No scene, I believe, ever received greater honours than this. It was applauded by several encores, a word very unusual in tragedy. And it was very difficult for the actors to escape without a second slaughter. This I take to be a lively assurance of that fierce spirit of liberty which remains among us, and which Mr Dryden, in his essay on Dramatick Poetry, hath observed: "Whether custom," says he, "hath so insinuated itself into our countrymen, or nature hath so formed them to fierceness, I know not; but they will scarcely suffer combats and other objects of horror to be taken from them." And indeed I am for having them encouraged in this martial disposition; nor do I believe our victories over the French have been owing to anything more than to those bloody spectacles daily exhibited in our tragedies, of which the French stage is so intirely clear. ] * * * * * PASQUIN; A DRAMATICK SATIRE ON THE TIMES BEING THE REHEARSAL OF TWO PLAYS: VIZ., A COMEDY CALLED THE ELECTION, AND A TRAGEDY CALLED THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COMMON SENSE. FIRST ACTED IN APRIL 1736. _DRAMATIS PERSONAe_. _Trapwit_, Author . . . . . . . . . Mr ROBERTS, _Fustian_, Author . . . . . . . . . Mr LACY. _Sneerwell_ (a critick) . . . . . . Mr MACHEN. Several Players and Prompter. PERSONS IN THE COMEDY. _Lord Place_, Candidate . . . . . Mrs CHARKE, _Colonel Promise_, Candidate . . Mr FREEMAN, _Sir Henry Fox-Chace_, Candidate . . Mr TOPHAM, _Squire Tankard_, Candidate . . . Mr SMITH, _Mayor_ . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr JONES. _Aldermen, Voters, &c_. _Mrs Mayoress_ . . . . . . . . . Mrs EGERTON. _Miss Mayoress_ . . . . . . . . . Miss J. JONES. _Miss Stitch_ . . . . . . . . . . Miss BURGESS. _Servants, Mob, &c_. PERSONS IN THE TRAGEDY. _Queen Common-Sense_ . . . . . . Mrs EGERTON. _Queen Ignorance_ . . . . . . . . Mr STRENSHAM. _Firebrand_ (Priest of the Sun) . Mr ROBERTS. _Law_ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr YATES. _Physick_ . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr JONES. _Ghost of Tragedy_ . . . . . . . Mr PULLEN. _Ghost of Comedy_ . . . . . . . . Mr JONES. _Third Ghost_ . . . . . . . . . . Mr WALLIS. _Harlequin_ . . . . . . . . . . . Mr PULLEN. _Officer_ . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr PULLEN. _Messenger_ . . . . . . . . . . . Mr WALLIS. _Drummer_ . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr LOWDER. _Attendants on Ignorance, Maids of Honour, &c_. SCENE, the Play-House. ACT I. SCENE I.--_Enter several_ Players. 1 _Play_. When does the rehearsal begin? 2 _Play_. I suppose we shall hardly rehearse the comedy this morning, for the author was arrested as he was going home from King's coffee-house; and, as I heard it was for upward of four pound, I suppose he will hardly get bail. 1 _Play_. Where's the tragedy-author then? I have a long part in both, and it's past ten o'clock.