J79^' MELAI, A TALE. 79 



*fter the death of the venerable monarch, we may fuppofe 

 that his hiftory would no longer be concealed. 



It is more than probable that this monument was remain- 

 ing at the time that Copftantinople was taken by the Turks. 

 What might afterwards become of it I know not, although 

 I would not abfolutely dtfcourage my readers from hoping, 

 that fo precious a fpecimen of fculpture may ftill exift ia 

 fome neglected corner, where fome future traveller m?iy 

 perhaps light upou it, and reftore it to the curiofity of th>i 

 admirers of art, and to the tears and enthufiaTm of the lov- 

 ers of virtue. 



Remarks on fome Engliflj Plays, frotn Mifcellanics in- 

 profe and verje^ 



Mahomet the ImpoP.Qr, a T^ragedy, from Voltaire. 



This coIIeAion is wretched, but fuited to the tafte of thofe gendemen 

 called bookfellers. 1 give it a place in my collcAior, only as a patdi Kxj 

 Shakcfpeare, and a monument (may it be fhort lived ) of bad tafte. 

 From this hard cenfure, I mean to except the Siege of Damafcus. It has 

 fome merit ; and there is indulgence enough in this admiffion ; perhaps 

 tbe bed critics may blame it. But to proceed, as to the merits of the 

 play in queflion, MonCeur Voltaire could not abide Shakefpeare, which 

 is not furprifing. They were moft perfedl oppofites, as a man of pro- 

 found abilities and wildom, is oppofite to a pleafant fnperficial fop. A 

 total want of genius, and even of tafte and propriety for tragic conipo- 

 fitinn, is remarkable in every line of this piece ; yet it has a great run at 

 London. The general admiration of this, and many other dramatic 

 pieces of the fame caft, affords full proof that we are degenerate and ilu- 

 pid. Douglas, the fingle good tragedy of this age, was at firft rejedled 

 at London. Mahomet, Barbaroffa, X^c. '^c. live 3rnd flourilh. there. 



T^he Siege of Damafcus, a 'Tragedy, hy Hughes. 



The epilogue, Ipokcn by Mr. Wilks, is filly, and very like thofe in 

 vogue at prcfcnt. The prologue, fpoken by Lord Sandwich, is jiuely 

 poetical, and worthy of the occafion, and the acflors. 



The play, indeed, is fitter for fuch occafiiinal performance, than com- 

 mon exhibition gn the public theatre, having varioua beiutie<, aii\i giedt 

 isijierfw^uns. 



