mal more adapted for this new line of life than the Elephant. When tamed, say our naturalists, he is gentle, obedient, and docile. Patient of labour, he submits to the most toilsome drudgery; and is so attentive to the commands of his Governor (whom we must now term his Manager), that a word or a look is sufficient to stimulate him to his duty.-He receives his orders with attention, and executes them with eagerness, but without precipitation. And let me add another property, which has no doubt given this animal a value in Mr. Kemble's eyes-all his motions are orderly, and seem to correspond with the dignity of its appearance, being grave, majestic, and cau tious. After detailing these properties of the animal in its natural state, I shall avoid all personal comparisons ; but may surely request your Readers, without offence, to weigh the properties of some of our late actors, by what is said above. The only circumstance about which I find Linnæus, Buffon, and, indeed, all our naturalists, profoundly silent, is the Elephant's having a turn for the Stage. But, doubtless, they omitted this merely from ignorance of the fact, and from living in an age when the respective employments of man and beast did not clash; and, therefore, while they praised this animal for its docility in all other respects, they very naturally omitted the figure he is likely to make in our play-bills. Whether any farther attempts will be made to enrich the modern drama, at the expense of Exeter Change and the Tower, I know not; but I thought it my duty, as a friend to improvements, to send you these remarks on the introduction of Nature's greatest work in the four-footed genus. Whether he is to be followed by a Lion or a Whale, time must show. I am, Sir, yours, QUADRUPEDALIS EPIGRAM. [From the Morning Herald, Nov. 30%] PAINTERS at certain subjects stick; They know not how to form Old Nick ; LINES UPON THE DEATH OF LORD NELSON, BY THE LATE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE. [From the Morning Chronicle, Nov. 30.] OFT had Britannia sought, 'midst dire alarms, ON GEN. GIRARD'S RETREAT TO THE MOUNTAINS, AFTER HIS RENCONTRE WITH GEN. HILL. [From the British Press, Dec. 4.] HOW inconsistent are the French, cries Will, HEREDITARY BRAVERY; OR, EXPEDITION EXEMPLIFIED. ON A GENTLEMAN AVOWING HIS INTENTION OF FORTHWITH EMBARKING FOR THE PENINSULA. [From the Morning Chronicle, Dec. 5.] ASHAM'D of loose inglorious ease, Cries Tom, "I'll tempt the dangerous seas, And, on Valencia's plains, lay low, With vengeful arm, the miscreant foe.". M EPIGRAM ON BLOOD-STAINED LAURELS. [From the Scourge.] exclaims, with lofty head, That in his country's cause he's bled:- THE HUNGRY FED. ADDRESSED TO AN UNFEELING LAWYER. To the wants of the hungry I'll prove you not callous ; You were bred to the bar, and are meet for the gallows. Tower, Dec. 6. NEW THEATRES. [From the Public Ledger, Dec. 7.] MR. EDITOR, WE E are again told of various fresh applications that are to be made in behalf of licenses or patents for new theatres, and every patriotic soul must rejoice to think that the country is in such a state of prosperity as to require new means of spending money on amusement. It gives the lie direct to all the foolish reports about the advanced price of the necessaries of life-the pressure of the times the vast expenditure of the war-and those other topics on which political croakers, for want of a true theatrical taste, are fond of dwelling. It will also show our implacable enemy of France, that, notwithstanding his boasted resources and expedients to injure our commerce and our wealth, we have no object nearer our hearts, than an addition to our theatrical amusements. But, Sir, amidst my congratulations on this affair, I cannot help interposing a hint, very much in the shape of a doubt, whether those who are the ablest advocates advocates for six or eight theatres, instead of two, are really aware of what they set about; and I am even doubtful whether, when they declaim against what they call the dramatic monopoly, they really understand the meaning of the word. Do they consider plays as articles, the growth and price of which can be contracted by a monopoly, or extended by the destruction of that monopoly, like any species of natural or artificial manufacture? If the East India Company's monopoly were destroyed, I do not say that some individuals might not be benefited by fitting out ships, and bringing home teas, and silks, and cottons, on their own account; and I do not say that rivalship in such a trade might not enable the public to get the articles cheaper. But, in a scarcity of good actors and good plays, owing to a monopoly (which, for a moment, I take for granted, I do not so clearly see how the building of new houses will produce these articles of a better sort, or cheaper than now, Have we assimilated the theatrical monopoly so closely to other monopolies, as to suppose nothing more necessary than to enclose a few more acres of ground for the purpose of planting Garricks and Siddonses, Congreves and Vanbrughs? Has the soil of Covent Garden and Drury Lane been so often turned up, that nothing more will grow there? Have we made any new.discoveries in dramatic agriculture, by which we may ensure a better crop, merely by extending our plantations, or employing ten farmers instead of two? These, Sir, appear to me to be questions which are worthy the consideration of those who think that nothing more is wanted to the perfection of an article, than that it should be multiplied. But there is, I strongly suspect, another reason for this increased demand for new theatres, which is kept more out of sight:-I mean, Sir, the wonderful ambition there is to fill the office of Manager. From various circumstances stances which have occurred of late, I am inclined to doubt, whether there be any office, either in His Majesty's Administration, or in the army or navy, the church or law, which seems more enviable in the eyes of some gentlemen, than this of manager. Hence we have heard, and that very lately, of men of fashion and family, who have actually embarked their property in, and devoted their time to, the building and managing of theatrical concerns; and although, for some reasons best known to themselves, they have not been much more successful than managers by trade, yet so far are they from relinquishing the delightful pursuit, that we are just told of a theatre, of the operatical kind, which is to be managed by a committee of noblemen of the first rank-nothing under an Earl to be admitted into the sacred trust! And the reason of this is such as every man must admit; namely, that in such managers we may expect to find not only the strictest impartiality, and the most disinterested integrity, but also the most consummate judgment in theatrical matters, joined to an affability and easiness of access; all which, we humbly presume, are not to be found in plebeian managers. I should, therefore, submit most cheerfully to place the Muses under such management, were I not afraid that the democrats will take the alarm, and that, as fast as subscription brick and mortar can do it, we shall have a dramatic House of Lords, and another of Commons, employing their respective writers to dramatize and ridicule each others privileges in farces and panto mimes! Still the attempt shows that the office of manager has attractions which are irresistible; and that, if no other good effect arises from multiplying our theatres, the breed of managers, at least, will be improved by a mixture of the high blood of those who have always show VOL. XVI. E. |