SIR,

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MAN AND HORSE..

[From the same, May 21.]

TO THE EDITOR..

ALTHOUGH I do not profess to be an advocate for the managers of our theatres in all their mea sures, yet the attempts now making to excite a clamour against them, on account of the quadruped performers, are not, in my humble opinion, entirely reconcilable to the strict principles of justice. That all the blame should rest with those who have introduced horses, and none with the public which encou rage them, is a paradox that demands some explana tion. But it is not the only one which has arisen out of the present convulsed state of our theatrical republic; and I should suppose there must be something very ominous at the present crisis, since we see as many reformers and capitalists gathering about the stage, as gathered about France previous to her Revolution.

As to the question between the managers and the public, with respect to matters of taste, I am much inclined to think that the latter are more reprehensible than the former. What the facetious Jack Fuller says of the people, with regard to currency, I should be disposed to apply to them with regard to theatrical amusements:-"They will take tallow candles; they will take oyster-shells, or any thing." And without going farther back than about thirty years, the period of my own remembrance, I think I may venture to say, without danger of contradiction, that the public has taken any thing. In 1781, they submitted but that is a weak word; they eagerly patronized, the transformation, as it was called, of the Beggar's Opera; when the male characters were performed by women, and vice versa; which was surely as gross a violation

to;:

of

of taste and decency, as ever was permitted. They have since encouraged boxers, a fox-chase, and many other similar amusements, down to the present novelty of horses; not only without any objection, but with an avidity, which shows, at least, that if the managers eannot fill their houses by legitimate dramas, they know well and easily how to do it by other means.

Again, Sir, while we are thus severe upon these dumb prancers, let us reflect for what they are a substitute; or rather, to what they are an appendix.→ They are introduced, to supply the place of, or to aid the amusement derivable from farces and pantomimes. Now, I should be glad to know of those gentlemen, who are interposing their refined taste between the managers and the public, how long farces and pantomimes have been considered as entertainments worthy of a rational public, and deserving to be classed with the legitimate drama; with the works of our celebrated and acknowledged geniuses? I conceive, that if we look into the history of the stage, we shall find that farces (rather more sufferable in point of taste, than pantomimes) are almost a novelty on the stage. Fielding, if I remember right, is the first author of any merit' who wrote a farce; and there are persons, I presume, now living, who can remember, that in Garrick's days it was not the custom to have a farce' performed during the run of a new comedy or tragedy.

As to pantomimes, against which our men of taste have not yet exclaimed so loudly as to endanger the peace of the theatre, I should be glad to know where is the mighty harm of introducing either horses or asses, to give effect to such pieces of mummery? The "question, indeed, imight be easily answered, were Richard III: introduced, not only wishing for a horse, but riding upon one; and if his antagonist, our Henry VII. were to be visibly indebted for his success to a troop of British cavalry. But when horses are intro

duced

MAN AND HORSE.

231

duced merely to heighten the effect of such competitors as Blue Beard and Timour the Tartar, although I may see some absurdity in the whole, I can surely see no inconsistency. If our plots and fables are to be taken from children's books and nursery tales, I know no means by which they can be degraded; and certainly not by the additional and graceful motions of so noble an animal as the horse.

How, then, does the question stand? The managers, finding that the old plays are not sufficiently attractive, and that the present race of authors are not capable of producing any thing that can do, much more than defray the expenses of getting-up, very naturally turn their attention to some amusements that may be supplementary to the regular drama, and the public flock to these novelties with eagerness. If this be the fact, to what purposé do a few splenetic reformers agitate questions about taste and refinement? And to what purpose do they propose themselves as arbitrators between the managers and the public, who have no quarrel with one another? I can agree with them on the common principles of taste. I have seen, what all men have seen, disgraceful absurdities introduced on the stage within these few years; but as some of our modern stage-reformers affect a taste of another kind, I would have them careful how they agitate the abstract question much farther. I would have them in particular reflect, how long, if taste and morals had been leading objects, would the Opera have been tolerated among us.-I am, Sir, yours, &c.

IMPARTIAL.

J

IRELAND,

IRELAND.

[From the Morning Chronicle, May 23.]

The circumstance of Ireland being unable at present to raise her own taxes, is no ground of alarm for her prosperity."

Mr. Foster's Budget Speech.

THERE is something so curiously and comfortably paradoxical in this assertion, that it certainly demands a little time and consideration to reconcile it to the general notions, which, from time immemorial, have been entertained on the subject of national prosperity.

Swift said long ago, and nobody knew Ireland better, that "no maxim. of national prosperity, applicable to other countries, was verified with regard to Ireland; her population was not wealth, her fertility was not abundance, her ingenuity was not revenue;" but it remained. for Mr. Foster to add to this list of political singularities, that the "inability to pay taxes, was not a ground of alarm as to her prosperity."

Ireland, like an embarrassed tradesman in the agonies of white-washing, is, according to her interpreter in the Imperial Parliament, Mr. Foster, a little slow to be sure, but very solvent; not a bankrupt, only. soli citing time;. no statute yet taken out, but ready to give bills at twelve and eighteen months; not shut up and gazetted, but still going on with every prospect of ultimately paying twenty shillings in the pound. This must be highly satisfactory intelligence to her credi tors, who, with every reliance on these protestations, will, doubtless, continue their loans, particularly, since they have the additional security (through the disinterested aid of Mr. Perceval) of the English consolidated fund, which has kindly consented to indorse the Irish bill of contingent prosperity, and give it a temporary currency; Ireland being always considered pledged for her full quota, which she is to pay whenever she is able, together

together with the interest so handsomely advanced on the present occasion by England, and all the other expenses of English agency. "But Ireland cannot raise her taxes," says a caviller, and how can Mr. Perceval reconcile this to bis high-finished portrait of the prosperity of the United Kingdom, of which Ireland: is an integral and very important part?-How comes it, that while Great Britain is so well managed as to be capable of raising her taxes to a surplus, Ireland has fallen off so lamentably in the levying of hers?-Is she unable to pay, or unwilling ?-Is she poor or re fractory-Perhaps she has been misgoverned; ah ! there's the rub; but let us see: The political. godfa thers and godmothers, who in the year 1800 gave us the sponsorial appellation of United Kingdom, did, it is shrewdly suspected, promise and vow things in her name, which they well knew their god-child could never fulfil; she was bound to pay more than her estate, even under good management, was able to produce; and which the ignorance and interestedness of her agents rendered still less productive. Under these circumstances, it was not wonderful that she grew progressively poorer and poorer;, that she drank less wine and tea, and put a smaller quantity of currants in her puddings, made fewer shifts, and of a coarser linen, and fell into a state of despondency and whiskey-drinking, for which solace, her gratitude is unbounded to Mr. Foster, who, kindly compassionating her melancholy, took off the duty from her favourite beverage. But this will not last; oh! no; though matters are a little dull at present, they will very soon revive; in two or three years, under the wise and successful mar nagement of Mr. Foster, there is no estimating the state in which Ireland may be placed. About that period, the Bog of Allen will be completely surveyed and divided into farms, which will only want the quality of being habitable, to render them most valuable

concerus