ments of beggary and contumely, does not tend to vitiate the principles of the professors; on the contrary, from the instances I have produced, it has a tendency to improve their morals, strengthen their fortitude, increase their stock of intellectual acquire ments, and render them every way more worthy the support and approbation of the wise and good. The influence the stage will, or may have, upon a nation at large, I humbly conceive can be best known by taking a survey of the present state of it through Europe. The profession is received and adopted in England, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, and Russia. In the two first, it is noted, fixed, encouraged, and admired;-in the third, it is degenerated into sing-song and spectacle ;-in the fourth, it is tolerated;-in the fifth, it is warmly supported ;-in the sixth, it is received with indifference; in the seventh, it has a partial footing. In Sweden and Denmark, it languishes. In Turkey it is not to be found. The state of learning, refinement, taste, genius, and religion of each particular nation, is pretty generally known. Their virtues and their vices-their civilization or their barbarism. I shall not therefore trespass upon the time or patience of my reader, by tracing its progress through the different countries, or weary him with proofs of the influence it may have had in rendering them great, or debasing them in the scale. It is not for me to determine, whether the people of each district have formed the stage, or the stage reformed the people. I can only say, that I turn with a lively gratification to the survey of Europe, and I find those the greatest, the wisest, and the most prosperous of nations where the drama exists in vigour-where it is encouraged, supported, and admired-where the selfish efforts of the prejudiced cannot destroy it—nor the malignant condemnation of fanaticism extirpate it! I know it has been urged as an argument against the use of the stage, that even some of its most strenuous advocates are obliged to recommend the necessity of strong curbs, to check its improper progress. This is futile to the extreme, the more powerful the agent, the more imperious the necessity for curbs and checks. We must be aware, things salutary in their proper course, if carried beyond their just bounds, degenerate into the most noxious and offensive properties. Without a controuling power, liberty is disgraced by licentiousness-love by sensuality and voluptuousness-wit becomes ribaldry-charity profuseness-hospitality ostentation—religion absurdity—and philanthropy weakness. Without a curb, there would always be found abandoned poets, who would readily place in a degrading point of view, talent, honour, and virtue. We need not go to the Athenian stage for proofs-our own country will furnish us with examples in abundance, to evince the abasement of genius, in prostituting its energies to spiteful invective and invidious satire. And, as we know there are men, who, for their own private advantages, and their own selfish emoluments, will, under the garb of religion, commit the most flagrant acts against simple morality. So are we convinced there are others, who, under the shelter of the drama, would give the most fatal stabs to order, decency, virtue, and every thing precious to the common weal. To guard against such intruders, CURBS become absolutely necessary. The principal faults of our present stage I conceive to originate from three sources. First, from the illiberal opinions entertained against the professors. Secondly, from the inattention of he legislature to its stability and support. Thirdly, the cold and more than affected indifference of the learned bodies to its progress and welfare. Let the government encourage the establishment of country theatricals upon a respectable footing. Let it frame an act for incorporating its members. Let it watch over the stage that it does not promulgate principles detrimental to the grand interests of a well organized state. The patriot observe it closely, that it breathes nothing hostile to the principles of the constitution, or inimical to the genuine pure flame of liberty. Let religion condescend to mark that it presumes not to infringe upon her hallowed rites. Let morality keep a fixed and jealous eye upon the vehicle, which can so materially aid or injure her dearest interests; let the whole combine to purify it from its errors, and make it, as it was ever intended, the engine of improvement, relaxation, and instruction. To hold, as 'twere the mirror up "to nature, to show virtue her own feature, scorn “her own image, and the very age and body of "the time his form and pressure." Above all, be banished far the ill-founded prejudice against the professors. Let not actor and dissipation-player and debauchery-be considered as synonimous. Don't enquire what he is? but how he conducts himself, and there would soon be discovered as many valuable members composing the theatrical fraternity as any other. It would then be found histrionical pursuits do not vitiate the mind-nor the profession tend to the corruption of its principles. From all I can collect upon the subject, by reading, discusssion, observation, and experience, I feel myself authorised to affirm, that a well regulated stage would be ever serviceable to mankind, an able assistant to religion, a strong stimulus to morality, a rigid inculcator of virtue, a soother |