Cyrus.

language, abating some few flips, chafte; the fentiments juft, though not very poetical, and the verfification unaffected, but nerveless; in fhort, Mr. Hoole has fuccefsfully availed himself of a good original to fabricate a piece that acts prettily; without being in any shape great, it is in many refpects pleafing.

The strong fimilarity to Merope and Douglas, with a comparifon, leffen its merit; as it wants the fentimental, pathetic dignity of the former, and the pastoral, picturefque fimplicity of the lat ter public opinion has run much in favour of this piece in reprefentation, and the managers have fubftantial reason to call it a good play; but we dare believe neither one fide nor the other will contend for much merit in perusal.

THE

THE CLANDESTINE MARRIAGE.

A Comedy.

By Meff. GARRICK and COLMAN.

WE have either obferved, or meant to observe,

that spirit and propriety of character, vivacity of dialogue, wit, and variety of incidents, are the constituent parts of a good comedy; many of late have got into the ftile of mere fentiment, and chitchat picked up from novels, which they are vain and idle enough to fuppofe compleat dramas; if fuch authors are right, Ben Johnson, Wycherley, Congreve, Farquhar and Cibber, were undoubtedly wrong; licencioufnefs, 'tis true, has difappeared, but in general it seems as if wit and pleafantry, who were too long united with fo bad a companion, had followed their old ally; how far the child of poetical partnership now before us has fallen into or avoided the fashionable languor let candid confideration declare.

Fanny, merchant Sterling's youngest daughter, is acquainted by the maid Betty, at the opening of the play, that her husband is just come from London; as Fanny is fearful that any hint of her fecret match with Lovewell fhould efcape, fhe ftrives to check, but with little effect, the maid's babbling impatience, whofe frequent mention of what fhe is defired to be fo cautious of, fprinkles the scene with laughter; but we apprehend, however natural in private, the pregnant ftate of Fanny

need

Clandeftine Marriage need not have been fo much infifted on.-Love

well finding Fanny in tears, occafioned by her apprehenfive fituation, fooths her in terms becomingly tender. She preffingly urges making their marriage public, which he objects to, both on account of her fifter's approaching nuptials with Sir John Melville; the mercenary, vain difpofition of her father, and the ignorant ambition of her aunt Mrs. Heildelberg: however, he promises to make the discovery foon, and conceives favourable hopes from his affinity to lord Ogleby: this satisfies the Jady, who, on going out, is met by her father.

The merchant charges Lovewell with following his daughter, and upon the young man's mention of himself as a husband for her, Sterling, citizenlike, hints a deficiency in pecuniary qualification; Lovewell's arguments of perfuafion are all anTwered and defeated, by his not having the recommendatory stuff; Sterling's peculiarity through this fcene is entertainingly expreffed, and the confufion that Lovewell is thrown into by urging him to a promise of mentioning the matter no more, is very natural; his efcape from the dilemma is alfo well conceived in promifing that things fhall go no farther.

On being informed of lord Ogleby's fpeedy approach, after fome humorous remarks on the peer's letter, Sterling breaks out with purse-proud fufficiency respecting his own tafte and ability for entertaining perfons of the first rank; ignorant oftentation is here fhewn in gfaring colours, and the whole fcene is agreeably fuflained; the foliloquy

of

Clandeftine Marriage.

of Lovewell opens his defign of making Sir John Melville a confidant; that through him Lord Ogleby's approbation and confent may be obtained.

The enfuing fcene between Mifs Sterling and Fanny, exhibits a strong contraft of difpofition, the former fhews coquettish extravagant vivacity, the latter modeft fenfibility; the ladies are fupported in their different lights with confiderable merit, and Mifs Sterling's raillery of her grave fifter, gives great spirit to the scene; her notions of gay life are very happily expreffed, and one of her fatirical ftrokes is excellent; fpeaking of her finery, fhe lets fall this tart and pleasant farcafm, on the folly and profufion of licentious gallantry" The jeweller fays I fhall fet out with as many dia"monds as any body in town, except Lady Brilliant, and Polly-what d'ye call it-Lord Squan"der's kept mistress."

Mrs. Heidelberg's entrance, produces a fresh vein of humour; her opiniated confequence, ignorant vulgarifm of expreffion, and impertinent bustle, mark her character ftrongly; her abrupt behaviour to Fanny, and her partiality for Mifs Sterling, fhew further what we are to expect from the old lady; from their converfation, we may perceive that the favourite niece entertains fome doubt of her lover, Sir John Melville, which Mrs. Heidelberg endeavours to fet afide by interpreting his coldness polite delicacy; this cccafions the young lady to give a pleasant sketch of Lord Ogleby's amorous tendency. Sterling's anxiety about the elegance of his entertainment; his fifter's inftruction for polite behaVOL. I. viour,

I i

Clandeftine Marriage. viour, and Canton the Swifs domeftic's appearance, all co-operate to end this act in an agreeable preparative manner for what is to come.

The second act opens in an apartment adjacent to Lord Ogleby's bed-chamber; Brush, the nobleman's valet, appears gallanting Sterling's chambermaid, in the true ftrain of imitative quality; his coxcombry and the girl's coming fimplicity are extremely well fupported.

Nothing can be more happily imagined, or better conducted than the introduction of Lord Ogleby, whofe figure and manners make irrefiftable appeals to laughter; nor is the Swifs fycophant Canton any way unequal to the ennobled oddity, his master; Canton's infinuation that both the Mils Sterlings feem attached to his Lordfhip, is not only a fine attack upon the peer's weak fide, but works up Ogleby to a moft ludicrous opinion of his influence amongst the ladies; the merchant's praise of the accommodation his houfe affords, and his intention of hurrying the feeble peer from one fpot to another, for fake of viewing what he prefumes tafteful improvements, keeps up the dialogue with much pleasantry.

Sir John Melville's entrance is only to draw Lovewell into a private conference, which might have been effected, as we apprehend, much better without neceflitating the baronet to come upon fuch a trifling errand-Sterling's inadvertent attack upon Ogleby's conftitution and appearance, fhews plainly the forward, unreferved trader, who will speak his joke at any rate; a circumftance plainly irksome to his Lordship, though he feems to pafs it off agreeably.

The