1832.] Affairs in General. 589 



pass entire, it would be absurd to regard it as final. To pare it down, 

 therefore, is only to delay a little longer what must ultimately be conceded. 

 This is all that is within the power of the Lords to achieve. They may, 

 thanks to Earl Grey's anti-creative delicacy, move as slowly as they please 

 but move they must ; and every step that they take, is a step gained in 

 the onward progression of the people. 



THE CAUSE OP TH DRAMA. Out of debating evil cometh dramatic 

 good. In spite of the absorbing nature of the political discussions of the 

 day, and the general stagnation of commerce and literature which has 

 been the result of the long splitting-of-hairs in the House of Commons, 

 the Drama is lifting up its head in sunshine, and promises a new era as 

 golden as an Elizabethan day. The production of Mr. Knowles's play 

 affords us one assurance of this j and the generous enthusiasm with which 

 the question of a " free-trade" in the drama has been supported by the 

 public, and advocated by several illustrious partizans of the people, gives 

 equal assurance that the monopolies will ere long be broken down, and that a 

 great proportion of the literary talent of England will, at last, devote 

 itself in one shape or other to dramatic composition. We feel confident 

 that such an exercise of much of the living genius of the age will be co- 

 eval with the removal of the restrictions upon dramatic performances. 



Mr. E. L. Bulwer was among the very first to attach his sanctioning 

 name to a cause, which had nothing but its own truth to dignify it, but 

 which his example and advocacy have greatly tended to made popular. 

 He has given notice of a motion, on the 31st instant, for extending the 

 free and full performance of the legitimate drama to all theatres in 

 other words, for the disseminationof Shakespearian knowledge (which com- 

 bines the advantages of being both " useful" and "entertaining"), and for 

 the abolition of nonsense in the suburbs of this intelligent metropolis. 

 Mr. Bulwer has a right to claim the support of every member of parlia- 

 ment connected with the liberal interest ; the rational amusements of the 

 people are almost as important as the exercise of their political rights 

 but the spirit of this question is not limited simply to a free-trade in their 

 amusements, but embraces the loftier principle of directing a finer taste 

 and a more enlarged intelligence into channels which monopoly has 

 hitherto kept dry. That Mr. Bulwer should his motion fail the first 

 time, from any devotion to the doctrine of vested rights, or delicacy to 

 patentees will persevere again and again, we have no doubt. The motion 

 for a Repeal of the Taxes upon Knowledge, of which notice was given 

 by him some time ago, has been repeatedly and unavoidably deferred ; but 

 We hope that ere the lapse of another month, both questions will have been 

 brought forward, and that Mr. Bulwer will have entitled himself to the 

 praise of having achieved nobly what he has so spiritedly undertaken. 



