ment is the more necessary in order to keep them in good humour; to dissipate their gloom, animate their hopes, and set them willingly to work in all the various useful avocations of life. Besides it must not be thought that which is expended on the drama is lost to society, as if buried in the earth, or thrown into the sea. No, as in the universal economy of nature, nothing is lost. As vegetable substances consumed by flame, rise in vapour to the skies, and descend again in dews and refreshing showers to the earth so the superfluous wealth raised from one part of the community, descends by various direct and indirect channels to enliven and invigorate the other part; or, to speak in plainer terms, the drama does not destroy, but only causes a circulation of meney; its funds are chiefly drawn from the pockets of the affluent and distributed amongst ingenious artists, industrious mechanics, and respectable, reputable tradesmen, and various other branches of society.

By some anti-dramatists it is pretended that people - of low circumstances are by theatrical amusements oft efinduced to spend money that they cannot afford. Now granting this true, what does it amount to? this--that there are and always will be, very imprudent people; and if any man is foolish enough to spend a shilling that he cannot afford, where had he best spend it-in a play-house or an ale-house. This story bears the marks of being invented by some fanatical, or interes-. ted methodist preacher who hates plays and all concerned with them, because they tend to open the eyes of the people.

The small sums that a poor man can spare from his

daily earnings are, perhaps more rationally spent in a play-house than in a methodist meeting-house. In the former he is amused and instructed, in the latter he is mystified, made a gloomy discontented being, a burden to himself and of no use to society.

A case may be supposed in which it would be inexpedient to waste time in dramatic amusements. In any small colony or issolated part of the globe, where all the labour is required for the purposes of agriculture and other necessary occupations to support life. But it is otherwise in this part of the universe, where there is a redundancy of hands, where men in general are sophisticated; and in-door entertainments become as necessary as the feather beds on which they sleep!

Even in a colony the other side of the proposition, will only hold good for a time, for as soon as plenty produces leisure, amusement becomes necessary :—better to be employed this way than be idle, for we know "idleness is the root of all evil."

Perhaps on no one subject of general knowledge, do the bulk of mankind entertain such erroneous notions. as on that of theatricals:-I mean in an enlarged point of view. Like politics, the Theatricals are discussed almost in every house, and like them very little understood. Many consider the subject beneath their notice, others look at it with an inverted eye, or at such a distance, they never discover its real bearing, and dependencies; yet all, at times, intrude their opinions as peremptorily as if they had given the matter the most mature consideration.

As a mere matter of amusement, all persons can tell

whether they are pleased or not-so far they are correct, but with regard to the stage as an art, or science, there are few without the walls of a theatre that are qualified to form a just opinion of it; and much less of its important consequences and its moral effect on all the appurtenancies attached to it. Many of the best writers. and most accomplished critics, are still unacquainted with the arcana of theatres, all the secret springs and pivots by which the whole machine is balanced and regularly kept in motion. But in the present case I mean something more than this; I speak of theatricals as a subject of policy and political economy and how far, in a philosophical view, they contribute, or might be made to contribute to the well being of society.

In order to shew prejudices in their proper light, we will see how they operate in different ranks of life. For instance, the shop-keeper, after snipping off a yard of ribbon or lace, wrapping up an ounce of tobacco, or a farthing's worth of snuff, stands kicking his heels at his shop door, or gossipping away his time with his neighbours or inquisitive customers. This man thinks himself a useful member of society: This personage, if he has a good shop,-well glazed windows,-the shelves and drawers smartly painted, &c. If this personage has a good business, of course he is a useful member of society! and a most respectable tradesman!! But if he has a little shop, or is thought poor, then he is of the like value as his snuff and tobacco, almost useless! Very well, -now see another important personage; the burly-faced, pot-bellied landlord of some paltry Inn, or hedge alehouse! who has as little con

science as custom! no more ideas than he has beer barrels, but with as much paltry prate as he has dirty broken tobacco pipes! This man's whole time is perhaps spent in doctoring his beer,-cheating the exciseman,Ecolding his servants, --scandalizing his neighbours, retailing half a dozen old jokes, -smoking one of his black, broken pipes, and half poisoning his half stupid, ever-thirsty customers: and this man too styles himself a useful member of society!! He, like the other, looks down with contempt on the poor poet, player, or artist, as if they belonged to an inferior race of beings! Now, cast a look into the higher ranks of life: prejudices of another sort prevail even among those of good intention. Perhaps the words play and player mislead the opinion, as being opposed to work and worker.

The world at large does not seem aware that (generally speaking) work-houses are often play-houses, and most play-houses absolutely work-houses. I mean that there is more work done in the latter than the former. To be a good player requires a good deal of study and hard labour-like other professions a man cannot make any tolerable stand in this, without good conduct and great industry. But to proceed :-In high life, my lady, perhaps, either offers a boon to the poor "player-man," or indignantly says he should leave off playing and work for his bread. If she speaks with reference to disreputable or bungling pretenders, she may have justice on her side: but here humanity ought to suggest some excuse for those whom misfortune has linked to the profession and ought to extend clemency even towards bungling pretenders, till such time as the opinions of

the world admit men of liberal education to embrace the stage as a regular, and enlightened profession: till then, no wonder that many are a disgrace to it.

But as to players being useless members of society: It ill becomes ladies of rank to make such observations, till they first dismiss from their own establishments all persons not necessary. Have they no luxurious habits? no useless attendants? are no lacqueys kept to admi nister to idle caprices? To run on fal lal messages, or carry complimentary cards, parrots or lapdogs? Some people may stretch their liberality so far as to notice first-rate London Professors, and yet refuse even a look of complacency to those of the Country Theatres. For there are scarcely any in the great Theatres, but what have been and may again be in the smaller ones: the latter are only schools for the former.

Persons of condition who make such improper, or degrading remarks, should be told that town and country, as far as regards the profession, are much the same; -that there is scarcely a London Hero but has been a Country Stroller! and many a stroller in a country barn, was last season (and probably may be next) a star of first-rate magnitude in the Metropolitan Theatres.

Some people, in order to defend their prejudices against the drama, pretend that it is an inducement held forth to tempt many persons to spend money that they cannot afford to part with. Before they urge this, they should use their endeavours to prevent people with good voices singing ballads in the streets for fear poor people should lay out a penny they cannot spare. They should not suffer publicans to paint under their showy sign vol. ii.

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