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ftate of mental depreffion which we should scarcely expect to find in fo young a bard. aving thus fairly ftated our general approbation, we now proceed to perform the more unpleafant part of our duty, by urging our objections. The chief of thefe relates to the liberties which the author has, in many places, taken with our language, and to the frequent introductio, of words but little in use, which have an appearance of affectation that ought ftudiously to be avoided. Ex. Grat." I affectionated its destiny"-" deeplyenfoul'd veneration." Affectionated and enfoul'd are not English words We clafs under the head of at ectation fuch words as, To queen, to memorize, to fublime. The following line is to us, we confefs, unintelligible.

"And the blind beetle dips his wing in fight."

We have a more ferious objection to the "fragment in blank verfe," as containing fomething very like an apology for, if not a juftification of, THE SIN OF SUICIDE! We truft the author will re-confider this latter objection, with the attention which the nature of it deferves. As to the others, he will find no difficulty in avoiding them in future; and they only tend to disfigure his style, and to deform his beauties.

ART. XXXIV. Beaumaris Bay, a Poem; with Notes defcriptive and explanatory, Particulars of the Druids; Founders of fome of the fifteen Tribes of North Wales, the Families defcended from them, and Quotations from the Bards. With an appendix: Containing an Accourt of the Battle of Beaumaris in 1618, and the taking of the Caftle. Svo. PP. 56. Sael and Co. 1800.

THE title-page, ferving as a table of contents, exempts us from the neceffity of recapitulating the different fubjects of description or difcuffion, in this defcriptive poem, which is written in strong, nervous, and correct verse; and the notes of which exhibit marks of erudition, refpecting the hiftory and antiquities of Wales. The deftruction of the Bards, by the English Edward, fo finely described by Gray, the poet infifts upon as an historical fact, and imputes the doubts which have been lately caft on many points of history to the fashionable scepticism of the age; but furely he must admit the utility of deep investigation, concerning extraordinary facts, and the advantages which the cause of truth has already reaped from the detection of the fictions of biftory. In the note to P. 20, a very intereftin account and character are given of the Druids both ancient and modern; and we find in it nothing of that exaggeration of which we have to complain in fome other notes, particularly in that to page 38, in which Sir John Sinclair. Wedgewood, and Arkwright, with others, are "ranked among the faviours of nations, the benefactors of mankind." Ready as we are to acknowledge the utility of men, whofe labours tend to the improvement of our manufactures, and our agricultural knowledge, ftill we cannot but reprove fuch grofs adulation as this. Eft modus in rebus.

MISCELLANIES.

MISCELLANIES.

ART. XXXV. The Portentous Globe: an Enquiry into the Powers folicited from the Crown under an A&t of 39 Geo. III. intituled "An Act enabling his Majefty to grant a Charter of Incorporation to certain Perfons, under the Style of the Globe Infurance Company" containing Obfervations on the Tendencies of fuch Grant, and on the Effect of Charter on Commercial Undertakings; recommended to the Confideration of the Bankers of the Metropolis, and to the Country Bankers of Great Britain, &c. &c. By George Griffin Stoneftreet, Efq. 2s. 6d. Walker.

London. 1800.

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all that vaft variety of fubjects on which, in the courfe of our labours, we are called upon to form a judgement and give an opinion, there are none more likely to be out of our way, than fuch as relate to great fchemes refpecting money. The only Capital, for which we are in the habit of feeling any particular anxiety, is that we may obtain a capital Critique; and the only Intereft that much affects us, is the fuccefs of our Review. Of the principal merits, therefore, of the piece now before us, the relevancy of the arguments, and the accuracy of the calculations, &c. we deem ourselves fuch in competent judges that it would ill become us even to give an opinion. It is well written, indeed, to fpeak freely, we think it almoft too well-written; and we cannot but exprefs our furprize, that a man immerfed in business, and in pursuits and ftudies fo little connected with the arts of compofition, as we muft fuppofe Mr. Stoneftreet is, fhould' yet be mafter of fo energetic and eloquent a ftyle; ftronger and more polished, in our eftimation, than the occafion called for.

But what we moft regret in this publication is the vehemence with which fo important a fubject is difcuffed; and the very flender grounds which, from his own fhewing, it appears he has for the heavy charges which he brings against a number of gentlemen, who (to exprefs ourfelves ftrongly,) are not lefs refpectable than himfelf. It feems to have been affumed, as a fettled thing, that the whole scheme of the Infurance Inftitution here fo ftrenuously oppofed, is a bubble; and, accordingly, there is hardly a page in his pamphlet, in which we do not meet with allufions either to the South Sea fcheme, Wood's halfpence, or the Minerva Officelof Infurance; with which, however, or, with any of its projectors, we understand, the Globe has no more connection, than either the Phoenix, Sun Fire, or any other long-established office. We are proud, alfo, to fay, that we have the happiness to be wellacquainted with not a few of the gentlemen principally concerned in this new inftitution; whom we know to be as little likely to be impofed upon by any unprincipled projectors, as they are themfelves incapable of being impoftors. It is not, in our opinion, a little unfavourable to the fuccefs of Mr. Stoneft reet's oppofition, that no member belonging to the Globe has yet thought it neceffary to give any reply

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to his pamphlet. As neither Mr. Stoneftreet, nor his publication, is beneath their notice, the only inference that we can draw from their filence is, their reliance that thofe with whom the determination of this question must finally reft, do not view it in the fame light that Mr. Stoneftreet does.

ART. XXXVI. A Defence of the Profeffion of an A&tor. 8vo. PP. 42. 1s. 6d. Miller. 1800.

WE have not for fome time perufed a tract fo contemptible, in point of compofition, and fo weak in point of argument as this Defence. In the first paragraph we found that the author was indebted for the premises whence his infere ces are deduced to the fertility of his own imagination; for he tells us that "We admire the drama while we profcribe its fupporters. We applaud the actor while we fhun the man." Here he may be ftopped, in limine, by a fingle word, Negatur: for it must be obvious to every reader that what he advances is not true. It is the perfonal qualities and character of the man which influence his adiniffion into, or rejection from, fociety, generally freaking, and not his profeffion of an actor: that is, if a man be, by birth, education, and character a gentleman, the mere circumftance of his going upon the itage will certainly not produce his exclufion from the fociety of gentlemen. And if a man, before he becomes an actor, have no pretenfions to be admitted into fuch fociety, he certainly can derive no legitimate claim to admiffion from his new profeflion. So far, however, from any juft ground of complaint having been afforded to actors by too rigid an obfervance of this laft rule, many inftances might be added in which the profeffional excellence of an actor or actress, joined to a good private character, has been allowed to operate as a compenfation for other defects, and to gain the protection and friendship of his fuperiors.

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In order to prove the injuftice of this practise which does not prevail, the author devotes five-and-twenty pages to the origin of the drama, its moral tendency, and the excellence of dramatic writers of paft times. As we do not know that any one has, of late, denied, that the itage may be rendered the vehicle of good principles, and is very capable of aiding the cause of moralit we confider this ftatement, given in moft bombaftic and affected language, as perfectly unneceffary. When he defcends from the ftage to the actor, he takes confiderable pains to prove what nobody ever doubted, that great actors of good characters have been admitted into the beft company. He allows, indeed, that this is the cafe at prefent. But he complains that thefe are "only individual inftances;" of courfe his object is, and the whole fcope of his argument proves it, to contend that the profeffion of an actor is of itself a fufficent paffport to all companies, without a reference to thofe perfonal and incidental qualifications which are required of every other class of men in the scale of fociety! Yet he defeats his own purpose when he proceeds to ftate the reafons on which this lofty pretenfion is

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founded; for he delineates the character of a perfect actor; of courfe only fuch an actor can be entitled to the diftinction which he claims for the whole body. But even in this delineation, he draws conclufions which are belied by daily experience. He says, speaking of the actor, "He must reverence virtue, elfe its precepts will fade upon his tongue." This is rather too grofs an infult to the common fenfe of the public, who are, unfortunately, in the frequent habit of hearing the most impreflive leffons of virtue most impreffively delivered by a ftrumpet, or a profligate! Befides has not this fapient logician fenfe enough to perceive the futility of fuch an argument, which may easily be demonftrated by purfuing it ad abfurdum? If no actor, can perfor m a part, with ability and energy, without imbibing the fentiments which he is obliged to repeat, the fame man who is a virtuous patriot, with Cato, to night, may be an atrocious villain, with Zanga, to-morrow.

"Who drives fat oxen muft himself be fat." Such folly is almoft too grofs for ferious refutation. The author appears to be ignorant even of the meaning and import of the term-actor.

If we are to give credit to this blind advocate, an actor is a being of a fuperior caft to the common race of men. He is not merely all virtue, but all fenfibility, all knowledge!" His art is derived folely from the cultivation of his mind-the exuberance of culture is added to the original difpofition of the man." Yet how often are we disgufted with the wretched buffoonery of fome of our first comic actors, who violate nature, fenfe, and decorum, merely to extort a laugh from the galleries! How frequently do we fee the moft incorrigible blockheads, with no other recommendation than a good voice, murder every character which they perform, which, by the bye, requires fome ingenuity, in our modern productions, in too many of which the author and the actor feem to be engaged in a violent contention for the palm of ignorance and abfurdity! It might naturally be fuppofed, by a man of plain fenfe, that an actor who binds himself o amufe the public, for a ftipulated price, in any character which the proprietors of the theatre may choose to affign him, would be rather cautious in boafting of the dignity of his fituation; but our author thinks differently, and does not fcruple to place an actor on a level with poets, moralifts, theoligians, and philofophers! And yet he would fain have us believe that he is no actor himself;-Credat Judæus! They only who remember the ftage fome twenty or thirty years paft can feel the fame indignation and difguft which we experience, at the arrogance, prefumption, and felf-fufficiency of fo many of the stage-players of the prefent day. But to it is; vanity conftantly rifes, in weak minds, in proportion as ability finks.

The wanton and malignant abuse of the proprietors of CoventGarden theatre, in P. 37, recoils on the head of the calumniator. It is not more malevolent than falfe. The proprietors have conducted themselves with the greateft liberality towards these ungrateful men, whofe advocate has now the effrontery to tax them with ingratitude. And he more than infinuates that the persons who

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have embarked a confiderable property in the concern are indebted to their agents for the means of fubfiftence. This is a topfy-turvy fyftem with a vengeance. If the proprietors are to blame for any thing, it is for their too great conceffions, for their relaxation of difcipline. After fpitting forth his venom, this pamphleteer thus raves; But, thanks to the noble principle of extenfive right which reigns in the bofoms of the patriot EIGHT! truth is opposed to power; and fad must be the fact and precedent, if wealth and infolence obtain the victory!" This was exactly the cant of the low Jacobinical fcribblers in France at the beginning of the Revolution. The nonfenfical rhapfody would be deferving only of contempt, if its impudence did not require a feverer chaftifement. It is the very counterpart of the frogs in the fable.

We are fenfible that fome apology is due to our readers for having dwelt fo long on fo frivolous a fubject. We will dismiss it, therefore, with one other remark. Players, like water, find their own level;-the public appreciate their profeffion and their merits. Such of them as have the neceffary qualifications for the fociety of gentlemen are admitted to it, not as players but as men; the others affociate with their equals, and nothing but a foolish attempt to raise themselves above their place on the focial scale will ever induce the public to fink them below it.

We will just afk the author, at parting, how it came, in his hiftorical sketch of the confequence and dignity of an actor in times ancient and modern, not to fay one fingle word of the confideration which they long have enjoyed, and still continue to enjoy, in every part of the Continent of Europe; excepting only the French Republic, one and indivifible, of which a ftrolling-player was the founder?

ART. XXXVII. An Hiftorical Description of Ancient and Modern Rome; alfo the Works of Art, particularly in Architecture, Sculpture, and Painting. To which are added, a Tour through the Cities and Towns in the Environs of that Metropolis, and an Account of the Antiquities found at Gabia. Carefully collated with the beft Authorities. Ry J. Salmon, Antiquary, late of Rome. Embellished with beautiful Engravings from original Drawings. 8vo. 2Vols. Pr. 668. 11. 10s. Taylor. 1800.

THIS is properly a defcriptive catalogue of works of art, illuftrated with plates. As fuch it is fcarcely an object of criticism. The preface contains a very fhort account (in eleven pages) of the origin and progrefs of Rome to the prefent time. Of its actual ftate Mr. Salmon gives the following account:

"The old walls of Rome are ftill preferved and kept in repair. They are about fifteen miles and a half in circumference; and the city retains its ancient divifion of fourteen wards, great part occupied with villas, gardens, and vineyards, full of the furprizing ruins of temples, baths, palaces, acqueducts, and many other confpicuous buildings, that have withstood the devaftations of enemies and

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