\ 



304, l\h\ Prior on the Theatres, SjC [May 1, 



inalfcniive lo Iho real happiness of liavc the manes of libraries disturbed 



society. Ttic use of the stage licnoe lor rcproBcntalion, which is equal to 



heoomcs abused, and vice assumes the rouTPV"!? immorality by the press, 



scat of virtue. He wiio says, '' Stacje AVho tliat has seen " King JoI)n" reprc- 



pnibrmanccs are cultivated to a ri^lit scntcd this season at Covent Garden 



object," has never studied human na- can approve the words and gestures of 



Uuv, nor is he lit to be an advocate in Mr. Charles Kemblc in Fatilconbridge ? 



its bchuif. Eut they are not cultivated No modest female can sit comfortaidy 



to a right object. The playwright to hear a man ghiry in his vices, and 



niight, rn the vicious qualificalinns of challenge his mother in tlie way Faul- 



his heart, compose a dramatic piece; Cduhriclge challenges Ladt) Faulcon- 



liut, unless he were to guide his pen and bridge, Tiie revival of costume, in 



thoiights into a pure cliannel of plea- which decorum is duly observed, \» 



satdry and impro\ement, his cfliorts 

 siiould be rejected. Let him print; the 

 press would condemn Ins prurient wit, 

 and destroy bis demoralizing attempts. 

 Thou, Lord Chamberlain, who art vested 

 with a " little brief authority," and who 

 reeeivcst a handsome salary for the pro- 

 per examination of plays committed to 

 thy trust ; — thou, who oughtest to be the 



praiseworthy; but if delicacy, eitiier iit 

 Words or actions, be infringed upon, 

 nothing which a Chamberlain can do 

 ought to be left undone, to scourge the 

 impudent efforts of those who regard the 

 treasury of a theatre more than the 

 treasury of a human heart. 



It is also to be feared, that very littlr? 

 independence is elicited from the criti- 



Conservator of the people's theatrical cisms of the newspapers. So that the 



recreations, and lo whom they appeal 

 lor the sacred obligations of lasting joy 

 ill the temples of the Muses; — my lord ! 

 exercise thy power, exert it for the pidj- 

 lic: without being fastidious, thou canst 

 be manly, — without being sinister, thou 

 canst be just 



editors receive the usual favours of 

 admission to the places of public resort, 

 they do not give themselves the trouble 

 to lash the indecorous exuberance of 

 folly, and afterwards vice. Thus, wheu 

 a mutual understanding is established 

 between editors and managers, the pub- 



Jlie death of flic late Mr. Larpcnt lie are sullerers. Why, then, should the 



has occasiotied jMr. Colman, so well public, who rest their veracity upon 



known as a dramatic author and sali- what is said < f new pieces, be misled? 



rist, to be the Lord Chambei Iain's Those persons wiio do not much frecpicnt 



deputy. That Mr. Colman is duly qua- theatres, of course, ■:•'' told that virtue 



lified, no person would deny : the ques- flourislics in a theatrical soil, and that it 



tion is whether, after be has been so 

 familiar with modern writers, he will 

 accept or reject a production which shall 

 have the requisites to " please the 

 many-headed town," and improve the 

 grade of dramatic classification. Mr. 

 Slice, the artist, has already fallen with- 



is fruitful in all good deeds. It has 

 been proved that those public reporters, 

 which have literally paid for their ad- 

 missions, have told more truth, and 

 opined ilieir readers' understanding. I 

 would not be thought to advocate puri- 

 taiiism, and lay an embargo upon na- 



in Mr. Colman's jurisdiction ; and, by a lional recreation ; but I maintain it, that 



j)ublication of the tragedy, proves his theatres in their jiresent state are not 



<lisa|>probation also. A burlesque trifle, the best schools of morality. Had I 



written by Mr. Walker, the author of room, J would also raise an objection to 



"Wallace," which has been performed that ofye»(«/c5 being ww/e attired. Who 



at Drury-Lano, was obliged to be is there amongst us that would like to 



altered in its title ; so that, if Mr. Col- 

 man really wish to reform the stage 

 without infringing ujion the merits of 

 genius, 1 do hope, sir, that much good 

 will arise from his power, if skilfully 

 applied in respect of jiew pieces. Next, 



see their wives or daughters "fret and 

 strut their hour upon the stage" as 

 heroes of the sock and buskin ? Cannot 

 a woman sing as sweetly as a heroine? 

 Ougiit she not to support tlie feminine 

 character, rather than assume the harder 



with regard to revivals: I need not say features of an Amazon? What shame 



that the language of man}' of our best 

 old plays is not current in the nineteenth 

 century. Thus, if that language be 

 pruned, the wit is effaced, and nothing 

 modern can bo judiciously sidjstituted. 

 Then certainly the public ought not to 



can she feel? Where is her modesty? 

 What example does she afford ? Where 

 is her taste? \A hat opinion does she 

 give to others? Where is her influence 

 if It? Why is it permitted? Let the 

 Lord Chamberlain decide. He who 



could 



