The parliament of Scotland being met in 1703, a feflion the moft violent poffible was commenced, in which the Duke of Queensbury had to combat with all the jarring interefts of which it was compofed; and towards the clofe of it, when the Earl of Marchmont produced the bill to fettle the fucceffion in the Houfe of Hanover, on the mentioning of the Princefs Sophia, it burst into a flame, and the moft ferious altercations enfued; fo that the Duke was under the neceflity of proroguing the parliament to the 12th of October.

Ireland alfo during this time was very unquiet; but the Duke of Ormond being appointed lord-lieutenant was cordially received by the people in general, and the Commons chearfully voted the neceffary fupplies, &c.; though, before the feilion was ended, he incurred heir greatest difpleafure by fuddenly adjourning the parliament while fome ftrong measures against he Papifts were depending.

I have been thus particular in toticing the tranfactions of the firft arliament of Queen Anne, &c. ecause they were principally the oundation on which the happy Icceffion of the Hanover line was cured; and though there were any other momentous occurrences, vil and military, which are wory of remark, yet the limits to hich thefe Ellays thould be conned, forbid my particularizing all, id my enlarging on any, of them: id, therefore, I fhall now pats on fly to notice fome of the greatt events which this pregnant reign th favoured us with.

In the campaign of 1703, the ike of Marlborough was equally cefsful, as the towns of Bonne, 1y, and Limburgh, were taken, the French army obliged to act the defenfive, and retreated conally as he advanced. But in t of 704 his abilities fhone with oubled fplendour, particularly Blenheim, where the French y was totally defeated by the

Confederates, with the lofs of 10,000 killed and 13,000 made prifoners, their cannon, camp equipage, &c. all taken. The confequences of this brilliant victory were, the refcuing the House of Auftria from ruin, and the fubjecjection of Augfburg, Ulm, Landau, &c.

But the greatest acquifition of this year, indeed of the whole war, was the taking of Gibraltar by Sir George Rooke, who, in one day, without an army, fubdued the fortrefs which, fince then, has withftood the united efforts of Franceand Spain during an unparalleled fiege of feven years.

In most of the fucceeding campaigns, to 1711, the Duke was bleifed with continued fucceffes; won many battles, among which fhould be remembered that of Ramilies, wherein the enemy fuftained a compleat defeat; reduced moft of their fortified places in the Netherlands; and finished the career of his military glory by the taking of Bouchain, which, though fortified by every advantage of nature and art, was, by the confummate kill and intrepidity of his Grace, obliged to furrender in 20 days from the opening of the trenches, and the garrifon made prifoners of war. Though this was the last, it was certainly one of the boldest enterprizes in which the Duke was engaged: for the place was not only deemed impregnable, but he had to attempt it in the prefence of a fuperior army, commanded by Marefchal de Villars, whofe efforts to raife the fiege were rendered ineffectual by the prudence and activity of the Duke. Thus for ten campaigns was the Duke of Marlborough fuccesful, perhaps in a greater degree than any other general ever was who was fo actively engaged. He never fuftained a defeat, never was obliged to raife a fiege; his vigilance and prudence were fuch, that he never was furprized by the enemy, nor had any of his out-par ties cut off. Ten times he had re

ceived

ceived, the. thanks of both Houfes of Parliament; and, arrived at the zenith of military glory, his name was echoed throughout the land with all that enthufiafm of praife which characterizes the British nation in the behalf of its heroes. But, when the Tory intereft had gained the afcendancy in the cabinet and the parliament, he, that had almoft been idolized by the lovers of their country, was, in a moment, dafhed from the pinnacle of fame into the abyffes of contempt, derifion, and obloquy. How fleeting is worldly honour! and how unftable all things here below!

After the most violent oppofition in the parliaments of England and Scotland, particularly in that of the latter, the Union of the two kingdoms was accomplished in 1707. And probably no incature of equal importance was ever before carried by the determined perf verance of a Court in direct contrariety to the opinion, not only of the majority, but nearly of the whole, of any nation. But, great as the prejudices of the people then were against the meafure, time hath manifetted that it was devifed in wifdem, and that its accomplishment hath been con-ducive to the profperity and tranquillity of the united kingdoms.

During this period, i. e. from 1703 to 707, not only the nation was agitated with violent parties, but the Houfes of Parliament were alfo in a continual ferment from them. Though they cheerfully voted the fupplies, and were loyal in their addrefes to her Majefty, yet every other measure introduced by either party was ftrenuouily oppofed by the other. But towards the clofe of the feffion of 1727 the Tories began to gain ftrength, particularly among the people at large; and, in 1708, Mrs. Martham having fupplanted the Dutchefs of Marlborough in the Queen's friendhip, her Majefty more fully countenanced their mealures, and on April 15 the parliament was diffolved. From the commencement

of the new parliament, which af fembled on the 18th of November, to the conclufion of the treaty for peace at Utrecht, which was figned April 11, 1713, the Tories continued to gain ground; for in September, 170, the Whig miniftry was difgraced, this parliament was diffolved, and a new one being met on the 25th of November, it was found that the Tory interefi had obtained the complete afcendancy; fo that all the measures which had been adopted or executed by the Whigs was condemned as difhonourable to the nation, de ftructive to her prosperity, and de viled folely for the aggrandizement or advantage of the heads of that party. The people joining heartily in thefe clamours, the peace was accelerated, that an end might be pat to a war, which, though at tended with unparalleled fucceffes was now confidered by many as in fupportable, and that they only were the true friends of their coun try who ftrove to bring it to a spec termination. T. MOT, FS.M (To be continued.)

TH

Mr. URBAN, Croydon, Feb. 28 HE following circumftant which appears to my ig rance a fort of vegetable phænome non, may, to thofe of your readea who have been more converfant ia botanical studies and purfuits, ap pear to be a fact very eafily a counted for. Such as it is, l' fhal detal it for the public information

In the autumn of the year 179 being employed in making an a teration in my thrubbery and ples fure-grounds, I received from t nurseryman in my neighbourho among feveral other plants, the fpecimens of what he called Cre tagus (qu. Crategis Oxyacantha or American double-bloo thorn. They were all planted nearly a fimilar aspect and fit tion, on an elevated pot raier inclined to the North, but feecca by a large row of elms from the le verity of the weather. The art of

the

thefe plants, which had the moft fheltered fituation of the three, had its foliage at the accuftomed time in the fpring of last year, and exhibited a few of the flowers. The fecond was lefs promifing, and was only faved alive by conftant and unremitting care, and deluges of water. The third plant, which was placed in a deeper foil, and in

the worst fituation of the three, never exhibited any fymptoms of vegetable life throughout the whole of 1799; not a fingle flower, not a fingle leaf made its appearance, and the bush itself appeared to be totally dead, the bark exhibiting none of that lively and fhining appearance which generally accompanies the rife of the fap, and precedes the budding leaf. About Christmas laft, I ordered my gardener to throw the dead tree away, and re-place it with a new plant; when, to my aftonishment, he fhewed me that it had actually begun to bud, and that the foliage would in all probability enfue. What he predicted came to pafs about the latter end of January; the thorn had then buds juft ready to burit from their envelopement; and this procefs of Nature has neither been defcated, nor even checked, by the fevere weather of the laft fix weeks. After remaining in a ftate of torpor and inaction for fifteen months, the thrub is at this time in the luxuriance of vegetation, its leaf not quite fo large as might have been the cafe in the ufual time of its appearance, but its form exactly defined.

Am I to expect a fecond foliage in 1800, this being an arrear of 1799, or am I to conclude that my American thorn is a baftard flip from Glaftonbury? Seriously, I with for information on the fubject; the facts are precifely as I have ftated them.

I remember, when I was an under graduate at Cambridge, a double wallflower, which I left in my rooms in July in full bloffom, and which was perfectly dry and wi

AGREEABLY to the promise

which I made to you months ago, I have tranfmitted a few more Sonnets, which you will infert as opportunity offers; and allow me to take the fame opportunity of thanking you for the favourable attention which you have frequently beftowed upon my publications.

I know not whether you will think the following obfervations worthy your notice. I have often thought, while reading the Vanity of Human Wifhes, that "the letter'd Sage" was rather unfortunate in chufing Lady Dorchefter to illuftrate the evils attendant upon beauty. In general eftimation, "the form which pleas'd a king" poffelled little of that fafcinating quality which a vain mother generally begs for her daughter; nor have I ever heard any anecdotes of her repentance, or even of her regret. On the contrary, Lord Orford defcribes her as looking back on her early criminality with a levity which deferves no fofter name than thamcicfs effrontery. We are, however, told, that Sir Charles Sedley was to incenied at her feduction, that he became a prime mover of the Revolution. king," faid the indignant father, "has made my daughter a coun tefs, but I will make his daughter a queen." Might not Dr. Johnson refer to this farcafim in the line, "And Sedley curs'd the form that pleas'd a king,"

The

children the dangerous gift of beauty. I am aware that the introduction of Lady Vane's hiftory, and the want of a mafculine or feminine derivative, would render this conftruction of the fenfe obfcure; but the verfe fo little correfponds with what is generally known' of Lady Dorcheiter's hiftory, that I am inclined to think it the right one. I agree with Mifs Seward, that the name of the lovely and penitent Valiere would have afforded a more happy illustration.

Perhaps, after all, it is only my limited information which is to be cenfured; and I fhall feel obliged to any of your correfpondents who can communicate any anecdotes which may tend to elucidate Johnfon, and to place the characterof this celebrated belle efprit in a more eftimable point of view. JANE WEST. For fome of Mrs. Weft's Sonnets,

fee our Poetry of this mouth.

CRITIQUE IV.

Of the Impropriety of Theatrical Reprefentations, as far as they relate to the Scenery, Dreffes, and Decorations, when brought forward as illuftrative of the Antient Hiftory of this Country. (Continued from LXIX p. 938.)

Hfore the publick as the

AVING ftepped forward be

champion to defend the honour of our antient hiftory against the theatrical defpoilers of its fair truth and honour; having thrice thrown down the gauntlet in vain; having thrice founded defiance to this motley crew; I fhall conclude my fhield has flathed conviction, and my lance ftruck terror to these furpers of Antiquity's juft rights; therefore I fhall advance with confcious integrity and laudable boldnefs, infpired by the uprightnefs of my caufe, again to attack their dramatic ftrong-holds, which have fo long held in "durance vile" the eyes, ears, and underftandings, of the frequenters of our theatres, blinded, ftumed, and perverted, by their auxiliary forces, the pain

ters, taylors, and machinists, who, with adamantine chains, have bound them in a femfelefs charm to give eternal applaufe to whatever moonftruck ideas they may pats off as the antient coftume of this country.

My affaults have hitherto been directed to drive out the moths and infects that infeft the various embellifhments of the fcenic hemifphere, and to clear the mifts that envelope its moft dazzling beauties; but now a nobler conflict calls me forth to arms. Shakspeare, thy immortal works, the praife of every tongue, have too long been difgraced and infulted by a kind ef habitual captivity in the dark and dull cells of thofe hitherto all-pow erful tyrants who reign over the regions of fcenes, dreifes, and decorations! I now am armed, indeed, to victory or death (to rife into notice, or to fink into contempt!) Shakspeare, thy glorious fun fickens in fad obfcurity! Then let thy refulgent beams enervate my arms, invulnerate my mind, and animate my foul, to difpel thofe fantastic clouds which difguife, and thew in falfe colours, all the native majefty of thy hiftoric fcenes, inimitable, and which can never die!

Managers, no doubt, relying on the intrinfic merit of Shakspeare's biftoric plays, think his divine writings of fufficient force to bear them out when they perform them before the publick; or elfe, why do we see them exhibited without the finalleft attention either to our antient cofiume, or a decent expenditure to render them refpe&table to audiences familiarized to a continual, difplay of rich and magnificent fpectacks, under the titles of ferious operas, ballet dances, and pantomimes? Indeed, we need not wonder that Shakspeare's plays are fo feldom acted, when their "getting-up" ftands fo near the brink of contempt and ridicule.

We may enquire, Why are they neglected in this way? Are they

not productions that have fuited the tafte of all, from the date of their firft appearance to the prefent day? Why then fhould they not be brought out in all the elegance and grandeur that the stage in its various departments can beflow, and conformable to the ftrideft manners of former ages, which, it may be prefumed, from the fuperb. remains of antient buildings before every one's eye, were replete with each refined and dignified embellifhment of life that human genius could devife? Thus claffically fhewn to a people, naturally partial to the ufages of their own country, Shakipeare's hiftoric plays would become a captivating fource of information and inftruction to the patriot, the hiftorian, and the artift. Here, as in a mirror, fhould we fee the fhades of our great forefahers pafs before our wondering fight, awfully grand, and pathetically interefting. Thefe reflections are too obvious to be refuted; and we are to lament at the purfuits of Managers, who profufely waste a fund of abilities and money on alufive trifles, catching the ftory of the day, which, from the lack of fterling merit, either in the plot or the writing, foon fink into indifierence and oblivion.

Feeling for the majefty of Antiquity, and withing to behold the tide of theatrical performances, when illuftrating old times, turn into its rightful courfe, where, fmoothly gliding in that pure ftream whofe magic waters reflecting its molt juft cofiume, is the main fpring which actuates me in the prefent attempt to give a critique on the fcenes, drefles, and decorations, of the play of Richard III. which I faw performed at Drurylane theatre at the beginning of the prefent feafon.

The grofs and abfurd violations made in many of the plays of Shakpeare are highly reprehensible, and deferve the moft fevere cenfare, not alone for the wanton innovations made in his writings,

but for the difarranging his hifto ric incidents; where, not content with fuch perverfion of our Bard's works, but they every where prefumptuously feek to improve, or, to fpeak more truly, to affimulate particular parts to modern times, and to modern underftandings. Of his plays, thus "cut up," has shared fo ill a fate as the one before us, and which we fhall point out as we proceed in our critique, that is, with regard to thofe objects connected with our prefent defign.

nonc

A& I. fcene I. called by the alterer of this play, C. Cibber, "a garden in the Tower." No fuch fcene is mentioned by Shakspeare; nor do I believe a rural view of this kind was ever feen within its walis... The painter ftill goes farther, and has made his picture thew a flower-garden. The dreffes of the characters which here make their appearance are in the usual half-and-half mode, made up from the portraits of Charles I's reign, and from unrestrained fancy. Richard's habit, indeed, thews a faint hint, at the coftume of his day; but how modernized! A fancy cap and feather, with a milliner's white-ribband rofe, fewed thereon; [In Lumley cattle, between Durham and Newcastle, is a fine halflength portrait, in the drefs of Richard's time, of a noble perfonage, who has in his cap a rofe, not the resemblance of a fempstress effort, but a faithful copy of beautiful nature.] A deep ruff, of that make, not known until the reign of James I. From the neck depends a ribband with the George: this decoration never feen in paintings till about the fashions of the abovementioned monarch's court. On his legs and feet, white filk ftockings, white thoes, and red roses. These latter ornaments unknown before Elizabeth's or James I's modes of drefs prevailed; at any rate, they should have been white ones to have ac corded with the party-badge in his cap. As for the humps on his back and right fhin, Shakipeare

warrants