59. ter, the impreffions of miscarriage difappointment in a favourite caule aggravate thofe of popular refentent and indifcretion. Col. Burgoyne's Speech in the King's Bench. In the afternoon of the 17th, this ncourfe appeared, and, my lord, their ft operation was that of felf-defence, they were immediately attacked by e ready band, well known, and unierfally diftinguished by the appellaon of the corporation mob. The rcumftance of my appearance in the reet after this tranfaction with a pifol under my arm and another in my ocket, has given foundation to most candalous reports; and I am glad it ppears upon the trial, not only as the calumny of my enemies will be refuted, but as I am confident your lordhip will be convinced, that the violence of the corporation mob was as great as I have defcribed it; for it appears upon clear evidence, that I left my houfe unarmed, that what was called following the mob was no more than going up the fame ftreet long after they were out of fight or hearing, fo long that the street was again poffef. fed by the former rioters; and that I, who I believe fhall not be judged to have manifefted a timid difpofition, was obliged to take refuge in a houfe and fend for piftols before I dared to crofs the way. From this time, my lord, I.confefs, that in prevention of mischief, and in circumftance only, I made myself a party, or, if you pleafe, a principal. When I heard the leaft apprehenfions of mifchief even from my greatest adverfaries, I did not answer them with profeffion of approbation and inactive concern. I held it criminal difcretion to withdraw myself from tumults I could fupprefs; and, let me add, my lord, had I really remained an inactive spectator; had I, instead of following the dictates of humanity, upon the evidence of which, and of which alone I am proved a guilty man; had I, like others, fat down with the cunning and the phlegm of a vicious mind, I had, like others, avoided a long train of litigation, and trouble, and above all, I had not incurred the difgrace (which I fhall ever remember with pain) of ftanding a culprit before your lordships. In regard to the meeting at Mr. Shawe's, and the articles drawn up at the coffee-houfe, and my discourses at different times with the mob, I fhall on 681 ly obferve, that though many witnesses fwear pofitively to my words, no two of them ftate them alike; and if I may be allowed to ftate my language as I mean it, and as in my confcience I believe I exprefled it, I fhall make les difference than they have made between each other, and readily admit it as evidence, and truly confefs I did hold language to the effect, that if I had no better fecurity for a free election than the words of people who had never kept a promife, I fhould not take pains to remove a set of people who were evidently come there to fupport my intereft; and, my lord, I humbly fubmit, that the affertion that brought people there because they were there, is as ill founded in argument as it is in proof: I also readily acknow ledge, that in answer to the intimidations continually thrown out, I frequently made ufe of the expreffion, that I was not to be wearied out by expence, for I had fufficient refources. This is common election language; it was always used in a general sense, and I humbly fubmit it is not very extraordinary, that as willing witneffes, properly inftructed by an able practitioner, fhould be brought, even without defign of perjury, to apply my general expreffion to the particular circumstances of the mob in town. It is faid the recognizance was figned through fear. My lord, it was figned by great numbers after the town was in quiet; and one gentleman, a leader in the council, and a chief manager for my adverfaries, came feveral days afterwards and offered that he and one of the candidates would fign it if I required it. I come now, my lord, to the laft obfervation with which I shall trouble the court, viz. the affirmation of all witnefles relative to my difcountenancing all tumult and diforder, one only excepted, Mary Firer, who depofes, that on Saturday afternoon, between eleven and twelve o'clock, she heard fome of the mob ask me whether they might go to Mr. Pedder's, that I answered, stay your hand about an hour, and then if they (meaning the Baronet's friends) do not come into my terms, you may level the town before you. My lord, I beg leave to remark, that, befides other circumstances to difcredit this witnefs, it appears, that the. was one of the perfons who joined in the affidavits upon which this information 682 THE BRITISH THEATRE. was granted, and gave no fuch evidence, notwithstanding all the diligence that was used to fearch for evidence, and to bring the moft trivial incidents to light; notwithstanding the ingenuity and alacrity of a legion of attornies to awaken recollection in the witneffes. This and capital, this truly heavy, and I hope only heavy allegation, escaped both agent and witnefies, and by her own confeffion on her cross examination, occured only to her mind about a fortnight before the trial. My lord, had this charge been contained in the original information, I (hould, in my affidavit upon that occafion, denied it directly, flatly, and in the moft pofitive terms; and, my lord, if the omiffions in the charge will justify another reply, I have an affidavit drawn in court, and am ready to fwear to it now; but, my lord, I truft, in this cafe, it will not be neceffary; the common principles of a gentleman, manners, and character, will fuffice, without an oath, to refute fuch a charge as this. Good God, my lord, level the town! In the duties of my profeffion in open war, in actual conAlict of arms, I should blush to entertain such a principle. My lord, let me prefume to fay, under thefe predicaments, I have treated an enemy with more moderation, with more clemency, than I am fuppofed by this witness to entertain for people, whofe friendship and App. favour I was to court, whofe temper and good opinion I was to conciliate, whofe favour I was foliciting for the honour of my life, for the firit mark of that confidence, a delegation of their moft facred rights. Let those who deny me humanity, grant me but credit for common fenfe, and this accusation muft fall to the ground. I have troubled you, my lord, too long: I leave to the equity of the bench the refult of all I have faid, confident that while party, fury, malice, and revenge level at the criminal, difpation. ate juftice will direct its aim only againft the crime. If that, my lord, for which I ftand before you be of fo flagitious a dye that it ought to be distinguished as an example: if these licentious times, or as the learned gentleman expreffed it, the difeafe of these times, expect feverity in a cafe which has paffed unnoticed in almost every contefted election; I shall submit with humility, and teach myfelf contrition, but till your lordship's judgement is pronounced, I will be bold in my plea, that however warmly I have courted the first honours, I never wilfully departed from the first duties of a citizen, respect, reverence, and obedience to the law of the land as this obfervation is founded on confcience, may I find favour in the opinion of my country, in the decifion of my judges, and in the eyes of my God. THE BRITISH THEATRE. HOUGH the feafon for new productions is pretty far advanced, two petit pieces only made TH type Pant pores an each theatre fince our laft: the first a comic opera of two acts, called, The Court of Alexander, and the other a farce, called, A Trip to Scotland. The Court of Alexander is performed at Covent Garden; and the following account will, we hope, prove fatisfactory to our readers. Mr. Shuter. THE PERSONS. Porus, a black Prince, Jupiter, Mercury, Thais, Roxana, Parifatis, Mr. Reinhold. THE FABLE. A and thereto, Clytus, Lyfimachus, vered adeep; bottles, glafles, and punch bowls, appear empty upon the table; the guards lie in diforder flumbering up.. on the floor. The nobles at length awake by degrees and call upon Alexander, who, after complaining of his last night's drinking, orders a pot of coffee, and commands Thais to give him a fong; the court then march a way in proceffion; the attendants bearing trophies of bottles, punch-bowis, quart-pots, pipes, papers of tobacco, &c. As the king is going off with Tnais, Roxana enters in a violent rage, puils the monarch by the robe, and throws him down. After a great contention between the ladies, the first act ends, and the Jecond commences with a kene, 1769. THE BRITISH THEATRE. fcene, in which Parifatis difcovers her affections for Lyfimachus to her maid. The young nobleman foon after appears, and as he runs to embrace the princefs, overfets her tea-table; he is prefently interrupted in his courtship by Porus, his rival, and a quarrel ensues, in which Alexander, who comes in haftily to part the combatants, receives a violent blow in the face from Lyfimachus, on which he orders him to be thrown into a lion's den, and upon Clytus interceding for mercy, the hat-brained king fnatches a javelin from one of his guards, and ftabs the old foldier, who dies finging an air, adapted to the occafion. When Clytus has fung himself to death Alexander runs mad, and is carried off in the arins of his guards. These misfortunes however are obviated by the defcent of Jupiter, attended by Mercury, who immediately comes from Olympus, and reftores Clytus, who revives to a comic tune; Alexander is fuppofed to recover from his diftraction, and the king of the Gods,, after reconciling matters between Porus and Lyfimachus, whom he commands to put an end to all difputes, by playing a rubber at back-gammon, for the princefs Parifatis, terminates the opera by afcending to the celestial regions. The Court of Alexander, which the reader will immediately obferve a bur- lefque performance like Midas, is written by Mr. George Alexander Stevens, and admirably compofed by Mr. Fisher, a young gentleman of great musical excellence, lately engaged in the fervice of the public. The fame town how. ever which is charmed with the abfor. dities of Midas, can by no means relish the inconfiftencies of the pretent piece; and though we are highly delighted with The Devil and Doctor Fauftus, we can by no means put up with That's the barber. In plain English, the Court of Alexander is very unfavourably received, though the mufic is excellent, and the merit of the performers unqueitionable. Mifs Grifkin, Travellers, Waiters, &c. THE FABLE. fpoken by Cupid, reprefenting a poft chaife boy, in which a fimilitude is drawn betwen his whip, his spurs, his fhoulder-knot, and the bow, arrows, and wings of the God of Love. After fome lively ftrokes upon the prefent fashionable mode of eloping to Scotland, he retires, and the comedy commences with a scene between Grifkin and his houfe-keeper, Mrs. Fillagree, whom he calls to a very fevere account for having fuffered Jemmy Twinkle, a young city buck, to make love to his niece, and run away with her, as there is great reafon to fup. pofe he has done to Edinburgh. Mrs. Fillagree endeavours to vindicate herfelf with great fpirit, but the old man is by no means fatisfied: and having determined to purfue the fugitive lovers, goes out to befpeak a poft-chaise for that purpose. His houfe-keeper and then introduces Mifs Grifkin ing 684 THE BRITISH THEATRE. ing him on the journey; and that the family of the Flacks, their near neighbours, of whom they feem to ftand in great awe, will certainly propagate a terrible story upon the occafion. Grifkin, however, at laft gets the better of her fcruples, and after mutual compliments they retire to prepare for their expedition. Cupid then appears as the Chorus, and acquaints the audience, that they are to imagine the lovers had fucceed. ed according to their warmeft wishes, at Edinburgh; that he hopes they will not expect a critical adherence to the rules of the drama, but fuffer him to annihilate time and place, and then fuppofe the scene to be at an inn in Yorkhire. The infide of a large public house is immediately discovered, with a view of the bar, ftair-cafe, and different apartments. A great noife is heard among the fervants, the landlady enters, rings the bell with great fury, and expreffes the fatigue fhe is continually obliged to undergo in confequence of the numerous matrimonial trips to Scotland. Several travellers are introduced by the waiters and accommodated according to their defires. Mifs Grifkin (now Mrs. Twinkle) at length appears in great fpirits, and tells the landlady he is quite another thing fince her wedding, and that if she was to be married fifty times, the would, from the many agreeable circumstances fhe met with upon the journey, make all her lovers run away with her to Scotland. After fome time her husband arrives, counting his money, and calculating his expences, in a very fullen humour, and feems to be very infenfible of the affiduities of his new wife, who accufes him of coldness, and declares her disappointment at his not act ing confitent with his profeffions to her during his courtship, when he wrote the verses on her first appearance at Haberdashers ball, and the lines on her biting a finger off ber glove at the White-Conduit houfe. Matters, however, are prefently reconciled, and the young couple retire in good humour to their apartment. A violent difturbance next enfues, which greatly alarms the guests. This is occafioned by old Grifkin's putting up at the inn, which he infifts upon fearching from top to bottom, in Appi order to find his niece. After fome oppofition from the landlady and Mrs. Fillagree, who declares the is unable to travel any farther, he begins to be in tolerable good humour, and agrees to lie there that night. Upon the landlady, who fuppofes them man and wife, enquiring whether they choole to lie in one bed, Mrs. Fillagree is thrown into great diftrefs with respect to the injury her character will fuftain from hermtending Grifkin upon his journey, and is not at all fatisfied until he is alfured the fhall have a bed, at least fix chambers diftant from that in which her mafter is to fleep. On their going off, the waiter enters, and acquaints his mistress that the young couple have been detected by the old gentleman, and that very difagreeable consequences are likely to enfue. The scene foon after draws, and difcovers Grifkin, Fillagree, Mifs Griskin, and Jemmy Twinkle; the lovers fall on their knees, and the old man feems inclined to forgive them, but is restrained by the idea of what the world, particularly the family of the Flacks, will fay of his conduct. At this inftant a number of people preceded by Dolly Flack, whɔ feems in great diftrefs, enter the room; Dolly entreats Griskin to compaffionate her misfortunes, which, the fays, have been occafioned by her eloping from her father and mother, in order to marry a young fellow at Edinburgh, who even now, before half their journey was accomplished, treats her with the moft cruel indifference.Upon Grifkin enquiring into the cause of this uncommon behaviour, Tom Southerton, the young man, tells him, that, being a strolling player by profeffion, he came up to London in order to be engaged at one of the theatres, but having been difappointed in his profpects, he flattered himself a marriage with Mils Flack would repay him for all his trouble, especially as one of his friends affured him, she had ten thoufand pounds in her own poffeffion; that upon this bint, he spake, and found the lady, from her violent paffion for romance, very ready to acquiefce with his propofals; that they fet out from London in high spirits, but before they had reached York, an exprefs was fent from Southerton's friend, alluring him Mifs Flack's fortune intirely de pended POETICAL ESSAYS in APPENDIX, 1769.' ended on the will of a grand-mother ad two maiden aunts; that, as he was o honest to make the young lady a eggar as well as himself, he was deterined to break off the match, and oped by fuch proceeding his conduct ould be applauded rather than blamed. Grifkin, overjoyed to find that the mily of the Flacks had no right to ccufe him with the misconduct of his iece, gives his blessing to her and her usband, undertakes to reconcile Dolly lack to her parents, and fignifies his defire to enter into a matrimonial nion with Mrs. Fillagree. Cupid 685 then concludes the piece with recommending to all young ladies to think feriously before they venture upon marriage, to take no forward steps, but Adopt their parents plan, And blush confent, e'en then, behind a fan. Notwithstanding the fingularity of this piece, which is written by Mr. Whitehead, the poet-laureat, it is extremely pleafing in the reprefentation, particularly fince the part of Souther ton has been contracted, which, on the first night, was difapproved by the audience. POETICAL ESSAY S. MEDITATION: An ELEGY. 1. TRAPT in the fhade where meditation WR And holds a mental intercourse above; Come, truth, and teach a bofom to be wife, Which mourn'd too long for difappointed love. II. What art thou---wond'rous impulfe of defire, Sweet inconfiftent off-fpring of the sky, The latent caufe in tendernefs declare; Nor force the heart eternally to figh, And yet conceal the motive of despair. IV. If Mira's face in every charm is dreft, Why am I doom'd inceffantly to pine? Or fhall the coldness of another's breaft, Create his sharp anxiety in mine? V. Alas! fince Being fmil'd upon the morn, Too çafy nature, indolently kind, From fate's fevere reftrictions to depart, But yet the pang of never-hoping love, To time's laft moment deftin'd to conceal ; The only forrow we are doom'd to feel. A latent train of hydra-headed woes, From life each dearer benefit have ftole; Perhaps, now tortur'd on imperial down, Some fcepter'd mourner languishes bis hour; XI. Science, which left him polifh'd and refin'd, No hand, alas! its kind affistance lends, XIV. |