The English Comedy is no less esteemed by the English, than it has been severely criticiz’d by the French, who say, ’tis not comparable to theirs. The Wits of both Nations have treated this important Subject very gravely, and have alike shewn their Presumption. I am far from giving my Judgment betwixt them; but I must say, that it seems to me, that the French are too much cramp’d by their Rules, and the English not enough. Thus do the two Nations discover the Difference of their Taste, the one for Obedience, the other for Liberty. Tho’ the English are not such nice Observers of the Simplicity of the Subject, and the Unity of Place, yet they seem to me to abound in happy Sentiments: And how much prejudiced soever they may be said to be in Favour of their own Productions, yet they do not want an Esteem for such French Pieces, where they meet with Sentiments that are agreeable. The Tragedy of Brutus by Voltaire is just translated here, which is a Piece that has had a better Run even at London, than at Paris; and as it was composed by the Author in England, he was so intirely captivated with the Freedom of Thinking among the English, that he had in some measure forgot he was a Frenchman, and speaks in it of Kings as if they were but Men.
The Plays lead me to give you an Account of the rest of those Pleasures in which the English seem to take Delight. They hunt much, but in a Manner very different from us. They ride exceeding
hard, and hunt a poor Hare with as much Eagerness as they pursue a routed Enemy. Their Hounds, and their Horses too, encourage their Keenness for the Sport, there being not the like in the World for Speed; so that England furnishes almost all the Nobility in Europe with Horses and Dogs, as the King of Denmark does with Falcons.
The Swiftness of the English Horses is the Reason that there are Horse-Races every Year at a Place called Newmarket; and this really is what Travellers may say is worth seeing. These Races continue for several Days successively, and infinitely surpass those which are seen in Italy. They are run round a large Plain. Two Horses mounted by Jockeys contend which shall run fastest. The Riders are weighed, and to the lightest of them they give that Weight which he wants of the other. They ride without a Saddle, and with such Velocity, that the Eye can scarce keep Pace with ’em. Upon these Occasions, Wagers are laid of several thousand Pounds Sterling: And it seems to be a Festival celebrated to the Honour of Plutus, the God of Riches; for the Jockey that wins the Prize is sure to be refreshed with a Shower of Guineas, every one crouding to reward him. Such is the Custom of the English, who not only pay those handsomely who contribute to their Pleasures, but load them with Presents. This is to be seen at all the Prize-sightings, Rope-dancings, Tumblings, and such Diversions, where every one throws down Money upon the Stage to them that play their Part best. The Actors at the Opera and the Play-houses have also Gratuities, besides their Salaries; for once a Year, every Performer has a Benefit-Night, as they call it, which is the Surplus Money then taken, over and above the Charges of the House; and if the Person be a Favourite of the Town, as
Notice is given by Play-Bills pasted up, for whose Benefit the Play is to be acted, People send for more Tickets than they shall make use of, for the Party’s Encouragement. This Generosity of the English towards those who give them Pleasure, extends in a particular Manner towards their Mistresses, for whom they think nothing too fine, nor too dear. Thus, ’tis not to Assiduity that they are willing to be obliged for the Favours which they receive, but to their Money, and their Presents; wherein they differ widely from certain Abbés of Rome, of whom no less than five or six club for the keeping of one Mistress.
These Abbés put me in mind of a numerous Tribe here, called Chaplains, whose bonny Countenances are a pretty evident Proof, that at the Reformation of the Church of England, their Revenues were not very much impaired. Whether these Gentlemen are more sober than our Clergy, I know not; but by Appearances I am almost tempted to think, that they have the same Thirst for Honour and Wealth, the same Cares and Uneasiness; in fine, that they are Men alike. The Difference is, that the English are subject to the Laws, that their Passions are kept within Bounds, and that the Laity are not so superstitious as to take them for Oracles. ’Tis said that they make admirable Sermons, the constant Tenor of which is to reform Mankind, and to guide them in the Path of Virtue. They read them instead of pronouncing them by Heart, which prevents them from falling into that extravagant Gesticulation, and those mad Rants and Enthusiasm, which commonly irritate more than edify. But I think I have said enough to you of the Clergy, when I had undertaken to give you a farther Account of the English Diversions. Those of the Vulgar are, the Battles of Animals, Prize-fighters, Wrestlers,
and in a Word, all Manner of Diversions that contribute to the shedding of Blood; for here, Wounds go for nothing, and Death itself is but little dreaded. I fansy the English are descended from Mutius Scævola, because, like that Roman, they despise Pain. Among the Pleasures of the Populace there are some too that are mixed with Insolence; of which I saw an Instance a few Days ago in St. James’s Park. A Man had laid a Wager, that he would run round the Park in so many Minutes; and that he might be the less incumbered in his Race, he stripped himself stark naked, so that his Hand served him for a Fig-leaf. In this State of Nature he travers’d along the Mall, thro’ an infinite Concourse of People. The Ladies, astonish’d at such a Sight, knew not how to keep their Countenances: Some turned their Heads aside, others hid their Faces with their Fans, but they all made a Row, as well as the Men, to let him pass by. After he had finished his Race, he gravely put on his Cloaths, near Whitehall, where he left ’em; and as he had won the Wager, abundance of People, instead of checking him for his Insolence, threw him Money. Judge by this, if any People are so good-natur’d and happy as the English.
Among the Pleasures of this Nation, I must not forget to mention the Parties they make for the Country. This the English set a great Value upon, and really well they may; for indeed their Country is very beautiful. It produces them every thing but Wine. Their Fields have always a fresh Verdure, the Gentlemens Country-Seats are superb, and in the Country the English live with the Grandeur of Noblemen, whereas at London they live for most part like mere private Men.
Nothing can be more agreeable to the Eye, than the Suburbs of London, particularly along
the Thames. I cannot conceive how a Native of England, and one too that has a Fortune to depend on, can resolve to leave these Regions, as a great many English nevertheless do, who prefer Countries to which Nature has not been so kind, before their own. I confess, that if I had one thousand Pounds Sterling a Year in England, I would renounce the most shining Offers of Fortune elsewhere; for the Climate here is mild, without that excessive Heat or Cold which is so troublesome in other Parts of the World: And indeed, ’tis for this Cause that the Fruits here are not so kindly as elsewhere, and that the Grape does not grow here for the Production of Wine; but then, this Defect is supplied by the Grapes of Spain and Portugal, which are imported here in Abundance.