periods of the drama, from the vanity of the female sex; who, however much they were kept under control, and their opinions disregarded in ancient days, have amply made up for that restriction now, by taking matters of taste entirely under their direction.  It is said, that when modern play-writing first came in fashion, the ladies refused to honour the theatre with their presence, unless their inclinations were more attended to, and love was made the burthen of the song.  Accordingly, we find even the pure taste of Addison giving in to this demand, and the otherwise beautiful tragedy of Cato (for even the unities are preserved in it) is spoiled by two stupid love plots, that not only disfigure it, but throw a complete weariness over the whole.  With the ancients it was very different, and amongst all those splendid Greek compositions which are regarded as models for the drama, we find none of them, with the exception of Hippolitus, in which there is any of this trifling with love affairs.

Before I close these observations, let me add, that in looking at this question, we must consent to throw off our national prejudices; and in drawing the comparison, not to regard English plays, whether tragic or comic, as the standards of perfection.  English Comedy is not only considered inferior to that of most nations, but it is in many respects bad in its tendency, and may almost be looked upon as a school for vanity.  To conclude, instead of regarding the drama as it is, I have rather endeavoured to consider it as it should be.

F.

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THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

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REAL CHARACTER OF LOUIS XIV.

Concerning Louis the Fourteenth himself, the world seems at last to have formed a correct judgment.  He was not a great general; he was not a great statesman; but he was, in one sense of the words, a great king.  Never was there so consummate a master of what our James the First would have called king-craft,—­of all those arts which most advantageously display the merits of a prince, and most completely hide his defects.  Though his internal administration was bad,—­though the military triumphs which gave splendour to the early part of his reign were not achieved by himself,—­though his later years were crowded with defeats and humiliations,—­though he was so ignorant that he scarcely understood the Latin of his mass-book,—­though he fell under the control of a cunning Jesuit and of a more cunning old woman,—­he succeeded in passing himself off on his people as a being above humanity.  And this is the more extraordinary, because he did not seclude himself from the public gaze like those Oriental despots whose faces are never seen, and whose very names it is a crime to pronounce lightly.  It has been said that no man is a hero to his valet;—­and all the world saw as much of Louis the Fourteenth