private theatres, to fay it was well enough for Ladies and Gentlemen, that we were agreeably furprised to find the exhibitions of Richmond Houfe Theatre extremely powerful in point of performance. Lord Henry Fitzgerald and the Earl of Derby are both of them fo well qualified to fill the fcene, that we heartily wifh two Comedians of any thing like equal merit were now to ftart up and ornainent the stages of DruryLane and Covent-Garden. Nothing could be more impreffive, more energetick, nor more like reality than the jealouty of Felix as difplayed by Lord Henry, nor more eafy, fpirited and natural than the Colonel Briton of Lord Derby. Captain Merry's Liffardo alfo was a moft arch and whimsical performance. Lopez, Pedro, and Gibby, were well reprefented by Mr. Ogilvie, Lord Edward Fitzgerald, and Major Goodenough. The Violante of Mrs. Damer was, like all her works in the different arts, hit off with peculiar neatness, tafte and fpirit. The capital fcene between her and Felix was acted on both fides with great force and character, Mrs. Hobart's Flora proved to us demonfirably, that he is a lady of more than ordinary theatrical judgement. Her manner of giving the fide fpeeches was most happy and intelligent. Mifs Hamilton's beauty, aided by a very fenfible mode of delivering the dialogue, rendered Ifabella truly capti yaling.

The farce was in all its parts well performed. We have few Comedians on our eftablished stages, who could difplay fuch an eafy air of coxcombry as Mr. Edgecumbe threw over the character of Young Clackis.

It was, truly fpeaking, the coxcombry of a gentleman, and not the extravagant humour of a buffoon, which is too often the cafe with the profeffional reprefentatives of fops. Mrs. Damer in Lucy, with fingular addrefs, marked the diftinction between the mid and the mittrets, her manners being obviously of a different ftyle from thofe the exhibited in Violante. She gave, however, a good proof that a lively familiarity is a fufficient characteristick of a fervant, and that to ftamp inferiority of ftation there is no neceffity for affuming a boldness and a vulglarity, that more frequently difgufts than pleafes. The bashfulness and embarrassed fituation of mind of Harriet was very happily pourtrayed by Mits Campbell, and the laughable humour of Old Clackit worn with great eafe by Captain Merry. Had Garrick been alive and feen Lord Derby in Heartly, he would have rejoiced that his Guardian was in fuch refpectable hands.

The drefles were extremely beautiful, and what is ftill better, theatrically confidered,

extremely appropriate. Attention to character is, generally speaking, shamefully neglected in dreffing our actors and actrelles. More regard is frequently paid to what would decorate the perfon, than to what becomes the part, where the Comedian has intereft or power enough to order his own drefs. That worn by Felix was of white fattin, fplendidly decorated with gold lace, the cloak of crimson velvet, richly bordered; it became Lord Henry exceedingly. Ifabella's dress was uncommonly graceful; Liffardo's correctly characteristick; and all the others, as we have before said, proper and diftinguishing.

The Theatre was crowded, and, as may be fuppofed, chiefly with persons of the highest rank, and most respectable character. The Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchefs of Gloucester, Princels Sophia, the Duke and Duchets of Devonshire, the Duke and Duchefs of Ancafter, the Duchess of Leinfter, Lady Albemarle, Lady Stormont, Lady Ailefbury, Lady Tufton, Lady "Mary Coke, Lady Hotham, Mifs Fox, the Duke of Athol, Lord Stormont, Lord William Ruffel, Sir Charles Hotham, General Conway, Colonels Fitzpatrick and Ashe, and many others of Nobility and exalted families were prefent.

We rejoice exceedingly that the Duke of Richmond has taken the lead in having a private Theatre in town. It may prove a matter of importance to national morality, and may tend to correct the diffipation of the times. Theatrical performances, both to the actors and auditors, are rational and inftructive amusements. They may mend, they cannot injure the minds of those who dedicate their time to them. Unfortunately, the reverfe is the true character and effect of various other fashionable means of enter. tainment, most of them being either actual vices, dangerous follies, or matters of mere frivolity and waste of time

*

PROLOGUE, Written by Dr. FERRIAR, And fpoken before the Reprefentation of OROONOKO, at the Manchester Theatre, Nov. 20, 1787.

WHEN Truth appears in Fiction's fav'rite

feat,

That, when th' impetuous Comet runs
Athwart a wilderness of funs,

Tells it what mandate to obey,
Nor ever wander from its way;
Till back it haften whence 'twas brought,
Beyond the boundaries of Thought!
Let not the ftudious Seer reply,
" Attraction regulates the Sky,
"And lends each orb the fecret force,
"That urges on, or checks its course;"
Or with his Orrery expound
Creation's vainly fancied round.

Ah! quit thy toil, prefumptuous Sage!
Destroy thy calculating page;
No more on Second Caufes plod;
'Tis not Attraction, but 'tis GOD!
And what the Universe we call,
Is but a Point, compar'd to A!l.

Such Blifs the fenfate bofom knows,
Such blifs Indifference ne'er bestows;
'Tho' fmall the circle we can trace,
In the Abyss of time and space,
Tho' Learning has its limits got,
The feelings of the Soul have not;
Their vaft excurfions find no end;
And Rapture needs not comprehend!
'Tis true, we're ign'rant How the Earth
Wakes the first principles of birth,
With vegetative moisture feeds
To diff'rent purpofe diff'rent feeds;
Cives to the Rofe fuch balmy fweet,
Or fills the golden ear of Wheat,
Paints the ripe Peach with velvet bloom,

Or weaves the thick Wood's mingling gloom;
Yet, we can wander in the bow'r ;
Can tafte the fragrance of the Flow'r;
Drink the rich Fruit's nectareous juice,
And bend the Harveft to our ufe.-

Then give thy pure perceptions scope,
And foothe thy heaving heart with Hope.
HOPE fhall instruct my forrowing friend;
Her foul's fine fervor ne'er can end;
But when her limbs by Death are laid
Beneath fome yew-tree's hallow'd fhade,
Shall bid her foaring fpirit know
The Seraphim's ecitatic glow.
Then fhail the Effential Mind confefs,
That Anguish has the power to blefs;
That Feeling was in bounty given,
And own the Sacred Truth-in Heaven.
DELLA CRUSCA.

The VISIT to the DOCK YARD,'

Up, that will never fail her.

And ere they left fair London town,
Could they have feen fo far, Sir;
Each window gave to light them down
-A farthing-candle ftar, Sir.
But ftrange their route, as people say,
So retrograde their motion !
They came and went ten times a day,
As moves the fickle ocean.

And there did ring the merry bell

So luftily and chear, Sir;
The very deaf might hear as well

As thofe that had their ears, Sir,
But beft it were to ftop, I ween,

For thereby hangs a story,
That feems alone to lye between
-The Sexton and L-f-y.

The guards march'd down in gay parade,
The Royal Sons to greet, Sir,
And when they long enough had ftay'd,

-March'd up again the street, Sir.
At length when rakes and crickets fing,
And fober folks were dozing,
And Dock bells 'gan eleven ring,

The Prince he pops his nofe in.

At morn, the Princes being come,
As foon as perp of day, Sir,
With roar of cannon, beat of drum,
And mufick all fo gay, Sir,
The welcome news was told aloud,
And ftrait the doors did open;
And forth there iffued fuch a crowd,
As can be nam'd by no pen.

The Captains all put on fo gay

?

The gala drefs-and then, Sir,
The Prince commanded I-'lasaday!
-To pull it off again, Sır.
Then was fuch work, and looks awry,
Unfrizzing and undreffing;
Whilft their new-made cloaths lay by,】
With many a hearty bleffing.

And now to view the Dock they go,
Attended by their fuite, Sir;

Of rabble route a goodly fhow,
That follow'd down the street, Sir.

And

And many a question did they alk,
Right knowing, wife, and able,
Of oakum, tar, yard, fail, and maft,
Hemp, cordage, rope and cable.

And then fe quick! the thing they caught,
Almoft ere you could speak, Sir;
Nor ftaid a minute to be taught,

-Where you 'ad have ttaid a--week, Sir, Their penetration was fo clear,

And quick their comprehenfion; As you would be furpriz'd to hear, And 1 muft blush to mention.

Let Peter take a tedious time *,
And toil with hand and tool, Sir;
Before fuch genuffes fublimie,

Great Peter-was a foul, Sir.
They took one hour, or was it two?

(God blefs the royal Geotges!)
Th fhips, the docks, the guns to view,
The rope walks, and the forges.
And then to fee our ships and bay,

They forthwith went afloat, Sir;
In Princely pomp, and proud array,

All in a lonely boat, Sir.
Whilft all the harbour, low and high,

So thick with boats was crowded,'
That not a fifa could fee the fky;

-Becaufe-it was beclouded.
And there, our men of war to great,
And fhips of every bulk, Sir,
In all their order, form and state,

They faw--on board-a hulk, Sir fi When in the midst of all the fhow,

Cries H-ng-r to his Highmefs, With watch in hand, "The battle now, Egad I draws to a fus.”

And now, fatigu'd and hungry, hence

They haften'd ene and all, Sir;
The Princes went to dine, and thence
Away went to the bali, Sir.
Now God he with the Royal Three,
From January to December;

And grant henceforth that what they fes
--They ever may remen.ber.

Lehwithiel, Jan. 11, 1783.

P. S.

ODE to the OLD YEAR, 1787, IEF courtly bards in courtly lay

Invoke the Mafe on New Year's day;

Prophetic, future days unfold, Or tell again the tales of old; For me, I pay in frains fincere,

A grateful tribute due to the departed year. Glad have I fren our native ine

In wealth, in peace, in honour smile;

The balance held with fteady hand, And Difcord cease at her command, The dogs of war compell'd to wait, And Janus clofe again his half-unfolded gate, I love the months whofe calm career Has left me what my heart holds dear; Has given me health, and peace, and eafe; Who would not fing for gifts like thefe ? Of these the fente muft till remain,

To mark this polith'd link of the eternal chain.

Time, the confoler, comfort brings,
Borne on his variegated wings;

He fteals away the rofe, 'tis true,
But then the thorn is blunted too.
Illufive hopes before him fly,
And all Imagination's vain chimeras die.
Thofe bitter griefs, and fleeting joys,
Which Fancy's bufy pow'r employs,
To retrospective reason feem

The phantoms of a troubled dream :
The fev'rish vifion fades away,

And leaves the foul in peace her tenement of clay.

I view the focial circle round,

And every friendly face is found; My heart expands within my breast, Each gloomy felfth care at reft; Grateful I fing, in ftrains fincere, Praife to the Pow'r Supreme who guides the rolling year.

Nor

NCE to fam'd Eton ev'ry Mufe retir'd, And youth was there with love of Science fir'd;

* Lord Viscount Dudley.

Far-beaming Knowledge rais'd her glorion head,

Thence verfe and learning through the land were spread:

Late hither led by Hampton's rifing fame,
To unknown chimes the facred Mufes came
Here folter'd by the Trutt, the Mufe fhall
rife,

And Hampton's fame fhill reach the diftent kies.

Some future Pope thou, --9 thalt infpire With claffic learning and poetic fire;

Far hence the Gothic tafte the Mufe fhall cince,

And fmooth the manners of a barbarous

race.

Then, Dudley, fhall the fing thy muchlov'd name,

Where worth and honour boaft an equal claim;

Who lends to mifery a willing ear,

And in foft pity hears the fuppliant's pray'r.`
Nor fhall the Mufe forget to fing the mauf,
Form'd independent on the nobleft plan;
Sent by his country to defend her caufe,
To guard her Monarch, and protect her
laws.

When riper years fhall call us forth to share
Life's anxious troubles, and its various care,
Then may we imitate our prefent Truft,
And Stamford's virtue teach us to be just,

The Author's Reafon for avoiding the Prefence of his Mitrefs, without having de clared his Sentiments to her.

To a FRIEND.

THO' the no more thall blefs my fight,
Tho' ne'er my paffion was declar'd,

I love her, by yon evening light,
Which oft my grief-full tale has heard.
Yet tho' it feels the keeneft wound,

My foul has no complaint exprefs'd---
Ah, fearful left the woe-fraught found

Should give a pang to Daphne's breast. For well I know her gentle mind;

And well I know if the bad feen How much my heart with love declin'd, Prefs'd by the weight of grief within;" To fee me wretched, well I know, My Daphne had been wretched too— So quick to feel another's woe!

To fympathy's fine touch fo true! And wherefore caufe the maid I prize

One tear, one figh, one moment's pain? Ah, fooner may thofe tearful eyes Be clos'd, no more to wake again. Earl of Stamford.

O hadft