"Our Dramatic Authors have lately amused themselves, and the Public, with cant phrases, instead of character, 'That's your fort'--'Keep moving'--&c. Young Dibdin, in his _Jew and Doctor_, seems to have hit upon the happiest cant, imaginable; 'That accounts for it,' which seems applicable in almost all cases. "There is no opposition to Government, in the House of Commons--for a change of Ministry would ruin the country--_that accounts for it_. "A very great Personage pays no regard to _Lovers' Vows_: he has been disgusted with a _German_ translation--_that accounts for it_. "Buonaparte wishes to return to Paris, though he should go thither as naked as the back of his hand; he prefers _soup-maigre_ to water melons--_that accounts for it_. "Women complain of the want of Gallantry in men, though the modern dress shows more than enough to excite passion, but--_that accounts for it_. "This cant phrase would comprehend all the science of Logic, if properly used, and appropriately designed. It might be amplified, in the present instance, to any length of space, but exemplification breaks off because _ne quid nimis_--_that accounts for it_."--(_Times, Dec. 14, 1798._) * * * * * "The mania of private acting, rages with more fury than ever. There are, at present, no less than six Private Theatres, in the Cities of Westminster, and London. This is a kind of amusement which, on the ground of _morality_, should be 'more honoured in the breach than the observance,' and calls for the interference of the Magistracy."--(_Times, Dec. 26, 1798._) * * * * * "During the representation of the play of _Macbeth_, at a Provincial Theatre, some nights since, an incident occurred, which totally disconcerted all the gravity of the Tragic Muse. In the Banquet Scene, Banquo's murderer was, by some untoward accident, missing, and the business of the drama was threatened with suspension, when in the exigency of the moment, an ignorant candle-snuffer was pushed forward to tell the horrible tale:--on seeing him, _Macbeth_, who had been motionless with confusion, and embarrassment, burst from his state of torpor, and exclaimed, 'There's blood upon thy face!' 'Is there by G--,' cried the astonished clown, and clapping his hands to his cheek, with a mixture of anger, and alarm, continued, 'Then that domn'd blunt razor has cutten me agen.'"--(_Times, Jan. 7, 1799._) A notice of the Stage, of this time, would be incomplete, if Ireland's impudent forgery of "Vortigern and Rowena," were not mentioned. It was supposed to be an undiscovered play of Shakespeare's, and, with many other Shakespearean forgeries, was fabricated by W. H. Ireland, who is classed as follows:--