criticortragedyr00insher bw

118 Pages·2021·3.56 MB·English

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( in three ^lc TS3

Theatre Royal in Drury Lane

jo

/
7
London.

Printed for T. B ecket
,Ad elphi
, Strand

,

MD C C L XXX I.

12*

TO
Mrs. GREFILLE.

M A D A M,

'N requeuing your permijjlon
to addrefs the

following
pages
to you,
which
as
they

aim themfehes to be critical, require every pro*

teBion and allowance
that approving tafie or

friendly prejudice
can give
them, I yet
ven-

tured to mention no other motive than the gra-

tification ofprivatefriendjhip and efeem. Had

Ifuggefted a hope thatyour
implied approba-

tion would give
a fanclion
to
their
defecls,

your particular referve, and difike
to the re-

putation of critical tafe,
as well as ofpoetical

talent,
would have ?nade you
refufe
the pro-

tection ofyour name tofuch a purpofe.
How-

ever, I am notfo ungrateful as now to attempt

to
combat this difpofition in you.
I fall not

here prefume
to argue
that
the prefent fate

of poetry
claims and
expects
every
ajfjlance

that
tafe and example can afford it
:
nor
en-

deavour to prove
that afafidious concealment

of the mofi elegant productions ofjudg?nent and

faiicy
is an ill return for the poffefion of thofe

A
endow*

11

endowments.—Continue
to
deceive yourfelf in

the
idea
that you are known
only
to
be emi-

nently admired and regarded Jor
the valuable

qualities
that attach private friend/hips, and

the graceful
talents
that
adorn
converfation.

Enough
of
what
you
have
written,
has

fiolen
into full public
notice
to
anfwer
my

purpo/e; and you
will, perhaps,
be
the
only

perfon,
converfant
in elegant
literature, who

jhall read this addrefs and not perceive that by

fiublijhing your particular approbation
of the

following drama, 1 have a more interefed object

than to boaf the true refpefl and regard with

which

I have the honour to be,

MAD AM,

Tour veryfincere,

And obedient humblefervant,

R.
B. SHERIDAN.