ΤΟ THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE MY LORD, 1 Humbly desire your protection for the following scenes, from the rage of a despairing faction, who are now become so tender as to take offence at metaphors, and are unable to endure the touch even of a poetical figure. The epilogue, designed to send our friends in good humour from the play, disobliged some people extremely; and they attempted to damn the comedy for an innocent allegory, as if it were presumptuous to imagine there had been a separate peace: but every honest Briton was warmed in the cause of truth, and defended it with uncommon ardour. Your lordship has bravely entered the lists against the enemies of our constitution. You have, with the warmest heart and the most steady courage, laboured in the cause of liberty, and are at length gloriously rewarded in the happiness of your country; all that your generous spirit proposed for the most unwearied diligence, at the expence of your health and fortune. And now, my Lord, I humbly beg leave to congratu late your Lordship upon the success of your endeavours. Who is not filled with joy, when he sees those namės again in Parliament who have constantly defended the liberties not only of Britain, but of all Europe, against the malice and ambition of some men, who prevailed upon the people to contend for slavery? But their attempts have proved ineffectual; and now, if they will not vouchsafe to be free, we thank Providence, they must serve abroad. May your Lordship still continue to be, as you have begun, a shining ornament to your noble name and country; and may all our young nobility be animated, by your great example, with the same honest public zeal for the common good; so shall our thrice happy constitution be preserved on the present establishment ic all posterity; so shall Britain recover, and for ever hold the balance of the western world, so shall it for ever be her glorious task to defend herself, and the nations around her, from tyranny and oppression. I am, my Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient And most humble servant, CHARLES JOHNSON. CHARLES JOHNSON WAS originally intended for the law, but that regulating the Drama was the only one he practisedHe was however entered of the Middle Temple, and as the reputation of a WIT in his day was conferred by a Coffee-House, so he never by a day's absence from Button's forfeited his pretensions. WILKS, by some means or other, he made his friend, and thus secured an easy reception to his productions-he accordingly availed himself of this advantage, and in thirty years produced nineteen Plays, Tragedies and Comedies.-Of the first I know nothing; the latter are neither at the top nor the bottom of the list-One DRAMA alone comes within the present selection, and that has long been upon the shelf. JOHNSON was little formed to struggle with active life-he loved the tavern comforts, and accordingly became the master of one in Bow-street, which at the demise of his wife he quitted for competence and retirement.-Poor Johnson had none of Cæsar's dangerous marks about him-he was "Sleekheaded, fat, and slept in peace o' nights." POPE, as was his wont, for something or for nothing, dishonoured himself by abusing him-but the man was beloved by those of better nature, and the satire is forgotten. COUNTRY LASSES. THIS Comedy is busy, sprightly, and of course entertaining; its incidents however are borrowed palpably from MIDDLETON and FLETCHER. There are two plots; one stolen from Aphra Behn, who had herself plundered " A Mad World my Masters;" the other was from "The Custom of the Country:" but it deserves infinitely more notice than the strange stuff by which Bickerstaff keeps possession of the stage; for it has character, incident, and in truth dialogue, extremely smart and whimsical. |
