with typos. Excerpt from book: characters, answerable to the title of The Tender Husband; but that the author, being carried away by the luxuriancy of a genius, which he had not the heart to prune, on a general survey of the whole, distrusting the propriety of that title, added the under one: with an—OR, The Accomplished Fools, in justice to his piece, and compliment to his audience. And, pardon me, madam, had he called it The Accomplished Knaves, I would not have been angry at him, because there would have been more propriety in the title. I wish I could, for the sake of the authors, have praised every scene of this play : I hoped to have reason for it. Judge then, my dear lady, what a mortification it was to me, not to be able to say, I liked above one, the painter's scene, which too was out of time, being on the wedding-day ; and am forced to disapprove of every character in it, and the views of every one. I am, dearest madam, Your most obliged sister and servant, P. B . LETTER III MRS. B , TO LADY DAVERS My Dear Lady, Although I cannot tell how you received my observations on the Tragedy of The Distressed Mother, and the Comedy of The Tender Husband; yet will I proceed to give your ladyship my opinion of the opera I was at last night. But what can I say, when I have mentioned what you so well know, the fine scenes, the genteel and splendid company, the charming voices, and delightful music ! If, madam, one were all ear, and lost to every sense but that of harmony, surely the Italian opera would be a transporting thing !—But when one finds good sense, and instruction, and propriety, sacrificed to the charms of sound, what an unedifying, what a mere temporary delight does it afford ! For what does one carry home, but the remembrance of having been pleased so many hours by the mere v...

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