as if he had already thrown Indian pearls amongst the fwine, they all grunted in one key, and Vive le Renard! was the word!-Hence the very papers that for years, had been his most violent enemies, inftantly became his greatest friends; and the art of conducting a morning paper, respecting politics, is now reduced to the fimple task of panegyrifing Mr. Fox, and abufing his opponents. But the grand rule with an Editorprovided he is not the Editor of the Public Advertiser-is to be a lawyer in his principles: that is, to take fees on both fides, if it can be done without discovery; if not, to lift under the banners of the best bidder, which is ufually the man whofe cause is the most desperate!-And so much for the art of conducting morning papers in political matters!-I trust friend SPEC, that I am not now trespaffing on your rule against politics, but having promised the Art of conducting morning papers, by way of opening the eyes of my countrymen, against news-paper impofition, I could not, with propriety, permit so essential an article to escape animadverfion. In my next, I fhall, probably,

go into other and, to most people, more interesting matters refpecting this bufinefs, and give a few inftructions to those who wish to fucceed as writers for all, or any, of the morning papers. THEATRE S.

As I have neither time nor inclination to keep a theatrical register, fo I fhall only animadvert on fuch performers and performances, as confiderably merit either cenfure or applause.

Drury-Lane.

ON Thursday Mrs. Siddons played Lady Randolph in Douglas, a part in which Mrs. Crawford is faid to be unrivalled, In this character, these

tw

two aftreffes have merits of a different complexion. Mrs. Siddons, by the delicacy and fufceptibility of her manner, from the firft to the laft, keeps the attention" tremblingly alive:" whilft Mrs. Crawford is excellent only in a few marked paffages in which indeed fhe "harrows up the foul." Of Brereton's Douglas, and Benfley's Norval the less that is faid the better.

THE new comedy of Reparation, on Saturday, written by Mr. Andrews, is, as was intimated in the prologue, of the tragi-comic kind; and might readily be converted into any fpecies of the drama. The character of the ceremonious Sir Gregory Glovetop, is an original in water colours, and was well fupported by Mr. Parfons. Relating how he stood at Court in his younger days, he mentions the back-ftairs, at which fome hotheaded politicians took offence with just as much reafon as if the word devil had been mentioned. This confiderably retarded the performance, and created an univerfal uproar in the house. It ought, however, to be observed, that the hiffes were directed against those whose feelings were hurt by the expreffion, and not against the author or performer. It is remarkable that in this picce there are no less than three characters which it would be well to omit: Capt. Swagger, Miss P. Zodiac and Lady Betty; all ill written, and well fupported.-Julia Harvey, by Mifs Farren, is a character new to the ftage, though too much in the heroics, and was admirably performed. Indeed this is the only interefting character in the piece, and there is not now on the stage any actrefs who could do it that justice it receives from Mifs Farren. The pretty little girl that appeared as the fon of Julia, I am told is a daughter of the celebrated Zoffany, the painter, who is now in the East Indies.-Lord Hectic and Col. Quorum are faid to be well known characters; with. out adverting to any particular perfon, his lordfhip is a ftrong resemblance of diffipated lords in abundance! The Colonel too is a prototype of many a country justice, but Mr. Lewes dreffed his head like one pretty well known in town. -Mr. Dodd did juftice to Lord Hectic. Lovelefs and Belfort, by Brereton and Farren, were in their usual way:

Something to blame, and fomething to commend. They are neceffary, but uninteresting; the fame obfervation may be applied to Harriet Glovetop. WITH refpect to the play in general, it abounds in many good, and fome new sentiments. It is very thinly ftrewed with Attic falt; too much of the wit being in the news-paper ftile, and bordering on the pun.-The first and fecond acts fo much

exhauft patience itself, that the scythe, rather than the pruning knife, is necessary. The ma nagers in getting up the play, have not spared expence, the new scenes are well painted, and the dreffes are elegant, particularly that of Miss. Farren, who, I have observed, always dreffes her characters with propriety: feldom the cafe with a first-rate female performer!-The prologue, spoken by Mr. Lewes, as an old woman, alluding to Moliere's, had fo many temporary allusions, and was fo well pointed, as to receive more applaufe than the play itself-The fame may be faid of the Epilogue, admirably spoken by Mifs Farren.

THE fame evening Thomas and Sally re-introduced to the public, Mifs George, whofe vocal powers rival those of most of our Italian vifitors. and who is confiderably improved in her acting. Mrs. Wrighten, in Dorcas, was admirable. Indeed, whether in old or young characters, the voice of this lady is no fooner heard, than chearfulness and good humour pervade the whole houfe. Barrymore's Squire would be much better, if there were no finging in it. Williames, in Thomas, took great pains, and is fo far commendable.

Covent-Garden.

THE Shipwreck, an alteration of Lillo's Fatal Curiofity, by Mr. McKenzie, author of the Prince of Tunis, Man of Feeling, and other li terary productions, was performed on Tuesday and does credit to his genius. He has introduced a new character with fuccefs: a grandson of old Wilmot. The alteration, however, does not by any means relieve the original, in regard to that continued distress which runs through the whole. Some further addition is neceffary to render this a play of five acts, and from this fpecimen of Mr. McKenzie's abilities, I have no doubt but he could accomplish fuch an undertaking with credit to himself, and fatisfaction to his audience, or readers. By the prefent alteration old Wilmot's crime is placed in a lefs horrid point of view, and the cruelty of Agnes is rendered more probable. The play is well got up, and was decent ly performed. Henderson's Wilmot indeed, in moft parts, difplayed his ufual excellence, which in fact fupported the piece. Mrs. Bates and Mrs. Kemble were well received, and Wroughton was commendable in Young Wilmot.

IN the Carclefs Hufband, on Wednesday, Mrs. Abington difplayed as much of her comic powers as the part of Lady Betty Modifh will admit. But the recurrence to her beauty, which is perpetually made through the whole play, throws a ridicule on her performance which it is by no

means

means entitled to; Mrs. Abington being a very ordinary woman. Unfortunately for the admirers of this play-very little worthy of admirationHenderson was indifpofed, and Wroughton played Sir Charles Eafy, which, it is to be hoped he will not be under the neceffity of performing again fpecdily. Mrs. Mattocks in lady Eafy, gave much fatiffaction, and was well dreffed, which is more than can be faid of Mrs. Abington, who was fo befprinkled with tinfel, as to be a fitter reprefentative of the dreffed dol of a toy shop, thanof a lady of quality. The audience was crouded, and brilliant; for an infipid, meretricious comedy will always bring infipid, and meretricious people together!

THE Comedy of the Capricious Lady, on Friday, and again laft night, was performed before fashionable audiences. This play was revived last year, at the request of Mrs. Abington; and her performance of the capricious lady does great credit to her abilities, and fhews that she knows the nature and strength of her own powers; a fpecies of knowledge in which theatrical performers are generally very deficient.-Mr. Wroughton, in the elder Loveless, appears to more advantage than in any other comic character he has performed lately. Lewis makes as much of the younger Lovelefs, as it will admit; whilft Quick and Wilfon are tolerably laughable.

ST. CECILIA.

I recommend it to the wag who favored me with the absurd and extravagant joke under this title in my last Miscellany, not to make the NEW SPECTATOR the sport of his wit in future. I fay the wag, because I cannot fuppofe it to have proceeded from malice, which is generally discreet enough to faften on characters within the reach of calumny. It would be an infult to my readers, as well as to the lady, whom I have fince learned was meant to be alluded to, to attempt apology or contradiction.

SCANDA L.

It is remarkable how this word is daily abused. The most authentic accounts of the most infamous tranfactions are called scandalous-by those who are interested in their contradiction. Even I, who make it a rule to adhere to truth have been accufed of committing scandal! If people will expofe their vices, am not I, most worthy SPEC, deputed by you to reveal their offences, and, in their perfons, to expofe vice itfelf? Is not that to be the chief object, the butt-end, as I may fay, of my mifcellaneous enquiries? To rail, in general terms, against

the vices of the age, is no more than writing fermons, and will the incorrigible regard a fermon ? That cannot be called fcandal which has truth' for its foundation; and it is the business of the guilty to reform, or to conceal their crimes, and not for me to fpare the lafh, when vicious example daily ruins its thousands, and infamy triumphs over virtue!

Low WRITING.

You may think it ftrange, friend SPEC, but notwithstanding the admirable fatires we have on the bombaft in writing, many of your, or rather my readers, have still an affection for what they call a fine ftile, in all fpecies of compofition! A very fagacious friend of mine loudly complains that the expreffions, in my last, " Hedge-lane beau ty," " and "a jack-afs," are very low, and unworthy even of JOHN BULL!-But, Sir, my friend does. not reflect that the fubjects on which those words were employed, are, perhaps, as anti-fublime as any in the univerfe: Squire Morgan's Nephew, and Harlequin Rambler!-The most despicable images require the most despicable terms; and I have no notion of writing about Squire Morgan's Nephew as if he were a gentleman, or about Har lequin Rambler as if it were a farce!

[blocks in formation]

Ir is faid that one of them was deaf to all remonftrance; and if the other had not given him the fatisfaction he required, he would have been branded as a coward, and have loft the appellation of a gentleman!-It is a hard thing to abolish evil customs, but I truft the Bill which a right reverend Prelate is faid to have in contemplation will effect the abolition of the most barbarous custom remaining to disgrace this country. And it were to be wished that in the new regulations it may be so ordained that the great ax may fall with redoubled weight on those of the military who may, in this respect, tranfgrefs the laws of the land, and the dictates of humanity!

[ocr errors]

To the NEW SPECTATOR.

Mr. SOLEMNITY,

I obferved you-I am confident I am not mistaken the other night at Covent-Garden Theatre, in one corner of the upper fide-boxes, next the gallery, fnugly erect, like an Egyptian mummy in a packing-case, making your fage remarks through a pair of prepofterous green spectacles, and, by the turn of your optics, I have reason to suppose you were criticising some little freedoms that paffed between me and the divine little creature, my companion. But, mum !-no fcandal-as you dread the refentment of

[blocks in formation]

To other CORRESPONDENTS, JUVENIS complains that I am not an impartial SPECTATOR. I hope there is no fuch being in the world, as an impartial Spectator: he must be deflitute of all feeling, and of all fenfe, who can view with impartiality, the good and bad, which daily prefent themfelves. Two of my correfpondents remind me that I have nothing to do with politics. In my turn, I beg leave to remind them, that relating the affairs of another world, has nothing to do with the politics of this. -Exploratio fhall be attended to.-When Horatio can perfuade people to act confiftently, their feelings will never be hurt by the New SPECTATOR.Modeftus has my thanks for his good wishes; the matter he complains of cannot at present be remedied, and is indeed generally admired.-As to Sawney W. he deals fo much in the myfterious, that his last epistle foars beyond my comprehenfion.

LONDON: Printed by T. RICKABY, No. 15, Duke's-Court, Bow-Street, Covent-Garden; And Sold by T. AXTELL, No. 1, Finch-Lane, Cornhill, and at the Royal Exchange; by W. SWIFT, Bookfeller, Charles-Street, St. James's-Square; by P. BRETT, Bookseller and Stationer, oppofite St. Clement's-Church in the Strand; by G. KEARSLEY, No. 46, Fleet-Street; and by W. THISELTON, Bookfeller and Stationer, No. 37, Goodge-Street, Rathbone-Place.

CORRESPONDENTS are requested to address their favours to the NEW SPECTATOR, to be left at Mr. SWIFT's, in Charles-Street, St. James's-Square, where a LETTER-BOX is affixed for their reception.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

I

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1784.

To be continued every TUESDAY.

Non ignara mali, miferis fuccurrere difio.

N literature, as in every thing else, fashion has its votaries, and example commands its followers. When success attends the literary efforts of one man, the tribe of writers, as if poffeffed of the fame genius, immediately turn their attention to the fame object, and presently furnish the world with a multiplicity of books on the fame subject.

FOR fome years past the attention of the republic of letters has been chiefly devoted to a fpecies of compofition, called fentimental writing; and from the vast number of books we have lately had recommending the moral graces, and the beauty of virtue, it might naturally be supposed that, amongst us, virtue and the moral graces were in the highest estimation.

BUT it is one thing to praise, and another to practise. Notwithstanding this inundation of literary morality, I do not find that the virtues, in general, are more countenanced, or that knavery and folly have lefs influence, than usual. Sentiment seems to have gained poffeffion of the head only; whilft the heart remains exposed to the rude attacks of paffion.

Ir would, however, have been unfortunate indeed, if the united labours of our sentimental writers had not effected fome good. If they have not been able to ftop the progrefs of vice, they have at leaft, in fome measure, and in fome bofoms extended the influence of HUMANITY; they have rendered their readers fufceptible of the finer feelings; and fometimes charmed the

Price Three-pence.

VIRG. Æn. lib. i. v. 630.

mind with a tranfient view of virtue herself. But their efforts have been generally too feeble, and their materials too flimfy, to make any lasting impreffion on the heart. They have recommended, rather than enforced the practice of virtue, and, in too many inftances, have painted, in fascinating colours, the alluring advantages of vice.

It has thus been the fashion to recommend humanity rather as an accomplishment than as an obligation; and hence the practice of benevolence has been circumfcribed by inclination rather than by duty. To do unto others as we wish they should do unto us, is, however, a precept which admits of no evasion; and though the extent of our benevolence may be left to our own determination, a time will come when we fhall be obliged to render an account of the justice of all our transactions with the poor, as well as the rich; with the mendicant, as well as the merchant.

THE poffeffion of wealth, it has often been remarked, has evils and duties peculiar to itself; evils which extend in proportion to the encrcafe of riches; and duties which become the more irksome to perform as the means to perform them are augmented. He whofe heart is set on the acquifition of wealth thinks he acts nobly if he fatisfies all legal demands; and referves his benevolence till he makes his will, bequeathing what is, properly, then the right of another. Thus benevolence, with him, becomes a kind of pofthu

mous

« AnteriorContinuar »