foon would be, if public refentment, instead of ap plause attended it. In the latter part of this scene the author labours, and with some effect, to make Mrs. Sullen apologize for herfelf; when she speaks of her own heart, and the violence done her feelings by a brutish insensible husband; fome rays of partiality will break in upon us for her unhappy situation; yet her relapse in thefe lines banish them all-" to confefs "the truth, I do love that fellow-and if I met him "dress'd as he should be and I undreft as I fhould "be-look ye sister, I have no fupernatural gifts" I can't swear I could resist the temptation" though I can safely promife to avoid it, and "that's as much as the best of us can do;"-а very pretty compliment truly-not refift temptation, then where is virtue ?-Avoiding what may endanger it, is most certainly prudent, but refifting solicitation, and curbing our own paffions prove integrity-the chastity of a Nun locked up within grates and walls is no merit; but if the fame perfon amidst the gay world guides her steps in the right path, this is positive virtue, which I believe a great majority of the fair fex are capable of, and rises far above that degree of mere negative virtue, which Mrs. Sullen palms upon her sex, having no other principle herself. Archer who seems to have no real honesty from the beginning, confirms it by his remark upon Aimwell's saying, when he speaks of Dorinda, "'tis " a pity to deceive her, nay if you stick to those principles " principles, stop where you are;" Foigard's prevarication and Archer's detection are whimsically droll-the priest's catch at Tipperary, and saying he went to school at Kilkenny, is as natural and pleafant a blunder as I have met with. The short scene between Boniface and the rotbers is only introduced to let the audience know the design on Mr. Sullen's house. A new character, Sir Charles Freeman, without whom the catastrophe could not have been brought about, makes his appearance at the beginning of the fifth act, and not only from the landlord, but from the squire's personal appearance and conversation, gains a confirmation of the disposition of his hopeful brother-in-law. The scene between Archer and Mrs. Sullen is supported with great warmth and vivacity; the eclaircissement is wrought up to a strong pitch of paffion, and becomes very critical, when Scrub's fright, in a very convenient and laughable manner, interrupts it; but Archer's remark upon his difappointment, is gross to the last degree, and should never be spoke-" the very timorous stag will kill in rutting time." Scrub's mistaking him for one of the thieves is a natural effect of fear, and varies the dialogue pleasingly. The seizing of the robbers and the disposal of them fall well in; Gibbet's remark that he must save some part of his money to bring him off at the sessions, is a keen just stroke of fatire against that vile perversion of justice which for bribes protects rogues who can pay well. Ar Archer's availing himself of a flight wound to draw lady Bountiful and Mrs. Sullen afide, that Aimwell may address Dorinda to more effect, gives the plot a probable progress; Dorinda's generous objection to a hasty marriage, and its delicate effect upon her lover are very agreeable incidents, not a little heightened by Foigard's dissatisfaction at being so often called to no purpose.-Archer's reproach to Aimwell shews him in a very unfavourable lightThe unexpected intelligence brought by Sir Charles Freeman of Aimwell's fucceeding to his brother's title and estate opens our views to a favourable conclufion, which till this remains judiciously doubtful; Archer's confufion upon hearing of Sir Charles's arrival shows commendable and natural fpirit; Dorinda's next change is very well imagined, and the reason she assigns for it shows refined generosity, which is, that as Aimwell had candidly acqainted her with his poverty, the thinks it her duty to let him know his good fortune before their marriage. Archer's immediate demand of half the lady's fortune is mean and unmannerly; and Aimwell's replies are fomewhat strange for the situation of things. As this comedy is played, we find Foigard most abfurdly introduced to fpeak of the robbery as being told to him, tho' the audience has already feen him in prefence of the fame characters placed as a guard over the thieves; this, by the author, was put into the Frenchman's mouth; however, a flight alteration may bring propriety to the priest; only making him enter with 1 with-Arra, fure there has been another robberythen the mention of Boniface falls in aptly. Cherry's billetdoux shows honest attachment, and sure never was so contemptible a return made for generofity, as Archer's disposing of fuch a girl, with two thousand pounds fortune, to be Gipsey's fucceffor in Dorinda's service. The scene of feparation between Sullen and his wife has a peculiar degree of humour, and delineates both the characters pleasantly: upon Sullen's refusing to refund his lady's fortune, Archer makes a most extrardinary proposition; first, with respect to the ten thousand pounds Aimwell resigns in his favour, then by putting the squire's bank notes and writings into Sir Charles's hands; these bank notes, &c. we find, were taken by Mr. Gibbet; how Archer came by them we do not so clearly perceive, unless he picks his pocket when first seized; but allowing he does, as may be justifiable, what right does that give him over the papers, that he should lay ten thousand pounds mortgage on them? and how amazing a compliance is the squire's acquiefcence to fuch a demand? Instead of saying his head, I think, he should reply, "my pocket aches " consumedly;" but all of a sudden, he grows the beft-natured brute inmaginable, and invites them to be as merry as they please in his house and at his expence. for we find scarce If wit be an effential of comedy, this piece is certainly deficient in that point any of those studied thes of imagination which claim that title; however, the dialogue is easy, fpirited 1 spiritee and natural throughout, well varied, and well adapted to the several characters; the humour forcible, and maintained without descending too low; the characters well grouped, and the scenes arranged with judgment; yet it is to be lamented, that there are few moral sentiments, that the plot is in many places reduced to pitiful expedients for fupport; that the principal man and woman are despicable wretches; that human nature is shewn in a very unfavourable light; that several passages raise gross ideas; that the voluntary divorce is absurd; that Archer and Mrs. Sullen are left in a very unfatisfactory, or offensive state; that the whole piece is totally without a moral; and that the four following conclusive lines have no meaning at all, or else a very bad one; Both happy in their several states we find, Thus Mr. Farquhar dissolves the marriage-knot, with as much ease and expedition as Alexander did the Gordian of old; one would think his method had been pretty generally inculcated, and was well received among the great world at present. In respect of characters we perceive, that Archer is a gay, sensible, gallant, but unprincipled, young fellow; whose chief wish is to repair a shattered fortune, and obtain pleasure at any rate, hazarding honesty for the one, and social, as well as moral obligation for the other; his attack upon Cherry may pass, but his romantic one upon Mrs. Sullen |