Skip to main content
Museum of Freemasonry

Masonic Periodicals Online

  • Explore
  • Advanced Search
  • Home
  • Explore
  • The Freemasons' Magazine
  • July 1, 1797
  • Page 57
  • PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS.
Current:

The Freemasons' Magazine, July 1, 1797: Page 57

  • Back to The Freemasons' Magazine, July 1, 1797
  • Print image
  • Articles/Ads
    Article PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. ← Page 2 of 2
Page 57

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Public Amusements.

circumstances . She comes to London , and applies to a man who had been raised to affluence by lier fathei ; but meets wfch nothing but a cold profession of pity ; and the Banker who possessecfthe wreck of her fortune , two hundred pounds , failing , she is brought to great distress . Dick Dowlas , who has arrived in town , at his fathei ' s deure , is accompanied on his journey by a country friend , named Ezekiel Homespun , and his sister , Cicely Homespun , to whom Dick Dowlas is attached , and intends to marry , before be

hears of the prosperous turn in the affairs of his father . The sudden elevation intoxicates him , and after some struggles between his old honest feelings and the new-born pride of rank , he proposes to Ezekiel to take his sister into keeping . ' The honest rustic feels the utmost indignation , and renounces all connection with Dick Dowlas . The latter , however , is in reality a good lad ; and sensible of his misconduct , and of the merit of Cicely , he waits on her , ¦ his penitenceand offers her his handCaroline Dormerbefore she

avows , . , knew of the loss of her money at the Banker ' s , " and while she expected protection from the friend of her father , had advertised for a maid-servant , and bad taken Cicely into her service . Ezekiel Homespun having found a lottery'tickec , purchased by his late father , applies to know the event , and has the good fortune to get a prize of twenty thousand pounds . As Miss

Dormer had behaved with great kindness to his sister , he lays his bank-notes upon the table , and bids her take all she likes . At this time , however , KLendrick , her old faithful Irish servant , meets Henry Moreland in the street , and leads him to Caroline , whose happiness in finding a lover she supposes dead is exquisite . At length Old Daniel Dowlas finds that he has possessed a title and estate to which he has no right , and he quietly resigns it to The Heir at Law , who promises him a liberal provision . The real Lord Duberly

marries Miss Dormer , Dick Dowlas is united to Cicely , and all the parties are finally happy , except poor Dr . Pangloss , who having been promised an annuity of three hundred . pounds a year by the pretended Lord Duberly , his Lady , and their Son , if he pursues the mode of education which each recommends , is , by their degradation to their original state , reduced from his supposed nine hundred a year to the hopeless prospect of living by his wits . In this Comedy Mr . Colman has not attempted to build upon ' the

established rules of dramatic composition in point of fable , but to introduce a mixture and contrast of characters , whimsical situations , and pleasantry of dialogue . He has , thereto ; e , not studied the stratagems of surprise , and the artifices of suspense , for the catastrophe is evident the moment Henry Moreland appears , which is early in the play . Though the mind , however , must unavoidably anticipate the conclusion , there is such a ludicrous display of cha--racter , with such whim aud spirit in the dialogue , that there is a constant interest and amusement through the piece .

The only attempt at angina : ity of character is in Dr . Pangloss , who is eternally quoting from Greek , Latin , and English Authors , and who always annexes to every passage , so introduced , the name of the writer from whose works it is derivedT This practice produces the most risible effect , and though John Bull heard of Horace , Ovid , Prope ; tius , Cicero , and a hundred names that he had never , perhaps , heaid of bcfoie , and was wholly ignorant of the meaning of the quotations , yet he was highly diverted . This

character may be considered as a satire noon many pedantic nliters , who , in their works , make an ostentation of numerous authorities for the illustration of a trifle . Mr . Colman has s . ' . ewn adroitness in g . ' vmg the several passages a ludicrous appl-. tation to the rirc-. imstmces that Jf-doce tlie'n . Upon the whoh .-, this Comed y is very creditable to the ta ems of the Author ; and we ca . mot but admire the versa ! iity of his genius , which can so well imitate , in his hi ^ h ' . r compositions , the manner of Shakspeare , and the vio-orous style of tin-old dramatists , and descends so pleasantly to ridicule the foflies and fopperies of the day .

“The Freemasons' Magazine: 1797-07-01, Page 57” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 28 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fmm/issues/fmm_01071797/page/57/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 2
Untitled Article 3
LONDON: Article 3
PREFACE TO VOLUME THE NINTH. Article 5
THE SCIENTIFIC MAGAZINE, AND FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY. Article 7
TEMPERATE REFLECTIONS SUITED TO THE PRESENT TIME. Article 8
AN APOLOGY FOR THE CHARACTER AND CONDUCT OF SHYLOCK. Article 10
MEMOIRS OF CHARLES MACKLIN, Article 15
ACCOUNT OF CADIZ. Article 18
REFERENCES TO THE PLATE. Article 22
MEMOIR OF WILLIAM MASON, A.M. Article 23
VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY. Article 25
HISTORY OF THE ARTS AND SCIENCES FOR 1797. Article 26
ADDITIONAL ACCOUNT OF THE GYPSIES. Article 29
ORIGIN OF DRINKING HEALTHS. Article 29
CEREMONIAL OF THE EXECUTION OFRICHARD PARKER, FOR MUTINY. Article 30
A BRIEF SYSTEM OF CONCHOLOGY. Article 34
ESSAY ON THE WRITINGS OF LORD CHESTERFIELD. Article 38
AN ACCOUNT OF THE FISHERIES OF THE RIVER BAN, IN IRELAND. Article 41
THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY. Article 42
THE INFLUENCE OF FREEMASONRY ON SOCIETY Article 44
NOTICE OF A MASONIC DESIDERATUM. Article 47
MASONIC INTELLIGENCE. Article 48
NOTICE. Article 49
REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. Article 50
PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Article 56
POETRY. Article 58
REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. Article 62
HOUSE OF COMMONS. Article 63
MONTHLY CHRONICLE. Article 68
DOMESTIC NEWS. Article 71
OBITUARY. Article 78
LIST OF BANKRUPTS. Article 81
Page 1

Page 1

1 Article
Page 2

Page 2

1 Article
Page 3

Page 3

2 Articles
Page 4

Page 4

1 Article
Page 5

Page 5

1 Article
Page 6

Page 6

1 Article
Page 7

Page 7

1 Article
Page 8

Page 8

2 Articles
Page 9

Page 9

1 Article
Page 10

Page 10

2 Articles
Page 11

Page 11

1 Article
Page 12

Page 12

1 Article
Page 13

Page 13

1 Article
Page 14

Page 14

1 Article
Page 15

Page 15

1 Article
Page 16

Page 16

1 Article
Page 17

Page 17

1 Article
Page 18

Page 18

1 Article
Page 19

Page 19

0 Articles
Page 20

Page 20

1 Article
Page 21

Page 21

0 Articles
Page 22

Page 22

2 Articles
Page 23

Page 23

1 Article
Page 24

Page 24

1 Article
Page 25

Page 25

2 Articles
Page 26

Page 26

1 Article
Page 27

Page 27

1 Article
Page 28

Page 28

1 Article
Page 29

Page 29

2 Articles
Page 30

Page 30

1 Article
Page 31

Page 31

1 Article
Page 32

Page 32

1 Article
Page 33

Page 33

1 Article
Page 34

Page 34

1 Article
Page 35

Page 35

1 Article
Page 36

Page 36

1 Article
Page 37

Page 37

1 Article
Page 38

Page 38

1 Article
Page 39

Page 39

1 Article
Page 40

Page 40

1 Article
Page 41

Page 41

2 Articles
Page 42

Page 42

1 Article
Page 43

Page 43

1 Article
Page 44

Page 44

2 Articles
Page 45

Page 45

1 Article
Page 46

Page 46

1 Article
Page 47

Page 47

1 Article
Page 48

Page 48

2 Articles
Page 49

Page 49

2 Articles
Page 50

Page 50

1 Article
Page 51

Page 51

1 Article
Page 52

Page 52

1 Article
Page 53

Page 53

1 Article
Page 54

Page 54

1 Article
Page 55

Page 55

1 Article
Page 56

Page 56

1 Article
Page 57

Page 57

1 Article
Page 58

Page 58

1 Article
Page 59

Page 59

1 Article
Page 60

Page 60

1 Article
Page 61

Page 61

1 Article
Page 62

Page 62

1 Article
Page 63

Page 63

2 Articles
Page 64

Page 64

1 Article
Page 65

Page 65

1 Article
Page 66

Page 66

1 Article
Page 67

Page 67

1 Article
Page 68

Page 68

1 Article
Page 69

Page 69

1 Article
Page 70

Page 70

1 Article
Page 71

Page 71

2 Articles
Page 72

Page 72

1 Article
Page 73

Page 73

1 Article
Page 74

Page 74

1 Article
Page 75

Page 75

1 Article
Page 76

Page 76

1 Article
Page 77

Page 77

1 Article
Page 78

Page 78

1 Article
Page 79

Page 79

1 Article
Page 80

Page 80

1 Article
Page 81

Page 81

1 Article
Page 57

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Public Amusements.

circumstances . She comes to London , and applies to a man who had been raised to affluence by lier fathei ; but meets wfch nothing but a cold profession of pity ; and the Banker who possessecfthe wreck of her fortune , two hundred pounds , failing , she is brought to great distress . Dick Dowlas , who has arrived in town , at his fathei ' s deure , is accompanied on his journey by a country friend , named Ezekiel Homespun , and his sister , Cicely Homespun , to whom Dick Dowlas is attached , and intends to marry , before be

hears of the prosperous turn in the affairs of his father . The sudden elevation intoxicates him , and after some struggles between his old honest feelings and the new-born pride of rank , he proposes to Ezekiel to take his sister into keeping . ' The honest rustic feels the utmost indignation , and renounces all connection with Dick Dowlas . The latter , however , is in reality a good lad ; and sensible of his misconduct , and of the merit of Cicely , he waits on her , ¦ his penitenceand offers her his handCaroline Dormerbefore she

avows , . , knew of the loss of her money at the Banker ' s , " and while she expected protection from the friend of her father , had advertised for a maid-servant , and bad taken Cicely into her service . Ezekiel Homespun having found a lottery'tickec , purchased by his late father , applies to know the event , and has the good fortune to get a prize of twenty thousand pounds . As Miss

Dormer had behaved with great kindness to his sister , he lays his bank-notes upon the table , and bids her take all she likes . At this time , however , KLendrick , her old faithful Irish servant , meets Henry Moreland in the street , and leads him to Caroline , whose happiness in finding a lover she supposes dead is exquisite . At length Old Daniel Dowlas finds that he has possessed a title and estate to which he has no right , and he quietly resigns it to The Heir at Law , who promises him a liberal provision . The real Lord Duberly

marries Miss Dormer , Dick Dowlas is united to Cicely , and all the parties are finally happy , except poor Dr . Pangloss , who having been promised an annuity of three hundred . pounds a year by the pretended Lord Duberly , his Lady , and their Son , if he pursues the mode of education which each recommends , is , by their degradation to their original state , reduced from his supposed nine hundred a year to the hopeless prospect of living by his wits . In this Comedy Mr . Colman has not attempted to build upon ' the

established rules of dramatic composition in point of fable , but to introduce a mixture and contrast of characters , whimsical situations , and pleasantry of dialogue . He has , thereto ; e , not studied the stratagems of surprise , and the artifices of suspense , for the catastrophe is evident the moment Henry Moreland appears , which is early in the play . Though the mind , however , must unavoidably anticipate the conclusion , there is such a ludicrous display of cha--racter , with such whim aud spirit in the dialogue , that there is a constant interest and amusement through the piece .

The only attempt at angina : ity of character is in Dr . Pangloss , who is eternally quoting from Greek , Latin , and English Authors , and who always annexes to every passage , so introduced , the name of the writer from whose works it is derivedT This practice produces the most risible effect , and though John Bull heard of Horace , Ovid , Prope ; tius , Cicero , and a hundred names that he had never , perhaps , heaid of bcfoie , and was wholly ignorant of the meaning of the quotations , yet he was highly diverted . This

character may be considered as a satire noon many pedantic nliters , who , in their works , make an ostentation of numerous authorities for the illustration of a trifle . Mr . Colman has s . ' . ewn adroitness in g . ' vmg the several passages a ludicrous appl-. tation to the rirc-. imstmces that Jf-doce tlie'n . Upon the whoh .-, this Comed y is very creditable to the ta ems of the Author ; and we ca . mot but admire the versa ! iity of his genius , which can so well imitate , in his hi ^ h ' . r compositions , the manner of Shakspeare , and the vio-orous style of tin-old dramatists , and descends so pleasantly to ridicule the foflies and fopperies of the day .

  • Prev page
  • 1
  • 56
  • You're on page57
  • 58
  • 81
  • Next page
  • Accredited Museum Designated Outstanding Collection
  • LIBRARY AND MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1058497 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025

  • Accessibility statement

  • Designed, developed, and maintained by King's Digital Lab

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & cookie policy