518 The Two Professors. [MAY, 



is the best preparation for the achievement of great works ; and, at the 

 same time, supply her with a standard by which she will be enabled to 

 measure her own productions, and to render them worthy of herself and of 

 the stage, which she so highly and eminently adorns. 



Mr. Millman, however, would seem to intimate that no such prepara- 

 tion is necessary, and that his young friend has already displayed " all 

 but unrivalled talents," in a province confessedly the most arduous that 

 can lie before the ambition of a poet ; and in confirmation of his opinion, 

 he indulges us with a satiety of extracts -, 



" Now this, now that, he tasteth daintily," 



and serves up his delicacies with an approving smile. But, first, he says, 

 " The most remarkable characteristic, however, of the tragedy before us, 

 is its total and disdainful want of conformity to the present state of the 

 stage. Far from accommodating itself with servile docility to the taste of 

 the day, and displaying the wise tact which might be acquired by fami- 

 liarity with the incidents and situations with the tone and manner of 

 composition which produce the strongest effect on a modern audience, 

 the tragedy of ' Francis the First' is conceived in the spirit, and con- 

 ducted on the plan of a far different period." 



The question is, whether the tragedy of " Francis the First," be such 

 an one as, in its present shape, would have been acceptable to an enlightened 

 audience in any age ; and if it be not, we humbly conceive that it is 

 " conducted on a plan " which ought not to be followed, and " conceived in 

 a spirit" not likely to give birth to any play that is conceived worth yawning 

 at. He avers, likewise, that there is " so much Shaksperianism in the 

 conception, as to afford a remarkable indication of the able school in 

 which the young authoress has studied, and the high models which, with 

 courage, in the present day, fairly to be called originality, she has dared 

 to set before her." 



This cant is so common, that we have no longer cheeks that will be 

 moved by it. During the last twenty years, we have had many Shak- 

 sperian dramatists (Mr. Millman is one of them) now, alas ! such is the 

 fate of genius, utterly forgotten. 



" We must acknowledge," says he, " that while reading the tragedy of 

 which we have thus freely spoken, we have frequently paused to ask, 

 whether this could be the conception of a young girl, hardly ripening into 

 womanhood ?" 



He paused to ask? May we ask, without pausing, to whom he 

 addressed himself for information. Mr. Charles Kemble was at his 

 elbow ? No. We will vouch for it, Mr. Millman knew nothing of the 

 matter was entirely ignorant of all the circumstances attending the com- 

 position of the play ; as ignorant, we believe, as Mr. Croker of the locality 

 of Russell-square. He concludes his review thus : " She must not be 

 content with the fame of the most extraordinary work which has ever 

 been produced by a female at her age." And, again " with having 

 sprung at once to the present rank, not only of living actors, but of 

 modern dramatists." 



We must now tell Mr. Millman, that had he been the sincere friend of 

 Miss Kemble, he had never written this review. He would have felt it 

 to be his duty to speak plainly, honestly, yet, withal, in kindness j 

 " Entire affection scorneth nicer hands." 



