ADVERTISEMENT.
The greater number of the Dramas contained in the following volumes have been written many years ago; none of them very recently. It was my intention not to have them published in my lifetime; but that, after my death, they should have been offered to some of the smaller Theatres of our Metropolis, and thereby have a chance, at least, of being produced to the public with the advantages of action and scenic decorations, which naturally belong to dramatic compositions. But the present circumstances connected with our English Theatres are not encouraging for such an attempt; any promise of their soon becoming so is very doubtful; and I am induced to relinquish what was at one time my earnest wish. This being the case, to keep them longer unpublished would serve no good purpose, and might afterwards give trouble to friends whom I would willingly spare. They are, therefore, now offered to the public, with a diffident hope that they may be found deserving of some portion of its favour and indulgence.
The first volume comprises a continuation of the series of Plays on the stronger Passions of the Mind, and completes all that I intended to write on the subject: for envy and revenge are so frequently exposed in our Dramas,—the latter, particularly, has been so powerfully delineated,—that I have thought myself at liberty to exclude them from my plan as originally contemplated. The two following volumes of Miscellaneous Plays will complete the whole of my Dramatic Works.
In thus relinquishing my original intention, there is one thing particularly soothing to my feelings,— that those frendly readers who encouraged my early dramatic writings (alas, how reduced in numbers!) will see the completion of the whole. This will, at least, gratify their curiosity; and it would be ungrateful in me not to believe that they will, also, take some interest in the latter part of a work, the beginning of which their partial favour so kindly fostered.
With the exception of two Dramas, "The Martyr," and "The Bride," the matter of the following volumes is entirely new to the public; but, as only one edition of the former, and two small editions of the latter, have been circulated, there are few persons who can be possessed of either. Besides, as they are on subjects particularly fitted to interest and improve a young mind, they may be given away to youthful readers, disjoined from the general stock; and, in that case, will scarcely be considered as useless duplicates.
WORKS
BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
PLAYS on the PASSIONS. In Three Vols. 8vo. Price 1l. 11s. 6d. Boards.
MISCELLANEOUS PLAYS. 8vo. Price 9s. Boards.
The FAMILY LEGEND. 8vo. Price 3s. 6d.
METRICAL LEGENDS of EXALTED CHARACTERS. 2d Edition, 8vo. Price 14s. Boards.
ALSO,
A COLLECTION of POEMS, chiefly Manuscript, and from living Authors. Edited for the benefit of a Friend, by Joanna Baillie. 8vo. Price 1l. 1s. Boards.