[ H ] 



Peachum and Lucy Lockitt perplexed in the extreme, between dif- 

 interefted love and tender friendfhip, refolve, at the fame moment, 

 on the moft heroic facrifices, and mutually determine, each to 

 devote herfelf for the happinefs of her lover and her rival. The 

 combat of friendship and generofity is carried on, through many 

 high-wrought fcenes ; at laft, the young ladies agree to end the 

 fenti mental conteft, by poifoning themfelves and their lover, and 

 all three expire together embracing and embraced. Lockitt in- 

 forms againft old Peachum, who is broken on the wheel, for the 

 amufement of the audience. Macheath's band fet fire to the pri- 

 fon, and fo the piece concludes. 



Let not this be thought exaggeration. — Take one of the moft 

 applauded German Dramas, the Robbers of Schiller. — What is it 

 but the Beggar's Opera tragedized and amplified, with a little 

 fprinkling of imitation from Fielding and Shakefpeare? The 

 hero, after a ' youth fpent in profligacy, riot and extravagance, 

 with a fet of abandoned affociates, is expelled from the prefence 

 of his father, who however ftill loves him, and continued in ex- 

 ile, by the infidious arts of his younger brother, alike deformed in 

 mind and body, who envies and hates him. Charles, thus fpited 

 at the world, calls together the companions of his paft vice and 

 folly, forms them into a band of robbers and becomes their cap- 

 tain. They are the terror of the country, and commit every 



Vol. VIII. ( D ) fpecies 



