splendour of its powers. It is comes first out of his hands ; and there that it loves to combat emis indeed at no other time, if he is nence; it is there that it attacks but an ordinary man: in this case he it with so much the greater advan)- is no more capable of judging, than tage, that it can conceal the hand of writing well : he sees no excelthat strikes the blow. Confounded lence beyond what he has reached. in a tumultuous crowd, it is not But experience proves, that, after obliged to blush. It has moreover the moment of composition, a man so little to do, and the theatrical of superiour talents and information enthusiasm is so feeble and so ea- can judge himself, as well and even sily disturbed, the judgments of better than any other. I shall men there assembled are depen- produce very striking proofs of dent on so many circumstances, this, when I come to speak of Volover which the author has no con- taire. At present all that I require trol, and are decided by motives is, that we pardon Racine for havsometimes so trisling that, when- ing had reason to be angry, when ever a party has been formed a- his judges were in the wrong to gainst a good dramatick work, the condemn him. success of it has been impeded or The publick soon recovered retarded. Examples are not want- from its errour; Britannicus reing ; but if I had only that of mained in possession of the stage ; Britannicus, abandoned in its first and Racine, in an edition of his representation, would not this be collected works, suppressed his sufficient ?

first preface. We readily pardon We see by the preface which injustice, when it is repaired. He the author placed ať the head of had not however forgotten it : this the first edition of his piece, that is manifest from the manner, in he warmly resented this injustice. which he expresses himself conIt is but too customary to allege cerning the fortune of this tragthis kind of sensibility, as a crime edy. “ You see here, of all my in men of talents, although there pieces, that on which, I can truly is none perhaps more excusable, say, I have laboured with the or more natural. No doubt there greatest care. Nevertheless 1 would be much philosophy in de- acknowledge, that the success of taching ourselves entirely from it at first was not answerable to my our works the moment we have hopes. It had scarcely appeared composed them ; but I demand upon the stage, when there arose of those, who know a little of the a host of criticks, who threatened human heart, how this cold indif- its destruction. I thought indeed ference can be compatible with that its destiny would be less hapa that divinity of imagination, which py, than that of my other trageis necessary to produce a good dies ; but finally it happened to tragedy? To require things so this piece, as it will always to contrary is to be as reasonable as works that have some merit....the the woman in La Fontaine, who criticks have disappeared, and the wanted a husband neither cold nor piece remains. It is at this time, jealous. The fabulist judiciously of all my productions, that which adds, “ Mark well these two the court and the city see repeatpoints.”

ed with the most satisfaction ; and I know the vulgar objection,that if I have done any thing which has an author cannot judge himself. any solidity, and which merits any No, to be sure, not when a work praise, the greatest part of the bes

judges agree in opinion this it is, sensible, than in Andromache. this same

Britannicus.” Vol. Nevertheless the union of the two taire, too, seems to be of this opin- lovers is traversed by the jealousy ion. He has somewhere said, of Nero ; the life of the prince is « Britannicus is the tragedy of the threatened, as soon as the characconnoisseurs." Nevertheless he ter of the tyrant is developed, and esteemed Athaliah before it for the his death is the catastrophe, which merit of invention and the sublim- terminates the piece. What is ity of the style, and Andromache the reason, then, that love produand Iphigenia for theatrical effect. ces here impressions much less But, it will be said, if this effect is lively, than in Andromache? If the first object of the art, how can we search for the reason of this, there be any thing that the con- we shall find, that the study of noisseurs prefer? I answer, noth- tragedy is at the same time the study ing surely, when to this effect are of the heart. I have reniarked, at united the other sorts of beauties, the theatre, that love, combatted which the same art admits, as in by foreign obstacles, however inIphigenia and Andromache. But teresting it may be even in that these connoisseurs distinguish case, is never so much so, as it is that in a work, which the nature by the torments which arise from of the subject affords to the author, itself; and afterwards comparing from that, which he can owe only the theatre with nature, of which to himself. We have pieces upon it is the image, I have been conthe stage which draw many tears vinced that this relation is exact, from the audience, which, never- and that the greatest evils of love theless, have not procured any are not commonly those which great reputation to their authors ; happen to it from abroad, but those for example, Ariane and Inès. which it makes for itself. NothWhy? It is because, with much ing is so much to be dreaded by interest, they fail in many other lovers as their own heart. Diffiqualities, which constitute dramat- culties, dangers, absence, separaical perfection ; and the feebleness tion, nothing bears any comparof other productions of the same ison with the torments of jealousy, authors have shown, that a man of the suspicion of infidelity, the horordinary talents, in treating of cer- rours of treachery. I shall have tain situations, more easy to man- occasion to apply and to investiage than others, and more natural- gate this principle, when I come ly interesting, may obtain success; to examine, why Zaire and Tanwhereas there are other subjects, crede are the two pieces, in which in which the author cannot support love is the most distressing, and himself, but by the most exalted cause our tears to flow in the greatabilities in all parts of the art, and est abundance and the most bitby beauties, which belong only to terness. the greatest talents : and of this Junia and Britannicus are two kind is Britannicus.

very young persons, who love each The circumstance which excites other with all the sincerity, good pity in this piece is the mutual faith, and candour of their age. love of Britannicus and Junia, and A painting of their love could ofthe death of the young prince; fer nothing but the softest touches. but love is here much less tragi. Their passions are as ingenuous cal, and has an effect much less as their characters. They are sure of each other, and if the arti- every day more sensibly felt, and fice of Nero causes to Britannicus to have excited increasing admiraone moment of inquietude, it can- tion. The enemies of the author, not excite him to any desperation, to console themselves under the and one moment afterwards he is success of Andromache, had said, reassured. This love therefore that it was true, he understood how has nothing in it to take a strong to treat of love ; but that this was possession of the souls of the spec- all his talent ; that he would never tators, which we cannot entirely be able to design characters with command but by strong and mul- the vigour of Corneille, nor to tiplied shocks. The death of Bri- treat like him of the policy of tannicus, therefore, related in the courts. Such is the course of prejfifth act, in the presence of Junia, udice : they take revenge, for the produces more of horrour for Ne- talents which they cannot refuse ro, than of compassion for her ; to a writer, by refusing him those her love has not occupied place which he has not yet attempted to enough in the piece for the catas- employ. Burrhus, Agrippina, trophe to make a very lively im- Narcissus, and above all Nero, pression: The soft and feeble were a terrible answer to these un. character of Junia excites no ap- just prepossessions. But this anprehensions of any terrible, and swer was not at first understood. the resolution she takes to place The merit of a piece, which uniherself in the number of the vestal ted the art of Tacitus with that of virgins, tho' conformalle enough Virgil, escaped the observation of to the manners and decorum of the the greatest number of spectators. age, is not a very tragical, event. The word politicks is not once This fifth act is therefore the fee- pronounced ; but the policy which ble part of the work, and it is that reigns in courts, more or less in which gave the greatest advantage proportion as they are more or less to the enemies of Racine. But corrupted, has never been painted they closed their eyes to the beau- in characters so true, so profound, ties of the four former acts ; beau- and so energetick, and the colours ties of such excellence, that for a are worthy of the design. century they seem to have been

To be continued.

GOLDSMITH AND JOHNSON. The following is an extract from the “Memoirs of Richard Cumberland, written by himself," à very interesting work, which has juft appeared from the press of Messrs. Brisban & Brannan, of New York.

At this time I did not know had soon an opportunity of conOliver Goldsmith even by person ; vincing him how incapable I was I think our first meeting chanced of harbouring resentment, and to be at the British-Coffee-House ; how zealously I took my share in when we came together, we very what concerned his interest and speedily coalesced, and I believe reputation. That he was fantashe forgave me for all the little tically and whimsically vain all the fame I had got by the success of world knows, but there was no my West-Indian, which had put settled and inherent malice in his him to some trouble, for it was heart. He was tenacious to a ri. not his nature to be unkind, and I diculous extreme of certain pre

tensions, that did not, and by na- Deserted Village, Traveller, and ture could not, belong to him, and Hermit are all specimens beautiat the same time inexcusably care- ful as such, but they are only birds less of the fame, which he had eggs on a string, and eggs of small powers to command. His table- birds too. One great magnificent talk was, as Garrick aptly compar- whole must be accomplished before ed it, like that of a parrot, whilst we can pronounce upon the maker he wrote like Apollo ; he had to be the ó pointng. Pope himself gleams of eloquence, and at times never earned this title by a work a majesty of thought, but in gene- of any magnitude but his Homer, ral his tongue and his pen had and that, being a translation, only two very different styles of talking. constitutes him an accomplished What foibles he had he took no versifier. Distress drove Goldpains to conceal, the good qualities smith upon undertakings, neither of his heart were too frequently congenial with his studies, nor obscured by the carelessness of worthy of his talents. I rememhis conduct, and the frivolity of his ber him, when in his chamber in manners. Sir Joshua Reynolds the Temple, he shewed me the was very good to him, and would beginning of his Animated Nature ; have drilled him into better trim it was with a sigh, such as genius and order for society, if he would draws, when hard necessity diverts have been amenable, for Reynolds it from its bent to drudge for was a perfect gentleman, had good bread, and talk of birds and boasts sense, great propriety with all the and creeping things, which Pida social attributes, and all the graces cock's show-man would have done of hospitality, equal to any man. as well. Poor fellow, he hardly He well knew how to appreciate knew an ass from a mule, nor a men of talents, and how near a-kin turkey from a goose, but when he the Muse of poetry was to that saw it on the table. But publishart, of which he was so eminent a ers hate poetry, and Paternostermaster. From Goldsmith he Row is not Paraassus. Even the caught the subject of his famous mighty Doctor Hill, who was not Ugolino ; what aids he got from a very delicate feeder, could not others, if he got any, were worthi- make a dinner out of the press till ly bestowed and happily applied. by a happy transformation into

There is something in Gold- Hannah Glass, he turned himself smith's prose, that to my ear is into a cook, and sold receipts for uncommonly sweet and harmoni- made dishes to all the savoury ous ; it is clear, simple, easy to be readers in the kingdom. Then understood ; we never want to indeed the press acknowledged read his period twice over, except him second in fame only to John for the pleasure it bestows ; ob- Bunyan ; his feasts kept pace in scurity never calls us back to a re- sale with Nelson's fasts, and when petition of it. That he was a poet his own name was fairly written there is no doubt, but the paucity out of credit, he wrote himself of his verses does not allow us to into immortality under an alias. rank him in that high station, Now though necessity, or I should where his genius might have car- rather say the desire of finding ried him. There must be bulk, money for a masquerade, drove variety, and grandeur of design to Oliver Goldsmith upon abridging constituie a first-rate poet. The histories, and turning Buffon into English, yet I much doubt if, with an oppositionist, for he preferred out that spur, he would ever have to talk against the tide. He would put his Pegasus into action ; no, indubitably have been no member if he had been rich, the world of the Whig Club, no partisan of would have been poorer than it is Wilkes, no friend of Hume, no by the loss of all the treasures of believer in Macpherson ; he would his genius and the contributions have put up prayers for early risof his pen.

ing, and laid in bed all day, and

with the most active resolutions Who will say that Johnson him- possible been the most indolent self would have been such a cham- mortal living. He was a good pion in literature, such a front- man by nature, a great man by rank soldier in the fields of fame, genius ; we are now to inquire if he had not been pressed into the what he was by compulsion. service, and driven on to glory Johnson's first style was natuwith the bayonet of sharp neces- rally energetick, his middle style sity pointed at his back? If for- was turgid to a fault, his latter tune had turned him into a field style was softened down and harof clover, he would have laid monized into periods, more tunedown and rolled in it. The mere ful and more intelligible. His exmanual labour of writing would ecution was rapid, yet his mind not have allowed his lassitude and was not easily provoked into exlove of ease to have taken the pen ertion ; the variety we find in his out of the inkhorn, unless the writings was not the variety of cravings of hunger had reminded choice arising from the impulse him that he must fill the sheet be- of his proper genius, but tasks imfore he saw the table-cloth. He posed upon him by the dealers in might indeed have knocked down ink, and contracts on his part subOsbourne for a blockhead, but he mitted to in satisfaction of the would not have knocked him down pressing calls of hungry want ; with a folio of his own writing. for, painful as it is to relate, I have He would perhaps have been the heard that illustrious scholar asdictator of a club, and wherever sert (and he never varied from the he sate down to conversation, there' truth of fact) that he subsisted must have been that splash of himself for a considerable space strong, bold thought about him, of time upon the scanty pittance that we might still have had a col- of four-pence half-penny per day. lectanea after his death ; but of How melancholy to reflect that his prose I guess not much, of works vast trunk and stimulating appeof labour none, of fancy perhaps tite were to be supported by what something more, especially of po will barely feed the weaned inetry, which under favour I con- fant ! Less, much less, than masceive was not his tower of strength. ter Betty has earned in one night, I think we should have had his would have cheered the mighty Rasselas at all events, for he was mind, and maintained the athletlikely enough to have written at ick body of Samuel Johnson in Voltaire, and brought the question comfort and abundance for a to the test, if infidelity is

any

aid twelvemonth. Alas! I am not to wit. An orator he must have fit to to paint his character : been ; not improbably a parlia- is there need of it ; Etiam mortuus mentarian, and, if such, certainly loquitur ; Every man, who can

nor