treated accordingly by several of the D. P.--Harwood falls in love with Agnes, not knowing that she is really the heiress--she pretends to be ill-tempered and expensive-Harwood's love for her makes him overlook these faults-in the last scene she puts him to a severe Trial—a letter is delivered into his hands, in which Agnes pretends to have been guilty of malicious falsehoods-Harwood is so affected that he faints-on his recovery he tells Agnes that they must part for ever-an explanation takes place, and every thing is set to rights-this is a moderate play-Sir Loftus Prettyman is a good character-in the 4th act Harwood makes his exit from his lodgings at Bath-he is instantly discovered at Withrington's house in the environs of Bath-in the 5th act Agnes, &c. exeunt from Withrington's house-they instantly re-enter at Bath-these absurdities are disgusting. 3. De Monfort-the subject of this T. is Hatred -see D. L. April 29 1800. Vol. 2. The 3d edition of this volume was printed in 1806 -the 1st seems to have come out in 1802. 4. The Election - Baltimore is of an ancient family, but decayed estate-Freeman is a clothier who has acquired a very large fortune by his own industry--he settles in Baltimore's neighbourhood -purchases a considerable part of the land which belonged to Baltimore's ancestors-and unintentionally annoys Baltimore in so many ways that Baltimore conceives a most violent hatred to him-they are both candidates for the borough of Westownin the 4th act Freeman falls into Baltimore's pond -this is a bad incident, as it is not at all accounted for-Baltimore saves Freeman's life - Freeman is grateful-but this does not abate Baltimore's animosity-at the conclusion, Baltimore and Freeman turn out to be brothers by the father's side-and a reconciliation takes place. -Miss Baillie's object in this C. was to represent Hatred-in this she has been completely successful-Baltimore and Freeman are very good characters, and well contrasted-the other parts of the play have not much to recommend them and the resemblance between it and the Nabob seems too great to have been accidentalMiss Baillie has been guilty of her usual fault-in the 3d scene of the 5th act one attorney says to another" Have not you and I gone between them "with at least half a dozen messages?"-this is utterly impossible under the existing circumstances -at p. 34 Mrs. Freeman says-" If there should be "no other alternative "there can be but one alternative. The Election was turned into an Opera (as the bill says) with the approbation of Miss Baillie-it was acted at the English Opera House in the Strand for the 3d time on June 10th 1817-Baltimore= H. Johnston: Freeman Bartley: Charles Baltimore = Horn: Truebridge=T. Short: Peter Chatterley: Servet Wilkinson : Mrs. Baltimore Mrs. Chatterley Mrs. Freeman Mrs. Grove: Charlotte Freeman Miss Kelly :-Bartley looked and acted Freeman particularly well. = = = 5 and 6. Ethwald-Ambition is the subject of these plays-Ethwald is the younger son of a Thane of small consequence-on hearing that Oswal King of Mercia is passing by at the head of his troops, he makes his escape from his father's castle-a battle ensues-Ethwald particularly distinguishes himself, and is made an Earl-Ethwald, with the assistance of Alwy, who is an artful adventurer, secretly excites another war-Ethwald again distinguishes himself- he becomes so popular among the soldiers that he aspires to the crown-he wishes however to shed no more blood than may be necessary to accomplish his purpose-he becomes King-Oswal is killed-Edward, the heir to the throne is imprisoned-Elburga the daughter of Oswal is proud and imperious--she consents to marry Ethwald-Bertha, to whom Ethwald had been attached, enters distracted -just as the marriage ceremony is about to take place, Ethwald is wounded, and to all appearance, mortally—with this the 1st part closes-in the 4th act, Ethwald, on hearing from a boy, who attends him, some particulars about the Druids, goes to Ethelbert's chamber-Ethwald and Ethelbert enter instantly—a conversation of some length is supposed to have passed, tho' no time is allowed for such a conversation-Ethelbert says "Then by the morrow's midnight moon we meet "At the Arch Sister's cave: till then farewel!" 5 lines more are spoken and then Ethwald and Ethelbert re-enter at the Cave of the Druids-the scene is a good one-the absurdities by which it is preceded, are the more inexcusable, as they might easily have been avoided. The 2d part begins with Edward discovered in prison-in the 3d act, two ruffians murder him in an inner apartment-Ethwald and Alwy are on the stage--this is the best scene in the play-Ethwald becomes bloody, and commits murders without scruple-Ethelbert, the friend and instructor of his youth and Selred, his own brother, are imprisoned and killed-Ethwald is wretched and suspicious of every body-he is perpetually afraid of seeing the ghosts of those whom he has murdered-in the last scene several Thanes break into his apartment and kill him-Miss Baillie has drawn the character of Ethwald in a masterly manner-she flatters herself that either of these plays might with little trouble be fitted for representation-the best alteration would probably be, to contract the two parts into one, if it could be done there are several scenes, particularly in the 2d part, which might be omitted, or shortened, to advantage. 7. Second Marriage-Seabright, a gentleman of independent fortune, had been left a widower with a large family of children-between the 1st and 2d acts, he marries Lady Sarah from interested motives she is the sister of Lord Allcrest - Seabright, through the influence of her brother, becomes a Member of Parliament-he is made a Baronet, and looks forward to a Peerage--he loses his property by a foolish speculation - Lady Sarah leaves him— Morgan, the uncle of his first wife, who is rich, takes care of the children and the domestic comfort, which had been interrupted by Lady Sarah, is restored this is a dull Comedy-Robert's disguising of himself as the devil is a poor incident, and badly managed-Miss Baillie says, she has given a view of Ambition, as it is generally found in the ordinary intercourse of life, excited by vanity rather than the love of power. Vol. 3. The 1st edition of this volume came out in 1804 -the 2d in 1805-the plays contained in it form no part of the series of plays on the Passions. 8. Rayner-the scene of this T. lies in Germany -Rayner had reason to expect that he should have inherited the large property of his great uncle-he was however deprived of it by the artifices of Hubert, who had prevailed on the old man to bequeath to him his wealth-Rayner was naturally much disappointed-in this state of mind he had formed an acquaintance with Count Zaterloo-the Count is the chief of a band of lawless Gentlemen, whose fortunes, like his own, are ruined--they induce Rayner to join them in their intention of murdering Hubert -he is separated from his associates in a storm, and is at some distance from them, when the murder is committed he is taken up on suspicion and condemned to death-Elizabeth, to whom he was betrothed, and Hardibrand, an old General, who was the friend of his father, use their utmost endeavours to obtain his pardon-but without success-in the last scene Rayner is led off to his execution-Ohio, a negro, to whom Rayner had shown some kindness, saws the main prop of the scaffold across-the executioner, who mounts the first, falls down with the |