perceive, that here their marked approbation of any paffage, excited fome degree of attention in the great people, who fat in the little pews above them: and although among these great people, fome appeared to regard the Natac, as little as the fermon, talking and whispering, almost as much at the theatre, as they had done in church; yet the performance was here, in general, much better attended to by all who had the enjoyment of their fenfes. You will think this a strange exception--but you must know, that a part of the royal theatre, is peculiarly appropriated to the reception of a fpecies of lunatics, called Bucks, who are indeed, very noify and troublesome; but who are treated with an amazing degree of lenity and forbearance, by the benevolent people, who beftow upon them the pity that is due to their unhappy fituation.

Great part of the entertainment feemed, indeed, calculated for their amufement, as it is well known that the eye can be gratified by the display of gaudy colours, even where the mind is deftitute of the gift of reafon. This refpect to folly, was, however, in my opinion, carried too far; and though I fhould have been well pleased to have feen the grown children amufed, by the exhibition of a few showy pictures and other mummery, I could

!

not approve of turning the infirmities of old age into ridicule, for their amusement. I had foolishly thought that all Englifh plays were like the plays of Shakfpeare; but, alas! I begin to apprehend, that they are not all quite fo good! inftead of those portraits of the paffions, which Nature fpontaneously acknowledges for her own, I only fee exagge rated representations of tranfient and incidental folly. Whether it be owing to the peculiar tafte of the exalted Omrah, whofe office it is to examine the merits of the Natacs that are performed by his Majefty's fervants, or to the limited genius of modern Poets, I know not, but it appears evident, that all dramatic writers in this country, are now confined to one plot: A foolish old man devoted to avarice, has a daughter that is petulant and disobedient, or a fon of the fame character; perhaps, two or three of these old men, differing from each other in the fize and fhape of the covering of the head, called Wigs, are brought into the fame piece, together with an old unmarried fifter, who always believes herself to be young and handfome. After the

young people have for fome time exercifed their ingenuity in deceiving the vigilance of the old ones, and have fuccessfully exposed to public ridicule, the

bodily infirmities and mental failings of their feveral parents, they are paired for marriage, and thus the piece concludes. This compofition is called a Sentimental Comedy, and is fucceeded by what is termed a, Farce. In the Farce, his Majesty's fervants make faces, and perform many droll tricks for the diverfion of the audience, who feem particularly pleased with their exertions in this way, which they applaud with repeated peals of laughter. And furely, it muft be highly gratifying to the imperial mind, to fee the people pleafed at fo cheap a

rate.

The first time I went to the theatre, was, as I have already informed you, in company with Mifs Ardent, who was much disappointed, that the illness of the royal fervants fhould have prevented the reprefentation of a new piece, written by an Englifh officer in the fervice of the Eaft India Company, which, in the opinion of this Lady, is a piece of much intrinfic merit. It is taken from the hiftory of Zingis, and adorned with the terror-ftriking fpirit of Zamouca, which blazes throughout the whole of the performance; to me, I must confefs, the presentation of fuch a piece would have been more charming, than either the leffon of morality, given in the sentimental comedy, or the fooleries

of the farce; but I was informed by Mifs Ardent, that I must be cautious how I give utterance to fuch an opinion, as nothing is now deemed fo barbarous as the energy of good fenfe." If your highness would have the people of this country," continued fhe," entertain a good idea of your tafte, you must give all your admiration to hollow, but highfounding fentiment. Sentiment, and fingfong, are the fafhion of the day. That is is fo, we are much indebted to the care and talents of our modern Bards, who by fuch compofitions as the prefent, fpoil and contaminate the national tafte." "Pardon me," cried a gentlemen, who ftood by, "but in my opinion, the ftage does not fo much form, as reflect the national tafte. Poetry has always reached her maturity, while her votaries were in a femi-barbarous ftate: with the progrefs of civilization; fhe has gradually declined; and if we take the rapidity of her decay in this country as the criterion of our refinement, we may proudly pronounce ourselves one of the most polished nations of the earth!"-Mifs Ardent's carriage being announced, put an end to the converfation; but before she stept into it, fhe invited me to dine with her on the following day. "What!" you will fay, "a fingle, unprotected woman

,

invite you to her houfe?-Shameful violation of decorum!"-But confider, my friend-cuftom, that mighty legiflator, who iffues the laws of propriety to the different nations of the earth, maketh that appear amiable and proper in the eyes of the people of one country, which in thofe of another, is criminal and abfurd: and fo eafily doth custom reconcile us to her capricious decrees, that I received the invitation, and went to the house of Mifs Ardent, with as little perturbation as if she had been a gentleman in petti

coats.

She received me in an apartment devoted to literature and contemplation, from which it takes the name of fludy; the walls of the room were lined with books, all fhining in coats of gloffy leather, richly ornamented with leaf of gold. That pains which in Afia is bestowed in decorating the illuminated page, being in England, all given to the outfide covering, which, it must be confeffed, gives to the study a very fplendid appearance.

Two gentlemen had arrived before me, and were already engaged in converfation.-Thefe, as Mifs Ardent informed me in a whisper, were great critics. The word was new to me, and I did not choose to ask for an explanation, but feeing a huge book upon the table, which I