1 ftudied it with great attention, forefaw the poffibility of fuccefs, and the firongelt probability of profit, and determined to attempt a revival of the fcheme, by adding a Newfoundland dog to the other performers of a new Opera, which was, in the theatrical phrafe, to be got up with all the ftrength, not only of the house, but of the kennel. An author was accordingly employed who could write a part fuited to the talents of this dumb candidate for public applaufe; and a fable was invented fuch as might exhibit a dog to the greateft advantage. How well the fcheme has fucceeded, the men crowded audiences of modern times, in the largest theatre ever built, have amply tefined every night fince the first appearance of this bold project. It has not, however, been unanimoufly applauded by the critics, from whom, perhaps, perfect unanimity is not to be expected in any cafe. Some of them admit the ingenuity, while they doubt the originality of the plan, and wish to remind us of the learned dogs and pigs which the managers, under the aufpices of St. Barthomew, have for many years exhibited in Smithfield. Among thefe critics of memory and refearch, my readers may fuppofe, from what has been already advanced, that I am to be claffed. But there are others who think proper to reprefent the introduction of dogs, as an infult to the dignity of the drama, an infringement of the Rights of Man, and probably as the first fiep to the entire expulfion of the human fpecies. Here I beg leave to paufe: I cannot haftily fubfcribe to thele opinions. I have not that quick apprehenfion of the dangers of innovation which prompts fome politicians to look always to extreme cafes. With whatever view the managers introduced this new performer (and my private opinion is, that they had at firft but one intention), I am inclined to think that much may be faid in favour of the experiment, and much good may be expected, if it can be carried on to what our new philofophers call perfectibility. I am certain, at least, that in this conjecture I fhall have the approbation of this ingenious and longstighted philofopher, who declares, that he can conceive the happy days when a plough may perform its operations in the field, without the impulfe of man or horfe. Surely a much less effort may be fufficient to render a dog as good an actor as fome who have, in the bills, enjoyed that title for a much longer period. This, I truft, I may venture to affirm, if the mere queftion of ability is confidered; but there are other weighty points to be attended to; and although the managers may deferve cenfure for arrogating to themfelves the invention of a very old fcheme, yet if it tends equally to their advantage, and to the amufement and refined tafle of the publick (which feems to be the cafe in the prefent infiance), we ought to make every pollible allowance, and even extend our forgivenefs, and hail the day on which we have feen a British Theatre become a place of Entertainment for Man and Beaft. In this true fpirit of candour, then, I already forefee, that although mere profit is the only oftenfible object, our managers have a much deeper defign in profpect, by which the publick will ultimately be a gainer. It is well known, that, of late years, by what fucceffion of caufes we fhall not now inquire, the falaries of performers have been augmented truly enormously. We hear of 201. and fometimes of 301. per night, as the falary of certain ladies and gentlemen. It is evident that, without a fuitable encouragement on the part of the publick, the treafuries of our theatres muft foon be exhaufied; and the fact is, as I am credibly informed, that the publick has, in many inftances, been fo remifs in their patronage, that very many loifes have been fuftained. Another confequence of this liberality on one fide, and thynefs on the other, or, to fpeak politically, this fatal dif proportion betwixt expenditure and receipt, has been the confutation of that pleafing idea, that great falaries make great performers. Now, in this view of the matter, it must be obvious, that the introduction of four-legged actors, who are equally popular, i. e draw as full houses (which has been the cafe in the inftance before us), must be a prodigious faving. Another circumftance deferves here to be confidered, which has given managers a great degree of trouble and anxiety, and has been often accompanied with empty boxes. The greateit performers, who are at the fame time the beft paid, are apt to relax in their fervices at certain times, and that without any intention or wilful purpose of difobliging either the manager or the town; town; but merely from a fpecies of torpor, which great actors fometimes feel, henumbing their faculties, and which can be removed only by a fresh fimulus applied to the part affected. The appearance of a rival has, in many cafes, proved very effectual in curing this diforder, and restoring to the actor his proper tone and agility; but this is a cure, which in the cafe of very eminent and deferving actors can be very rarely reforted to, because the town is not always difpofed to atlift the operation in fuch numbers as to promote it. Now, under the preffure of fuch difficulties, was it not wife in the managers to start a rival, who boggled fo little about articles of engagement, that he came when whistled for, whofe merits the town immediately acknowledged, and who has already produced houfes of which Shaktpeare and Garrick might have been proud? The truth is, it was not only wife, but, if my information be not incorrect, it has been eminently fuccessful. The other performers, to a man and woman, are now more on the alert, and more defirous to regain their popularity, fnatched from them by an actor who will not be reafoned with, and who will admit of no improper liberties. I cannot conceal, however. that perhaps the experiment has been carried too far. Some of the performers are ferioully apprehenfive left they may never be able, after the appearance of fo popular a genius, to regain their favour with the town, and fill the houfe as they were wont to do. They fay, perhaps with fome truth, that if the managers had begun at the bottom of the fcale of tas lents, and produced a bull, a bear, or fome more illiterate fpecimen, whether from Bartholomew Fair, or Bartholomew Lane, it would have been fufficient for a mere experiment, and, perhaps, have occafioned a very faluiary rival hip; but at once to pit fo much fagacity and fidelity again the company, was forming a contraft too firong for the prefent ftate of dramatic merit. The juftice of thefe fuggeftions I fhall no. fiop to myefligate, because, in whichever way we de ermine, our decifion con now produce no effect. The managers have given the queftion out of their own hands, by referring to that tribunal from which there is no appeal; I mean, the town, who have decided, as far as numbers, and door-money, can decide, in favour of the quadrupe. dal performer. The confequence need not be enlarged upon it is evident that they must proceed in bringing on, from time to time, a fucceffion of animals, whelped, or littered, or kittened, into performers. I truft, however, that with their ufual prudence they will produce them principally in new pieces; and that for two reafons: Firft, that they may avoid comparisons, which will be wife: and, fecondly, to fpare the feelings of their other actors, which will be humane. Such, however, has been the encouragement and patronage, generously, and taftefully, bellowed upon this experiment, that it must be repeated in one way or other; and whoever knows any thing of zoology, knows that a very wide field is now opened. As to other matters, if I may judge from the newspapers of the laft month, the art of criticifm will require no other alteration in the cafe of thefe new performers, than the introduction of the words fagacity and fidelity a little oftener than has been cuftomary. So numerous are the talents of the dog, that naturalifts have written prolix volumes on the fubject, collected from the experience of all nations. Yet it now appears that fome of their more valuable qualities have efcaped the most anxious refearch. They have been renowned principally for watching a houfe, guarding a flock of sheep, leading the blind, catching a hare or fox, and many other tricks and firatagems becoming quadrupeds: but what are thefe to that merit, hitherto not even hinted at by naturalifts, which they have exhibited on the stage; not only in performing their part without the aid of a prompter, or the temptation of a falary, but in attracting the moft numerous and brilliant audiences, at a feafon when the town is generally empty, and in drawing down bursts of applaufe, which the audience feem to think no other performers deferve in the fame degree. It is furely no finall merit to fhare that popularity which was once the exclufive property of the works of Shakfeare and Jonfon, of Congreve, and of Sheridan; and of the acting of Booth and Betterton, of Garrick, and of Siddons. Did not our great moralift deferve the name of Blinking San," when he could fee no farther than the revolution prophe fied in the following lines; "But I have thus endeavoured to account for the conduct of the managers, in a matter which appears to have been mifunderflood in its effect, although agree with those who complain of its origin. I have difcovered, without much refearch, a defign in all this, which does not float on the furface; and I have explained it, however unpleasant that explanation may be to fome performers. It is, on the part of the managers, an appeal to the town, to quicken the efforts of those who appear to have been remifs in their duty. It is an experiment, to try whether the places of thofe who cannot be foftened by falaries and benefits, may be advantageoufly filled by thofe to whom falaries and benefits are unknown. The trial, however, is but began; and one dog only has been formally engaged. Who can tell how many of that fpecies may not yet be made fubftitutes for the beit of our authors and actors? and, when dogs fhall be exhaufied, who fhall fix bounds to the performances of cats, of monkies, and of baboons? Or, what fublimity of feeling, and what clofenefs of attention, can the prefent drama produce, compared to the hopes and fears of an audience, when they fhall be treated with the novel fpectacle of real tigers prowling for real prev, or the more extraordinary appearance of a real lion fparing a real virgin? Further Remarks on the Political Conduct of the QUAKERS, in Anfier to Antifanaticus. of establishing religious truth on the bafis of Chriftian principles, uninfluenced by contending paflions, and unnarrowed by party fpirit. I am farther gratified by the motive which feems to have influenced the writer, in applying the epithet modern Quaker to the Society of Friends, on account of the undeviating adherence to their religious opinions; and may thofe principles be pioufly maintained. as long as the amities of the Gospel thall regulate the human pallions; and beneficence direct them into the expanfive and animating current of univerfal philanthropy! It may, however, be feared, left the character of the modern Quaker do not fully correfpond with the eulogy of a diftinguilhed foreign writer, which I beg leave to introduce : Ce font de gens animés des principes les plus etendus de beneficèuce, qu'il y ait jamais eu fur la terre. Enin, c'eft peut-être le feul parti chez les Chretiens, dont la pratique du corps entier répond couftamment à fes principes. Je n'ai point de honte d'avouer que j'ai lu et relu avec un plaifir fingulier l'Apologie du Quakerisme par Robert Barclay: il m'a convainen, que c'eft, tout calculé, le fyfteme le plus raifonnable et le plus parfait qu'un ait encore imaginé.” When an opponent is incapable of meeting an argument, ingenuity will fuggeftfubterfuges to elude politive facts. When Chrift enjoins Peter to refiain from offenfive exertion; and cenfures him for the mere attempt, Antifanaticus introduces the Apofile's efcape from prifon, as an argument to prove the fanétion of Chrifi in favour of defenfive war and murder. As it is foreign to the fubject of enquiry, it is difficult to difcover the reafon of its introduction ; for the writer furely does not mean to derogate from the divine character of the Prince of Peace; though his fiatement admits of the following deduc for the honour of Chriftianity, to bear the contumely of that word, which Antifanaticus during the space of a whole month "had never been able to find." He farther adds an explanatory note, "that our Saviour could not but have forefeen, that the deaths of the guards would be the confequence of Peter's deliverance." Does Antifanaticus really mean to infer, that our Saviour was virtually the murderer of the guards? or what other meaning would he convey? He informs us, of what no one could be ignorant, that Chrift himfelf took precautions to elude his enemies; but it affords no proof of his fanction ing war; it militates indeed against any fuch inference; for, as he declared, that he could command myriads of beings to have avenged himself, and yet did not exercife any forcible oppofition, but privately withdrew himself, it affords an argument againft defenfive as well as of offenfive war. Another argument in favour of war, adduced by Antifanaticus, appears equally inapplicable to its practice under the Chriftian difpenfation. He obferves, that under the law (or Mofaic difpenfation) war was allowable; and, as Chrift came to fulfill the law and the prophets, he infers that he authorized war. This reafoning and induction may be elucidated, thus farther: "Under the law and the prophets an Egyptian was murdered, and eight kings put to death; and a fuccellor of Mofes captured and put to death 21 kings, who had never offended him. Farther it was ordered, in fome inflances, to kill every male captured in war, even to infants. But Chrift came to fulfil the Law and the Prophets: therefore he authorized murder, regicide, and infanticide." But I neither allow the argument, nor admit the inference; and the murder of Herod's guards are no more imputable to Chrift than infanticide; no indeed, not to him, who, in the moft endearing mauner, defired that little children might be fuffered to enjoy his fociety, and declared, that he came to fave men's lives, not to take them away. It is recommended to me to read again the Sermon on the Mount: I have perufed and re-perused it, and always with admiration, for its perfpicuity and decifion; and, had Antifanations written with equal clearncfs, I fhould not ame have remained dubious respecting the inferences he deduces from this fermon: Either that Chrift taught two religions, one for the commonalty, and the other for courts and courtiers; or that these, not being Chriftian, are not nable to the reftraints enjoined by Chrift; neither of which inductions, however, do I fubfcribe to, because the whole fpirit of the New Testament, from Matthew to Revelations, is in confentaniety with the principles of this di'vine fermon. As every argument oppofed by Antifanaticus to my primary remarks will now probably appear, to the candid reader, to militate againft his own inductions, there remains one to be noticed, on which he feems to lay great ftrefs, where Luke reprefents the words of Chrift, "let him fell his garment, and buy a fword," as an argument in favour of employing this weapon offenfively; but, if we advert to the whole context, a very cogent proof may hence be deduced of the uniformity of Chrift's fentiments againft even defenfive war, and is perfectly confiftent with his fermon on the Mount. It appears, that when Judas was about to deliver up his Matter, one of the difciples ftruck a fervant of the High Prieft, and cut off his ear; on which Chrift, with his wonted forbearance and condefcenfiou, fays, "Do you let it be thus far; and, touching his ear, he healed him;" or, as Whitby explains it, excufe, or "permit this injury, or aflault, offered by one of my apofiles, which I will prefently repair." So that the deduction is obviously repugnant even to felf-defence, and confequently to offenfive war, as Chrift, in this trying fituation, fo far from vindicating felf-defence, immediately repairs the injury inflicted by one of his followers upon an aggreffor. A folid commentator, without the leaft reference to war or peace, notices this remarkable inftance of nonrefifiance in the following words, which I hope will be deemed further illufirative of the genuine fentiments of Chrift on defenfive and offenfive war. "Phænomenon eft hoc ex rariffimè obviis, amoris fimul erga perditiffimos hoftes, et thaumaturgica manus por walraroe Iérgos, ex intempeftivâ atque præcipiti animofitate, To 'Axrepéw‹, dosther QUTÿ TÒ as digion, v. 50. Et ecce Chriftus, captivus mox atque vinctus, fummo facer doti doti adducendus, tangit Tyranni hujus fæviflimi fervum, ejufque auriculam vel abfciffam reftituit, vel pendulum aut graviter fauciatam fanat." Phyf. Sacra, v. 6, p. 1441. Antifanaticus has made a digreffion on faftings; to which may be added, rejoicings, Te Deums, and other demonftrations of the human pallions connected with the events of war, with the view of cenfuring the Society of Friends for not publicly joining in them. But is Antifanaticus aware, when he introduces thefe fubjects, that, if the Supreme Being were to hear all the prayers of different belligerent powers, the human race would long ago have been extirpated? William Law thus perfonates one of thefe prayers: "O bleffed Jefus, dear redeeming Lamb of God, who camest down from Heaven, to fave men's lives, and not defroy them, go along, we humbly pray thee, with our bomb-vellels and fire-fhips; fuffer not our thundering cannon to roar in vain, but let thy tender hand of love and mercy direct their balls to more heads and hearts of thine own redeemed creatures than the poor skill of man is able of itself to do." Should Antifanaticus again enrich your Magazine with his remarks, will he permit me to requeft him to avoid the application of fuch epithets as impious, foolish, fanatical, &c. A writer of great diftinction thus reflects upon the fanaticifin afcribed to a Society, that wishes to realize the miflion of their facred Mafter, "Peace on earth, goodwill to men." "Après cela qu'on range tant qu'on voudra les Quakers parmi les fanatiques; ce font toujours des fanatiques bien el timables. Je ne puis m'empêcher de declarer, que je l'eftime un peuple vraiment grand, vertueux, plein d'induftrie, d'intelligence, et de fageffe." Yours, &c. PHILANTHROPUS. WE Mr. URBAN, Adderbury, Dec. 5. E are told, by many of our old English Hiflorians, that the Barons of this kingdom had, in the times a little pofierior to the Norman Conqueft, the power of firiking money; and, though at prefent it has not happened that any of their pieces have yet been difcovered, the fact itfelf, I believe, has never been quefiioned. Doubtlefs the lovers of the antient English feries muft often, when peruting thefe paffages in the writers above alluded to, have felt a fincere defire that they might be gratified with the fight of one of thefe long-fought coins; and to fuch of them, Mr. Urban, as are readers of your excellent Mifcellany, beg leave to bring forward one, which I hope, af ter what I have advanced has been read, and attentively confidered, will be found to put in trong claims to this dif tinguished and important honour. In order to afcertain the rank of the perfon to whom the piece belongs, we muft have recourfe to the legend and figure on the obverfe. But, previous to this, as the coin of which I am now fpeaking is in itfelf fingular, and the portrait thereon diffimilar to thofe on the regal fpecie of the early Pofi-Normanic æra, it will, to obviate fufpicious and feeptical doubts, be proper to prove that it is an English coin; which First, I do in the following manner. the piece was lately found, with feveral of Stephen, in the vicinity of Salifbury; fecondly, the reverfe is exactly like that of one of the varieties of the early Henries' pennies, and ufually (and, in my opinion, with very good reafon) afcribed to Henry the First; and, thirdly, it bears very vilibly in the Legend on this fide ON SA coming next the Mint-mark, and has alfo the firft letter (S) of the minter's name. From this ON SA, and the very place of difcovery, we must, per force, be led to conclude that the coin was ftruck at Old Sarum; for it is well known that, in thefe early times, this place was honoured with the privilege of coining. I now come to confider its claims as belonging to a Baron; and, as the coin is unfortunately but ill-ftruck, my materials for this purpofe are much more feanty than I could have wifhed. I entertain hopes, however, that fufficient is yet left clear to give us, if not a complete demonftration, at least a highly-probable idea, that we are right in thus affiguing it. The obverfe has a figure, almoft half a length, looking to the right, and holding a large sword, with which, I believe, Stephen is never feen. And here, from the coins being found with feveral others of Stephen, I beg leave to obferve, that I place it under the reign of that Mo. narch, who, it is well known, was compelled to grant the privilege of coining to many of his difcontented nobles. It is on this prefamption allo that I fo frequently allude to the coins of Stephen. Of his reign we have one Specimen |