first appearance in the parts of Sir Bafhful Conftant and Lazarillo, in both of which he was received with every poffible mark of approbation, and for four seasons he enjoyed a moft ample fhare of public favour.

On the abdication of the late Mr. King, Mr. Cherry was engaged at Drury-lane, where he made his debût on the 25th of September, 1802, in the characters of Sir Benjamin Dove and Lazarillo, and was received with as much applaufe as we remember to have been ever shown to a new performer*. From this prefage, and the many proofs of talent that he has fince given, the public have been led to wonder that he has not been more frequently and honourably employed than he has been in ftage bufinefs; but the policy of theatrical rulers, like the mysteries of modern philofophifm, too often furpafs all human understanding.

Quitting now Mr. Cherry's character as an actor, it remains for us to notice him as a dramatic author.

On the 7th of February, 1904, he produced a Comedy at Drury-lane Theatre, called "The Soldier's Daugh. ter," which was received with unbounded applaufet, in a run of thir y. feven nights, and added large fums to the treatury funds of the Theatret.

On the 9th of May 1805, a little operatic sketch of one act, written by him, and called " Spanish Dollars; or, The Priest of the Parish," was produced at Covent Garden, for the benefit of Mr. Incledon, to whom he prefented it as a token of friendship. This piece was received with applaufe, and has been feveral times fince repeated.

On the 15th of the fame month, he gave Mrs. Mountain, for her benefit at Drury-lane, a comic sketch called "All for Fame; or, a Peep at the Times," containing fome pleafant ridicule of the rage for boy actors, &c.

On the 18th of July last, a Comedy of his was produced at the Haymarket, under the title of " The Village; or, The

• See Europ. Mag, Vol. XLII, F. 218. + Ibid. Vol. XLV, p. 138.

We are told, (Thespian Dictionary,) that this play was fome time in the polfeffion of the Proprietors before it was produced; and that another piece of Mr. Cherry's had been previously kept fo long, that the plot was at length rendered ftale by the reprefentation of other novelties.

World's Epitome," which, when prefented to Mr. Colman, received, we are told, his decided approbation. Mr. Cherry was acting in Manchetter while the piece was in rehearsal, and confequently loft the opportunity of retrenching thofe fuperfluities, fupplying those deficiencies, and correcting those errors, which are often not perceived till a piece is put into action. Certain it is, however, that either from this circumstance, or from its being unskil fully caft in fome of its parts, or perhaps partly from each of thefe caufes, the piece was very roughly handled by a part of the audience, and after a fecond night's reprefentation, was entirely withdrawn, attended with fome` unpleasant altercations, which are correctly detailed in our XLVIIIth Volume, p. 47, 48. "The

His Musical Drama, called Travellers; or, Mufic's Fafcination," was written early in laft featon, but was then prevented from appearing by the unexampled attraction of Master Betty; all idea of dramatic novelties being then fwallowed in the fashionable vor tex of adoration paid by the public to this extraordinary boy. Since the time of its being written, it has undergone confiderable alterations, for the purpofe of calling in the powerful aid of Mr. Braham and Signora Storace. It was firt prefented on the 22d of January laft; its fuccefs has been unprecedented, the money receipts of the houfe being greater, we are told, than were ever known in the Theatre*. After a run of twenty-three nights, its attraction continues undiminished †.

Mr. Cherry, report fays, has a Comedy of five acts accepted by the Theatre, but not yet put into rehearsal; alfo a Melo drame upon a very popular fubject; both of which, it is probable, will meet the public eye in the courfe of next winter feafon.

In private life, the fubject of this Memoir is esteemed and respected by all who know him; his qualities are of the domestic kind; his temper placid and conciliating, and his converfation various, and well ftored with anecdote. In all his purfuits, whether as author or actor, he is rigidly induftrious, and feems not to confider the most difficult task as laborious, if the furmounting it promifes to add to the comforts of his amiable wife, and her numerous offspring.

IN N the laft Volume of Public Characters (1806,) p. 122, it is afferted that the Marquis del Campo, late Ambassador from Spain, was bred at the Blue Coat School. A gentleman who was perfonally known to the Marquis, doubts this; but as it poffibly may be a fact, he will be obliged to any Correfpondent, who, through the medium of the European Magazine, will elucidate this circumitance, or give, any further particulars relative to this diplomatic Character.

26 March, 1806.

PAWNS.

To the Editor of the European Magazine.

I

SIR,

HAVE obferved in your Mifcellany a description of the Areka or betel root, by Mr. Hutchinfon, who feems to have dwelt confiderably upon moft of the properties of this vegetable, yet it appears fingular that he has omitted to give the nature of pawns, which I shall here defcribe. Mr. Hutchinfon has befides made a moft palpable error in regard to the betel leaf, which he obferves is foporific, and from the intoxicating qualities it poffeffes, renders it a favourite of the natives. How Mr. H. could have fallen into fuch a manifelt error, I cannot determine, fince he feems to have travelled over India: he likewife afcribes a greater odoriferoufnefs to the areka, than the betel, which I fuppofe he must have meant, for I cannot confider the areka to exceed the aromatic fragrance given by

areka.

The delightful fragrance of the betel plant is molt grateful to the fenfe, but it is neither intoxicating nor foporific. In the pawns the lower clafs ufe tobacco, opium, &c.; from which circumftance it may not be improbable, Mr. H. might have confidered the betel caufing drowfinefs, a mistake not unfrequently made. The areka when gathered, is folded in two or three leaves of the betel or pawn, with the chunam or lime made from calcined fhells, which lime extras a very beautiful red juice from the areka: the higher claffes connect the areka and pawn leaf with chunam, and several aromatic ingredients; the whole is formed into a paste, and the areka being cut into fall pieces, by an inftrument on purpose, compounded together, comprifes what they term a real Sureta pawn, fo much estimated in Indoftan. The natives appropriate gardens on purpofe for the growth of the betel, and attend their culture with the utmost care, guarding them from the heat of the fun, which at times is exceffive. The medicinal virtues of

eating pawns, is to correct acidity, promote digeftion; for which purpofe they are confiderably inferior to our own remedies, and confequently can be of no ufe, could the ingredients be cultivated here. The mode they purfue in China and Indottan with the areka, is to calcine it gradually, till it becomes black in the centre, and afterwards it is rendered into a fine powder, and is unquestionably the belt dentrifice that can be used, at all events it is the most fafe and innocent. The areka will afford a permanent ink when fresh, by parboiling it; and alum will fecure it from being evanefcent. could wish to enclofe a sketch of this plant, but I have not by me now a drawing; if I fhould, I will fend it, with notes.

I am, Sir,

I

Your obedient fervant,
RICHARD WINSTANLEY.