Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1827-02-10
HOVxDENCE.
AMERICAN DRAlArIc WRITER'S.

Ma yazine, we Gld the following letter, pur-
porting to have been written by on Amer
:Gaa, which afords an interesting history
OF a biography Of American Dramatic
Writers, which as it is full of interest, and
may afford the Lovers of American Litera-
ture treat, we copy ii into our columns.
The Editor Of the Boston Galaxy has
recorded it on the face of his paper, and
has added to it, some sketches of writer's,
whose names had esca ed the ken of the
writer IN the London Magazine, and as it
is connected with subject of much inter-
est TO the volaries Of Literature, we shall
al ne close OF the article, record brief
sketch of the writings of several dramatic
authors, whose fame, it seems never tloa-
ted before the senses of Mr.. Buckingham,
and the American writer, whose dehnea-
,ious are published in the English publl-
cation
We invite the attention Of the reader to
these sketches, with an assurance that he
will be higalv Yratified with that part which
does not proceed from our pen although
We hope that our own feeble sketch may
not prove altogether id,e aud Improbable.
The reader, whilst he reruses the arti-
Gle, will perhaps be surprised to find that
our country has produced so many drama
tic writer's, whilst he may at the same time
feel mortified to notice that they have not
been more successful. The failure Of ma
ny OF our dramatlsts, may be ascribed to
the partially we entertain for the produc-
tons of foreign nations, and the fondness
OF the public for melo o-dramatic performan-
ses, and those other productions, which
whilst they crafty the eye, by liberal dis
play of the fantices Of the pencil, are utter
departures from the legitimate drama.
1t appears to me that very little is
known in Great Britain concerning the
present state of American literature; and
less of the dramatic than of any other
department. Though nothing of com
manding merit has appeared, still there
are many dramas before the public which
deserve passing notice; and brief
sketch Of our dramatiSts may prove nei-
ther stale nor uuinteresting to the Eng
liSh reader.
The first drama written by a native
Philadelphian, was tragedy in five acts,
entitled SC The Prince of Parthia," by
Thomas Gp1frey, the son of the inventor
er,he quadrant, now known by the name
efHadey's Qandrant. This production
contains much fine poetry and nervous
writing but as the amiable and gifted
author died before he had completed his
poem i, is not as perfect as ii otherwise
would have been defective education
is also dlscernlble in many parts. Ii
was intended for epresentation, but new
cr performed ; and after his death, which
occurred in his twenty seventh year, it
was printed in Philadelphia, in volume
of miscellaneous poems, III 1865.
Peter Markoe, a citizen Of the same
place, Published in the year 1884, tra-
eedy in five acts, entitled the " Patriot
Chefs" and also a comic opera, entitled
"Reconciliation," which, | believe, were
never performed they possess but
moderate share of merit.
John Leacock, at one time coroner OF
philadelphia, publ shed 1867, comic
opera, entitled =" Disappointment, or the
Force of Credulity," which was design
ed to ridicuf the belief at that time pre-
valent, that Blackboard, the pirate, had
buried vast treasures along the American
coast. The piece contains much broad
bumor, and passed through second edI-
ton in 1906, but was never introduced
upon the stage.
In 1874, Lemuel Sawyer, a member
of Congress from one of the southern
states, published comedy in ridicule of
the same absurd opinion (; and also to
saterize the practice which prevails in
the district from which he was elected,
ofueating the voters with liquor at the
polls on election days. His satire Isl not,
Ifear sufficiently pungcDt to effect the