are fuch beings,) Mrs. Cowley has made no feeble defence of it. She is reprefented to poffefs fome portion of native haughtinefs, which makes her overlook the tender paffion of Sidney Afgill, prefumptive heir to a rich merchant in the city. This young man's character has a strong light thrown on it by the caprice of his uncle Sir Simon;-who, like a true fagacious cit, is defirous of proving how far the noble fentiments which he had often heard his nephew throw out were founded in principle. To effect this, the latter is informed that he (Sir Simon) is a ruined man. Mr. Afgill, after the first emotions of furprise and grief had fubfided, inftead of refolving to throw himself at the feet of the rich Lady Horatia, who, he is perfuaded, loves him, refolves never to fee her again; obferving that her delicacy fhould not be wounded (did he not mean her pride?) by feeing a beggar court her to his arms. Lady Horatia's love, when the believes that Agill is loft to her beyond recovery, breaks through the thin difguife which referve, or her paffion for fculpture, had thrown over it. She is deeply affected, and her diftress is artfully heightened by an equivoque of the young and giddy Georgina.

The comic incidents of the piece are chiefly produced by the family of an old Welth Knight, newly arrived in town. He is low born and rich; has good nature, and a high admiration for quality. The attempts of the maid on the inclination of her mafter, and her confequent refentment and determination to be revenged, on the failure of her schemes, have the recom mendation of being, as we apprehend, new to the ftage, and perfectly in nature.

Fancourt and Tippy, two experienced fharpers, are made the chief inftruments of what is called the business of the play. Tippy's great refemblance to Lord Beachgrove feems to be copied from a nameless perfon, who is faid to be fo ftrong a refemblance of a northern Duke, as to have impofed on his friends and fervants. When the intereft of the play is mentioned, that of Mrs. Fancourt cannot be paffed over. Her plan, at fuch hazard to herself, of faving the young Georgina from the fate prepared for her, produces one or two of the best scenes in the comedy.

The leading idea of the Town before you' seems to have been to controvert the notion, that bafenefs and vice find their peculiar foil in riches; and that poverty, while it ftarves the body, muft alfo neceffarily ftarve the principles of ill.

Mrs. Cowley, proceeding on that philofophy which we have already mentioned, feems perfuaded that neither fortune, nor the abfence of it, produces vice, but that it fprings from the want of a due direction to the powers of the mind, by early good education and proper habits of life. When Sir Simon is fevere on Lady

Horatia's

Horatia's paffion for fculpture, Perkins obferves, with fome truth, any tafle is better than no tafte, and a lady who employs her thoughts and her chiffel on works of art, is at leaft not idle, and therefore, as Dr. Johnfon fays, not in the way being wicked.'

The piece fhews in a ftriking light the cruel negligence or the mistaken pride of giving young men no profeffion, and hence leaving them, on a change of fortune, expofed to vice or helpless want. It is this negligence which roufes Afgill to become a common failor and makes Fancourt a villain.

The fair writer has fucceeded in adding fome fresh proofs to thofe adduced by the ingenious Mr. Crabbe *, that virtue is not neceffarily connected with poverty, an important truth not always inculcated. Virtue is no more confined to the cottage than to the palace, but in every country fixes her appropriate refidence in the well formed and well employed mind.

We must be permitted to cenfure the following expreffion. Afgill obferves to Conway, (p. 17,) a fortune, whofe bafis is commerce, may be doubled or diffolved in a month.' We fhould be truly forry were fuch an idea founded in fact. Where would be the ground of fecurity, or what confidence could there. be repofed in that refpectable character an English merchant? The author has made fome atonement by reprefenting the ruin of Sir Simon as unreal, and we are glad of it; for, though fome defperate fpeculators, or young men without experience, may fubject themselves to fuch a rapid rife, or total ruin, as Afgill defcribes, it would be fatal in this commercial country to propagate the idea that men of fubftantial fortunes and refpectability in bufinefs would thus, like gamblers, rifk their all on one throw of fortune's die.

Though favourably difpofed to Lady Horatia Horton's art of fculpture, or to any art that refcues the human mind from the fatal confequences of idlenefs, we are not forry that the author has put the following fpeech into the mouth of Sir Simon at the end of the piece: Come, come, Madam, throw away your chiffel and your marble blocks, and fet about making a good wife; that ART is the nobleft pride of an English woman.'

ART. XX. The Rage: A Comedy. As it is performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. By Frederick Reynolds. 8vo. 2s. Longman. 1795.

EVERY new production by this author confirms the opinion

which we have formerly given of his writings; and fhews that he is much more ftudious of the means of exciting laugh

* Author of various poems.

ter

Chriftie.

ter than of interefting the heart, and fixing the attention, by a well-constructed fable: which fhould keep the mind intent on one principal action, and to promote or retard which every incident should concur. A writer for the ftage will be impelled to confult the taste of his audience; and, by whatever accident it may have happened, it manifeftly appears that the taste of an audience, at prefent, is but little directed to thofe objects which formerly were thought requifite in all plays. Perhaps too mi-. nute an attention was then paid to them: but it seems that we are now fallen into the other extreme. Amusement is the thing required; and, provided we laugh, we inquire but little concerning probability. Aware of this propenfity in the public. mind, Mr. R. has turned his efforts to its gratification; and with no inconfiderable fuccefs. We find in him occafional ftrong traits of dramatic genius; and therefore we feel regret that he should rather feek to encourage than to correct the vitiated tafte of the town. His touches of character are often excellent; his extravagance and coarfenefs are fometimes difgufting. Each new play which he writes robs us of the hope that he fhould reform; for he feems to have no ambition beyond the momentary advantages refulting from the high art that he exercises. We however are defirous to de him juftice; of doing and therefore we fhall felect one of his beft fcenes, as a fpecimen of his powers.

SCENE. Gingham, Flush, bis Father, and Ready, a Clerk. Gingh. Sir, your hand-Ready, yours. Well! here I am -quite converted-like father, like fon-tell a lie without blushing.

Flufh. Here-I told you fo-ay, ay, I knew the boy would come to fomething good at last-fo my dear boy you've left off telling the truth-speaking your mind.

Gingh. Mum! close as the cabinet-keep you in my eye- put on your face, and do it fo punctually, you wouldn't know young P. O. from yourself (Looking about the room) Zounds! what a fine house you've got! how its furnished! what plate! what pictures!

Flugh. The refult of trade and honeft induftry, Frank-yes-its pretty furniture, isn't it?

Gingh. Pretty furniture! its fo handfome, that except yourself, curfe me, if I fee a fhabby bit in the room!-nay, nay, upon my foul, I didn't allude to you; I meant Ready.

Ready. He's at his old tricks I fee-as candid as ever.

Gingh. Plague on't! I could fooner bite off my tongue, than fop

its fpeaking what I think! nay, Sir, now pray.

Flush. Well, well, I excufe you this once; I a fhabby bit! how

ever we fhall foon fee-how goes on the fhop in London?

Gingh. The fhop!

Flugh. Ay, the fhop in the city that you've the care of-the linens-the

Gingh. Oh, ay: now I recollect; why, very well upon the whole, I believe, Sir-very well-only between ourselves, I'm afraid it won't laft; I think we and our tricks shall be found out-you underftand

Flufe. Found out! 'fblood, firrah

Gingh. Softly, Sir-foftly-don't put yourself in a paffion, and lay the blame on me; don't charge me with our ruin, for every body knew my opinion long ago; didn't they, Ready? I told it to a thoufand people-fays I, fwindling will never thrive, and I and my poor father fhall get duck'd at last!"

Flush. You did! did you?

Gingh. That I did, Sir, and I'll prove I faid fo-the other night I flept at the weft end, and two friends-diftreffed old officers in the army-brought their notes to be difcounted- Says I, "Gentlemen, it won't do-you'll get little cash, but a quantity of trumpery nonfenfe, fuch as hams, cheefes, prints, linens, and other vegetables!" Said they; "we know that we know you and your father are two infernal harpers, but a guinea now is worth ten a month hence-so give us the money."

Flush. Well and you took their note, didn't you?

Gingh. No, I didn't-I gave them the cafh, fhook the two old foldiers by the hand, and faid I was tired of fuch d-d fwindling practices.

Ready. This is fad work, Mr. Gingham-you'll never be at the top of your profeffion.

Gingh. The top!-Oh! what, the pillory? no-I leave that to you, Ready!

Flub. Was there ever fuch a fcoundrel? - but we'll hear more. (afide)--So, you sleep at the weft-end of the town, do you?

Gingh. Always-its vulgar to be in the city of an evening; befides, I like to walk in Kenfington-gardens in the morning-You know Kensington-gardens, father-the place where there's fuch a mixture of green leaves and brown powder-of blue violets and yellow shoes; and where there's fuch a croud, that to get air and exercise you ftand a chance of broken bones and fuffocation !-Well!-there I trut away, my boys

Flush. You do-do you?-I can hardly keep my hands off the rafcal-So then, I fuppofe, the moment my back was turn'd, you never thought of business.

Gingh. Bufinefs!-no, never-Did I, Ready? I recollected my father played the fame game before me; that when he was clerk at the lottery-office, at billiards all the morning, and at hazard all the evening-therefore, fays 1, where's the difference?-none! but that he had the policy to conceal his tricks, and I the folly to fhew mineHah! I'm right-an't I, Ready?

Flush. You villain!-is this your reformation? not even conceal your own faults, much more mine-Expofe my character, neglect my trade, and ftrut away in Kenfington-gardens! I have done with you-from the country you came, and to the country you shall return-Speak the truth, indeed! Zounds! firrah, what has truth to do with money-lending! [Here Ready exit.

• Enter

• Enter Clara Sedley.

Clara. Oh, Guardy-I'm just come to Bath with Mr. and Mrs. Darnley-we are all on a vifit at Sir George Gauntlet's, and-(Seeing Gingham, fhe ftops.)

Flub. It's only my fon, Clara-a fimple, foolish young man. Gingh. (Bowing to her.) More knave than fool, upon my honour, Ma'am.

Clara. The gentleman don't praise himself I fee, Mr. Flush. Gingh. No, Ma'am-nor do I know any body that will praise me-unlefs my father, indeed.

Flush. Silence, Sir!-well; but about the rural pair, my dear ward; do you know I have a great regard for Mr. and Mrs. Darnley.

Clara. Have you? I'm vaftly glad of that-for your joint guardian, Sir Paul, is fo employed in feeking for his loft child, that he has forgot his promife to affift Darnley; therefore I want you tó do him a favour.

Flub. A favour!-he may command me.

Clara. The cafe is this-his increase of family has fo enlarged his expences, that he has thoughts of returning to the army-Sir George has promifed to procure him a company, but Mrs. Darnley, not chufing he should owe his promotion to him, wishes he fhould pur chafe; now, Guardy, if you would lend him two hundred pounds. Flush. Two hundred pounds, child!

Gingh. Ay, two hundred pounds, father!

Flush. Who bid you speak, Sir?-Why, Clara, in money matters here is an etiquette.

Clara. True: but this is your friend.

Gingh. So it is, Ma'am: the man he has a great regard for.

• Clara. And when you confider the charms of Mrs. Darnley, and the wants of her children.

Gingh. He can't refufe, Ma'am-indeed he don't understand it -and therefore as I fee he means to grant the favour, I'll fave him the trouble of putting his hand in his pocket-Here, Ma'am ! (taking out bank notes) here are two bank notes of a hundred each-they be long to Mr. Flush-now they belong to Mr. Darnley-(Flush gets in his way and prevents Clara's taking them)-he begs you'll give them to his friend-and present his compliments-and fay, he'll double the fum.

Flush. Stand off-stand off-or by heavens I'll —

Gingh. (Offering Clara the notes across his Father.) Double the fum whenever called upon, Ma'am.

Flush. Hold your tongue, or I'll knock it down your throat, firrah-I fay, Clara, in the way of bufinefs, I've no objection to do Mr. Darnley a fervice; that is, if I can make a profit by it-first he fhould fend me his note.

• Clara. Here it is, Sir. (Giving it to Flush.)

Flush. That's right-now we can proceed-here, Sir-(giving the note to Gingham) take the note to my agent, and tell him to give Mr. Darnley thirty pounds-I can afford it.

Gingh. This is too bad-take in his own friend, and a man with a family, (afide.) Sir-a word, if you please-I told you we were all

blown