I CHA P. XVI. A project for the advancement of the stage. T may be thought that we should not wholly omit the drama, which makes fo great and fo lucrative a part of poetry. But this province is fo well taken care of by the prefent managers of the theatre, that it is perfectly needlefs to fuggeft to them any other methods than they have already practifed for the advancement of the bathos. HERE therefore, in the name of all our brethren, let me return our fincere and humble thanks to the most Auguft Mr Barton Booth, the moft Serene Mr Robert Wilks, and the most undaunted Mr Colly Cibber; of whom let it be known, when the people of this age fhall be ancestors, and to all the fucceffion of our fucceffors, that to this present day they continue to out-do even their own out-doings ; and when the inevitable hand of fweeping time fhalf have brushed off all the works of to-day, may this teftimony of a co-temporary critic to their fame be extended as far as to morrow. YET if to fo wife an administration it be poffible any thing can be added, it is that more ample and comprehenfive fcheme which Mr Dennis and Mr Gildon (the two greatest critics and reformers then living) made public in the year 1720, in a project figned with their names, and dated the second of February. I cannot better conclude than by presenting the reader with the fubftance of it. 1. Ir is propofed, that the two theatres be incorporated into one company; that the royal academy of mufic be added to them as an orchestra; and that Mr Figg with his prize-fighters, and Violante, with the rope-dancers, be admitted in partnership. 2. THAT afpacious building be erected at the public expence, capable of containing at least ten thousand fpectators, which is become abfolutely neceffary by the great addition of children and nurses to the audience, fince the new entertainments †. That there be a ftage as large as the Athenian, which was near ninety thousand geometrical + Pantomimes were then first exhibited in England. Hawkef. trical paces fquare, and feparate divifions for the two houfes of parliament, my lords the judges, the honourable the directors of the academy, and the court of aldermen, who shall all have their places frank. 3. IF Westminster-hall be not allotted to this fervice, (which, by reafon of its proximity to the two chambers of parliament abovementioned, feems not altogether improper) it is left to the wisdom of the nation, whether Somerfet-house may not be demolished, and a theatre built upon that fite, which lies convenient to receive spectators from the county of Surrey, who may be wafted thither by water-carriage, efteemed by all projectors the cheapest whatsoever. To this may be added, that the river Thames may, in the readieft manner, convey those eminent perfonages from courts beyond the feas, who may be drawn either by curiofity to behold fome of our moft celebrated pieces, or by affecting to fee their countrymen, the harlequins and eunuchs; of which convenient notice may be given, for two or three months before, in the public prints. 4. THAT the theatre above-faid be environed with a fair quadrangle of buildings, fitted for the accommodation of decayed critics and poets; out of whom fix of the moft aged. (their age to be computed from the year wherein their firft work was published) fhall be elected to manage the affairs of the fociety, provided nevertheless that the laureat, for the time being, may be always one. The head or prefident over all (to prevent difputes, but too frequent among the learned) fhall be the most antient poet and critic to be found in the whole island. 5. THE male-players are to be lodged in the garrets of the faid quadrangle, and to attend the perfons of the poets dwelling under them, by brufhing their apparel, drawing on their fhoes, and the like. The actrees are to make their beds and wash their linen. 6. A large room fhall be fet apart for a library, to confift of all the modern dramatic poems, and all the criticisms extant. In the midst of this room shall be a round table for the council of fix to fit and deliberate on the merits of plays. The majority fhall determine the difpute; and if it fhould happen, that three and three fhould be of each fide, the president shall have a cafting voice, unless where the contention may run fo high as to require a decifion by fingle combat. 7. Ir may be convenient to place the council of fix in fome confpicuous fituation in the theatre, where, after the manner ufually practised by compofers in mufic, they may give figns (before fettled and agreed upon) of diflike or approbation. In confequence of thefe figns the whole audience shall be required to clap or his, that the town may learn certainly, when and how far they ought to be pleased. 8. Ir is fubmitted, whether it would not be proper to diftinguish the council of fix by fome particular habit or gown of an honourable shape and colour, to which may be added a fquare cap and a white wand. 9. THAT to prevent unmarried actreffes making away with their infants, a competent provifion be allowed for the nurture of them, who fhall for that reafon be deemed the children of the fociety; and that they may be educated according to the genius of their parents, the faid actreffes fhall declare upon oath (as far as their memory will allow) the true names and qualities of their feveral fathers. A private gentleman's fon fhall, at the public expence, be brought up a page to attend the council of fix a more ample provifion fhall be made for the fon of a poet, and a greater ftill for the son of a critic. 10. IF it be discovered, that any actress is got with child during the interludes of any play, wherein the hath a part, it fhall be reckoned a neglect of her bufinefs, and fhe fhall forfeit accordingly. If any actor for the future fhall commit murder, except upon the stage, he shall be left to the laws of the land; the like is to be understood of robbery and theft. In all other cafes, particularly in thofe for debt, it is propofed that this, like the other courts of Whitehall and St James's, may be held a place of privilege. And whereas it has been found, that an obligation to fatisfy paltry creditors has been a difcouragement to men of letters, if any perfon of quality or others fhall fend for any poet or critic of this fociety to any remote quarter of the town, the faid poet or critic fhall freely pass and repafs, without being liable to an arreft. 11. THE forementioned fcheme, in its feveral regulations, may be supported by profits arifing from every third night throughout the year. And as it would be hard to fuppofe, that fo many perfons could live without any food (tho' from the former courfe of their lives a very little will be deemed fufficient) the masters of calculation will, we believe, agree, that out of those profits the faid perfons might be fubfifted in a fober and decent manner. We will venture to affirm farther, that not only the proper magazines of thunder and lightning, but paint, dietdrinks, Spitting-pots, and all other neceffaries of life, may, in like manner, fairly be provided for. 12. IF fome of the articles may, at first view, feem liable to objections, particularly those that give fo vast a power to the council of fix (which is indeed larger than any entrusted to the great officers of ftate) this may be obviated by fwearing thofe fix perfons of his Majesty's privy council, and obliging them to pafs every thing of moment previously at that moft honourable board. VIRGILIUS VIRGILIUS RESTAURATUS: SEU MARTINI SCRIBLERI, fummi critici, caftigationum in ÆNEIDEM Specimen. ENEIDEM totam, amice lector, innumerabilibus pœne mendis fcaturientem, ad priftinum fenfum revocabimus. In fingulis fere verfibus fpuriæ occurrunt lectiones, in omnibus quos unquam vidi codicibus, aut vulgatis aut ineditis, ad opprobrium ufque criticorum, in hunc diem exiftentes. Interea averte oculos, et his paucis fruere. At fi quæ fint in hifce caftigationibus de quibus non fatis liquet, fyllabarum quantitates, ponyóμeva noftra libro ipfi præfigenda, ut confulas, moneo. I. SPECIMEN LIBRI PRIMI, VER. I. ARMA virumque cano, Troje qui primus ab oris Littora. Multum ille et terris jactatus et alto, Arma virumque cano, Troja qui primus ab aris AB aris, nempe Hercai Jovis, vide lib. ii. ver. 512. 550.- flatu ventorum Æoli, ut fequitur Latina certe littora cum Æneas aderat, Lavina non nifi poftea ab ipfo nominata, lib. xii. ver. 193. — jactatus terris non convenit. II. VER. |