ENGLISH STAGE.
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RAMATIC compositions have ever been esteemedamongst the greatest productions of human genius;and the exhibition of them on the public stage has,by some of the wisest and best men in, all ages, beencountenanced, as highly serviceable to the cause ofvirtue. Example is the most effectual manner of en-forcing the precepts of wisdom; and a just theatricalrepresentation is the best picture of human nature;with this peculiar advantage, that in this instructingacademy, the young spectator may learn the mannersof the world, without running through the perils of it. All well-regulated states havejudged it proper, bothin a political and moral sense, to have dramatic exhi-bitions, for the entertainment of the people. Andwhat entertainment is so rational, as that which isafforded by a well-written play ; whence the mind re-ceives improvement and delight? Thus thought thewise and lettered sages of ancient Greece; the Ro-mans adopted the same sentiments; and every polishednation in Europe hath received and cultivated thedramatic art. In this respect our British islands havebeen most eminent; having produced admirableactors, and excellent authors, both in the comic andtragic style, and sometimes also noble patrons, whohave done honour to themselves, by becoming thefriends and protectors of men of genius. It is well known to the learned, at what expencethe Athenians supported their theatres, and how oftenfrom among their poets, they chose governors of theirprovinces, generals of their armies, and guardians oftheir liberties. Who were more jealous of their liber-ties than the Athenians? — who better knew, thatcorruption and debauchery are the greatest foes to li-berty ? — who better knew, than they, that the free-dom of the theatre (next to that of the senate) was the a2
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