the fide of nature, truth, and fenfe." We are not displeased neither at an attempt to give " a fpecies of entertainment new to this country," and we think that the Author might, without impropriety, have vindicated himself by the practice of antiquity, as well as by the example of the French theatre; for if the productions of the Haymarket are referred to the model of Ariftophanes, the fatirick drama of the ancients (which was avowedly a paftoral entertainment) might furely ferve to countenance a fête champétre. We agree with the Writer" that to blend ftrength and delicacy (not refinement but delicacy,) would be to attain perfection" in the drama. There is however more of ease than nerve in this little piece, which is the lefs to be wondered at, as we find from the hiftory of the undertaking that the original outline was confined to two acts, but that the candour of Mr. Garrick encouraged the Author to extend his plan; and perhaps the readers of the following fcene will concur with us, in applauding the critical difcernment of the manager, who, we are told, gave particular encouragement to the Writer, thinking "he discovered in him fome talents for the higher fpecies of comedy," while the character of Hurry ferves as a specimen of his abilities in the lower. Enter Lady Bab Lardoon. Lady Bab. Dear Maria, I am happy to be the firft of your company to congratulate you-Well, Mr. Oldworth, I am delighted with the idea of your Fête; it is fo novel, fo French, fo expreffive of what every body understands, and nobody can explain; then there is fomething fo fpirited in an undertaking of expence, where a shower of rain will fpoil it all. Old-worth. I did not expect to escape from fo fine a lady, but you and the world have free leave to comment upon all you see here. Laagh where you muft, be candid where you can. I only hope that to celebrate a joyful event upon any plan, that neither hurts the morals, nor politenefs of the company, and at the fame time fets thousands of the industrious to work, cannot be thought blame-worthy. Lady Bab. Oh, quite the contrary, and I am fure it will have a run; a force upon the feafons and the manners, is the true teft of a refined taste, and it holds good from a cucumber at Christmas, to an Italian opera. Maria. Is the rule the fame among the ladies, lady Bab; is it also a definition of their refinement to act in all things contrary to nature? Lady Bab. Not abfolutely in all things, though more fo than people are apt to imagine; for even in circumftances that feem moft natural, fashion prompts ten times, where inclination prompts once; and there would be an end of gallantry in this country, if it was not for the fake of reputation. Old-worth. What do you mean? Lady Lady Bab. Why, that a woman without a connection, grows every day a more awkward perfonage; one might as well go into company without powder-if one does not really defpife old vulgar prejudices, it is abfolutely neceffary to affect it, or one must fit at home alone. Oldworth. Indeed! Lady Bab. Yes, like lady Sprofe, and talk morals to the parrot. Maria. This is new, indeed; I always fuppofed that in places where freedom of manners was moft countenanced, a woman of unimpeachable conduct carried a certain refpect. Lady Bab. Only fit for theep-walks and Oakeries !-I beg your pardon, Mr. Oldworth-in town it would just raise you to the whiftparty of old lady Cypher, Mrs. Squabble, and lord Flimzey; and at every public place, you would ftand among the footmen to call your own chair, while all the maccaronies paffed by, whiftling a fong through their tooth-picks, and giving a fhrug-dem it, 'tis pity fo fine a woman fhou'd be loft to all common decency. Maria (Smiling). I believe I had better stay in the Oakery, as you call it; for I am afraid I fhall never procure any civility in town, upon the terms required. Lady Bab. Oh, my dear, you have chofe a horrid word to exprefs the intercourfe of the bon ton; civility may be very proper in a mercer, when one is chufing a filk, but familiarity is the life of good company. I believe this is quite fince your time, Mr. Oldworth, but 'tis by far the greatest improvement the beau monde ever made. Olarworth. A certain eafe was always an effential part of good breeding, but lady Bab muft explain her meaning a little further, before we can decide upon the improvement. Lady Bab. I mean that participation of fociety, in which the French used to excel, and we have now fo much outdone our models. -I maintain, that among the Superior fet-mind, I only speak of them our men and women are put more upon a footing together in London, than they ever were before in any age or country. Old-worth. And pray how has this happy revolution been effected? Lady Bab. By the moft charming of all inftitutions, wherein we fhew the world, that liberty is as well underflood by our women as by our men; we have our bill of rights and our conftitution too, as well as they-we drop in at all hours, play at all hours, play at all parties, pay our own reckonings, and in every circumftance (petticoats excepted) are true lively jolly fellows. Maria. But does not this give occafion to a thousand malicious infinuations? Lady Bab. Ten thousand, my dear,-but no great measures can be effected without a contempt of popular clamour. Oldworth. Paying of reckonings is I confefs new fince my time;' and I should be afraid it might fometimes be a little heavy upon a lady's pocket. Lady Bab. A mere trifle-one generally wins them-Jack Saunter of the guards, loft a hundred and thirty to me upon fcore at one time; I have not eat him half out yet he will keep me best part of next next winter; but exclufive of that, the club is the greatest fyftem of œconomy for married families ever yet established. Oldworth. Indeed! but how fo, pray? Lady Bab. Why, all the fervants may be put to board wages, or fent into the country, except the footmen-no plunder of houfekeepers, or maitres de hotel, no long butcher's bills-Lady Squander protefts fhe has wanted no provifion in her family these fix months, except potatoes to feed the children, and a few frogs for the French governess-then our dinner-focieties are fo amufing, all the doves and hawks together, and one converfes fo freely; there's no topick of White's or Almack's, in which we do not bear a part. Maria. Upon my word I fhould be a little afraid, that fome of thofe fubjects might not always be managed with fufficient delicacy for a lady's ear, especially an unmarried one. Lady Bab. Blefs me! why where's the difference? Mifs muft have had a frange education indeed, not to know as much as her Chapron I hope you would not have the daughters black-ball'd, when the mothers are chofe: Why it is almoft the only place where fome of them are likely to fee each other. Enter Sir Harry Groveby. Sir Harry. I come to claim my lovely bride-here at her favourite tree I claim her mine!-the hour is almoft on the point, the whole country is beginning to affemble; every preparation of Mr. Oldworth's fancy is preparing, And while the priest accufe the Bride's delay, Maria. Repugnance would be affectation, my heart is all your own, and I fcorn the look or action that does not avow it, Oldworth. Come, Sir Harry, leave your proteftations, which my girl does not want; and fee a fair stranger. Lady Bab. Sir Harry, I rejoice at your happiness-and do not think me fo tasteless, Maria, as not to acknowledge an attachment like yours, preferable to all others, when it can be had-filer la parfait amour, is the firth happiness in life: but that you know is totally out of the queftion in town; the matrimonial comforts in our way, are abfolutely reduced to two; to plague a man, and to bury him; the glory is to plague him firft and bury him afterwards. Sir Hary. I heartily congratulate Lady Bab, and all who are to partake of her converfation, upon her being able to bring fo much vivacity into the country. Lady Bab. Nothing but the Fête Champêtre could have effected it, for I fet out in miferable spirits-I had a horrid run before I left town-I fuppofe you faw my name in the papers. Sir Harry. I did, and therefore concluded there was not a word of truth in the report. Maria. Your name in the papers! Lady Bab, for what, pray? Lady Bab. The old ftory-it is a mark of infignificance now to be left out: have they not begun with you yet, Maria? Maria. Not that I know of; and I am not at all ambitious of the honour. Lady Bab. Oh, but you will have it-the Fête Champêtre will be a delightful fubject!-To be complimented one day, laughed at the nexts next, and abused the third; you can't imagine how amufing it is to read one's own name at breakfaft in a morning paper. Maria. Pray, how long may your ladyfhip have been accustomed to this pleasure? Lady Bab. Lord, a great while, and in all its stages: They first · began with a modeft inuendo, we hear a certain Lady, not a hundred miles from Hanover-fquare, loft, at one fitting, fome nights ago, tro thoufand guineas-O tempora! O mores!" Oldworth (laughing). Pray, Lady Bab, is this concluding ejacu lation you own, or was it the printer's ? Lady Bab. His, you may be fure; a dab of Latin adds surprising force to a paragraph, befides fhewing the learning of the author. Oldworth. Well, but really 1 don't fee fuch a great matter in this; why should you fuppofe any body applied this paragraph to you? Lady Bab. None but my intimates did, for it was applicable to half St. George's parish; but about a week after they honoured me with initials and italicks: "It is faid, Lady B. L.'s ill fuccefs still !continues at the quinze table: it was obferved, the fame lady appeared yesterday at court, in a ribband collier, having laid aside her diamond necklace, (diamond in italicks) as totally bourgeoife and unneceffary for the dress of a woman of fashion." Oldworth. To be fare this was advancing a little in familiarity. Lady Bab. At laft, to my infinite amufement, out I came at full length: "Lady Pab. Lardoon has tumbled down three nights fucceffively; a certain colonel has done the fame, and we hear that both parties keep boufe with Sprained ancles." Oldworth. This last paragraph founds a little enigmatical. Maria. And do you really feel no refentment at all this? Lady Bab. Refentment!-poor filly devils, if they did but know with what thorough contempt thofe of my circle treat a remonftrance -but hark, I hear the paftorals beginning. (Mufic behind) Lord, I hope I fhall find a fhepherd! Oldworth. The moft elegant one in the world, Mr. Dupeley, Sir Harry's friend. Lady Bab. You don't mean Charles Dupeley, who has been fo long abroad? Sir Harry. The very fame; but I'm afraid he will never do, he is but half a maccaroni. Lady Bab. And very poffibly the worft half: it is a vulgar idea to think foreign accomplishments fit a man for the polite world. Sir Harry, Lady Bab, I wish you would undertake him; he seems to have contracted all the common-place affectation of travel, and thinks himfelf quite an over-match for the fair fex, of whom his opinion is as ill founded as it is degrading. Lady Bab. O, is that his turn ? what, he has been studying fome late pofthumous letters I fuppofe ?-'twould be a delight to make a fool of fach a fellow!-where is he? Sir Harry. He is only gone to drefs; I appointed to meet him on the other fide the Grove; he'll be here in twenty minutes. Lady Bab. I'll attend him there in your place I have it-I'll y my hand a little at naivet-he never faw me the dress I am go ing ing to put on for the Fête will do admirably to impose upon him: I'll make an example of his hypocrify, and his graces, and his ufage du monde. Sir Harry. My life for it he will begin an acquaintance with you. Lady Bab. If he don't, I'll begin with him: there are two cha racters, under which one may fay any thing to a man; that of perfect affurance, and of perfect innocence: Maria may be the beft critic of the last; but under the appearance of it, Lord have mercy!I have heard and feen fuch things!' C. 1. a ART. IX. Political Arithmetic: Containing Obfervations on the prefent State of Great Britain; and the Principles of her Policy in the Encouragement of Agriculture. Addreffed to the economical Societies eftablished in Europe. To which is added, A Memoir on the Corn Trade, drawn up and laid before the Commiffioners of the Treasury, by Governor Pownall. By Arthur Young, Efq; F. R. S. Author of the Tours, &c. 8vo. 6s. Nicoll. 1774. TH HE ftate of population in this kingdom, has of late been the fubject of particular investigation: fome of the ableft and moft approved writers have maintained its very fenfible decline; and they have grounded their opinion not on fanciful fpeculations or gloomy furmifes, nor have they fupported it by an artificial theory and empty unconvincing declamation. They have taken great pains in collecting the most accurate obfervations and well-authenticated facts; and to the industry, whereby they have furnished themselves with proper materials, they have added equal ingenuity and labour in pursuing the neceffary calculations: and as far as the moft minute and accurate inquiry has yet extended, their principles and conclufions have been abundantly confirmed. Is it not surprising then, that the charge of meer affertions and opinions' fhould be alleged against the evidence propofed by writers of this character; and that they fhould be illiberally reproached with the humour of blaming the present and admiring the past,' as if they lamented an evil which had no existence but in their own melancholy imagination? It is natural to expect that a reflec tion of this kind, which often recurs in the performance before us, should be fupported by an induction of facts, which would leave no room to doubt that these gentlemen complain without caufe. For our own part, we have no predilection in favour of any fyftem; but fhould be happy to find that the evidence preponderated on the fide of the intereft and profperity of our country. Mr. Young, however, though he has made many tours, and found great fatisfaction in the furvey of the flourishing state of agriculture, manufactures, and population, seems to have referved facts for his own ufe and to give the public only fufpicious principles and unfatisfactory declamation. He in forms |