"toutes sortes de prospérités, avec un "peu plus de gout."-MOLIERE is with me a favourite author. After some of our English dramatists have shewn, that a composition may be offensively licentious and yet abominably dull, we have no small obligation to Moliere, for

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having proved that the comic muse may be decent and unexceptionable, and yet extremely witty and entertaining.

BISHOP GIBSON. I have often regretted, Brother, that our dramatic poet is not entitled to the same commendation. There is hardly a play of SHAKESPEARE'S that can be enjoyed by a family circle; some indecorous expression or allusion occurring, unsuitable to the feelings of chaste and delicate minds.

BISHOP HOUGH. The compositions of Shakespeare mark the gross manners of the age, in which he lived; as later productions have displayed the profaneness and licentiousness, which reigned in this country after the Restoration. Moliere belonged to a Court which, however dissipated, always preserved an exterior of decency; and he played off the little follies and foibles of life, with inimitable pleasantry and humour. But Shakespeare, with every disadvantage of situation, held an elevated course as a DIDACTIC AND INTELLECTUAL POET; and whatever may remain of the contagious atmosphere, through which it was his lot to pass, yet he displays the most sublime lessons of virtue and morality, that are to be found in any uninspired writer.

BISHOP GIBSON. Why not then at once purify the source, and correct the plays for domestic use, as the players do for theatrical representation; and in the inundation of commentated and illustrated editions, let there be one, purified and corrected for the benefit of private families ?*

BISHOP HOUGH. I heartily wish there were. But to proceed. The perusal of the story of Baba Abdalla, (lately translated by Monsieur Galland in his mille et une nuits) is an antidote to AVARICE.—

MR. LYTTELTON. Of all these Arabian tales, my Lord, none pleases me so much

*Since the above was written, an edition of Shakespeare's Plays, purified and corrected for the use of private families, has been published by Thomas Bowdler, Esq. in 10 volumes 12mo.

as that of Prince ZEYN ALASNAM, who is the possessor of eight statues, each composed of a single diamond. He is informed, however, that there is in the world a ninth statue, of a thousand times greater value than them all. The acquisition of this inestimable prize becomes his object. The statue is at length obtained, a lovely female of a pure un

adulterated mind, whom he receives with this admirable lesson: "if

"if you you wish she "should preserve for you a constant and "unbroken faith, love her always, and "LOVE ONLY HER; admit no rival in 66 your affections, and I will be answer"able for her fidelity."

BISHOP HOUGH. What my young friend! still thinking of the Eve, that is to adorn your paradise? Do Do you then

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desire to apply these eight diamond statues, as foils-all to display the greater beauty of one beloved object? and do you not willingly admit that one statue parlante would surpass the other, eight?

MR. LYTTELTON. And with reason, my Lord for what is the worth of mountains of diamonds, compared with a pure, spotless, female form, illumined by benignity and intelligence, and endowed with an immortal soul? How should a mere inanimate substance be ever capable of vying with the display of mind in the human countenance? or what brilliancy can gems and senseless matter add to the beams of benevolence and affection, emitted from the eye of a lovely woman, and diffusing a gleam of