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PROSPECTUS.

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state; he must also retain the discretionary power of choosing his colleagues, and even of ejecting them from the Cabinet should he think it necessary for the public good. We want nothing now but a President. He, like other presidents, must call the counsellors together, sit at the head of the Board, and give the casting vote to the deliberations.

Thus is our Cabinet composed-our administration, we hope, will conduce to the general interests of the world-of letters. Opposition we must expect, and endeavour to overthrow; but, at all events, feeling no disposition to resign, we will keep our seats, and hold the reins of government as long as we possibly can.

THE REVIEW. -The Review of Books, though we do not design any positive exclusion, will be chiefly confined to works which relate to the Belles Lettres, and to those particularly which shall eminently excite, or ought to excite, the attention of the Public. A Review of Music will be included in this Department.

THE STAGE.—The affairs of the Drama will be discussed minutely and with spirit. To effect the improvement of the English Stage, considering it as a NATIONAL INSTITUTION, highly important to the morals, and to the literary character of the country; and to advance the credit and respectability of the members of that profession, is the desire, and shall be the strenuous effort of the conductor of the Cabinet.

THE CABINET EDITION OF THE ENGLISH THEATRE.A word or two in explanation of our plan with regard to the Edition of the Theatre. This we likewise hope will merit its title of the "CABINET EDITION". It will be separately paged and embellished, so as to form a Work perfectly distinct from the Magazine. Our popular plays only will be selected; but these shall be printed with great care from the most authorized copies: with Lives of the Authors; Critiques original and selected; curious and entertaining Anecdotes; Annotations; a review of the leading actors, ancient and modern, who may have distinguished themselves in the principal characters: in brief, every interesting article or occurrence appertaining to each play; humbly hoping, by these accompaniments, to present an Unique Edition, which shall do honour to the drama of our country; and to render an acceptable service to all men of taste and letters; including the intelligent conductors, amateurs, and professors of the British Stage.

TO THE FIRST VOLUME

WE cannot suffer the present opportunity to pass by, without briefly expressing our grateful acknowledgments for the liberal patronage which this Work has experienced from the Public. We may say with Macbeth that we are yet but "young in deed," but we have received such flattering commendations from all quarters, and our confidence in our resources is so strong, that we can venture to promise to the CABINET not only a long but a prosperous life, and it shall be our study as it grows older, to make it grow as much better as we can, by adopting every hint, at whatever expence, that may appear calculated either to increase the interest of its contents, or the splendour of its embellishments. The present volume therefore is offered as a specimen, not of what we deserve, but of what we will deserve.

Among the portraits in hand are those of Shakspeare, Milton, Ben Jonson, Dryden, Southerne, Vanburgh, Wycherley, Addison, Steele, Otway, Rowe, Betterton, Booth, Wilks, Cibber, Quin, Powell in King John, Mrs. Oldfield, Nell Gwynn, Mrs. Cibber, Hayley, the poet; Sir John Carr, Cooke, the actor; and other distinguished characters, living and deceased. They will be engraved by Hopwood, Freeman, Evans, Meadows, Meyer, Woodman, jun. Cook, and other eminent artists. There will also be given an historical scene, sometimes two, from each Drama annexed to the Cabinet.

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THE

CABINET;

OR, MONTHLY REPORT OF

POLITE LITERATURE.

MARCH 1807.

ROBERT WILLIAM ELLISTON, Esq.

IT is one part of our plan to give faithful portraits, and authentic biographical notices, of all PUBLIC CHA RACTERS who have raised themselves into distinction by the force of talent, in the different departments of LITERATURE, CRITICISM, POETRY, the ARTS, MUSIC and the DRAMA. It has been convenient to us, not however from any marked preference, to pay our earliest attention to the Stage; and we have chosen to commence with one of its principal living ornaments, Mr. ELLISTON.

He was born in London, in the year 1774. His father, a watch-maker of some eminence, died a few years ago. The death of his uncle William Elliston, D. D. and Master of Sidney College, Cambridge, took place on the 11th of last month. Professor Martyn, so justly celebrated for his botanical researches and publications, is another of his uncles. The family, therefore, is remarkable for its ingenuity, respectability, and learning.

Dr. Elliston was desirous of bringing up his nephew to the church; and, taking upon himself the entire superintendance and expence of his education, placed him in St. Paul's school. In our great public seminaries it is usual, at certain periods, to allow the boys to recite before their school-fellows. The practice is laudable and beneficial; but, as there is no food so gratifying to youthful vanity as the applause which follows such exhibitions, the successful declaimer is sometimes led to indulge ideas of his own, very foreign from the design of his master, or the wishes of his friends. In

VOL. I.

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