Excerpt from book: NO. IV.] DUBLIN, THURSDAY, APRIL 12TH, 1821. [VOL. 1. CONSCIENCE. CONSCIENCE was performed again last night to an audience, whose numbers were calculated to afford very little encouragement to the performers ; yet they exerted themselves with becoming alacrity ? and if any thing came " tardily off" in the scene, the fault, we apprehend, was attributable rather to the Tragedy than the Tragedians. It is in truth a beautiful dramatic poem, though an imperfect play. The flow and cadence of the style ; the imagery which is diffused with no sparing hand through the dialogue, aided as it was by the fine delivery of Mr. Warde, and the gentle touches of Miss Kelly's voice, afforded a treat to the admirers of true poetry and elegant declamation, which has been seldom surpassed in sweetness, and in power. But the attendants on a- play are not always admirers of fine poetry, out of the closet ; and it must be confessed that as a play. Conscience does not possess those spirit- stirring qualities ? that animated action ? those interesting situations, or that theatrical effect, which so often produce such electrical impressions on an audience. A well-constructed Me- lo-drarae, the very condition of whose excellence consists in artful management ? in imposing incident- ? in striking and unexpected situations? in interesting tableaux ? in a word, in that species of effect, which the French call a coup de theatre, which is always improbable, and so frequently unnatural ? would without any aids of sentiment, from poetry, from language, from passion, or from character, he sure tu tell; when Fletcher's muse would be passed, like the idle wind, unheeded, or the more stern and measured declamations of Ben Jonson be suffered with impatience. If Mr. Haynes have faile4, therefore, he fails with ...