monies of conjuration, believing that as these finews are contracted by the fire, fo the thief will have all his limbs contracted. They never have any difputes about their land or their huts, every one having land and water more than fufficient for his wants.

Although their manner of living be moft nafty, and their actions the most stupid, yet they think themselves the happiest people in the world, and look upon the Ruffians who are fettled among them with contempt; however, this notion begins to change at prefent; for the old people who are confirmed in their customs, drop off; and the young ones being converted to the Chrif tian religion, adopt the cuftoms of the Ruffians, and defpife the barbarity and fuperftition of their ancestors.

In every Oftrog, or large village, by order of his Imperial Majefty, is appointed a chief, who is fole judge in all caufes, except of thofe of life and death; and not only thefe chiefs, but even the common people, have their chapels for public worship. Schools are allo erected in almoft every village, to which the Kamtfchadales fend their children with great pleafure; by this means it is to be hoped, that their barbarity will be in a fhort time rooted out.

TH

THE DRAMA.

ARKE

THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET.

HE closing of Covent Garden and Drury Lane we have already announced. The Haymarket alone therefore now demands our attention. Little has occurred in the course of the prefent month worthy of notice. Such as it is, the reader will find it here detailed. New pieces and new actors are the fubjects which most challenge our regard, but when any excellence appears in established performers, we are defircus of recording it. Some perfons are interested in every little article of intelligence which refpects the dramatical department. The Inquifitor, a play in five acts, which was exhi

bited on the 23d of June, is now published. We mentioned that its approbation on the ftage was doubtful. Of its intrinfic merits, the Public have it now in their power to judge.

A little piece, entitled, Throw Phyfic to Dogs, was introduced at this Theatre at the beginning of this month; but was damned. Its author is not certainly known; of its merits we fay nothing.

July 9th. In the Lock and Key, Mr. D'Arcy made his fecond appearance in the character of Cheerly It was well fuftained, and the audience were gratified by the exhibition. His voice is peculiarly pleafing, though in our opinion, still capable of amendment.

Friday, July 13th. Mifs Griffith, whofe debut we announced in our laft Number, performed the part of Margaretta, in the comic opera of No Song no Supper, in which he gave freth proofs not only of vocal excellence, but of verfatility of talents. The fong known by the name of the Plaintive Ditty, was sweetly fung, and met with unbounded approbation. The foul touched by fuch tender ftrains diffolves into raptures.

July 14. C. Kemble performed Euftace de St. Pierre, in Colman's Siege of Calais, with confideracle ability. July 16. Mr. Johnston, from Scotland, performed Sir Edward Mortimer, in the Iron Cheft, with great applaufe. His difcrimination of character was just and animated.

July 21. An hiftorical play, called the Cambro-Britons, was performed for the first time at this Theatre.

DRAMATIS PERSONA.

Llewellyn (the prince) .. Mr. Barrymore
David (his brother)

Shenkin (a rugged mountaineer)

Cadwall (his fon)
Wynne

Dermot (an Irishman)
King Edward

Mr. C. Kemble

Mr. Munden
Mr. R. Palmer
Mr. Suett

Mr. Johnstone
Mr. Davies
Mr. Davenport
Mr. Johnfton

Elinor

Shenkin's daughter

Ghost of Llewellyn's mother

Mifs De Camp
Mrs. Bland
Mrs. Gibbs.

The refiftance of Llewellyn, Prince of North Wales, in the year 1276, to the power of Edward the Third, has afforded the ground-work of the plot, though there is in many respects a deviation from hiftorical strictness. Llewellyn and the Lady Elinor de Montfort are contracted to each other, but he finds a rival in his brother David, who flies over to the enemy. When thefe rivals meet to terminate their conteft by the fword in an Abbey, the GHOST of Lady Ap Griffith, the mother of Llewellyn and David appears, and effects a reconciliation ! This is accomplished by a fpeech, though fome think the ghost fhould have been filent. Of the merits of this piece it is difficult to determine. It was acted on Monday evening with feveral alterations, which rendered it more acceptable. Perhaps other alterations may be made, and thus the exceptionable parts wholly expunged. We fhall therefore poftpone our criticisms till the next month, when we hope to lay a favourable account of it before our Readers. With its fubject we are much pleased; valour in a good cause cannot fail of fe curing our admiration. Mr. Boaden is, we understand, the author of this piece. He is undoubtedly a man of ability, and when ftrenuous exertions are made to please, the Public fhould not be faftidious.

The mufic, compofed and felected by Dr. Arne, abounds with exquifite paffages, and the Irish pipes, accompanied by the Welsh harp, produced fome very pleafing fenfations.

MAIDSTONE.

Theatricals are here conducted with applaufe, by Mrs. BAKER'S Company. Some Gentlemen of the town have occafionally engaged in the exhibitions of the evening. Several of them have performed their parts with spirit and ability.

THE

THE

PARNASSIAN GARLAND,

FOR JULY, 1798.

HA

ODE TO KNowledge.

AIL Knowledge! great ennobler of the mind; All hail, thou dear refiner of the heart! Sublimeft gift of heav'n to human kind,

'Tis thine the choiceft pleasures to impart.

Sweet are thy paths, beftrew'd with many a flow'r,
And fraught with generous joy the facred flame;
Thine, the rich bleffings of the focial hour,

And thine the charms the rugged breast to tame.

As the thick vapours of the murky night

Recede when pierc'd by Sol's effulgent beam;
And lovely nature ting'd with radiance bright,
Unfolds her matchlefs charms with grace fupreme;

E'en fo, when mental fhades the mind involve,
And error's mifts obfcure fair reafon's ray,
'Tis thine, celeftial knowledge! to diffolve
The intellectual fogs-and light display!

To pour philanthropy o'er every breaft,
To join mankind in friendship's bond is thine;
To bid difcordant paffions fink to reft,-
Such the fweet impulfe of thy ray benign!

Th' inftructive page thy chafte delights unfold,
And charm our fouls in fweetly varied lays;
'Tis there th' hiftoric mufe with pencil bold
Pourtrays the deeds atchiev'd in ancient days,
Bb

VOL. IV.

Of empires vaft the chequer'd fate we trace,
And mark each caufe portentous of their fall;
Heroes and kings, a long illuftrious race,

Proftrate behold! at death's all-potent call.

'Tis there we rove through Homer's lofty strains,
The virtue of th' Athenian fage* admire;
There hail the bard+ sublime of Britain's plains,
Or glow enraptur'd with a Shakespeare's fire!

Great nature's ftores to thy pervading ken,
In grand luxuriance, all expanded lie,
From fragile flowers that scent the lowly glen,
To the proud oak, majestic tow'ring high.

From Alpine hills bedeck'd with living snow,
To the dark caverns of the rocky steep;
From regions where the fervid lightnings glow,
To the dead chambers of the hoary deep.-

But not the sphere of earth's capacious plan,
Adventurous knowledge! bounds thy daring pow'r,
'Tis thine, with glowing breaft ferene to fcan
The sparkling gems that grace the filent hour.

Led by thine ardent ray, fublime we foar

Beyond the confines of this orb terrene, And with a Herfchel's piercing gaze explore The midnight grandeurs of the ftarry scene.

With him we range the wide ethereal space,

And mark the planet's vaft ftupendous roll; Or burning comet's pathless orbit trace,

Whilft awe-ftruck rapture fwells th' aftonish'd toul !

Hail, then, bright knowledge! and for ever hail
That facred artt by which thy bleffings flow!

In diftant ages may thy power prevail,

In diftant climes thine heavenly ardours glow.

*Socrates. + Milton. + Typography.