Cyrus. trufted with the murder of fuch a part, than Siffredi and many others he ftands in poffeffion of; befides getting rid of Mr. WROUGHTON at any rate is much to be wished.

1

Conscious of Mrs. YATES's very forceable expreffion, the author has endeavoured, and not unhappily, to furnish her feveral opportunities of displaying capital talents; through every change of tenderness, rage, fear, affection and distraction, The fhews powers which must work strong and natural feelings upon the audience; tears, apprehenfions, and even a degree of astonishment wait on her Mandane; judicious tranfitions of voice, happy variations of countenance, and picturesque attitudes unite to make this the most finished piece of female action we remember to have feen, except Mrs. CIBBER's Alicia and Conftance; indeed it is fo much beyond what we behold at prefent in general, that it is not surprising to hear people say, instead of "We are going to fee Cyrus," We are going to fee Mrs. YATES.

Afpafia is a very inoffenfive, though unneceffary young lady, very loving and very dutiful, introduced we know not why; difpofed of at last we know not how; no abilities could make any thing of her in performance, therefore Mrs. MATTOCKS, whom we cannot admire in tragedy, is as fufferable as any one else,

The plot of Cyrus is in many places wrought up with pleasing perplexity, but falls into a patched-up catastrophe; the first, second and fifth acts are languid; the third and fourth ftriking and spirited; the

language,

Cyrus.

language, abating fome few flips, chafte; the fentiments juft, though not very poetical, and the verfification unaffected, but nerveless; in fhort, Mr. Hoole has fuccessfully 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 ftrong fimilarity to Merope and Douglas, with a comparison, leffen its merit; as it wants the fentimental, pathetic dignity of the former, and the pastoral, picturefque fimplicity of the latter public opinion has run much in favour of this piece in representation, 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 escape, she strives 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 fcene 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 fa'ther, 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 fatisfies 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 anfwered 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 promife of mentioning the matter no more, is very natural; his escape from the dilemma is alfo well conceived in promifing that things fhall go no farther.

On being informed of lord Ogleby's speedy approach, after fome humorous remarks on the peer's letter, Sterling breaks out with purfe-proud fufficiency respecting his own tafte and ability for entertaining perfons of the firft rank; ignorant oftentation is here fhewn in gtaring colours, and the whole fcene is agreeably fuftained; 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 ob tained.

The enfuing scene between Mifs Sterling and Fanny, exhibits a ftrong 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, The 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 Bril"liant, and Polly—what d'ye call it-Lord Squan"der's kept miftrefs."

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 beha VOL. I. viour,

Li

1