A COMIC OPERA, IN THREE ACTS; .. BY ISAAC BICKERSTAFF. AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT GARDEN. PRINTED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE MANAGERS FROM THE PROMPT BOOK. WITH REMARKS BY MRS INCHBALD. LONDON: TRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWX PATERNOSTER-ROW, REMARKS. This drama is from a pen, to which, next to Gay's, the English nation is indebted for the species of entertainment called opera. “Love in a Village,” and “The Maid of the Mill,” had for several years delighted the town, when the author of these pieces produced the present musical work; more satisfied with his composition than he had been upon any other occasion, and, of course, more confident in his hopes of success. “ Lionel and Clarissa" was received with approbation; but in comparing it with those productions which had preceded it, and which the author had considered as inferior, it failed in reputation and attraction; and both he and the public were disappointed. It is somewhat hard to be judged and punished upon thc score of past services; and yet, in the usual method of rating, by the comparison of works from the same hand, is many a poor artist, more especially an author, tried and condemned. It was the boast of the writer, in his preface to this drama, that the whole was of his own invention, having borrowed neither plot, incident, nor charac |