everybody allows that he read the last two acts uncommonly
well, and makes him a compliment upon his matter and manner. Perhaps
everybody is in good-humour because the piece has come to an end. Mr.
Spencer's servant hands about refreshing drinks. The Templars speak out
their various opinions whilst they sip the negus. They are a choice band
of critics, familiar with the pit of the theatre, and they treat Mr.
Warrington's play with the gravity which such a subject demands.

Mr. Fountain suggests that the Vizier should not say "Fire!" when he
bids the archers kill Carpezan, as you certainly don't fire with a bow
and arrows. A note is taken of the objection.

Mr. Figtree, who is of a sentimental turn, regrets that Ulric could not
be saved, and married to the comic heroine.

"Nay, sir, there was an utter annihilation of the Hungarian army at
Mohacz," says Mr. Johnson, "and Ulric must take his knock on the head
with the rest. He could only be saved by flight, and you wouldn't have
a hero run away! Pronounce sentence of death against Captain Ulric, but
kill him with honours of war."

Messrs. Essex and Tanfield wonder to one another who is this
queer-looking pert whom Spencer has invited, and who contradicts
everybody; and suggest a boat up the river and a little fresh air after
the fatigues of the tragedy.

The general opinion is decidedly favourable to Mr. Warrington's
performance; and Mr. Johnson's opinion, on which he sets a special
value, is the most favourable of all. Perhaps Mr. Johnson is not sorry
to compliment a young gentleman of fashion and figure like Mr. W. "Up to
the death of the heroine," he says, "I am frankly with you, sir. And I
may speak, as a playwright who have killed my own heroine, and had my
share of the plausus in the atro. To hear your own lines nobly delivered
to an applauding house, is indeed a noble excitement. I like to see a
young man of good name and lineage who condescends to think that the
Tragic Muse is not below his advances. It was to a sordid roof that
I invited her, and I asked her to rescue me from poverty and squalor.
Happy you, sir, who can meet her upon equal terms, and can afford to
marry her without a portion!"

"I doubt whether the greatest genius is not debased who has to make a
bargain with Poetry," remarks Mr. Spencer.

"Nay, sir," Mr. Johnson answered, "I doubt if many a great genius would
work at all without bribes and necessities; and so a man had better
marry a poo