dramatist may at all times oppose the mirth of his audience; for time has confirmed the opinion which Dr. Johnson gave at the moment — “ I know of no comedy for many years that has so much exhilarated an audience; that has answered so much the great end of comedy — making an audience merry.”

A similar idea of the true design of comedy generally, seems to have been entertained by the Author himself. Inquiring of Northcote, then a pupil of Sir Joshua, to whom as we have seen he had good-naturedly given tickets for the performance on his benefit night, his opinion of its merits, the latter said he could not presume to decide upon the matter.

“ Did it make you laugh ?” Exceedingly” was the reply; “Then” continued the Poet “that is all that I require.”

The greater indifference now shown to theatrical pieces, renders it difficult to give an adequate idea of the general exultation at the overthrow, as it was considered, of the class of sentimental comedies which had for a few years occupied the place of mirth and humour. Though fashion had upheld them for a time, sufficient good taste existed among the people to disapprove when the opportunity offered, of what were termed, “Comedies taken from the Whole Duty of Man, and Sentiments from the Book of Proverbs.” Goldsmith was loudly hailed as the champion of this reform in taste; he became the theme of conversation, the daily journals rang with his praises or

ridicule of his rivals, and complimentary paragraphs and verses were showered down upon the vivacity and humour of his muse. A few of these, as proofs of the general feeling of the moment, may be quoted ; one absurdly assumes the name of Johnson, though without a particle of his energy, correctness, or power, and in the concluding lines, pays rather an equivocal compliment; the fourth and best is said to have been written by Mr. Wilkes, although intimate with the manager whom he so wittily assails. *

In proportion to the praises of the successful author, were the ridicule and odium cast upon his

Say not that Wit and Humour now are scarce,
Say not we've no new Comedy or Farce;
The arduous task a modern bard has done,
Restoring Farce and Comedy in one.”

THE MISTAKES

ON THE SUCCESS OF DR. GOLDSMITH'S NEW COMEDY OF

OF A NIGHT.
“ Long have our comic writers tried to move,

With tales of pity and chaste scenes of love ;
On stilts sublime the laughing muse they raise,
For nothing low our taste refined can please.
Nor wit nor humour such grave preachers knew,
The Maudlin-house resembles Whitfield's crew.
No bursts of laughter shook the merry Pit,
In solemn silence all attentive sit ;
Till some sad story big with tragic woe,
From the touch'd Boxes cause the tear to flow.
So deep the comedy, it makes you stare,
To find no poisoned bowl or dagger there.
Gay mirth and honest joke are in disgrace,
Melpomene usurps her Sister's place :
Let sentiment but stiffen every line,
The raptur'd audience loudly cry, how fine!
Goldsmith at length warm in Thalia's cause,
Broke the dull charm, and rescued Nature's laws.”

To Dr. Goldsmith,

ON THE SUCCESS OF HIS NEW COMEDY, CALLED " SHE STOOPS

TO CONQUER.”

so Long has the Comic Muse, seduc'd to town,

Shone with false charms, in fin'ry not her own;
And strove by affectation's flimsy arts,
And sickly sentiments to conquer hearts:
But now reclaim’d, she seeks her native plains,
Where pass'd her youth, where mirth, where pleasure reigns ;
She throws each tinsel ornainent aside,
And takes once more plain Nature for her guide ;
With sweet simplicity she smiles again,
And Stoops to Conquer with her Goldsmith's pen.”

*

supposed enemies, both in prose and verse. Among these, besides the persons already men

To Dr. Goldsmith.

“ Has then (the question pray excuse,

For Doctor you ’re a droll man),
The dose that saved the Comic Muse,
Almost destroyed poor

Colman ?

“ How drugs, alike in strength and name,

In operation vary!
When what exalts the Doctor's fame

Undoes th' Apothecary!'

* “ On Mr. Hugh Kelly's Censure of the New Comedy.

ADDRESSED TO DR. GOLDSMITH.

“ If Kelly finds fault with the shape of your muse,

And thinks that too loosely it plays,
He surely, dear Doctor, will never refuse

To make it a new Pair of Stays !

“ His lining is small talk pick'd up at a dance,

His laces are tragedy groans,
His Tabby 's a Novel, his Twist a Romance,

And sentiments serve for the Bones!”

“ To the Printer of the St. James's Chronicle.

66 SIR,

“ Though Dr. Goldsmith's brow has been already covered with such laurels as this grateful nation could bestow, perhaps after all he may regard a sprig of Northern bays as the greater curiosity.

“ It is well known that Mr. Macpherson attended the first night's representation of the New Comedy; but the public has not yet been informed, that soon after the conclusion of the piece, he was heard to utter the following sentiments, and in that peculiar style with which he has dignified his late Translation of Homer:

Through the sable boxes darkened the bombazeens of women : But along the mournful veil of artificial grief –

tioned, were numbered Macpherson though no dramatist, which may of itself disprove the story of Cumberland of the play being supported by many North Britons. But Colman, as manager, was selected more especially for the object of cen

Goldsmith's cause was indeed extremely