This little piece is a tranflation from the French, and is intended to ridicule the abfurd and foolish practice endeavoured to be impofed upon the public of Animal Magnetism. The turn this impofture has taken in England, as one of the Evening Papers has obferved, might furnish charming materials to a dramatick imagination. The pretended fomnabulism of the magnetick art is affociated with that vifionary methodism which has diftinguished the reveries of Swedenborg and Jacob Belimen, in which battered debauches, difeafed hypochondriacks, guilty Nabobs, and dreaming old women, are tickling and rubbing each other into fpiriritual vifions and intercourfe in the invifible world.

Mrs. Inchbald's farce received every advantage that acting could afford it, and was honoured with univerfal applause.

The performance was preceded by a Prologue, written by Mr. Woodfall, jun.

May 2. Mrs. Jordan performed the part of Sir Harry Wildair for her own benefit; and had the confined her performance to one evening, it would have been without our difapprobation. Since the time of Mrs. Woffington feveral females have been eager to expose themselves in male characters. This, in particular, we remember to have feen Mrs. Crawford reprefent. On fuch deviations from propriety, we think it fufficient to obferve, that they are offenfive and difgufting; and where talents, as in the prefent cafe, are united, deferve every cenfure that can be bestowed upon them.

5. Mrs. Siddons had her fecond benefit, and performed Cleopatra in Dryden's All for Love, or, The World well Loft. This

part is not the most favourable to Mrs. Siddons's ftyle of acting. She performed it, however, with a confiderable degree of excellence, and received the applaufe the merited.

14. The Stone Eater, an interlude by Mr. Stuart, was acted at Drury-lane, for the benefit of Mr. Staunton and Mr. Lamash. The fable was flight, but connected, laughable and farcical, fhort and pleasant, and appeared to afford general fatisfaction to the audience.

16. Mifs Rofs, who, at a very early age, has exhibited at least a dawn of genius in the Opera lately published by her, appeared at Cover -Garden in the character of Sylvia in Cymer, for her mother's benefit. fhail probably fee this young lady again, when he will be unembarraffed by the ap

As we

prehenfions of a first appearance, we shall defer any account of her performance until that time, observing only, that she shewed talents which promife to ripen into excel

tence.

22. A Comic Opera, in two Acts, called Marian, written by Mrs. Brookes, author of Rofina, was performed for the first time at Covent-Garden.

Marian is involved in tribulation by the ufual tendency of daughters to dispose of their hearts without a father's concurrence. Her lover, however, proves objectionable, not by birth, but by injuftice, which had deprived him of his patrimony; the ufurper of which relenting at the point of death, he is restored to his fortune; and of course to the favour of the father of Marian.

The ftory and dialogue are fo little raised above common occurrences and converfation, and the ufe made of a pedlar in the information which develops the plot, is a trick fo palpable, that the audience would probably not have endured them, but for the mufick of Mr. Shield.

Huh! Satire-hush-Attraction, lend thine

eye,

And, Flattery, footh our short-liv'd vanity;
Infpire fair Julia with pathetic grace,
Brighten each eye-and glow in every face;
Grant ber the power with energetic strain,
To melt the heart, and dignify each scene;
Her wond'rous charms let future ages tell,
And record point where lovely JULIA fell:
Then rife again, fair maiden, try thy power,
In thy own native beauty charm us more;
Put off the Tragic defs, and play thy part
In happier fcenes, congenial with thy heart,
And if the Fates decree thee foon a bride,
Thy husband may affume a confcious pride;
The heartfelt pleasure thine-new joys to
trace,

In fcenes domeftic-void of borrow'd grace.
Yet I must own-we matrons think it hard,
To be of all our vanities-debarr'd.

Thus I, long chain'd to—matrimonial duty, Wou'd wish, for once, to shine-a wit and beauty;

Then, Satire, ceafe-nor check our modest pride,

This audience pleas'd-thy cenfure we deride. EPILOGUE, Spoken by Mifs WATTELL.

BEHOLD the victim of her lover's fury, By fpecial grace permitted—I affure yeAppears again to plead before this Jury! O'erwhelm'd with grief, for lofs of my first lover,

'Twas fure but decent to reject bis brother. I hope you don't fufpect I like another. Yet fome perhaps may think this dress too fine,

or one fo lately doom'd to fob and pine, But that's my father's fault (you know) not

mine;

He bade me banifh grief, and mind my toilet, Beauty he faid was frail, and tears might fpoil it.

'Twou'd be too hard, child-ere your Teens expir'd,

To quit the dear delight-to be admir'd, Thus I'm prepar'd-to dance, coquette, or play,

As whim directs, or fashion leads the way. Hard was our fex's fate, in former times! Their flightest foibles, then, were conftru'd crimes;

Confin'd at home-to fpin, and fay their

prayers,

No beaus to flirt with, or to fhew their airs;
In dull domeftic duty-all their merit;
No girl then e'er clop'd -to fhew her spirit.
Hail, halcyon days! when belles affert their
right,

In fports, or gambling, fcorn to be outdone, But with like ardour-to their ruin run. Not fuch our plan-our aim has been this night

To mingle moral precept-with delight; 'Gainft paffion's mad excess to guard the heart,

And leave to either fex-their proper part. 'Tis yours the bufinefs of the world to guide, And o'er the fterner fcenes of life prefide: 'Tis ours-in gentler fcenes to act our part, To foothe your cares with sympathetic art, And with love's milder (way-to rule the heart.

PROLOGU E. Written by Mr. GILLUM. For the FARCE of The GUARDIAN. Spoken by Mr. FECTOR, at his Theatre in Dover, April 24, 1788.

IN BUSKIN now no more I tread the Stage; Daggers are dreadful in this laughing Age. Safe in the Scabbard fleeps the poignant steel, No treacherous rival fhall its sharpness feel; My stock of Poison too 's exhausted quite, Were I difpofed-I cannot die to-night; And deeds of Suicide, we should remember, Suit beft the gloomy feafon of November! Till then, at least, I fhall my death postpone And leave ali barbarous bloody acts alone; Nor will I promise then to keep my word, If with your gracious Plaudits now I'm heard; For Beauty's fmiles fhall diffipate each fear, Whilft at this great Tribunal I appear. Before thefe Judges can I thrink from Trial, Where Candour's pleas have never met Denial?

Each error and defect you'll kindly fcan,
And fcorn to follow Perfecution's plan;
Though here fo harfh a fyftem can't be
found-

In other places has it ne'er gain'd ground?
Affum'd HUMANITY's attractive Veil?
Whilft Britons fhudder at fome fancied
Tale,

Meant only as a Tub to catch the Whale!
The brawls of Bramins now invade the ear,
A pair of half-ftarvd BEGUMS next appear!
CHEYT SING-a Prince-believe me, 'tis

no joke,

For two whole days was not allowed to Smoke!
Afoph ul-Omrab-and ul-Dowlab fee,
And in their Pockets fcarce one poor Rupee !
Here Nabobs, Rajabs are defpoil'd of 1-
Here Indian Ladies left without a Shaw!!
Such Peculation, Robbery, and Plunder,
The hairs of Gamesters stand aghaft with won-
der!

too much."

If

If woe fictitious muft our minds engage, For MISERY IDEAL-feek the Stage!

Let SHAKESPERE'S Images our hearts affail;
The most obdurate melts at Lear's Tale.
Who looks unterrify'd on Banque's Ghost,
Or Tyrant Richard, ere the Battle's loft?
Hears with a heart unmov'd, Othello rave?
Or Moon-ftruck Hamlet on Ophelia's grave?
Who lifts to SOUTHERNE with a callous ear,
Nor yields to Or WAY's tender fcene the tear?
Their claims th' unfeeling dare not difallow;
To fuch pretenfions Envy's felf muft bow.
O could the humble efforts of to-night
From this enchanting circle praise excite,
Our end's obtain'd-nor will we once repine
That others fhare the favours of the Nine;
Their proudest trophies unconcern'd we'll
view,

If our endeavours are approv'd by You.

EPILOGUE

TO THE DEUCE IS IN HIM. Written by Mr. GILLUM. Spoken by WILLIAM FECTOR, Esq. At his Theatre in Dover, 24th April, 1788. FLIRTING her fan-exclaims yon fprightly Mifs,

All other acting is a BORE to this. "Dear Mr. Fector is so sweet a Player, "The DEUCE 15 IN HIM I could almost fwear;

"So vaftly droll---fo perfect in his part; "How well he tampers with a Lady's heart." "Hush---(cries mamma) 'tis fhocking 'pon my word;

"Such language, Charlotte, fhould not here be heard.

"I wish to Heav'n this Play-house was

burnt down,

""Twill turn the head of every girl in town-"With us, I prophefy, 'twill foon be over, "Bedlam is certainly removed to Dover ! "Had we a man of spirit for the Mayor, "Who for our morals had a proper care, "He'd put a stop to such outrageous doing, "And quell at once the mighty mischief brewing.

POE

O DE

Written after vifiting PRESTONPANS.
HEN flain the blooming hero lies
W
Extended on the mournful bier,
Can nature check the fwelling fighs?
Streams not the fond maternal tear?
Away the ftoick's boasted pride,
Which quells the paffions' plenteous tide;

"But what's the power of Aldermen and Mayors,

"When DUKES build Theatres--and LORDS turn Players!"

With due fubmiflion to thefe doubts and fears,

Permit a word or two on acting Peers.
The stage can never wound a parent's heart,
'Tis Dice and Faro point the cruel dart.
By private Theatres, no heir's undone;
Eftates by different PLAY are lost and won.
Ye giddy fair, who blindfold Chance pursue,
Refigning even Love itself to Loo,

At fortune's frowns your fluttering bosoms bleed,

Sometimes most wretched-when ye most fucceed.

Inftead of Whift, let wit and virtue reign, And mighty PAM no more fhall give you pain. Then every figh for tricks and trumps shall

ceafe,

And want of FORTUNE caufe no want of peace;

Then beauty's breast shall no emotions feel,
Nor dread the various turnings of the WHEEL.
Some other plan to please-who'll now fug-
geft?

One has been hinted--but I think in jeft;
To rival him---whose fame all London owns,
First in the noble art of Eating Stones.
That this is faring HARDLY, you'll agree,
And fuch a diet---would be death to me.
But yet, were we fome credulous fools to
follow,

There's fcarce one thing we should refuse to

OD E.

HOR. BOOK III. OD. VI. By BRY. WALLER, Esq. WOULD ye the caufe why Britain droops

her head,

That erft with thunder fill'd the trump of fame;

Why quench'd their fire, their pristine fury fled,

Her lions flumber, heedless of her shame? "That nation bleeds whofe piety decays:" So fung the Lyrift in Auguftan days!

Time was whilft Reafon kept within its shore,

Nor madly brav'd the circumfcribing line,
Ere falfe Philofophy, with wretched lore,
The Deity would found and Heaven confine;
Whilft men more meek walk'd humbly with
their God,

And cheer'd by Faith, with refignation trod :
Time was, a nation blafted to its root,
Defpoil'd of provinces, and robb'd of fame,
Bereft of wealth, its honour prostitute,
The feeble echo of a founding name,
Had pour'd inceffantly the bitter prayer,
And penitential tears mov'd Heaven to spare :
But we, a wifer race, import fresh crimes;
Each nation teems an enervating brood,
Eunuchs and Pandars, drain'd from foreign
climes,

Who fcarcely leave us leifure to be good :
For reeking incenfe far and wide we roam,
And pamper Veftris, while we starve De
Lolme.

Hark! fertile mother of impure defires,
Th' Italian Sorcerefs, with her midnight hoft;
Hence facrilegious joys and impious fires,
Difcarded fhame, and reputation loft:
Crimes, tho' exotic, flourish without toil,
When got tranfplanted to a genial foil!
What wonder, then, in Pleafure's treacherous
tide,

When ftormy paffions fwell the profperous gale,

Whilft warbling Syrens lull the thoughtless guide,

And giddy youth fpreads wide the purple

fail,.

The little skiff of Female Honour fhrinks,
Splits on Ambition, or in folly finks!
Train'd to each meretricious ftealth of blifs,
The tempting leer and animating cheek,
With lips of coral pouting for the kifs,
And fwimming eyes which, more than lips,
will fpeak;

The well-bred matron, lock'd in th' adulterer's

arms,

Glats with clandeftine joys and furtive charms. *Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth.

SLEEP

on in peace, my lovely Fair, Nor let thy gentle breaft E'er doubt thy anxious Cynthia's care

To guard thy ballow'd rest.

Be yours the charge, ye Genii mild !
To ope the breathing flowers,
And with aerial mufic wild

To fill these myrtle bowers.

Whilft bufy Sylphs their magic skill
Shall prove upon her eyes,
And on her purple cheek shall steal

The luftre of the fkies.

So may no fprite, in evil hour,
Meliffa's peace annoy ;
But every flying moment pour
A golden tide of joy :

'Till lightly from the startled maid
The painted vifion move,
And with new charms the shine, array`d
In innocence and love.

OCCASIONAL STANZAS Read after the Dinner at Mr. CADELL'S, May 8, 1788; being the Day of the Publication of the THREF LAST VOLUMES of M. GIBBON's HISTORY, and his BIRTH-DAY.

'By WILLIAM HAYLEY, Efq. GENII of England and of Rome!

In mutual triumph here affuine
The honours, each may claim !
This focial feene with fmiles furvey!
And confecrate the feftive day
To Friendship and to Fame!

Enough