A letter to A.H. Esq., concerning the stage
      
       
         
           1698
        
      
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             A letter to A.H. Esq., concerning the stage
             Hopkins, Charles, 1664?-1700?
             Hammond, Anthony, 1668-1738.
          
           [2], 22 p.
           
             Printed for A. Baldwin ...,
             London :
             1698.
          
           
             A defense of the stage, in answer to Jeremy Collier's Short view of the immorality and profaneness of the English stage.
             "The initials in the title [i.e. A.H.] have been identified as those of Anthony Hammond. Charles Hopkins has been suggested as the probable author." Cf. NUC pre-1956.
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Collier, Jeremy, 1650-1726. -- Short view of the immorality and profaneness of the English stage.
           Theater -- Religious aspects.
           Theater -- Moral and ethical aspects.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           LETTER
           TO
           A.
           H.
           
             Esq
          
           Concerning
           the
           STAGE
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             A.
             Baldwin
          
           ,
           near
           the
           Oxford-Arms
           in
           Warwick-Lane
           ,
           1698.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           TO
           
             A.
             H.
          
           
             Esq
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           
             SIR
             ,
          
        
         
           FOrgive
           me
           if
           I
           think
           it
           Ill-nature
           in
           you
           to
           leave
           the
           Town
           ,
           at
           a
           Time
           when
           it
           wants
           your
           Company
           ,
           and
           seems
           to
           beg
           your
           Assistance
           :
           How
           can
           you
           propose
           to
           live
           at
           Ease
           in
           the
           Country
           ,
           when
           so
           many
           of
           your
           Friends
           ,
           the
           Wits
           ,
           are
           engag'd
           here
           in
           open
           War
           ?
           Let
           Mr.
           Collier
           say
           what
           he
           pleases
           of
           Mr.
           Dryden
           ,
           I
           begin
           to
           think
           't
           was
           his
           prophetick
           Genius
           mov'd
           him
           to
           declaim
           against
           Priests
           ;
           and
           there
           is
           great
           reason
           to
           complain
           of
           their
           being
           the
           Incendiaries
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           when
           they
           set
           the
           World
           on
           fire
           by
           Preaching
           ,
           which
           they
           were
           only
           sent
           to
           warm
           .
           But
           what
           can
           Mr.
           Collier
           mean
           by
           exposing
           the
           Stage
           so
           ?
           he
           wou'd
           not
           surely
           have
           it
           silenc'd
           :
           That
           wou'd
           be
           a
           little
           too
           barbarous
           ,
           and
           too
           much
           like
           Cant
           to
           be
           entertain'd
           by
           Men
           of
           Thought
           or
           Ingenuity
           .
           I
           wou'd
           rather
           suppose
           he
           design'd
           a
           Reformation
           ;
           and
           that
           is
           so
           reasonable
           ,
           I
           wonder
           any
           Man
           should
           put
           his
           Face
           in
           disorder
           ,
           or
           study
           a
           Revenge
           for
           the
           Attempt
           .
           But
           it
           may
           
           be
           ask'd
           ,
           Cou'd
           he
           not
           have
           done
           that
           without
           exposing
           so
           many
           great
           
           Genius's
           ?
           Had
           it
           not
           been
           better
           to
           have
           let
           Mr.
           Durfey
           alone
           ?
           Tho'
           even
           this
           Method
           wou'd
           not
           have
           pleas'd
           every
           body
           ;
           for
           whate'er
           Effect
           it
           has
           had
           on
           Mr.
           Vanbroug
           and
           
             Congreve
             ;
             Motteux
          
           and
           Guildon
           resent
           it
           to
           the
           last
           degree
           .
           Is
           their
           nothing
           in
           their
           Works
           Illustrious
           ,
           or
           That
           cou'd
           merit
           Censure
           ?
           Indeed
           some
           People
           are
           not
           to
           be
           reclaim'd
           by
           Ridicule
           ;
           and
           Mr.
           Collier
           knowing
           their
           Vertues
           ,
           with
           how
           much
           Compos'dness
           and
           Resignation
           they
           can
           bear
           a
           Hiss
           ,
           out
           of
           Compassion
           ,
           took
           Example
           by
           the
           Town
           and
           neglected
           both
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           the
           Observation
           of
           some
           ,
           That
           where-ever
           the
           State
           flourishes
           ,
           the
           Theatre
           has
           never
           fail'd
           of
           Encouragement
           ;
           and
           that
           't
           is
           hardly
           possible
           the
           State
           shou'd
           suffer
           without
           the
           others
           sinking
           in
           its
           Reputation
           .
           It
           is
           Pity
           that
           England
           shou'd
           be
           the
           only
           Exception
           ,
           and
           since
           we
           have
           some
           of
           our
           Nobility
           ,
           who
           have
           a
           Taste
           of
           Eloquence
           ,
           and
           all
           those
           Vertues
           which
           adorn
           the
           Stage
           ,
           that
           It
           shou'd
           want
           their
           Assistance
           by
           whom
           it
           was
           at
           first
           rais'd
           ,
           and
           since
           maintain'd
           :
           If
           it
           has
           fallen
           from
           its
           Purity
           ,
           or
           never
           arriv'd
           to
           what
           they
           fully
           lik'd
           ,
           let
           it
           not
           want
           their
           Countenance
           ,
           without
           whom
           't
           is
           impossible
           to
           be
           any
           thing
           at
           all
           ,
           and
           by
           whom
           it
           may
           become
           all
           that
           we
           can
           wish
           .
           They
           alone
           can
           free
           it
           from
           Contempt
           and
           Censure
           ,
           by
           maintaining
           such
           an
           Awe
           ,
           that
           the
           least
           Glymps
           of
           Profaneness
           and
           Immorality
           shou'd
           not
           dare
           to
           appear
           on
           
           the
           Stage
           ;
           and
           this
           may
           be
           done
           by
           encouraging
           none
           but
           those
           who
           write
           well
           :
           for
           when
           a
           good
           Poet
           takes
           on
           him
           to
           instruct
           ,
           we
           need
           fear
           no
           Immodesty
           ;
           for
           't
           is
           impossible
           in
           a
           Regular
           Play
           ,
           he
           shou'd
           find
           room
           for
           an
           Indecency
           .
           I
           know
           you
           'll
           ask
           ,
           Why
           shou'd
           I
           appear
           so
           zealous
           in
           desiring
           the
           Favour
           of
           the
           Nobility
           for
           what
           is
           deny'd
           to
           be
           lawful
           ;
           and
           that
           I
           ought
           not
           to
           wish
           an
           Encouragement
           of
           the
           Stage
           ,
           when
           't
           is
           affirm'd
           that
           from
           Thence
           we
           derive
           our
           Corruption
           of
           Manners
           .
           Mr.
           Collier
           has
           endeavour'd
           to
           prove
           this
           from
           the
           Looseness
           of
           some
           of
           our
           Plays
           ,
           and
           then
           has
           brought
           the
           Opinion
           of
           the
           Fathers
           to
           condemn
           the
           Theatre
           in
           general
           .
        
         
           As
           to
           the
           First
           Objection
           ,
           
             That
             the
             Debauchery
             of
             the
             Town
             is
             to
             be
             attributed
             to
             the
             Looseness
             of
             our
             Plays
             and
             Stage
             .
          
        
         
           If
           this
           were
           true
           ,
           it
           is
           an
           Objection
           only
           against
           the
           present
           Corruption
           of
           the
           Theatre
           ;
           and
           is
           of
           no
           force
           against
           a
           regulated
           Stage
           ;
           for
           that
           admits
           of
           nothing
           Immodest
           or
           Immoral
           .
        
         
           As
           to
           the
           Second
           Objection
           brought
           from
           Councils
           and
           Fathers
           ,
           if
           what
           is
           quoted
           were
           really
           design'd
           by
           them
           against
           the
           Theatre
           in
           general
           ,
           yet
           it
           can
           have
           but
           little
           effect
           with
           the
           People
           ,
           I
           mean
           the
           Men
           of
           Probity
           and
           Learning
           ;
           for
           they
           are
           not
           to
           be
           mov'd
           by
           the
           Opinions
           of
           others
           no
           longer
           than
           those
           Opinions
           are
           agreeable
           to
           Reason
           :
           No
           Man
           ought
           to
           pay
           such
           a
           Respect
           either
           to
           Councils
           or
           Fathers
           ,
           as
           to
           submit
           his
           Judgment
           
           contrary
           to
           his
           Reason
           .
           Their
           saying
           so
           in
           this
           Case
           ought
           to
           have
           no
           more
           effect
           with
           us
           than
           if
           they
           had
           at
           the
           same
           time
           given
           us
           their
           Opinion
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           Transubstantiation
           .
        
         
           I
           think
           the
           Matter
           ought
           to
           be
           disputed
           by
           it self
           ;
           for
           the
           Opinion
           of
           the
           Fathers
           cannot
           alter
           the
           Nature
           of
           the
           Thing
           .
           Sir
           ,
           give
           me
           leave
           to
           make
           this
           Digression
           :
           'T
           is
           my
           Opinion
           ,
           even
           in
           Matters
           of
           Religion
           ,
           the
           preaching
           up
           the
           Fathers
           so
           much
           has
           been
           of
           fatal
           Consequence
           .
           If
           we
           run
           out
           of
           our selves
           to
           search
           for
           Truth
           ,
           we
           are
           expos'd
           to
           be
           deceiv'd
           ;
           and
           relying
           too
           much
           upon
           another's
           Judgment
           ,
           may
           be
           the
           occasion
           of
           an
           Errour
           in
           our
           own
           .
           A
           false
           Quotation
           or
           Interpretation
           by
           a
           Man
           of
           some
           Figure
           ,
           to
           an
           easie
           Credulous
           Bigot
           ,
           has
           been
           the
           Conversion
           of
           a
           great
           many
           ,
           and
           of
           excellent
           Service
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           :
           They
           cannot
           attack
           any
           without
           a
           Father
           or
           Council
           ,
           and
           that
           to
           a
           Person
           who
           knows
           nothing
           of
           the
           matter
           ,
           is
           as
           good
           as
           a
           Demonstration
           .
           The
           Fathers
           were
           but
           Men
           ,
           and
           as
           capable
           to
           be
           deceiv'd
           as
           others
           :
           And
           I
           do
           not
           know
           why
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Worcester
           may
           not
           deserve
           an
           equal
           Esteem
           ;
           he
           understands
           the
           Languages
           ,
           and
           has
           as
           much
           Sincerity
           as
           any
           of
           them
           ;
           and
           why
           then
           shou'd
           he
           not
           be
           able
           to
           give
           the
           Sense
           of
           the
           Scripture
           as
           well
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           a
           Veneration
           for
           them
           as
           good
           Men
           ,
           and
           where
           their
           Opinion
           is
           a
           Consequent
           of
           true
           Reason
           ,
           it
           ought
           to
           be
           embraced
           ;
           but
           where
           't
           is
           
           not
           ,
           I
           need
           not
           say
           it
           ought
           to
           be
           rejected
           ;
           and
           I
           think
           any
           Man
           may
           be
           allowed
           to
           dispute
           whether
           it
           be
           so
           or
           no.
           The
           Bishop
           of
           Worcester
           cannot
           publish
           a
           Book
           ,
           but
           you
           'll
           have
           an
           Answer
           to
           it
           .
           It
           would
           indeed
           be
           of
           Reputation
           to
           the
           Councils
           and
           Fathers
           ,
           some
           of
           them
           at
           least
           ,
           if
           what
           were
           objected
           against
           them
           were
           of
           no
           more
           force
           .
           His
           Philosophy
           is
           too
           rational
           to
           be
           weak'ned
           by
           Sophistry
           ;
           his
           Divinity
           too
           solid
           to
           be
           shook
           by
           Heresie
           :
           He
           seems
           to
           have
           been
           predestinated
           to
           Glory
           ,
           and
           the
           appointed
           Instrument
           to
           deliver
           us
           from
           Popery
           ,
           Atheism
           ,
           Deism
           ,
           and
           Socinianism
           ,
           with
           all
           those
           spurious
           Sectaries
           which
           have
           been
           spawned
           into
           the
           World
           :
           What
           can
           resist
           the
           Power
           of
           his
           Arguments
           ?
           And
           who
           is
           able
           to
           abide
           his
           Force
           .
           But
           to
           return
           ,
           I
           think
           the
           Controversie
           ,
           in
           short
           ,
           is
           this
           :
        
         
           Whether
           the
           Allowance
           of
           a
           Theatre
           in
           a
           Christian
           Country
           ,
           is
           consisting
           with
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           .
        
         
           The
           Answer
           to
           this
           Question
           may
           be
           this
           :
        
         
           That
           whatever
           is
           approved
           by
           lawful
           Authority
           ,
           and
           is
           not
           against
           any
           positive
           revealed
           Law
           of
           God
           ,
           is
           consisting
           with
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           .
        
         
           Now
           it
           lies
           upon
           the
           Adversaries
           of
           the
           Stage
           to
           prove
           ,
           That
           the
           Theatre
           is
           against
           Law
           or
           Scripture
           .
        
         
         
           'T
           is
           unfair
           to
           take
           the
           advantage
           of
           the
           present
           Corruptions
           ,
           and
           cry
           down
           the
           Stage
           ,
           because
           Men
           make
           an
           ill
           use
           of
           it
           .
           The
           Priests
           won't
           allow
           this
           Argument
           in
           another
           Case
           ;
           and
           I
           think
           an
           ill
           Poet
           is
           no
           more
           an
           Objection
           against
           the
           Stage
           ,
           than
           a
           Clergyman's
           being
           a
           Blockhead
           ,
           is
           to
           the
           Pulpit
           .
           'T
           is
           our
           Misfortune
           to
           have
           too
           many
           in
           both
           Vocations
           ;
           tho'
           ,
           as
           bad
           as
           the
           Stage
           is
           ,
           I
           don't
           doubt
           but
           the
           World
           has
           receiv'd
           a
           great
           many
           Advantages
           from
           it
           .
           I
           shall
           name
           you
           some
           ,
           and
           the
           first
           may
           be
           the
           reclaiming
           the
           Manners
           of
           the
           Clergy
           .
        
         
           'T
           is
           certain
           ,
           since
           the
           Stage
           has
           used
           the
           Gown
           freely
           ,
           and
           the
           Laity
           have
           not
           been
           afraid
           to
           look
           into
           their
           Faults
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           more
           humble
           ,
           and
           less
           publickly
           vicious
           :
           They
           know
           if
           
             Tom
             D'urfey
          
           can
           light
           upon
           a
           frail
           Priest
           ,
           he
           won't
           scruple
           to
           expose
           his
           Infirmities
           ,
           tho'
           he
           is
           not
           the
           only
           
             Whipping
             Tom
          
           of
           the
           Stage
           ;
           if
           they
           had
           not
           others
           to
           fear
           ,
           they
           wou'd
           soon
           grow
           too
           many
           for
           him
           .
           I
           believe
           they
           wou'd
           be
           angry
           ,
           if
           they
           thought
           the
           People
           gave
           the
           Honour
           of
           their
           Reformation
           to
           the
           Stage
           ;
           tho'
           you
           can't
           believe
           otherwise
           ,
           if
           you
           consider
           the
           difference
           of
           the
           former
           and
           present
           Clergy
           ,
           what
           a
           strange
           alteration
           there
           is
           where
           the
           Knowledge
           of
           Plays
           have
           come
           (
           I
           wou'd
           be
           understood
           only
           of
           those
           who
           needed
           a
           Reformation
           )
           There
           are
           now
           ,
           and
           have
           always
           been
           ,
           Men
           among
           them
           able
           and
           sit
           to
           give
           Laws
           ,
           and
           from
           whom
           the
           World
           was
           glad
           to
           receive
           them
           ,
           who
           appear'd
           as
           burning
           
           and
           shining
           Lights
           in
           their
           Generation
           ;
           and
           it
           was
           from
           them
           we
           learnt
           the
           difference
           ;
           it
           was
           their
           Light
           which
           expos'd
           the
           other
           ,
           and
           the
           Stage
           only
           took
           their
           evil
           Deeds
           ,
           to
           shew
           them
           truly
           the
           Evils
           of
           them
           .
           But
           besides
           their
           Reforming
           of
           Manners
           ,
           the
           Stage
           has
           taught
           them
           to
           speak
           English
           ,
           and
           preach
           more
           like
           Ambassadors
           of
           their
           great
           Master
           .
           It
           has
           taught
           them
           to
           argue
           rationally
           ,
           and
           at
           once
           mended
           their
           Stile
           ,
           and
           Form
           of
           their
           Sermons
           .
           How
           did
           Religion
           labour
           under
           heavy
           Language
           ,
           and
           how
           many
           People
           rather
           absented
           the
           Church
           ,
           than
           come
           to
           hear
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           Burlesqu'd
           ?
           In
           what
           a
           ridiculous
           Dress
           did
           Religion
           appear
           ?
           When
           to
           spin
           out
           the
           time
           in
           old
           Proverbs
           ,
           and
           wretched
           Puns
           ,
           a
           Fellow
           wou'd
           run
           it
           up
           to
           
             Six
             and
             thirtiethly
          
           ,
           before
           he
           came
           to
           his
           Use
           and
           Applications
           .
           In
           short
           ,
           the
           Drunkenness
           ,
           Whoring
           ,
           Insolence
           ,
           and
           Dulness
           that
           has
           appear'd
           under
           a
           Black
           Coat
           on
           the
           Stage
           ,
           have
           made
           the
           Men
           of
           the
           same
           Colour
           of
           it
           keep
           within
           Bounds
           :
           And
           that
           a
           Man
           might
           not
           teize
           them
           with
           the
           Representation
           ,
           they
           have
           endeavour'd
           to
           appear
           in
           as
           differing
           a
           Form
           as
           possible
           .
        
         
           If
           what
           Mr.
           Collier
           says
           was
           true
           ,
           That
           when
           a
           Clergyman
           is
           brought
           on
           the
           Stage
           ,
           it
           is
           with
           a
           design
           to
           ridicule
           the
           Function
           ,
           it
           wou'd
           be
           abominable
           ,
           and
           as
           bad
           as
           the
           Town
           is
           ,
           wou'd
           be
           hiss'd
           off
           the
           Stage
           .
           I
           dare
           say
           ,
           whatever
           the
           Intention
           of
           the
           Poet
           is
           ,
           't
           is
           not
           receiv'd
           so
           by
           the
           Audience
           .
           For
           at
           this
           rate
           ,
           every
           foolish
           Peer
           who
           is
           brought
           on
           the
           Stage
           ,
           must
           
           be
           suppos'd
           to
           intend
           a
           Reflection
           on
           all
           the
           Men
           of
           Condition
           ;
           and
           an
           Alderman
           ,
           who
           is
           a
           Cuckold
           ,
           must
           be
           look'd
           on
           as
           the
           Representative
           of
           his
           Brethren
           .
           'T
           is
           absurd
           to
           make
           no
           distinction
           ;
           as
           if
           a
           particular
           Vice
           in
           a
           particular
           Man
           ,
           cou'd
           not
           be
           expos'd
           without
           a
           design'd
           Reflection
           on
           all
           who
           belong
           to
           him
           .
           It
           ought
           to
           touch
           no
           body
           but
           whom
           it
           concerns
           ;
           and
           it
           has
           its
           end
           ,
           if
           it
           reclaims
           where
           it
           was
           design'd
           ,
           and
           prevents
           others
           ,
           by
           shewing
           the
           Danger
           :
           And
           this
           is
           the
           Design
           of
           Comedy
           .
           But
           the
           Question
           is
           ,
           Whether
           our
           Poets
           have
           managed
           it
           as
           they
           ought
           ?
           Whether
           they
           have
           not
           pick'd
           out
           a
           particular
           Person
           ,
           and
           expos'd
           the
           Character
           in
           general
           ,
           under
           the
           Notion
           of
           one
           Man
           ?
           I
           answer
           to
           this
           ,
           That
           whatever
           the
           Design
           of
           the
           Poet
           has
           been
           ,
           it
           has
           not
           had
           the
           effect
           with
           the
           People
           :
           For
           who
           disbelieves
           the
           Authority
           of
           their
           Function
           ,
           or
           thinks
           the
           worse
           of
           Good
           ,
           Learned
           ,
           and
           Ingenious
           Men
           among
           them
           ?
           Are
           not
           the
           Religious
           very
           much
           reverenc'd
           ?
           Has
           any
           Body
           thought
           the
           worse
           of
           
             Stillingfleet
             ,
             Tillotson
          
           ,
           and
           Burnet
           ,
           upon
           this
           Account
           ?
           Who
           can
           believe
           ,
           that
           when
           Mr.
           Vanbroug
           disguises
           a
           Parson
           ,
           that
           he
           thought
           of
           these
           Men
           ,
           or
           any
           who
           lives
           soberly
           ,
           and
           makes
           Religion
           their
           Business
           ,
           and
           at
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           don't
           make
           it
           inconsistent
           with
           good
           Manners
           ?
           The
           Good
           among
           them
           know
           the
           People
           love
           them
           ,
           and
           that
           nothing
           but
           their
           own
           mis-behaviour
           draws
           them
           into
           Contempt
           .
           Any
           Minister
           ,
           tho'
           he
           was
           but
           of
           mean
           Understanding
           ,
           yet
           if
           he
           had
           other
           good
           Qualities
           ,
           if
           he
           liv'd
           
           soberly
           ,
           and
           did
           his
           Duty
           religiously
           ,
           that
           ever
           such
           a
           Man
           was
           pickt
           out
           to
           be
           the
           Scandal
           of
           his
           Neighbours
           ,
           or
           a
           Ridicule
           of
           the
           Stage
           .
           Whence
           is
           it
           then
           ,
           that
           the
           Clergy
           are
           so
           angry
           ?
           If
           you
           hook
           but
           one
           of
           them
           ,
           all
           the
           rest
           are
           upon
           your
           Back
           ,
           and
           you
           can't
           expose
           his
           Vices
           without
           being
           an
           Enemy
           to
           the
           Church
           :
           And
           in
           this
           ,
           
             Priests
             of
             all
             Religions
             are
             the
             same
             .
          
        
         
           But
           after
           all
           ,
           why
           shou'd
           Mr.
           Collier
           blame
           Mr.
           Dryden
           for
           making
           Dorax
           exclaim
           against
           the
           Mahometan
           Priest
           ?
           Or
           how
           can
           that
           be
           a
           Prejudice
           to
           the
           Character
           of
           the
           Christian
           Clergy
           ?
           Is
           it
           not
           natural
           for
           such
           a
           one
           as
           Dorax
           to
           say
           as
           much
           ,
           and
           especially
           against
           such
           a
           one
           as
           the
           Mufti
           in
           the
           Play
           ?
           And
           does
           Mr.
           Collier
           blame
           Mr.
           Dryden
           for
           writing
           naturally
           ?
           I
           think
           it
           is
           a
           Fault
           throughout
           Mr.
           Collier's
           Book
           ,
           that
           in
           his
           Criticisms
           of
           the
           Plays
           ,
           he
           never
           considers
           the
           Person
           who
           speaks
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           Whether
           't
           is
           not
           natural
           for
           a
           Man
           of
           such
           a
           Character
           ,
           to
           say
           such
           a
           thing
           ?
           It
           wou'd
           have
           been
           of
           more
           Service
           to
           have
           proved
           ,
           That
           no
           Person
           is
           to
           be
           brought
           on
           the
           Stage
           to
           say
           an
           ill
           thing
           ,
           and
           then
           he
           had
           thrown
           away
           all
           the
           Profaneness
           ,
           which
           is
           so
           much
           an
           Offence
           ,
           at
           once
           .
           But
           if
           such
           Persons
           are
           to
           be
           represented
           ,
           there
           is
           not
           so
           much
           Reason
           against
           any
           of
           our
           present
           Plays
           ,
           as
           is
           urg'd
           by
           Mr.
           Callier
           ;
           for
           you
           must
           allow
           a
           Coquett
           to
           talk
           like
           her self
           ,
           a
           Lover
           to
           vent
           his
           Passion
           in
           Raptures
           ,
           and
           a
           Rake
           to
           speak
           the
           Language
           of
           the
           Town
           .
        
         
         
           I
           have
           already
           told
           you
           ,
           That
           I
           am
           far
           from
           vindicating
           the
           present
           Stage
           .
           I
           don't
           know
           a
           regular
           Play
           ,
           or
           that
           ought
           to
           be
           represented
           on
           a
           regular
           Stage
           ;
           yet
           I
           know
           a
           great
           many
           Plays
           that
           I
           would
           not
           loose
           for
           want
           of
           that
           Regularity
           .
           Who
           wou'd
           not
           have
           Sir
           
             G.
             Etheridge
          
           ,
           Mr.
           Wicherly
           ,
           and
           even
           some
           of
           Mr.
           
           Dryden's
           Plays
           ?
           Who
           would
           reject
           the
           Orphan
           ,
           because
           Mr.
           Collier
           objects
           against
           a
           loose
           Speech
           in
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           Mr.
           Collier
           has
           laid
           other
           things
           to
           the
           Poet's
           Charge
           besides
           the
           Abuse
           of
           the
           Clergy
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           profane
           Characters
           in
           the
           Play
           ,
           has
           had
           an
           ill
           Effect
           on
           the
           Age
           ,
           by
           promoting
           of
           Immorality
           and
           Vice.
           This
           I
           very
           much
           question
           ;
           for
           I
           can't
           apprehend
           so
           much
           danger
           even
           in
           the
           present
           Stage
           as
           Mr.
           Collier
           wou'd
           suggest
           .
           The
           greatest
           Faults
           of
           our
           Plays
           are
           their
           being
           generally
           ,
           in
           one
           part
           or
           other
           ,
           unnatural
           :
           That
           which
           is
           regular
           in
           any
           of
           them
           can
           never
           be
           an
           Offence
           ;
           and
           where
           that
           Monster
           appears
           ,
           it
           rather
           frightens
           than
           allures
           ;
           so
           that
           we
           are
           not
           in
           so
           much
           danger
           ,
           even
           from
           our
           very
           bad
           Plays
           :
           For
           the
           more
           monstrous
           ,
           the
           less
           Power
           it
           has
           to
           please
           ;
           and
           whatever
           looses
           the
           Power
           ,
           can
           never
           do
           much
           damage
           .
           So
           that
           if
           Mr.
           Collier
           should
           make
           a
           Collection
           of
           
           D'urfey's
           Works
           ,
           who
           is
           there
           that
           wou'd
           become
           a
           Convert
           ?
           And
           who
           wou'd
           turn
           Parson
           to
           be
           drunk
           and
           beat
           the
           Watch
           ?
           Or
           who
           wou'd
           be
           proud
           of
           an
           Imitation
           of
           any
           of
           his
           Heroes
           ?
           Has
           any
           Body
           brought
           themselves
           under
           his
           Character
           ,
           in
           hopes
           to
           recommend
           
           them
           to
           the
           World
           ?
           It
           would
           be
           happy
           if
           the
           World
           had
           learnt
           no
           more
           Irreligion
           from
           the
           Pulpit
           than
           it
           has
           from
           the
           Stage
           ;
           at
           least
           ,
           the
           Consequence
           of
           the
           first
           has
           been
           more
           fatal
           .
           What
           dismal
           Effect
           has
           the
           holy
           Cant
           had
           upon
           the
           Multitude
           :
           What
           Rebellion
           ,
           Blood-shed
           and
           Mischief
           have
           been
           encourag'd
           under
           the
           Name
           of
           
             Sanctity
             ,
             Religion
          
           ,
           and
           the
           
             Good
             old
             Cause
          
           .
           Whoever
           learnt
           to
           cut
           a
           King's
           Throat
           by
           seeing
           of
           Plays
           ?
           But
           by
           going
           to
           Church
           ,
           the
           People
           were
           instructed
           to
           
             bind
             the
             King
             in
             Chains
             ,
             and
             his
             Nobles
             in
             Fetters
             of
             Iron
             ,
             That
             the
             Kingdom
             ought
             to
             be
             taken
             away
             ,
             and
             given
             to
             the
             Saints
          
           ;
           And
           who
           wou'd
           not
           be
           a
           Saint
           for
           such
           an
           Inheritance
           ?
           Who
           cou'd
           refuse
           resisting
           of
           Authority
           ,
           when
           instead
           of
           Damnation
           ,
           it
           was
           
             coming
             forth
             to
             the
             Help
             of
             the
             Lord
             against
             the
             Mighty
             ?
          
           But
           this
           is
           but
           one
           Mischief
           of
           the
           Pulpit
           ;
           this
           is
           only
           putting
           a
           Kingdom
           in
           Civil
           Broils
           ,
           intestine
           Wars
           ,
           and
           unnatural
           Murthers
           .
           But
           when
           Men
           of
           debauch'd
           Principles
           shall
           become
           the
           Teachers
           of
           the
           Nation
           ,
           what
           may
           we
           not
           expect
           from
           their
           Industry
           and
           Sedition
           .
        
         
           After
           all
           ,
           my
           Lord
           Foppington
           was
           never
           design'd
           to
           teach
           People
           to
           speak
           or
           act
           like
           him
           ;
           nor
           was
           it
           intended
           that
           the
           Ladies
           shou'd
           be
           byass'd
           by
           the
           Example
           of
           Berinthia
           to
           turn
           Coquetts
           .
           These
           and
           the
           like
           Characters
           in
           other
           Plays
           ,
           are
           not
           propos'd
           as
           a
           Direction
           for
           the
           
             Gallant
             Man
          
           ,
           or
           the
           
             Vertuous
             Lady
          
           ;
           but
           that
           seeing
           how
           such
           Persons
           behave
           themselves
           on
           
           the
           Stage
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           not
           make
           the
           like
           Figure
           in
           the
           World
           :
           but
           if
           any
           body
           shou'd
           rather
           be
           in
           love
           than
           terrified
           by
           these
           Examples
           ,
           't
           is
           their
           Fault
           ,
           and
           not
           the
           Poets
           ,
           since
           the
           best
           things
           are
           liable
           to
           Corruptions
           .
           But
           it
           may
           be
           objected
           ,
           That
           our
           Poets
           don't
           make
           Persons
           speak
           like
           themselves
           .
           That
           indeed
           is
           a
           Fault
           ,
           and
           I
           can't
           say
           any
           thing
           to
           excuse
           it
           but
           this
           ;
           That
           they
           who
           have
           the
           Judgment
           to
           know
           when
           a
           Poet
           speaks
           improperly
           ,
           ought
           to
           have
           so
           much
           Judgment
           ,
           as
           not
           to
           be
           by
           assed
           by
           his
           Irregularities
           :
           The
           People
           who
           don
           't
           understand
           it
           ,
           generally
           suppose
           ,
           that
           what
           is
           Vertuous
           is
           to
           be
           imitated
           ,
           and
           what
           is
           Vicious
           is
           to
           be
           avoided
           .
           That
           this
           is
           the
           general
           Observation
           of
           those
           who
           frequent
           Plays
           ,
           may
           justly
           be
           inferr'd
           from
           the
           Practice
           of
           the
           Town
           :
           For
           I
           challenge
           any
           Man
           to
           prove
           ,
           That
           any
           one
           Vice
           ,
           now
           in
           being
           ,
           took
           its
           Rise
           from
           the
           Stage
           .
           The
           Stage
           takes
           Examples
           from
           the
           Town
           .
           The
           Scene
           must
           be
           really
           acted
           in
           the
           World
           before
           it
           comes
           to
           be
           expos'd
           :
           So
           that
           whatever
           appears
           Vicious
           or
           Ridiculous
           ,
           is
           owing
           to
           the
           Wickedness
           of
           the
           Times
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           the
           Theatre
           .
           It
           may
           be
           objected
           ,
           That
           what
           is
           generally
           acted
           on
           the
           Stage
           ,
           if
           it
           was
           done
           before
           ,
           yet
           it
           was
           done
           in
           private
           ;
           but
           the
           Stage
           publishes
           it
           .
           To
           this
           I
           answer
           ,
           That
           it
           does
           not
           intend
           to
           license
           it
           ,
           only
           to
           set
           it
           in
           a
           true
           Light
           ,
           that
           it
           may
           be
           expos'd
           and
           shunn'd
           .
        
         
           As
           to
           those
           Objections
           ,
           That
           the
           Actors
           are
           generally
           debauch'd
           ,
           and
           of
           leud
           Conversation
           ;
           and
           that
           no
           Person
           who
           is
           a
           known
           
           Adulterer
           ,
           or
           Profane
           ,
           ought
           to
           be
           encouraged
           :
           That
           the
           Play-house
           is
           a
           Resort
           of
           vicious
           Persons
           ,
           and
           gives
           Opportunity
           to
           such
           who
           have
           wicked
           Inclinations
           .
           All
           these
           wou'd
           fall
           upon
           the
           advancement
           of
           a
           regular
           Stage
           ;
           but
           as
           't
           is
           ,
           the
           Objections
           are
           not
           levell'd
           Right
           ;
           for
           the
           State
           is
           chargeable
           with
           the
           Immoralities
           .
           There
           are
           Laws
           for
           the
           Punishment
           of
           Vice
           ;
           and
           if
           the
           Magistrate
           neglect
           his
           Duty
           ,
           he
           must
           answer
           for
           it
           .
           I
           don't
           know
           that
           any
           body
           is
           oblig'd
           to
           a
           Conversation
           with
           the
           Players
           ;
           and
           their
           Lives
           can
           influence
           only
           their
           Associates
           ;
           and
           such
           they
           wou'd
           find
           ,
           whether
           they
           are
           Players
           or
           not
           .
           When
           they
           are
           on
           the
           Stage
           they
           are
           confin'd
           to
           the
           Poets
           Language
           :
           And
           if
           we
           shou'd
           see
           Mr.
           Powel
           acting
           a
           Brave
           ,
           Generous
           and
           Honest
           Part
           ;
           or
           Mrs.
           Knight
           ,
           a
           very
           Modest
           and
           Chaste
           one
           ,
           it
           ought
           not
           to
           give
           us
           Offence
           ;
           because
           we
           are
           not
           to
           consider
           what
           they
           are
           off
           the
           Stage
           ,
           but
           whom
           they
           represent
           :
           We
           are
           to
           do
           by
           them
           as
           in
           Religion
           we
           do
           by
           the
           Priest
           ,
           mind
           what
           they
           say
           ,
           and
           not
           what
           they
           do
           .
           Tho'
           the
           Stage
           is
           not
           so
           abandon'd
           but
           that
           there
           are
           some
           Honest
           and
           Vertuous
           ,
           for
           any
           thing
           the
           Town
           can
           say
           to
           the
           contrary
           .
           And
           I
           wou'd
           leave
           it
           to
           themselves
           ,
           whether
           they
           don't
           find
           their
           Account
           in
           it
           ;
           whether
           the
           Town
           is
           not
           more
           favourable
           on
           any
           Occasion
           ;
           so
           that
           it
           ought
           to
           be
           an
           Encouragement
           to
           persist
           in
           their
           Vertue
           .
        
         
           The
           Objection
           against
           the
           Play-House
           it self
           ,
           because
           it
           gives
           Opportunities
           for
           Wickedness
           ,
           is
           so
           trifling
           ,
           it
           is
           hardly
           worth
           answering
           ;
           for
           
           they
           who
           are
           viciously
           inclin'd
           will
           find
           an
           Opportunity
           ;
           and
           as
           long
           as
           the
           Toleration-Act
           is
           in
           force
           ,
           there
           is
           never
           a
           Meeting
           in
           Town
           but
           will
           afford
           extraordinary
           Hints
           of
           that
           kind
           ;
           the
           Morning
           and
           Evening
           Lectures
           are
           precious
           Seasons
           ;
           Mr.
           Doelittle
           may
           thresh
           his
           Heart
           out
           ,
           there
           will
           be
           Tares
           among
           the
           Wheat
           ;
           and
           those
           Houses
           are
           haunted
           with
           a
           sort
           of
           Spirits
           that
           are
           not
           to
           be
           cast
           out
           with
           Prayer
           and
           Fasting
           .
        
         
           I
           think
           from
           the
           little
           I
           have
           said
           ,
           it
           is
           certain
           the
           Town
           has
           not
           been
           debauch'd
           by
           the
           Stage
           ,
           and
           that
           't
           is
           much
           easier
           to
           demonstrate
           the
           Good
           ,
           than
           prove
           the
           Evil
           Effect
           even
           of
           our
           bad
           Plays
           .
           I
           have
           shew'd
           that
           there
           has
           been
           a
           Vertue
           in
           them
           ;
           and
           we
           might
           very
           well
           pardon
           them
           if
           it
           were
           only
           for
           that
           one
           Benefit
           ,
           of
           being
           so
           serviceable
           to
           the
           reclaiming
           of
           the
           Clergy
           .
           If
           they
           can
           give
           me
           an
           Instance
           of
           any
           Play
           whose
           Vices
           have
           had
           so
           ill
           Effect
           with
           the
           People
           as
           to
           counter-balance
           the
           Good
           it
           has
           wrought
           in
           them
           ,
           I
           shou'd
           set
           my self
           against
           the
           Stage
           too
           ;
           but
           then
           as
           to
           other
           Advantages
           which
           we
           have
           receiv'd
           from
           the
           Plays
           of
           the
           first
           Rank
           ,
           we
           are
           certainly
           very
           much
           in
           debt
           to
           them
           .
           The
           Refinement
           of
           our
           Tongue
           is
           principally
           owing
           to
           them
           ;
           Good
           Manners
           and
           good
           Conversation
           is
           owing
           to
           our
           Comedy
           ;
           and
           I
           don't
           doubt
           but
           some
           of
           our
           Tragedies
           have
           fired
           some
           with
           a
           Greatness
           of
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           taught
           to
           act
           the
           Hero
           with
           Prudence
           ,
           Vertue
           and
           Courage
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           conclude
           this
           part
           of
           my
           Letter
           with
           this
           Observation
           ,
           that
           if
           the
           present
           Stage
           has
           
           not
           been
           so
           terrible
           an
           Enemy
           to
           Christianity
           ,
           but
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           has
           afforded
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           good
           to
           the
           World
           ;
           that
           a
           Regulated
           Stage
           wou'd
           be
           of
           infinite
           Service
           to
           the
           Nation
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           proposed
           it
           as
           an
           Argument
           in
           Defence
           of
           a
           Regular
           Stage
           ,
           that
           it
           lies
           on
           its
           Adversaries
           to
           prove
           it
           against
           Law
           or
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           so
           might
           leave
           it
           justify'd
           till
           some
           Person
           or
           other
           make
           the
           Discovery
           to
           the
           World
           :
           But
           because
           't
           is
           my
           Opinion
           't
           is
           utterly
           impossible
           ,
           I
           shall
           give
           you
           some
           Reasons
           why
           I
           think
           it
           not
           only
           lawful
           in
           it self
           ,
           but
           very
           necessary
           in
           this
           populous
           City
           .
           And
           ,
           First
           ,
           if
           we
           consider
           the
           Matter
           that
           ought
           to
           be
           represented
           ,
           whether
           it
           be
           Tragedy
           or
           Comedy
           ;
           there
           is
           nothing
           in
           either
           that
           can
           offend
           Religion
           or
           Good
           Manners
           .
        
         
           Tragedy
           is
           a
           Representation
           of
           an
           Action
           by
           some
           Great
           Man
           ,
           teaching
           us
           to
           regulate
           our
           Passions
           with
           exactness
           ,
           and
           by
           shewing
           the
           strange
           and
           differing
           Accidents
           of
           Life
           ,
           to
           which
           the
           most
           important
           Persons
           are
           subject
           ;
           proving
           to
           us
           that
           Vice
           never
           goes
           unpunished
           ;
           and
           that
           true
           Happiness
           does
           not
           chiefly
           consist
           in
           the
           Enjoyment
           of
           this
           World.
           
        
         
           Comedy
           is
           a
           Representation
           of
           common
           Conversation
           ;
           and
           its
           Design
           is
           to
           represent
           things
           Natural
           ;
           to
           shew
           the
           Faults
           of
           Particular
           Men
           in
           order
           to
           correct
           the
           Faults
           of
           the
           Publick
           ,
           and
           to
           amend
           the
           People
           thro'
           a
           fear
           of
           being
           expos'd
           ,
           with
           this
           Observation
           ,
           That
           the
           Ridiculous
           
           of
           the
           Stage
           is
           to
           be
           only
           a
           Copy
           of
           the
           Ridiculous
           found
           in
           Nature
           .
        
         
           In
           short
           ,
           't
           is
           the
           Property
           both
           of
           Tragedy
           and
           Comedy
           to
           instruct
           :
           The
           Characters
           in
           both
           are
           to
           be
           Natural
           ;
           and
           the
           Persons
           concern'd
           in
           the
           whole
           Action
           ,
           are
           to
           be
           such
           whose
           Vertues
           ought
           to
           provoke
           us
           to
           an
           Emulation
           ,
           or
           whose
           Vices
           ought
           to
           deter
           us
           from
           imitating
           their
           Example
           .
           The
           Language
           and
           Sentiments
           are
           to
           be
           suitable
           to
           each
           Character
           :
           A
           Wise
           ,
           Good
           ,
           and
           Great
           Man
           is
           to
           say
           nothing
           but
           what
           is
           natural
           for
           such
           a
           one
           to
           say
           :
           The
           Gallant
           Man
           is
           to
           appear
           with
           all
           the
           Qualities
           of
           a
           Man
           of
           Honour
           :
           and
           the
           Fool
           in
           his
           proper
           colour'd
           Coat
           .
           The
           Vices
           of
           the
           Wicked
           are
           not
           to
           be
           represented
           so
           nicely
           ,
           as
           punish'd
           severely
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           a
           Vicious
           Person
           is
           not
           to
           be
           allow'd
           to
           plead
           in
           favour
           of
           his
           Vices
           ,
           or
           to
           represent
           his
           Villany
           so
           calmly
           as
           to
           tempt
           any
           Man
           to
           try
           Practices
           in
           another
           Place
           .
           Vice
           is
           only
           to
           be
           brought
           there
           to
           be
           condemn'd
           ;
           and
           the
           reason
           of
           this
           is
           ,
           that
           our
           Terrour
           may
           be
           excited
           ,
           and
           all
           our
           Passions
           vent
           themselves
           with
           Strength
           and
           Reason
           .
           Our
           Pity
           is
           not
           to
           be
           extended
           in
           a
           wrong
           place
           .
           In
           short
           ,
           The
           Disposition
           of
           the
           Play
           is
           to
           be
           such
           that
           all
           the
           Characters
           have
           a
           proper
           Effect
           with
           us
           .
           Our
           Fear
           ,
           Love
           ,
           and
           Anger
           are
           to
           be
           exerted
           with
           Justice
           ;
           and
           we
           are
           to
           learn
           from
           a
           just
           Fable
           how
           to
           behave
           our selves
           in
           earnest
           .
           Thus
           may
           we
           exercise
           our
           Souls
           by
           examining
           our
           reasonable
           Faculties
           ,
           and
           try
           how
           we
           can
           love
           to
           extremity
           ,
           
           and
           yet
           without
           a
           Fault
           ;
           to
           be
           angry
           and
           sin
           not
           ;
           to
           be
           just
           without
           partiality
           ,
           and
           rejoyce
           with
           them
           that
           rejoyce
           .
           We
           are
           there
           instructed
           to
           Love
           ,
           Hate
           ,
           and
           Fear
           within
           measure
           ,
           how
           we
           may
           be
           Men
           without
           dedebasing
           our
           Souls
           ;
           and
           all
           this
           by
           moving
           Examples
           ,
           which
           in
           spite
           of
           Stubbornness
           ,
           will
           force
           its
           Impressions
           ;
           and
           't
           is
           our
           own
           Fault
           if
           they
           are
           not
           lasting
           .
           This
           certainly
           must
           recommend
           the
           Stage
           to
           the
           Vertuous
           ;
           and
           Piety
           can't
           be
           offended
           at
           the
           decent
           reproving
           of
           Vice
           ,
           and
           the
           insinuating
           recommendation
           of
           Vertue
           .
           Here
           we
           find
           Morality
           urg'd
           by
           Precept
           and
           Example
           ,
           and
           the
           Stage
           reprehending
           those
           Follies
           which
           the
           Pulpit
           wou'd
           blush
           to
           correct
           ;
           for
           tho'
           the
           Church
           is
           the
           Place
           to
           declaim
           against
           Sin
           ,
           yet
           there
           are
           some
           sorts
           of
           Wickedness
           which
           can't
           be
           so
           decently
           reprov'd
           there
           ;
           so
           that
           the
           Stage
           is
           serviceable
           on
           this
           account
           ,
           to
           supply
           the
           Defects
           of
           the
           Pulpit
           .
           In
           short
           ,
           whatever
           may
           be
           objected
           against
           the
           present
           management
           of
           the
           Stage
           ,
           is
           of
           no
           force
           against
           such
           Proceedings
           as
           these
           .
           Religion
           and
           Morality
           can
           receive
           no
           Damage
           here
           ;
           for
           as
           long
           as
           these
           Rules
           are
           observ'd
           ,
           they
           strictly
           include
           both
           .
        
         
           It
           was
           the
           Opinion
           of
           a
           great
           Master
           of
           Reason
           ,
           that
           Tragedy
           conduces
           more
           to
           the
           Instruction
           of
           Manking
           ,
           than
           even
           Philosophy
           it self
           ,
           because
           it
           teaches
           the
           Mind
           by
           Sense
           ,
           and
           rectifies
           the
           Passions
           by
           the
           Passions
           themselves
           .
           And
           there
           is
           this
           further
           Advantage
           ,
           
           that
           we
           have
           always
           the
           Example
           of
           great
           Men
           before
           us
           ,
           and
           are
           generally
           inclinable
           to
           take
           our
           Manners
           from
           them
           .
           There
           has
           indeed
           Authorities
           been
           produc'd
           against
           the
           Stage
           ,
           tho'
           there
           don't
           want
           as
           ancient
           Advocates
           for
           it
           ;
           and
           some
           of
           the
           Fathers
           themselves
           writ
           Plays
           ,
           however
           Mr.
           Collier
           came
           to
           forget
           it
           .
        
         
           If
           the
           Theatre
           is
           capable
           to
           give
           us
           such
           Advantage
           ,
           it
           will
           easily
           be
           prov'd
           of
           what
           necessity
           there
           is
           for
           its
           encouragement
           in
           this
           Populous
           City
           :
           If
           there
           were
           no
           Politick
           Reasons
           ,
           yet
           the
           Good
           to
           Religion
           that
           may
           be
           done
           by
           it
           ,
           is
           a
           convincing
           Argument
           at
           once
           for
           its
           Lawfulness
           and
           Use.
           I
           know
           the
           Gravity
           of
           some
           can't
           dispense
           with
           so
           much
           time
           to
           be
           spent
           in
           Diversion
           ;
           tho'
           I
           can't
           think
           this
           a
           reasonable
           Objection
           where
           so
           much
           Profit
           may
           attend
           our
           Delight
           .
           If
           it
           be
           lawful
           to
           recreate
           our selves
           at
           all
           ,
           it
           can
           never
           be
           amiss
           to
           frequent
           such
           a
           Diversion
           ,
           that
           only
           takes
           up
           our
           Time
           to
           make
           us
           wiser
           .
           I
           wou'd
           to
           God
           all
           of
           them
           were
           directed
           to
           the
           same
           End.
           No
           Man
           is
           to
           employ
           himself
           so
           as
           to
           exclude
           the
           Duties
           of
           Religion
           ;
           and
           there
           is
           as
           much
           danger
           in
           minding
           too
           much
           the
           Business
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           as
           the
           Pleasures
           of
           it
           ;
           both
           of
           them
           are
           to
           be
           kept
           within
           bounds
           ,
           and
           both
           subservient
           to
           Religion
           .
           The
           Passions
           of
           Men
           are
           active
           and
           restless
           ;
           and
           't
           is
           the
           Prudence
           of
           every
           State
           to
           encourage
           some
           publick
           Exercise
           to
           keep
           them
           at
           quiet
           .
           If
           the
           Theatre
           was
           down
           ,
           the
           Churches
           wou'd
           not
           be
           the
           fuller
           for
           't
           .
           
           Or
           if
           they
           shou'd
           ,
           Religion
           is
           not
           always
           the
           design
           of
           them
           who
           come
           there
           ;
           so
           that
           I
           cannot
           see
           that
           any
           thing
           can
           be
           allow'd
           for
           the
           publick
           Diversion
           with
           so
           much
           Innocence
           and
           so
           much
           Advantage
           .
           I
           'm
           only
           afraid
           that
           such
           a
           Regularity
           wou'd
           be
           too
           Vertuous
           for
           the
           Age
           ;
           and
           I
           don't
           doubt
           but
           the
           Beaux
           and
           Poetasters
           wou'd
           be
           full
           of
           Exclamation
           :
           For
           it
           wou'd
           be
           a
           dreadful
           Time
           if
           the
           Ladies
           should
           regard
           the
           Play
           more
           than
           their
           Beaux
           Airs
           ;
           and
           how
           wou'd
           Vanbroug
           be
           able
           to
           pass
           a
           Comedy
           on
           them
           ,
           if
           they
           shou'd
           once
           be
           so
           nice
           in
           their
           Taste
           as
           to
           disgust
           Obscenity
           ;
           this
           indeed
           wou'd
           be
           a
           Vexation
           ,
           and
           such
           a
           Delicacy
           which
           Mr.
           Congreve
           cou'd
           not
           be
           pleased
           with
           :
           And
           if
           the
           Town
           shou'd
           be
           so
           refin'd
           to
           admit
           of
           nothing
           but
           what
           is
           Natural
           ,
           we
           can't
           expect
           that
           ever
           he
           will
           gratifie
           us
           with
           another
           Tragedy
           .
           Durfey
           and
           Motteux
           wou'd
           write
           no
           more
           Farces
           ;
           Guildon
           and
           
             Tom.
             Brown
             ,
             &c.
          
           wou'd
           be
           the
           Saints
           with
           wry
           Mouthes
           and
           scrue'd
           Faces
           :
           Mr.
           Guildon
           indeed
           has
           Philosophy
           enough
           to
           support
           himself
           under
           such
           a
           Calamity
           ,
           and
           knows
           a
           Method
           to
           prevent
           starving
           ;
           for
           who
           can
           think
           that
           he
           who
           writ
           
           Blunt's
           Life
           can
           be
           at
           a
           loss
           for
           a
           decent
           dispatch
           of
           his
           own
           ?
           'T
           is
           a
           deplorable
           Case
           ,
           indeed
           ,
           and
           I
           pity
           a
           Man
           who
           cannot
           get
           Bread
           by
           Writing
           ,
           and
           yet
           must
           beg
           or
           starve
           without
           it
           .
        
         
           The
           Prince
           of
           Conti
           believ'd
           the
           French
           Stage
           wou'd
           not
           have
           been
           so
           bad
           if
           the
           Priests
           had
           begun
           sooner
           to
           declaim
           against
           it
           :
           It
           is
           possible
           that
           some
           of
           our
           Defects
           may
           be
           owing
           to
           
           such
           a
           Negligence
           .
           However
           't
           is
           never
           too
           late
           to
           mend
           ;
           and
           since
           Mr.
           Collier
           has
           took
           up
           the
           Cudgels
           ,
           I
           wish
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           same
           Coat
           wou'd
           so
           far
           as
           is
           just
           and
           reasonable
           ,
           stand
           his
           Second
           :
           He
           has
           his
           Faults
           ,
           but
           they
           are
           such
           as
           I
           wou'd
           not
           have
           lost
           his
           Book
           for
           .
           I
           know
           there
           are
           some
           violent
           Wits
           ,
           who
           will
           not
           allow
           him
           either
           Wit
           or
           Style
           ,
           but
           ,
           in
           plain
           terms
           ,
           to
           be
           a
           Fool.
           I
           hope
           none
           of
           them
           will
           go
           about
           to
           prove
           it
           .
           I
           confess
           he
           has
           kept
           ill
           Company
           of
           late
           ;
           but
           surely
           they
           don't
           ground
           a
           Conjecture
           upon
           that
           ,
           especially
           when
           a
           Man
           only
           converses
           to
           convince
           .
           The
           naming
           Mr.
           Durfey
           ,
           or
           examining
           his
           Works
           ,
           is
           not
           so
           contagious
           as
           to
           stain
           a
           Man's
           Reputation
           .
           We
           are
           indeed
           to
           answer
           for
           evil
           Communication
           ;
           and
           tho'
           I
           cannot
           justifie
           a
           Man
           who
           wou'd
           read
           Mr.
           Durfey
           with
           too
           much
           Delight
           ,
           because
           we
           must
           not
           set
           our
           Affection
           on
           things
           below
           ,
           yet
           I
           wou'd
           pardon
           any
           who
           wou'd
           read
           him
           only
           to
           forewarm
           others
           of
           the
           Danger
           .
        
         
           'T
           is
           a
           Misfortune
           to
           have
           good
           Poets
           stand
           in
           need
           of
           Assistance
           ;
           but
           't
           is
           very
           much
           aggravated
           when
           they
           are
           deny'd
           it
           .
           A
           Man
           who
           is
           oblig'd
           to
           write
           for
           his
           Bread
           ,
           is
           forc'd
           to
           be
           very
           hasty
           to
           prevent
           starving
           ;
           And
           every
           Man's
           Genius
           is
           not
           so
           sharp
           as
           his
           Appetite
           .
           This
           may
           be
           one
           Reason
           we
           have
           so
           many
           things
           appear
           Abortive
           .
           Some
           Poets
           have
           not
           so
           much
           as
           to
           save
           their
           longing
           ;
           and
           if
           their
           Muse
           miscarry
           ,
           or
           come
           with
           an
           ugly
           Mark
           into
           the
           World
           ,
           are
           rather
           to
           be
           pity'd
           than
           condemn'd
           .
           In
           what
           Pangs
           have
           I
           seen
           some
           poor
           
           Creatures
           to
           be
           deliver'd
           ,
           when
           at
           the
           same
           time
           they
           have
           fear'd
           the
           Poverty
           of
           their
           Brats
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           World
           wou'd
           discover
           they
           were
           very
           sick
           in
           the
           breeding
           .
           A
           good
           Poet
           ought
           never
           to
           want
           a
           worthy
           Patron
           ;
           and
           our
           Nobility
           and
           Gentry
           ought
           to
           be
           Industrious
           in
           the
           Advancement
           of
           Letters
           .
           They
           might
           do
           it
           with
           great
           ease
           and
           little
           Expence
           ;
           for
           the
           Number
           is
           not
           so
           great
           who
           deserve
           their
           Countenance
           .
           In
           vain
           we
           complain
           of
           the
           Irregularity
           of
           the
           Stage
           ,
           if
           they
           who
           cou'd
           support
           its
           Honour
           ,
           want
           support
           themselves
           :
           So
           that
           one
           great
           Step
           to
           advance
           the
           Theatre
           ,
           is
           to
           take
           care
           ,
           that
           they
           who
           write
           for
           the
           Stage
           ,
           do
           not
           want
           for
           Encouragement
           .
        
         
           You
           see
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           I
           have
           given
           my
           Thoughts
           freely
           :
           I
           wish
           they
           may
           receive
           your
           Approbation
           ;
           because
           I
           wou'd
           never
           think
           but
           to
           please
           you
           .
           I
           dare
           not
           now
           think
           of
           excusing
           any
           thing
           I
           have
           writ
           ;
           for
           I
           was
           resolv'd
           to
           tie
           my self
           to
           no
           Method
           ,
           but
           to
           think
           as
           much
           as
           I
           cou'd
           for
           the
           advantage
           of
           the
           Stage
           ,
           which
           I
           must
           believe
           very
           lawful
           ,
           for
           any
           thing
           I
           have
           yet
           met
           to
           the
           contrary
           .
           Nor
           can
           I
           be
           perswaded
           ,
           that
           our
           Plays
           have
           had
           so
           ill
           effect
           as
           some
           wou'd
           imagine
           .
           The
           best
           of
           our
           Plays
           have
           nothing
           in
           them
           that
           is
           so
           scandalous
           ;
           and
           for
           the
           worst
           ,
           I
           wou'd
           not
           allow
           them
           the
           Credit
           ,
           nor
           the
           Authors
           the
           Vanity
           to
           think
           they
           could
           influence
           any
           one
           Man.
           The
           evil
           Conversation
           of
           some
           of
           them
           wou'd
           frighten
           a
           Man
           from
           being
           vicious
           ;
           so
           that
           they
           are
           serviceable
           against
           their
           Wills
           ,
           and
           do
           the
           World
           a
           Kindness
           
           through
           mistake
           .
           I
           dare
           not
           stay
           any
           longer
           with
           you
           ,
           tho'
           I
           have
           a
           great
           Inclination
           to
           beg
           you
           'd
           exeuse
           the
           roughness
           of
           my
           Stile
           :
           But
           you
           know
           I
           have
           been
           busie
           in
           Virgil
           ;
           and
           that
           they
           say
           ,
           at
           Will
           's
           ,
           is
           enough
           to
           spoil
           it
           :
           But
           if
           I
           had
           begg'd
           a
           more
           important
           thing
           ,
           and
           ask'd
           you
           to
           forgive
           the
           length
           of
           my
           Letter
           ,
           I
           might
           assure
           my
           felf
           you
           wou'd
           oblige
           ,
        
         
           
             Your
             Humble
             Servant
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .