1832.] The Rights of Dramatists. 561 



free admission, but has no power to dispose of it. It is under such just 

 and enlightened legislation that the drama of France continues to flourish; 

 and whilst it amply rewards its professors, supplies nearly every other 

 country with materials for the stage. It is under such government that 

 Monsieur Scribe is enabled, by the exercise of his surprising genius sur- 

 prising in its vivacity and fecundity to realize from three to four thou- 

 sand pounds yearly. What, on the contrary, would have been his fate, 

 had he written for the English stage ? Why, he would have made the 

 fortunes of three or four " starry" actors, and have lived in poverty. Mr. 

 Thackeray (of whom we now take our leave, thanking him for a pamphlet 

 that must have cost him some pains, and may be ma'de most available by 

 English writers in the corning discussion) subjoins the basis of a petition,* 

 on the adoption of the principles of which depend, in our opinion, the 

 future destinies of the English stage. 



We now ask, what has been the result of the unprotected condition of 

 the drama ? why, the present degradation of our theatres. It has before 

 been put but the question should be insisted upon again and again who 

 will write for the stage, when to labour is to be despoiled ? who will select 

 that walk of literature fenced with thorns, and infested with creeping things, 

 when there are open " primrose paths" to fortune and advancement ? If 

 literary men may be likened, (and we trust they may, even in these days 

 of orthodox meekness and self-denial,) without profanation, to the various 

 labourers in the church, we should call the dramatist the poor drudge of a 

 curate in the establishment of letters: the poet, the novelist, the historian, 

 nay, the writer of a confectioner's oracle, is secure in the fruits of his see, 

 his deanery, his rectorship, his fat living but the dramatist, dependent on 

 caprice, is not insured even his " forty pounds a-year j" he is every now 

 and then stopped on the highways, and the little he may have in his purse, 

 rifled by theives who " rob on the safe side of an act of parliament." 

 For it would not be more monstrous were a bill to be passed, exempting 

 robbers from punishment who should attack curates, and hanging the 

 knaves who should rob the higher dignities of the church j than in the 

 present state of the law, which guards poems, novels, histories, cookery 

 books, and only leaves unregarded, plays. 



The want of protection for dramatic literature, whilst it has almost 

 banished orignial writers from the stage, has introduced a swarm of trans- 

 lators and adaptors, who, so viciously has worked the system, have 

 gorged the actor to the starvation of the writer. The question is not, can 

 a man write a play ? but, does he know French ? Then, does he know 

 some leviathan actor, who will introduce the translation to the theatre, 

 the whole weight and gist of the drama depending upon and dignifying 



* 1st. That no dramatic composition of an author represented on any theatre in 

 England, shall be represented on any other theatre within the United Kingdom without 

 the formal consent of the author, under penalty of confiscation to his benefit, of the entire 

 produce o the representation. 



2nd. That an obligation be imposed on managers, after having approved and accepted 

 a piece, to bring it forward in its turn, or within a limited period, or to pay the author 

 the sum agreed upon as the price of his labours, &c. 



3rd. That the direct heirs of the author shall succeed to the property of his dramatic 

 works,' and enjoy the rights and advantages derived therefrom. 



4th. That the share of the profits of the author shall in no case be liable to seizure for 

 the debts contracted by the proprietors and managers of the theatre. 



