Venice Preferved. the dying fcene, he was very fortunate, but through all the reft much more like a heavy-headed, methodical, faturnine pedagogue, than what the author

meant.

Mr. BENSLEY is as formal, though not fo important as the last mentioned gentleman, and aims much more at lavished applause than critical propriety, forgetting this indifputable truth in public life, that he who modeftly steals through an arduous undertaking, is much more commendable than the person who confidently expofes inadequate abilities, and endeavours to pass them current by the stamp of felf-fufficiency.

Mr. HOLLAND, in the character of Pierre, gave evident marks of the fchool where he originally ftudied acting, we mean the spouting-club, stiff without dignity, and fonorous without meaning, totally void of originality, mounted and hobbling on the aukward tilts of imitation. Mr. AICKIN, in a modest prologue, lately placed himself beneath this gentleman, but he need not have paid his abilities fo bad a compliment.

Renault was admirably fupported by Mr. SPARKS, who fhewed fomething in the representation of him that we have never feen hit off by any performer but himfelf; in giving the charge, in profeffing fycophantic friendship for Jaffier, and in the confusion occafioned by Pierre's reproaches, he far outftripped all competition. Mr. BURTON gets through him without deferving praife, yet does not incur cenfure. If the part was about half as long again, there would

be

Venice Preferved be danger of his setting an audience asleep, but, as it is, he paffes off as an inoffenfive relief to attention. We apprehend Renault to be more in Mr. GIBSON'S compafs, than any other tragedy part

whatever.

Mr. HAVARD was as pleafing in Priuli as the part would admit'; nor was Mr. RIDOUT void of confiderable merit. Mr. BANNISTER, at prefent, fuftains it with ability at Drury Lane, and Mr. HULL fhould rescue it from lefs able talents at Covent Garden.

Belvidera is an amiable, confiftent character, conftant and rational in affection, fuperior to the frowns of poverty, yet poffeffed of quick and delicate fenfibility; the towers' above misfortunes, while they affect circumstances only, but naturally finks under an accumulation of unhappy effects wrought by them.

Mrs. CIBBER and Mrs. BELLAMY, had each fingular merit in this part; however, the former, who had a countenance moft exquifitely formed to express anguish and distraction, far furpaffed her competitor in those scenes where deep and violent feelings occur, while the latter, from an amorous glow of features and utterance, excelled in the paffages relative to conjugal affection; her defcription of the madness, fuch as it is, was preferable to Mrs. CIEBER'S, because more difengaged.

Mrs. BARRY treads clofe on the heels of the two ladies mentioned, and, if not so strikingly conspicuous in particular places as either, fhe is more equal through

Xx 2

Venice Preferved. through the whole than both; what her countenance wants of expreffion, fhe makes up in a confiderable fuperiority of figure, being poffeffed of a more amiable dignity of appearance than any theatrical lady we remember.

To fum up our opinion of this tragedy, we shall obferve, that OTWAY feems to have had little elfe in view than catching the paffions at any rate, which most certainly he has effected; breaches of decorum and delicacy were no objects of his caution, he wrote to the heart without properly remembering the head; wherefore, his plot, though tolerably regular, will, we apprehend, from what has been obferved, appear defective. His language is free, and his verfification flowing, but the latter is not always correct, nor the former chafte; his fentiments are lively and pathetic, but in many places ftrained, and in more licentious. As to his characters, we cannot offer a better general criticism than that of Mr. ADDISON, who writes in one of the Spectators as follows:

"The greatest characters in VENICE PRESERVED are those of rebels and traitors; had the hero of this play difcovered the fame good qualities in defence of his country, that he fhews for its ruin and fubverfion, the audience could not enough pity and admire him; but, as he is now reprefented, we can only fay of him, what the Roman hiftorian fays of Cataline, that his fall would have been glorious, fi pro patria fic concidiffet, had he fo fallen in the fervice of his country."

The

A COMEDY by Mr. FooT E.

THE author of this piece has always been al

lowed a pleasing peculiarity in his dramatic writings; they evidently discover that excellent definition of wit, a quick conception and an eafy delivery. The comedy now before us, was ushered originally into public view by a prelufive fcene between Mr. FOOTE, in his private capacity, and two buckish critics of his acquaintance. In the first part of their difcourfe, fome very fenfible and spirited remarks on thofe objects moft proper for ridicule occur. We may discover that a charge of too much perfonality in his fatire, led the author into this able defence of himself: it being alfo a ticklish point, to expofe even most egregious and prejudicial enthusiasm on the stage; he prepared the audience for what they were to expect, and has in the following payfage, beyond confutation, juftified his defign; not only as free from cenfure, but as worthy national countenance and applause.

Speaking of that burlesque upon religion and common fenfe, Methodism, he says emphatically: "This is madness, which argument can never cure; and fhould a little wholefome feverity be applied, perfecution would be the immediate cry: Where then can we have recourse, but to the comic muse? Perhaps the archness and severity of her smile may redrefs

Minor.

redress an evil that the laws cannot reach, or reason reclaim."

Sir William Wealthy and his brother Richard, open the first act. A difference of opinion relative to education, is the fubject of their conversation; the baronet is lectured with a confiderable fhare of good fenfe by the merchant, for giving his fon a fafhionable education; and he judiciously retorts upon the cit, those prejudices which arife from contracted ideas and a defective knoweldge of life. From the latter part of this fcene we find, that one is a liberal, the other a rigid father; that Sir William has tenderly laid a fcheme for the reformation of his fon, while Richard has difcarded a daughter for fome trifling trefpafs.

Capias, the attorney's letter, is humourously characteristic; and Shift, who is recommended as a proper agent for Sir William's defign, gives, in his conversation with that gentleman, a most ludicrous account of his birth, parentage, and education; the picture of his progrefs through life, is in the true Hogarth ftile of dramatic painting; and the ludicrous account of his own abilities, makes Sir William lay open his defign for the reformation of his diffipated heir; a defign commendably laid; as fevere feelings of thofe ill confequences which gaming in particular produces, are most likely to work a change of conduct in thoughtlefs youth. Shift's readiness to enter upon any service for his own emolument, and the defign expreffed in his foliloquy, of fticking to the most profitable party, fulfil the idea furnifhed by his name.

The