enmity between them was carried to such a pitch, that our author even had recourse to the law for protection, and fwore the peace against his antagonist. We remember on this occafion the following verfes being hand ed about in MS. To Mr. MURPHY. Had you been damn'd, good Francklin had been easy, Nor had the Law and Gofpel join'd to teaze ye; And yet for all his oaths the priest is fore, We believe, however, that the combatants afterwards agreed to a ceffation of hoftilities. At this time he is fuppofed to have been concerned in writing fome articles in the Critical Review. On the 20th of January, 1759, he married Mifs Venables, and in 1760 he reached and publifhed a Sermon on the King's death. Were we to judge of our author's character by the teftimony of a hand not friendly to him, we should not hold him in that degree of refpect which we are inclined to confider him in. Notwithstanding his learning and abilities, he feems to have been not much efteemed by his contemporaries. Churchill in his Rofciad fays, Others for Francklin voted, but 'twas known He ficken'd at all triumphs but his own. How far he deferv'd this cenfure, is beft known to those who were most intimate with him. For the credit of literature, we hope it is unfounded. In 1763 he preached a fermon before the Sons of the Clergy, which was after-vards printed; and in 1765 fet forth a volume of Sermons on the relative duties, which were favourably received by the public. The next year he turned his attention to the stage, and produced at Drury Lane Theatre THE EARL OF WARWICK, a Tragedy taken without any acknowledgement from Monfieur de la Harpe, but which the excellence of Mrs. Yates's performance gave a confiderable reputation to. In November 1767 he was appointed chaplain to his Majesty. On the 16th of May, 1768, he exerted his talents as a preacher in behalf of the Charity for Female Orphans at the Afylum; and in the fame year published "A Letter to a Bishop concerning Lectureships," 8vo. This admirable piece of humour is anonymous. The next year he wrote an Ode on the Inftitution of the Royal Academy, January 1ft; and on March 13th he repaid the obligation he had received from Mrs. Yates's excellent performance of the character of Margaret of Anjou in The Earl of Warwick, by prefenting her with a translation of Voltaire's Oreftes, acted at Covent Garden for her benefit. On the 6th of July 1770 he took the degree of Doctor of Divinity. In March 1774 he preached a Sermon for the benefit of unfortunate perfons confined for fmall debts; and in the fame year produced another Tragedy at Drury Lane, tranflated from Voltaire, called Elecha: In 1775, at the fame Theatre, MATILDA, taken, as The Earl of Warwick, from a French play called Duc de Foix, without any acknowledgement. This was followed by The Contract, a Farce acted at the Haymarket in 1776, with no fuccefs. About this time be was prefented to the living of Brafted in Surry, which he held to his death. He had feveral years employed himself in tranflating the Works of Lucian, which he compleated and publifhed in 2 vols. 4to. 1780. This was his laft performance which has been published. He had written a Tragedy on the prudery and ridiculous fcruples of fome prin fubject of Mary Queen of Scots, which the cipal actreffes, who declined the part of Queen Elizabeth, have prevented the reprefentation of. It has been announced feveral times, but hitherto without being performed. Dr. Francklin appeared to poffefs a conftitution which promifed a longer existence. To the misfortune of his connections, however, his life did not extend to a length equal to their hopes and expectations. He died at his house in Queen Street, March 15, 1784. Befides the works already mentioned, Dr. Francklin fuffered his name to be joined with Dr. Smollett's to a tranflation of Voltaire, which it is imagined neither of them executed, or at least but a very small part. These impofitions on the public cannot be fuffici ently cenfured. They are truly the difgrace of Letters. IRTH. of the purport of this ancient maxim, which doth, in our opinion, if taken in its true and proper fenfe, mean to inculcate, if not that to be merry is to be wife, at least that it is wife to be merry. In mirth do we apprehend to confift the great great diftinction of man from beaft. Ovid, we must allow, placeth it in another particular, an erect countenance. Os bomini fublime dedit, calumque tueri Fuffit, et erectos ad fidera tollere vultus. But with all due deference to our old friend Ovid, for whom we entertain no fmall degree of respect, the two-legged creature ycleped a goofe hath as much to boat of in that particular as hath the biped man. There is indeed scarce any other inftance in which we are not at least equalled, nay very often outdone, by what we are infolently pleased to ftile the brute creation. In ftrength, in fwiftneis, and in most other corporeal qualifications, thofe gentry are univerfally acknowledged to far exceed the human race; and though we are so apt to value ourselves upon mental fuperiority, yet very few are there of our fpecies who can vie in fagacity with the chien fcavant; and we, although we pique ourselves upon our dexterity as gamefters, yet are with fhame obliged to confefs, that we loft no less than three games at putt running, to the conjuring horfe, who made his appearance fome time fince in this metropolis, and yet that horfe was but a poney. But in whatever other inftances we may be equalled, or even excelled, by the animal creation, we may defy any of them to laugh. Tears feveral forts of brutes are reported to fhed; and it must be confeffed, that the monkey will grin. But then it should be remembered, that the monkey is the immediate link between the human and the brute creation; and that even pug, near as he has the honour to approach the fuperior fpecies, yet never exhibits that diftinguishing mark of rationality, an hearty laugh. How abfurd, then, are the tenets of that fect of foi-difant philofophers who affect solemnity of countenance and behaviour as marks of wifdom; and how very happy is that explanation (at the mention of which, however, we remember an old gentleman who had obferved of himself that he was generally very grave, to have been highly of fended), which we find in most of our dictionaries, of the word grave, by vide dull! Democritus and Heraclitus are recorded to have been in their times the chiefs, the one of the merry, and the other of the fad fect of philofophers. Now we are told in the hiftory of those ages, that the people of Abdera (the direct ancestors, as it should seem by this relation, of those of the modern Gotham) being a grave, that is to fay, a dull generation, took into their heads, from the incessant mirth of Democritus, who refided in or near that place, that he was run ftark mad, and accordingly gave a fee to that prince of phyficians Hippocrates to undertake his cure; but that learned old Grecian, after having vifited and converfed with his patient, told his employers, that fo far from their fellowcitizen being crack-brained, he was indeed a perfon of infinite parts and knowledge, and that they were very great fools for not having found it out: a decifive authority, fure, on the fide of mirth. Where Heraclitus lived, or what were his neighbours' opinions of that gentleman, we do not recollect to have read ; but as it was not at Abdera, they probably did not think it worth while to trouble their heads about him; or, if they thought him mad (and they had no small reafon so to do), look. ed upon him as incurable. Milton hath indeed written in praise both of mirth and melancholy, in order, perhaps, to fhew, that he could take either fide of the question, whether right or wrong; but as a man generally begins with the dish he likes beft, fo we may obferve L'Allegro precedes Il Penferofo, and that in L'Allegro he abuses ❝ loathed melancholy," as Of Cerberus and blackest midnight born 'Midft Stygian caves forlorn. Whereas when, according to the plan of Il Penferofo, he is obliged to take the other fide, as a counsel is fometimes called upon to plead against his own opinion, he is not by any means fo fcurrilous, only ftiling the lady Of idle Fancy without father bred— thus calling the one a fon of a b— (we are aware that it is of a lady we are speaking, we cannot fomehow exprefs the idea s。 well in the feminine gender), and only reproaching the other with not having had a father; a circumftance not near so disgraceful as the having had one that a perfon ought to be ashamed of owning. Shakspeare alfo is obferved by Dr. Johnson to have found Comedy much more congenial to his difpofition than he did Tragedy; and fo entirely are we of this opinion, that had we the fettling of a cartel of characters, we would not exchange our old friend Sir John for all the statesmen, heroes, and philofophers that ever existed. Many abfurd conceits enter the brain of man (especially grave and ferious men); but that a being whofe life is in common very amply dashed with mifery, fhould be fond of artificially adding to that forrow, is to us right wonderful. And here, left fome Englishman, jealous of the honour of his country (as all English-. men ufed once to be, but jealoufy of national honour, is, alas! almost extinct in this unfortunate island), may be hurt at this our theory of wisdom, as tending to exalt the character of our Gallic neighbours in this inftance over that of the inhabitants of our native land, we fhall enquire into the foundation of that claim to fuperior mirth which is fet up by our Gallic neighbours. The French do, it must be allowed, describe us as a gloomy race of mortals; and an old French writer, Froiffart, fpeaking of the English when in poffeffion of Aquitaine, the land of claret, fays, Ils fenyveroit moult triflement à la mode de leur pays. "They got drunk very forrowfully, according to the custom of their country." And we must allow, that it has been the general opinion, although we think very miftakenly, that there is more mirth in France than there is in our island (be it remembered, however, that although we ufe the prefent tenfe, we are fpeaking of what England lately was, and we hope foon will again be, not of what the now is; for our mirth feems to be flown along with the rest of our virtues. A Frenchman, indeed, conftantly grins. In arms: Victorious, he grins; conquered, he alfo grins. In arts: If fuccefsful, he grins; if unsuccessful (which, however, he is not eafily perfuaded he can be), he grins on. In love: If he gains his miftrefs, or if any body elfe get her from him, THE ftill he grins. In fhort, whether fortunate you never fee a Frenchman but upon the or unfortunate, whether pleafed or displeased, broad grin. But this conftant grin is no more the indication of true mirth in the Frenchman, than it is in the head of a bafs viol; cording to Falftaff's fimile, his face looks and although the Frenchman grins until, aclike a wet cloak il! laid up, yet the grin, as guifhing mark of rationality. It is indeed as we have before obferved, is not the diftinabfurd to think the Frenchman is merry beforrowful because the weeps; or that the cause he grins, as to fuppofe the widow is undertaker, who puts on a grave countenance whilft he is taking measure of the alderman for his coffin, would be more pleased to fee hearty laugh alone which is the true mark of his worthip alive. No; it is the laugh, the is, of wifdom: and the laugh of half a dozen rationality, and the true fign of mirth, that jolly Englishmen, such as Englishmen once were, would have fhaken a whole battalion of French into convulfions. On GENTILITY and GOOD-BREEDING. HERE is no attribute of which the acquifition is more generally fought, than is that of gentility; and yet this almoft univerfally defired quality is perhaps altogether incapable of definition. It hath, indeed, in our idea, a merely relative exiftence; and as nothing can be pronounced great or little, but in comparison to fome other matter of a fimilar nature; fo nothing can, we think, be accounted genteel, or otherwife, but by a like mode of reference. work itself, but to the manner of performance; fo that they may certainly have an equal or even a fuperior right to pride themselves upon elegance of manner to a Veftris or a Lepicq, if engaged in the fame occupation. Gentility, however, whether it be pofitive or relative, whether it be actual or ideal, is the great aim of much the greater part of the human species, and of none more than of thofe whom fate has thrown into a line the moft apparently devious from the wifhed-for track. To a thorough knowledge of this corner of the human mind are we to afcribe the epithet of genteel, which we fo often fee beftowed on the various alehouses, chandler's fhops and coalfheds, which are daily advertifed to be let in this metropolis; not but although the alehoufe or the chandler's fhop keeper may not be efteemed to move in a very genteel sphere, by thofe of certain other ranks of the community, yet if we confider gentility as being merely comparative, this attribute may not always be affumed, even in those cafes, without fome degree of foundation. The worthy gentlemen who advertife night work performed genteelly, do not indeed, we imagine, apply that epithet to the We hope we fhall be excufed for a mofelves, as it were, forced by the mention of mentary digreffion, into which we feel ourthefe celebrated names. Great was the outcry upon the attachment of our people of rank to but although we cannot blame thofe capering thefe profeffors of " the light fantastic toe;" gentlemen for picking up as many of our guineas as they could find fools to part with; yet had this been Morocco, and we had been emperors, or had we been defpots of this country, we certainly fhould have command(Nightmen's Ballet) and all their votaries to ed them to appear in a Ballet de Vidangeur, have affifted at the performance. although it may feem ridiculous to attribute But to return to the fubject before us: Now, gentility to perfons of certain trades or prothey look down upon affectation of gentility feffions (and yet were thofe who smile when they would not feldom find themfelves equal, in their inferiors, to caft their eyes upwards, and equally juft, objects of ridicule to their fuperiors upor. the fame fcore), there are in every station of life. But this fo much demoft certainly gentlemen and gentlewomen fired, and fo much to be defired character is, univerfally equally attainable. To thofe of we apprehend, indefinable, and by no means lower lower rank, it is in general the gift of nature folely; and fo liberal is the fometimes in this particular, that we often fee perfons who, without the leaft opportunity of attainment either from education or from the company they have kept, poflefs behaviour which would not difgrace a drawing-room; for where there is natural good breeding, the ignorance of tome few rules of artificial manners is matter of little confequence. Education will indeed much improve the character, but the foundation must be in nature; and there are from whom it is as abfurd to expect elegance of behaviour, whatever may have been their opportunities, as it would be to expect mafter-pieces of painting, or of fculpture, from those who have no genius for the arts. Lord Chesterfield treats of this matter as purely artificial, and feems to fuppofe the behaviour of a gentleman may be put on, as may a fine fuit of cloaths. Now, although we will allow that any one may mend his own manners, yet it is impoffible for any perfon to put on the manner of another, without difcovery. The noble Earl himself had, according to his own account, taken no fmall pains to attain both the manners and the appearance of a gentleman; and although he feems to have entertained not even the fufpicion of doubt of his fuccefs in either inftance, yet had not his manners much the pre-eminence over those of his neighbours; and as to appearance, scarce ever did dancing-mafter look leis like the gentleman than did his lordthip. The ftatue is, according to the old idea, always in block; but this is not the case with man. A Phidias or a Praxiteles might produce an elegant figure out of any tolerable found piece of marble. But let us fuppofe the attention of the whole polite world to have been affixed to the late Dr. Goldsmith from the hour of his birth, would that attention have produced the gentleman? No; he might, indeed, have been wearied into imitations of gentility, as the bear is taught to dance, by putting hot irons under his feet; but the gentility of the Doctor would in fuch cafe have plainly appeared, as doth that of the hear, to have been (to speak in the Johnfonian stile) the produc-. tion of pain, and the offspring of constraint. It is indeed impoffible to make any one a gentleman, as Moliere's peafant was made a phyfician, malgré lui; and there is in fome characters a certain vis inertice towards gentility, which no power can overcome; and even where there is an inclination, unless nature has alfo bestowed certain other necef-" fary requifites, that inclination will not be entirely fuccefsful. But although it may not be in every one's, power to attain that elegance of manner which is fo engaging in, and in general fo advantageous to, the poffeffors of fuch elegance, none should therefore be deterred from aim-, ing at that attainment, as all may be fure of partial, if not total fuccefs in fich aim. Attention to the company, fo regulated as to prevent that attention giving trouble, is perhaps almost the whole of good breeding. It is an old faying, that the king can make a lord, but he cannot make a gentleman; and yet a lord may make himfelf a gentleman, with lefs trouble, perhaps, than can a perfon of inferior degree, as attention from fuperiors is ever more pleafing than is that from equals or from inferiors. 1 It would far exceed our limits to enter into" the various particulars which constitute gentility of behaviour; but there is one simple circumftance which we have often obferved to have a wonderful effect in this cafe; we mean, the taking care to be acquainted with the name of every one into whose company a perfon happens to be introduced, and addreffing each by name. The Romans who were candidates for public offices were fo fenfible of the effect of this kind of attention, that they hired men to attend them, whofe profetion it was to be acquainted with the names of all the citizens; but this furely muit have had a very aukward appearance. EXTRACTS from the APHORISMS of GREAT MEN. Sloanian MS. 1523. SIR THOMAS WIATT. His father's money helped him to his par LET my friend bring me in, but let my fonage, his mother's wit to his bifhoprick. merit and fervice keep me there. SIR JOHN FINEUX, Nile's original is hidden, but his ftream is famous. Take the emperor's money, faid he to his followers (who were afraid to accept what he had refufed), for you are not all the King of England's Ambaffadors. SIR ANTHONY ST. LEGER. Three things he faid would fettle a state, 1. Good godfathers and godmothers performing their vows. 2. Good houfeholders overlooking their families. 3. Good fchoolmafters educating youth. SIR SIR RALPH SADLER. Never fpend that time in defigning one action, in which you might perform two. THOMAS WRIOTHESLEY, the first Earl of Southampton. Every man fold the king that fold juftice. Every week he had a schedule of his own accounts, and every month of his fervants'. SIR JOHN FITZ-JAMES. When his coufin urged for a kindness, Come to my house, faid the Judge, I will deny you nothing; come to the King's Court, and I muft do juftice. His faith was, I believe as the church believes; and the great rule of his practice was, I will do as the law directs. SIR THOMAS HOWARD. Policy and friendship are incompatible. "Norfolk begs that life which he had ventured two and thirty times for his fovereign." Who knows the cares that go to bed with ftatesmen ? A SIR EDWARD HOWARD. Never did fea-man good, that was not refolute to a degree of madness. LORD HUNSDON. To have the courage to obferve an affront, is to be even with an adversary; to have the patience to forgive it, is to be above him. SIR FRANCIS TALBOT, Earl of Shrewsbury. Nobility without virtue is a difgrace, virtue without nobility is low; but nobility adorned with virtue raiseth a man as high as nature reacheth. THEATRICAL DRURY-LANE. MARCH 8. New mufical entertainment was reprefented, for the first time, called,, "The DOUBLE DISGUISE." DRAMATIS PERSONA. THE DUKE OF NORFOLK. The most honourable perfonages, like the most honourable coat of arms, are leaft gawdy. SIR NICHOLAS THROCKMORTON. To prevent is the policy of all nations; to be powerful, is ours. England is never peaceable but in arms. France can neither be poor nor abstain from arms three years together. Tempora mutantur. JOURNAL. The story is that of a Servant perfonating his mafter, in order to make a fortune by marrying the young lady intended for that mafter, and only differs from the plan in Neck or Nothing, by the fervant, after he comes to the intended bride's houfe, changing his plan, and paying his addreffes to the aunt instead of the niece. A poft-chaife boy is in league with the steward, and, when threatened, difcovers the plot. The mufic is light and pleafing. Some of the paffages in the overture were much relished. THE HIVE: A COLLECTION OF SCRAPS. A PARALLEL, on feeing a famous Actress in the Gallery of St. Martin's, after the reft of the Congregation were departed, to avoid a Presentation of Benevolence to the Westminster Dispensary. Y and Sns, rivals are for fame, Bone has true meritvals are for When pity pleads-this their criterion fhews: S- -ns but mimics-B-y truly does! Lines written on a Window at an Inn, under fome infamous Verfe. WHEN Dryden's clown, unknowing what he fought, His hours in whiftling fpent, for want of thought, The guiltless oaf his vacancy of fenfe Severe the fate of modern fools, alas! When Vice and Folly mark them as they país: Like pois'nous vermin o'er the whiten'd wall, The filth they leave-ftill points out where they crawl! EPIGRAM.-On a LADY who squinted. IF ancient poets Argus prize, Who boafted of a hundred eyes; Sure greater praife to her is due Who looks a hundred ways with two. EPIGRAM |
