some reflection upon courtiers and statesmen, whereof I am by no means a judge. One would suppose that, in the last of these periods, the author intends to say, that he was no judge of courtiers and statesmen; whereas his real meaning must be that he cannot judge as to the charge of this opera's containing reflections upon such personages. The period might be improved thus: "An opinion obtains, that in the Beggar's Opera there appears to be some reflection upon courtiers and statesmen; a circumstance of which I am by no means a judge." Whereof, wherein, whereby, and many similar compounds which were current during the age of Swift, are now rejected by almost every writer who aims at elegance of composition. The formation of therefore, for there, is not less awkward and anomalous; but this word may be considered as indispensable. The kindred adverb wherefore could more conveniently be spared. It is true, indeed, that Mr. Gay, the author of this piece, hath been somewhat singular in the course of his fortunes; for it hath happened, that after fourteen years attending the court, with a large stock of real merit, a modest and agreeable conversation, a hundred promises, and five hundred friends, hath failed of preferment; and upon a very weighty reason. Than" after fourteen years attending the court," it is more proper to say "after fourteen years' attendance at court," or "after attending the court for fourteen years." By a typographical error, the pronoun he seems to have been omitted before the words hath failed. "Upon a weighty reason," is an unusual expression: we commonly say," for a weighty reason." He lay under the suspicion of having written a libel or lampoon against a great minister. It is true, that great minister was demonstratively convinced, and publicly owned his conviction, that Mr. Gay was not the author; but having lain under the suspicion, it seemed very just that he should suffer the punishment; because in this most reformed age, the virtues of a prime minister are no more to be suspected, than the chastity of Cæsar's wife. The last sentence is somewhat ambiguous. The construction might leave room to suppose that the prime minister had himself lain under suspicion of having written a libel or lampoon. The ambiguity may easily be removed: "but this poet having lain under the suspicion." It must be allowed that the Beggar's Opera is not the first of Mr. Gay's works, wherein he hath been faulty, with regard to courtiers and statesmen. For, to omit his other pieces, even in his Fables, published within two years past, and dedicated to the duke of Cumberland, for which he was promised a reward, he hath been thought somewhat too bold upon the courtiers. The latter of these sentences is rendered harsh and clumsy by the concourse of so many circumstances: published within two years past—dedicated to the duke of Cumberland-for which he was promised a reward. And although it be highly probable, he meant only the courtiers of former times, yet he acted unwarily, by not considering that the malignity of some people might misinterpret what he said, to the disadvantage of present persons and affairs. The contrast contained in this sentence would be more emphatically exprest in the following manner: "And although it be highly probable he meant only the courtiers of former times, yet he acted unwarily, by not considering, that the malignity of some people might misinterpret what he said, to the disadvantage of those of the present times.” But I have now done with Mr. Gay as a politician; and shall consider him henceforward only as author of the Beggar's Opera; wherein he hath, by a turn of humour entirely new, placed vices of all kinds in the strongest and most odious light; and thereby done eminent service, both to religion and morality. The position of the adverb only leaves us uncertain whether it be intended to qualify what precedes or what follows. Better thus: "But I have now done with Mr. Gay as a politician; and henceforward shall only consider him as author of the Beggar's Opera." This appears from the unparalleled success he hath met with. All ranks, parties, and denominations of men, either crowding to see his opera, or reading it with delight in their closets; even ministers of state, whom he is supposed to have most offended (next to those whom the actors represent) appearing frequently at the theatre, from a consciousness of their own innocence, and to convince the world how unjust a parallel, malice, envy, and disaffection to the government, have made. At the beginning of this quotation the pronoun this refers not to any particular word that has formerly occurred, but to the general tenor of the foregoing sentence. This practice is not consistent with complete accuracy of diction. After the words he hath met with, there ought only to have been a semicolon; in its present state, the succeeding sentence has a mutilated appearance. The corresponding words ministers of state and appearing, stand at too great distance from each other. I am assured that several worthy clergymen in this city went privately to see the Beggar's Opera represented; and that the fleering coxcombs in the pit, amused themselves with making discove ries, and spreading the names of those gentlemen round the audience. This sentence is smooth and correct. I shall not pretend to vindicate a clergyman, who would appear openly in his habit at a theatre, with such a vicious crew as might probably stand round him, at such comedies, and profane tragedies as are often represented. Besides, I know very well, that persons of their function are bound to avoid the appearance of evil, or of giving cause of offence. The latter of these periods discovers a confusion of ideas. The author speaks of avoiding the appearance of giving cause of offence; but in such cases as that to which he alludes, it is only by appearances that offence can be given. But when the lords chancellors, who are keepers of the king's conscience; when judges of the land, whose title is reverend; when ladies, who are bound by the rules of their sex to the strictest decency, appear in the theatre without censure; I cannot understand, why a young clergyman, who comes concealed, out of curiosity to see an innocent and moral play, should be so highly condemned; nor do I much approve the rigour of a great prelate, who said, he hoped none of his clergy were there. : In the expression," a young clergyman who comes concealed out of curiosity," there is some degree of ambiguity it seems rather to imply that he is concealed out of curiosity, than that he visits the theatre out of curiosity. The following arrangement is more correct: "I cannot understand, why a young clergyman who, out of curiosity, comes concealed to see an innocent and moral play, should be so highly condemned." I am glad to hear there are no weightier objections against that reverend body planted in this city, and I wish there never may. 1 But I should be very sorry, that any of them should be so weak, as to imitate a court-chaplain in England, who preached against the Beggar's Opera; which will probably do more good, than a thousand sermons of so stupid, so injudicious, and so prostitute a divine." The author speaks of a body planted in the city of Dublin; and thus employs a metaphor which is somewhat exceptionable, or at least unpleasing. Whatever opinion may be formed of his style, the meek and charitable spirit of this divine may be clearly discerned in the concluding sentence. CHAP. XXVIII. CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF A PASSAGE IN Now the language of these Greeks was truly like themselves, it was conformable to their transcendent and universal genius. Where matter so abounded, words followed of course, and those exquisite in every kind, as the ideas for which they stood. And hence it followed, there was not a subject to be found, which could not with propriety be expressed in Greek. The first of these sentences might be improved by the omission of the words printed in Italic characters. To many readers the second must appear stiff and quaint. The manner in which the particle as is there used, is accompanied with some ambiguity: the sense may either be, that the words possess the same • Intelligencer, No. 3. N |