Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

Though peppered with fmall fhot, and tempeft tofs'd,
You ftill may land him on this golden coaft;
Convinced that thofe the fureft path pursue,
Who trust their all to candour and to you.

ART. XIII. A Political Index to the Hiftories of Great Britain and
Ireland; or, A Complete Register of the Hereditary Honours,
Public Offices, and Perfons in Office, from the earlieft Periods to
the prefent Time. By Robert Beatfon, Efq. 8vo. 9 s. boards.
Edinb. Creech; Robinfons, &c. London. 1786.

T

HE induftrious compiler of this ufeful work informs us, in his preface, that it is the refult of many years inquiry; that he profecuted it, at firft, without any view to publication, but merely for his own private fatisfaction, being naturally curious and inquifitive on fubjects of this kind and deeming it likewife interefting to fociety.

In the courfe of his researches, he tells us (and the refpectable character of the Author entitles him to an unlimited credit for whatever he afferts), that he was enabled to detect a variety of mistakes, and to correct many errors that have been published, respecting the peerage, the great officers of ftate, the law, naval and military officers, &c. And these mistakes and errors having, unfortunately, happened in works of the firft merit, which ftand high in the estimation of the world, and which are often confulted and referred to, they have been, confequently, fixed and established, in too many inftances. In most of the Hiftories of Great Britain, fays Mr. Beatfon, and in particular the parliamentary hiftories, when a nobleman may be the fubject either of panegyric or cenfure, he is only mentioned by his title, and the reader is left in doubt, where titles have fo frequently fluctuated from one family to another, to know the individual meant to be the object of condemnation or applause. In like manner, the officers of state, of the houshold, of the law, &c. are feldom mentioned in hiftory, but by the name of the office they hold; by which means, in fuch a rapid fucceffion of different perfons to the fame office, the individual is loft among the multitudes who have held the appointment.

We are further informed, that the fatisfaction which his inquiries afforded him in one branch, induced him to extend them to others; that as he daily experienced their utility himself, he was enabled to rectify the information of his friends, on fuch fubjects as he had examined; and that (encouraged by them to proceed) he was led to hope, that his labours might in time duce a very useful publication.

pro

Accordingly he has, at length, been induced to offer to the Public a work, the objects of which are, in the first place, to form a fort of political index to the hiftories of Great Britain and Ireland, where the individuals may be found, and their

rank and political connections traced, whofe measures may be the fubject of hiftorical information: fecondly, to fupply a correct register of the great and refpectable body of the peerage of each of the kingdoms, from their original creation; afcertaining and explaining their rife to higher dignities,-when their titles were transferred into other families,-when forfeited, or when extinct laftly, to arrange the other numerous official lifts, which the Author has been at great pains to render correct, from the earliest to the latest periods, in fuch a manner as, by reference from one to another, to elucidate to the reader of modern hiftory, the æra of every fucceffive adminiftration, and to prefent to his view, the whole group of perfons acling in conjunction with the oftenfible minifter.'

With respect to his materials, the Author profeffes his obligations to Sir W. Dugdale's Summonses to Parliament, to the Hiftorical Regifter, and to a variety of Chronicles and Peerages; and he concludes his preface with an hand fome acknowlegement of the very large and refpectable subscription with which he has been honoured.'-By way of dedication, his work is infcribed to the learned and ingenious Dr. Adam Smith, whofe approbation of his labours was, it appears, one of his cpcouragements to offer the fruit of them to the Public.

To those who only read for amufement, a publication of this kind will, perhaps, appear to be a dry, uninviting compile ment, It is, indeed, not a work for continued reading, but for reference, and · occafional confultation; in which light it will, we doubt not, be found a uteful library book. But having faid this, we may, however, observe, and it will be no more than bare justice to the Author, that many of his pages are calculated to afford confiderable entertainment, as well as valuable information. We here have an eye to his details and defcriptions of the nature, importance, duties, and utility of the great departments of govern ment, the law-offices, &c. his explanations of the different degrees of nobility, baronets, ecclefiaftical dignitaries, &c. and his view of the archbishoprics, bishoprics, &c. &c. In his account of the admirals and captains of the navy, mention is made of all the confiderable engagements at fea; in which every English reader will find himself more or lefs interested. In the divifion comprehending the military department, the fate of every general officer killed in any action, or who otherwife fell in the fervice of his country, is duly recorded. The hiftory of the orders of the Garter, Thiftle, Bath, and St. Patrick, is another entertaining part of the work; and though not very

* Under this head accidents are noticed: for instance, "Lieutenant General STANWIX drowned in 1766, in his passage from Ireland to England."

REV. July 1786,

F

new,

new, as to matter of information, would naturally have been expected in fuch a compilation.

In brief, the Public are certainly obliged to the Author, for the compilement and publication of fo ufeful a work: a work produced at the expence of much time and great labour, and (we believe) executed with ftrict fidelity. With respect to its accuracy, indeed, we can only fpeak on prefumption, from appearances for it cannot be expected that we should take upon us to examine this very large volume, with minuteness, and particular attention to dates, fucceffions, and the vast variety of other particulars contained in a production of this multifarious kind.

MONTHLY

CATALOGUE,

For JULY, 1786.

DRAMATIC.

Art. 14. The Fool; a Farce. In two Acts. As performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. By Edward Topham, Efq. 8vo. Is. Strahan, in the Strand. 1786.

TH

HIS farce is dedicated by the Author to Mrs. Wells, from whofe invention the happiest parts of the piece are faid to have fprung. That the publication of it will give that prolonged life which the Author promises himself, we cannot venture to pronounce. It seems to be a trifle written to oblige a favourite actress, who, we may conjecture, thinks that the plays the fool with a becoming grace. A Fool, therefore, was to be introduced at all events; and Laura, lately married to Beaufort, in Portugal, is made to pafs herfelf upon her husband for an ideot, and for this notable reason, because in the hours of courtship Beaufort told her, that an excess of fondness was preferable even to better fenfe in the character of a wife. An Abbé comes over in the fame fhip, and wants to feduce her affections; but no humour arifes from his character. Pepper, her godfather, happens to be at Brighton, and is aftonished to find that he is a fool. Pepper goes into a bathing machine with a fervant maid; but this incident has the luck of being indecent, without producing, or even tending to, any thing like the vis comica. The dialogue is in a few places lively, but the whole is of little value. The prologue, by M. P. Andrews, Efq. is not void of merit.

Art. 15. The Bum-brusher; a Farce. Intended to be tranflated into Latin, and performed before the Mafters and Fellows of Colleges in Cambridge. 8vo. 1s. Bell. 1686.

An attempt, as it fhould feem, under the name of Dr. Rhombus, a mathematician, to ridicule fome private character at Cambridge, But the Author is not a mafter of ridicule. The whole pleafantry confifts in the marriage of the Doctor (whoever he be) with Mrs. Loveman, who thinks and talks in the true fpirit of a widow. Upon a fubject of delicacy her language is coarfe, and her meaning too plain. The piece is dedicated to Mr. Golman; but that gentleman,

with his ufual judgment, leaves it to be acted before the University of Cambridge.

Art. 16. The Peruvian; a Comic Opera; in three Acts. As performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. By a Lady. The Mufic chiefly compofed by Mr. Hook. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Bell. 1786.

[ocr errors]

As this piece is founded on Marmontel's tale of Coralie, ou L'Amitié a L'Epreuve, it were needlefs to prefent the fable in detail. It will be fufficient to obferve that Coraly (which by the way is an illchofen name for the English ftyle) is in love with Belville: for thè fake of his peace and the tranquillity of his family, fhe is going to embark for Peru, her native country, when BLANDFORD, just returned from a voyage, lands on the beach. In the courfe of the dialogue it appears that Blandford had left Coraly in the care of his friend Belville, with intent, on his return from sea, to make her his wife. Belville has beheld her charms with fenfibility, but love itfelf could not prevail upon him to do what might be deemed a violation of friendship. He refigns his truft, and with an aching heart confents to see the perfon, whom he loves to an excess of tenderness, wedded to Blandford. The diftrefs of Coraly, upon this occafion, is interesting, and even pathetic. Her fentiments are elegant, and expreffed with delicacy. She acknowledges her obligations to Blandford; he was her deliverer, the guardian of her innocence; but the adds, "I reverence him as a parent: I refpect Blandford-but I love Belville." She tells the latter, "I am refolved not to deceive : were I to give my hand to Blandford, my heart would ftill be your's." Belville argues against himself, and the thought of having robbed his friend of her affections fills him with horror. Her answer is the language of the heart: "What (fays fhe) have you robbed him of? My heart was free, and I had a right to difpose of it. Blandford never won it by fuch delicate attention as your's. His generous kindnefs to me was ever STRIKING, but your's was INTERESTING. He is all GOODNESS, you all GRACIOUSNESS.' Notwithstanding this avowal of her affections, fhe yields to the perfuafive reafoning of the man fhe loves, and is at length upon the point of giving her hand to Blandford. Here the fable takes an unexpected turn. Blandford finds that her heart is fixed upon Belville. In this fituation, with a generofity that graces his character, he renounces his pretenfions in favour of his friend. The comic characters of Sir Gregory Craveall and Sir Harry Cripplegait give no additional beauty to the piece. The truth is, buffoonery ill fuits with that vein of delicacy which runs through every part of the fable that relates to the amiable Coraly.

[ocr errors]

The fongs, in general, grow cut of the occafion, and many of them are written with taste and delicacy of sentiment. Art. 17. An Effay on the Pre-eminence of Comic Genius.

With

Obfervations on the feveral Characters Mrs. Jordan has appeared in. Small 8vo. Is Becket. 1786.

The Public never fuffers eminent merit to be without a rival. The maxim is of antient date, and the experience of ages has proved it to be founded in truth. We do not, therefore, wonder at an attempt to place Mrs. Jordan in competition with Mrs. Siddons. The

F 2

Auther

Author of the piece before us endeavours to establish his pofition in favour of the comic mufe. To the gorgeous fictions of tragedy, with all its tumid graces of imagery and diction, he prefers the more humble portraits of comedy, and the delineation of manners. Comedy, he obferves, is founded in nature; tragedy is fupported by art. The performer who reprefents terrific phrenzy, or excels in ftudied declamation, may be entitled to praife; but the actor who gives a picture of contemporary manners is more valuable to the interests of fociety by the former we are astonished; by the latter we are taught.

Having thus taken his ground, the Effayift thinks he may fafely allow to Mrs. Siddons the highest excellence in tragedy-fecure of his point in favour of Mrs. Jordan. He defcribes the latter in a variety of characters, fuch as the Country Girl, the Romp, the Virgin Unmasked, Mifs Hoyden, and many others. The conclufion of this fyllogifm is obvious.

The pre-eminence of the comic genius once established, and Mrs. Jordan being difplayed in the brighteft colours, it follows that Mrs. Siddons muft defcend from her throne.

Of this little tract it is but justice to fay, that it is written with art and elegance. To decide upon the merit of actors or actreffes is not within our province, as Reviewers.

Should the ingenious writer of this pamphlet have a number of followers, we fhall not think it a matter of wonder. Dryden fays, were Virgil and Martial to ftand for parliament men, we all know who would carry the election.

Art. 18. The Country Wife; an Entertainment. In two Acts. Altered from Wycherly. As performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. 8vo. Is. Lowndes, &c. 1786.

Art. 19. The Virgin Unmasked; a mufical Entertainment. In one Act. By Henry Fielding, Efq. With Alterations. As performed at the Theatres Royal in Drury Lane and Covent Garden. 8vo. Is. Payne, &c. 1786.

Of the two preceding articles it may be fufficient to obferve, that the former has been cut down to an after-piece, and the latter has undergone fome trifling alterations, evidently for the purpose of introducing Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Jordan (rival actreffes) to a London audience.

Art. 20. The Children of Thefpis; a Poem. Part I. 4to. 3s. Bew, &c. 1786.

The Rofciad of Churchill feems to have ufurped all dominion over the performers of both our theatres. Since his time many attempts have been made. The late Mr. Hugh Kelly wrote Thefpis*, or, a Critical Examination, &c. in which were found many good lines, and fome brilliant paffages; but the vigour of Churchill ftill remained unrivalled. Of the poem now before us, the fate will probably be the fame as that of Thefpis: it will divert for a time, and be forgotten. Churchill will long be remembered, and the reafon is, he has given the diftinctive features, the specific qualities of the

*See Review, Vol. XXXV. p. 388.

feveral

« VorigeDoorgaan »