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"Whilft we are attending to a story to compaffion, and proves at laft a warning against rafh and fatal despair. Agreeable to this fhort reprefentation, the performance has found a favourable reception with the public, and given proof how far grave and ferious compofitions may engage the minds of men, and convey inftruction under the shew of amufement. It has likewife had the ordinary teftimony of diftinguished merit; it has ftruck out fome fparks of envy and spite. This kind of fire, we may be. lieve, is feldom extinct, but it only flames upon extraordinary occafions, when any remarkable merit, or a rifing fame is to be confumed. People who carried it in their breaft, have paid their duty regularly to every good writer in every age; infomuch that their attendance is now required to complete his honours: their filence therefore would have been the fevereft blow they could have struck at the author of Douglas."

of this kind, it nourishes every good difpofition of the heart, and we are the better prepared by it to act a noble, generous, and compaffionate part towards our fellow-creatures. If we can imitate fuch circumstances in the ftory of a tragedy, we may prefume that the effect will be fimilar; and it must appear ftrange, to find any tragedy cenfured, before we pretend to fhow that it fails in this point. The fubject we are now upon has been brought in queftion, on occafion of the tragedy of DOUGLAS; and no perfon fure can judge of that performance, who is not acquainted with the conduct of the story on which it is built. But if any perfor has proceeded fo far, from a general difapprobation of the ftage, I am perfuaded, that a few reflections upon the reprefentations of this performance, would be fufficient to reconcile him to it. It was well received by every audience, and feemed to make a deep impreffion. The fentiments it excites are thofe of admiration of virtue, compaffion to the diftreffed, and indignation against the wicked caufe of their fufferings. In every story of diftrefs, which is not merely accidental, wicked characters must appear, as well as good ones; for we cannot impute injury and cruelty to any other but the wicked: their appearance however improves the mind, by fostering our averfion to wickedness, in the fame degree as the view of amiable characters heightens our love of virtue, by engaging our hearts in its behalf. Hence the generofity of Jofeph, and the wickedness of his brothers, are equal matter of improvement and edification to our minds.

"When the tragedy of Douglas becomes yet more public, it will appear to have a tendency fimilar to this. The defigns of one perfon are painted in fuch colours of hateful depravity, as to become a neceffary object of deteftation. The mistakes of another awaken our caution, and become a leffon of prudence. The generous and elevated mind of a third, warm and exalt our fentiments; and that perfon, on whom the chief distress of this ftory falls, moves

He goes on to confider the authorities which should weigh with us in this queftion; and having rejected the authority of Papifts, which is not admitted in any matter of opinion or doctrine, he obferves, that the only law of this church relating to the theatre is to the following purpose.

66 That no comedies or tragedies, or fuch plays, fhould be made on any fubject of canonical scriptures, nor on the Sabbath day. If any minifter be the writer of fuch a play, he fhall be deprived of his miniftry. As for plays of another fubject, they alfo fhould be examined before they be propounded publicly." A&. af. 1574. Vid. Petrie's church-history.

It had been affirmed, that the theatre was dangerous to youth; that it gave public offence; and was injurious to the poor: the remaining part of this pamphlet refers to thele points. I fhall tranfcribe a few paffages from what the author observes on each.

"We may fufpect, that theatrical entertainments engage the minds at least of our youth too much, and carry them away from other fubjects of attention, which make a part either of their bufinefs or their education. This fufpicion is equally well grounded with refpect to

fluence of decency, and in the presence of refpectable perfons, can be fo dangerous, as cabals which are formed in fecret, and apart from fuch influence.The playhouse is frequented by people of both fexes, whofe rank, whofe age and manners, are fufficient to command refpect, and to bring decency along with them into any place. It is an uncommon compliment we pay them, in fuppofing that our youth are corrupted in their company: I fhould rather think, that, confidering the nature of the entertainment, and the refpect due to the company, we should fee, with fatisfaction, fuch fpectacles become a part in the amusements of our youth, and hope that their idle hours would find there, not only agreeable relaxation, but improvement too."

every other amufement: for people who are difpofed to be idle, will eafily find avocations from bufinefs; and the flage has one peculiar advantage, its being the amusement only of a ftated time, and not always at hand to tempt people who are idly difpofed.- -We may appeal to perfons who have the care of the education of youth in other places, whether they would not gladly fee their pupils come to the theatre, and mix with grave and decent company, if by that means they could break up more dangerous meetings for low gaming and riot, where youth have no good example to lead them, and no reftraint from a sense of decency or shame. The stage, I think, may well bear a comparison with other amufements which youth will devife for themselves, if they are debarred from this. When we confider the ftrain of thofe plays which have met with the moft favourable reception from the public, observations will occur to the honour of human nature; for they are plays which excel in moving compaf, fion, which intereft an audience in behalf of amiable characters, which give the proper applaufe to virtue, and treat vice with ignominy and reproach. When we see an audience therefore in tears for an object of compaffion, when we find them affected with the generous fentiments which come from a virtuous character, deeply engaged in withes for the fuccefs of the good, and for the disappointment of the wicked; it would fcarcely occur that fuch an audience could be better employed in an hour of leifure. Whatever our peculiar occupations are, virtue is the bufinefs of all, and we should not be excluded from any place where it may be learned. We know how few amufements there are for which this plea can be offered: it is well, we think, if they are innocent relaxations from bufinefs, we feldom expect to find them fchools of morality. As there is a danger that youth may exceed in every amusement they are given to, thofe amufements fhould be moft difcouraged, in which the excefs is molt dangerous. I will venture to fay, that no place of public refort, under the in

On the second point he obferves, that the apoftle's caution against giving offence, relates only to actions which are indifferent, (fee i Cor. viii.); that the ftage has made a part in the entertainments of every civilized nation; that it is of great influence on the manners of a people; that whatever persons of grave and refpectable character do, either in oppofing licentious performances, or in promoting the good, is matter of duty; that their conduct is not to be regulated by the opinion of any perfon who is difpofed to take offence; and that the abfurd prejudices of men fhould be corrected, instead of meeting with encouragement.

With respect to the poor, he has the following obfervations."The poor may be divided into two claffes; thofe who are indigent, but ftill in a condition to earn their bread by some sort of labour or induftry; and those, on the other hand, who, by reafon of age or fick nefs, are unable to earn any fubfiftence. It has pleafed Providence, for wife purposes, to place men in different ftations, and to bestow upon them different degrees of wealth. Without this circumftance there could be no fubordination, no government, no order, no induftry. Every perfon does good, and promotes the happiness of fociety, by li ving agreeable to the rank in which

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Providence

Providence has placed him. Whilft his deration and decency with which this gratuitous charities relieve the poor who paper is written; and upon the whole are unable to work, his other expence it is hoped, that the difpute itself may becomes a fund for the fubfiftence of the co-operate with the improving taste of induftrious; nor is it proper that they our age, to reform any abuses which fhould expect fubfiftence upon any other yet remain on our theatre.—I am, &c. terms than thofe of industry and fobriety. To the author of the SCOTS MAGAZINE. The money which the rich expends is paid for the labour of the poor. DifBrechin, Feb. 9.1757. ferent trades live upon the profits of fur- Lmoft every nation in one

SIR,

nishing his cloathing, his table, and his A or another, been remarkable for

fome prevailing vice or virtue, proceeding from the example of men in power, from the climate, from the conftitution and form of government, from the municipal laws and the execution of them, and from divers other causes. Our country, for example, has long been noted for the unnatural crime of child-murder; a crime scarce known any where else. Two inftances of it have been discover> ed in this town and neighbourhood within these few weeks; there is scarce a circuit-court without the trial of fome of thefe miferable offenders; and doubtless many more poor innocent children are murdered than the world knows of.

equipage. It is evident how many poor induftrious people would ftarve, if he did not buy the works which they furnish him. The very money he lays out for amufement comes at laft into the hands of the poor, and is paid as the price of their labour. A part of it we fhall fuppofe is laid out for the amufements of the theatre; and the people who receive it there, are fo many hands who diftribute that money among the induftrious poor. Every player muft be clothed, maintained, and lodged: the money which he receives therefore is paid at last to the spinstress, the weaver, the clothier, and other tradefmen who live by furnishing the ordinary necef- I would fain perfuade myself, that faries of life. Whilft from humanity we this inhuman practice does not proceed indulge the poor in their ftation, we from any natural brutality in my countryought from juftice to indulge the weal-women, but from fome cause that might thy in theirs, and to expect that they are to go on agreeable to the habits of living which belong to their station, and which in effect are neceffary to the order and good of fociety, and to the main tenance of the poor. If we fhut up our places of entertainment, and deprive people of diftinction of that fociety and thofe amufements which they have a relifh for, they must tire of living among us; and the few who yet remain will chufe to remove to another place, where they will not meet with popular antipathy on account of their most commendable amufements. Then indeed the money they expend would be lost to the

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of their native country. poor He concludes with obferving, that good dramatic poets have been always held in the highest efteem, and placed by pofterity among the first examples of human genius.

Your readers will approve of the mo

easily be removed. How happy should I be could my weak endeavours any way contribute towards it!

I am not fufficiently acquainted with our laws, to know at what period, or by what authority, the church of Scotland was impowered to inflict public penance. To me, the cloven foot, the mark of the beaft, appears plainly itamped upon it. The practice feems entirely Popifh; and it is aftonifhing that it was not exploded with confeffion and other Romish fuperftitions, as it is found by experience to be worse than most of them in its confequences. I dare venture to fay, that few have thought feriously on this horrid crime of childmurder, but have imputed it in a great measure, if not entirely, to this Popish fuperftition: I have heard feveral worthy clergymen do it frankly, and regret

its continuance.

A good reputation has always been

highly valued by every one that was not quite abandoned. When that ftrong rampart of virtue is once broke down, few have courage or power to repair it: if that is entire, virtue may stumble, and rife again. We ought certainly to prefer a good confcience to the applaufe of man, and fuffer infamy and reproach rather than fin against God: but, alas! this too rarely happens; for fome infa. tuate wretches will even commit the blackest of crimes, to fave their reputation or good name: and this furely is the cafe with the poor creatures that murder their own offspring, rather than be exposed on the repenting-ftool, to the derifion of their neighbours and acquaintance.

Though I intended to have faid no more on this fubje&t, I cannot but exprefs my furprife, that the repenting-flool, that vile anti-reformation machine, is not employed against such as maliciously wound their neighbours reputation; against husbands and wives who maltreat and abuse one another, to the great fcandal of the facred inftitution of matrimony; against liars, againft divulgers of fecrets that are intrufted with them, against fuch as are guilty of ingratitude; in short, against many other crimes, which being more unnatural, more malicious, and more hurtful to fociety, are certainly much more inexcufable than fornication. Befides, if I don't mistake, neither the civil nor criminal law has directed any punishment for fuch offenders: and the repenting-ftool would certainly have a good effect, and could have no bad one, were it thus employed; for it would put people on their guard against them, and might really be a means of reclaiming them.

But that I may not be thought an advocate for fornication, which is forbid by our religion, and inconfiftent with order, I fhall endeavour to prove, that with regard to it the ftool has a quite contrary effect. Many a poor thoughtlefs, I had almoft faid innocent girl, has the misfortune to be got with child, in an unguarded hour, that afterwards repents it from the bottom of her heart.

Youth, occafion, the arts that have been used to feduce her, are great alleviations of her guilt, and the becomes more pro. perly an object of compaffion, than reproach. Our bleffed Saviour's decifion, John viii. is very remarkable. As I am no divine, I fhall not pretend to comment upon it; but it certainly deferves our moft ferious confideration.- If fuch a one, I fay, can but fave her reputation, the will moft fincerely regret her paft imprudence, and may become a faithful wife, a tender mother, and in every respect a good member of fociety; whereas, if the is cruelly expofed to public penance, fhe defpairs of ever being able to retrieve her character, and (as Magdalenes are very rare) may in all probability be a w-e for life. Nay more, fhe appears to be as much pointed out for that purpose, as a fhop is by a fign-poft. Opportunity makes the thief. There are many young men whom indolence, bafhfulness, fear of a smart rebuff, or perhaps want of address, hinder from attempting a woman of good fame, that will attack this poor girl with the greatest affurance: her refiftance will be conftrued grimace, and the muft of neceffity fuccumb; like a man who having once forfeited his honour, is expofed to the infults of every coward.

I believe it may eafily be proved, that the public penance in queftion is often the caufe of adultery, that complication of horrid crimes! Unfortunately, we can have but a slender hold of most men by their confciences; any one that is converfant in the world is convinced of this melancholy truth: we will rather offend our heavenly Father, than expose ourselves to the refentment of an earthly parent, or fuch as we refpect and ftand in awe of. It is certain, that in this country fome fathers, and most mothers, look upon fornication as the greatest evil that can befal their fon; they conclude him a child of Satan, a reprobate! ten to one if they don't difinherit him: but if they think he abftains from that, they reckon him a virtuous youth, and will readily excufe crimes of a much deeper dye. Unhap

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py prejudice! dangerous in its confequences! In cafe the youth has a paffion for the fair fex, and is not endowed with an uncommon ftock of virtue, it is to be feared he will venture to commit adultery, rather than be fet up as a fpectacle to a congregation, and bring upon himself the indignation of his pa

rents.

On the whole, it is evident, that the repenting-fool is ineffectual to prevent fornication, and is frequently the cause of the horrid crimes of adultery' and murder! I therefore perfuade myfelf that the general affembly will be pleafed to take it under their confideration, and abolish it, as the naufeous dregs of Romish corruption."

I am not cafuift enough to determine, how far a man who has it in his power to prevent the commiffion of crimes, and neglects to do it, will be reputed an accomplice, by the almighty Judge; I fear he may. One thing I am certain of, that whoever will generously exert themselves for the prefervation of poor helpless infants, will more juftly deferve the glorious appellation of patriots, than many who vainly affume it now-a-days. In the good times of Rome, it was a diftinguished honour to fave the life of a citizen: ftrange, that we Chriftians, who are injoined nothing fo ftrongly as charity and brotherly love, fhould be fo remifs in this important duty!

The foundling-hospital does honour to the French nation; and I prefume, from the known generofity of the English, that the like establishment at London will foon furpass it. Above 4000 of the moft lovely children that were ever feen, are yearly brought to the hofpital at Paris. As they owe their fubfiftence and education to the public, they look upon themselves as the children of their country. Many of the best and braveft of the French troops come from thence. Nay many of the best and bravest men that have appeared in the world were foundlings and baftards: Caftruccio Caftrocani, Sir Cloudefly Shovel, moft of the heroes of antiquity were fuch.

The metropolis of this kingdom has of late years been distinguished for public fpirit; witness the infirmary, the workhoufe, the encouragement of agriculture and manufactures, &c. Doubtlefs gentlemen in office, and others, animated with the fame laudable zeal as heretofore, will intereft themselves in behalf of poor helpless innocents; which will procure them a bleffing from Heaven, and the grateful acknowledgments of their country.

Were a foundling hofpital once undertaken, I am confident an ample subfiftence will foon be provided for all fuch as fhall be brought to it for the nobility and gentry of this nation are second to none in generofity and charity.

In the mean time I fhall beg leave to make a propofal for the difcouragement of fornication, and maintenance of baftards.- I prefume few women that have not loft their reputation on the repenting.ftool have the impudence to entice the men: The feduction comes from the men, they are the aggreffors, and ought juftly to be the fufferers. Let us fuppofe then that a minifter is informed of a girl's being with child in his parifh; might not he exhort her privately, and make her fenfible of her guilt, without bringing her before the elders? who (I am forry to say it) often ask fuch queftions as are neither decent nor neceffary, and make the poor finner as much frightened to appear before them as before the congregation. When the girl has told the minifter who is the father of the child, might not he oblige him to give fufficient fecurity for its maintenance and education, fo that it may never become a burden on the public? If he either will not or cannot do this, may not he be sent to serve his country in the army or navy? In case he be improper for either, let him be bound to ferve fome years in America. Hard labour and a spare diet will be a more efficacious antidote against fornication, than all the penance that ever was invented at Rome.— I am, &c.

An ANTI-PAPIST.

An

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