go? To the Strada de San Marco,' said Pedrosa, quickly; and as it is a long way' Santa Maria be praised,' interrupted the old woman, the street where my master lives is just close by it; and as the poor gentleman you say is in so very bad a way, he probably may be dead before you arrive there; in which case you shall be at full liberty to go along with me. Santa Maria be praised! it is all in my way to accompany you thither.' No resource now remained for poor Pedrosa; he was confounded, agitated, and vexed beyond description. Curse on this foolish old woman! curse on my own folly in dressing myself in this unlucky garment! muttered he to himself: the old woman imagined he uttered a prayer for the sick gentleman, and closed every sentence of chagrin with a hearty and long sounding Amen. Fear, and the consciousness of imputed guilt, to a mind unaccustomed to disguise its feelings in the track of vice, render it too often incapable of acting with the appearance of innocence; so that Pedrosa, although had he been really the character he assumed, might have easily got rid of his tormentor: yet, fearful of detection, and trembling at the apprehension of raising the slightest suspicion, his mind was too much harassed to act with the small degree of firmness he naturally possessed. The idea of the punishment, which would inevitably follow the discovery of his real character, after having, as it would be thought, assumed a disguise to perform one of the most holy offices of religion; and the almost certain impossibility he would find in proving his innocence, harassed and distracted his imagination. The poor fellow imagined he had now no other resource but to make his escape by the nimbleness of his heels; and this he determined to do, when they should arrive at the next turning: but the tormenting old hag, as if she actually perceived his design, laid hold of his arm, and kept it so closely linked in her own, that it would have been physically impossible for poor Pedrosa to have deviated a step, without dragging her withered carcase along with him. After a long walk, the unwilling and agitated Pedrosa arrived with his tormentor at the entrance of the Strada de San Marco; when driven to despair, and seeing no other resource, he determined to make his escape by force. The timid barber had just worked up his mind to this resolution, and was turning about to exercise his newly acquired heroism on his withered antagonist, when he beheld a troop of alguazils who crossed the way, and seemed intending to take the same direction. The moon had now risen, and poor Pedrosa recognised with terror the voice and form of one of his customers, who cried out, We crave your blessing, holy father.' Pedrosa slightly nodded, but made no answer. 'This is the Strada de San Marco,' said the old woman, pushing him to the right; it is here where the poor Arrago nion gentleman lives, if he be still alive. Unfortunately, the alguazils turned the same way; this was enough to determine Pedrosa to abandon it: Something from heaven tells me,' said he, in a voice rendered almost inarticulate by fear, that he is now dead; let us hasten to your master.' The old woman seemed to leap for joy; and, eager to take advantage of Pedrosa's compliance, she hurried him along. In a few minutes they halted at the door of a small house, which she immediately opened; and before poor Pedrosa had in any degree recovered from his terror, he found himself ascending a narrow staircase. Good Heaven protect my waster!' muttered the old woman; how unluckily will it be if we should find him already dead!' The tone and manner of this exclamation showed more of interested regret than compassio: but her fears were soon dissipated by the sound of a violent coughing; and she sprung with alacrity to the door of a small bedchamber. Here, my good and worthy master.' said she, with a voice of the most profound grief, Santa Maria has heard my prayers, for I have brought you the most worthy and most holy father in all Madrid.' Pedrosa entered, and stared around him at every thing in the apartment, which was only lighted by a small lamp, which stood at the bedside of an aged man, seemingly struggling with death. It was indeed a miracle,' resu ned the old woman, to have mit auch this holy man at such a late hour bat nothing is impossible to Sa Maria, and she always helps m to every thing I have a mait. The sick man regarded Pedrosa for a moment, then kissing a small ivory cross, which he held in his hand, he raised his eyes to heaven: Othou almighty Power!' said he, who hast scourged me in thy wrath, great and manifold are thy mercies; at the hour of death thou hast dawned peace and comfort upon my departing soul!-Holy father,' added he, turning his eyes towards Pedrosa, thy presence, and the comfort of thy heavenly council, in my dying moments, were all I dared to pray for: Heaven has heard my request, and I shall end a life of misery and regret, with comparative calmness and tranquillity. Into thy bosom will I pour the secrets of an agonised mind. The old woman by this time had left the room, and Pedrosa had seated himself by the bedside of the dying gentleman: his courage was at first the effect of despair; but he was now on VOL. XXXVIII. the point of obtaining possession of an important secret, a thing at all times pleasing to Pedrosa. He reflected within himself that he should at least be free from detection, while he remained in the apartment: he had escaped discovery by the alguazils, and he determined, the mo inent he should again breathe the open air, speedily to divest himself of the unlucky garment, which had created to him so much uneasiness. These reflections passed rapidly through the mind of Pedrosa, and served to rouse the small degree of firmness he naturally possessed. Imitating as well as he could the tone of mild sanctified benevolence- Put thy trust in Heaven, my son,' said he; it will never abandon the righteous.' True, holy father,' said his sick penitent; but I fear I have been guilty: sometimes I fear I have carried what may be termed the prejudices of my education too far; I sometimes fear I have sacrificed too much to the opinion of the world; but Heaven knows my intentions were to preserve unsullied that dignity which God and nature had conferred upon me, by the virtues of a long line of ancestors; virtues equally pleasing to heaven and beneficial to their fellow greatures, and which, till obscured by my misfortunes, shone forth in the persons of their illustrious descendants, bright examples of the dignity of human nature, amidst the darkness of a degenerate age.' The old man could proceed no farther. The vehemence with which he had uttered these last words was too great for his debilitated form to bear, and he appeared nearly fainting; when Pedrosa pulled from his pocket a small phial, which he always carried about him, to reanimate the courage and spirits of his suffering patients: this he applied to the nostrils of the sick gentleman, and X having made him swallow a few drops, saw with pleasure that he began to revive, and a few moments of rest seemed to re-animate his whole frame. Pedrosa begged if he had any thing on his mind, to reveal it; assuring him that he would find his account in the other world, by a candid confession in this: adding that his prayers should be always directed either for the restoration of his penitent's health, or the repose of his soul. The arguments which Pedrosa used upon this occasion, though not couched in the most elegant form, passed unobserved by the sick gentleman, who seemed wholly absorbed in the retrospection After a few minutes of past events. passed in silence, he desired Pedrosa to seat himself upon the bed. The cautious and inquisitive barber bolted the door of the apartment, and immediately took his station: he bent his head with eager curiosity over the emaciated object, which lay before him; the pale glimmering of the lamp exhibited a set of features at once noble and impressive; his eyes, though seemingly about to be closed for ever, were faintly illumined with that animation which habitual dignity of soul seldom fails to inspire. Pedrosa very devoutly formed the sign of the cross upon his large and manly forehead, and again urged him to unbosom himThe sick man self without reserve. grasped the sleeve of Pedrosa's habit, Hear then,' said he, the ignominy of a man whom the world once accounted noble; the misfortunes of him whom mankind had agreed to cill happy if through thy veins, holy father, runs the least particle of hereditary greatness, thou wilt learn how little the conservation of that dignity is in our own power, when Heaven wills the humiliation of the pride of man. But I forget myself: my time, I feel, is short, and, : of my woes.' ACCOUNT of the new COMEQY called Town and COUNTRY; or, WHICH IS THE BEST?' performed for the first Time at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden, on Tuesday, March 10. THE characters were thus represented: Plastic, Cosey, The Rev. Owen Glenroy, Hon. Mrs. Glenroy, Mr. Murray. Mr. Kemble. Mr. Brunton. THE PLOT. Plastic, a dissipated young man of fashion, and Cosey, a stockbroker, accidentally meet at the house of Mr. Trot, a wealthy cotton-manufacturer, father-in-law to the former. During their stay at that gentleman's country-house, Plastic learns that Cosey is on his road to Wales, to visit his ward, Miss Rosalie Somers, whom he has placed at the house of the rev. Owen Glenroy. The two families of Somers and Plastic are at enmity, on account of a former elec tion contest. Plastic, from motives of revenge, forms a base design of attempting to seduce Miss Somers (whom he had formerly seen), but not knowing her place of residence, in hopes to discover it, tells Coscy he Failing in is going the same road, and requests to join him company. this, he follows him. Coscy, after much personal danger, from which he is rescued by the intrepidity of a stranger, reaches Wales, and recognises his preserver in the person of Reuben Glenroy, whose attachment to his ward he discovers. Reuben, -called upon by the voice of distress during a severe storm of snow, rushes out, and in a short time returns supporting Plastic, apparently lifeless who, when recovered and finding himself in the same house with Miss Somers, to further his designs, assumes the name of Maitland. Unlooked-for circumstances aid his wishes, and he not only contrives to carry away Rosalie Somers from the protection of her friends, but also to make it appear that she consented to an elopement with him, and succeeds in bringing her to town. Reuben, after having passed the night on the mountains, succouring the distressed travellers, returns, and hearing that Rosalie has eloped with the man he preserved, sinks into apathy, from which he is roused by the intelligence that his brother Augustus, by habits of fashionable extravagance, is on the brink of ruin. Hoping to save him from the vortex of dissipation into which he is plunged, he consents to accompany Cosey to London. Rosalie, notwithstanding all Plastic's caution, eludes his vigilance, and accidentally meeting with Trot, is, by that gentleman, placed under the protection of the hon. Mrs. Glenroy. Cosey and Reuben arrive in town: the former gentleman furnishes the latter with the means of relieving his brother's necessities.- Reuben loses no time in waiting at his house-meets with Mrs. Glenroy, makes himself known, and acquaints her with the purport of his visit; prevails upon her not to go out that evening, and promises to bring her husband home. Reuben then goes to a subscription-house for play, where he knows his brother was to pass the evening; and while waiting in an anti-chamber, Augustus rushes from the gaming-table, ruminating on his distresses; and goaded by despair, is on the point of committing suicide, when Reuben arrests his arm, and prevails upon him to go home to his family, having first learnt from him that he has pledged his commission for a gaming debt to Plastic. Reuben's next interview is with Plastic. He redeems his brother's commission; and Plastic, wishing to know to whom he is so much indebted, listens to Reuben's story, and finds he is known: but Reuben still thinking that Rosalie has voluntarily left her friends, and that her affections are fixed upon Plastic, and having promised that his life should be devoted to her happiness, prevails upon him to sign a written promise of marriage with the lady. Reuben, in company with Cosey, meets Plastic according to appointment, at the house of Mrs. Glenroy -Rosalie being introduced, an eclaircissement takes place, which exposes the ingratitude of Plastic, and the young lady bestows her hand and fortune on Reuben Glenroy. The comic parts of the comedy arise from the incidents which are attached to Cosey, a stockbroker and a cockney; Trot, a great cotton-manufacturer; and his wife, a would-be woman of ton; Hawbuck, a lad brought up in a Yorkshire school; and Mrs. Glenroy, a sprights ly elegante. REMARKS. As Comedy implies a picture or representation of the prominent fea tures of mankind, in which the pe culiar virtues, vices, and follies, are displayed, exposed and ridiculed; those dramatic writers deserve most praise who are the ablest in delineat ing what appears to be the closest copy of nature, without encumber ing the scene licence, and scorning the unities, in With faultless Monsters which the world troduces us to Sir Richard Ark ne'er saw. In this view we are pleased and charmed with the admirable writings of Shakspeare, the wit of Congreve, the intrigue and vivacity of Farquhar, and the dry quaintness of Goldsmith, so lasting and so attractive. In the new comedy of Town and Country,' &c. although some may be of opinion that it has not the qualities now described in their very highest degree, yet every impartial observer will readily admit that it has what constitutes a good and a rational entertainment; and that Mr. Morton has been very successful in the two last acts, in evincing some admirable efforts of the nervous and the pathetic. He has very happily contrasted the characters of Cosey and Trot; the former a strong advocate for the town, and the latter a strenuous pleader for the country. Although the choicest sentiments of this new comedy be not very striking for novelty, yet they arise so naturally and are dressed in such becoming simplicity, that they often make a very lasting impression on the mind. Reuben Glenroy bears occasionally a very close resemblance wright's spinning jennies in the north-then carries us suddenly into Wales and afterwards brings us back again, with the same poetical rapidity, to London, where the piece concludes. The proprietors have been at considerable expence in scenery and decorations; and the success of the piece will, no doubt, amply reward them for their laudable exertions to please. The performers acquitted themselves in a very laudable manner. Kemble's acting was in his very best style; and Fawcett, Emery, and Blanchard, were very successful. Mrs. Glover and Miss Brunton were very deservedly applauded. The Prologue and Epilogue (for which, see the poetry) were very well received; the first was spoken by Brunton, and the latter very humorously by Fawcett and Blanchard. Notwithstanding some. designed and illiberal opposition, the piece was given out for a second representation amidst the loudest plaudits. Sir, MAGAZINE. to Penruddock: like him, he appears To the EDITOR of the LADY'S deserted by the object of his fondest wishes; like him, in bitterness of heart he recites the injuries inflicted on his wounded spirit, and, like him, is generously anxious to relieve his treacherous betrayer. This assimilation may, however, be accidental; for, as Mr. Sheridan very truly observes, in his preface to The Rivals' THE serious alarm excited by dogs becoming mad in several parts of the town and country, which has very properly drawn the attention of the magistrates, and occasioned them to issue notices requesting that all persons would shut up their dogs, has induced me to send you the following account of the nature and mode of treatment of the Hydrophobia, or that dreadful disorder which ensues in consequence of the bite of a mad dog. It is extracted from the Mr. Morton, with Shakspeare's new edition of the London Medical Faded ideas float upon the brain like half-forgotten dreams, till the fancy in her fullest enjoyments becomes suspicious of her offspring, and doubts whether she has created or adopted.' |