We would suggest to Mr. _Malloch_ the useful Hint of introducing in some of his future Productions, the whole Foundling Hospital, which with a well painted Scene of the Edifice itself would certainly call forth the warmest Tears of Pity, and the bitterest Emotions of Distress; especially when we consider that many of the Parents of these unfortunate Babes would probably be Spectators of this interesting Scene. The Conclusion of the Piece is as abrupt as the other Parts of it are absurd. We should be much at a Loss to guess by whom the Poison is administered to _Elvira_, were we not aided in our Conjectures by the shrewd Suspicions which the King, tho' otherwise a very loving Husband, seems to entertain of his Wife. Upon my regreting that her Majesty, if guilty, should escape without poetical Justice at least, a Gentleman who sat behind me, a Friend as I supposed of the Author, assured me her Punishment was reserved for the Farce, which for that Purpose was, contrary to Custom, added to the Play.[C] Though in general this Tragedy is colder than the most extreme Parts of _Nova Zembla_,[D] yet we now and then feel a Warmth, but it is such a Warmth or Glow rather, as is sometimes produced by the Handling of Snow. Bad as this Play is, yet will the Author have the Profits of his Three Nights: Few on the First Night having either Taste or Spirit to express their Disapprobation. Like the Rascals who plundered _Lisbon_ after the Earthquake, Mr. _David Malloch_ will extract Guineas out of Rubbish. We shall now give, in a few Words, the Quintessence of this Play. Monarchs ought to be just. Heroes are bad Men. Husbands ought to die for their Wives, Wives for their Husbands. We ought to govern our Passions. And the Sun shines on all alike. A few of these new Remarks form the Sum total of this contemptible Piece. After the Play we were entertained with an Epilogue fraught with Humour, and spoken with Spirit. There was a Simile of a Bundle of Twigs formed into a Rod, which seemed to convey a delicate Allusion to Mr. _Malloch_'s original Profession,[E] and some of the Lines contained an exquisite and severe Criticism on the Play itself. Amidst all the harshness inspired by a real Feeling of the Dulness of the Composition itself, it would be unjust not to bestow the highest Applause on the principal Performers, by the Energy of whose Action even Dulness was sometimes rendered respectable. We were sorry to find such great Talents so very ill employed. The melting Tones of a _Cibber_ should make every Eye stream with Tears. _Pritchard_ should always elevate. _Garrick_ give Strength and Majesty to the Scene. Let us soften at the keen Distress of a _Belvidera_; let our Souls rise with the Dignity of an _Elizabeth_; let us tremble at the wild Madness of a _Lear_;[F] but let us not Yawn at the Stupidity of uninteresting Characters. _FINIS_ * * * * * NOTES ON _CRITICAL STRICTURES_