was fuppofed to have been dead. Sir Abel, in the overflow of his heart, tranf ported with joy at his deliverance, gives is confent to join the hands of his fon Bob and the virtuous and fimple daughter of Farmer Afhfield, whole hearts had been already united.

ma.

In the conftruction and language of this piece Mr. Moreton feems to have Taken for his model the poetic ingenuity and fentimental refinement of the celebrated Kotzebue. From the fuccefs with which the various productions of that author have been attended on the Englith stage, the emulative genius of Moreton naturally led him to the attempt of proving that genuine pathos was not the exclufive characteristic of the German DraIn this commendable task he has not failed. In the progress of the scene we occasionally meet with incidents neither ftrictly within the pale of probability, nor directly fanctioned by the rules of dramatic legitimacy; but, wherever thefe limits are out itepped, it is to furnish an agreeable treat of merriment and laughter; and, though the fituation is torced, we find ourselves compelled to approve the comic effect that is thereby produced. There is allo a great portion of refined and moral fentiment, admirably calculated to roufe the purett feelings, and excite the nobleft emotions of the

human breaft.

The language is nervous, pathetic, witty, and pointed. The characters are welldrawn, and the incidents are introduced in fucceffion, without violence or force. The ferious and the comic are happily blended. The performers, particularly Mr. Pope, Mr. Knight, Mr. Murray, Mr. Munden, Mr. Fawcett, and Mr. H. Johnfton, Mifs Murray, Mrs. Davenport, and Mrs. H. Johnfton, did complete juftice to their feveral characters; and the whole was received with great applaufe.

The

True Friends, like the other produc tions of Mr. Dibdin, jun. abounds with humour and whimsical allufion. plot is very fimple :-Durano and Juan, two intimate friends, who had embarked together on a voyage with their families: are fhipwrecked. Durano faves himself, with the daughter of Juan, and Juan preferves the life of Durano's fon. They each think themselves the only furvivors of their families and friends, but meet unexpectedly, and the union of their children takes place. This fable, which is rather of the grave caft, is, however, very much enlivened by the jealous tem humour of Father Dominico, an Irish per of Olla Podrida, a Spanish Cook; the Friar; and the blunt good nature and loyalty of a weather-beaten English Tar.

The music was partly compofed, and partly compiled, by Mr. Attwood; it was light and pleafing, and the piece promiles to take its turn at the theatre with fuccefs equal to the generality of fuch performances.

T

HIS Church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a ftately Building, fituated at the further or Welt end of the Town. Both Church and Chancel have North and South Iles leaded. A lofty square Tower of Rone ftands at the Weft end;

with Battlements and Pyramids at each corner. On the top is a large Lanthorn, with a Shaft leaded. It has a ring of fix bells *, a fet of chimes, and a clock.

It was re-edified about the year 14241 as appears by the following infcription

The Eaft window of the Chancel was very fair and curiously painted with the hiftory of Chrift, from his conception to his afcenfion; untouched (as fuppofed) from the first foundation of the Church. And, to perpetuate the memory of the benefactors, in the vacant places there were the efcutcheons and arms of the ancient Nobility and Gentry who had contributed to the building and beautifying of that fair structure.

In August 1641, an ordinance of Par, liament being made for taking away all fcandalous pictures out of Churches, the Churchwardens took down the pictures of the Virgin Mary and of Chrift on the Crols, fupplying the. place with white glafs. But the mob not thinking this a thorough reformation enough *, a great number of them allembled on the 5th Nov. and in a riotous manner, and with long poles and ftones beat down the whole window; whereby the memory of the pious benefactor is lot, as Mr. Holme obferves. Dr. Michaelfon, the rector, was alfo barbaroufly uled by them †.

In a Chapel on the North fide of this Church, which was in all probability erected for one of the Chauntries, is placed a Library; given by John Knightbrige, D. D. a native of this town, and rector of Spofforth in Yorkshire, for the ule and benefit of the Clergy of this neighbourhood.

is

Here are two Monuments, one of which very fiately and magnificent, erected to the memory of the Earl of Fitzwaiter, ob. Feb. 29, 1756, aged 86. It is about twenty feet high, and fix broad. In a nyche of curious grey marble, in the centre, ftands a fpacious urn, on each fide of which is a pillar of elegant porphyry, with entablatures of the Corinthian Order. Adjoining to them are feen, tanding on pedestals, two cherubims, one with a torch reverfed, the other in a

melancholy attitude. Near the top the arms of this noble family are difplayed in white marble.

The other is in the North-Eaft corner, and fo near to the former, as to be inclofed together with it in the fame iron pallifadoes. It is an ancient monumental tomb of ftone, curiously carved, but defaced by white wash.

On the North fide of the Chancel is a Chapel, which ferves for a burial place for the noble family of Mildmay.

Patron Benj. Earl Fitzwalter, 1739.
Morant.

The body of the Church was fupported by pillars of a light conftruction, yet of excellent workmanship. The pews were much decayed, and the floor but indifferent. The windows Gothic and curious. At the Weft end, adjoining to the bellfry, was a vacancy, which feems originally to have been defigned for an organ, as the fituation is very fuitable for that purpose. There was a good veftry, for the ufe of the Clergyman, and another for the tranfaction of the parish bufinefs. On one fide the Tower, a place in which were kept two fire engines, for the benefit of the town and parish.

On the North and South fide of the belifry, places feparated from the body of the Church by deal partitions, were the twelve Apostles painted upon wood; they feem to be antique, and not despi cable in point of figure or drapery. Some of them are till remaining perfect, though fome defaced or otherwile damaged.

The Church-yard is fpacious, and kept clean. The walks through it are neatly gravelled, with rows of ftately trees, which grow on each fide. A few years fince, the tops of the large ones were cropt; but they have fince branched out afresh, and in fummer exhibit a most beautiful and picturefque appearance.

The living is in the gift of Sir John Henry Mildmay, and the prefent incumbent is the Rev. John Morgan.

Mr. Talbot conjectured that Cæfaro. magus was Chelmsford; and Dr. Stukely was lo politive of it, that he fixed the Temple of Auguftus to the fite of the prefent Church. Gough's Cambden, Tom 2. P. 53.

On Friday the 17th January, 1800, the roof and great part of the body of this venerable pile gave way, and with a moft tremendous crash fell to the ground. The damage received, and the appearance

VOL. XXXVII. FEB. 1800,

now