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men. Nay, this important reformation has been much ascribed to one little pamphlet only, which a certain lawyer of Gray's Inn, (obliged to fly into Germany for having acted in a play which incensed Cardinal Wolsey) composed there, and conveyed by means of Lady Anne Boleyn, to the perusal of Henry VIII. at the beginning of this rupture; the copies whereof were strewed about at the king's procession to Westminster; the first example, as some think, of that kind of appeal to the public. How the Cardinal was nettled thereat, how he endeavoured to stifle and secrete the same, how it provoked the pen of the bigotted Lord Chancellor (Sir Thomas More), how glaringly it was affixed in the front of the prohibited book, and yet how it captivated the said king's affection and esteem, may not only be presumed from the purport, but gathered from the accounts which our ecclesiastical histories have given thereof. It would be endless to specify how much this province was henceforward cultivated by prelates, statesmen, and authors of the first rank, not excepting majesty itself, in the several examples which might be produced of the said Henry VIII., King James, and Charles; the second of whom thought so honorably of these pamphlet performances, that he deemed one of his own writing so much above human patronage, as to make a dedication of it to Jesus Christ."

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England, through its spirit of liberty, has been the most fruitful country for the production of pamph. lets; so the period which has been most fruitful in them, was that of the civil wars in the reign of Charles I. Indeed, in all disorders and commotions, it is natural to have recourse to the most ex

peditious intelligence and redress, lest delay should be more dangerous than the deficiency of them; or they superanuated before they were born. For while some persons are labouring in the paroxyms of contention, were others pondering long-winded expedients of accommodation, and prescribing volumes for a recipe, the dose would come too late for the disease, and the very preparation thereof disable its efficacy. Therefore are pamphlets, and such sort of tracts, rifest in great revolutions; which though looked upon by some as paper-lanterns set a-flying to be gazed at by the multitude, (illuminating whom, they have not always escaped the flames

themselves) ye are they beheld, by politic or penetrating eyes, as ther mometers of state, foreshowing the temperature and changes of govern ment, with the calentures approaching therein; and even preservatives to be had against them, would the activ be as unanimous to prevent, as the speculists have been industrious to prog nosticate the same."

The writer of this essay proceed to remark on the great price give for pamphlets which were become scarce "There never was a greater esteem or better market; never SO man eager searches after, or extravagan purchasers of, scarce pamphlets, tha in the present times, which have bee made evident either from the sale of them in general; as that of Ton Britton, the celebrated small-coal mai of Clerkenwell, who, besides his che mical and musical collections, had one of choice pamphlets, which he sold to th late Lord Somers, for upwards of 5001. and more especially Mr. Anthony Col lins, the last year, whose library consist ing principally of pamphlets, and those mostly controversial, and mostly mo dern, is reported to have sold both part of it for 18007.; or whether we descend into particulars, and consider the ex orbitant value set upon some single pieces, as the topographical pamphlets of John Norden, the surveyor, which before they were reprinted often sold for 40s. a-piece; the Examination of Sir John Oldcastle, which I have known sold for three guineas, though gleaned from Fox's Book of Martyrs; the Expedition of the Duke of Somerset into Scotland, also has been sold for four guineas, though totally inserted in Hollinshed. From the grand collection of pamphlets which was made by Tomlinson, the bookseller, from the latter end of the year 1640 to the beginning of 1660, it appears there were published in that space nearly thirty thousand several tracts; and that these were not the complete issue of that period there is good presumption, and, I believe, proofs in being. Not withstanding it is enriched with near a hundred manuscripts, which, nobody then (being written on the side of the royalists) would venture to put into print, the whole, however, is progres sionally and uniformly bound in upwards of two thousand volumes, of all sizes. The catalogue, which was taken by Marmaduke Foster, the auctioneer, consists of twelve vols. in folio; wherein

every piece has such a punctual register and reference, that the smallest, even of single leaf, may be readily repaired to thereby. They were collected no doubt with great assiduity and expense, and not preserved in those troublesome times, without great danger and diffcally; the books being often shifted fren place to place, out of the army's mach. so scarce were many of the pamphlets, even at their publication, that Charles I. is reported to have gives ten pounds for only reading one over (which be could no where else procare at the owner's house in St. Paul's Church-yard.

"The extraordinary price of pamphlets already mentioned, would naturally excite our deliberate inquiry mto what has been most extraordinary in the contents of them; but so multifarious are the subjects, that it cannot be expected I should enumerate them

the narrow limits of an epistolary address. What do most attract the attention of mankind, are those dreaded scourges of a mal-administration, commony, though perhaps sometimes too indiscriminately, bearing the contumelious denomination of libels. It matters attle whether it be reasonable or not, that such writings as duly expose villa.nly should themselves be vile; or at some persons, who have been unjustly injurious by any other means, may not be justly injured by this; but it is obvious to all who know the disproportion of riches and power in this world, that there are crimes not to be blasted, and criminals not to be branded, by other means. And since the lashes of reason will reach where those of justice cannot; since truth will project defamation from the actions of oppresive rulers, as uncontrolledly as the sun does the shadows from opacous bodies, the redress of the effect is to be sought for in the cause; and we should apply the salve to the minds which received the provocation; not, empiric like, seek to staunch them by binding up the weapons which returned it. Nay, we read that the Emperor Charles V.; Francis I. of France; and even Solyman, the Grand Tark; with Barbarossa, the Pirate; and several other potentates, all condescended to become tributary to the satyric muse of Pietro Aretino; whom, notwithstanding it is not very probable they had any way personally exasperated. com also in our story might be named,

who have taken the like method to assuage the effects of their discreditable conduct; among whom are not wanting those who, having penuriously made their plaister too scant for the sore, have rather multiplied than subtracted from their own disgrace; and industriously exposed their folly by the imperfect concealment of their vice. These had not the affected tenderness for their own reputations it seems, even of the Turks and barbarians; not that exquisite apprehension of this durable discipline, which may visit the sins of the fathers on their children unto the third and fourth generation : as not the love, so neither the fear of men of letters, which is noted in one of the wisest Roman Emperors, by the historian of his life, (Lampridius in Alexandro Severo) and by one of our own authors in these words:

He feared less a hundred lances, then Th' impetuous charges of a single pen: Well knowing

Parva necat morsu spatiosum vipera taurum,

"I shall leave it for others to discuss, whether this sort of writing is more inclinable to flourish, and to take deeper root, by the ventilations of resentment; or wither and die away in the shades of disregard but this we may observe, that some charges are of such a convincing, clinging nature, that they are found not only to strike all apology or contradiction dumb, but to stick longer upon the names of the accused than the flesh upon their bones. Thus Philip the Second's wicked employment, treacherous desertion, and barbarous persecution of his secretary, Antonio Perez, upraids him out of the author's Librillo, through all Europe to this day. Mary, Queen of Scots, has not yet got clear of Buchanan's Detection. Robert, Earl of Leicester, cannot shake off Father Parson's Green Coat. George, Duke of Buckingham, will not speedily outstrip Doctor Eglisham's Fore-runner of Revenge. Nor was Oliver Cromwell far from killing himself at the pamphlet which argued it to be No Murder, lest it should persuade others to think so, and he perish by ignobler hands than his own.

"In this manner did some take the liberty of calling these personages to account for their misdeeds, even while they were living. And with regard to that most memorable usurper last mentioned, thus was a celebrated writer

of ours for immortalizing him: When we fix any infamy on deceased persons, it should not be done out of any hatred to the dead, but out of love and charity to the living; that the curses that only remain in men's thoughts, and dare not come forth against tyrants, because they are tyrants, while they are so, may at last be for ever settled and engraven upon their memory, to deter all others from the same wickedness. The mischief of tyranny is too great, even in the shortest time that it can continueit is endless and insupportable if the example be to reign too. If it were possible to cut tyrants out of all history, and to extinguish their very names, I am of opinion it ought to be done; but since they have left behind them too deep wounds to be ever closed up without a scar, at least let us set a mark on their memory, that men of the same wicked inclinations may be no less affrighted with their lasting ignominy, than enticed by their momentary glories."

"How little soever these sentiments may be thought to need corroboration, I flatter myself the following reply of our late excellent Queen Mary ought not here to be forgotten, when some of her courtiers would have incensed her against Monsieur Jurien, who in his answer to Father Maimburg, that he might the better justify the reformation in Scotland, made a very black representation of their Queen Mary—' Is it not a shame,' said one of the company, ་ that this man, without any consideration of your royal person, should dare to throw such infamous calumnies on a queen from which your Royal Highness i's descended.—' Not at all,” replied this ingenuous princess, for is it not enough that, by fulsome praises, kings be lulled asleep all their lives; but must flattery accompany them to their graves? how shall then princes fear the judgment of posterity, if historians were not allowed to speak the truth after their

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description of their mysterious valley is faithfully drawn. The adventure of the Duke d'Albe, who, by so wonderful au accident, discovered this small colony, is also an historical fact. All these details, so curious and interesting, are to be found in the Dictionary of Moréri, in the travels of M. de Bourgoing (an author of much celebrity from his fide lity). Several Spanish writers have also spoken of these people, and all their accounts perfectly agree. This small and fortunate republic existed in all the happiness of its obscurity, and was blessed in being unknown to the rest of the world, even so late as 1806; but it is doubtful whether, since that epoch, it hath been disturbed by the sanguinary war which desolated Spain. One would fain believe, that, defended by its rocks, preserved by its poverty, ambition did not deign to enslave and corrupt it.

There is nothing, however, historical in this work, except the details respect ing the Battuecas; every thing else is fiction. The author has endeavoured to give some interest to the valley of the Battućcas; but in admiring the innocence of their manners, in criticising our own, his object was not to satirize civilization; on the contrary, his de sign has been to prove, that heroic virtue, which is nothing but the happy exercise of a strong mind, is never to be met with where there is nothing to com. bat, and is never to be found but in the midst of every species of seductions, which unite to overcome and annihilate it, and, consequently, must be sought for in a state of civilization.

Placide, the young Battuécas, and the hero of this romance, is not a savage without reflection or judgment; nor is he a misanthrope, who sees every thing on its dark side only. He is animated with benevolence to all mankind,

enlightened by the truths of Christianity, he possesses that true cultivation of mind, which gives perfection to our moral ideas. Endowed with the hap piest organization, born with an ardent imagination, and a noble and feeling heart, he is suddenly thrown into the great world without knowing the secrets of our arts and sciences, and entirely ignorant of our follies, our customs, and our manners. He is then alternately astonished and confounded by enthusiasm and indignation. His censures and praises are never exaggerated, yet their energy would not be natural in

a man whose habits have been familia rised from his infancy with our follies and our vices: but they are strikingly just in the mouth of a Battuécas, for ach must be the impressions of a

rational and intelligent being, whose judgment bath never been corrupted, and who, far from being cloyed with the specious appearance of the world, must feel and enjoy its charms with avidity.

THEATRICAL JOURNAL.

DRURY-LANE.

DRY-LANE THEATRICAL FUND. This on various occasions been our Ih gratifying duty to record in these pages, the annals of that benevolence for which England is famed throughout the globe, but never have we enjoyed a prouder feeling of exultation at our Country's munificence, than from the Commemoration which these lines are intended to introduce. Our encomiums of the liberality then displayed, might indeed be lavish without flattery, but they are not required,-the pursuits of active charity have a record elsewhere, and a recompense which will endure for ever!

On Wednesday March the 11th, a splendid public festival was given at the City of London Tavern, for the purpose of increasing the Fund for the Beseft of decayed Actors of the above Theatre, which was most numerously attended; and his Royal Highness the Duke of YORK having entered the dinner room at a quarter before seven, immediately took the Chair, supported by

The Earls of Yarmouth and Essex, Lords Holland and Montford, Sir John Silvester, Bart. Pascoe Grenfell, J. H. Massey Dawson, and John Dent, Esqs. the Hon. Douglas Kinnaird, Richard Wilson, Esq. &c. &c. &c.

On the cloth being removed, the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were given, and Non Nebis Domine, God save the King, Hail Star of Brunswick, &c. Were sung by Messrs. Pyne, Broadhurst, Smith, Taylor, and the other vocal per

formers.

The health of the Duke of YORK having been proposed by the Earl of Essex, and drank with three times three,

His ROYAL HIGHNESS, in returning thanks expressed the great pleasure he felt at seeing so numerous and respectable a company assembled; and, he was sure, they could not have assembled in a better cause. Amongst the various Europ. Mag. Vol. LXXIII. Mar. 1818.

Charities with which this metropolis abounded, none, said his Royal Highness, came more home to their feelings than the present. Every Euglishman must feel a pride in nurturing and encouraging the genius of his own country; and they could not effect that object better than by affording a comfortable retreat to those who had passed their best years in the service of the public.-(Cheering.) He should not detain the company longer, assembled as they were for a convivial as well as a charitable purpose, but would propose as a toast, "Success to the Theatrical Fund of Drury-lane Theatre, and its worthy Master, Mr. EDMUND KEAN."-This toast was received with loud and long continued applause, until

Mr. KEAN rose, and spoke to the fol lowing effect:-"The generous sentiment which your Royal Highness has been pleased to express, with reference to the Drury-lane Fund, assisted as it has been by the kind plaudits of this company, induces me to undertake a task, to the just performance of which, notwithstanding all your kindness, I am inadequate. In the name of my brother actors, subscribers to this Fund, which, by your presence, your Royal Highness will this day greatly assist,-in the absence of those whose prayers for your welfare arise from the retreat of pover ty, and from the bed of sickness-in the name of those unfortunate persons, who may, hereafter, be indebted for relief to theDrury-lane Fund, allow me to attempt an expression of those thanks which their hearts must necessarily feel, but to express which, with the force and feeling the occasion calls for, demands powers infinitely greater than those which I possess. As Master and Treasurer of the Drury lane Fuud, it is ecessary that I should make some ob servations as to the nature of that Insti tution, and the particular causes which have occasioned this meeting.-This K k

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duty I will endeavour to discharge, But amongst the many circumstances which prove how little fitted I am for the task assigned to me, there is one that I must particularly allude to, mean the presence of a Gentleman, whose knowledge of the Drury-lane Fund must enable him to speak of it with more correctness than I can do; whose eminent abilities did honour to his profession; whose private virtues lent a grace to the Institution, and whose name added a lustre to it. (Great applause.) I allude to my immediate and most respected predecessor, Mr. John Bannister -a Gentleman, whose long professional career, was constantly marked by public favour and by private esteem-(Applause)—a Gentleman, whose retirement from the stage, though it deprived every actor of a brother, did not withdraw from him a friend. His contributions to the Drury lane Fund must rank foremost amongst the most useful and disinterested acts of his life. To myself, it is a particular sourse of regret, that any circumstance should have operated to occasion me to succeed him. But, placed in this situation, I am called on to offer some history of the nature of our Institution. The name by which our Establishment is not uncommonly, nor improperly distin guished, at once declares its founder and chief benefactor-it being generally known as "GARRICK'S FUND." It was his happiness, ten years after he first set this plan on foot, which was in the year 1766, to receive from Parliament its sanction, establishing this as a Corporate Body. From him, as Patentee of Drury-lane Theatre, the Fund derived the greatest advantage. He generously devoted one night in the season to its benefit, and his last will recorded his posthumous liberality. Up to his death, prosperity attended the Institution,and, after his decease, his spirit seemed to hover around that fabric which he had reared- and, in aid of it, his Executors placed 4000!. in the hands of the Trustees. The fund progressively increased till 1798. Our records then show a dreary and barren waste of twenty-years, and not only were no bequests made during that time, but our receipts fell lamentably short of the elaims that were made on the fund. So much so, that the melancholy task devolved upon those who administered the fund, of decreasing, in a ratio of 10 and even 20 per cent., the pittance

which had previously been the sole solace of misery and of wretchedness. In 1914, and 1815, prosperity again' shone on us,—and by the kind permis sion of the Committee of Drury-lane, a benefit was again resorted to, which enabled us to restore to our annuitants what we had long withheld from them. Having made this statement, it is now my duty to express to your Royal Highness, the deep obligation I feel for your presence, on this occasion. Allow me to say, that this day will stand proudly distinguished amongst the numerous records of the City of Lon don. Great are her charities,-wealthy and respectable are her citizens,-and it must fill them with sentiments of the most gratifying nature, to reflect, that they have ever found, in your Royal Highness, a champion in the cause of virtue-a guide in the pursuit of every thing good and estimable-(Cheers.) The list of our patrons, on this occasion, is already before the world-our possessions amount to 3201. per annumand I need scarcely say, that is a sum manifestly inadequate to meet the claims which the decay of our brethren may expose the Fund to. I am convinced, that, were our records known by the Public, they would afford the best commentary on the state of the Institution and the best reason for supporting it. Our records disclose a long list of hopes destroyed, of expectations disappointed! There is not a page of it that would not draw a tear of pity from the most obdurate-that would not afford to the moralist a lesson worthy of the deepest consideration (Applause.) All the varieties of distress which the Poet has painted are there to be found: “Ambition this shall tempt to rise,

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To bitter scorn a sacrifice
Then whirl the wretch from high,

And grinning infamy;
The stings of falsehood those shall try,
And hard Unkindness' alter'd eye,

That mocks the tear it forced to flow, And keen Remorse, with blood defil'd, And Moody Madness laughing wild,

Amid severest woe!'

(Cheering).-The poet might have found in our brief chronicle' many realizations of this last sad description. Permit me again to express my gratitude to your Royal Highness for your appearance here this day-and to apologise to the company, for having detained them so long; and I have now only to add my hope, that the Master's defects will

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