Among those who are principally to fupport the Manager in this drama, is an Irishman, who is known among his friends by the name of Dan-Sherry, or Sherry-Dan, fuppofed to have been given him by his bottle companions, in allufion to the great quantity of Sherry-we are, however, told Claret-which he has been continually pouring down his throat, and which has lighted up a flame in his countenance, that all the water in the Thames cannot extinguifh; while his nofe, like Bardolph's, ferves the purpose of a memento mori, continually keeping us in mind, as Shakspeare fays, of "Hell fire!" He may be confidered as the Munden of the company, and is therefore peculiarly well fitted to act his part in Low Comedy. This man wrote feveral pieces for a theatre of his own, which were well received; but nothing would content him but the place of an actor on the Political Stage. Here he cracks jokes, tells ftories, makes puns and conundrums, and pours forth repeated vollies of jefts, at all which the audience laugh in the mean time; but notwithstanding this, moft of the pieces in which he has been engaged in the Political Theatre, have been d-d. Yorick, however, ftill perfifts in the fame career, and defies even Hamlet to fay that he is "chop-fallen." He is to play a droll part in the comedy of "The Murmurs;" and the audience will, as ufual, laugh heartily at his jefts, but d-n his "good intentions." The next performer is known by the appellation of Wind-him, from his notorious liability to be wound and turned about, or in allufion to the variableness and inconftancy of the wind, which he a good deal refembles. He is alfo very much given to interlard his part with quotations, and fcraps of Latin. He, too, aims at jefts; and, by pains and application, Threds and patches, he may no doubt qualify himself YOL. VIII. S to to play the part of " The Taylor riding to Brentford," at Ailey's, or the Royal Circus. Thefe jefts and quotations he lugs into his parts at all times and in all places. He delerted his former company, because one of the actors had faid that he was a fecond Knight of the Woful Countenance, as he was ever ready to attack windmills, fcale the walls of caftles for the relief of diftreffed damfels, and miftake country alehoufes for fortified redoubts. His dignity being offended at this, he bade adieu to his old friends, and now has a confpicuous part affigned him in the comedy of " Murmurs." For this he is fuppofed to be peculiarly well fitted, as he not only grumbles at others, but is even difcontented with the parts which he himself played with his former company. This last actor will be fupported by one who appears in the character of a Lawyer, and has a voice very much refembling the noise of a baffoon. He is a vigorous grumbler; but there has been a neceffity for thortening his part, from a dread that the found of his voice would either drive away the audience or fet them asleep. A young Baronet is also expected to give his affiftance, lefs young in years, however, than in fense, as appears from what he calls his Hiftory of Athens. The part which he chooses to fupport is a fort of continued railing at all Volunteers, except 96,000! This he recites in a ftrange monotonous twang, which feals up the eyes of those who are able to refift the foporific qualities of the lawyer's baffoon. As it is feared that there may be a deficiency of women, fome of the males are appointed to take various female characters, for which feveral of them are admirably qualified by their love of gossip and fcandal. The parts of Silly Old Women are expected to to be particularly well performed. A great many real women are alfo to exert themselves behind the curtain; and for all this, the cuftom of the ancients is full and fufficient authority. Such are the chief parts in the expected comedy; but, notwithstanding their grumbling talents, and their exertions to fupport the piece, it is generally fuppofed that it will be d-d; and that the actors will be hiffed off the ftage-not for want of talents in their profeffion, but for proftituting thofe talents in the fupport of fuch execrable fluff. The comedy is indeed faid to be not only deficient in judgment, common fenfe, and real wit, and totally void of all merit--but also in danger of being, upon the whole, ill fupported; for though fome of the actors have confiderable individual talents, the company is but ill arranged, and the parts are extremely ill caft. The troop is certainly very liable to come to an open rupture among themfelves, as the different individuals fcarcely agree in any one thing, except in grumbling. The laft piece, therefore, which they will perform, and which is likely to be received with great applaufe, is "Difappointment; or, The Grumblers Outwitted." Sept. 24. Yours, &c. EPIGRAM NED PRY-ABOUT. ON THE RECENT DEFEAT OF ADMIRAL LINOIS BY Ο CAPTAIN DANCE. UITE debonair Linois left France, And on the ocean came to Dance: COMPLIMENTARY CARDS. [From the General Evening Poft.] MR. John Bull presents compliments to Rear-Ad miral Linois and friends; would be very glad of the pleasure of their company this evening, to take tea and have a Dance. China Row, Feb. 14, 1804. His Excellency Rear-Admiral Linois's most refpectful compliments to Mr. John Bull; is forry he must decline the pleasure of his very polite invitation; his Excellency and friends being afraid to encounter the heat of the evening's entertainment. Feb. 14, 1804. D. I. O. THE CONQUEROR OF LINOIS. A SONG : BY MR. HAYLEY. AS Fame, the fair goddess, whofe clarion's fo shrill, Was leaning one day 'gainst an admiral's maft, And the fondly exclaim'd, "By the Star of the Pole, } Though Though of Britain's brave seamen the host I adore Thou haft prov'd the first merchant fo deftin'd to fhine, Now a favourite name in my sphere's wide expanse, THE BRITISH AMAZON AT YORK RACES. SIR, AS a great admirer of the ladies, I am always highly delighted when any change of fashion or of manners occurs to fet them off to new advantage; but nothing has ever raised my expectation higher than the fplendid example lately fet to the fair fex on the racing-ground at Knavefmire *: There is fomething fo bold and fo original in the idea of a lady publicly contending with a man, that I think it cannot fail to take prodigioufly among all females of rank and fpirit. I know not whether it be prejudice that makes our fex difcourage exploits of this fort; but I rather take it to be envy, and unwillingness to acknowledge Mrs. Wolftonecraft's doctrine of the equality of the fexes. Whatever it proceeds from, I fear it is not every hufband that has the fpirit and liberal feeling to permit his wife to make fo public an exhibition. But I think the glory of being talked of through all Europe, and of being perfonated at Bartholomew Fair and Sadler's Wells, is inducement enough to make our women *Mrs. Thornton against Mr. Flint for five hundred guineas. $ 3 break |