gitive that had lately deferted her fituation at Covent-Garden.

The next day, Mr. Bates, joint proprietor of the Edinburgh theatre with Mr. Doufon, and acting manager, acquainted Mr. Digges, that it would be ufelefs to open the doors, unless he could induce me to appear upon their ftage. I could not poffibly conceive how my arrival could be fo foon discovered. For, to prevent all fufpicion, it was not to be known that Mr. Digges had attended me down, and he was to refide at his own lodgings.

.

Our journey had been expenfive. I had but little money left, and Mr. Digges lefs; for the bills I had upon Holland were of no use to me here. In this fituation, there was no other alternative but my conforming to Mr. Bates's wishes. The lofs of my hair was the greatest bar to my appearance. However, for the first time, I had recourse to falfe; and, as I had not even neceffaries, İ was obliged to have cloaths made at a great expence. But my fuccefs was fo much beyond expectation, that I was very well enabled to do this. Curiofity induced families to come from all parts of the country.

The following prologue written by Mr. Cunningham, whose merit has entitled him to a place

among

among the poets of Great Britain, was fpoken by Mr. Digges upon the occafion.

In early days, when error fway'd mankind,
The fcene. was cenfur'd, and the stage confin'd.
As the fine arts a nobler tafte fupply'd,
Old prejudice grew fainter-droop'd-and dy'd.
Merit from fauction muft deduce her date,
If she'd arrive at a meridian height;
From fanction is the English stage become
Equal to Athens, and above old Rome.

If from that stage, an actress fill'd with fears,
New to this northern scene, to-night appears,
Intent-howe'er unequal to the flight,

To hit-what Critics call- the happy right;
She builds not on your fifter's * fond applause,
But timidly to you submits her cause :
For taste refin'd may as judicial fit

Here, as the found her in an English Pit.

Your plaudit must remove the stranger's fear;

The fons of Genius are the least severe.

Some favour from the fair fhe's fure to find;
So fweet a circle cannot but be kind.
Then to your candid patronage she'll trust,
And hopes you gracious-as we know you just.

During my firft excurfion to Ireland, this gentleman complimented me with the following poe

• London.

tical fragment, about the time he produced a lit tle piece of two acts, called "Love in a Mist," or "The Lafs of Spirit;" which was performed at the Theatre-Royal, Smock-Alley, several nights, and met with a very favourable reception. Upon my arrival at Edinburgh, he constituted a part of that company; when he wrote the foregoing Prologue. Though Mr. Cunningham's abilities as an actor, from his extreme diffidence, were but moderate, yet the productions of his Mufe entitled him to respect.

A FRAGMENT.

Part of a Poem written on Mifs BELLAMY, when in Dublin.

From flavish rules, mechanic forms, unty'd, She foars, with facred Nature for her guide. The smile of peace-the wildness of despair→ The foft'ning figh-the foul-diffolving tear; Each magic charm the boafted Oldfield knew, Enchanting Bellamy revives in you.

'Tis thine, refiftless, the superior art,

To fearch the foul, and trace the various heart;
With native force, with unaffected ease,

To form the yielding paffions as you please!

*Bell's Poets, Cunningham, page 80.

Oldmixon's

Oldmixon's* charms, by melody imprest,
May gently touch the fong-enamour'd breast;
But tranfient raptures must attend the wound,
Where the light arrow is convey'd by found!
Or fhould + Mechel in languishing advance,
Her limbs difplay'd in ev'ry maze of dance,
(The foul untouch'd) the captivate the fight
But breathing wit with judgment mnst unite,
To give the man of reason unconfin'd delight.

}

In looking over my papers lately, I found the following pretty Paftoral, which he wrote in my praife. Though it is only addressed, in the true pastoral style, to Phillis; yet the copy of it, in his own hand-writing, from which this is tranfcribed, and which I received from him, denotes for whom the compliment was intended.

PHILLIS: A PASTORAL.

I.

I faid-on the banks by the stream,
I've pip'd for the fhepherds too long;
Oh grant me, ye Muses, a theme,
Where glory may brighten my fong!
But Pan bade me stick to my strain,
Nor leffons too lofty rehearse,
Ambition befits not a fwain,

And Phillis loves pastoral verse.

* A lady celebrated for finging.

† A dancer then in Smock-Alley Theatre.

VOL. IV.

D

II. The

II.

The role has a beautiful red;
But faded to Phillis's bloom :

The breeze from the bean-flower bed
To her breath's but a feeble perfume,
The dew-drop fo limpid and gay,
That loose on the violet lies,
(Tho' brighten'd by Phoebus's ray)
Wants luftre compar'd to her eyes,

III.

The lily I pluck'd in full pride,

It's freshness with her's to compare ;
And foolishly thought, till I tried,
The flow'ret was equally fair.

How, Corydon, could you mistake?

Your fault be with forrow confeft; You faid the white fwans on the lake For foftness might rival her breast.

IV.

While thus I went on in her praise,
My Phillis pafs'd sportive along:
Ye Poets, I covet no bays,

She fmil'd-a reward for my fong.
I find the God Pan's in the right,
No fame 's like the fair one's applause,
And Cupid muft crown with delight
The fhepherd that fings in his cause,

The