compiling materials for the history of one Mr. Thomas Trip.. I immediately recollected this good-natured man's red pimpled face; for he had published for me against the Deuterogamifts of the age, and from him I borrowed a few pieces to be paid at my return. Leaving the inn, therefore, as I was yet but weak, I resolved to return home by eafy journies of ten miles a day. My health and ufual tranquillity were almost restored, and I now condemned that pride which had made me refractory to the hand of correction. Man little knows what calamities are beyond. his patience to bear till he tries them; as in afcending the heights of ambition, which look bright from below, every step we rife fhews us fome new and gloomy profpect of hidden difappoitment: fo in our descent from the fummits of pleasure, though the vale of mifery below may appear at first dark and gloomy, yet the bufy mind, ftill. attentive to its own amusement, finds as we defcend something to flatter and to pleafe. Still as we approach, the darkest

objects appear to brighten, and the mental eye becomes adapted to its gloomy fituation.

I now proceeded forward, and had walked about two hours, when I perceived what appeared at a distance like a waggon, which I was refolved to overtake; but when I came up with it, found it to be a ftrolling company's cart, that was carrying their fcenes and other theatrical furniture to the next village, where they were to exhibit. The cart was attended only by the person who drove it, and one of the company, as the rest of the players were to follow the enfuing day. Good company upon the road, fays the proverb, is the shortest cut, I therefore entered into converfation with the poor player; and as I once had fome theatrical powers myself, I differted on fuch topics with my ufual freedom: but as I was pretty much unacquainted with the prefent state of the ftage, I demanded who were the present theatrical writers in vogue, who the Drydens, and Otways of the day. I fancy, Sir,' cried

cried the player, few of our modern dramatifts would think themselves much honoured by being compared to the writers you mention. Dryden and Row's. manner, Sir, are quite out of fashion; our taste has gone back a whole century; Fletcher, Ben Johnson, and all the plays. of Shakespeare, are the only things that go down.'- How,' cried I, is it pof• fible the present age can be pleased with that antiquated dialect, that obfolete humour, thofe over-charged characters which abound in the works you men• tion?'—— Sir,' returned my companion, the public think nothing about

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dialect, or humour, or character; for that is none of their bufinefs; they only go to be amused, and find themselves

happy when they can enjoy a pantomime, • under the fanction of Johnson's or Shakefpeare's name. So then, I fuppofe," cried I, that our modern dramatifts are rather imitators of Shakespeare than of nature. To fay the truth,' returned

my companion, I don't know that they • imitate any thing at all; nor indeed does the public require it of them: it is not the compofition of the piece, but the • number of starts and attitudes that may ⚫ be introduced into it that elicits applause. I have known a piece with not one jest in the whole, fhrugged into popularity, • and another saved by the poet's throwing in a fit of the gripes. No, Sir, the works of Congreve and Farquhar have too much wit in them for the prefent tafte; our modern dialect is much more natural.'

By this time the equipage of the strolling company was arrived at the village, which, it feems, had been apprized of our approach, and was come out to gaze at us; for my companion observed, that strollers always have more fpectators without doors than within. I did not confider the impropriety of my being in fuch company till I saw a mob gather about me. I therefore took shelter, as fast as poffible, in the first

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ale-houfe that offered, and being fhewn into the common room, was accosted by a very well-dreft gentleman, who demanded whether I was the real chaplain of the company, or whether it was only to be my maf querade character in the play. Upon informing him of the truth, and that I did not belong in any fort to the company,, he was condescending enough to defire me and the player to partake in a bowl of punch, over which he difcuffed modern politics with great earneftness and intereft. I fet him down in my own mind for nothing less than a parliament-man at least; but was almoft confirmed in my conjec tures, when upon afking what there was in the house for fupper, he infifted that the player and I should fup with him at his house, with which request, after some entreaties, we were prevailed on to comply.

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