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PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS.

HAYMARKET.

On Friday, the 4th of July, Mifs Frod

fam made her first appearance before a London audience, in the character of Rofalind. This lady has been educated to the stage from her early years, and the has made admirable ufe of her opportunities. Her figure is beautiful to excefs; finely proportioned, and exhibits a fymmetry and grace of form which is hardly equalled by any lady on the ftage. Her face is full of meaning and sweetnefs; her eye beaming with the finest testimonies of paffion and feeling. Her expreffion is just and articulate; her attitudes are gracefully correct; and the manages her voice, which in fome of it's notes is, if not inharmonious, at least unpleasant, with great addrefs and effect. She was received with uncommon applaufe; and we fincerely think her an acquifition to the ftage.

vours to engage his daughter to Citpup, a bar ker's fon, and moft egregious coxcomb; till an intimation is given him that his amours (which are generally the ridiculous circumstances of a man's life) thall be discovered, and published in a ballad. Difficulties yet remain with the upholsterer, which are removed by the generosity of Archly, the Friend Indeed, and the road to matrimony rendered practicable, which is the end and purpose of all comédies.

In one of the scenes, between Citpup, Lydia, and Emma, the former relates a whimsical accident which had happened to himself at the king's hunt, where he tumbled head-foremost into pigftye; which, fays he, pleafed the Prince prodigiously. At this part the performance was interrupted by a long and loud laugh from the audience.

Among the feveral characters, the upholsterer is certainly the most confpicuous; it is well drawn, and ftrongly marked. The dialogue is

On Saturday, the 5th instant, was prefented, lively; but the fentiments, perhaps, too moral a new Comedy, called

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Emma

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Mr. Parfons.
Mr. Palmer.
Mr. Williamson.
Mr. Edwin.
Mr. Baddeley.
Mr. Wewitzer.
Mr. Ufher.
Mrs. Bulkley.
Mrs. Inchbald.
Mifs Morris.
Mrs. Wells.

Mrs. Ragan THIS piece, which has confiderable merit, turns on a common circumstance in life, artfully and judiciously managed. Truftall, a young man of a benevolent and generous difpofition, obtains the confent of Sir Simon Howard, a whim fical old man, to marry his daughter Emma, on condition that his fortune be free from thofe embarraffments fo ufual to perfons of his difpofition. An act of generofity fuddenly involves Trustall in difficulties, and brings an execution into his houfe. This very naturally creates the embarraffment of the play; and introduces a new Shylock in the character of Ragan, an Irish upholfterer, The father witholds his confent; the lovers are diftreffed; Archly the friend of Truftall, and Lydia the confidante of Emma, interpofe, and, in exerting their good offices, find themselves mutually entangled. The old genman, however, continues inexorable, and endea

for warm weather. The fable is not arranged to our mind: the bufinefs with the upholsterer fhould be fettled before any hopes are given that the father's confent is to be obtained, which is the most important circumftance to the event of the piece.

The whole play is well got up; the performers in general are fuited to their characters, and perform them with great juftice and fpirit.

The Prologue (which, with the Epilogue, is inferted in our poetical department) was read by Mr. Palmer.

THE English opera of ARTAXERXES was performed on the 16th instant, for the first time at this theatre; but not, in our opinion, with the most laudable view, being purposely to introduce an Italian performer on an English ftage. Of Signora Seftini, and her powers, the world are not ignorant; they know what she has been, and know what he is: they may condemn the treachery or the inconftancy of that tafte which drove her from her peculiar foil; but they will hardly be difpofed to commend the good fenfe of obtruding an Italian voice on an English opera. Are we become fo very much refined as to wish to part with our characteristic mufic? Are the fine full tones, the fenfible founds, and the expreffive energy of an English voice, become fo difgufting to our ears, that we wish to Italianize it? In the name of common sense, let our theatres be diftinct-let us preferve the English cha racter in our mufic, as well as in our hearts, and be tenacious of every thing that serves to diftinguifh us as a people!

The opera was very refpectably performed. Mifs George was in her pure element, and the

*Some accounts mention this Comedy as the joint production of Mr. O'Brien, and Miles Peter Andrews, Efq. a report which has probably arifen from the hiftory of this new piece, as given in the Prologue. See Page 52.

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gave additional evidence of her very promifing powers, as well as of their prefent extent. Brett must study the graces; he is unfortunately always the fame, and it is always Giles. old favourite, Bannifter, with his barrow-tones, was fo marked a contrast to the Italian Arbaces, that the lovers of good Old England, and it's old good fenfe, were ready to exclaim-"What need

have we of Italian refiners!' We do not, however, mean to impute any perfonal fault to Signora Seftini, who fung her fongs with great tafte, at leaft, and in Water parted from the Sea was defervedly encored; we mean only to condemn generally the practice of blending Italian performers with those of our own country.

On the 26th inftant, was performed for the first time, a new Comedy,written by Mr.O'Keefe, called

THE YOUNG QUAKER.

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

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THE fable of this comedy is briefly as follows: Young Ruben Sadboy, the Quaker, being fent from Philadelphia to London, in order to tranfact fome bufinefs, is accompanied by Captain Ambush, a young gay officer; who, on their arrival in the metropolis, introduces the good-natured Quaker into the polite circles. Ruben is tranfported with the fashionable world; and hesitates, for fome time, whether he fhall continue a plain fimple Quaker, or commence beau; but his inclination at length getting the better of his veneration for the formalities of religion, he resolves upon the latter; ftill, however, on moft occafions, diffembling, and pretending to adhere to the principles of Quakerifm, which gives rife to

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fome whimfical incidents.

The plot opens with a converfation between Captain Ambush and Ruben, who at once fhews the rigid manners of a Quaker, with the verfatility, and extravagance of a gay fpark of the town. Captain Ambush is aftonished at the behaviour of his friend, but has no objection to indulge him in his levity of difpofition, and thus he is by degrees changed into a maccaroni, while he at the fame time difplays the ftrange but fimple manners of a Quaker.

In an interview between these two gentlemen, the one discovers to the other his paffion for a favourite fair, while his companion makes a confeffion of a fimilar nature. Captain Ambush is deeply in love with Araminta, and though he

is prefumptive-heir to the titles and estate of Lord Belville, yet being poffeffed of no fortune but his bare commiffion, Lady Rounciful, the mother of Araminta, is averfe to any offers of marriage, defigning her daughter for Old Chronicle, a rich broker. Pink is difpatched with a letter from Araminta to Captain Ambush, who then affumes the name of Lieutenant Godfrey. Captain Ambush is transported with the contents of it; and, on Pink's asking for a token to fhew her miftrefs on her return, the Captain gives her a kiss. This token, Spatterdash, the captain's fervant, takes from her. On Araminta's receiving no answer from Ambush, she afks Pink, 'Did he even fend no token of his having received the letter? Pink tells her he did, but that Spatterdash had taken it from her; on which Araminta resolves to have it, by giving Spatterdash some pecuniary reward. A laughable fcene then takes place between Araminta and Spatterdafh; fhe infifting on the token being returned, while he is utterly aftonished at her requeft, not knowing what she means: till, at length, recollecting what the token was, he is emboldened by her urgent entreaties, and endeavours to kifs her; on which fhe fhrieks aloud, and brings in Lady Rounciful and Pink, the latter of whom clears up the matter to Miss Araminta, and she forgives Spatterdafh's behaviour, while they all combine to impose on the credulity of the old lady, by pretending that Spatterdash was the fervant of Old Chronicle, and that the young lady fhrieked aloud, becaufe fhe hated every thing that belonged to him. This has the defired effect, and the old lady believes the ftory; whilst the deception gives the young lady a better opportunity of carrying on her intrigue. Several droll fcenes take place between Old Chronicle, his man Clod, and Spatterdafh; the former of whom compares his mafter with the White Lion of the willage, and the latter drinks his wine.

'Dinah Primrofe, a young Quaker, and daugh ter to Old Chronicle, arrives in London from America, in fearch of her father, and her lover Ruben: but having no views of meeting with them for fome time, and being in diftress from the want of money and friends, the commits herfelf to the care of Shadrach Boaz, an old villainous Jew, who impofes on her in order to fatiate his brutality, and tells her father Chronicle that a young woman wanted to impofe on him by pretending that she was Chronicle's daughter, but that he had difcovered the falfity of her ftory, and intended to punish her. Shadrach Boaz takes lodgings for the fair Dinah, in Mrs. Mellifleur's, where young Ruben happened to lodge; and, on her refufing to confent to gratify his brutal paffion, Shadrach calls in a bailiff, who is in waiting to carry her to prifon, unless the complies with his wishes, or pays the money due to him on her account. The poor innocent Quaker is in the utmost confternation at this inhuman behaviour; but, while the is about to be carried away to prifon, Mrs. Mellifleur enters, and prefents a bill for the money

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due to the Jew, which was given by the generous Ruben, not knowing to whom he gave it, relying only on his common motives of humanity, because he heard of the diftrefs of one fellow creature and the barbarity of another. At length Kuben enters, and is astonished at finding that the object of his attention was his beloved Dinah Primrofe; while fhe, on the other hand, is equally furprized at finding her adorable Ruben. marriage then takes place between these amiable characters, the confent of Chronicle being obtained, and that of Old Sadboy, the father of Ruben, who comes to London in fearch of his fon, and is amazed to find him prepared to go to a masquerade, dreffed in the character of Alexander the Great, not doubting but his fair Dinah would make an excellent Statira. In the mean time, Captain Ambush gains the confent of Lady Rounciful to marry her daughter, by fending to her ladyship a letter figned Belville; and as the old lady thinks that a peer is preferable to a broker, the difmiffes Old Chronicle, by pretending that he had fome defigns against her daughter's chastity.

The piece then concludes with a double marriage; and Ruben, in promising that every slave on his plantations fhall receive his liberty free as the air which he breathes, pays an elegant compliment to the liberality of the people called Quakers.

There are two kinds of comedy; the one called comedy of Character, the other comedy of Intrigue. This new comedy cannot, with propriety, be faid to belong to either of those diftinctly, but partakes, in fome small degree, of the requifites of both. Mr. O'Keefe has met

with great and deferved fuccefs in his farces, and we think it incumbent on us to observe, that the Agreeable Surprize is one of the most laughable of all after-pieces: but the compofition of comedy is very different from that of farce; and though it would be very uncandid to say that the gentleman who writes a good farce is incapable of writing a comedy, yet the latter fpecies of the drama requires greater attention, greater exertions of genius, and greater accuracy. The intention of comedy is to reprefent neither the great fufferings nor great crimes of men; but to expose their follies, and flighter vices, and thus raise in the beholders a fenfe of the impropriety or indesorum of certain characters, which, from repre

fentation, appear to be troublesome to mankind. As comedy is a nobler effort of genius, and more interefting than farce; and as farcical fools, and filly puns, are generally understood to be the leaft of it's effential qualities, fo they become naufeous and difgufting when attempted to be substituted for that genuine wit and humour which fhould conftitute a regular comedy. With these faults> we are forry to fay this new piece abounds, where farcical fools are the chief characters of the play: and though we may be induced to laugh during the reprefentation of Mr. O'Keefe's pieces, it is always that fpecies of laughter which is excited at a pantomime, and not the genuine augh of reafon and good fenfe, in which we indulge at the performances of a Congreve, a Farquhar, a Centlivre, or a Cowley.

The greatest praife is due to Mr. Colman for his attention in preparing the piece for the eye of the public, by new dreffes and scenery; and we hope he will lend his affiftance in making fome indifpenfable alterations.

Mr. Palmer, Mr. Parf ns, Mr. Bann fter, and Mr. Wewitzer, played their parts admirably, and did juftice to their author. Mr. Wilfon did all in his power in fo infignificant a part; and Mr. Edwin made as much of a trifle by his acting, as his author does in his writing. Mr. Williamfon ́was also respectable, though we were disgufted by the allufions to his handfome figure, as the Young Quaker undoubtedly far furpaffes him in elegance of perfon.

Mrs. Webb, Mifs Morris, Mrs. Lloyd, and Mifs Frodsham, fupported their different characters with great fpirit and judgment.

On the first appearance of the Yung Quaker, there arose a warm contest between the flesh and the fpirit, but the fpirit got the better. The young puritan repulfed his affailants on their first attack; and, as they could not attempt a fe cond til Monday, the befieged in that interval rendered the fortrefs impregnable, and the enemy not only raised the fiege, but joined the friends of the garrifon. In plain English, Mr. O'Keefe's comedy was on the first reprefentation thought in many places too laughable, and indeed quite farcical; but many of those paffages being expunged on Monday night, and fome other judicious alterations male in the drama, the whole was received with general approbation.

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Read a fecond time the Loan bill.

Read alfo a fecond time, and committed, the Clerkenwell Poor bill.

Went through in committee, and reported, the Hefket Road bill.

Heard counfel in the caufe wherein the Duke of Queensberry is appellant, and Sir William Douglas refpondent.

APRIL 30.

Went through, in committee, and reported, Selby's Name bill.

Paffed the Hefket Road bill.

Read a first time the East India bill.

Read a fecond time the Loan and Covent Garden Paving bills.

Heard counfel farther in the caufe between the Duke of Queensberry and Sir William Douglas, when the decree was affirmed.

ΜΑΥ Ι.

Read a first time the bill to repeal the act refpecting volunteers.

Went through, in commitee, and reported, the Clerkenwell Poor, St. Anne's, and Covent Garden Paving bills.

Heard coundel in the caufe between Hendricke and Cunningham.

The East India Company's bill for borrowing fum of money being then read a fecond timeLord Walfingham called the attention of the Houfe to the importance of the fubject. He underftood that this bill was to be followed by another; therefore, fhould it pafs filently into an act, the India Company might conclude their lordfhips were not aware of it's confequence, and that any other bill they might think proper to introduce, would meet with a fimilar reception. His lordship then, in a most concise manner, went over the affairs of the India Company, and concluded with obferving, that their finances were not better at prefent, if fo good, as in 1773, when they before applied to Parliament for leave to borrow money; and this being the cafe, why were they not to be bound by the fame reftric. tions? They were not then permitted to make a dividend of more than fix per cent. till they had reimburfed the loan, and not more than feven till the whole debt came to 1,500,000l. -Yet by the prefent bill they would be authorized to borrow money, that they might be enabled to make a dividend of eight per cent. This, his lordship thought, was a greater dividend than they could with any propriety make, if the ftate of their finances at home, and the amazing expences they must have incurred abroad, were duly 'weighed.

Earl Fitzwilliam hoped it would not meet with oppofition; as he understood, that if the Company were not permitted to borrow the money, they muft become bankrupts; the expenditure in their fettlements had far exceeded their revenue: the confequence of which was, that their fervants abroad had drawn bills payable at home, which they were unable to anfwer without this temporary fupport. With refpect to their dividing eight per cent the public, owing to the difagree able accounts received from India, had loft much of the confidence they had formerly in that frock; it was neceffary, therefore, for the fsupport of the

credit of the Company, that fuch a dividend fhould be made. On this the bill was read a fecond time, and committed for a future day.

MAY 2.

Heard counfel farther in the caufe between Hendricke and Cunningham, and then reversed the decree, with directions.

Read a fecond time the bill to repeal the act relative to volunteers.

Went through, in committee, the East India, Indemnity, and New Loan bills.

The Duke of Portland then moved the fecond reading of the American Intercourfe bill.

Lord Thurlow faid he did not wish to oppose the principle of the bill, but merely to point out what to him appeared objectionable. It was, indeed, rather difagreeable to give an opinion which did not coincide with adminiftration, as those who did fo were charged with endeavouring to raise a faction, or, as a noble lord had termed it, giving fuccour to a fprout of oppofition. No man was more an enemy than himself to forming parties merely to oppofe minifters, and impede public measures; but the fear of fuch a charge fhould never deter him from giving his fentiments with freedom, and doing what he conceived to be the duty of every peer in that Houfe. The bill before their lordships was liable to many objections in it's prefent form, particularly the laft claufe: if he was not perfectly in order, he trufted their lordships would not infift on form, but permit him to proceed in his remarks, as he meant nothing more than that the Houfe fhould have a proper idea of the bill when it came before the committee. The laft clause being to enable his Majesty in council, for the space of fix weeks, to make laws refpecting the commerce with America, he wished to know if those laws were to expire with the power of making them; for if they lafted one hour longer, they would be almost irrevocable. This would be a grant of a power to the Crown fcarcely to be paralleled. It was needless to, obferve, that the confent of the Crown was neceflary to establish an act of legislature; and in this inftance, should the Crown, by the authority vefted in it by this bill, pafs an act which the other branches of the legiflature fhould think improper, how would they be able to prevent that act from remaining in force? It was to be done only by an act of repeal; and was it likely that the Crown would confent to repeal an act which it had thought proper to adopt? If minifters had no intention of continuing thofe laws which it might be advifeable for them to make during the term this bill was to allow them, and which might be neceffary to promote the establishment of a friendly intercourfe between this country and America, why not bring it into parliament in a regular way? why not have it fo intimated in the claufe, and not leave it open to the very just and neceffary jealoufies of their lordships, that an infringement of their rights was intended? His lordship then pointed out the erroneous manner in which many of the claufes were worded, and the neceffity there was for their being amended in the committee; and concluded by affuring minifters that he had no hoftile intention against them, but

had

had offered his remarks, purpofely that they might adopt fuch alterations as might be agreeable to the House.

Lord Bathurst faid, he agreed with the noble lord, that many parts of the bill required amendments, but he fhould not have troubled their lordships with His obfervations till the bill had come before the committee, only from a wish that they might have time to weigh fuch alterations as fhould be fuggefted. The last clause, as it ftood, was of no force; it was to grant power to the Crown for fix weeks-From when?Why, from the time of paffing that act. Now, it had been moft folemnly determined in that Houfe, that every act which had no specific time, actually took place, and was in force, from the first day of the feffion in which it paffed; and now a bill is brought in to grant a power for fix weeks, which could not poffibly receive the royal approbation till the Houfe had fat fix months: the intent of the claufe, therefore, was loft of courfe, and it's power null and void at the very moment it was made. When the bill, however, fhould come before the committee, he would propofe a claufe to inveft the Crown with fuch power till the 27th of December next, and that the laws and power fhould expire together. He faid he mentioned December, because he thought it would be impoffible for parliament to give a fanction to what refolutions the council might deem neceffary to make during this feffion, and that the next might have proper time to frame thefe refolutions into a law.

The Duke of Portland wifhed that the bill fhould meet a fair investigation in the committee, and therefore fhould move the fecond reading then, that it might be committed for Monday, and their lordships fummoned, which was agreed to,

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Lord John Cavendish faid, his fituation called for the indulgence of the committee: he had not been Chancellor of the Exchequer ten days, when he found himself under the neceffity of negociating a great loan. Although the thort time he had been in office had been wholly devoted to that bufinels, it was not to be expected he was now prepared to come with the whole of the budget. o raife the money, fettle the terms of the loan, and devife taxes to pay the intereft of it, was a work of great labour; all, therefore, he could as yet fubmit to the committee, was the loan. He had treated with a fet of gentlemen who were capable of raising the money, but

they differed about the terms. The only criterion by which he could be directed, was the price of ftocks at the time of concluding the loan. The day on which he propofed to close with these gentlemen, the three per cents, were at 67, and the four per cents. at 84; and at these prices he wished to make the loan; but they refused t take the three per cents. at more than 66, and the four per cents. at more than 83; upon which the negociation was fufpended; but the gentlemen afterwards agreeing to split the difference, he closed with them. His lordship concluded with moving, that the committee agree to the above terms

Several members took part in the debate; but the motion was at laft carried without a divifion. APRIL 17.

Ordered a new writ for Okehampton, in Berkshire, in the room of Humphrey Minchin, Efq. appointed fecretary of the Ordnance.

The Earl of Surrey took the oaths and his feat for Carlife.

Mr. Ord brought up the report from the committee of ways and means, and the refolutions were read a first time.

Adjourned till Wednesday the 23d.
APRIL 23.

Paffed the Clerkenwell Poor bill. Lord Duncannon, Mr. Greville, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Jolliffe, and Mr. Keene, took the oaths and their feats on being re-elected.

́Ordered a new writ for Tamworth, in the room of J. Courtnay, Efq. who fince his election hath accepted the office of Secretary to the Ordnance.

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Sir Henry Fletcher moved, that the bill for granting the Eaft India Company powers to borrow money, and allowing them the liberty of making a dividend at Midfummer, should be committed for next day.

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General Smith faid a few words in oppofition the motion.

Sir Cecil Wray wished that the time might be prolonged. He had no objection to grant the Company what relief was neceffary, but could not understand why they petitioned parliament to grant them power to borrow money, and at the fame time wanted to have the liberty of making a dividend, as he understood, of eight per cent. therefore he could not help obferving, that the Company did not appear to be fo neceffitous as represented.

A very fhort converfation enfued between Mr. Jackson, Sir Henry Fletcher, &c. when the motion was agreed to, and the House adjourned. APRIL 25..

Paffed the American Document bill.
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