of taste and decency, as ever was permitted. They have since encouraged boxers, a fox-chase, and many other similar amusements, down to the present novelty of horses; not only without any objection, but with an avidity, which shows, at least, that if the managers caunot fill their houses by legitimate dramas, they know well and easily how to do it by other means. Again, Sir, while we are thus severe upon these dumb prancers, let us reflect for what they are a substitute; or rather, to what they are an appendix.— They are introduced, to supply the place of, or to aid the amusement derivable from farces and pantomimes. Now, I should be glad to know of those gentlemen, who are interposing their refined taste between the managers and the public, how long farces and pantomimes have been considered as entertainments. worthy of a rational public, and deserving to be classed with the legitimate drama; with the works of our celebrated and acknowledged geniuses? I conceive, that if we look into the history of the stage, we shall find that farces (rather more sufferable in point of taste, than pantomimes) are almost a novelty on the stage. Fielding, if I remember right, is the first author of any merit who wrote a farce; and there are persons, I presume, now living, who can remember, that in Gar rick's days it was not the custom to have a farce per formed during the run of a new comedy or tragedy. As to pantomimes, against which our men of taste have not yet exclaimed so loudly as to endanger the peace of the theatre, I should be glad to know where is the mighty harm of introducing either horses or asses, to give effect to such pieces of mummery? The question, indeed, might be easily answered, were Richard II. introduced, not only wishing for a horse,. but riding upon one; and if his antagonist, our Henry VII. were to be visibly indebted for his success to a troop of British cavalry. But when horses are intro duced MAN AND HORSE. 23 duced merely to heighten the effect of such competitors as Blue Beard and Timour the Tartar, although I may see some absurdity in the whole, I can surely see no inconsistency. If our plots and fables are to be taken from children's books and nursery tales, I know no means by which they can be degraded; and certainly not by the additional and graceful motions of so noble an animal as the horse. 4 How, then, does the question stand? The managers, finding that the old plays are not sufficiently at tractive, and that the present race of authors are not capable of producing any thing that can do much more than defray the expenses of getting-up, very naturally turn their attention to some amusements that may be supplementary to the regular drama, and the public flock to these novelties with eagerness. If this be the fact, to what purpose do a few splenetic reformers agitate questions about taste and refinement? And to what purpose do they propose themselves as arbitrators between the managers and the public, who have no quarrel with one another? I can agree with them on the common principles of taste. I have seen, what all men have seen, disgraceful absurdities introduced on the stage within these few years; but as some of our modern stage-reformers affect a taste of another kind, I would have them careful how they agitate the abstract question much farther. I would have them in particular reflect, how long, if taste and morals had been leading objects, would the Opera have been tole➡ rated among us.-I am, Sir, yours, &c. IMPARTIAL IRELAND. IRELAND. [From the Morning Chronicle, May 23.] "The circumstance of Ireland being unable at present to raise her own taxes, is no ground of alarm for her prosperity." Mr. Foster's Budget Speech. THERE is something so curiously and comfortably paradoxical in this assertion, that it certainly de mands a little time and consideration to reconcile it to the general notions, which, from time immemorial, have been entertained on the subject of national prosperity, Swift said long ago, and nobody knew Ireland better, that “no maxim of national prosperity, applicable to other countries, was verified with regard to Ireland; her population was not wealth, her fertility was not abundance, her ingenuity was not revenue;' but it remained for Mr. Foster to add to this list of political singularities, that the inability to pay taxes, was not a ground of alarm as to her prosperity. 66 Ireland, like an embarrassed tradesman in the agonies of white-washing, is, according to her interpreter in the Imperial Parliament, Mr. Foster, a little slow to be sure, but very solvent ; not a bankrupt, only soliciting time; no statute yet taken out, but ready to give bills at twelve and eighteen months; not shut up and gazetted, but still going on with every prospect of ubtimately paying twenty shillings in the pound. This must be highly satisfactory intelligence to her creditors, who, with every reliance on these protestations, will, doubtless, continue their loans, particularly since they have the additional security (through the disinterested aid of Mr. Perceval) of the English consolidated fund, which has kindly consented to indorse the Irish bill of contingent prosperity, and give it a temporary currency; Ireland being always considered pledged for her full quota, which she is to pay whenever she is able, together 130 together with the interest so handsomely advanced on the present occasion by England, and all the other expenses of English agency. But Ireland cannot raise her taxes," says a caviller, and how can Mr. Per ceval reconcile this to his high-finished portrait of the prosperity of the United Kingdom, of which Ireland is an integral and very important part -How comes it, that while Great Britain is so well managed as to be capable of raising her taxes to a surplus, Ireland has fallen off so lamentably in the levying of hers? —Is she unable to pay, or unwilling Is she poor or refractory-Perhaps she has been misgoverned; ahil there's the rub; but let us see: The political godfa❤ thers and godmothers, who in the year 1800 gave us the sponsorial appellation of United Kingdom, did, it is shrewdly suspected, promise and vow things in her name, which they well knew their god-child could never fulfil; she was bound to pay more than her es tate, even under good management, was able to produce; and which the ignorance and interestedness of her agents rendered still less productive. Under these circumstances, it was not wonderful that she grew pro gressively poorer and poorer; that she drank less wine and tea, and put a smaller quantity of currants in her puddings, made fewer shifts, and of a coarser linen, and fell into a state of despondency and whiskey-drinking, for which solace, her gratitude is unbounded to Mr. Foster, who, kindly compassionating her melancholy, took off the duty from her favourite beverage.⠀ But this will not last; oh! no; though matters are a little dull at present, they will very soon revive; ins two or three years, under the wise and successful management of Mr. Foster, there is no estimating the state in which Ireland may be placed. About that period, the Bog of Allen will be completely surveyed and divided into farms, which will only want the quality of being habitable, to render them most valuable concerns concerns. The grand measure of putting down illicit distillation, by the discouragement of the breweries, and the general intoxication of the Irish population, will, by that time, be also consummated. Who can look forward to this situation of things, without the most rapturous feelings of joy and triumph? Even Mr. Perceval, that true friend to Ireland, must, in the recesses of his cabinet, drop the tear of delight over such an anticipation, and, true to the principles of the immortal Pilot, now no more, and his artificial system of finance, hug his friend and coadjutor and fellowdisciple, Mr. Foster, who has established such an admirable proof of Pitt's paradoxical policy, in the state to which Ireland has been reduced under his administration, "unable at present to raise her taxes, yet not at all impaired in her resources (no, they are, in the Pitt phrase, inexhaustible), nor under any the slightest alarm for her prosperity!" · Lay this to heart, ye jobbers and contractors-go on and prosper, having for your security the prosperity of Ireland, propped on a fund of consolidated paper. Your adoration of Perceval, and your trust in Foster, will, doubtless, meet with their deserved reward. So be it, says A SOBER IRISHMAN. IMPROMPTU FOR THE MEETING OF THE PITT CLUB ON TUESDAY. FROM [From the Morning Post, May 24.] ROM the sturdy Pitt club may a good knock-down blow And a pil-fall be theirs, whose intention we know Is the downfall of worth in the nation. TEUTHANTR PETITION |