Now this was superfluous, for Foscari knew it before, as he says

'I know too well, he owes me deadly hate.'

However he comforts himself with the following very natural reflection, and exceedingly ingenious remark!

'O, if I were free,

Free from the bonds which so disgrace my name,

This instant would I fly to comfort her,

And clasping her within my arms, defy

His malice, and laugh to scorn his power."

They depart, Foscari of course giving up all expectation of comforting Almeria in this way, as perfectly idle; in the mean time Policarpo, the assassin, whom Erizzo has employed in his service to watch Almeria, has learned that she and Foscari intend to meet in a bower, before they knew any thing respecting it themselves; and he and the Count enter armed and in disguise. They hide under some elms, and Policarpo advises the Count, who probably was a clumsy footed swain,' to tread light,' for fear they should be overheard! After so necessary a caution, it was natural they should proceed with circumspection. Foscari enters in great despondency; how he gets away from his father and mother, is another affair. But his melancholy is relieved by the sight of, first

• Th' initials of her name:

Carved upon a tree;'

And then immediately underneath,

'Carv'd at length the name of her Foscari.

From this affecting incident, he was roused by the approach of the lady herself. She comes in moralizing upon his picture, and after debating some time whether he is guilty or no, and satisfying herself of his innocence, she exclaims

'O! could I but behold that face again,

But press unto my soul.'

She then discovers him, throws herself into his arms, and enquires 'Isn't this a dream of a distemper'd mind;'

After all this she abruptly tells him to

'Avaunt, avaunt thou parricide !' calls him 'unparrallel'd assassin, wretch, a blight that witherest all before' him. Now though this transition of language astonishes, it does not daunt Foscari, and he is so near overcoming all her scruples, that she deems it necessary to fly from him. However, she soon returns, being pursued by Policarpo and Erizzo; Foscari protects her, and in the squabble, the assassin Policarpo, misses his man, and kills the Count instead of him. Erizzo, having some compunctious visitings of nature, thinks proper to send for the Doge, and confesses himself the real murderer of Count Dona

to, and of course establishes the innocence of Foscari. But he in the mean time, had departed for the vessel in which he was to re-embark for Candia, and being overcome with agony at parting from his friends, he died before he reached the ship. Almeria runs mad at this event, and in conclusion, every body is as unhappy as so tragick a catastrophe could reasonably make them.

Although the play of Foscari is somewhat better than American dramatick productions have generally proved, it is to the last degree common-place in the conduct of the plot, the language and thought. There are numerous prosaick lines; mere prose cuttings of ten syllables,' and the best of the composition affords very little specimen of true poetry. There is sometimes discoverable a taudry embellishment in description, which only serves to render the poverty of the thought it is intended to illustrate still more evident. We do not recollect a single idea contained in this play, which aspires to the praise of excellence or novelty; but a kind of equal mediocrity universally prevails. The following examples, taken at hazard, evidently read as if they were plain prose:

'Weakness such as this will make me spurn thee;
Submit my child unto thy country's laws,

Nor ask of me what 'tis not in my power

To obtain.'

'How often hast thou clasp'd me to thy bosom,
Prest me with thy maternal tenderness,
Supported, carried me in those tender arms.

Yet the moment I hope is arriving.

'By heaven, Almeria,. I am innocent,

By all that's sacred, THOU dost wrong me.'

Our author's originality of thought and strength of expression are

fairly exhibited in this passage.

'Full six long years have past since 'neath these shades

Almeria listen'd to my tale of love;

I do remember the blest evening well;

We stroll❜d together from our youthful friends,
And this appear'd the choice propitious spot,
Which tempted me to open all my soul:
Amid these groves we oft have sat and read,
And often have I seen her cheek bedewed

With tears, as her soft eyes have past the

Of e'en fictitious woe.'

page

We sometimes discover mere transpositions of words, to give the language a poetical chime;

'But hast thou of Almeria yet no news?"

"A most faithful and deserving fellow,

Gomez by name-a man after my own heart.'

The following quotations are better, though by no means remarkably meritorious, since they are in some respects liable to the objection of prosaick expression :

'O what an awful moment of suspense

Is that which separates us from our bliss!
With firmness we resist the ruder shocks,
Which harass and perplex the life of man;

And our fortitude forsakes us only

When those misfortunes, which we dread to meet,
Are just about to vanish.'

"Policarpo. Revenge! trust me my friend, it is a jewel,
Which seldom is attain'd, unless dug up

With golden spades: poor men should rest content
To use the spade in service of the rich :
The willing hand may seldom need employ.
Gomez. I understand thee, Policarpo-Well,
Inlist me then, and I'll dig up the mine;
I'll turn up e'en the very hugest mound,
To find this precious gem: I'll labour hard,
Although it should adorn another's brow:

This once I'll find it, should I lose my soul !'

On the whole, though we cannot discover in the composition many of the particulars which constitute an excellent play, yet we are free to say, that we have perceived in the composition of Mr. White, something like genius for the dramatick; and we do not by any means, conclude him incapable of producing an excellent play, merely because his Venetian Exile is not eminent for its success.

FOURTH OF MARCH.

THE meetings of the Friends of the People on this glorious day will be multiplied in every section of our country.' Mr. Madison is this day inducted to the chair of state; the people's voice has been elevated in favour of this distinguished patriot, who has long been celebrated for his love for 'the cOMMERCE of the United States and the prosperity of New-England! Like another Jefferson, he will begin his career all honey and roses; but let us beware of offending him, lest he should afterwards, from the example of his predecessor, diet us with gall and hemlock. Confident of the people's love, he will mag

nanimously disregard the opinions of Federal disorganizers ; and will hold his course right on, careless of the opposition of opinion.

"Hereafter, free from care his skiff shall glide,

Its compass Folly, Theory its guide

Adown the stream of state; no rocks t' impede,
No federal shoals to intercept its speed.

And should, perchance, from Eastern climes arise
The howling storm, and darken o'er the skies;
Though the rent sails be driven before the blast,
The cordage snap, and spring the groaning mast;
Yet on one anchor firm will he confide,
And all the perils of the storm deride.
The people's favour is that anchor sure,

With which, through every gale he'll ride secure ;
And though, from want of skill, midst breakers cast,
That ever safely brings us up at last.'

MEETING OF THE PEOPLE'S FRIENDS.

'Let the Press perish,' loud the patriots cry,
'Let the Press perish,' echoing walls reply;
'Flourish Democracy,' the shout goes round,

'Flourish Democracy,' the walls resound.

AVALUABLE Correspondent has been kind enough to favour us with some anticipated Toasts, which are to be given on this day The quotations from various authors will serve to show the erudition of the democrats, as well as their enthusiasick patriotism.

TOASTS.

the

THE OCCASION. Glorious in the American annals; though dawn is overcast' and the tempest growls,' may the rays of the sun and the genial breeze,' make our difficulties vanish like the snow' in our streets; and may the pack horse of delusion no longer carry am. munition through our country, to blow up the administration,'* which now comes into power.

JAMES MADISON, ESQ. The worthy successor of the illustrious THOMAS JEFFERSON, ESQ.

'Our rulers must in turn obey,

"That every dog may have his day.'

* Chronicle.

THE FOURTH OF MARCH, 1809.

'The great, the important day,

'Big with the fate of Cato and of Rome;'

May our Federal Cæsars be slumped in the quick sands of Numidia before they can get to Utica,

'Where Cato gives his little senate law.'

BRITISH HIRELINGS. May those Tories who are paid for changing our constitution in British GUINEAS, never be able to obtain an American Crown.

Confusion to the Press and Federal Printers.

''Tis clear enough we cannot get along,
Unless we shackle every Federal tongue;
Our fame in garb inviolable dress,

And bind in chains the freedom of the press.

And though with them 't were base, with us 'tis fit,

Since "one man's poison is another's meat ;"

Nor does the adage in this case hold true,

That "Sauce for goose is sauce for gander too."

The Principles of Democracy. We hold them to be the ark of our safety, and the rock of our defence,' and clinging to them, we must either sink or swim.

The Republican Majority in Congress.

Wizards know their times;

Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night,
The time of night when Troy was set on fire;
The time when scritch-owls cry and ban-dogs howl,

When spirits walk, and ghosts break up their graves,
That time best fits the work we have in hand.

The morbid state of the Federal Body.' May the grand restorative of military tonicks' be rigorously applied to it.

The conclusive EMBARGO. 'Your majesty' and we that have empty purses,' it touches not us ;'

'Let the gall'd jade wince, our withers are unwrung.'

LIEUT. GOVERNOUR LINCOLN. Whose inimitable speech has promulgated doctrines, which his conduct as Commander in chief has confirmed.

THOMAS JEFFERSON. His second retirement to the mountains, equally evincive of patriotism as his first was of bravery, will tell well in history.' Song-Go to the devil and shake yourself. [We shall endeavour to obtain a copy.}