CHA P. XVI.

A Project for the Advancement of the Stage,

I

T may be thought that we should not wholly

omit the Drama, which makes fo great and fo lucrative a part of Poetry. But this Province is fo well taken care of, by the prefent Managers of the Theatre, that it is perfectly needless to suggest to them any other Methods than they have already practifed for the advancement of the Bathos.

Here therefore, in the Name of all our Brethren, let me return our fincere and humble Thanks to the most Auguft Mr. Barton Booth, the moft Serene Mr. Robert Wilks, and the most Undaunted Mr. Colley Cibber; of whom let it be known, when the People of this Age shall be Anceftors, and to all the Succeffion of our Succeffors, that to this prefent Day they continue to Out do even their own Out-doings: And when the inevitable Hand of fweeping Time fhall have brufhed off all the Works of To-day, may this Teftimony of a Co-temporary Critic to their Fame, be extended as far as To-morrow.

Yet, if to fo wife an Adminiftration it be poffible any thing can be added, it is that more ample and comprehenfive Scheme which Mr. Dennis and Mr. Gildon (the two greatest Critics and Reformers then living) made publick in the year 1720, in a Project figned with their Names, and dated the 2d of February. I cannot better conclude than by prefenting the Reader with the Substance of it.

1. It is propofed, That the two Theatres be incorporated into one Company; that the Royal Academy of Mufick be added to them as an Orchestra; and that Mr. Figg with his Prize-fighters, and

Violante

Violante with the Rope-dancers, be admitted in Partnership.

2. That a fpacious Building be erected at the Public expence, capable of containing at least ten thousand Spectators, which is become abfolutely neceffary by the great addition of Children and Nurfes to the Audience, fince the new Entertainments. That there be a Stage as large as the Athenian, which was near ninety thousand geometrical paces fquare, and feparate divifions for the two Houfes of Parliament, my Lords the Judges, the honourable the Directors of the Academy, and the Court of Aldermen, who fhall all have their Places frank.

3. If Westminster-Hall be not allotted to this fervice (which by reafon of its proximity to the two Chambers of Parliament above-mentioned, seems not altogether improper ;) it is left to the wifdom of the Nation whether Somerfet-House may not be demolished, and a Theatre built upon that Site, which lies convenient to receive Spectators from the County of Surrey, who may be wafted thither by water-carriage, efteemed by all Projectors the cheapest whatsoever. To this may be added, that the river Thames may in the readieft manner convey thofe eminent Perfonages from Courts beyond the feas, who may be drawn either by Curiofity to behold fome of our moft celebrated Pieces, or by Affection to fee their Countrymen, the Harlequins and Eunuchs; of which convenient notice. may be given, for two or three months before, in the public Prints.

4. That the Theatre abovefaid be environed with a fair Quadrangle of Buildings, fitted for the accommodation of decayed Critics and Pacts; out

of

of whom Six of the moft aged (their age to be computed from the year wherein their firft work was published) fhall be elected to manage the affairs of the fociety, provided nevertheless that the Laureat for the time being, may be always one. The Head or Prefident over all (to prevent difputes, but too frequent among the learned) fhall be the most ancient Poet and Critic to be found in the whole Ifland.

5. The Male Players are to be lodged in the garrets of the faid Quadrangle, and to attend the perfons of the Poets, dwelling under them, by brufhing their apparel, drawing on their fhoes, and the like. The Actresses are to make their beds, and wash their linen.

6. A large room fhall be fet apart for a Library to confift of all the modern Dramatick Poems, and all the Criticifms extant. In the midft of this room shall be a round table for the Council of Six to fit and deliberate on the Merits of Plays. The Majority fhall determine the Difpute; and if it fhould happen that three and three should be of each fide, the President fhall have a cafting Voice, unless where the Contention may run fo high as to require a decifion by Single Combat.

7. It may be convenient to place the Counsel of Six in fome confpicuous fituation in the Theatre, where after the manner ufually practifed by compofers in mufick, they may give Signs (before settled and agreed upon) of Diflike or Approbation. In confequence of thefe Signs the whole audience fhall be required to clap or bifs, that the Town may learn certainly when and how far they ought to be pleas'd ?!

8. It is fubmitted whether it would not be proper to distinguish the Council of Six by fome particular Habit or Gown of an honourable shape and colour, to which may be added a fquare Cap and a white Wand.

9. That to prevent unmarried Actresses making away with their Infants, a competent provifion be allowed for the nurture of them, who shall for that reafon be deemed the Children of the Society; and that they may be educated according to the Genius of their parents, the faid Actreffes fhall declare upon Oath (as far as their memory will allow) the true names and qualities of their feveral fathers. A private Gentleman's Son fhall at the publick expence be brought up a Page to attend the Council of Six: A more ample provifion fhall be made for the fon of a Poet; and a greater ftill for the fon of a Critic.

10. If it be difcovered that any Actress is got with Child, during the Interludes of any Play wherein the hath a Part, it shall be reckoned a neg lect of her bufinefs, and fhe fhall forfeit accordingly. If any Actor for the future fhall commit Murder, except upon the ftage, he shall be left to the laws of the land; the like is to be underftood of Robbery and Theft. In all other cafes, particularly in thofe for Debt, it is propofed that this, like the other Courts of Whitehall and St. James's, may be held a Place of Privilege. And whereas it has been found, that an obligation to fatisfy paultry Creditors has been a Difcouragement to Men of Letters, if any Perfon of Quality or others! fhall fend for any Poet or Critic of this Society to: any remote quarter of the town, the faid Poet or:

Critic fhall freely pass and repass without being liable to an Arreft.

II. The forementioned Scheme in its feveral regulations may be fupported by Profits arifing from every Third-night throughout the year. And as it would be hard to fuppofe that fo many perfons could live without any food (though from the former courfe of their lives, a very little will be deemed fufficient) the mafters of calculation will, we believe, agree, that out of thofe Profits, the faid perfons might be fubfifted in a fober and decent manner. We will venture to affirm further, that not only the proper magazines of Thunder and Lightning, but Paint, Diet-drinks, Spitting-pots, and all other Neceffaries of Life, may in like manner fairly be provided for.

12. If fome of the Articles may at first view feem liable to Objections, particularly thofe that give fo vaft a power to the Council of Six (which is indeed larger than any entrusted to the great Officers of ftate) this may be obviated, by fwearing thofe Six Perfons of his Majesty's Privy Council, and obliging them to pass every thing of moment previously at that most honourable Board.

CONTENTS

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