The National Register.
London, England, 1812-07-12 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

R. W.

brought the same subject, but more at large and with more
effect on the stage. It therefore appears, not only that the
author of the new comedy has no claim to originality on
this point, but that he has selected a deed of infamy for
censure, that does not belong particularly to our times, bi 4
seems to have been equally prevalent in former years. Be-
sides this disgusting display of fashionable life, we are
treated with a masquerade, and some unfounded reports of a
duel and an elopement, which cause great alarm to the
heroines, the one, Melissa (Mrs. H. JOHNSTON`, a wild
coquette, who bad hitherto sported with the affections of
her serious lover (Mr. BRUNTON and the other, Laura
(Miss S. BOOTH), a sentimental girl who kid till then endea-
voured to conceal her love for a dashing libei tine, Sir
Charles Wilding (Mr. JONES', before whom she now iacau-
tiously vents her passion, whilst thinking he is on his way to
cutland with his adulterous prize. To this, if we add the
exposure of an hypocritical guardian (Mr. EMERY,, the
rejected advise of an honest citizen (Mr. FAWCETT), and
the purposedly miseralsle witticisms of a common punster
(Mr.Si mom), we shall have the sum total of the contents of
the piece. It is evident thst it cannot boast much interest :
dialogue without action, however excellent in it,elf, must at
last prove tiresome, and as the style of " A Touch at the
Times" possesses no superior merit, it cannot %eil tie want
of plot which is lamentably felt throughout. An unusual
degree of vulgarity marks the languageaaf this piece, espe-
cially during the two fist acts: and as in this scribbling age
all classes attempt to write, and we have lately seen the
production of a taylor exposing its want of interest and
grammar at a neighbouring theatre, we should not have
been much surprised to find, from the nature of the similies
employed in it, that this comedy had sprung from the inspired
pen of a literary green grocer. " Fields of cabl;ages after
a shower," and other delicscies of the same kind are fre-
quently served up icy a fashionable lady in the course of
conversation, and might naturally be taken for the etibrts of
an uneducated man at imitating what he is little acquainted
with, the language of his betters; whilst the gleams of taste
and even of elegance which occasionally. burst forth,
might be considered as the charitable contribatiot:s of some
patronizing hand. We arc informed, however, that " A
Touch at the Times" is the first dramatic attempt of a young
gentleman, Mr. dast ESON, a student at the bar, and whilst
we congratulate him on the success of his piece, will not
Flatter him into a wrong estimation of his abilities. He has,
however, no cause to despond. He has not yet retrograded
very far from the point from which he started. Ile had
ballet to lived unknown to the public, and has now changed
his safe obscurity for that Lind of notice which does not
tend to bring an author into fame. But there are so many
who, at their first public performance, damn themselves
completely, that it is not doing little to have not only
escaped, but not deserved, utter condemnation. " How is
it possible," will some petulant reader exclaim, " that a
comedy without any plot, totally bairen of novelty mad
interest in its few incidents. and written in language so fre-
quently vulgar, should not have merited condemnation ? It
may have escaped it; but as to its deserts, they are not in-
creased by its momentary success."—l see, (head Sir, that
nothing but censure can gratify your palate. You fancy
that critics have, or at least should have, no other object than
that of indulging your satirical appetite. You consider
them as the cooks of literature, who hash up every kind of
novelty for your table; and a word of praise on their part
yields the same unpleasant sensation to yew ear, as sugar
would to your taste in a dish where you should expect the
hottest relish. gut you are mistaken. •We are neither

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430

made up of illiberality and slander, nor dependent on your
smile. W'e judge for ourselves, biefote we pronounce for the
town, and the fear of displeasing, or the will of gratifying
the latter, never influences our decijons. Reluctantly
severe, we commend with joy when we can, and many a pang,
which justice alone had compelled us to inflict on an author,
or a performer, sympathetic feelin r has obliged us to share. If
there be any one gnu us,who, like a \V e:.t i trdian tyrant, en-
joys the punishment Le deals, or deals it urjustly to make
others admire aid dread power, \Olen they behold the
vvrithinns of his victims, let his name be to .<ed ti.em the list of
legitimate et itics, he r.,%,seslcs nei;her the heart, nor the com-
mon honesty oI than.---flat to return to our play: is it not
possible, even in the midst of coloplct_ failure, to display.
the intention mid the ability of doing bettor ?--*;ay not a
Ivriter neglect a plot in aceetiou to character ? and is
not the power of define tin« itce and irtanr,ers con cctlY,
more difficult of attainment linen that of wert‘ing a fable ?
Does not vulgarity when aceolopanied by pal-sages of
considerable purity and elei ance. show how easy of access i.:
the path of in:rote:pent, since, with little to at:guile, the
:author has only to use the pruning-knife with disci etion ?
Those interrogateries, whit h can only he answered in the
affirmative, may give the 1 übhe an exact idea of the talents
of Mr.J.5 Mt sfNa-; On author. lie depicts characters faith-
fully, hut, with an exception or two, not forcibly. Ilis satire
is aimed at proper objects, and his courage as a public censor
proved : for, regardless of the flooKs and i)IBDINS of the
day, whose witless conundrums will no doubt soon rain down
upon his devoted head, he has dared to introduce a modern
punster on the stage. His portrait of the knavish attorney
is excellent. Ilis style, when purged of its imperfections.
which seem to proceed rather from a mistaken wish of
pleasing the galleries, than fiom a natural deficiency of taste,

will acquire greater energy with its poli,h, and if he had:
more attention to the fable when he next composes for the
Starve, we should not wonder at his attaining considerable
dramatic excellence.
The Prologue and Epilogue were written in his worst
taste, and certainly at a time when he had- not " snufied
bis mental taper," or else, to assume for once his st le, we
should certainly Le inclined to take it for little more than a
farthing rushlight.
All the performers exerted themselves most mei itoriously,
but we trust that if Mrs. 11. JOIINST ow has any wish of eon-
, tinning to please, she will n*er again attempt to sing on the
Stage. The Piece was ueneially well received.