proofs-our own country will furnish us with examples in abundance, to evince the abasement of genius, in prostituting its energies to spiteful invective and invidious satire. And, as we know there are men, who, for their own private advantages, and their own selfish emoluments, will, under the garb of religion, commit the most flagrant acts against simple morality. So are we convinced there are others, who, under the shelter of the drama, would give the most fatal stabs to order, decency, virtue, and every thing precious to the common weal. To guard against such intruders, CURBS become absolutely necessary. The principal faults of our present stage I conceive to originate from three sources. First, from the illiberal opinions entertained against the professors. Secondly, from the inattention of he legis lature to its stability and support. Thirdly, the cold and more than affected indifference of the learned bodies to its progress and welfare. Let the government encourage the establishment of country theatricals upon a respectable footing. Let it frame an act for incorporating its members. Let it watch over the stage that it does not promulgate principles detrimental to the grand interests of a well organized state. The patriot observe it closely, that it breathes nothing hostile to the principles of the constitution, or inimical to the genuine pure flame of liberty. Let religion condescend to mark that 1 it presumes not to infringe upon her hallowed rites. Let morality keep a fixed and jealous eye upon the vehicle, which can so materially aid or injure her dearest interests; let the whole combine to purify it from its errors, and make it, as it was ever intended, the engine of improvement, relaxation, and instruction. "To hold, as 'twere the mirror up "to nature, to show virtue her own feature, scorn "her own image, and the very age and body of "the time his form and pressure." Above all, be banished far the ill-founded prejudice against the professors. Let not actor and dissipation-player and debauchery-be considered as synonimous. Don't enquire what he is? but how he conducts himself, and there would soon be discovered as many valuable members composing the theatrical fraternity as any other. It would then be found histrionical pursuits do not vitiate the mind-nor the profession tend to the corruption of its principles. From all I can collect upon the subject, by reading, discusssion, observation, and experience, I teel myself authorised to affirm, that a well regulated stage would be ever serviceable to mankind, an able assistant to religion, a strong stimulus to morality, a rigid inculcator of virtue, a soother and corrector of the vindictive passions, a moderator and promoter of the gentler ones, and a powerful agent in the hands of a wise legislator for forming a nation to every thing GREAT AND GOOD. THE END. William Ross, Printer, Bowlalley-lane, Hull. ERRATA. Page 13 line 11 read "bellow forth" 14 16 29 36 45 3 13 "down to the period" 66 "schoolmen" 4 remove the note of interrogatlon from 4 remove the comma, read "Scipio Afri canus" 8 read "seem to be" 79 10 "divine replies in the ensuingletter" 115 Note line 3 "monotonous mode" "form a long" 129 Note line 6" of defining it” 6 with unparalleled" cheerful" |