THE CABINET; OR, MONTHLY REPORT OF POLITE LITERATURE. NOVEMBER, 1808. FREDERICK REYNOLDS, ESQ. THIS gentleman is the younger son of an eminent attorney, who was under sheriff to Mr. Wilkes, at the most popular period of his history. He was also solicitor to the illustrious Lord Chatham. Young Reynolds was educated at Westminster School, and being intended by his father for the Bar, was afterwards entered of the Middle Temple, where, like the majority of students there, he learnt every thing but law; and though he kept all his terms, that is, took his due proportion of roast beef and plum-pudding, he never had any serious intention of assuming the barrister's wig and gown, having already fixed his affections on the gayer amusements of the stage. His first play, Werter, was brought out at Bath, and afterwards at Covent Garden, which had refused it in the first instance; and from the popularity of the subject, and the ingenuity with which it was treated, its attraction was very great. Holman and Miss Brunton, then in the height of their popularity, were the Werter and Charlotte at the latter theatre. The profits of the piece, great as they were, went however entirely to the manager, it being then, and we believe is now, one of the despotic regulations of the theatre, that an author should receive no money for á piece adopted from another stage. Young writers usually attach themselves to the mournful Muse. The success of Werter had gratified his literary pride, though it had not filled his pockets. He tried again, and produced Eloisa, another tragedy from a subject equally interesting. But here he was less fortunate. The piece went but three nights, and brought him only eight pounds! This was enough for Reynolds; he loved Melpomene well, but he loved money better. He therefore turned short round, and paid his addresses to her sister Thalia, who not only received his advances more favourably, but taught him how to grow rich. His first comedy, however, and decidedly his best, was the Dramatist, which still lives on the stage, and will live there as long as there shall be any comedian to play the eccentric and admirable character of Vapid. This piece found its way to the stage through Mrs. Wells, who took it for her benefit, after it had been refused by the manager; and its merit was recognized so forcibly by the town, that it was instantly and gladly seized by Mr. Harris, who allowed the author his just emoluments, and the run of the piece was immense. The theatre was now at his command. Other pieces followed in annual succession. All of them succeeded greatly; and his reputation as a comic writer was fully established. 66 We have not the titles of his numerous plays at hand; but they amount, we believe, to about forty. It may be said, and has indeed often been idly objected, that his comedies perish with the season which produces them. This detracts nothing from their deserts. He wrote them for the season. It being his design to shoot folly as it flies, he caught the manners living as they rose;' and with these fleeting follies, and temporary manners, the plays which satirized them, not with the strong coarse pen of the misanthrope, but the brisk playful humour of a dramatist who looked at the world to laugh at it, necessarily slipped by and were forgotten. Reynolds has done what he intended: and he has done it well, ingeniously, originally, and with infinite comic. facility and address. His plan was altogether his own; and though many have followed, and some may have a little improved upon it, his at last must be the prin cipal merit. His opera now announced for representation at the Haymarket is of a serio-comic description, and much is expected from it. It will be produced immediately. Mr. Reynolds married Miss Mansell, of the CoventGarden Company, a lady of truly amiable manners, by whom he has two children. In private life no gentleman is better respected, or better deserves to be so. THE RIGHTS OF THE BRUTE CREATION TO idea I presume there is no man of feeling, that has any of justice, but would confess, upon the principles of reason and common sense, that if he were to be put to unnecessary and unmerited pain by another man, bis tormentor would do him an act of injustice; and from a sense of the injustice in his own case, now that he is the sufferer, he must naturally infer, that if he were to put another man of feeling to the same unnecessary and unmerited pain which he now suffers, the injustice in himself to the other would be exactly the same as the injustice in his tormentor to him. Therefore the man of feeling and justice will not put another man to unmerited pain, because he will not do that to another, which he is unwilling should be done to himself. Nor will he take any advantage of his own superiority of strength, or of the accidents of fortune, to abuse them to the oppression of his inferior; because he knows that in the article of feeling all men are equal; and that the differences of strength or station are as much the gifts and appointments of God, as the differences of understanding, colour, or stature. Superiority of rank or station may give ability to communicate happiness, (and seems so intended;) but it can give no right to inflict unnecessary or unmerited pain. A wise man would impeach his own wisdom, and be unworthy of the blessing of a good understanding, if he were to infer from thence that he had a right to despise or make game of a fool, or put him to any degree of pain. The folly of the fool ought rather to excite his compassion, and demands the wise man's care and attention to one that cannot take care of himself. It has pleased God the Father of all men to cover some men with white skins, and others with black skins: but as there is neither merit nor demerit in complexion, the |