66 in giving reft to the nation, and an ague ferve to reward the courage of our defenders. To a benevolent mind, this furely muft afford many pleafing reflections, and may raise a smile in the moft ficklied countenance.' Methinks our divine Shakspeare had a prophetic eye to this politico-phyfical fyftem, when he asks his doctor if he had any rhubarb, fenna," or other, " purgative drug" to "fcour his enemies" away, who were then invading him. Well, Mr. Editor, let us be thankful, the time is come, and the enemy threatens our thores: let us, while we artfully feem to turn tail, discharge thofe ftamped vials of wrath upon them, and teach them that we have one bumbardment yet left, which they cannot refift. I hope now, Mr. Editor, that I have advanced enough to throw a more favourable light, not only on our general taxation, but on the new ftamp duties, than that in which they have hitherto been viewed. I have only one more remark to make, because it may obviate an objection. It is commonly thought that the faculty may, perhaps, be more tender in their prefcriptions; but this, I think, is extremely improbable. In the first place, they will receive their fees just as before; and fecondly, it is very natural to fuppofe that they will increafe, rather than abridge their prefcriptions; because they will have an opportunity of difplaying their patriotifm on a very large fcale, without the fmallet perfonal rifk. I have not made the calculation, but I fhould fuppofe that if our phyficians do their duty (and they have never been found deficient or difloyal), the article of nervous difeafes alone may not be ashamed to appear in the fame eftimate with the Land and Malt Tax; and I have no doubt, that the aniount of fore gn and home-made fpirits will not greatly exceed the net produce of our ftomach compia nts. Indeed, by a judicious phyfician who ftudies pontics at Batfon's, or elfewhere, there may always be be a certain proportion kept up between receipt and expenditure; and, when they difcover fome fecret plan, or vaft expedition, they may prefcribe in fuch a manner as to prevent the expenfe from falling fo heavily on the active and laborious part of the community, by dif tributing it among those who plead indifpofition, and whofe indifpofition may therefore be a public benefit. There can hardly, I think, be any reafon to expect unfair dealing, or that any phyfician would be fo jacobinical as not to render a charming flow fever," or a "delicate dejection of fpirits," beneficial to the revenue; but if there were, the fraud might at any time be detected by a careful inspection of the bills of mortality, which muft now, of course, form one of thofe valuable documents which lie on the table for the illuftration of Budgets. As to other modes of evading thefe taxes, I have not paid much attention to them, becaufe my primary object was to exhibit the happy union of morality, patriotifm, and taxation, which our Minifter has contrived, and for which he merits great praife. It is certain no taxes can be invented which fome perfons ́ will not find means to evade; but this, I may venture to fay, will not be very practicable, nor often attempted. A man in a raging fit of the gout or colic has no thoughts to beftow on the ftate of Europe;' disease is of no party; and stubborn mult that politician be, who, in the paroxyfm of an afthma, would care a fig for Pitt or Bonaparté. I am, Sir, Your humble Servant, Aug. 18. A PITTITE. THEATRICALS, THEATRICALS. [From the Morning Chronicle.] “Totus mundus agit hiftrionem." MR. EDITOR, I HOPE you do not confider it out of the province of a newfpaper to communicate theatrical intelligence, except from Drury Lane, Covent Garden, and the Haymarket. The country flage, miserable as are the fcenes it fometimes exhibits, well deferves a portion of the public attention. If impartial criticism were to expofe and to condemn whatever appears here that is objectionable, the actors might become less profligate, and the performances more praifeworthy. A I beg leave, Sir, to send you a fhort account of an extraordinary production that has lately been brought out, under the title of The New Cabinet; or, the Triumph of Treachery. Confiderable expectations were excited when a change of entertainments was announced; as we had been bored for three years with the Mock Doctor and the March to Paris. story had likewife been given out, that they were to be fucceeded by a piece called The Union, fuperior in wit and energy to every thing before feen in England, and calculated to command the admiration and fupport of all ranks, profeffions, and parties in the community. Never was there fo much difappointment and difcontent as when the promifed novelty was at laft produced *. Sometimes an audience is diffatisfied with * An eminent cabinet-maker lately undertook to furnish a 100m with a dozen of handsome new chairs. Confiderable furprise was excited when he sent home fix of the most crazy of the old ones; together with fome, worm-eaten and full of bugs, that he had picked up among the brokers in Moorfields. Upon being charged with a breach of faith, he maintained, that, as the arm-chair was new, the whole fet was to be confidered as fuch; and, after many proteftations of his honefty, of fered to refer the matter to the firß man in the trade. what what is really excellent; but, in the prefent inftance, the popular feeling is fully fanctioned by cool investigation and fober reflection. The New Cabinet is the moft wretched, vamped-up compofition that was ever impofed upon the public. It is faid to be copied pretty exactly from fomething that appeared in the time of Richard H. or Henry VI.; but, in my opinion, it has nothing English in it. It is rather framed upon the German model, which has unfortunately become much too prevalent in this country. The authors who imbibe this tafte, I need not tell you, are extremely arbitrary, defpifing established opinions, and obeying no rule but their own caprice. Cumberland's dramas have been cenfured, because the characters were all virtuous and all amiable. Such a ftigma by no means attaches to The New Cabinet. Indeed, an honeft man is fcarcely to be found in it; and the most wonderful felicity is difcovered in affembling fuch a venal, felfish, odious crew-all different from each other, and yet all bearing a refemblance. A confiderable number of them are fo trifling and infignificant, that, though they have lofty titles, they feem introduced merely to fwell out the lift of the dram. perf. to the ufual length. The Horatian maxim has been adhered to -nec quarta loqui perfona laboret for not more than two or three ever attempt to speak. The hero is a very striking reprefentation of a man under the influence of wild ambition. He has fplendid talents, with which he might be useful to his country, hut he facrifices every thing to his love of power. Endowed with fome fenfe of honour, and fome regard for fame, his ruling frenzy goads him on to actions that are perfidious and difgraceful. His example Qught to be an awful warning to the young and afpir ing; for, apparently in the poffeffion of the object of his utmost wishes, he is ftill unhappy. The paft holds out a dreadful retrofpect to him, and he is perpetually haunted by fears for the future. He is not even contented with the power he at prefent enjoys, but, in his reftleffness, is revolving defperate expedients how he may enlarge and perpetuate it. Poetical juftice feems to be violated by his being allowed to go unpunished. Thus much may be faid, however, that he evidently fuffers enough from his own thoughts, and that the impreffion left is decidedly favourable to integrity and patriotism. The next character is a Scotfman. He poffeffes fome humour, but has no claims to originality, being an overcharged copy of Macklin's Sir Pertinax M'Sycophant. If nature and manners were to be ftudied, the features fhould have been confiderably foftened; for it is not eafy to conceive that there ever was a statesman who not only defpifed principle to fuch a degree in fecret, but who fo openly derided it. He fhuns hypocrify, as a man would clear himself from the imputation of cowardice, by ftabbing every one he meets. He appears as a mere chapman in politics, and ready to fay or unfay any thing for place and patronage. I mult likewife obferve, that his accent is greatly too broad, and his vulgarity too difgufting. How is it poffible that a perfon fo illiterate and uncultivated hould be allowed to play fo important a part in a civilized age and country? The feelings of the Scottish nation must have been exceffively wounded, that this fhould be held up a fair fpecimen of their learning, purity, and decency. The fatire is too extravagant to promote the ends of malignity and prejudice. A Lawyer has been introduced for the fake of variety. He is very deeply concerned in the plot, and is the chief inftrument in bringing about the denouement. |