inculcated by the Christian dispensation are combined with the
inflexible magnanimity of the stoic's creed--when we hear virtues

----Such a Roman breast
In Rome's corruptless times might have confest.

dressed up in a vigorous highly ornamented style, and the crime of
suicide depicted in the most glowing language of poetry, and deplored
and deprecated in terms of dissuasion, forcible as those of Bourdaloue,
and eloquent as those of Massillon, delivered from the mouth of a sooty
African, as the spontaneous issues of his native moral philosophy and
religion, we feel the incongruity too much for our nerves, and reject it
in action. It may be asked, "why may not a negro on the coast of Africa
enjoy such feelings, possess such virtues and speak them in such terms?"
From what we have heard and seen, we entertain little doubt that there
are men capable of asking such a question; but we know no way of
answering it but by asking in return why an Esquimaux Indian should not
compose an overture equal to any of Handel's, or a Dutch boor dance a
_pas seul_ as well as _Vestris_, or a minuet as well as the prince of
Wales.

Again it may be asked how it came to pass that this play, if so
exceptionable, was well received in England; to this we answer, that an
abhorrence of the slave trade, just indignation at the wrongs done the
unhappy Africans, and pity for their sufferings, together with
exultation at the triumph which the generous band who procured the
abolition of that execrable trade obtained over its cruel sordid
advocates, had filled the people of Great Britain with an enthusiasm
calculated to ensure their favourable reception of any thing creditable
to the Africans. And it is highly probable that Mr. Colman purposely
took that tide in public opinion at the flood.

The play, however, must be delightful in the closet, and was cast so as
to comprehend the whole strength of the company. Every part was decently
sustained, others respectably, two excellently. For a proof of which we
need offer nothing more than the single circumstance that none of the
serious parts produced laughter as unexpected incongruities generally
do. Had _black_ SELICO been in the hands of some performers we have
seen, instead of Mr. Wood's, two or three of his speeches must have
produced merriment.

* * * * *

_Mr. Cooper's second visit this season._

Mr. Cooper's performances during this visit recei