B68 —Retrofpect of Domeftic Literature. —Novels and Romances. [ Sup. 
in he has communicated “ thofe ideas re- 
garding human nature, as they, in fome 
degree, affect almoft every {pecies of mo- 
ral writings, but particularly the dramatic, 
which induced him to attempt it.” The 
fubjeét of the third play is hatred. “ Na- 
talia and Menzikoff,” is tranflated from 
the German of M.KratTer. It isan 
hiftorical play, where many charaélers 
well known in the Ruffian annals are 
introduced: the drama is founded on the 
eonfpiracy into which Menzikoff was fe- 
‘duced againft his friend and emperor, 
Peter the Great. ‘* The Maid of Ma- 
Yienburg,” written by the fame author, is 
a counterpart to the preceding play: the 
fubjeét of itis the elevation of Cacharine 
J. to the throne of Ruffia. 
taken confiderahle liberty with hiftorical 
truth, in the charaéter of his teroine, 
who, in order to excite our intereft_in 
the fluétuation of her fortunes, 1s. repre- 
fented as inflexibly virtuous, accom- 
plithed, and ‘ chafte'as the icicle!” The 
anonymous author of ‘** He’s much_ to 
blame,” acknowledges himfelf to be, in 
fome meafure, indebted to Le Complazfunt, 
a French comedy, and to GOETHE’S 
tragedy of Ulavigo. This is much fupe- 
Yior tothe ordinary run of dramatic com- 
pofitions : the dialogue is lively, the fen- 
timents are delicate, and the characters 
are fupported with fpirit and confiftency. 
Mr. WaLpRoN’s name is im the recol- 
leGtion of moft of us; his continuation 
of Ben Jonfon’s Sad Shepherd, difplay- 
ed no vulgar talent for poetical imitation. 
He has lately undertaken atafk of uncom- 
mon temerity ; namely, to write a fequel 
to Shakfpeare’s Tempeft. Mr. W. has 
called his drama the “ Virgin Queen ;” 
in which he has thewn himfelf much 
betier qualified, if not to impofe on the 
public, at leaft to imitate Shakfpeare, 
than the impudent author of Vortigern 
and Rowena. Mr. CuMBERLAND’s 
“ Falfe Impreffions,” lke all his other 
productions, has the high merit of moral 
tendency; fo far as character, fentiment, 
and dialogue are concerned, his comedy 
has no clam to extraordinary commend- 
vation. Mr. ReEyNoLpD’s “ Cheap Liv- 
ing,’ like the greater part of modern 
plays, is written in accommodation to the 
talents of fome favorite performer: it 
may be obferved, however, thar a come- 
dy whofe exiftence depends on acing, is, 
of neceffity, fhort-lived. The preva- 
lence of party-fpirit has been able to im- 
pede the fuccefs which Mr. HoLcxort’s 
«© Knave or not’ very richly merited. 
As politics fix the ftandard of tafe, the 
Mr. K. has 
trafh of the theatres’is very eafily ac- 
counted for. “ Flie Cattle Speétre” is 
the popular production of Mr. Lewis, 
which, with “* the Mytérious Marriage,’’ 
‘« Blue-Beard,” ‘* Honeft Thieves,’ and 
a few others, complete the barren cata~ 
logue of dramatical produétions. 
NOVELS AND ROMANCES, 
This department of literature is cul- 
tivated with ufual affiduity. “ Emily de 
Varmont”’ is a tranflation from the 
French of Louvet. It is faid to have 
had confiderable influence in producing 
two memorable decrees OF the nationat 
convention ; the one authorizing divorce, 
the other allowing priefts to marry! 
The chara&ters are fomewhat extrava- 
gant, and the fiction is fomewhat impro- 
bable. “* The Amours of Father Se- 
vin,’ which are added to it, difplay the 
cruelty of compulfory celibacy, and are 
far more interefling and natural. Mrs. 
SUSANNA CUMMINS, @ lady of eigh- 
tcen, laudably defirous of living with 
that independence which her own ex- 
ertions can alone feeure her, has tranf. 
lated in dn elegant and eafy manner, a 
beautiful litle paftoral of Florian, « Ef. 
telle.” together with an effay upon that 
fpecies of compofition. Eftelle will not 
detract from the reputation which M, 
FrLortawn has long fince earned by his 
writngs. Mr. . Mostr’s “ Moral 
Tales,” if not difiinguifhed by much 
originality of conception. er purity of 
fiyle, are highly refpectable from their 
object, which is to promote the caufe of 
virtue. His ideas concerning filial obe- 
dience are not ftriétly accordant with 
the principles of modern morality. Mr. 
M. fhould reflect that where the father 
is a defpot, the child will generally be a 
flave. Mrs. Ropinson’s ** Walfing- 
ham” is, by no meats, a happy per- 
formance : relying on a deceiving popu- 
larity, Mrs. R. has, in this inftance, paid 
little or no refpeét to the judgment of 
thofe whofe approbation is alone worth 
feck:ing; her characters are incongruous, 
her events incredible, her digredfiions 
tirefome, infipid, and often totally im- 
pertinent. Mrs. R. has confiderable ta- 
lents, which it is to be lamented are not 
more judicioully regzmencd: fhe can ne- 
ver write well, fo long as to fill pages 
is the principal’ objet: her poetry is 
highly beautiful and delicate. ‘“ The 
Knights, or Sketches of the heroic Age,” 
is a tale of chivalry, wherein *{quires and 
damfels, combats and captivities, with 
all the paraphernalia of romance, are 
abundantly diftributed. On the whole, 
at 
