Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Or the Mufic, respecting which no small sum has been spent in puffing it in the news-papers, it may be faid in general to be pretty, and would have done Rauzzini credit had it been his own. But the prettiest parts of the pretty have been borrowed: neither of the duets, which excited general applaufe, though I cannot fay they fo fingularly merited it-neither of the duets are originally from Rauzzini. Still there was fomething to commend.

THE want of principal fingers was a difagreeable circumftance, and might have been avoided. Rauzzini heretofore, may have fung well: at prefent he scarcely boafts of mediocrity, and yet he fung-for it was finging-that which should have been better fung by Pacchierotti! Signora Carnevale, might pass well enough for the Queen of ·Golconda; if we fuppofe her Majefty no exquifite finger. Carnevale was pleasing in one Air; but Cramer's Violin, in the accompaniment and particularly the fymphonies, got, as it deferved, all the applaufe. Carnevale's powers are very limited.

You will perhaps little regard the opinion of John Bull, refpecting an Italian opera, However, I will venture to deliver an opinion, in which I doubt not but that three-fourths of the audience on Thurfday night would agree with me, were they honeft enough to let truth take place of affectation. Know then, good Mr. SPECTATOR, that Mifs Philips would have fung Rauzzini's airs as much better than Rauzzini as he than Barrymore! And Mifs George as much fuperior to Carnevale, as Allegranti to Mifs George. I mean in the opera before us: let Mifs Philips reprefent Albert, and Mifs George the Queen of Golconda, and if they do not fing the airs with more taftc, and beltow on them additional graces, I will be content to be toffed in a blanket! I know that every one will pub. licly pronounce this opinion high treason against tafte; and privately confefs it is the truth and nothing but the truth!

If any particular praife is due, the feene-painter deferves it. The first scene in the second act, and the laft in the piece, are particularly beautiful.

Of the dances which, in this piece, are ftrangely jumbled with the finging-after the French ftile though, remember that-Of the dances, need I fay any more than that they were performed by Le Picq, Veftris, Slingsby; Theodore Simonet, and her two daughters, Roffi, &c? The names of the performers are the best recommendation of the dances, which are compofed by Monfieur D'Auberval; but have very

little in them of the excellence of Noverre.D'Auberval is not a good dancer, and is a worse composer.

CONTRARY to most of the public prints, whofe accounts, like thofe of the other Theatres, are fupplied by the interefted and the prejudiced, thus much for the entertainment. It remains next to speak of

The AUDIENCE.

And of the Audience it may be faid that it was as numerous and brilliant as any the Opera House can boaft fince the famous benefit night of the famous Veftris. The whole houfe, however, was in mourning; and the head-dreffes of the ladies were pretty equally divided between the Balloon-hat and white feathers; and the diminutive fancy cap.-Of the frail fifterhood, the Bird of Paradife and the White Crow were most confpicuous; for the house was not contaminated with the more influencing example of the Perdila, or her equally attractive admirer. That the house might not, however, be deftitute of fomething particularly offenfive, the performers were obftructed in their entrances and exits, and the effect of fome fcenes entirely deranged by fome forty or fifty of the gentry who ought to have been feated in the Pit, and where there was room enough to have ftowed double the quantity. But we are told in the Bills that, By their Majefies Command no perfon can be admitted behind the fcenes; which at once accounts for the nuisance; for a coxcomb is never in his element, but when he is violating fome command. It were to be wifhed, that the managers would render their Majefties Commands a little more efficacious by fhewing these gentry into their proper feats, and not permit them to exhibit their rudeness by a difagreeable interruption of the performers, and exciting the difguft of the more regular part of the audience.

I SHOULD not have dwelt so long on the fubject of this Theatre, but that the entertainment has been reprefented in the daily prints, with fuch exaggeration of panegyric as it by no means merits, and that I might give my voice against fuch accumulated falfhoods.

SCHOOL for SCANDAL.

Beware of counterfeits, for fuch are abroad! MR. SHERIDAN has not yet published this matchlefs comedy. Some years ago, a wretched political thing made its appearance under the title of the Duenna, by way of extracting gold from drofs; and the like miferable attempt has lately been made with respect to the School for Scandal!--Verbum fapientia.

Mrs.

Mrs. HODGES.

Ir has been faid in some of the morning prints, that this lady is retired to Weybridge, for the benefit of her health. I am happy to affure you, that fhe is by no means indifpofed. Mr. Hodges has an estate in the neighbourhood of, and a house at, Weybridge.-Peace Viper!—

SQUIRE MORGAN'S NEPHEW.

THIS young gentleman has lately taken one of the best houses near that of his uncle, who is yet abroad. He has a numerous train of fervants; and being good-natured and affable, lets them have too much of their own way. Hence their characters are naturally diverfified, and confequently easily discriminated. The most important amongst them is Mafter Jelly, who may be called chief amongst the chief; for a more confequential man scarce ever exifted. He is one of those who are unwilling to let their importance escape notice; and if every body does not tell him that he is a great man, he takes care to tell every body himself. As he ranks high in the eftimation of his mafter, he expects fervility

from thofe beneath him. But it is the curfe of arrogance to be frequently reminded of former obfcurity.

JELLY, one morning, walked through his mafter's court-yard, and paffing a bricklayer, who, intent on his bufinefs, paid no regard to Jelly, he, with all the infolence of office," exclaims, "Don't you know me ?"-" Yes, fays "the bricklayer, I remember when you used to lie nakeda bed, whilst your shirt was washing." -Finding the man's memory better than his manners, Jelly, like a lion, fnuffing the rifing ftorm, "grumbling to his den return'd!"

To other CORRESPONDENTS. THE letter figned Ignoratus is laid before a Bulian fage, eminent for his knowledge of the conftitution of Niatirb.-EMMA, a Sentimental Tale, in my next.-EDGAR H. will find a line addreffed to him as he directed. The critique on the Haymarket Oratorios came too late for infertion; but the Choruses deferve infinitely more than the critic has expreffed.The lines on Mifs Farren are inadmiffible; as are thofe on Mr. Packer, whofe private character is irreproachable.

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 addrefs 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.

[blocks in formation]

SUCH is the general complaint against the NEW SPECTATOR and Co. that unless I alter my mode of writing, I am likely to reap little benefit from the favours of my correfpondents. No less than eight formally addrefs me with Reverend Sir, apprehending, from my gravity, I fuppofe, that I am in holy orders. And by fome cards I have received from Portman Square and the neighbourhood of St. James's, I find feveral ladies of high rank have enjoined their daughters not to read a line of fuch an old-fashioned moralift as I am; and have been cruel enough to infinuate that I am an old bachelor, past all manner of mischief; a charge fufficient to fet all the ladies in the world against me. young

To have the gay and the lovely part of the fex against me is a very mortifying circumstance; yet I cannot bring myself to use that species of writing, which is now fo generally adopted by, and received amongst men from whom better things might naturally be expected. I must confefs I have no knack at double entendre, by which fome periodical writers amongst us, get wonderful applaufe. Nor have I any propenfity to beftow those encomiums on folly and diffipation which are due only to fenfe and decency. I cannot think of praifing the Royal Family of England, and at the fame time fpeaking well of the English nobility; for can light and darkness be more oppofite than the general conduct and characters of each? When the public tafte is become vitiated with immoral productions and loose wit, the writer has little chance who endeavours to stem that torrent of corruption with which fuch literature, by its general diffemination, deluges the land. Though his obfervations, and his fame may be confined to fmall circles, he will have the confolation of reflecting that his works will never rife in judgment against him.

THE most dangerous member of any community is an immoral writer; he not only corrupts his contemporaries, but, if he is a man of genius, the baneful influence of his works extend to pofterity. The multiplicity of obfcene and indelicate books and prints daily obtruded on the public, is to be equalled only by the avidity with which they are purchafed. Their effects on manners are vifible and obvious. Private converfation is perpetually tinctured with double entendre, to which our women are now fo much accustomed as to liften to this most contemptible of all wit, not only without difcovering the indignation of infulted virtue, but even without the leaft fymptom of difapprobation; whilft, in public, they vie with each other in affuming all

thofe impudent and meretricious airs by which. the common prostitute endeavours to attract attention. I should be forry if there were not many undeferving of this cenfure: I speak generally.

SUCH of my contemporaries as have meanly forfaken the ftandard of MORALITY=I am not fanguine enough to look for CHRISTIANITY amongst them--and by their writings feed this flame of diffipation, meet with a short-lived praise, flattering their vanity, which foars not to future applaufe, unless future infamy may be called applaufe, and carn their daily bread by fhewing that countenance to vice which may give encou ragement to its votaries, and afford a kind of literary fanction to the most diabolical crimes.

NOVELS, originally intended as pictures of life, and incentives to virtue, have now just the contrary effect; for though fome common moral is generally aimed at in the catastrophe, yet vice throughout the tale is moftly represented in fuch pleafing colours as cannot but excite the admiration, rather than the deteftation of the youthful reader, whose principles are as commonly undermined by this pernicious amufement, as by the influence of example. Of this kind of mixed compofition it may juftly be faid that "the depraved difpofition of mankind is pretty fure to drop the morality and carry away the ribaldry."

WEIGHING, therefore, all that can be faid for and against the mode of writing fo much recom mended by my correfpondents, I am inclined to perfevere in my prefent unfashionable route, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left; though I will chearfully give place to any fmart production I may be favoured with, provided the wit be inoffenfive and the fatire wholefome; but may the labours of the NEW SPECTATOR never be read if they raise one blush on the check of modefty, or an indelicate thought in the bofom of innocence !

To the NEW SPECTAT O R. Mr. SPECTATOR,

As you appear to be quite impartial in your Theatrical observations, and not to be influenced, as you have expreffed it, by the "the ar"tifice of avarice, the partiality of friendship, "the zeal of ignorance or the heat of refent"ment;" I truft you will give me leave to ob ferve, that the conduct of the managers of Old Drury is not only inexplicable in itfelf, but infulting to the Town, in giving the parts of Alicia, Almeria, Portia, Imoinda, Imogen, Eleanor, &c. &c.

to

to the Mifs Kembles, who are universally allowed to be very incompetent to the fuftaining any of those characters, when there are several ladies in the same company by whom they would be fupported, at least with decency.

I WILL at prefent mention only a few names in confirmation of what I have advanced; and fhall be glad to know by what fecret influence, or wretched fyftem in dramatic politics, we are debarred the pleasure of feeing the incomparable Siddons feconded by her theatrical, instead of her natural fifters ?

PREVIOUS to the engagement of the Mifs Kembles, Mifs Farren was making a confiderable progrefs in the Tragic line, and filled several characters with honour to herself, and pleasure to her auditors. Mrs. Bulkley is, no doubt, remembered to have been feen with great fatisfaction in both tragedy and comedy; and there is wanting nothing but practice and encouragement to render Mrs. Wells a refpectable servant of Melpomene, as well as of Thalia. It may be remembered that, at the latter end of last season, this lady played Jane Shore with fuch propriety as to gain a thundering plaudit, thrice repeated, at the end of the performance. If, therefore, fhe and Mifs Farren, and Mrs. Bulkley play first-rate characters decently, might it not be fuppofed they would fupport inferior characters reputably? And if fo, why is the Town to be as you once faid, ferved with Perry instead of Champaigne ?

I am, Sir, Your's, &c.

[blocks in formation]

Plus vident oculi quam oculus. THIS Original, Mr. SPECTATOR, is a lady who has paffed the meridian of beauty, and whose pride overbalances the precepts of nature. So much is her averfion to that kind benefactrefs, because it is natural to wear one's own hair, fhe had her head fhaved, and fports an enormous wig, which being elaftic, and by conftant wearing has fo contracted the fcull as to force the brain to forfake its habitation. She exclaims against nature as a rebellious ufurper, as a destroyer of politenefs and good manners, and as a nuisance to a civilized nation !-A natural blooming healthy

colour is as execrable as two eyes!-Mifs Verjuice having but one the confequence of an overbear ing difpofition in her youth. White teeth have a masculine appearance, which if she poffeffed, a perfon would be employed to disfigure them. How horrid to have white teeth!

WHATEVER the fafhion is, this unnatural lady is just the reverse. When short stays are worn, fhe admires the reign of our Elizabeth, when stays -extended from the chin' to the knee-were the fole defenders of virtue!

WHEN a long petticoat is the ton, so averse is my dear Mifs Verjuice to fashion and nature that on a windy day, with attentive speculation, the pious motto on her garter may be easily perused. "Fix your thoughts on things above!"

THE converfation of this Original is equally abfurd with her drefs. She is the true offspring of Eve. Contradiction is her only food. However ftrange, Mr. SPECTATOR, this food may appear to you, I really know a family of fifteen fifters, who exist entirely on that delicious food. Why not? It was the ambrofia of the gods!It was this food alone that gave immortality to Jupiter, Juno, Vulcan, Venus, &c. I knew a lady that died fuddenly in an assembly room, because one evening fhe had her own way! Mifs Verjuice Leadape is the most complete virgin of fifty-fix, that 1784 can boaft of. Her knowledge is extenfive: there is not a rape, murder, or robbery committed in the metropolis that she is ignorant of!

I MET her the cther day in Pall Mall, and went up St. James's-ftreet to avoid her. No fooner had I reached Piccadilly, but I found her ready to receive me. I haftily croffed the way, went into George's, ftaid fome time, but on going down the Hay-market, to my furprize and mortification, who fhould I meet, full butt-quoting her own phrase but Mifs Verjuice Leadape!She feized my arm-the impreffion remains ftill -and forced me to accompany her. At laft we arrived at the auction, where after being the fubject of the whole room, I took a convenient opportunity and left her.

MISS VERJUICE receives company every Thursday to tea and cards. All Westminster is invited, fave the refpectable men and ladies of character. She keeps the pool at Quadrille to a fifh, and is never better pleased than in a party of tabbies whofe unfeeling fouls are steeled with infenfibility, and whofe fatisfaction is to hear of the downfal of their acquaintance. To make any more reflections on this Original would be need

lefs,

« AnteriorContinuar »