42 Extract from Langhorne's Confolations, &c. You have borne, with fo much firmness, fuch a variety of afflictions, that one would think you poffeffed of fome fecret, which, in a peculiar manner, fupports the foul upon the most trying occafions-I know you too well to fufpect you of infenfibility. F. Indeed, you ought not: I love my friends, and take a pleafure in their happinefs. I agree with you, too, that it is a right rule to avail ourfelves of the experience and the conduct of others. It is, undoubtedly, the fhorteft and the eafieft way to wifdom: But yet one may poffibly be misled by it. The events of life, and the difpofitions of men, are fo various, that the conduct of one man may neither be practicable nor applicable to another, in circumftances apparently fimilar. P. This requires explanation. F. You will find it, if you look upon misfortunes in general. Their fize is not to be estimated from their quality, but from the temper and understanding of the perfon who fuffers them. Amyntor, you know, who is lately dead, was equally the friend of Theron and of Aurelius. He was the patron of both, likewife; and both were entirely dependent on his bounty. The lofs they fuftained, therefore, was the fame, but not fo the misfortune. Aurelius is a man of keen fenfibility and care; Theron is remarkable for an obftinate fortitude and negligence I am forry for Theron; but I grieve for Aurelius-I pity him at my foul-He feems to have received a death-wound from the fame blow that hardly ftaggered the other. The conduct of Theron cannot be recommended to him. His misfortune is not the fame; and his confolations must be different. P. I fee the truth of this: But are there not general confolations applicable to all perfons under affli&tion; I mean all that have fenfibility, fuppofing fuch only to be sapable of affliction? F. Undoubtedly: There are common fources of comfort, to which all may have recourfe, and from which all mut principally derive their fatisfaction; but the general medicines of the mind, like thofe of the body, will depend chiefly, for fuccefs, on the fkill with which they are adminiftered. Our confolations, in general, are to be found in religion and philofophy; yet both may be perverted in the application; and from thofe falutary springs may be drawn the most fatal poifons. P. Is it poffible, then? Can any thing deftructive proceed from what is divine? The author of our religion has left it on record, that a good tree must bring forth good fruit: If the fyftem he hath established be a good one, how should it be productive of evil? F. Excufe me: I ought to have made a diftinction. It is not from religion or philofophy that men derive folly and wretched Jan. nefs, instead of wisdom and confolation. This is a tranflation from the Italian of Signior Cocchi, a celebrated phyfician of Florence; but we can neither recommend it for delicacy or argument to the perufal of our readers-Signior Cocchi treats his subject in a loofe, undetermined manner, and leaves the queftion almoft in the fame ftate of uncertainty at the conclufion, as we find it in the beginning of his performance. IV. Zingis. A Tragedy as it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. By Alexander Dow. 8vo. Is. 6d. Becket. As we gave fo particular a critique on this piece in our Magazine for December, we fhall only fay in this place, that it is rather better in the clofet than on the stage, though we are fure it never will be confidered any where as a capital production-Mr. Dow feems to value himself highly upon having introduced a new fpecies of manners to the English theatre-but we must inform him that Tartars have been long fince familiar to our drama, and in a play much fuperior to his Zingis, the tragedy of Tamerlane. V. Cyrus. A Tragedy as it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. By John Hoole. 8vo. 19. 6d. Davies. This performance we have alfo fpoken of particularly in our British Theatre for December-and we cannot but think it infinitely more pleafing in the representation than the perufal. VI. Tim Jones. An Opera as it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. By Jofeph Reed. 8vo. Is. 6d. Becket. This piece is fabricated, and very poorly, from the celebrated novel of the fame name, written by the late Mr. Henry Fielding-Mr. Reed in fome public altercations which he has had with the critics, appears to entertain a very refpectable opinion of his own performance, and indeed we don't wonder that he fhould fuppofe the manufacture to be good, where the materials are univerially allowed to be excellent-but unhappily Mr. Reed, inftead of confining himfe:f to any one particularly interefting fituation in the life of his bero, endeavours to introduce his whole hiftory, on the ftage, and fancies, because the public are acquainted with the various circumftances of the novel, that they will naturally put up with the minuteft incident, however unaffecting, tedious, or unconnected Mr. Reed wou'd have done well, had he confidered that many things may be very agreeable in narrative, which are highly infipid in representation, and that it is frequently the writers fortunate manner of rela Remarks on 1769. ting them, that furnishes the principal part of the entertainment. But it is not furprizing that Mr. Reed, fbould be mistaken in matters of fact"His preface tells us, that he has endeavoured to purge Weftern's character of its coarfenefs and indelicacy, in conformity to the refined tafte of the prefent ag:; let us fee how far he has fucceeded-when Jones comes in, juft as Sophia has declared to her father, an utter averfion to Blifil, and promifes to argue with the young lady-Wettern exclaims "Thank thee kindly, thou art a prince of a man; but may I be banged, drawn, and quartered, if I don't turn her out of doors, unless the have him-may I be gibetted if 1 don't." In a little time after, Weftern having heard that Sophia's difinclination to Blifi! chiefly andes from a paffion which the entertains for Jones, the old gentleman is violently enraged and thus addrefies the poor foundling "Now I'll be revenged on the rafcal-off with thy clothes if thou'st a man, off with thy clothes I fay, and I'll lick thee, as thon was't never lick'd in thy days-A damned beggarly baftard-Let me come at the dog." But that the reader may fee how thoroughly Mr. Reed, to ufe his own appellation, has purged the character of Western, it will be neceffary to give a few farther fpecimens-Sophia, having eloped, and being overtaken by her father in company with Jones, Weftern thus expreffes himself, "Illo ho! Illo ho-Now we've got the dog fox, I warrant madam is not far off-where's Sophy you rascal (feizing Jones,) Sirrab you've ftole my daughter, and I'll have you bang'd you fhall fwing for it you dig; you shall be tuck'd up you fhall dangle, I expect to be priet for high sheriff; and I'll fee you executed." " but he Was the coarfenefs however of Western's character confined to his converfations with men, the matter would not be fo culpable but his brutality is exercifed even on the women-and his fifter is not only, "a a fractious, crefs grained, contradictious, felf-opimiated, prefbyterian, Oliverian bag,' frequently withes her dead; and tells her it is well the is not a man or he would thrash ber jacket for talking court gibberish to himNay in the catastrophe, when it is concluded that Jones fhall have Sophia, Weftern makes an illiberal obfervation on his daughter's blushing-and Allworthy faying, that he is indeed a beautiful creature; the sw delicate father, fays to the poor girl's face, fo much the better for Tom, for egad he hall have the toufling of her. If this is the manner in which Mr. Reed farges the coarfenefs and indelicacy of characters, we can only with, to continue his beautiful mode of expreffion, that his phyfic was a little more powerful, as in the prefent cafe it is adminiftered without caufing any fenfible operation. VII. Poems. 4to. 97 pages. Becket Thefe poems confift of pieces on various occafions together with fome love elegies and tranflations from Catullus and Tibullus --in the tender walk of elegy, the author is not without talent, but when he attempts humour he is rather unfortunate-for inftance in the following quotation from his epilogue to the Merry Wives of Windfor, fpoken by Falstaff Zounds! what a fury has this Ford been in To one who would have help'd the wretch But as it is much more agreeable to dwell on an author's merit than his defects, we fhall here give an elegy from this perfor mance, which we think will not be difpleafing to our readers. PARTING. Written in 1765. Go, my love; and 'till we meet again Let hope and conftancy the time beguile: Again to meet! that profpect shall refrain The tear that ftars through my diffembled fmile. Farewell! but there is finish'd all my boast That tender accent falters on my tongue; And I muft weep for that dear object loft, On which I gaz'd fo fondly and so long. Oftop! O turn! for I have much to say One word! one look! I cannot leave thee fo -Ah me, he takes a diftant, diff'rent way; And I unheard, unanfwer'd vent my woe From her foft voice no more I catch the found; No more her beauties grace my happy fide : I call, I fearch in vain, no more is found My fweet companion, and my promis'd bride. Back to thofe happier scenes, remembrance, fly! Thy lenient aid my forrows fhall remove : For thou from thefe dear moments canft fupply Full many a proof propitious to my love. Much tho' I lov'd, I found that love repaid; And feem'd of all men happy o'er the reft; Confenting Beauty heal'd the wound it made; And Love enflav'd me but to make me bleft. My lips the ftory of my bofom told Check'd by no fcornful, no unkind reply, Her fav'ring glances bade my tongue be bold, And mutual paffion kindled in her eye. F 2 The The blufh foft fpreading o'er her downcaft face, The udden figh half rifing, half fupprefs'd, That coy diftrefs which heightens every grace In filent eloquence her love confefs'd. How (weet to fuatch her not unwilling hand, And ali delighted on her charms to gaze; While mix'd with many a kifs we fondly plana'd The tender conduct of connubial days! So chafe a temple, Love was proud to find; cere, While fweet remembrance thus relieves my heart, Ah why thou'd grief fo fair a profpe&t four! Then fare thee well! and to thy conftant mind To me whofe heart is full of thee alone: Fond Hope the while fhall cheer my drooping foul, In fweet impatience fhall the time employ, Shall chide the lazy moments as they roll, And foothe my grief with thoughts of future joy. VIII. Goliath Slain: Being a Reply to the Reverend Dr. Nowell's Answer to Pieras Oxonienfis, &. By the Author of Pietas Oxonienfis. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Keith. This pamphlet, we are apprehenfive, will give but little fatisfaction to the generality of our readers-the fubject of contention is none of the most entertaining, and therefore we can only recommend the perufal of it to the lovers of cafu ftical divinity. IX. The Reclaimed Libertine; or, the Fifery of the Hon. Charles Belmont, and Mifs Melvil; in a Series of Letters, 2 vol. 12mo. 5s. Noble. To the volumes which are now to pa's under examination, Mers Francis and John Noble have thought proper to prefix a very angry advertisement against the London Magazine, for its frictures on fome of their publications. To this the writers of the Impartial Revieru in the London Magazine, think it neceffary to anfwer, that they have no prejudice whatever to the Meff. Noble, and are really forry they could not, confiftent with their little reputation for judgment and veracity, give a more favourable account of the pro'uctions, which thefe gentlemen fuppofe fo injuriously treated in their monthly animadverfions.- -The Reviewers are infinitely better pleafed when they have an opportunity to commend, than Jan. when they are obliged to find fault, ani were they in the leait actuated by the illib: ral motiv: with which they are politely co nplimented by Mfrs Noble, they had many occafions, in the publications of both, to exercife a much greater degree of feverity. — To be candid-Meffis Noble have less reafon to be offended at the cenfure which the Reviewers have paffed upon their novels, than caufe to be grateful for the lightness of that cenfure, and inRead of refenting the imaginary unkindness they have experienced, they fhould think themselves very fortunate in be ing tried at a tribunal of fo much lenity.But, fay Meffrs Noble, the Reviewers have hinted "that we keep a fet of needy authors in pay to furnish us with a fupply of new novels for publication."-If the Reviewers have hinted fuch a circumftance, they fpoke from the beft of their opinions.-The fhops of thefe gentlemen are inceflantly teeming with productions of this kind, though the Reviewers will not fay new ones, because there is an infipid fameness in them all: and the Mef Noble are thus publicly called upon to mention any one of their books, that has been favourably received by the world, of which the London Magazine has made a difreputable mention; thefe gentlemen, however, "in juftification of themselves from fo injurious, and malicious a charge," pofitively declare, "that they do not, nor ever did keep any writers, or writer in pay for fuch purpofe; but on the contrary affirm, that ALL the novels they have hitherto published," have been fent to them from their authors without any fripulated pay, promife of reward, or previous agreement whatfoever, either by themselves, or by any perfon for them."-Whether this is, or is not, the cafe, matters very little-the merit of their books, and not the condition upon which they are obtained, is the only obje of enquiry, though the Reviewers are rather apprehenfive, that many people may be apt to difpute the reality of ther affertion on this point; and that many more wil be apt to think even the paper and print of a few copies a fufficient reward, Yer the labour of thofe whofe rank, property, and fortune, as Metis Noble ailure their readers, render them fuperior to the receipt of a pecuniary gratification. The Reviewers could by no means intend to fay, that an author who fold his works must neceffarily be without abilities.They know the ftate of letters better than to make fo abfurd, so unjustifiable an infinuation; and are well convinced, the most celebrated writers of the paft, ás well as of the prefent age, have very properly thought themselves entitled to, and as properly accepted a price for their productions. But when fuch flimfey, fuch cefpicable compofitions as the novels of the Melis Noble were hourly obtruded on the public, the Reviewers naturally fet them down as the off 1769. A JUDICIAL ARTICLE. Spring of d›Inefs defperate with fuccefs, and Bumanely wished the refpective, fabricatore a more eligable way of earning a livelihood. But to let the public fee beyond contradiction, that the criticisms of the Reviewers, on the novels of the Meffrs Noble were founded on the Arictest candour, it will be only neceffary to take a curfory review of the Reclaimed Libertine, of which it may be reafonably fuppaled the publishers entertain a very extraordinary opinion, because they have made it the particular vehicle of their complaint, and frem to think that the merit it poffeffes, will fathciently fupport the propriety of their refertment against the London Magazine. This work like the generality of our modern novels, is carried on in a feries of letters, and the heroine, Mifs Melville, like mod of the modern heroines, is an irrefiftiste compound of beauty and virtue.—She is, bowever, wholly without a fortune, and Eres with Mrs. Murray, a widow lady of great fortune, who had a particular affection for her mother.- Here the Hon. Charles Belmont, Efq; falls defperately in love with her, and tries by every art to feduce her into the paths of infamy. Mifs Melvill feels the tenderef affection for Belmont, but rejets his illiberal addreffes with indignation; yet notwithstanding the juft caufe of offence which Belmont has given her, the refufes the addreffes of a Sir Thomas Stanley on his account, with whom Belmont in a fit of jealoufy quarrels, and is wounded rather dan geroully. Belmont recovering however, in a little time afterwards renews his fcandalous overtures to Mifs Melvill; in confequence of which the young lady begs her patronefs will recommend her into fome family, where the may procure a fubfiflence by her fervices, and efcape the folicitations of the importunate, yet too agreeable Belmont.-Mrs. Murray accordingly places her with Mrs. Wentworth, a widow lady in Buckinghamshire, where Mr. Southern, a young gentleman of genteel expectations, agreeable perfon, and unexceptionable character, foon entreats the bleng of her hand; Mifs Melvil refufes his request, though the entertains the highest JUDICIAL From the Trial of Lawrence Balfe, and Edward McQuirk, for the Murder of George Clarke, at the late Election of a Reprefentative for the County of Middlefex, beld at Brentford. THE public curiofity being fo jufly exBothing but fight unfatisfactory paragraphs iative to the determination of it, having yet appeared in any of the news papers or 45 The amiable libertine, half diftracted for her, tries every method to discover where fhe is, and having at laft fucceeded, borrows Mrs. Murray's coach, on a pretence of going to Salthill, and fends it in that lady's name to Mrs. Wentworth's for Mifs Melvill, who immediately fets off, but is conveyed to Em Wood, a house of Belmont's; here Belmont attempts to gain his point to no purpose, and Mifs Melvill falling ill of a fever, he is awakened into a fenfe of his licentioufnefs, offers to marry and is thoroughly reformed our heroine, imitating Clariffa Harlowe, rejects the man who can attempt her honour, and escapes from the house-But in a little time after, Belmont hearing that the refides with Mr. Brownfmith, a clergyman in Berkshire, follows her there, accompanied by his brother, his fifter, and his aunt, who joining in fupport of his fuit, Mifs Melvill is prevailed upon to marry him, and puts a finishing ftroke to the hiftory. Here gentle reader, in about a fingle fide of the London Magazine, you have every effential particular in the Libertine reclaimed, though the ftory takes up near five hundred pages as published by Meffis Noble, and though there is not a circumftance in it, that has not been five hundred times repeated, in five hundred fimilar productionsbut if the total want of incident and novelty is fo juftly exceptionable, the language is ftill more fo, where the fenfible as well as bonourable Charles Belmont, Efq; talks of finging te deum for bis victory over Mifs Melville's affections, as if an opportunity to ruin a deferving young woman was a proper occafion⚫ of thanksgiving to heaven; and where the fame criterion of politeness talks repeatedly of kicking the old witch Mrs. Burnley (one of his aunt Murray's friends) down ftairs-However, it is high time the public fhould now judge between the Reviewers and Meffrs Noble, who would not have engaged by any means fo much attention from the London Magazine, had they not made fo wanton as well as foolish an attack upon the impartiality of that performance. ARTICLE. magazines, we thought it would give our readers no little pleasure to have a more ample account from the regular proceedings, as far as they have been published in the Seffions Paper, especially as the present trial attention feems to be taken down with great ferufal of those who are defirous of being minutely acquainted with the whole particulars of this memorable business. Lawrence 46 Account of the Trial of the Rioters. Lawrence Balfe, and Edward M'Quirk were arraigned before the Lord Chief Baron Parker, Mr. Juftice Afton, Mr. Juftice Gould, and Mr. Recorder, for the murder in question. The council for the prifoners were Mr. Serjeant Davey, Mr. Serjeant BurJand, Mr. Walker, Mr. Lucas, and Mr. Murphy; and for the profecution, Mr. Serjeant Leigh, Mr. Impey, and Mr. Adair. The JURY were, Henry Atkins Thomas Lovett William Wilkinfon John Braitheweight Nathaniel Morgan Thomas Taylor Robert Gouland William Halfpenny Thomas Holgate Alexander Sheen William Creeland Jofeph Allen. The first evidence for the crown was Robert Jones Efq; of Fanmouth caftle in Glamorganshire, a gentleman of very confiderable fortune, and in the commiflion of the peace for his county-Mr. Jones depofed that being at the Middlefex election, which commenced between two and three o'clockthe majority of the rioters had labels in their hats with Proctor and Liberty written upon them, and he particularly remembered to have remarked the prifoners at the bar in the mob, though he had never feen them before-M Quirk was very active in the fray, and ftruck feveral perfons with a bludgeon-but Mr. Jones did not obferve that Bal'e made a blow at any body, though he was armed with a bludgeon as well as his companion M'Quirk. The fame night between ten and eleven Mr Jones again faw the prifoners at the Shakespear's head in Covent Garden, where he was waiting for Mr. Allen, a ⚫ gentleman of his acquaintance, who had alfo been at Brentford, and who being miftaken by M'Quirk for one of Sir William Beauchamp Proctor's friends, had defired M'Quirk to call upon him at the above tavern at ten in the evening, to get as much intelligence as poffible concerning the principal encouragers of the riot-Mr. Jones had been told by Mr. Allen, for what purpofe he had defired the interview with M'Quirk, but the latter having fome bufnefs at the Houfe of Commons, left Mr. Jones to receive the prifoner, who was to enquire for Sir W. B. Proctor's friend-Mr. Jones waited a confiderable time, and at last Balie came, who after fome little converfation, went out for M'Quirk and returned with him. On M Quirk's arrival, Mr. Jones told him that Mr. Allen would foon join them, and entered into a difcourfe relative to the riot, during which, M'Quirk being perfwaded that he was talking to a friend of Sir W. B. Proctor's, candidly acknowledged the part he had acted in that tranfaction;-a confeffion into which he was more naturally led, as Mr. Jones declared be might fafely tell him, whatever he had Jan. to acquaint Mr. Allen with.—At this difcourfe the prifoner Balfe was prefent, but Mr. Jones directed his questions chiefly to McQuirk, who faid he was afraid fuch work had been done that day, as would make it neceffary for him to go to Dover in his way to Calais, the next morning. Balfe declared to Mr. Jones that he was hired by Broughton, and that he was to have a guinea for going down to Brentford whether it was for one day or two-he added, that though he was there he had not itruck any body, and that it was fuch bad work, he would not go down the next day, even if he should be wanted - Mr. Allen coming in after this, Mr. Jones left the prifoners with him, and went to Appleby's in Parliament-ftreet, gave an information to Mr. Horne and others of the tranfaction, who thought proper to fecure Balfe and M'Quirk, and had them committed to prifon by Sir John Fielding the next morning. The next evidence for the crown was Miles Burton Allen, Efq; who gave much the fame general account of the riot as Mr. Jones had given, with the addition, however, of the following particulars-That he was upon the huftings and faw M'Quirk attack this place with a party of the rioters, indifcriminately knocking down friend and foe-Mr. Allen upon this with an oath, afked, what they did there? and received feveral blows for his interrogatory-" But not thinking it my bufinefs to oppofe a mob, I enquired, depofed Mr. Allen, for Sir W. Beauchamp, he was my man; there was a gentleman ftood near where Sir William was; I went to Sir Wm. I will not pretend to afcertain the particular words, that I might at that time have expreffed to him, but it was to this purpose: Whether he meant to be returned for the county of Middlefex by a mob in that manner? Sir Wm. declared upon his honour they were not his mob-They had Proctor and Liberty in their hats, I believe, at the fame time-I went up to Mr. Shakespeare, and remonftrated with him-I believe Mr. Shakespear was of opinion with me, that it was a very odd affair - I returned to Sir Wm. Beauchamp, on feeing a regular mob drawn up' on the lower fide of the huftings-I have seen men very often drawn up, but I thinki they were as regularly drawn up as ever faw-They were headed by one man; they had clubs ready-Their mark was the fide of the huftings-I defired to know whether they were his mob or not-He declared to me, upon his honour, that they were not-Upon that, while I was fpeaking to him, they came on and attacked the huftings in that part, and knocked down indifcriminately friend or foe-There were a number of mobs, one attacked at one place and another at another-The prifoner M'Quirk was in this mob that attacked the lower |