indeed the three preceding lines, which exclude him from all focial intercourfe, fhould be expreffive of concern.-The fecond paffage is, where Buckingham folicits Richard for his promife, and Ri chard meditates in these lines,

I do remember me, that Henry the fixth

Did prophefy, that Richmond fheuld be king,
When Richmond was a little peevish boy.
'Tis odd-a king—perhaps—

The laft line is often fpoke without a tone of continuation to the word, perhaps, which is most evidently intended: the third place is in these lines,

Hence, babbling dreams, ye threaten here in vain ;
Confcience, avaunt-Richard's himself again.

It is ufual to speak this couplet in one continued climax of paffion; whereas the two words marked in Italics, fhould be uttered in a lower tone, expreffive of mental agony-Confcience being the constant disturber of his peace, and a great bar to his resolution; the latter part of the line rifes to a kind of triumphant exultation, which not only varies, but gives force to the expreffion.

Having placed Mr. GARRICK far before all other competitors in this character. as fupporting every scene throughout the whole with very capital merit; it would be ungenerous not to acknowledge, that Mr. Mossop difplays great powers, Mr. SHERIDAN much judgment, and Mr. SMITH con-: fiderable fpirit; but had the firft more delicacy,. with lefs labour; the fecond more harmony, and lefs ftiffnefs; the third more variation, with lefslevity, their merit would rife feveral degrees beyond what it is. Henry's

Henry's character is compofed of pathetic dignity; in representation it fhould be ftudiously remembered, that his griefs, tho' a diftreffed king and father, fhould not be blubbered like those of a schoolboy; but should paint feelings worthy the monarch and the man-The part is admirably drawn, and highly finished, yet cannot I remember any performer doing it tolerable juftice, except Mr. DIGGES; who is now, I believe, retired from the stage.

Richmond requires little more than a good figure, free deportment, with fmooth, fpirited expreffion; yet our theatres have not often filled it with ability the late Mr. PALMER, tho' no tragedian, came nearest the idea I can form of it.

The Queen, tho' not wrought up to the pitch her circumstances seem to admit, is a character of much respect and attention; Mrs. PRITCHARD did more for it in action, than the Author in writing; it is now given to fecond and third rates, for what reason is hard to fay, as there never was, nor per haps ever will be, an actress of higher estimation, than the lady juft named: what she did not think beneath her is certainly equal to any existing merit, and the public have an undoubted right to expect capital performance, wherever it can be introduced; nor should the ridiculous word, confequence, deter managers from fulfilling the point of duty.

The fentiments, and verfification of this tragedy are rather familiarly-nervous, than flowing and affluent; however, the language all through is uniformly characteristic, unless we object to a person

in

in Henry's fituation stepping afide to the allufions of frosty Cauçafus and December fnow. Since it is trefpaffing upon probability and nature, to make a character deeply diftreffed or torn with paffion vent poetical fimilitudes; for which reason also we must condemn those lines, in the last speech of the fourth act, tho' the thought is really fine, that fpeak of the fever-worn wretch: they are genenerally omitted, but more, I believe, to relieve the actor's utterance, than from any idea of impropriety.

Upon the whole, RICHARD appears much better calculated for reprefentation than perufal, as indeed every bustling piece muft be; however, taste and judgement will not by any means hold it light in the closet.

HAM

HAMLET.

Written by Mr. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

THE opening of this tragedy is extremely well

devised; the time of night, the place, the characters, and what they speak, all most naturally concur to raise an awful preparatory apprehenfion for the appearance of that fupernatural agent on whom the main action totally depends; and indeed so artfully has Shakespeare wrought upon his great patronefs, nature; so powerfully does he engage our paffions upon this occafion; that even those who laugh at the idea of glofts, as old womens' tales, cannot avoid lending an eye and ear of serious at tention to this of Hamlet's father.

Introducing him previously to fome of the inferior characters, brings him with double force upon the principal one; and Horatio's determining to acquaint the prince with fe, ftrange and alarming a circumftance is very natural.

The fingularity of Hamlet's appearance as a mourner, when all the reft of the court are in a ftate of festivity and congratulation, raises our idea of his filial affection and concern; his indifferent, contemptuous replies to the King, and his catching so eagerly at the word feems, ufed by his mother, are a happy commencement of his character. Laertes's foliciting leave to travel feems merely calculated

3

culated to keep him out of the way, and to learn fencing against the fifth act..

.

The first foliloquy of Hamlet is particularly ftriking and effential, as it lays open in a pathetic, beautiful manner, the cause of his melancholy, and paints his mother's frailty with ftrong feeling, yet preferves a delicate refpect.

The fcene which introduces Horatio, &c. to communicate the circumftance of the preceding night fucceeds naturally; and the broken mode of converfation, in lines and half-lines, is fo artfully contrived, is executed in fo masterly a maner, that the spectators, tho' they previously know the fubject, are yet agreeably lured on to hear it related, and thoroughly fympathize in the tranfitions of Hamlet; whofe interrogations concerning the awful ambaffador of heaven are fuch, as give us a ftronger feeling of the Ghoft than even his appearance does; on the prince's determination to watch, notwithstanding his violent agitation, he might have used a phrafe lefs cenfurable than the following,

I'll fpeak to it, tho' hell itself should gape,

And bid me hold my peace.

Laertes's fhort advice to Ophelia is pregnant with affection and good fenfe; as Polonius is introduced to haften his fon on board, I could wish those excellent maxims for youth in the firft fcene of the fecond act, and which are always omitted in representation, were tranfpofed to this place, and given personally by the father to his fon : fuch a treasure of useful inftruction fhould upon no ac

count,