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From such dull stuff, what profit can you reap?You cry—"'Tis very fine!" and fall asleep.2 space between stanzas
Those lines, from the Epilogue, written by Garrick, have, for the present taste of the town, somewhat too much of truth in them: for assuredly "The Foundling" would not, at this period, have power to keep an audience from the enjoyment of a comfortable slumber. It may, however, be read with pleasure, as a little novel, by which the reader will neither be induced to laugh, to weep, nor to admire—though he may yet be amused by a certain degree of interest, attached to the fable and the events. It was the first dramatic work of a man, since much esteemed for having produced the tragedy of "The Gamester;" notwithstanding both that, and the present drama, met with considerable opposition, on the first night of their representation.3
The character of Faddle,4 in this comedy, was the part at which the audience revolted, when it first appeared; and, no doubt, he is a being whose mind is too much deformed for public exhibition. ————Such abject trash,Deserves not satire's, but the hangman's lash.5 space between stanzasb 2[Page 4]
Nor is Young Belmont, the hero of the piece, more than one degree removed from this, his friend, in baseness; and that distinction is in the article of courage. For this solitary virtue he is allowed, by the author, to be forgiven all his vices, and blessed with the hand of the woman he loves;—yet the play has the reputation of containing an excellent moral.
Sir Charles Raymond, excepting Fidelia, is by far the best drawn character in the whole work—nay, Filedia, perhaps, should give place to him. Their relationship is well contrived, and would be more interesting, was the discovery less romantically brought about.6
Mrs. Cibber, the idol of the public, at the time this comedy first appeared, is said to have been exquisite in the part of the Foundling; but it is a character, which requires, in an actress, abilities, so little at present in use, that it can be hardly conceived what plaintive, or pathetic arts, this performer possessed, to make so insipid a personage have power over the hearts of an audience.
"The Foundling" has been called an imitation of "The Conscious Lovers."7 If it be so, like all imitations, it falls infinitely beneath the merit of its original.—It was first acted in 1748.
Mr. Moore, the author of this play, wrote, besides his two dramatic works, "The Trial of Selim, the Persian," a poem, in compliment to Lord Lyttelton, which has been praised as a most elegant panegyric8 —and his "Fables for the Female Sex" have been compared with Gay's.9 —He married a lady, who [Page 5]was herself poetical, and, in her maiden state, being deeply in love with her future husband (while her passion was a secret both to him and all her friends) her muse prompted her to write a copy of verses to a young lady, her cousin, in which were contained the following lines, perfectly mysterious; till being shown to a number of persons, and to Mr. Moore amongst the rest, he had the sagacity to find out the riddle, and the gratitude to reward its fair authoress with his hand. Would you think it, my coz, for the fault I must own,Your Jenny, at last, is quite covetous grown:Though millions, if fortune should lavishly pour,I still should be wretched, if I had not More.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *You will wonder, my dear, who this charmer be,Whose merit can boast such a conquest as me;But you shan't know his name, though I told you before;It begins with an M—but I dare not say More.10 space between stanzasb 3