CHA P. XVI. A projet for the advancement of the flage. T may be thought that we should not wholly omit the Idrand, 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 most Serene Mr Robert Wilks, and the most undaunted Mr Colly Cibber; of whom let it be known, when the people of this age shall be ancefors, and to all the fucceffion of our fucceffors, that to this prefent day they continue to out-do even their own cut-doings; and when the inevitable hand of (weeping time shall have brushed off all the works of to day, may this testimony of a co temporary critic to their fame be extended as far as to morrow. Yet if to fo wife an adminiftration it be possible any thing can be added, it is that more ample and compre henfive fcheme which Mr Dennis and Mr Gildon (the two greatest critics and reformers then living) made public in the year 1726, in a project figned with their names, and dated the fecond of February. I cannot better conclude than by prefenting the reader with the fubftance of it. 1. It is propofed, that the two theatres be incorporated into one company; that the royal academy of mufic be added to them as an orchefira; and that Mr Figg with his prize fighters, and Violante with the rope-dancers, be admitted in partnership. 2. That a fpacious building be erected at the public expence, capable of containing at least ten thousand spectators, which is become abfolutely neceffary by the great addition of children and nurfes to the audience, fince the new entertainments *. That there be a ftage as large as the Athenian, which was near ninety thousand geome 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 fhall all have their places frank. 3. If Westminster hall be not alloted to this fervice (which, by reafon of its proximity to the two chambers. of parliament abovementioned, feems not altogether im proper), it is left to the wifdom of the nation, whether Somerfet-houfe may not be demolished, and a theatre: built upon that fite, which lies convenient to receive spec tators from the county of Surry, who may be wafted taither by water carriage, esteemed by all projectors the cheapest whatfoever. To this may be added, that the river Thames may, in the readieft manner, convey thofe eminent perfonages from courts beyond the feas, who may be drawn either by curiofity to behold fome of our moit 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 abovefaid be environed with a fair quadrangle of buildings, fitted for the accommodation of decayed critics and poets; out of whom fix of the most aged (their age to be computed from the year wherein their first 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 (o 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 actreffes are to make their beds and wash their linen. 6. A large room shall be fet apart for a library, to confift of all the modern dramatic poems, and all the criticifms extant. In the midft of this room fhall 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 prefident fhall have a cofing voice, unless where the contention may run fo high as to require a decifion by fingle combat. 7. It may be convenient to place the council of fix in fome confpicuous fituation in the theatre, where, after the manner ufually practifed by compofers in mufic, they may give figus (before fettled and agreed upon) of diflike or approbation. In confequence of thefe figns the whole audience shall be required to clap or bifs, that the town may learn certainly, when and how far they ought to be pleased. 8. It is fubmitted, whether it would not be proper to diftinguish the council of fix by fome particular habit or gown of an honourable hape and colour, to which may be added a fquare cap and a white wand. 9. That to prevent unmarried treffes 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 educa ted 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 or a poet, and a greater still for the fon of a critic. 10. If it be discovered, that any actress is got with child during the interludes of any play wherein the bath a part, it shall be reckoned a neglect of her business, and fhe fhall forfeil accordingly. If any actor for the future fhall commit murder, except upon the ftage, 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 thole for debt, it is propofed that this, like the other courts of Whitehall and St James's, may be held a place f privilege. And whereas it has been found, that ap obligation to fatisfy paltry creditors has been a difcourage. ment 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 pals and repafs, without being liable to an arrest. 11. The forementioned scheme, in its feveral regulations, may be fupported 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 (though from the former courfe of their lives a very little will be deemed fufficient), the mafters of calculation will, we believe, agree, that out of thole 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, bur 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 firft view, feem liable to objections, particularly thofe that give fo vaft a power to the council of fix (which is indeed larger than any intrufted to the great officers of ftate), this may be obviated by swearing those fix perfons of his majesty's privycouncil, 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 ENEIDEM Specimen. ENEIDEM totam, amice lector, innumerabilibus pené 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 dis em exiftentes. Interea adverte oculos, et bis paucis fruere. At fi quæ fint in hifce caftigationibus de quibus non fatis liquet, fyllabarum quantitates, eskeyousia noftra libro ipfi prefigenda, ut confulas, moneo. Α' 1. SPECIMEN LIBRI PRIMI, VER. I. RMA virumque cano, Trojæ qui primus ab oris Armaque virumque cano, Troje qui primus ab aris Littora. Multum ille et terris vexatus, et alto, Ab aris, nempe Hercai Jovis, vide lib. ii. ver. 512. 550-fatu ventorum Æoli, ut fequitur-Latina certe littora cum Æneas aderat, Lavina non nifi poftea ab ipfo nominata, lib. xii. ver. 193.-jaffatus terris non convenit. II. VER. |