The King of _Jerusalem_ is obliged to come from the City on foot, instead of being drawn in a triumphant Chariot by white Horses, as my Opera-Book had promised me; and thus, while I expected _Armida's_ Dragons should rush forward towards _Argantes_, I found the Hero was obliged to go to _Armida_, and hand her out of her Coach. We had also but a very short Allowance of Thunder and Lightning; tho' I cannot in this Place omit doing Justice to the Boy who had the Direction of the Two painted Dragons, and made them spit Fire and Smoke: He flash'd out his Rosin in such just Proportions, and in such due Time, that I could not forbear conceiving Hopes of his being one Day a most excellent Player. I saw, indeed, but Two things wanting to render his whole Action compleat, I mean the keeping his Head a little lower, and hiding his Candle. I observe that Mr _Powell_ and the Undertakers had both the same Thought, and I think, much about the same time, of introducing Animals on their several Stages, though indeed with very different Success. The Sparrows and Chaffinches at the _Hay-Market_ fly as yet very irregularly over the Stage; and instead of perching on the Trees and performing their Parts, these young Actors either get into the Galleries or put out the Candles; whereas Mr _Powell_ has so well disciplined his Pig, that in the first Scene he and Punch dance a Minuet together. I am informed however, that Mr _Powell_ resolves to excell his Adversaries in their own Way; and introduce Larks in his next Opera of _Susanna_, or _Innocence betrayed_, which will be exhibited next Week with a Pair of new Elders.' [2] The Moral of Mr _Powell's_ Drama is violated I confess by Punch's national Reflections on the _French_, and King _Harry's_ laying his Leg upon his Queen's Lap in too ludicrous a manner before so great an Assembly. As to the Mechanism and Scenary, every thing, indeed, was uniform, and of a Piece, and the Scenes were managed very dexterously; which calls on me to take Notice, that at the _Hay-Market_ the Undertakers forgetting to change their Side-Scenes, we were presented with a Prospect of the Ocean in the midst of a delightful Grove; and tho' the Gentlemen on the Stage had very much contributed to the Beauty of the Grove, by walking up and down between the Trees, I must own I was not a little astonished to see a well-dressed young Fellow in a full-bottomed Wigg, appear in the Midst of the Sea, and without any visible Concern taking Snuff. I shall only observe one thing further, in which both Dramas agree; which is, that by the Squeak of their Voices the Heroes of each are Eunuchs; and as the Wit in both Pieces are equal, I must prefer the Performance of Mr _Powell_, because it is in our own Language. I am, &c.'