As you Like it.

Adam is a moft interefting old man, and though little seen, must always remain in the recollection of a diftinguishing spectator; we dont recollect to have received greater pleasure from any body than Mr. MOODY, in this faithful fteward; whofe tender fenfibility must fit well also upon the feelings and expreffion of Mr. HULL.

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Touchstone, in sentiment and expreffion, is made of whim, a character quite outré; therefore in action cannot be tied down to any exact line of nature. Mr. MACKLIN marked the meaning of this character very strongly, but wanted volubility; Mr. WOODWARD is extremely pleasant, and indulges an extravagance not cenfurable; however, in refpect of pointedness and spirit properly mixed, a forceable yet free articulation, Mr. KING ftands foremost in our estimation.

We remember to have had the fingular pleasure of seeing no less than five ladies perform Rofalind with great merit, whofe names we fhall fet down in the fucceffion allotted them by our judgment; Mrs. BARRY, Mrs. PRITCHARD, Mrs. WOFFINGTON, Mifs MACKLIN, and Mrs. HAMILTON; the three former had a very evident fuperiority over the two latter, and the two first we deem fo equal in merit, that we only prefer Mrs. BARRY as having a more agreeable, characteristic appearance; Mrs. WoFFINGTON'S figure was unexceptionable, but her utterance and deportment were too ftrongly tinctured with affectation, especially for the rural fwain; there is a peculiarity and embarraffment of expreffion in

this

As you Like it. this part which requires good natural parts or able instruction, to hit it off happily.

Celia has a good deal of pretty, unimpaffioned speaking, as well calculated for Mrs. BADDELY and Mrs. W. BARRY as poffible, nothing is wanted in the part which those ladies cannot agreeably furnish; and Audry in Mrs. BRADSHAW's hands, deferves the tribute of laughter, for being well figured, and as well spoke.

It is almoft needless to remark, that as not one of SHAKESPEARE's pieces is without abundant beauties, fo not one can claim the praise of being free from egregious faults; however, in As You LIKE IT, the latter fall very fhort of the former; and we make no fcruple to affirm, that this piece will afford confiderable inftruction from attentive perufal, with great addition of pleafure from adequate reprefentation.

We are now come to the end of our first volume, with the very fingular fatisfaction of not having one material objection, either public or private, offered against our humble endeavours, notwithstanding that living authors and performers have been treated with undifguifed, and we hope liberal freedom; if any perfon mentioned in the foregoing fheets can prove a trace of partial, interested friendship, unbecoming timidity, or determined malevolence; if the praise and cenfure alternately beftowed on the fame perfons do not appear founded upon reafon and nature, or at least the offspring of involuntary error, the authors of this work will then give up all claim

to

As you Like it. to the unbiaffed veracity they originally professed; and they once again declare, that no connection or view whatever, fhall, in the continuation of this work, warp opinion: feveral attempts have been made for that purpose, but without effect; which they hope will prevent any future ones; critics, like the Roman, fhould exercise justice, even upon a fon.

It was intended to add an investigation of each performer's particular requifites and defects, but by refpectable advice, which we fhall always follow, that part of our defign is deferred to the last number of the fecond volume; to which alfo we fhall add a differtation upon public elocution in general, and lay down rules by which most of our criticisms on performance may be tried.

We have nothing further to add at prefent, but cordial gratitude for the very candid reception we have met; and hope that our flips, as feveral there must be in fuch a variety of confiderations, may be pointed out with the same spirit of kind cenfure, we have used to others; in the fulness of heart we declare that praise in every inftance has given us confiderable pleasure, and the irksome neceffity of finding fault, has furnished an equal degree of pain.

The lift of theatrical mushrooms is alfo by defire poftponed to the end of the next volume, when it will no doubt be confiderably enriched.

The End of the FIRST Volume.