The National Register.
London, England, 1812-01-05 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL 'REGISTER.

11

terly come out at this Theatre, this play was deficient in every thing
that ought to distinguish the legitimate Drama. If less is said on this
occasion than bas been said on others, it is only because the Critic,
fatigued with the painful exercise of his duty, lets the lash fall in
despair from his aching arm, with the conviction, that to exercise it
with vigour, would be useless, as it has so often been in vain.
Right and Wrong is a thing "of shreds and patches." It consists of
• scenes stolen from other plays with so little taste, that, like the thefts
of Sir Fretful, they are worse than useless to the compiler (it would nut
be handsome to say the thief). The Pt ologue gives up all claim ta ori-
,inality on the part or the Author, which it labours to prove is not to
be expected now. To make up, however, for the absence of origmarty,
we are promised something which the Author has Fot front nature.
This certainly ought to satisfy reasonable things, but really, 1 for one,
could discern nothing of the kind. When he spoke of act,!nre,,l nthat
suppose he meant 6‘ Speed the Plough" and the " The Poor Gent'eman,"
as I can very plainly perceive that he has got something from them,
though I sec no reason fur accusing him of having made too free with
nature.
Instead of endeavouring to make his piece bearable by what might
be gained from nature, it appears to me that he has thought succeas
might he ensured in a much easier manner, namely, by filling up hie
scenes with a string of hackneyed sentiments, which any juvenil:- rebus
scribbler might write, and any coal-porter collect in a tap.riorn, " free
and easy." By thus displaying his regard for morality, and his attach-
ment to the Hood old laws, he appears to have hoped to gain applause if
not fame. Though I cannot say this plan exactly hits my taste, yet to
gratify those who may differ from me, and to prove tat I bear no per-
sonal animosity to this ingenious Gentleman, I will furni-h him with
the means of enriching his Piay with something more strikingly novel
than any any thing that happened to occur to him while en.ployed in
manufacturing this Comedy. I trust he will give me credit for consider-
able liberality, not to say generosity, when I f-eely make him a present
of the following collection of sentiments (which it is obvious 1 m;aht
keep for my own use), and which I believe will be found to have mine
elegance, morality, ingenuity, and novelty, than any at present to be
found in his play.
44 May the honest heart never know distress.'
" May we ne'er want a friend nor a bottle to give him."
44 May we never speak to deceive, nor listen to betray."
" May a merry wench never wear a ragged petticoat."
66 He who do'nt like England, d—n him let him lave it.
6' May we have in our artus what we love in our heart-1."
46 May the tears of honesty in distress be all wiped away with the
soft paper of Mr. Henry Hase." -
" May the farmer who won't protect a pretty girl in di.itlyss be
I beg the Author's pardon, but I believe he has rant !he lost or !::e
above, or something so very like it, that he cannot well make
that, at' least in the first Act. The others lam atm.:fit ceetain he, has
forgot to make use of, and- I believe i hey are all as iu,od and as new ;ss
any thing in his play. lie will observe. they are all vet linos, and, as
his play, though damned the first night, is to he pet toi nu d every even-
ing till further notice, I think Mr.. DOWTON (who is 'Allured in the
part of a sentimental farmer), may very well get them by rote hefare
the middle of the w eek.
In taking leave of this writer I think it hut justice to observe tlo.t
he
is no foul. This is evident II om his concealing lei: name