On the T H E A T R E. 29 
for this nation, if handfome filaries were allowed to two or 
three men of character, diftinguifhed for their piety and fkill 
in poetry, to ad under the lord chamberlain. Their buftnefs 
fhould be to fupprefs all plays which are of an evil tendency to 
morals, to reform fuch as are good in themfelves, but have paf- 
fages in them which are injurious to virtue. 
The power lodged in the lord chamberlain, is calculated to 
fupprefs every thing which might be exhibited on the Rage, de- 
rogatory to the dignity of the throne, the facred perfon of the 
king, and the welfare of the hate. Experience teaches us that 
this reftridion is very far from being injurious to liberty, but 
rather calculated to fupport its caufe, and prevent its degene- 
rating into libertinism. But is not the honor of god, and the 
intereft of mens souls to be likewife taken into the confidera- 
tion ? If a British audience departs from that good fenfe for 
which they were always diftinguifhed, or gives up virtue a prey 
to the fervile proftitution of a poet’s pen, who makes them the 
compliment of fuppofing they have no relifti for a performance 
which has not a great mixture of lewdnefs and immorality : If 
this is the cafe, does it not become the duty of the legislative 
power to corred fo crying an enormity ? Let this be done with 
all the art and gentlenefs which the acuteft policy can fuggeft. 
But if it is not eftablifhed as a maxim, that nothing but down- 
right blasphemy is exceptionable, the laws of civil fociety call 
aloud for a reformation in fo fcandalous an inftance. 
Vice is vice, in male or female, and in both, deteftable in the 
fight of god. But there are certain weighty reafons why the 
virtue 
