which poft he continued until the fuppreffion of that appointment by Mr. Burke's bill, when he retired on a penfion.

Mr. Cumberland, while a very young man, wrote fome verfes on the birth of the Prince of Wales. His first publication was the "Banifhment of Cicero," which was refufed by Mr. Garrick, but appeared in print in 1761. This fhould have been rather called a dramatic poem than a tragedy,

The "Summer's Tale," and the "Brothers," two comedies, were his next productions; but neither of thefe have added much to his reputation.

In 1771, he was reconciled to Garrick, with whom he had been on bad terms ever fince the refufal of his tragedy, and that gentleman brought out his "Weft Indian" in a capital ftyle. This piece, has ftamped Mr. Cumberland's character as an excellent writer for the ftage, and it is certainly one of our moft fterling comedies.

He now began to be cfteemed one of the best dramatic writers of the age, and also one of the most prolific; for the next year he produced the "Fafhionable Lover," which was well received; as was likewife, in 1774, his lively farce called the " Fate of Pandora, or a Trip to Newmarket." His "Choleric Man, which came forth in 1775, is faid to have fome affinity to Sir Richard Steele's Tender Hufband: his " Battle of Haftings," a tragedy, was rather unfortunate. In 1776, he published a thin quarto volume of Odes.

About

About the year 1780, he was fent on national bufinefs to Madrid, but did not appear there in a public character. On his return, he published, in 1782, "Anecdotes of eminent Painters in Spain, during the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries," two volumes, 12mo. Next year he brought out a tragedy on the flage, called the "Myfterious Hufband," and addreffed a Letter to the Bishop of Landaff respecting ecclefiaftical grievances. It contained fome wit, and was ably anfwered by an anonymous

writer.

In 1785, he had much bufinefs on his hands: for he produced "The Carmelite," allowed to be the beft tragedy he has written; and alfo a comedy, called the Natural Son *." In the course of the fame year, he published a character of his deceased friend, Lord Viscount Sackville, and the first edition of the Obferver. Next year a fecond edition appeared, and the fubfequent editions have now fwelled the work to five volumes. The effays abound with pleafing and inftructive information, and difcover extenfive reading.

In 1787, Mr. Cumberland prefented the world with "An accurate defcriptive Catalogue of the Paintings in the King of Spain's Palace at Madrid;" foon after this the comedy of the " Impostors,"

* Mifs PLUMPTRE has lately prefented to the public another "Natural Son," being a faithful and elegant translation of KorZEBUE's famous play of that title, and which has been fo much admired on the British ftage, under the altered title of Lovers" Vorus.

and

and a novel, in two volumes, called "Arundel," made their appearance. In the latter he is accufed, but on very flight foundation, as feeming to palliate adultery and duelling.

After this, his talents feem to have lain fallow for fome years, as he did not produce any thing until 1792, when he published his poem called Calvary, "or the Death of Chrift." Next feafon he wrote the fongs and choruffes in the comic opera of the "Armourer." In 1794, he produced the " Boxlobby. Challenge," and alfo his deservedly-esteemed comedy of the " Jew," a play written with the laudable intention of removing the ftigma which accompanies that unhappy and much perfecuted people. His attempt of the next year confifted of the " Wheel of Fortune;" he also prefented the town with another comedy, called "First Love," and another novel, in four volumes, named "Henry."

His mufe, which must be allowed to be a fpirited one, feems to know no repofe; for, in 1796, he produced" Days of Yore," a drama, in three acts; and the next year, "The Laft of the Family." His laft piece is the comedy of "Falfe Impreffions." "*

When we confider the number, the merit, and the exquifiteness of his writings, Mr. Cumberland muft be allowed to rank high as a dramatic writer.

Since the publication of the fecond edition of this work, Mr. Cumberland has exhibited a teftimony in his behalf of the " divinity of Jefus Chrift," in a pamphlet addreffed to modern philofophers. EDITOR.

SIR Archibald Macdonald is the third fon* of Macdonald of Slate, in the Ifles; his mother was of the houfe of Eglinton.

Mr. Macdonald was bred to the English bar, but had never any great practice. His bufinefs confifted chiefly in Scotch appeals. Yet if not highly fuccefsful in his profeffional career, he was at least deferving of fuccefs; and his good fortune having at length introduced him to the acquaintance of the daughter of a noble Marquis, who confented to their marriage, Mr. Macdonald, in confequence of this connexion, beheld the higheft honours of the law lie open to his

view.

By the interefts of his wife's family, he was accordingly appointed, in 1780, a king's counfel and a Welch judge; he had been before brought into parliament, for Hindon; and at the general-election, which occurred during the fame year, he put on his filk gown; he was returned for Newcastle-underline, a borough under the influence of his father-inlaw the Marquis, then Lord Stafford.

In parliament, he, of courfe, followed the line of politics purfued by the family into which he was adopted that is, he fupported Lord North, until he began to totter; then, with the Gower intereft, he went into Oppofition, and was noticed for a fevere attack he made on the Premier, with refpect to the

*He was a pofthumous child.

Dutch

Dutch war. As a parliamentary speaker, Mr. Macdonald was easy, fluent, intelligible, and concise.

Lord Stafford, on joining Mr. Pitt, procured for his fon-in-law the place of Solicitor-general (1784), and in 1788, on the promotion of Sir Pepper Arden to be Mafter of the Rolls, he was knighted, and appointed Attorney-general in his room. It is no lefs remarkable than true, that the poffeffion of these two high offices in the law did not bring Sir Archibald any confiderable addition of practice as a counfel, and the number of his profecutions were thought to have greatly affected the liberty of the prefs.

However, after a few years longer fiay at the bar, he was promoted to be Chief Baron of the Exche quer, having previously been called to the degree of Sergeant at Law. As a judge he has conducted himfelf with great candour and impartiality.

In confequence of his marriage with Lady Louifa Gower, he has feveral children.

P.

MRS. SIDDONS.

WHEN a woman paffes through that thorny path of pleasure the stage, without being drawn aftray by the temptations which perpetually affail the fair traveller, our esteem and veneration ought ever to await her. In this age, degente as it is, we have enjoyed. the pleasure of seeing many females fupporting unfullied characters in theatrical life, and among them