pus happily. He poffeffed the tranfitions of the character, and particularly in the scene with Phorbas; his words, his action, and his look ftrongly indicated the paffions that raged and ruled by turns in the bofom of the unhappy prince.

I have heard his Falstaff much condemned, perhaps not with injuftice: he wants that feftivity, that joy, which nature must have given an Actor who fills up this character, other wife it will lofe its effects. Here old Quin was capital, and will perhaps remain for years unequalled. He was certainly Falstaff in perfection; and in his playing it, he only fhewed a copy of himself in his gayer hours. We fhall conclude this character with obferving, that in level-speaking Sheridan is always juft; that he is fometimes happy in conveying horror and terror; and when he remains at home, he will, and must be always allowed excellence; but if he wanders into the walks of tenderness and genteelity, he exhibits defects that counterbalance all his perfections.

Mr. Dexter has a genteel figure, agreeable voice, an easy carriage, and good fenfe. He

has

has acquitted himself with applause in several parts of genteel Comedy; and fome of those he has attempted in Tragedy have been equally deferving of it.

Mr. King, a sprightly and useful Comedian, in some parts reminds us of Woodward. He has not as yet attained elegance fufficient for the Foppingtons, or Fine Gentlemen: however, there are feveral characters which hit his humour and genius; among which are Sir Jofeph Wittol, Tom in the Confcious Lovers, Brass, Scrub, the Lying Valet, Pedlar in Florizel and Perdita, &c. in all which his performance must ever appear pleafing.

Mr. J. Sparks is not only a useful but a very diverting Comedian: that pleasantry of temper which is habitual to him will not admit him to give a falfe colouring to any hu morous character. In the hearty Old Men of Comedy he has great merit, particularly in Sir Sampfon Legend. His Foigard is nearer to nature than any other performer's; but his Teague in the Committee has not the vivacity of Barrington's. In Foigard he is very expreffive of that ridiculous gravity which is

the

His

the refult of pedantry and ignorance. He perfectly well fupports all the oddity, wildnefs, and extravagance of Caliban. Peachum and Serjeant Kite are humorous draughts of nature; and his merit lies in low Comedy.

Mrs. Fitz-Henry, on her first appearance, promised to arrive at excellence in a short time; but her improvements are flower than were then expected. There is a caft of parts. fuitable to her genius, and wherein the has merit; fuch as Hermione, Zara, &c. In Calista she supports the violence of her rage, where she tears the letter with great spirit; but afterwards fails in the diftreffes; and indeed in all characters of the tender or plaintive kind. Her action is too violent; and both that and her voice want that delicacy and tenderness which speaks to the heart. She does not promife to excel in Comedy, wanting an ease and genteelity which in polite characters is abfolutely requifite. Would fhe modulate her voice, and regulate her action, it would add greatly to her excellence in Tragedy.

Before

Before I difmifs this account of the Irish Theatre, I muft not omit Mr. Sowdon, who, during the two years that he was Manager of it, conducted it with great regularity. Confidered as an Actor he has merit in feveral characters; and I believe his performance of Henry the Eighth to be as true a likeness of that monarch as Shakespear or history could draw him. I have seen him also judiciously pleasing in Pyrrhus, Veñtidius, Old Batchelor, and Strictland; and he must be always confidered as a performer of confequence in the theatrical world.

A

CH A P. VI.

Of the Ufefulness of the Stage:

MIDST all the fafhionable amufe

ments which have prevailed of late years in oppofition to the Drama, the encouragement it still meets with is a convincing proof, that virtue, good fenfe, and taste, are yet to be found among us. As it has its foundation in reafon, it will always find patrons of that character to improve and recommend it; and must at length prevail over thofe trifling amusements which have no connection

nection with either, and are calculated for fuch weak and vitiated appetites as cannot relish the exalted entertainments to which the Stage invites.

A just and refined taste in the public will have its due influence on the Stage. Was this more univerfal, the manager and actor would more strictly conform to it; and neither would introduce, or perform, what would not ftand the teft of truth and reafon; and fuch as the audience is, fuch will always be the actor.

To have the springs of nature open to the foul, and to have the manners of mankind truly delineated, is the intent of the Drama. This cannot be effected, unless the audience will readily concur with the manager in promoting fuch theatrical pieces as will not only entertain the fancy, but mend the morals, and in difcouraging thofe contemptible entertainments which, having nothing else but novelty and fhew to recommend them, are too much the admiration of the gaping majority, till the lively leffons of moral instruction and example given by the Stage have influenced our understandings, and formed our manners