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theatre, and edited a weekly paper called The Theatrical Guardian. This however he continu ed only a few weeks, and retired into the country to engage in literary pursuits. In his retirement he translated Marmontel's Incas, and planned therefrom the bases of several plays and tragedies, which, during the winter follow, ing, he read at Mr. Holman's chambers, in presence of Mr. Morton, Mr. Reynolds, and other literary characters. He afterwards presented the fruits of his labours to his friend, Mr. Morton, who soon after produced, proba bly from those materials, the celebrated play of Columbus. These sketches and outlines by Mr. Fennell have also furnished incidents and plots for other celebrated plays which have since ap peared.

In May, 1792, Mr. Fennell married the sec ond daughter of the Rev. Dr. Porter, and soon after took her with him to Paris, where they remained during that memorable summer. The events of the 10th of August and suc ceeding days having rendered it dangerous for Englishmen to continue there, he, after much difficulty, obtained his passports and returned to England. He immediately published a Review of the Proceedings at Paris, which was highly spoken of by the Reviewers. It also, recommended him to the notice of several influential characters, with whom he joined to form the celebrated association at the Crown and Anchor, for the support of the king and

constitution, and for the purpose of awakening the common people to a sense of their true interest. The internal situation of England was at this moment alarming; French politicks and French emissaries pervaded its inmost recesses, and Government felt itself weakened in its main pillar, the attachment of its subjects. But in consequence of the exertions of this association, assisted by similar ones founded in dif'ferent parts of the kingdom, addresses were presented, assuring the king of the support of his subjects, in defence of the existing consti

tution.

The exertions of Mr. Fennell on this occasion procured him the promise of a permanent establishment; but previous to the execution of it, he had repeated applications from Mr. Wignell of the Philadelphia theatre; and as he probably knew that "to promise is most courtly and fashionable---performance is a kind of will or testament, which argues a great sickness in bis judgment that makes it ;" he was at last induced to engage with Mr. Wignell. He arrived at Philadelphia in the beginning of August, 1793.

The father of Mrs. Fennell it seems had his prejudices against the stage, and would not probably have consented to her marriage, had there been a prospect of Mr. Fennell's resuming the buskin, as appears from the following incident. While Mr. Wignell was in London, a paragraph appeared in one of the papers men

tioning the names of the performers who were going with him to America, and among others that of Mr. Fennell. Immediately on reading this, Mr. Porter made inquiry, and being satisfied of its truth, sent for a Notary to alter his Will, in which he bequeathed to Mrs. Fennell One Shilling! What renders this circumstance still more singular is, that, though in usual health, he died suddenly two hours after the alteration of the Will.

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WILLIAM ROBERTS, ESQ.

THIS gentleman was one of the principal writers and publishers of The Looker-On. Very few indeed-says an anonymous author-are in our opinion the instances, which the English language affords, of such finished specimens of essay-writing, as are to be found in the Looker On. The taste, knowledge, and ingenuity, the sterling wit, the happy raillery, and elegance of style with which these papers are conceived and written, must ever characterize them as very first rate performances of their

kind; and if the urbanity of criticism, the elegance of morality, and the playfulness of allusion which so remarkably distinguish the Spectator, be any where to be looked for in these days, it must be in the lucubrations of Simon Olive-Branch.

EDUCATION.

A HUMANE and judicious master will be very careful not to exercise severity on minds eager for literary distinction. Infant emulation is a delicate and tender plant, which must be protected with equal solicitude from the chilness of neglect and the inclemency of rebuke. Fruits worthy of paradise may be intercepted in the blossom; nay, the tree itself may be checked in its growth, and, from the flights of repeated churlishness wither away forever.

PRIESTCRAFT.

Ir was related, says Boccaccio, to a certain Inquisitor-who was such rather after those who had full purses than those who held heterodox opinions, that one well stored with money, being unluckily overheated with liquor, was heard to say, that he had better wine than Christ himself had ever drank. This being a crime most flagrant in the eye of the most holy church, the inquisitor commenced a process against him, but however not so much with a design of amending him in matters of faith,

U...VOL. 4.

as to ease him of a part of his money. The man being brought before him, he enquired whether that was true which had been alleged against him. He answered, it was. What, replied the holy inquisitor, (being devoted to St. John with the golden beard) dost thou make Christ a drunkard, and curious in the choice of wines, and wouldst thou excuse it as a small matter? And so it may seem to thee; but Itell thee, should I proceed with the rigour of justice, thou wouldst be burnt alive for it. No recourse, says the author, now remained, but to apply a little of St. John's golden grease--(a most sovereign remedy against the pestilential avarice of the clergy, especially of the lesser friars, who are forbidden the use of money, although it be not mentioned by Galen in his book of medicines) with which he anointed his hands to such purpose, that the fire and faggots he had been threatened with, were changed into a cross, which being yellow and black, seemed like a banner designed for the holy land.

FEMININE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

THAT virtue which adorned the minds of women in former times, says an old satirist, is passed in our days into the ornaments of the body; and she whose habit is most gaudy, and set off with embroideries and fantastick ornaments, is most esteemed; not considering

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