and energy, On the fubject of the authenticity of this play, we decline to enter in this place, as a report will foon be made to the public from a committee, now fitting exprefsly for this purpose. Wednesday, April 13th. "The Smugglers," a mufical piece, written by a member of the corporation of London, (Mr Birch of Cornhill) for the benefit of Mr Bannifter, jun. The airs fung by Mifs Leake, Mr Dignum, and Mafter Walsh, were much admired. The fable contains fome fevere but juft animadverfions on the wretches, who, to the difgrace of humanity and civilization, plunder those whom the merciless elements have spared. The characters of Shingle and Sample are but too often realized towards the western extremities of the island. In the course of this evening, the house witneffed the exertions of Mr Bannister, jun. as Sir Fretful Plagiary, in the Critic, for the first time, This was an arduous undertaking, as nature had wonderfully adapted the face of Parfons to the character; but Mr Bannister, who unites great knowledge of his art, with an uncommon folicitude to pleafe, fucceeded to his utmost wishes. Thursday, April 21. Mifs Lee, the fair author of the interesting novel called the Recefs, and feveral other popular works of a fimilar kind, in the course of this evening prefented a new tragedy to the public. It is called "Almeyda, Queen of Grenada." The plot is laid in Spain, at a time when the greater part of that country was in the poffeffion of the Moors, and eastern manners and fentiments were of courfe prevalent. Mrs Siddons, who perfonified the heroine of the piece, fupported the character allotted to her with a dignified propriety. It was of a mixed, and therefore difficult nature, for fhe had to pourtray the various tranfitions of pride, fufpicion, and selfish nefs, that by turns took poffeffion of the bofom of Almeyda. The character of Alonzo was a mere outline, not fufficiently filled up for ftage effect; it was rather a sketch for the clofet, and might have there fucceeded better. Mr Kemble exerted himfelf in order to give it every degree of effect it was capable of attaining, and, fo far as depended on himself, he was fuccefsful. Like all the recent plays, this was by far too long, being encumbered, and indeed enfeebled, by the tediousness of the dialogue. Mifs Lee is faid to have taken Horace's advice, as to the length of time he has kept this tragedy in her poffeffion. The epilogue, which is faid to be from the pen of her fifter, was recited by Mr King, with confiderable effect, and the tragedy announced for future reprefentation amidft general applaufe. COVENT GARDEN. Saturday, April 9. A new Comic Opera, called "The Lad of the Hills," or "The Wicklow Gold Mine." Mr O'Keefe has here given an additional fpecimen of his talents for the whimsical, in a drama abounding with eccentric characters, and humourous dialogue. The incident of the gold mine lately discovered in our fifter ifle, affords a fair opportunity for erecting a popular and interefting plot, and the peculiarities of the national character, manners, and accent, are here happily delineated and combined. The mufic is in part compiled; the overture and accompaniments are by Shield. Many of the fcenes were new, and appropriate; and the piece, when properly curtailed, by being cropped of fome of its luxuriances, bids fair to become popular, as indeed most of the operas written and compofed by the present mafter have been. POE. OPERA. Saturday, April 2. The third representation of the comic opera, called " I Due Gobbi," with the dance of le Bouquet after the first act. At the end of the opera, a new ballet called "Alonzo e Cora," by Didelot, Rofe, Parifot, and Hilligsberg. The story is taken from Marmontel's Hiftory of the Incas of Peru, a fubject well adapted to this fpecies of representation. On this occafion, the pantomime part was abridged, to give more time for the dancing, which is a fpecies of amusement that has become furprisingly popular during the prefent and former winters. The fcenery, action, and every thing conituting what is technically called the fpectacle, were uncommonly brilliant. Didelot and Rafe, who had the chief characters in the ballet to fuftain, afforded great entertainment to the audience, as was teftified by their frequent plaudits; and the latter feemed to exclaim in the words of the original author, "Je voudrois tout penjer & j'oferais tout dire." The theatre was, as ufual, crowded with beauty and fashion. Tuesday, April 5th, I Due Gobbi. End of the opera, the second reprefentation of the new ballet, called Alonzo e Cora, composed by Onorati. Friday, April 7th. The new tragedy of" Iphigenia en Tauride," for the benefit of Madame Banti, or, as fhe is termed in the fashionable world, the Ba-anti. This opera, well known on the Italian ftage, was acted this night for the first time, to a crowded and brilliant audience. The com pofition is excellent, and the effect grand, as it unites all the various attractions that can delight either the eye or ear; the fcenery being beautiful, the dancing exquifite, and the mufic approaching to the fublime.It is to be lamented, however, that the RIDICULOUS, SILLY, and ABSURD cuftom, of crowding the ftage, tos long prevalent at this theatre, intercepted much of the charms of the exhibition, as the audience was not only deprived of a full view of the characters, but the working of the fcenery greatly retarded. The advertisement, in order to prevent this practice, was wholly disregarded; but does not the manager poffefs power and spirit enough to enforce his own regulations? An engraved print from the burin of Bartolozzi, who is about to leave this country, was prefented with each box and pit ticket. Saturday, April 16. A new comic opera, called "La Modifta Raggiratrice," was performed for the first time at this theatre, to a very numerous and fplendid audience. The mufic is by Paefiello, and poffeffes all that melody, fo characteristic of the works of this great mafter. Many of the airs were encored, and the whole was received with great and indeed univerfal applause. Viagnoni, to whofe ftyle the compofition was admirably fuited, exhibited his talents on this occafion to the greatest advantage. N. B. The Dillittanti have been much entertained during the present month, with two very fingular duels. The firft, which was intended to have taken place between Didelot and`Onorati, was prevented by the Bowstreet officers, who croffed over, figured in, and changed partners. The fecond, which affumed a more serious afpect, was between young Cramer, the harpfichord player, and Jernovvicchi, the famous performer on the violin.— This alfo was adjusted by the dulcet founds of a magiftrate, who actually converted discord into harmony, and obliged the two rival muficians to play in unifon. The town, as of old, exclaims: ""Tis odd, fuch difference fhould be "'Twixt tweedledum and tweedledee! BOOKS E BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS PUBLISHED IN APRIL 1796. Theology. VIDENCES of Revealed Religion with the Reference to the Age of Reafon, a Sermon, by J. P. Eftlin. 8vo. 57 p. Pr. Is. 6d, Biftol, Lloyd; London, Johnson. A Sermon addreffed to the General Bap- A Sermon before the Commons on the on the fame Occafion. By H. Mead. 6d. Gardner. A Caution to Young Perfons againft Infidelity, By J. Disney, D. D. 6d. Johnson. What is required of us? By G. Beaver, 18. Seely. Reflections on Religious Fafts, in Reply to Mr Simpfon, By D. Jardine. Is. Dilly. Reflections on the Sabbath. By T. Horne, D. D. IS. Rivingtons. Effay on the Permanency of the Biblical Hebrew, applied to modern Unbelievers. 8vo. Robinfons. Biography, Hiftory. Travels. Hiftory of Painters, Sculptors, &c. who have practifed in Ireland. By A. Pafquin. 8vo. Symonds. Memoirs for the Hiftory of the War of La Vendee, from the French of Turreau. 4s. Debrett. Memoirs of Robert Robinfon. By G. Dyer. 8vo. 8s. bds. Robinsons. Travels in 1792 through France, Turkey, and Hungary. By W. Hunter, Efq. 8vo. 6s. bds. Whites. Philofophy. Medicine. Zoonomia, or the Laws of Organic Life, Vol. 2. By E. Darwin. 4to. Il. 118. 6d. bds. Alfo a fecond edition of the firft Vol. 1. 5s. bds. Johnfon. Differtation on Refpiration, from the Latin of Dr Menzies. By C. Sugrue. 28. Johnfon. On the Compofition and Properties of Water. By E. Peart, M. D. 8vo. 4s. bds. Miller. A Treatife on the Scurvy. By D. Pater Account of the Experiment to determine the Effect of the Nitrous Acid Ed. Mag. May 1796. 3 B Poetry. The Iliad and Odyffey of Homer. By Mr Pope. A new Edition with Notes. By G Wakefield. II vols. 8vo. 3l. 178. in boards. The Influence of local Attachment with refpect to Home. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Johnfon. Poems and Fugitive Pieces. By Eliza. The Balance. In three Cantos. Parsons. Sketche Politics. Political Economy. Effy on the public Merits of Mr Pitt. By T. Beddoes, M. D. 3s. 6d. Johnfon. Letters to Archdeacon Paley, on his Objections to Reform, and Apology for the Influence of the Crown. 8vo. 35. Johnfon. Hints to the Electors of Great Britain. The Tribune, Vol. 3. Part 2. Contain- An Effay on Lord Grenville and Mr. Two Plans for enlarging the Port of London. 25. Parfons. The Story of Tom Cole, with Father Thames's Malediction of the Wapping Docks. Is. 6d. Richardfon. Confiderations on Poor Houfes, &c. By Sir W. Young. Is. 6d. Stockdale. The Expediency of amending the Re gulations for reducing the Price of Corn. By H. Gabell. Is. Cadell and Co. Reply to the Inftructions of the Common Council of Oxford, on the high Price of Grain. 1s. Ridgway. Count Rumford's Effays, No. 4. 28. Cadell and Co. Reafons for a general Reform of our Cha- Summary Defence of Mr Burke, By T. Mr Burke's Conduct and Pretenfions confidered. 8vo. IS. Allen and Weft. Letter to Mr Burke. By G. Neale. 8vo. IS. Kearfley. Part of a Letter to R. Adair, Efq. occafioned by Mr Burke's mention of Lord Keppel. 8vo. Debrett. Eaft India Affairs. Debates on the Shipping Concerns taken by Woodfall. 4to. 58. Debrett. Dictionaries, &c. Books for Young Perfons. Stemmata Latinitatis, or an Etymological Latin Dictionary. By N. Salmon. 2 vols. 8vo. Il. IIS. 6d. boards. Dilly. On the Profody of the Greek and Latin Languages. 8vo. 4s, fewed. Robfon. Aftronomy adapted to the Capacities of Youth. By J. Stedman, 2s. 6d. bound. Dilly. Proverbs, Ecclefiaftes, &c. with a Preface. 2s. 6d. fewed. Longman. Mifcellaneous. Letters for Literary Ladies. 8vo. 48. bds. Johufon. Letter to W. Gerrard, Efq. By M. Concanon. 6d. Jordan. An Addrefs to the Ladies from a young Min. Is, 6d. Parfons. The Maltfler's Sure Guide. 1s. 6d. ib. THE good old bailiff accosted his lord views which he had formed to corrupt it ace virtue. Accofting him, begin to bow under the weight of years, could have no root in a foil fo barren. He purfued, therefore, without further fufpicion, his ufual labours; taking, however, the precaution never to leave his daughter without a companion, in his abfence. One morning when he had quitted the cottage about an hour, a hafty meffenger from the caftle terrified Emma' with an account that her father was tak en with a fudden indifpofition as he paffed the gates; and having been fupport ed into the houfe by fome of the domef tics, who had obferved him finking on the ground, the houfekeeper had thought it proper to fend for his daughter, who, by being accuftomed perhaps to these feizures, knew beft how to treat them. The trembling Emma, alarmed to the utmoft degree at a diforder, which had ne ver yet attacked her beloved father, delayed not a moment to follow her conductor; and taking the arm of her friend Agnes, who had been listening to her as fhe was reading aloud, proceeded with tottering fieps to the caffle, diftant from her humble cottage about a mile. When the arrived in the great hall, fhe met with a female of a respectable appearance, and of an advanced age. She eagerly inquired after her father, and earneftly requefted to be permitted to fee him. The housekeeper answered Emma with the appearance of much fenfibility, that Bernard was so perfectly recovered, by a cordial which the had adminifiered, that he had returned to his daily occupation, ignorant that his illness could have reached his daughter's ears. "Thank heaven!" exclaimed the innocent Emma, “ O, madam, accept my humble gratitude for your kind care, and fuffer one of the domeftics to direct me to the ipot where I may find my dear father; I will watch by his fide during the labours of the day, or attend him to our cottage, if he will permit me 'to lead him thither." So faying, he mounted his horfe, and returned to the caftle, revolving in his mind, every practicable fcheme for the feduction of the devoted Emma. He reflected that he had never beheld a female half fo lovely; and as he on no occafion had accustomed himself to combat his inclinations, or fubdue his paffions, he refolved to lofe no time in accomplifhing his defign. The humble fituation of Emma, gave him, in his opinion, an uncontrouled right to her fubmiffion; but he was folicitous, if poffible, to gain an afcendency over her heart, by awakening with her gratitude tenderer fentiments; for this purpofe, he determined to wear the mask of hypocrify a little Jonger, and then to attempt, by every art of foft deception, to fecure her affec- "Be no longer anxious, my lovely tions in his favour. A week elapfed af- child," replied the matron," your father ter the Baron's vifit at the cottage, with- will be here at the hour when the turret out any renewal of his great offers; a bell fhall call the family to dinner; he circumftance that contributed to dilpel promifed to meet my lord's fteward, to thofe fears, which had been awakened receive fome orders from the Baron.' in the bofom of Bernard, by the inter- The unfutpecting Emma thanked her view of the Baron with Emma, and his kind infcrmer, and was departing, but generous profeffions of friendship to him- preffed condefcendingly to continue there felf, profeffions, fo oppofite to the natu- till the return of Bernard, and in the inral ferocity of his temper. Bernard con- terval, to take a furvey of the apartments fidered them no longer in any light, but in the castle, in tome of which, alterain that of a temporary inclination to- tions were making, the confented to wait ward humanity and kindness, which her father's return. While her obliging 3 B 2 guide |