past, was holding our senses and passions in chains, in the character of lady Macbeth, now scolding in Nell; or the weeping Belvidera holding forth in the vulgarity of Betty Blackberry. The Hibernian Burke has entertained us with the bullbaiting of " Bunker Hill;" and we forget the name of the youth, who played such Tom-Thumb-tragedy with the woes of "Edwy and Elgiva." He, whose eyes have been parched with the dry lines of the "Persian Patriot,"* will remember them only from annoyance, and its dry author-as “A meagre muse-rid mope, adust and thin, In a dun night-gown of his own loose skin, He grins, and looks broad nonsense with a stare!" But enough of these "thin third night" authors. For so much preliminary matter we have to offer, in apology, the barbarism and ignorance, under which tragedy labours, on this side the water. Foscari is fit for criticism, and therefore holds the first rank in American drama. Indeed, this is something with a beginning, a middle, and an end, containing a certain share of dramatick action, sentiment, and ornament of language. The fable runs thus :...Foscari, son of the Doge of Venice, was banished to the island of Candia, having been charged with the murder of Count Donato, one of the council, and father of Almeria, to There is another tragedy, produced by a Rhode-Island Peet; we forget its name, as well as that of the sublime author. Amongst its bright touches, are these lines: "One hundred pounds, in CONTINENTAL MONEY, To the man, who first shall scale yon high walls !!" whom Foscari was betrothed. The play opens with Foscari's return from a five year's exile, being remanded to Venice, on account of his soliciting relief from the Duke of Milan. This being a high offence against the state, he is again arraigned before the council, and banishment for life is decreed against him. Count Erizzo, the enemy of the family of Foscari, in love with Almeria, persecutes him with deadly enmity. Before Foscari departs, he obtains an inter view with Almeria, when Erizzo and his accomplice, Policarpo, rush on Almeria; Foscari fights them in her defence, and in the struggle Policarpo, through mistake, stabs Erizzo. Erizzo, in his last agonies, sends for the Doge, confesses his guilt, and avows the innocence of his son, and himself the murderer of Count Donato. Trouble turns Almeria mad; and as soon as the Doge informs his wife Valeria of the innocence of their son, they receive intelligence of the death of Foscari, who dies on his way to the ship, in which he was to embark for Candia. If the rule of tragedy be true, and it comes from too high author ity to be doubted, that the character of the poet is rather derived from the composition of the fable, than the verse; because imitation constitutes the poet, and the fable is the imitation of an action, Mr. White cannot hold the highest ele, vation. His fable and his plot have no novelty, and not much interest. As a tragedy, we hardly know where to look for its peripetia, and where to feel for its pathos. Foscari has evidently no change of fortune whatever, for he is just as miserable at his first appearance, as at his last; he enters in his res turn from exile with a new polit ical crime, and all his additional mer. misery is the extension of his banishment, which was the necessary consequence. The pathos is scarcely perceptible in his hero; Foscari suffers not enough, and his dying off the stage with only a very short, and rather a ridiculous, narration of his death, gives the audience not even a chance for grief or surprise. The poet has not altogether forgotten to excite pity, though he has neglected terrour; what is wanting in the latter, is amply made up in the forThe character of Almeria is tender and affecting. Her frensy scene, though long, is no where disgusting; and if that highwrought action, which ends in madness, be not absolutely disgust ing, it must produce very powerful sympathy. Erizzo is an old-fashioned rascal,and Policarpo a wornout assassin. The character of the Doge is manly and dignified, and through the whole is very plainly and thoroughly delineated. Some of the scenes between him and Foscari are happy and affecting, and display the truth of paternal and filial affection. Enter Dage, (to Foscari.) Fos. O, let me cling about thee !... Those aged feet that bear thee to thy son. (Embracing his father.) Doge. This is too much for nature to support! Thou hast unman'd me !... Fos. My dearest father, Do I then hold thee in these arms once more ? Do my lips press again thy aged check? Do I hear again that dear, that tender voice? O speak, my Father,...Speak to me ! And leave his name untained by reproach. Eriz. To pass five years in exile, and Imputation, foul as that of murder, To vindicate my name, tho' blacker. than thine own. Eriz. So then, my lord, I've rous'd thy indignation; By hell, I'm glad to know thou hast some temper... I've touch'd thee in a tender point, I find Doge. Hold, hold...thy pride becomes offensive,...Count, Thou dost forget thyself. Eriz. Most bravely said... Perhaps Erizzo may still more offend When he demands to be inform'd the fate Of lady Almeria. Doge. Yes, signor...yes.... Thou shalt hear it,...to thy shame shalt hear it... 'Twas no other than thyself who drove her From the world....She hopes by close To avoid thy gross solicitations. The madness of Almeria, as was observed before, produces very forcible sympathy. Her frensy, like Ophelia's, has something in it, which bewitches the fancy, and so touches the heart, that he, who has not felt his dry balls of sight moistened for years, must "shake the holy waters from his eyes" in the scene between lady Valeria and Almeria. We transcribe it, as the the poet's powers in tender and exwarmest expression of praise for quisite misery. Enter Almeria, drest fantastically, her hair flowing in wild disorder. Val. My sweet Almeria, how fares it with thee? Alm. Good, my lady, this is a day of mirth, Of great rejoicing, throughout all Ve nice : I'am glad to day, my heart has holiday = She has no one now to love her!...No! No! But no matter....I will dance and be happy Shall I dance for you, lady?...Nay, don't frown! No...I'll sing a funeral dirge...because Foscari is dead! No one loves me now! Val. I love thee, sweet maid,...most dearly love thee: Come, O, come my beloved to my arms! Alm. Throw away that corpse, then I will come to thee: How can you hug that lifeless body so? See! it is putrid! but it is Foscari's, So I too, will clasp it to my bosom. (She rushes into Valeria's arms, then suddenly bursts into a convulsive fit of laughter.) But I have no cause to laugh...he's dead! I have cause to weep, for when he implor'd me On his knees to hear him, why I did laugh.- How merry you all appear, while I am sad! Rejoice with me, lady.... I am going to marry. I haven't seen my intended husband yet, Tho' I shall not take a grim lord to my arms. Is very cold,.... 'twill chill my blood with horrour! But see...even the Doge himself is mer ry; Merry, because his son's about to wed, So I'll go deck his nuptial bed with flowers. [Exit. ACT V. pp. 45—46. It is needless to say, after so many favourable specimens, what Mr. White is capable of perforining in tragedy, with a little correction. He, who has done so much So favourable a beginning promises well, will probably do more better. a very successful end; and, by long and silent communion and meditation with the Muses, our poet may, hereafter, catch a smile and a beck from Melpomene to a seat in their temple. ART. 64. The Trial of the Journeymen Boot and Shoemakers of Philadelphia, on an indictment for a combina tion and conspiracy to raise their wages. Taken in short hand, by Thomas Lloyd. Philadelphia, B. Graves. 1806. pp. 159. THE cities of the United States flourish and rapidly increase in population, wealth, arts, and commerce. With these it is reasonable to expect an influx of their concomitant vices and inconveniences. Regular government and strict internal police are necessary to preserve order and administer justice, where the business and concerns of man are so multiplied and complicated. Gain is the occupation of all; and the powerful love of lucre, like the principle of gravitation, impels to action tion and concert are so useful to a even stocks and stones.. Co-operamultitude, pursuing a end, that wefrequently find brethren of the same craft constitut common ing communities. enacting by-laws, and sanctioning them by the severe penalties of ignominy and ruin to the disobedient. These associa tions frequently contravene the rights and are very vexations to other classes of citizens. Rush worth, in Hist. Coll. records the speech of a member of parliament on this subject. "It is a nest of wasps, or swarm of vermin, that have overcrept the land. These, like the frogs of Egypt, have gotten possession of our dwellings, and we have scarce a room free from them. They sup in our cup. They dip in our dish. They sit by our fire. We find them in the dye-fat, washbowl, and powdering-tub. They have marked, and scaled us from head to foot. We may not buy our own cloathes, without their brokage. These are the suckers, that have suckt the common wealth so hard, that it is almost become hectical. They have a vizard to hide the brand; they make bylaws, which serve their turn to squeeze us and fill their purses." These combinations are certainly injurious, and wise policy dictates that they should be repressed. By them all the members are placed on equality, and consequently ingenuity, skill, and diligence are deprived of their reward. The ignorant and indolent, who compose the majority of every class, naturally advocate measures,. which elevate them, and depress their superiours. Unfortunately our legislature has not looked with an indulgent eye on all applications for incorporations, and has strengthened bonds, naturally too strong to be severed by the sword of justice. This pamphlet contains the report of the trial of journeymen boot and shoe-makers for a combination against their masters. The indictment against them contains two counts-1st, for contriving and intending, unjustly, and oppressively, to increase and augment the wages usually allowed them. The other for endeavouring to prevent, by threats, menaces, and other unlawful means, other journeymen from working at the usual prices, and that they compelled others to join them. This cause, it appears, considerably agitated the body of tradesmen in the city. There were retained in the prosecution and defence of the action some of the most able and eminent counsellors of that city, whose forum is thronged by honourable, eloquent, and learned lawyers. After a solemn discussion of the question the Defendants were convicted and punished. In the correctness of the decision all sound lawyers, and all whọ wish for internal peace and industry, will acquiesce. 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