OR might there not be wove fome tributary wreath in memory of neglected Garrick ?-for on his death,

all the pomp of Shakespeare's rites were ceas'd*

For a Vignette to the Merchant of Venice, there might be drawn a sweet child reading with an expreffive air, the humane lines of:

The quality of mercy is not ftrain'd

AND the expreffion of the face may be some what fimilar to the best impreffions (and not to the pirated copies) of Mr. Bumbury's first print of Charlotte, publifhed in 1782, by C. White.

OR a fancy head of Shakespeare might be drawn, (fomewhat fimilar in attitude and drefs to Mortimer's head of the Poet) with the mild expreffion of Zouft's metzotinto--- and (with a scroll in one hand) as at the moment of writing the above lines. The evident proofs we have of his good heart, will give an artist more pleasure in defigning for him. If other ornaments are preferred: they may be thofe of the fcales, the knife and bond---or they may be alluding to the concord of fweet founds---for which purpose, fee Bartalozzi's ticket for the benefit of Salpietro---the figure of the winged boy with the reed, and the expreffive air of the

young

woman

* MIGHT not fome part of the fubfcription money of Meffrs Boydell's edition, be appropriated towards the erecting a tomb for Garrick? Seven years have now elapfed, and the fame neglect attends his remains, as thofe of Sir Anthony Vandyck.

His Fame requires we act a tenderer part :---
His Memory claims the Tear we gave his Art!

woman in Cypriani's title page to the mufic of Rofina-and the face of Apollo in the title page of fome book of mufic, defigned (I think) by Cypriani.

PART of the Vignette to Lear, might be a picturesque view of DoverCliff-for the meaneft hovel (fays Mr. Warton) to which Shakespeare has an allufion, interefts curiofity. Some of the flowers with which old Lear was crowned, might be twined round this Vignette, and they will fome of them be found in the Flora Londinenfis. See alfo the rich ornaments (and the lightening) in Burney's print to Bell's edition-and fee the flowers in the fame print.

I CANNOT but recommend, as a Vignette to the second part of Henry IV. a fac-fimile of the whole and entire Vignette to the fifth volume of the English Theatre, by Lowndes. It is defigned by Edwards, and engraved by Byrne. It contains (among other figures) the mufe of Comedy, with a mask in on hand, and a glafs in the other. It has too much merit I think to be rejected.

DESIGNS Or Ideas for other Vignettes, may be conceived from a fine one, which is annexed to a volume of the publication of plays, by either Bell or Lowndes. The print in my poffeffion has the names of the pain ter and engraver cut off; but it reprefents Comedy, with a fatyr and a young bacchanalian—both of which last figures however might admit of fome little improvement. See alfo a Design by Mr. Weft, engraved by Byrne, for the feventh volume of one of the above publications. And Angelica Kauffman's Defign for that volume which contains Tamerlane.were the face of Melpomene more empaffioned, it would form a rich ornament to one of the Tragedies of Shakefpeare. See alfo the following Designs; namely one by Mortimer, engraved by Hall for one of the volumes of the above publications, being the Tragic Mufe, with a flaming torch and dagger-the conception of this print is wild and lugubre : Another Design for one of the volumes of Bell, being the Tragic Muse,

with a goblet in her right hand, her dagger by her fide, and a figure above her, with a sword and torch. A Design for one of the volumes of Bell, being Thalia pointing to many of Shakespeare's characters, and on a fcroll is written the names of Centlivre and other dramatic writers. A defign by Mortimer, engraved by Walker, for one of the volumes of Lowndes, reprefenting most of the characters of Shakespeare, in proceffion. A fmall defign for (I think) the fourth volume of the publication by Lowndes, drawn by Lowe and engraved by Hall. Another defign by Mortimer, engraved by Hall, for one of the above publications, being a figure of Melpomene with her tresses wildly waving, and a ship at sea. A Design for one of the volumes of the above publications, drawn by Edwards and engraved by Hall, where the part of a skeleton is introduced, with lightening, and the figure of despair-and the Vignette to the twelfth volume of Lowndes.

I must entreat the reader's pardon for dwelling fo much on this fubje&t; but my only motive for offering this profpectus is, a wish to throw in my mite of service towards that undertaking, which is now formed in honour of our poet. And if any one can fuggeft thoughts which may fave trouble to the conductors; it is proper they should be communicated before the edition is in a more advanced stage. I have therefore further to mention, that Ideas of other Designs for Vignettes may be gathered from Cypriani's Contemplation-and from his Power of Beauty: either of which figures might be fondly furveying a Portrait, a Buft, or a neat expreffive Statue of Shakespeare-if Cypriani had been spared, Shakefpeare would have owed him much obligation. See also his print of Faith; and the little boy reading in his print of History—and the figure in his print of Admiration-In his Power of Love, he has drawn a Cupid which may not have been surpassed by Albani. See the Vignette of Memory, in an Hiftorical Rhapfody on Pope. The landscape, and the child, in Kauffman's print of Lady Rushout and Daughter. The figure of the woman reading in the Head-piece to the first volume of the quarto edition of Buffon's Hiftoire Naturelle. And the expreffive Head-piece

to

to the third volume of Deschampes Vies de Peintres. In the frontifpiece to Deschamp, will be found a little boy reading-Might not this be introduced in fome Vignette, with a volume of Shakespeare in his hands, and his little face might exprefs a deep and fixed attention; as if the poefy of Shakespeare had taken empire o'er it's willing breast. See the arms of England, engraved by Bartolozzi. The figure holding up the medallion, and the Cupid on the right hand above it, in the frontispiece to the Tableaux de Duffeldorf; and the fourth and feventh Vignettes to the 2d volume of this work.

If it should be thought proper in any of the Vignettes, to place a fmalf Head of Shakespeare: fee then the ftyle in which thofe are drawn in Defchamp; particularly the Heads of Van Asch, and Thielen, in the fecond volume-and the emblematic ftyle in which that pleasing Head' of Bronkhorst is drawn in this fame. volume, and thofe of Steenwick, Lucas Van Unden, Bramer, Van Goyen, and Rombouts in the first volume. See also the medallion, at the bottom of a print of the Queen of Hungary, published in Dec. 1780, by Fielding and Walker, for one of the numbers of the Westminster Magazine.

NUMBERLESS are the engravings published both in England and France,. of the Tragic and Comic Mufe. I have feen very few of those published in France; and not many of those which have been defigned by English artifts. It were needlefs however to catalogue them, when our own country has produced a figure of the Tragic Muse, which we may almost venture to pronounce unequalled. It is the impreffive figure of Mrs. Siddons by Sir Joshua Reynolds. It paints,

The tread majeftic, and the beaming eye

That lifted speaks it's commerce with the sky.*

AN

On the late revival of the Jubilee, at Drury Lane, Mrs. Siddons perfonated the Tragic Muse. Her car was fitted up exactly in the ftyle of this picture, fo that fhe prefented the fame fubject to the

eye.

An edition of our great Poet would be ftrangely defective, were this fine figure omitted.

MR. Romney has likewife given us a very interesting print of Mrs. Yates in the Tragic Mufe. And there is an expreffive figure of the fame Mufe (clafping her own Lear), in Pines print of Garrick fpeaking his Ode. There was a portrait of Mrs. Yates (which I have not feen) in the character of Melpomene, in the Exhibition of 1780, by Roberts.

We have another portrait of Melpomene, from the pencil of Sir Jofhua, in the print of Garrick between Tragedy and Comedy-and as this print contains a figure of Thalia that I do not think any artist has yet furpaffed; and as the whole Defign will ever remain a generous ornament to the master of the paffions-why may it not be inferted in fome part of an edition of Shakespeare that might be appropriated to the memory of Mr. Garrick?—This figure of Comedy, has, the rich archness of Thalia's face. I have before hinted at two Mafks, that I thought were good ones, and I should now add that which Thalia holds.

If there should be required a print of the Comic Mufe, in conjunction withthe above mentioned print of Mrs. Siddons; the metzotinto portrait of Baccelli, by Sir Joshua, will immediately furnish one. At least it will require very few additions. I have not feen many prints of the Muse of Comedy—but amongst those I have seen, I know none that can approach the portrait of Baccelli: unlefs it be the Thalia of R. Cofway, engraved by Bartolozzi. I have not yet feen Sir Joshua's print of Mrs. Abingdon, as the Comic Mufe.

IN fo grand an edition as that announced by Meffrs. Boydells and Nicoll, we may reft well affured that Shakespeare's volumes will receive every

proper

eye. Nothing (fay the papers) could be more grand and impreffive than her attitude and air. »A poem by Mr. Keate, to the memory of Mrs. Cibber, gives an interefting picture of the Tragic Mufe. See alfo the Notes in page 68 and So, of Mr. Warton's Milton, and Mr. Whalley's Vertes to Mrs, Siddons