by herself. Through the whole action fhe made a very pretty figure, and exactly entered into the nature of the part. Her husband, in the Drama, is reprefented to be one of those debauchees who run through the vices of the town, and believe, when they think fit, they can marry and fettle at their eafe. His own knowledge of the iniquity of, the age makes him choose a wife wholly ignorant of it, and place his fecurity in her want of fkill to abuse him. The Poet, on many occafions, where the propriety of the character will admit of it, infinuates, that there is no defence against vice, but the contempt of it: and has, in the natural ideas of an untainted innocent, fhown the gradual steps to ruin and destruction which perfons of condition run into, without the help of a of plays of this loose caft, and fuch are most of the same date. The "Country Wife" was first acted in 1683, and afterwards as altered by LEE in 1765; but few attempts to feparate the bad from the good in the plays of this period have fucceeded, fo closely have the authors interwoven the wit with the ribaldry.

The following curious quotation deferves a place here, on the authority of Mrs. ELIZA HEYWOOD, whofe teftimony in this cafe is unexceptionable.

"It is indeed but of later years that Vice has dared to appear barefaced at the Theatre. Loofe as the age is said to have "been in the reign of Charles II, I am told, no woman of an "infamous character ever came there without a mask; and long "fince then, throughout the days of his fucceffors, JAMES, "WILLIAM and MARY, and the greatest part if not all those of "Queen ANNE, they retained that modeft mark of a lewd life; "or exchanged it for a black hood, pulled over their faces, "after the manner of a veil; which diftinguished, and at the fame time concealed, them from the virtuous part of the affembly." FEMALE SPECTATOR, b. v. p. 257.

A.

good education to form their conduct. The torment of a jealous coxcomb, which arifes from his own false maxims and the aggravation of his pain by the very words in which he fees her innocence, makes a very pleafant and inftructive fatire. The character of Horner, and the defign of it, is a good reprefentation of the age in which that Comedy was written; at which time love and wenching were the business of life, and the gallant manner of purfuing women was the best recommendation at Court. To this only it is to be imputed, that a Gentleman of Mr. WYCHERLY's character and sense condefcends to reprefent the infults done to the honour of the bed, without juft reproof; but to have drawn a man of probity with regard to fuch confiderations had been a monster, and a Poet had at that time difcovered his want of knowing the manners of the Court he lived in, by a virtuous character in his fine Gentleman, as he would fhew his ignorance, by drawing a vicious one to please the prefent audience. Mrs. BIGNELL did her part very happily, and had a certain grace in her rufticity, which gave us hopes of feeing her a very skilful player, and in fome parts fupply our lofs of Mrs. VERBRUGGEN. I cannot be of the fame opinion with my friends and fellow-labourers, the Reformers of Manners, in their feverity towards plays; but muft allow, that a good play acted

before a well-bred audience, muft raise very. proper incitements to good behaviour, and be the most quick and most prevailing method of giving young people a turn of fenfe and breed, ing. But as I have fet up for a weekly hiftorian, I refolve to be a faithful one, and therefore take this public occafion to admonish a young Nobleman, who came fluftered into the box last night, and let him know how much all his friends were out of countenance for him. The women fat in terror of hearing fomething that should fhock their modefty, and all the Gentlemen in as much pain out of compaffion to the Ladies, and perhaps refentment for the indignity which was offered in coming into their prefence in fo disrespectful a manper. Wine made him fay nothing that was rude, therefore he is forgiven, upon condition he never will hazard his offending more in this kind. As I juft now hinted, I own myself of the 'SOCIETY FOR REFORMATION OF MANNERS.'

As the name of this Nobleman does not appear in the text, what apology could juftify an Editor for putting it in the notes? The Editor cannot think himself at liberty to difclose what the Author appears to have been defirous to conccal.

See in the Dedication of this volume, in Nos 5. 9. 51. 64. 271, &c. a full account of the design of the TATLER.

"This SOCIETY began in 1690; an account of the pro"grefs made in fuppreffing profaneness and debauchery by its means, was published yearly. The last account is from "Dec. 1737 to Dec. 173. The total number of perfons pro"fecuted by this SOCIETY, in or near London, during thefe 44 years, is calculated at about 101,683, &c." Such as are curious may fee a fuller account of it, in STOW's London, Edit. 1755, vol. Į. p 144.

Survey of

We

We have lower inftruments than thofe of the family of BICKERSTAFF, for punishing great crimes, and expofing the abandoned. Therefore, as I defign to have notices from all public affemblies, I fhall take upon me only indecorums, improprieties, and negligences, in fuch as fhould give us better examples. After this declaration, if a fine Lady thinks fit to giggle at church, or a great Beau come in drunk to a Play, either fhall be fure to hear of it in my enfuing Paper. For, merely as a well-bred man, I cannot bear thefe enormities.

After the Play we naturaily ftroll to this Coffee houfe, in hopes of meeting fome new poem, or other entertainment, among the men of wit and pleafure, where there is a dearth at prefent. But it is wonderful there fhould be fo few writers, when the art is become merely mechanic, and men may make themfelves great that way, by as certain and infallible rules as you may be a Joiner or a Mason. There happens a good inflance of this in what the hawker has juft now offered to fale, to wit, "Inσε fuctions to Vanderbank: A Sequel to the "Advice to the Poets: A Poem, occafioned

by the glorious fuccefs of her Majefty's arms, "under the command of the Duke of Marlborough, the last year in Flanders." Here you are to understand, that the Author, find

66

By Sir RICHARD BLACKMORE. See SPECT. Nos 6. 339. TAT. N° 14. contains a very proper apology for this raillery.

ing the Poets would not take his advice, troubles himself no more about them; but has met with one VANDERBANK, who works in arras, and makes very good tapestry hangings : therefore, in order to celebrate the hero of the age, he claps together all that can be faid of a man that makes hangings:

Then, artift, who does Nature's face exprefs
In filk and gold, and scenes of action dress;
Doft figur'd arras animated leave,

Spin a bright story, or a paffion weave ;

By mingling threads, canft mingle fhade and light, Delineate triumphs, or describe a fight?

Well, what fhall this workman do? why? to fhew how great an hero the Poet intends, he provides him a very good horfe:

Champing his foam, and bounding on the plain, Arch his high neck, and graceful spread his mane.

Now as to the intrepidity, the calm courage, the conftant application of the hero, it is not neceffary to take that upon yourself: you may, in the lump, bid him you employ, raise him as high as he can; and if he does it not, let him anfwer for disobeying orders.

Let fame and victory in inferior sky

Hover with balanc'd wings, and smiling fly
Above his head, &c.

* This man was inimitable in his way; no perfon ever reprefented nature more happily in works of tapestry.

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