would be a tame Lion fent from the Tower every Oper Night, in order to be killed by Hydafpes; this Report though altogether groundlefs, fo univerfally prevailed in the upper Regions of the Play-houfe, that fome of the moft refined Politicians in thofe Parts of the Audience gave it out in Whisper, that the Lion was a Coufin-German of the Tyger who made his Appearance in King William's Days, and that the Stage would be fupplied with Lions at the publick Expence, during the whole Seffion. Many likewife were the Conjectures of the Treatment which this Lion was to meet with from the Hands of Signior Nicolini, fome fuppofed that he was to fubdue him in Recitativo, as Orpheus ufed to ferve the wild Beafts in his time, and afterwards to knock him on the Head; fome fancied that the Lion would not pretend to lay his Paws upon the Hero, by reafon of the received Opinion, that a Lion will not hurt a Virgin: Several, who pretended to have feen the Opera in Italy, had informed their Friends, that the Lion was to act a Part in HighDutch, and roar twice or thrice to a Thorough Bafe, before he fell at the Feet of Hydafpes. To clear up a Matter that was fo variously reported, I have made it my Bufinefs to examine whether this pretended Lion is really the Savage he appears to be, or only a Counterfeit.

BUT before I communicate my Difcoveries, I must acquaint the Reader, that upon my walking behind the Scenes laft Winter, as I was thinking on fomething elfe, I accidentally juftled against a monstrous Animal that extreamly startled me, and upon my nearer Survey of it, appeared to be a Lion Rampant. The Lion, feeing me very much furprized, told me, in a gentle Voice, that I might come by him if I pleased: For (fays he) I do not intend to hurt any Body. I thanked him very kindly, and paffed by him. And in a little time after faw him leap upon the Stage, and act his Part with very great Applaufe. It has been obferved by feveral, that the Lion has changed his manner of acting twice or thrice fince his firft Appearance; which will not feem ftrange, when I acquaint my Reader that the Lion has been changed upon the Audience three feveral times. The firft Lion was a Candlefnuffer, who being a Fellow of a tefty cholerick Temper over-did his Part, and would not fuffer himself to be kil

led

led fo easily as he ought to have done; befides, it was obferved of him, that he grew more furly every time he came out of the Lion; and having dropt fome Words in ordinary Converfation, as if he had not fought his best, and that he fuffered himself to be thrown upon his Back in the Scuffle, and that he would wrestle with Mr. Nicolini for what he pleafed, out of his Lion's Skin, it was thought proper to difcard him: And it is verily believed, to this Day, that had he been brought upon the Stage another time, he would certainly have done Mischief, Be-fides it was objected against the first Lión, that he reared himself fo high upon his hinder Paws, and walked in to erect a Pofture, that he looked more like an old Man than a Lion.

THE fecond Lion was a Taylor by Trade, who belonged to the Play-house, and had the Character of a mild and peaceable Man in his Profeffion. If the former was too furious, this was too fheepish, for his Part; infomuch that after a fhort modeft Walk upon the Stage, he would fall at the first Touch of Hydafpes, without grapling with him, and giving him an Opportunity of fhowing his Variety of Italian Tripps: It is faid indeed, that he once gave him a Ripp in his flefh-colour Doublet; but this was only to make Work for himfelf, in his private Character of a Taylor. I must not omit that it was this fecond Lion who treated me with fo much Humanity behind. the Scenes.

THE Acting Lion at prefent is, as I am informed, a Country Gentleman who does it for his Diverfion, but defires his Name may be concealed. He fays very handfomely in his own Excufe, that he does not act for Gain, that he indulges an innocent Pleasure in it ;- and that it is better to pass away an Evening in this manner than in Gaming and Drinking: But at the fame time fays, with a very agreeable Raillery upon himself, That if his Name fhould be known, the ill-natured World might call him The Afs in the Lion's Skin. This Gentleman's Temper is made out of fuch a happy Mixture of the Mild and the Cholerick, that he out-does both his Predeceffors, and has drawn together greater Audiences than have been known in the Memory of Man,

I must not conclude my Narrative, without taking Notice of a groundless Report that has been raised, to a Gentleman's Difadvantage, of whom I must declare my felf an Admirer; namely, that Signior Nicolini and the Lion have been feen fitting peaceably by one another, and fmoaking a Pipe together, behind the Scenes; by which their common Enemies would infinuate, that it is but a fham Combat which they reprefent upon the Stage: But upon Enquiry I find, that if any fuch Correfpondence has paffed between them, it was not till the Combat was over, when the Lion was to be looked upon as dead, according to the received Rules of the Drama. Befides, this is what is practifed every Day in Westminster-Hall, where nothing is more ufual than to fee a Couple of Lawyers, who have been tearing each other to pieces in the Court, embracing one another as foon as they are out of it.

I would not be thought, in any part of this Relation, to reflect upon Signior Nicolini, who in acting this Part only complies with the wretched Tafte of his Audience,. he knows very well, that the Lion has many more Admirers than himself; as they fay of the famous Equestrian Statue on the Pont-Neuf at Paris, that more People go to fee the Horse, than the King who fits upon it. On the contrary, it gives me a juft Indignation to fee a Perfon whofe Action gives new Majefty to Kings, Refolution to Heroes, and Softness to Lovers, thus finking from the Greatnefs of his Behaviour, and degraded into the Character of the London Prentice. I have often wifhed, that Our Tragedians would copy after this great Mafter in Action. Could they make the fame use of their Arms and Legs, and inform their Faces with as fignificant Looks and Paffions, how glorious would an English Tragedy appear with that Action, which is capable of giving a Dignity to the forced Thoughts, cold Conceits, and unnatural Expreffions of an Italian Opera. In the mean time, I have related this Combat of the Lion, to fhew what are at prefent the reigning Entertainments of the Politer Part of Great Britain.

AUDIENCES have often been reproached by Writera for the Coarfenefs of their Tafte; but our prefent Grievance does not feem to be the Want of a good Täfte kur of Common Senfe,

N° 14.

I

Friday, March 16.

-Teque his, Infalix, exite monftris.

Ovid.

Was reflecting this Morning upon the Spirit and Humour of the publick Diverfions Five and twenty Years ago, and thofe of the prefent Time; and lamented to my felf, that though in thofe Days they nelected their Morality, they kept up their Good Senfe; but that the beau Monde at prefent, is only grown more childish, not more innocent, than the former. While I was in this Train of Thought, an old Fellow, whofe Face I have often feen at the Play-house, gave me the following Letter with these Words, Sir, the Lion prefents his humble Service to you, and defired me to give this into your own Hands.

་

From my Den in the Hay-Market, March 15,

SIR,

Have read all your Papers, and have ftifled my Re

I fentment against your Reflections upon Opera's

⚫till that of this Day, wherein you plainly infinuate that Signior Grimaldi and my felf have a Correfpondence more friendly than is confiftent with the Valour of his Character, or the Fiercenefs of mine. I defire you would for your own Sake forbear fuch Intimations for the future, and must say it is a great Piece of Ill-nature in you, to fhew fo great an Efteem for a Foreigner, and to difcourage a Lion that is your own Country

man.

I take notice of your Fable of the Lion and Man, but am fo equally concerned in that Matter, that I fhall not be offended to which foever of the Animals the Superi ority is given. You have mif-reprefented me, in faying that I am a Country Gentleman, who act only for my Diversion whereas, had I ftill the fame Woods to

range:

range in which I once had when I was a Fox-hunter, I fhould not refign my Manhood for a Maintenance; and affure you, as low as my Circumftances are at prefent, I am fo much a Man of Honour, that I would scorn to be any Beaft for Bread but a Lion.

Yours, &c.

I had no fooner ended this, than one of my Landlady's Children brought me in feveral others, with fome of which I fhall make up my prefent Paper, they all having a Tendency to the fame Subject, viz. the Elegance of our prefent Diversions. '

SIR,

Covent-Garden, March 137

I Have been for twenty Years Under-Sexton of this Parish of St. Paul's Covent-Garden, and have not miffed tolling in to Prayers fix times in all thofe Years; which Office I have performed to my great Satisfaction, till this Fortnight last past, during which Time I find my Congregation take the Warning of my Bell, Morning and Evening, to go to a Puppet-Show fet forth by one Powell under the Piazzas. By this Means I have not only loft my two Cuftomers, whom I used to place for Sixpence a-piece over-againft Mrs. Rachel Eye-bright, but Mrs. Rachel her felf is gone thither also.' There now appear among us none but a few ordinary People, who come to Church only to fay their Prayers, fo that I have no Work worth fpeaking of but on Sundays. I have placed my Son at the Piazzas, to acquaint the Ladies that the Bell rings for Church, and that it ftands on the other Side of the Garden; but they only laugh at the Child.

I defire you would lay this before all the World, that I may not be made fuch a Tool for the future, and that Punchinello may chufe Hours lefs canonical. As things are now, Mr. Powell has a full Congregati on, while we have a very thin Houfe; which if you can remedy, you will very much oblige,

1

SIR,

Yours, &c