XO 
been attended with additional expence. 
A ftable has been wanted for the horfes, 
and pafture for the bulls’ greex-room and 
the imtroduétion of a river naturally im- 
plied a communication with the fea, 
which no man can carry on for nothjng. 
However, there can-be little doubt that 
the gratitude of the public will keep 
pace with the liberality of the managers. 
_ People muft be fenfible that a real horfe 
will confume more corn than one made 
of pafteboard, and that natural water 
will coft dearer than any the painter can 
make. Accordingly, Lam happy to find, 
that the encouragement of the public has 
hitherto been in proportionto the merit 
of fuch fpirited undertakings. 
I fay, fam happy to find this, becaufe 
this is but the beginning of a feries of 
improvements which will go nigh to ba- 
nifh all fi€tion from the fiage. Nor is the 
defign new. The theatre at the Farnefe 
palace was built on this plan, and the old 
dukes of the houfe of Farnefe have fre- 
quently taken away the flooring, and had 
water conduéted through pipes from 
Parma, to all up the cavity, and repre- 
fent battles at fea; and we know that 
FEmilius Scatrius builta theatre at anes 
capable of containing eighty theufead 
perfons. The largeft of our theatres 
does not hold four thoufand perfons! How 
pitiful! Let us hope, however, that the 
f{piric of improvement, which is revived, 
will not abate before we have, to fay ine 
Jeaft, rivalled the fize of the -ancient 
theatres. 
At prefent, much remains to be done. 
Our theatres are infinitely too fmall for 
the introduéition of any realities that are 
grand and firiking. We may admit, 
perhaps, a pair of horfes, but without a 
troop of horfe we thal] never be able to 
give a proper idea of a review. A reai 
boxing match we have feen on the flage, 
but I am afraid we have not yet room for 
a battle. although it would have a prodt. 
giouily fine effect. -I have always been of 
opinion, that one reafon why the people 
of this country are fo ready to agree to a 
war, is, that they have never feen a 
battle, and know no more of the horrors 
of regular carnage, than the wholefale 
accounts given in gazettes and new(pa- 
pers, which excite no intereit,—and yer 
perhaps excite as much intereft as was 
intended. idut this is a digredffion. 
The inrroduétion of water will, 
daoubr, facilitate the mtroduétion of La 
fea-fights, provided we can get real ad- 
mirals and real feamen, and what, per- 
Remarks on the Englifhb Theatre. 
[ July, 
haps, may not be fo eafy, veal enemtes; 
and I do not fee why they might not 
fupport. their characters very well, by 
fighting for the amufement of an over- 
flowing and brilliant audience. 
With regard to other rea/ities to be 
brought on the ftage, I apprehend a 
great many charagters might be filled by 
perfons who come much nearer the orti- 
ginals than the prefent race of perform- 
ers, even with all ‘their mimic powers. 
Many of Shak{peare’ s hiftorical play $, In 
particular, might receive a genuine co- 
louring from the ftatefinen, heroes, ty- 
rants, ‘and fools of the pretent day. 1 
have a tolerable Cardinal Wolfey in my 
eye, and an excellent fet of privy coun- 
fellors. Indeed, it fhocks me to fee the 
privy council reprefented,in various plays, 
by a fer af fellows whofe: places do not 
bring them>in twenty fhillings a week, 
and find their own’ wigs and fhirts.” 
“IT am aware, that many objeétions will 
be offered fo my propofai to extend our 
theatres. It will be faid, that the fpec- 
tators cannot fee, nor che audience: hear. 
I have quoted fome inftances cf the fize 
of the ancient theatres, and I fhould be 
forry to think that we were more. fhort- 
fighted than the Romans. The Italians, 
indeed, who are the modern Romans. are 
furprized that theiz anceftors could /ee in 
the theatres of which there are fuch ftu- 
pendous remains. Poor creatures! they 
don’t know how blind they became when 
they loft the dominion of the world by 
the corruption and vices of a degenerat- 
ed government. But we, Mr. Editoy, 
have no fuch declenfion to fear. Then, 
fir, as to hearing, I flatter myfelf that 
that objection w ‘ould vanifh, if people 
would att as they ought to de I agree 
that there,is a general deafnefs gone 
abroad, but it does not arife from the di- 
neatons of the theatre on which we aét. 
Twill tell yeu plainly whence it arifes— 
people wil! not hear with their own ears! 
I might notice fome other: obje€tions, 
but | am_unwilling, for the prefent, to 
take up more of your room, ‘There is 
one thing, indeed. which has eccurred to 
myfelf, and which it would be unfair in 
me to fupprefs, however much it may 
tell againft my fcheme of intreducing 
realities. I am afraid, that if the ambition, 
folly, and wickednefs, of tke leaders of 
mankind were to be reprefented by the 
parties, and ftrike conviction on the ipec- 
tators, fome danger might arife to the 
pecans and their generous patrons, 
inftcad of expreiling: heir fatisfaction, 
would 
