directed; and nothing which had been vet advanced could fatisfy him that it was an improper particular in the general inftitution. The Honourable Gentleman had been at no fmall pains to fhew, that recall was equal to nomination. This argument he would not, by any means whatever, adopt. Had not the Houfe of Commons the power of recall by Addrefs? Would any Gentleman ftand up and affert, that this was equal to the power of nomination? In what reipect could they be compared? The one was a power which was circumfcribed by no limitation, the other could operate only under certain circumstances. He was therefore difpofed to think all the argument, which went to prove the deficiency on thefe premifes, must, in their own nature, fall to the ground. He was not unwilling, at the fame time, to allow much real force in what had been faid, about lodging the nomination in one power, and the recall in another; and he did not doubt but should the Bill go to the Committee, the Houfe would take the advantage of it. He complained that much flander had been circulated on the fubject of his Bill. Great industry had been used to exhibit it as a moniter unworthy of feeing the light. But he proteited against all fuch arts, as giving him an advantage which he did not with, and which he trusted no caufe in which he should ever embark should ever stand in need. The epithets thrown out against it had been harth and unpleafant. He was not difpofed to prefent it to the House as a model of perfection. He allowed it had many faults. It was committed to the Houfe in confidence that they would correct it, and render it in all refpects worthy of their wisdom. The influence of the Crown had been mentioned. He was furprized to hear it so strongly imputed to his Bill. The fact was, that any influence it lent was indirectly, and therefore could not operate fo as to create any power of an alarming nature: for the Officers abroad were directed to promote, both in the military and civil line, according to a regular fucceffion and gradation; and the nomination of the Crown by this, muft of confequence be not a little abridged. In this state of the cafe he did not hesitate to fay, that no arguments could prevail on the House to perfuade them, that there was any danger where there undoubtedly was none. A great variety of other particulars, no doubt, demanded his attention, but he would not encroach farther on the patience of the House. He politely acknowledged his obligations to their indulgence through the whole of the bufinefs, and only requested, that what he had produced with a fincere intention of ferving his country, they might receive and judge of with candour and impartiality. Lord North concluded the Debate, and in very strong terms contended for the imbecility, folly, and dark patronage of the prefent Bill. He put the principle into a variety of profpects, and argued that it was not a fyftem of practical, of found, or of rational government. vided on the fecond reading, The Houfe, at half past eleven o'clock, di FRENCH THEATRE S. OPERA HOUSE. HE frequenters of the French opera are famous Generals M. Chevalier Gluck and Sac chini. The stream of popularity is in favour of the former, but the queen having patronifed the latter, the oppofition is carried on with fpirit and emulation. Orpheus and Euridicé is generally esteemed a chief-deóuvre, and its fuccefs on the French and Italian stages has infured Mr. Gluck a brilliant reputation. At the court of Parma, and upon almost every theatre in Europe, it has been received with the highest plaudits; and what is a little extraordinary, this is the first opera that has been ever engraved in Italy. The tranflation in French has been reprefented forty-nine nights fucceffively in the fummer of 75, and its revival has proved very fortunate to the managers. The beau monde has also been highly entertained with a new opera, intitled Alexander in India, written by M. ***, and the mufic by M. Méreau, who is well known for feveral fuperb and popular oratories. The fable, Alexander, the conqueror of the Perfians, already reached the court of Porus, which becomes the scene of the first act. The piece opens with the reprefentation of the temple of Bacchus, adorned with palm trees, and fuch other as are common to thofe climates. A grand facrifice is prepared to this victorious god, and protector of the eastern world. Axiane, furrounded by her women, announces all the terrors which the invincible conqueror threatens the prince, at the moment in which fhe was to be proclaimed queen. The theatre is filled with warriors, who implore their fovereign to lead them forth to battle. Pores appears, encourages their ardour, but previously orders the facrifices to begin. The high priest, followed by the priests and priefteffes of Bac chus, begins the ceremony by a hymn to Bacchus. A dance of priefteffes and warriors fuc ceed, but are interrupted by the arrival of Ephestion, Alexander's ambassador, who game to Je jure par ces autels, De ne pas imiter le refte des mortels. Epheftion retires, and a choir of warriors follow their prince to the fcene of action, which opens with the second act. A furious battle fucceeds, when Porus being hard preffed By the enemy is ready to perish, when Alexander enters, and commands his foldiers to re(pect the valour of that Indian, whom he took for a fimple foldier. He is interrogated, and without difcovering himself, with a firmness that infpired efteem. He is employed by the conqueror to offer terms of peace to Porus, bat he replies that Porus could never fubmit to terms fo ignominious. The Macedonians celebrate the victory of their royal mafter, when their fongs of triumph are interrupted by the arrival of Axiane, who defcends from a veffel, followed by her women loaded with prefents. She throws herself at Alexander's feet, and implores him to fee the dead body of her intended lord. Alexander endeavours to pacify the princefs, when Epheftion announces that Porus is still living, and at the head of his shattered army. Axiane conjures Alexander not to pursue an unhappy warrior, and proposes a treaty between him and Porus. Alexander yields to her intreaties, receives her prefents, and conducts her to the fhip. The third act opens in the king's palace, where this prince reproaches Axiane for having humbled herself in afking a favour from the hands of his enemy; he breathes nothing but vengeance, and refolves to conquer or die in the attempt. The cries of the foldiers, who announced the approach of the enemy to attack their ramparts, caufe the king to leave Axiane abruptly, who is left to deplore the fate awaiting her royal lover. The fcene changes to a reprefentation of the city, where Forus gallantly defends the fortifications, and repuifes the furious attacks of the Macedonians. At last a breach is made, and Porus falls among the ruins; nevertheless he flies to face the Grecian hero; at that inftant Axiane throws herself between the combatants, and faves the life of her lover. Alexander touched with the perfonal courage of his enemy, reftored him to his throne, and gave him Axiane in marriage. This poem is upon the whole well conducted, the action dramatic, and the ftile in general correct, perfpicuous, and often elegant. Several entire fcenes were juftly applauded, for they abound with every fpecies of good writing. The Cognofcenti fpeak of the music as a mafterly corapofition. ans. COMEDIE FRANÇOISE. At this houfe has been revived the Les Troyennes, a tragedy by the late M. de Châteaubrun. In the years 1754 and 69, this piece was extremely popular, but the eternal lamentations of Hecuba and her daughters have failed this year in affecting the gay ParifiWe notice this performance the more readily, fince it abounds with many interesting incidents; and paffages happily transfufed from the Greek tragedians. The outline of the Troyennes is, Hecuba, king Priam's widow, and her three daughters are taken prifoners by the victorious Greeks. The unhappy queen deplores the miferies the has entailed upon her country in favouring the criminal love of her fon. Caffandra had predicted the misfortunes which were to befall her mother, her filters, and the Grecian ftates. Aftyanax is to be facrificed to appeafe the Manes of Achilles, but news is brought that the high priest had effected his escape: They therefore feize upon Polixena, and drag her from her mother's arms to the tomb of Hector's conqueror, where fhe was facrificed. Hecuba dies with grief, defpair, and distraction. There has been a new comedy of five acts, called Les Marims, or, Le Mediateur maladroit; but as it was not well received by the audience, we fhall only add, that we fuppofe the character of Marplot was not totally unknown to this writer, who feems to be well acquainted with the drama, and who failed in the wished for fuccefs from his precipitancy, and an ill chofen fable. COMEDIE ITALIENNE. Among the newest pieces performed on this theatre are, the Heureufe Erreur, and the Bateau Volant. The first is a petite piece, that was received with great indulgence. M. Patras, the author, is well known for feveral other dramatic performances, which have been played with various fuccess. The plot of the Happy Error is fimply thus: A young widow forms the refolution of never admitting a fecond engagement; and that this refolution might be carried into effect, the fecludes herfelf from the company of men, except one who is a beloved brother. The count of Elval is paffionately enamoured of this lady, and fecks every method to obtain an interview. His fifter, Sophie, giving way to his importunities feigns a diflike for her wait g woman, difcharges her, and as matters were ordered fhe enters into the widow's fervice. The new comer tells her mistress, that Mifs Sophie was projecting a scheme of finding admiflion into her houfe in men's apparel, in order to gain her affections. The widow propofed to receive her in this affumed character, that the might return the compliment of deception. In thefe circumstances the count is introduced to the widow and her brother as Sophie in difguife. He is received with all poffible courtely by the lady, and the modes 1 2 adopted adopted by the brother to bring about a difcovery of the fu pofed fex, render the feene highly diverting. He went fo far as to propofe a written contract of marriage; the count Signs it with transport, and the widow, firmly perfuaded that Count Elval was a woman, figns likewife. Sophie, in the affumed character of a country girl, informs the widow of the intrigue, and has not only the pleasure of feeing an union take place between her and the count, but also a double marriage in her own perfon with the widow's brother. The "Flying Veffel," or, Bateau Volant, is an opera of one alt, and is a íquib of the day. Caffandre, a mere pretender in the fcience of mechanics, publishes in all the prints that he was building a Flying Veffel, by which he could traverfe unknown regions in the air. Our thip-builder is reprefented to be guardian to a young lady, whofe name is Ifabella, and what is very common, the guardian loves ffabella, and Ifabella hates her guardian. Leander, the happy lover, having filled Caffandre's head with the practicability of conAtructing this ærial veffel, and of his first attempting the experiment, obtained by this means, an opportunity of carrying off the prize of beauty. A number of perfons are collected to fee Leander mount into the skies, and when the moment arrived for the experiment, Ifabella and Leander throw themselves at Caffandre's feet and demand pardon. This bagatelle, compofed with fuch flight materials, is nevertheless extremely gay, witty, and amufing in the reprefentation. The author's name is Goulard. The lait new piece at this theatre is La Sorciere par Hafard, an opera of two acts. The story of this little piece is fimply thus: A young lady of fome reputation in the capital retires into the country to indulge her paffion for the polite arts and fciences. The various inftruments neceffary for experimental philofophy and aftronomy, the had brought with her into the village, where she was foon confidered as deeply verfed in the black art. A young couple, perfecuted by an old guardian, who, according to custom, is in love with his Ward, come to this lady to confult her concerning the fuccefs of their penchants. The lover is conducted into a cabinet, when the fhews him in a glafs the object of his wishes. The guardian, not fo credulous as the young couple, being a profeffed Freethinker, comes to puzzle the lady with his ftudied questions. Here by pretended incantations, he trembles exceedingly; and being conducted into a whimfical apartment is strictly charged not to leave it till the clock ftrikes eight. The lovers fhut up in other rooms endeavoured to leave the houfe, when they met; at that instant the clock ftrikes, and the guardian haftens to the door, paritions. Lights are then introduced, and fees the young couple, whom he took for apthe denouement takes place, by the guardian's confenting to the union of his Ward's withes. The piece ends with the following verfes, which are spoken by an actress: THEATRICAL JANUARY 7. New Pantomime was exhibited, entitled, Dans le monde on connoit une forcellerie, This clofe excited repeated bursts of laughter, and the most lively applaufe. The actress was encored, and the houfe was kept in one continued roar. JOURNAL. termines to travel and fee the world; and, contrary to all advice and perfuafion, lets off with the Clown, whom he entices into his fervice, in purfuit of adventures. He is cheated, however, in the outfet, by the interpofition of A NEW PROUIN JUNIOR; or, THE MA' the Magicians who had formerly protected his GIC CESTUS. The ftory of the Pantomime contains a pleasant fatire on the inconftancy of modern hufbands, exemplified in the capricious changeableness of Harlequin Junior; and at the fame time give due credit to the unabating tenderness of female fidelity, in the character of a married Columbine. The Pantomime opens and fhews Harlequin in defpair, not being able to obtain Columbine on account of his fuppofed poverty. Old Harlequin and Columbine are affected by his diftrefs, and his father is at length prevailed upon to truft him with the Magic Sword, by the means of which he procures riches, and by the content of the parents on both fides, obtains his Columbine. Young Harlequin foon grows tired of the confinement of a domestic Aife, and being in pofletion of the fword, de father, and who, to punith his desertion of Columbine, deprive him of the Sword; at this time Columbine and Old Harlequin repair to thefe Magicians, to enquire of his fate. Ola Harlequin is blamed for entrusting his power to his fon, but is forgiven, and Columbine is prefented with the Magic Ceftus, which contains all female virtues and accomplishments, and by which the at length reclaims and fixes his wandering heart. Hence the Pantomime is called the Ceftus. Columbine has likewise given her a Magic Wand, by which he has a power of controuling the effects of Harlequin's Sword, whenever he prepares to abuse it by gratifying his inconftancy. Thus equipped, the follows him to Paris, and purfues and restrains him in his wild attempts in that city. From this arifes the perplexities and business of the Pantomime. At length he is again de- By fenfe and gentleness to prove The Pantomime concludes with a view of the rock and fortifications of Gibraltar, and repulfe of the Spaniards by General Eliott. The Pantomime is unquestionably one of the best that has been brought forward for feveral years. In point of story, bufinefs, fcenery, character, and machinery, we have not for feveral years feen fo finished a performance. It abounds with that which is the life of pantomime, bufinefs, and the incidents follow one ! another with a rapidity which sustains the intereft, and gives it the quality of a drama. It has the recommendation also of a moral tendeacy: for the fable is conducted with allegogic chastity, and inculcates conjugal fidelity by the demonftration of the calamities that flow from error. The changes are in fome inftances admirable, and in particular that of the Caifle d'Efcompte, which is converted into an air balloon-it is a palpable hit; and indeed we do not know any trandtion in pantomime more pointedly epigrammatic. The fcenes are beautiful, and they are given us in a profufion which does great credit to the liberality of the house. There are upwards of twenty highly finished keses, and we understand that they are all executed under the direction of Greenwood. The laft fcene, exhibiting the deftruction of the gun-boats at Gibraltar, is full of terrible grandeur. The red-hot balls, the bombs, and the hips on fire, from a picture of fublime beauty. The following are some of the Airs: SONG and CHORUS by the MAGICIAN and SPIRITS. MAGICIAN. YE elves, ye fprites, that love to dwell POETRY. ODE for the NEW YEAR, Jan. 1, 1784. E NOUGH of arms. To happier ends, Her generous hofts, who grafp'd the fword, Tho' martial glory cease, Shall now with equal industry, Compell'd to wander, and oblig'd to bear With a concern like his do I review Like Rome's brave fons, when Rome was free, There's such a sweetness in a female's mi id, Refume the arts of peace. O come, ye toil-worn wanderers, come The tender housewife's bufy care! The board, with temperate plenty crown'd, That liften to the tale of war! Yet be not war the favourite theme; And own experience taught it you: Their frugal industry alone Be all the fongs that footh their toil, Nor dread left inborn spirit die : One glorious leffon, early taught, With all the boafted powers fupply, Of practis'd rules, and studied thought. From the first dawn of Reafon's ray, On the young bofom's yielding clay, Strong be their country's love impreft, And with your own example fire their breaft. Tell them, 'tis theirs to grafp the fword, When Britain gives the awful word, To bleed, to die, in Britain's caufe: And guard, from faction nobly free, Their birth-right bleffing, liberty, True liberty, that loves the laws. Which in a man's we can't expect to find; That fhews a want of judgment and of fenfe, To this fair maid I fometimes do retire, Her converfation does new joys inspire; } To |