C 
from Sicily for no other purpofe than to 
expofe the infant, fhould make a long 
voyage, through the Archipelago to the 
Black Sea. But Illyria bordered on the 
Adriatic, at a moderate diftance from Sicily. 
Thefe geographical truths are indifpenfably 
neceffary in every reprefentation, though fa- 
bulous. The majority of an Englifh audi- 
ence may bear an embarkation from Vero- 
na; but what would an Italian fay, who 
might be prefent at the reprefentation? 
Would he not.naturally whifper to his com- 
panion " This great Shakefpeare of the 
Englifh, was an ignorant blockhead." I have 
as fincere a veneration for the memory of 
Shakefpeare y and- feel his beauties as exqui- 
fitely as any of his moft enthufiaflic com- 
mentators j but no veneration for authentic 
abfurdities fhould prevent me from oblite- 
rating his palpable miftakes. 
If you can bear the fudden tranfition 
from his Illyrian Majefty to a .heap of rub- 
bifli from a King to a dunghill -.this 
wafte will afford you fome inftruclion, and, 
confequently, I prefume, forrie pleafure. 
Pleafure is the object of purfuit of all man- 
kind -, but, notwithltanding its feeming rea- 
lity, from its appearing in a different fhape 
to 
