ཝཱམཝཱ ཎྞཾ

"he will make one of the finest actors in Europe; "I say it, and I think I am something of a judge. "Praise in the beginning is agreeable enough, "and we receive it as a favour; but when it comes in great quantities we regard it only as a debt, "which nothing but our merit could extort: in“ stead of thanking them, I internally applauded "myself. We were desired to give our piece a se"cond time; we obeyed; and I was applauded even "more than before.

"At last we left the town, in order to be at a ، horse-race at some distance from thence. I shall "never think of Tenterden without tears of grati،، tude and respect. The ladies and gentlemen there, "take my word for it, are very good judges of plays "and actors. Come, let us drink their healths, if "you please, sir. We quitted the town, I say; and "there was a wide difference between my coming "in and going out: I entered the town a candlesnuffer, and I quitted it an hero!--Such is the “ word; little to-day, and great to-morrow. I "could say a great deal more upon that subject, "something truly sublime, upon the ups and downs "of fortune; but it would give us both the spleen, " and so I shall pass it over.

"The races were ended before we arrived at the "next town, which was no small disappointment to "our company; however we were resolved to take "all we could get. I played capital characters there "too, and came off with my usual brilliancy. I "sincerely believe I should have been the first actor "of Europe had my growing merit been properly "cultivated; but there came an unkindly frost "which nipped me in the bud, and levelled me "once more down to the common standard of hu"manity. I played Sir Harry Wildair; all the

"country ladies were charmed: if I but crew out "my stuff-box the whole bouse was in a roar of " rapture; when I exercised my cudgel. I thought "they would have fallen into convulsions.

“There was here a lady who had received an "education of nine months in London; and this

66

66

gave her pretensions to taste, which rendered her "the indisputable mistress of the ceremonies wher"ever she came. She was informed of my merits ; "every body praised me; yet she refused at tirst going to see me perform: she could not conceive, "she said, any thing but stuff from a stroller; "talked something in praise of Garrick, and amazed "the ladies with her skill in enunciations, tones, ❝ and cadences; she was at last however prevailed upon to go; and it was privately intimated to me "what a judge was to be present at my next exhi"bition: however, no way intimidated, I came on " in Sir Harry, one hand stuck in my breeches, and "the other in my bosom, as usual at Drury-lane ; "but instead of looking at me, I perceived the "whole audience had their eyes turned upon the "lady who had been nine months in London; from "her they expected the decision which was to se"cure the general's truncheon in my hand, or sink "me down into a theatrical letter-carrier.I opened "my snuff-box, took snuff; the lady was solemn, "and so were the rest; I broke my cudgel on alder"man Smuggler's back; still gloomy, melancholy "all, the lady groaned and shrugged her shoulders; "I attempted by laughing myself, to excite at least a smile; but the devil a cheek could I perceive "wrinkled into sympathy: I found it would not "do: all my good-humour now became forced; "my laughter was converted into hysteric grinning; "and whilel pretended spirits, my eye showed the " agony

agony of my heart in short the lady came with "an intention to be displeased, and displeased she was; my fame expired; I am here, and (the "tankard is no more)!"

WHEN Catharina Alexowna was made empress of Russia, the women were in an actual state of bondage, but she undertook to introduce mixed asseinblies, as in other parts of Europe: she altered the women's dress by substituting the fashions of England; instead of furs, she brought in the use of taffeta and damask; and cornets and commodes instead of caps of sable. The women now found themselves no longer shut up in separate apartments, but saw company, visited each other, and were present at every entertainment.

But as the laws to this effect were directed to a savage people, it is amusing enough, the manner in which the ordinances ran. Assemblies were quite unknown among them; the czarina was satisfied with introducing them, for she found it impossible to render them polite. An ordinance was therefore published according to their notions of breeding, which, as it is a curiosity, and has never before been printed that we know of, we shall give our readers.

"I. The person at whose house the assembly is "to be kept, shall signify the same by hanging out "a bill, or by giving some other public notice, by "way of advertisement, to persons of both sexes. "II. The

AA 2

tema de att for them the MIA « Resort, and all other necessanes TOS OCC * mas as foo be a likewise to permode them with - codi de, and even peces it r

* IV. There shall be to ixed bar is coming " or going away; it is enough for a person to ap pear in the assembla.

«V. Every one shall be free to sit, wik, or gamle “as he pleases; nor shall any cze go about to Ez“der him, or take exceptions at what he dies up" on pain of emptying the great eagle a pint-bowl “full of brandyy: It shall likewise be suficient, at "entering or retiring to salute the company.

« VI. Persons of distinction, noblemen, superior "officers, merchants and tradesmen of note, head❝ workmen, especially carpenters, and persons em❝ployed in chancery, are to have liberty to enter "the assemblies; as likewise their wives and "children.

"VII. A particular place shall be assigned the "footmen, except those of the house, that there "may be room enough in the apartments designed " for the assembly.

"VIII. No ladies are to get drunk upon any pretence whatsoever; nor shall gentlemen be "drunk before nine.

"IX. Ladies who play at forfeitures, questions " and commands, &c. shall not be riotous: no gen"tleman shall attempt to force a kiss, and no person "shall offer to strike a woman in the assembly, un"der pain of future exclusion."

Such

Such are the statutes upon this occasion, which in their very appearance carry an air of ridicule and satire. But politeness must enter every country by degrees; and these rules resemble the breeding of a clown, aukward but sincere.

ESSAY VIII.

Supposed to be written by the Ordinary of Newgate.

MAN is a most frail being, incapable of directing his steps, unacquainted with what is to happen in this life; and perhaps no man is a more manifest instance of the truth of this maxim, than Mr. The. Cibber, just now gone out of the world. Such a variety of turns of fortune, yet such a persevering uniformity of conduct, appears in all that happened in his short span, that the whole may be looked upon as one regular confusion: every action of his life was matter of wonder and surprize, and his death was an astonishment.

This gentleman was born of creditable parents, who gave him a very good education, and a great deal of good learning, so that he could read and write before he was sixteen. However he early discovered an inclination to follow lewd courses; he refused to take the advice of his parents, and pursued the bent of his inclination; he played at cards on sundays, called himself a gentleman; fell out with his mother and laundress; and even in these early days his father was frequently heard to observe, that young The.--would be hanged.

As