an attorney, from motives of malice towards the Duberly family. Soon after this chandler is invefted with his title, it appears, that Henry Moreland had been faved, when near expiring after the wreck, by Mr. Steadfaft, a fellow passenger, and they both arrived safely in this country. Henry Moreland does not know of the death of his father, and hearing of Lord Duberly, he naturally fuppofes that the elevated chandler is that father. Fearful, however, of agitating an affectionate parent, who fuppofed him dead, by the sudden surprise of an unexpected return, he begs his friend, Mr. Steadfaft, will wait upon his father, and reveal the agreeable event. Henry Moreland firft pronounces an high eulogium on the talents, knowledge, and dignified character of his father, and prepares his friend Steadfast for certain marks of aristocratic importance, and perhaps too flourishing a parade of language, the refult of parliamentary fpeaking. Steadfast readily undertakes the office, and much diverfion arifes from his disappointment in finding old Dowlas fo different from what he, expected, according to Henry Moreland's account of his father. The interview produces no explanation, for Steadfast concludes that he had been misled by filial regard, and old Dowlas fuppofes, when Steadfaft informs him that his fon was fafe, that he meant Dick Dowlas, his own offspring, whom he had articled to an attorney in Derby fhire, and whom he fent for to town, that he might participate in the new-obtained honours of the family. Before Henry Moreland quitted England, he had formed an attachment to Caroline Dormer, the daughter of a refpectable merchant, who dies,. however, in embarraffed circumftances. Dick Dowlas, who has arrived in town, at his father's defire, is accompanied on his journey by a country friend, named Ezekiel Homefpun, and his fifter, Cicely Homefpun, to whom Dick Dowlas is attached, and intends to marry, before he hears of the profperous turn in the affairs of his father.-The fudden elevation intoxicates

him, and after fome ftruggles between his old honest feelings, and the new-born pride of rank, he proposes to Ezekiel to take his fifter into keeping. The honeft ruftic feels the utmoft indignation, and renounces all connection with Dick Dowlas. The latter, however, is in reality a good lad, and fenfible of his mifconduct, and of the merit of Cicely, he waits on her, avows his penitence, and offers her his hand. Caroline Dormer, before the knew of the lofs of her money at the banker's, and while the expected protection from the friend of her father, had advertised for a maid- fervant, and had taken Cicely into her fervice. Ezekiel Home. fpun having found a lottery ticket, purchased by his late father, applies to know the event, and has the good fortune to get a prize of twenty thousand pounds. As Mifs Dormer had behaved with great kindness to his fifter, he lays his bank notes upon the table, and bids her take all the likes.-At this time, however, Kendrick, her old faithful Irish fervant, meets Henry Moreland in the ftreet, and leads him to Caroline, whofe happiness in finding a lover the fuppofed dead is exquifite. At length old Daniel Dowlas finds that he has poffeffed a title and eftate to which he has no right, and he quietly refigns it to The Heir at Law, who promifes him a liberal provifion. The real Lord Duberly marries Mifs Dormer, Dick Dowlas is united to Cicely, and all the parties are finally happy, except poor Dr. Panglofs, who having been promifed an annuity of three hundred pounds a year by the pretended Lord Duberly, his lady, and their fon, if he purfues the mode of education which each recommends, is, by their degradation to their original state, reduced from his fuppofed nine hundred a year to the hopeless profpect of living by his wits.

In the progrefs of this play, the author has worked up the intereft to a high pitch; in doing this, however, he has been "cruel only to be kind," and has relieved the feelings by a natural progreffion of amufing inci

dents,

dents, which excite a fair laugh, without once having recourfe to the modern trickeries which have difgraced our ftage, to the prejudice of genius and common fense.

The character of Doctor Panglofs is new to the ftage.--Though the name may be found in Voltaire's Candide, the two characters bear no refemblance.The eccentricities of Panglofs create much merriment; and his title-page Learning, is a good fatire on fofne of our copious dealers in quotation.-Fawcett appeared to understand his part.-The flip-flop of Lord Duberly is given in a finished ftyle of genteel vulgarity by Suett.Palmer's Dick Dowlas has fome excellent acting in it; and Johnstone's Old Irifhman is altogether as admirable as novel. But the character of Ezekiel Homespun, managed by Munden in a style of very fuperior acting indeed, would be alone fufficient to mark him as an actor of nice difcrimination and great ability.

Mrs. Gibbs did every juftice to the fimplicity and fweetness thrown into the character of Cicely; and Mifs De Camp delivered fome beautiful language and "polished periods," put into the mouth of Caroline Dormer, with "good air and emphafis."

The Prologue was written by Colonel North, and was not unworthy of his talents; the Epilogue by Mr. Colman, was spoken by all the characters, and has much pleasantry and point, as well as novelty to recommend it.

The play was received with the warmest applaufe, and was announced for Monday with the zealous approbation of the audience.

-19.

17. Heir at Law-Purfe-Crofs Purposes.Ditto-Honeft Thieves.-19. Ditto-Deaf Lover.

RICHMOND

RICHMOND THEATRE.

JULY 21.

Curiofity carried us down, in common with the multitude, to witnefs the re-appearance of Mrs. Coufens, or Coufins, in the interefting character of Julia, in the Surrender of Calais. The lady is understood to be no mercenary; but not on that account exempt from our ftrictures.

This theatre was noted, at no very remote period, for having given an entrée to fome good performers; and the number of effays on its boards exceed, perhaps, that of most others. This arifes from its vicinity to town, the general character of the managers *, and their connection with Drury Lane and Covent Garden; all tending to promote the debut of that diffidence which fhrinks from the keener criticism of the metropolis.

Mrs. C. is not to be reckoned among the leaft favoured of thofe effayifts. Her figure, of enchanting fymmetry, is aided by an harmonious voice, and a mien at once eafy and graceful. With tones which are pleafing, to fay no more, the will never excel as a finger; but in genteel comedy fhe may, by ftudying good examples, rival the most successful among the recent female favourites of the stage.

*The corps dramatique, collected by Haymes, this feafon at Richmond, is the best that town has feen fince the time of Captain Wathen.

Bannifter, during his ftay at Birmingham (a fortnight) cleared upwards of three hundred pounds. Murray is at this place for the fummer."

REFLECTIONS

REFLECTIONS ON THE

PRESENT STATE OF THE OPERA.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MONTHLY VISITOR.

IG

SIR,

GNORANT whether you may have noticed the party broils and fhameful mifmanagement of the Italian Theatre; with your permiffion, through the medium of THE MONTHLY VISITOR, I will offer a few obfervations on those glaring insults which so loudly call for reprehenfion.

The English do not mind paying for their amusements-they are generous, and their generofity ought not to be abused. It is a notorious fact, fir, that the profits arifing from the benefits were previously compromised with the manager, for the fum of fix hundred pounds! This infamous fraud upon the public extended even to Banti, and all the principal performers; as a juft confequence of which, moft of their patrons withheld their fupport, and their benefits were, generally, unproductive.

Fresh grievances ftart up every day. The children who perfonate the flying and dancing cupids, have never received a fhilling for their defervedly applauded exertions; and a news-paper of the date of my letter, informs us, that "The mufical band have mutinied, fome fay about an increase of wages; others, about the discharge of arrears. It is faid, that their pay for fif. teen nights is due to them. On Saturday night all the orchestra, with the exception of two, figned a written paper, declaring their determination to difobey on Tuefday, unless their fiddle-firings were properly rofined; and as this was not done, the houfe was not opened. Hand-bills were iffued, affigning the indifpofition of Madame Banti, as the caufe of poftponing the perfor

mance."

Now