and musical interludes, there is nothing to be said, save that one called "Novelty" presents a distinct play in each act,--or five different pieces in all. By different men, Peter has been diversely rated. Dryden said of him, in reference to his one tragedy, "Beauty in Distress:" "Thy incidents, perhaps, too thick are sown; But too much plenty is thy fault alone: At least but two in that good crime commit;-- Thou in design, and Wycherly in wit." But an anonymous poet writes, in reference to one of his various poor adaptations, "The Island Princess:" "Motteux and Durfey are for nothing fit, But to supply with songs their _want_ of wit." How Motteux found time for all his pursuits is not to be explained; but, much as he accomplished in all, he designed still more--one of his projects being an opera, to be called "The Loves of Europe," in which were to be represented the methods employed in various nations, whereby ladies' hearts are triumphantly won. It was an odd idea; but Peter Motteux was odd in everything. And it is even oddly said of him, "that he met with his fate in trying a very odd experiment, highly disgraceful to his memory!"[57] Hard-drinking, and what was euphoniously called _gallantry_, killed good-tempered Charles Hopkins, son of the Bishop of Londonderry. Had he had more discretion and less wit, he might have prospered. His tragedies, "Pyrrhus," "Boadicea," and "Friendship improved," bear traces of what he might have done. He has the merit, however, of not being indecent,--a fact which the epilogue to "Boadicea," furnished by a friend and spoken by a lady, rather deplores, and in indecent language, regrets that uncleanness of jest is no longer acceptable to the town! Walker merits notice, less for his two pieces, "Victorious Love," and "Marry or do worse," than for the fact that this young Barbadian was the first actor whom Eton school gave to the stage. He appeared, when only eighteen, in the first-named piece, but quickly passed away to the study of the law and the exercise of the latter as a profession, in his native island. I know nothing worthy of record of the few other gentlemen who wrote plays, rather as a relaxation than a vocation, save that Boyer, a refugee Huguenot, like Motteux, and a learned man, adapted Racine's "Iphigenia in Aulis," for representation; that Oldmixon was an old, unscrupulous, party-writer; and that Crauford was historiographer for Scotland to Queen Anne, and has left no name of note among dramatic writers. FOOTNOTES: [51] "Valentinian" was probably produced in 1684. [52] The Bond was entered into in 1663. [53] Genest says that "Bellamira" is by far the best of Sedley's plays. [54] Should be 1671. [55] This is, of course, satirically said by the author. [56] The Edict of Nantes was not revoked till 1685. Motteux was born in 1660. [57] _Biographia Dramatica._ [Illustration: SIR WILLIAM DAVENANT.] CHAPTER X. PROFESSIONAL AUTHORS.