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THE

BRITISH THEATRE;

OR,

A COLLECTION OF PLAYS,

WHICH ARE ACTED AT

THE THEATRES ROYAL,

DRURY-LANE, COVENT GARDEN, AND HAYMARKET,

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PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME,

PATERNOSTER ROW.

Southern, the author of this tragedy, was born in Dublin, in the year of the restoration, and received his education at the university there. He then came to England, and entered himself in the Middle Temple, as student of the law: but he neglected this study for the fame of writing plays, and soon after, wholly relinquished it for the adventures of the army. was patronized by James the Second, when Duke of York, and served under that monarch, as captain, against the Duke of Monmouth.

He

Dryden being asked, whose genius, as a poet, Southern resembled, compared him to Otway. Every reader will own the comparison just, for they have both unbounded force in the description of poignant grief.

The present drama, independent of its own worth, will be ever memorable for having introduced to the admiration of a London audience,-Mrs. Siddons.

Who will allege, that mental powers have no charm in the female sex? Mrs. Siddons performed on the London stage, in the prime of youth and bloom of beauty, yet was totally neglected. She came a few years after, with judgment for her aid, and was enthusiastically worshipped.

Woe, bitterest woe, must be gracefully imitated in the just performance of Isabella: but of such imitation, and of all those delightful sensations, which arise B 2

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