E-text prepared by Steven desJardins
and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
Transcriber's note:
Typographical errors in the original 1807edition have been left uncorrected.
JOHN BULL;
OR,
THE ENGLISHMAN'S FIRESIDE:
A COMEDY, IN FIVE ACTS;
BY GEORGE COLMAN, THE YOUNGER.
AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT GARDEN.
PRINTED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE MANAGERSFROM THE PROMPT BOOK.
WITH REMARKS BY MRS. INCHBALD.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME,PATERNOSTER ROW.
WILLIAM SAVAGE, PRINTER,LONDON.
REMARKS.
"The multitude is always in the wrong."
Roscommon surely meets with a bold contradiction in this comedy—forit was not only admired by the multitude, but the discerning fewapproved of that admiration.
The irresistible broad humour, which is the predominant quality ofthis drama, is so exquisitely interspersed with touches of naturemore refined, with occasional flashes of wit, and with events sointeresting, that, if the production is not of that perfect kindwhich the most rigid critic demands, he must still acknowledge it asa bond, given under the author's own hand, that he can, if hepleases, produce, in all its various branches, a complete comedy.
The introduction of farces into the entertainments of the theatrehas been one cause of destroying that legitimate comedy, which suchcritics require. The eye, which has been accustomed to delight inpaintings of caricature, regards a picture from real life as aninsipid work. The extravagance of farce has given to the Town ataste for the pleasant convulsion of hearty laughter, and smiles arecontemned, as the tokens of insipid amusement.
To know the temper of the times with accuracy, is one of the firsttalents requisite to a dramatic author. The works of other authorsmay be reconsidered a week, a month, or a year after a firstperusal, and regain their credit by an increase of judgment bestowedupon their reader; but the dramatist, once brought before thepublic, must please at first sight, or never be seen more. There isno reconsideration in his case—no judgment to expect beyond thedecree of the moment: and he must direct his force against theweakness, as well as the strength, of his jury. He must addresstheir habits, passions, and prejudices, as the only means to gainthis sudden conquest of their minds and hearts. Such was theauthor's success on the representation of "John Bull." The heartsand minds of his auditors were captivated, and proved, todemonstration, his skilful insight into human kind.
Were other witnesses necessary to confirm this truth, the wholedramatis personæ might be summoned as evidence, in whose charactershuman nature is powerfully described; and if, at times, too boldlyfor a reader's sober fancy, most judiciously adapted to that spiritwhich guides an audience.
It would be tedious to enumerate the beauties of this play, for itabounds with them. Its faults, in a moment, are numbered.
The prudence and good sense of Job