Notwithstanding a Theatre is a place of resort for a It is impossible to adduce a stronger proof of Theatre being an establishment of national utility, and a place of resort for the refined pleasures of a polished people, than to name one for its patron and admirer, who is a monarch singularly distinguished for every virtue that can adorn the brow of royalty. In addition also to the king's passion for Theatrical representation, there is scarcely a nobleman in the kingdom who is dead to the beauties of the Stage, and the legislative body who frame laws for the preservation of our morals, have not only made the profession of a Player a legal pursuit, but those of both Houses of Parliament, including the higher order of the clergy, frequently relax in the important duties of the State, by participating in the amusements of a note Theatre; therefore those religious persons who often condemn the frequenters of a Play House to eternal damnation, should recollect that it is the peculiar mildness of this government, which grants toleration to the existence of religious sectaries; and when they take the liberty to condemn those persons to everlasting torment, for the practice of an art which they are quite unqualified to judge of, as well as those who visit Theatrical Exhibitions, they frequently libel those exalted characters to whom they are indebted for the existence, and protection of their particular and favorite system of worship. Before we leave this subject, it will not be improper to observe that those of the learned professions, may shine and fill the highest situation in the state, with minor requisites to what are necessary for the professors of the Stage, as a man may become an excellent lawyer, statesman, physician, or painter with a deformed frame, unmeaning countenance, dissonant voice, and ungrateful mien, but such defects would be an everlasting impediment to the disciple of Thespis. Surely then he that partakes of nature's choicest gifts, and the graces of refinement, cannot be unworthy of admiration and respect, particularly when accompanied with a moral demeanour. It is therefore hard that the perfections of nature enriched with accomplishments, should be sunk in public esteem by the vulgar breath of slander, from a person's merely being a Player, whose art is the most difficult to excel in, and in which such a combination of requisites are necessary to render a Stage professor admirable. The great attention which has been given of late years to Theatrical gentlemen, by the first characters in the kingdom, has rendered them more attentive to private character; we therefore may venture to remark, that the Stage of the present day has ornaments independent of professional acquirments, in whom may be found all the virtues that constitute moral excellence, either as husbands, fathers, or citizens; and who when in the exercise of professional duty, may be looked up to and considered as so many pillars of the state, elucidating the doctrine of the moral code, for the happy example of the British people. But to conclude, the best institution may be made the vehicle of wickedness, when in the hands of depraved per sons; indeed there is no science that may not be converted to destroy, instead of benefiting mankind : the knowledge of medicine is of inexpressible service to society, but when administered by the ignorant or wicked, is often destructive. The press is a glorious source of human wisdom, yet it has occasionally disgorged the blasphemous pages of an abandoned and licentious pen; but ridiculous and unphilosophic would that person be, who would recommend the annihilation of au art, from. its having been converted into an instrument of the immoral. The Stage has always kept pace with the state of public morals, and therefore at various periods of history it has been offensive to the rigid moralist; but while the people of this country continue vigorous enthusiasts for the maintenance of their religion, liberty, and the honour of the crown; the Stage must float on public favour, as the mirror of a nation's virtue, and the enlightened and polished school of a free people. HAVING analysed the various powers of the Scenic art, and the moral consequences resulting from the Stage, we shall now apply our remarks on the construction and merit of the Dramas produced at the present day, and also to what ratio of improvement the Stage is capable of being raised, without an injury to its pecuniary advantages. As we observed in page the 12th, that the Plays now offered to public notice, gave pictures of English courage to animate a love of country, and its happy government; yet to rest entirely on complimentary allusions to our national comforts, will not constitute a good Drama, and we are sorry to observe that many Plays of a recent date have had no other merit; and only consisted of a string of lugged-in compliments to British valour, without which they must have been consigned after the first night to endless oblivion; to enumerate all these abortions of the brain, of which nothing but interest could have produced them managerial protection, would be unnecessarily dwelling on trifles which had an early death, and have been forgotton without regret. There are but few Dramatic writers at this epoch, whose works will be either admired or even thought of at a future age, except quoted by some historian to illustrate the degenerate texture of public taste in this reign; and in the writer's reflections on the subject, he must deplore the ill use that has been made of so valuable a vehicle of national wisdom, as a Theatre, or sacrifice truth to compliment false taste; and future ages will wonder how an enlightened people, amidst a general diffusion of every species of knowledge, and the living example of fine Dramatic writing, could suffer themselves to be insulted with those brainless effusions of folly, which several authors have arrogantly styled Comedy. The favourite Roman poet has begun his epistle to the Pisos, Humano capiti cervicem pictor equinam, Jungere si velit, et varias inducere plumas Undeque collatis membris, ut turpiter atrum Desinat in piscem mulier formosa supene ; Spectatum admissi risum teneatis amici? To which we beg leave to subjoin Earl Roscommon's imitation of the poet : "If in a picture Piso you should see "Or limbs of beasts of the most different kinds, "Cover'd with feathers of all sorts of birds, "Would you not laugh, and think the painter mad ?” This we consider an applicable description of many of the Dramas that have infested the Stage, within these few years, which have been made up of all the unnatural incongruities that insanity and folly could engender, in the unhappy moments of their parents' delirium. But anterior to our remarks on the authors of the day, we shall take the liberty to offer a few preliminary observations on the nature of Dramatic composition, as it has been generally understood by the best writers on the subject. medy having been some time the more fashionable vehicle of entertainment than Tragedy, we shall therefore begin our remarks on the nature of its structure; in doing this we do not consider ourselves bound to give an account of its origin, the indelicaof its allusions or the scurrilous shafts of slander, су Co |