"THE EVIL OF THEATRICAL AMUSEMENTS

STATED AND ILLUSTRATED,"

LATELY PUBLISHED IN DUBLIN, AND PREACHED IN THE WESLEYAN
METHODIST CHAPEL IN LOWER ABBEY-STREET, ON

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER, 4TH, 1838,

BY THE REV. DR. JOHN B. BENNETT.

INCLUDING AN EXAMINATION OF THE AUTHORITIES ON WHICH
THAT SERMON IS FOUNDED.

BY JOHN WILLIAM CALCRAFT,

LESSEE AND MANAGER OF THE THEATRE ROYAL, DUBLIN.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.-
A time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn and a time to dance."-Ecclesiastes,
iii. 1, 4.

"Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou
destroy thyself."-Ecclesiastes, vii. 16.

"Speak evil of no man."-Titus, iii. 2.

"Be not too hasty to erect general theories from a few particular observations."—
Dr. Isaac Watts, D. D.

DUBLIN:

MILLIKEN AND SON GRAFTON-STREET,

BOOKSELLERS TO THE UNIVERSITY.

M.DCCC.XXXIX.

MVR

PN 2049
сь

"Orator ad vos venio ornatu prologi,

Sinite exorator sim.

Quia sciebam dubiam fortunam esse scenicam

Spe incerta certum mihi laborem sustuli."

Terent. Prol. Hecyr

PRINTED BY R. GRAISBERRY.

PREFACE.

THE following remarks have been thrown together more hastily than I could have wished, had other avocations permitted me the necessary leisure. I am aware that the subject might have been much more deeply considered, and that what I have written is a summary rather than a dissertation. A great deal more may be said, should occasion arise. At present I have chiefly confined myself to two leading points. An objection to the manner in which the authorities against us are produced, and the strength of our defences in the host of authorities that speak in our favour. It is easy to enter into a controversy, but difficult to retire from one.

"Facilis descensus averni

Sed revocare gradum hoc opus, hic labor est."—Virg.

Setting aside the time it occupies, which few professional men can command, controversy is ob