an anfwer, politely fignifying, "That they did not think it would fucceed in representation."

"With this anfwer the Tranflator refted fully fatisfied," until he faw the Stranger" announced for reprefentation: but, when he faw it acted, with fcarcely any alteration from his own manufcript, except in the names of the characters, and with the addition of a fong, and fome dancing, entirely unconnected with the fubje&, he could not help feeling that he had been ungenerously

treated."

"On comparing all circumftances," he thinks be ftand excufed for fuppofing that a manager who may writes himfel,' may fometimes (as SIR FRETFUL PLAGIARY fays) ferve the thoughts of others as gypfies do ftolen children: disfigure them to make them pafs for his own.'

This tranflation, we are informed, is " printed from the copy which was fent to the managers," and "most of the nonfenfe, which was hiffed on the ftage, is omitted." The Tranflator has alfo ventured to deviate from the original plot in one delicate particular. He has not made the wife actually commit that crime which is a ftain to the female character, though fhe was on the brink of ruin, by cloping from her husband.-This liberty he trufts will be excufed; partly because he feels that, according to the dictates of nature, reconciliation would in fuch circumftances be more easily obtained: but chiefly, because he confidered it as more confiftent with the moral fentiment, and more congenial to the heart of an English audience, than the forgiveness of a wife who had been actually guilty."

So much for the juftice of managers and the encouragement of genius!-Eight or ten days was certainly a fufficient length of time, in which to mutilate, change the characters of, and introduce a fong into a dramatic piece-one ftanza of which fong, however, if not a direct theft, is a palpable plagiariim from Mr. Tickell.

This play, neither in its acted nor printed ftate, is properly adapted to the English ftage. It poffeffes all the weight without any of the intereft of tragedy. With the exception of its moral, all the objections adduced in our Dramatic Review attach with equal ftrength to the printed copy, and we again affert, it never can become a ftandard favourite with the Public.

He's Much to Blame, a Comedy; in Five Acts. pp. 96. 8vo. 2S. Robinfons.

IN this degenerate age, the perufal of a legitimate co

medy is a treat which we do not experience every day.-Mr. Holcroft is the reputed author of this play. if he be really fo, we think him much to blame in not avowing it, as it is unquestionably a much better piece than any which have received the fanction of his name.

He's Much to Blame is a comedy-it is not a five-act farce. We present our Readers with the following fcenes:

"Sir G. Nay then, I am on the wing! "Maria, (advancing) Whither?

"Sir G. Ah! Have I found you again? So much the better! I have been thinking of you this half hour.

"Mar. Ay? That must have been a prodigious effort! "Sir G. What?

"Mar. To think of one perfon for fo great a length of time.

"Sir G. True. Were you my bittereft enemy, you could not have uttered a more galling truth. I am glad I have met with you, however.

"Mar. So am I. 'Tis my errand here.

"Sir G. You now, I hope, will let me fee your face? "Mar. I might, perhaps, were it but poffible to see your

heart.

"Sir G. No, no: that cannot be. I have no heart. "Mar. I am forry for it!

"Sir G. So am I. But come, I wish to be better ac

"Mar. And I with you to be better acquainted with yourfelf. You know not half your own good qualities.

"Sir G. Ha, ha, ha! My good qualities? Heigho!"

"Mar. Your fame is gone abroad! Your gallantry, your free humour, your frolics in England and Italy, your-Apropos: I am told, Lady Jane is captivated by the ardour and delicacy of your paffion! Is it true?

"Sir G. Are you an inquifitor?

"Mar. Are you afraid of inquifitors? "Sir G. Yes.

"Mar. I believe you.

"Sir G. You may. Keep me no longer in this fufpence. Let me know who you are?

"Mar. An old acquaintance.

"Sir G. Of mine?

"Mar. Of one who was formerly your friend.

"Sir G. Whom do you mean?

"Mar. You must have been a man of uncommon worth; for I have heard him beftow fuch praifes upon you, that my heart has palpitated if your name was but mentioned!

"Sir G. Of whom are you talking?

"Mar. Lord! that you should be fo forgetful! That can only have happened fince you became a perfon of fashion: for no man once remembered his friends better. It is true, they were then useful to you.

"Sir G. Sir, I-Be warned! Pursue this no farther.

"Mar. You little fufpected at that time you were on the eve of being a wealthy baronet. Oh no! And to fee how kind and grateful you were to those who loved you! No one would have believed you could fo foon have become a perfect man of the mode; and with so polite and easy an indifference fo entirely have forgotten all your old acquaintance! I dare fay you fcarcely remember the late Colonel Delaval.

"Sir G. Sir !

"Mar. His daughter too has utterly flipt your memory? "Sir G. I infift on knowing who you are!

"Mar. How different it was when, your merit neglected, your fpirits depreffed, and your poverty defpifed, you groaned under the oppreffion of an unjust and selfish world! How did your drooping fpirits revive by the fostering smiles of the man who first noticed you, took you to his houfe and heart, and

adopted

adopted you as his fon! Poor Maria! Silly girl, to love as fhe did! Where is the?

"Sir G. This is not to be endured!

"Mar. What was her offence? You became a baronet! Ay! True, that was her crime. Yet, when your fortunes were low, it was not imputed to you as guilt.

"Sir G. (Afide.) Damnation!

"Mar. Are your new friends more affectionate than your old? Fortune fmiles, and fo do they. Poor Maria! Has Lady Jane ever heard her name? Will you invite her to your wedding? (Her voice continually faultering.) Do. She thould have been your bride: then let her be your bride maid-Sne is greatly altered-She will be lefs beautiful-now-than her fair rival. Her birth is not quite fo high-but-if a-heart-a heart-a heart-(Struggling with her feelings finks into Sir George's arms, and her mask falls off.)

"Sir G. Heavens and earth! "Tis fhe! Help! 'Tis Maria! Who waits "

"Sir G. He will foon be here-Five minutes-but five minutes and then-(Walks again, throws himself on a fofa, takes up a book, toffes it away and rifes) What is man's first duty To be happy. Short fighted fool! The happiness of this hour is the mifery of the next! (Again walks and looks at his watch) What is life? A tiffue of follies! Inconsistencies! Joys that make reason weep, and forrows at which wisdom fmiles. Pfhaw! There is not between ape and oyfter fo ridiculous or fo wretched a creature as man. (Walks) Oh Maria! (Again confulting his watch) I want but a few feconds. My watch perhaps is too fast. (Rings)

Enter Footman.

"Sir G. Has nobody yet been here?

"Foot. No, fir.

"Sir G. 'Tis the time to a minute. (Loud knocking) Fly! If it be the perfon I have described, admit him. [Exit Fout. "Sir G. Now let the thunder strike!

VOL. IV.

I

SCENE

SCENE IV.

Delaval introduced. They falute.

"Sir G. Good morning, fir!

"Del. You recollect me?

"Sir G. Perfectly.

"Del. 'Tis well.

"Sir G. I have been anxious for your coming. Your menace lives in my memory; and I fhall be glad to know the name of him who has threatened fuch mortal enmity.

"Del. A little patience will be neceffary. I must preface my proceedings with a fhort story.

"Sir G. I fhall be all attention. Please to be feated. Wave ceremony, and to the subject-(They fit) Now, fir.

"Del. About fix years ago, a certain youth came up from college; poor and unprotected. He was a scholar, pleafing in manner, warm and generous of temper, of a refpectable family, and feemed to poffefs the germ of every virtue. "Sir G. Well, fir.

"Del. Hear me on my praifes will not be tedious. Chance made him known to a man who defired to cherish his good qualities; and the purfc, the experience, and the power of his benefactor, fuch as they were, he profited by to the utmoft. Received as a fon, he foon became dear to the family but most dear to the daughter of his friend; whose tender age and glowing affections made her apt to admire the vir tues fhe heard her father fo ardently praife, and encourage. You are uneafy?`

"Sir G. Be pleafed to continue.

"Del. The affiduities of the youth to gain her heart were unabating; and his pretenfions, poor and unknown as he then was, were not rejected. The noble nature of his friend fcorned to make his poverty his crime. Why do you bite your lip? Was it not generous?

"Sir G. Sir !

"Del. (Firmly) Was it not?

"Sir G. Certainly! Nothing could-equal the--generofity. "Del. The health of his benefactor was declining fat; and the only thing required of the youth was that he should qualify himself for the cares of life, by fome profeffion. He therefore entered a student in the Temple; and the means were Furnished by his protector, till the end was obtained. Mot this friendship?

Was