,transcriber's ,note3 ,hyphens splitting words across lines have been removed4 ,original spellings have generally been retained1 but obvious corrections have been made silently1 and the original text can be found in the ,,html or the ,,xml version4 ,series ,three3 ,essays on the ,stage ,no4 #b ,anon41 ,representation of the ,impiety and ,immorality of the ,english ,stage 7#agjd7 and ,anon41 ,some thoughts ,concerning the ,stage 7#agjd7 ,with an ,introduction by ,emmett ,l4 ,avery and a ,bibliographical ,note ,announcement of ,publications for the ,second ,year ,the ,augustan ,reprint ,society ,march1 #aidg ,price3 #ge;c ,general ,editors3 ,richard ,c4 ,boys1 ,university of ,michigan1 ,ann ,arbor2 ,edward ,n4 ,hooker1 ,h4 ,t4 ,swedenberg1 ,jr41 ,university of ,california1 ,los ,angeles #bd1 ,california4 ,membership in the ,augustan ,reprint ,society entitles the subscriber to six publications issued each year4 ,the annual membership fee is #b4ej4 ,address subscriptions and communications to the ,augustan ,reprint ,society1 in care of one of the ,general ,editors4 ,editorial ,advisors3 ,louis ,i4 ,bredvold1 ,university of ,michigan2 ,james ,l4 ,clifford1 ,columbia ,university2 ,benjamin ,boyce1 ,university of ,nebraska2 ,cleanth ,brooks1 ,louisiana ,state ,university2 ,arthur ,friedman1 ,university of ,chicago2 ,james ,r4 ,sutherland1 ,queen ,mary ,college1 ,university of ,london2 ,emmett ,l4 ,avery1 ,state ,college of ,washington2 ,samuel ,monk1 ,southwestern ,university4 ,photo-,lithoprint ,reproduction ,,edwards ,,brothers1 ,,inc4 ,lithoprinters ,,ann ,,arbor1 ,,michigan ,,introduction ,within two or three years after the appearance in #afih of ,jeremy ,collier's ',a ,short ,view of the ,immorality and ,profaneness of the ,english ,stage'1 the bitter exchanges of reply and counter-reply to the charges of gross licentiousness in the ,london theaters had subsided4 ,the controversy1 however1 was by no means ended1 and around #agjd it flared again in a resurgence of attacks upon the stage4 ,among the tracts opposing the theaters was an anonymous pamphlet entitled ',a ,representation of the ,impiety and ,immorality of the ,english ,stage'1 a piece which was published early in #agjd and which appeared in three editions before the end of that year4 ,the author reveals within his tract some of the reasons for its appearance at that time4 ,he remarks upon the obvious failure of the opponents of the theater to end the outragious and insufferable ,disorders of the ,,stage4 ,he stresses the brazenness of the players in presenting1 soon after the devastating storm of the night of ,november #bf-bg1 #agjc1 two plays1 ',macbeth' and ',the ,tempest'1 as if they design'd to ,mock the ,almighty ,power of ,god1 who alone commands the ,winds and the ,seas4 7',macbeth' was acted at ,drury ,lane on ,saturday1 ,november #bg1 as the storm was subsiding1 but1 because it was advertised in the ',daily ,courant' on ,friday1 ,november #bf1 for the following evening1 it would appear that1 unless the players possessed the even more formidable power of foreseeing the storm1 their presentation of ',macbeth' at that time was pure coincidence4 ,no performance of ',the ,tempest' in late ,november appears in the extant records1 but there was probably one at ,lincoln's ,inn ,fields1 which was not regularly advertising its offerings47 ,the author also emphasizes the propriety1 before the approaching ,fast ,day of ,january #ai1 #agjd1 of noting once more the ,impiety of the stage and the desirability of either suppressing it wholly or suspending its operations for a considerable period4 ,apparently the author hoped to arouse in religious persons a renewed zeal for closing the theaters1 for the tract was distributed at the churches as a means of giving it wider circulation among the populace4 7',the ,critical ,works of ,john ,dennis' ,baltimore1 #aici1 ,i1 #eja1 refers to a copy listed in ,magga catalogue4 ,no4 #efc1 ,item #ajb1 with a note3 #aith ,janry1 ,fast ,day4 ,this ,book was given me at ye ,church dore1 and was distributed at most ,churches47 ,except for the author's ingenuity in seizing upon the fortuitous circumstances of the storm1 the acting of ',macbeth' and ',the ,tempest'1 and the proclamation of the ,fast ,day 7which was ordered partly because of the ravages of the storm71 there is nothing greatly original in the work4 ,the author was engaged1 in fact1 in bringing up to date some of the accusations which earlier controversialists had made4 ,for example1 he reviews the indictments of the players in #afii and #agja for uttering profane remarks upon the stage1 and he culls from several plays and prints the licentious expressions which had resulted in the indictments4 ,like ,jeremy ,collier before him and ,arthur ,bedford in ',the ,evil and ,danger of ,stage-,plays' later 7#agjf71 he adds similar expressions from plays recently acted1 as proof1 presumably1 of the failure of the theaters to reform themselves in spite of the publicity previously given to their shortcomings4 ,in so doing1 he damns the stage and plays by excerpts1 usually brief ones1 containing objectionable phrases4 ,to this material he adds a section consisting of seventeen questions1 a not uncommon device1 addressed to those who might frequent the playhouses4 ,the questions again stress the great difficulty involved in attending plays and remaining truly good ,christians4 ,the pamphlet must have been completed late in #agjc or very early in #agjd4 ,the references to the storm and the performances of ',macbeth' and ',the ,tempest' would place its final composition after late ,november1 #agjc1 and it was in print in time to be distributed at the churches on ,january #ai and also to be advertised in the ',daily ,courant' for ,january #bj under the heading ,this present day is publish'd4 ,the fact that it quickly attained three editions during #agjd may be partially accounted for by its being given to churchgoers1 for it seems unlikely that the pamphlet would have a tremendous sale1 even if one allows for the strong opposition to the stage which persisted in the minds of many people at the turn of the century4 ,the author of the tract is unknown1 although ,sister ,rose ,anthony in ',the ,jeremy ,collier ,stage ,controversy1 #afih-agbf' 7,milwaukee1 #aicg71 pages #aid-bji1 ascribed it to ,jeremy ,collier1 an attribution which ,e4 ,n4 ,hooker1 in a review of the book in ',modern ,language ,notes'1 ,,liv 7#aici71 #chh1 and also in ',the ,critical ,works of ,john ,dennis'1 ,i1 #eja1 has deemed unlikely4 ,advertised also in the ',daily ,courant' for ,january #bj1 #agjd1 under the heading ,this present day is publish'd and in the same paragraph with the advertisement of ',a ,representation'1 was another short pamphlet1 ',some ,thoughts ,concerning the ,stage in a ,letter to a ,lady'4 7,immediately below this notice of publication was a re-advertisement of ,jeremy ,collier's ',dissuasive from the ,play-,house'1 with the result that1 on the day following the ,fast ,day1 three of the pamphlets attacking the stage and referring to the performances of plays representing tempests soon after the destructive storm of ,november #bf-bg1 #agjc1 were brought simultaneously to the attention of the public47 ,it seems clear that the publication and distribution of these books was a feature in the activities of the ,societies for ,reformation of ,manners4 ,the anonymous ',account of the ,progress of the ,reformation of ,manners' 7#acth ed41 #agje7 boasted that the ,societies had enlarged their design by causing books to be written which aimed at laying open to the ,world the outragious ,disorders and execrable ,impieties of our most ,scandalous ,play-,houses1 with the fatal ,effects of them to the ,nation in general1 and the manifest ,sin and ,danger of particular ,persons frequenting of them 7p4 #b74 ,defoe's ',review' 7,,iii1 no4 #ic1 for ,august #c1 #agjf7 pointed out that thousands of ,collier's books had been distributed at the church doors by the ,societies for ,reformation of ,manners and the founders of the ,charity ,schools4 ,obviously the ,societies did not restrict themselves to the works of ,collier4 ,incidentally1 the habit of ,collier and his followers of giving excerpts to illustrate the profaneness and immorality of the stage produced an unexpected effect in at least one quarter4 ,the same issue of the ',review' tells us that the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,william ,lancaster1 archdeacon of ,middlesex1 objected strongly to the dispersal of anti-stage tracts at the door of his church1 on the grounds that they tended to teach the ignorant ,people to swear and curse4 ',some ,thoughts ,concerning the ,stage in a ,letter to a ,lady' was ascribed by ,halkett and ,laing to ,josiah ,woodward1 who was associated with the ,society for the ,reformation of ,manners1 and the ascription has been referred to by later writers on the controversy over the immorality of the stage4 ,according to ,sister ,rose ,anthony 7op4 cit41 pp4 #bjc-bji71 ,jeremy ,collier may have issued a pamphlet as a supplement to his ',dissuasive from the ,play-,house'1 which was first published late in #agjc2 and it has been conjectured 7cf4 ',critical ,works of ,john ,dennis'1 ,i1 #eja1 #eje7 that ',some ,thoughts' might be that work1 especially since ,dennis1 at the end of ',the ,person of ,quality's ,answer to ,mr4 ,collier's ,letter'1 refers to a quotation from ,tillotson which appears on pages #h-i of ',some ,thoughts' and begins his reference to the pamphlet by designating it as a ,letter written by you ,collier1 tho' without ,name4 ,in any event1 both ',a ,representation' and ',some ,thoughts' stem from the renewed opposition to the stage which arose in the winter of #agjc-agjd and were activated in part by the belief that the great storm of #agjc was a judgment brought on ,england by1 among other faults1 the licentiousness of the stage4 ,both of the items printed in this issue are reproduced1 with permission1 from copies in the library of the ,university of ,michigan4 ,emmett ,l4 ,avery ,state ,college of ,washington ,a ,,representation ,,of ,,the ,impiety ,immorality ,,of ,,the ,english ,stage1 ,,with ,reasons for putting a ,stop thereto3 and some ,questions ,addrest to those who frequent the ,play-,houses4 ,the ,third ,edition4 ,,london1 ,printed1 and are to be ,sold by ,j4 ,nutt near ,stationers-,hall1 #agjd4 ,a ,,representation ,,of ,,the ,impiety ,immorality ,,of ,,the ,english ,stage4 ,the various ,methods that have been used for ,preventing the outragious and insufferable ,disorders of the ,,stage1 having been in a great measure defeated3 ,it is thought proper1 under our present ,calamity1 and before the approaching ,,fast1 to collect some of the ,prophane and ,immoral ,expressions out of several late ,,plays1 and to put them together in a little ,compass1 that the ,nation may thereby be more convinced of the ,impiety of the ,stage1 the ,guilt of such as frequent it1 and the ,necessity of putting a ,stop thereto1 either by a total ,suppression of the ,play-,houses1 as was done in the ,reign of ,queen ,elizabeth1 or by a ,suspension for some considerable time1 after the ,example of other ,nations2 where1 we are informed1 the ,stages were very chaste1 in respect of ours of this ,nation1 who are of a ,reformed ,religion1 and do with so much ,reason glory in being of the best constituted ,church in the ,world2 nay1 'tis out of doubt but the ,theatres even of ,greece and ,rome under ,heathenism were less obnoxious and offensive1 which yet by the ,primitive ,fathers and ,general ,councils stood condemned4 ,and is not the dangerous and expensive ,war we are engaged in1 together with the present ,posture of ,affairs1 a sufficient ,reason for this1 tho' the ,play-,houses were less mischievous to the ,nation than they are8 ,are we not also loudly called upon to lay aside this prophane ,diversion1 by the late dreadful ,storm1 terrible beyond that which we are told was felt in the ,year #afcf8 which1 as a ,right ,reverend ,prelate has observ'd1 some good ,men then thought presag'd further ,calamity to this ,nation1 and was accordingly followed by the ,commotions in ,scotland the very next ,year1 and not long after by the ,civil ,war in ,england4 ,and if we go on to countenance such open and flagrant ,defiances of ,almighty ,god1 have we not great ,reason to fear his heavy ,judgments will consume us8 ,but further1 ,her ,majesty having now1 upon ,occasion of the late great ,calamity1 appointed a ,day of ,solemn ,fasting and ,humiliation throughout the ,kingdom1 for the deprecating of ,god's ,wrath1 surely the ,players have little ,reason to expect that they shall still go on in their abominable ,outrages2 who1 'tis to be observed with ,indignation1 did1 as we are assured1 within a few ,days after we felt the late dreadful ,storm1 entertain their ,audience with the ridiculous ,representation of what had fill'd us with so great ,horror in their ,plays call'd ',mackbeth' and the ',tempest' as if they design'd to ,mock the ,almighty ,power of ,god1 who alone commands the ,winds and the ,seas1 and they obey him4 ,no surely1 it cannot but be hoped1 that a ,suspension at least of the ,players acting for some considerable time will follow1 when the ,prophaneness and ,immorality of the ,stage comes to ,her ,majesty's ,knowledge1 who1 'tis to be remembred1 has never once given any ,countenance to the ,play-,house by ,her ,royal ,presence1 since ,her happy ,accession to the ,throne4 ,the abominable obscene ,expressions which so frequently occur in our ,plays1 as if the principal ,design of them was to gratifie the lewd and vicious part of the ,audience1 and to corrupt the virtuously dispos'd1 are in this black ,collection wholly omitted2 lest thereby fresh ,poison should be administred instead of an ,antidote4 ,after the ,endeavours used by ,sir ,richard ,blackmore1 ,mr4 ,collier1 and others1 to ,correct and ,reform the ,scandalous ,disorders and ,abuses of the ,stage were found too unsuccessful2 in the ,year #afii1 several of the ,players were prosecuted in the ,court of ,common-,pleas1 upon the ,statute of #c ,jac4 #a4 for prophanely using the ,name of ,,god upon the ,stage1 and ,verdicts were obtained against them4 ,and in ,easter-,term1 #agja1 the ,players of one ,house were ,indicted at the ,king's-,bench-,bar1 before the ,right ,honourable the ,lord ,chief ,justice ,holt1 for using these following ,expressions1 and were thereof ,convicted4 ,in the ,play call'd1 ,the ,provok'd ,wife4 ',but more than all that1 you must know ,i was afraid of being damn'd in those ,days2 for ,i kept sneaking1 cowardly ,company1 ,fellows that went to ,church1 and said ,grace to their ,meat1 and had not the least ,tincture of ,quality about em4 ',damn 'em both1 with all my ,heart1 and every thing else that daggles a ,petticoat2 except four generous ,whores1 with ,betty ,sands at the ,head of 'em1 who were drunk with my ,lord ,rake and ,i1 ten times in a ,fortnight4 ',sure1 if ,woman had been ready created1 the ,devil1 instead of being kick'd down into ,hell1 had been married4 ',pox of my ,family4 ',pox of her ,virtue4 ',he has married me1 and be damn'd to him ',pox of the ,parson4 ',damn ,morality1 and damn the ,watch4 ',let me speak and be damn'd4 ,note3 ,this is spoken by one in a ,minister's ,habit4 ',and you and your ,wife may be damn'd4 ',stand off and be damn'd4 ',damn me1 if you han't4 ',lord6 ,what ,notions have we silly ,women from these old ,philosophers of ,virtue1 for ,virtue is this1 and ,virtue is that1 and ,virtue has its own ,reward2 ,virtue1 ,virtue is an ,ass1 and a ,gallant is worth forty on't4 ',if ,i should play the ,wife and ,cuckold him4 ',that would be playing the down-right ,wife indeed4 ',i know according to the strict ,statute ,law of ,religion1 ,i shou'd do wrong2 but if there were a ,court of ,chancery in ,heaven1 ,i'm sure ,i shou'd cast him4 ',if there were a ,house of ,lords you might4 ',if you should see your ,mistress at a ,coronation1 dragging her ,peacocks ,train1 with all her ,state and ,insolence about her1 it would strike you with all the awful ,thoughts that ,heaven it self could pretend to1 from you4 ',madam1 to oblige your ,ladyship1 he shall speak ,blasphemy4 ',in hopes thou'lt give me up thy ,body1 ,i resign thee up my ,soul4 ',a ,villain1 but a repenting ,villain2 ,stuff which ,saints in all ,ages have been made of4 ',satan and his ,equipage2 ,woman tempted me1 ,lust weakened me1 and so the ,devil overcame me2 as fell ,adam1 so fell ,i4 ,a ,bill was likewise found against the ,players of the other ,house1 in the ,term abovementioned1 for the following ,expressions2 but the ,indictement being wrong laid1 they were acquitted3 but they were ,indicted the ,term following for the same1 which ,indictment is not yet tried4 ,in the ,humour of the ,age4 ',marriage1 that was only contriv'd for the meaner ,rank2 tell me of ,marriage1 commend me to a ,whore4 ',every serious ,thought1 was so much ,time lost4 ',we address you with the same awful ,reverence we petition ,heaven4 ,in ,sir ',courtly ,nice'4 ',nay1 his ,salvation is a ,looking-,glass1 for there he finds his eternal ,happiness1 ,surly's ,heaven1 at least his ,priest is his ,claret-,glass1 for to that he confesses all his ,sins1 and from it receives ,absolution and ,comfort4 ,but his ,damnation is a ,looking-,glass1 for there he finds an eternal ,fire in his ,nose4 ',that same thing1 the ,word ,love1 is a ,fig-,leaf to cover the naked ,sense1 a ,fashion brought up by ,eve1 the ,mother of ,jilts1 she ,cuckold her ,husband with the ,serpent1 then pretended to ,modesty1 and fell a making of ,plackets4 ',let him be in ,misery and be damn'd4 ',and a ,pox on thee for't4 ',prithee ,dress and be damn'd4 ',pox on 'em3 ,pox on you all ,whores4 ',pox take him4 ',rot me4 ',let him ,plague you1 ,pox you1 and damn you2 ,i don't care and be damn'd4 ,the following ,expressions are transcribed out of the ,plays that have been ,acted and ,printed since they were ,indicted for the horrid ,passages above-recited4 ,in the ,comedy call'd1 ',the ,false ,friend4 #agjb'4 ,pag4 #g4 ',pox take ye4 ,pag4 #ab ',the ,devil fetch me1 c4 ,pag4 #bb4 ',heaven's ,blessing must needs fall upon so dutiful a ,son2 but ,i don't know how its ,judgments may deal with so indifferent a ,lover4 ,pag4 #bh4 ',say that 'tis true1 you are married to another1 and that a---- ,twou'd be a ,sin to think of any ,body but your ,husband1 and that ---- ,you are of a timorous ,nature1 and afraid of being damn'd4 ',how have ,i lov'd1 to ,heaven ,i appeal2 but ,heaven does now permit that ,love no more4 ',why does it then permit us ,life and ,thought8 ,are we deceiv'd in its ,omnipotence8 ,is it reduc'd to find its ,pleasure in its ,creature's ,pain8 ,pag4 #cc4 ',leonora's ,charms turn ,vice to ,virtue1 ,treason into ,truth2 ,nature1 who has made her the ,supream ,object of our ,desires must needs have design'd her the ,regulator of our ,morals4 ',there he goes ,i'faith2 he seem'd as if he had a ,qualm just now2 but he never goes without a ,dram of ,conscience-water about him to set ,matters right again4 ,pag4 #dc4 ',speak1 or by all the ,flame and ,fire of ,hell eternal2 speak1 or thou art dead4 ,in the ',inconstant'1 or the ',way to ,win him4 #agjb'4 ,pag4 #aj4 ',my ,blessing6 ,damn ye1 you young ,rogue4 ,pag4 #bj4 ',what do you pray for8 ,why1 for a ,husband2 that is1 you implore ,providence to assist you in the just and pious ,design of making the wisest of his ,creatures a ,fool1 and the ,head of the ,creation a ,slave4 ,pag4 #dc4 ',but don't you think there is a great deal of ,merit in dedicating a beautiful ,face to the ,service of ,religion8 ',not half so much as devoting them to a pretty ,fellow4 ,if our ,femality had no ,business in this ,world1 why was it sent hither8 ,let's dedicate our beautiful ,minds to the ,service of ,heaven3 ,and for our handsom ,persons1 they become a ,box at the ,play1 as well as a ,pew in the ,church4 ,in the ',modish ,husband'4 ,pag4 #ab4 ',she's mad with the ,whimsies of ,virtue and the ,devil4 ,pag4 #bh4 ',i think ,wit the most impertinent thing that belongs to a ,woman1 except ,virtue4 ,pag4 #dg4 ',the ,devil fetch him4 ,pag4 #ej4 ',i'm going towards ,heaven1 ,sirrah2 it must be the ,way to my ,mistress4 ,in the ,play call'd1 ',vice ,reclaim'd'1 c4 ,pag4 #ae4 ',now the ,devil take that dear false agreeable2 what shall ,i call him1 ,wilding4 ,but ,i'll go home and pray heartily we may meet again to morrow4 ',by ,heaven1 c4 ,pag4 #bd4 ',by ,heaven it becomes you4 ,pag4 #bg4 ',the ,devil take me4 ,pag4 #ca4 ',lightning blast him6 ,thunder rivet him to the ,earth6 ,that ,vulture1 ,conscience1 prey upon his ,heart1 and rack him to ,despair6 ,pag4 #cb4 ',grant me1 ye ,powers1 one lucky ,hint for ,mischief4 ,pag4 #dc4 ',then damn me1 if ,i don't1 c4 ,pag4 #dg4 ',rot me and be damn'd4 ,pag4 #eb4 ',by ,heaven1 c4 ,pag4 #fj4 ',well1 the ,devil take me4 ,in the ',different ,widows'4 ,pag4 #a4 ',damn'd ,lies1 by ,jupiter and ,juno1 and the rest of the ,heathen ,gods and ,goddesses2 for ,i remember ,i paid two ,guinea's for swearing ,christian ,oaths last ,night4 ,pag4 #b4 ',pox take him4 ,pag4 #bd4 ',ye immortal ,gods1 who the ,devil am ,i8 ,pag4 #fa4 ',may the ,devil1 ,curses1 ,plagues and ,disappointments light upon you4 ,in the ',fickle ,shepherdess'4 ,pag4 #ag4 ',bid ,charon instantly prepare his ,boat1 ,i'd row to ,hell4 ,ibid4 ',o ,ceres1 can thy all-seeing ,eye behold this ,object1 and yet restrain thy ,pity8 ,pag4 #cb4 ',fly hence to ,hell2 there hide thy ,head lower than ,darkness4 ,wou'd thou hadst been acting ,incest1 ,murder1 ,witchcraft1 when thou cam'st to pray3 ,thou hadst in any thing sinn'd less than in this ,devotion4 ,pag4 #cf4 ',where ,love's blind1 ,god sends forth continual ,arrows4 ,pag4 #db4 ',ceres1 to whom we all things owe4 ,pag4 #df4 ',almighty ,ceres4 ,in the ,play called1 ',marry or do ,worse1 #agjd'4 ,pag4 #d4 ',pox on me4 ,rot the ,world4 ,pag4 #f4 ',pox on him4 ,pag4 #h4 ',a ,plague on her4 ',the ,devil take you for a ,witch4 ,the ,devil take you for a ,fool4 ,pag4 #ab4 ',no ,matrimony2 the ,devil danced at the first ,wedding there was1 and ,cuckoldom has been in ,fashion ever since4 ',the ,devil take you for me4 ,pag4 #ab #ac4 ',the ,devil's in't if he been't fit for ,heaven1 when my ,master has writ ,cuckoldom there4 ',the ,devil take me c4 ,pag4 #ah4 ',a ,plague choak you1 ,pag4 #ba4 ',a smart ,jade by ,heaven4 ,pag4 #cc4 ',now the ,devil take him c4 ,pag4 #cg4 ',a ,plague on my ,master4 ,pag4 #dd4 ',the ,devil take me1 c4 ,pag4 #dg4 ',i pity him1 and yet a ,pox on him too4 ,pag4 #ea4 ',that dear damn'd ,virtue of hers tempts me strangely4 ,pag4 #ed4 ',the ,devil take me1 c4 ,pag4 #fd4 ',by ,heaven4 ,it must be again remembred1 that the detestable lewd ,expressions contained in the abovementioned ,plays1 which seem to be the most pernicious part of our ,comedies1 are not here recited1 least they should debauch the ,minds and corrupt the ,manners of the ,reader1 and do the same ,mischief1 in some degree1 as they do in the greatest when used upon the ,stage1 tho' mentioned with never so great ,indignation4 ,and it must be likewise taken notice of1 that these ,instances of the prophane ,language of ,plays1 which the good ,christian will read with ,horror1 would not have been put together1 and laid before the ,world1 had not the ,incorrigibleness of the ,players made it necessary for the ,ends abovementioned4 ,and now may not these plain ,questions be proposed1 without ,offence1 to the ,persons who frequent our ,play-,houses2 and especially to such of them as appear at any times in our ,churches1 and at the ,holy ,sacrament1 and be submitted to the ,judgment of all ,mankind4 ,i4 ,can ,persons who frequent the ,play-,houses1 and are not displeased to hear ,almighty ,god blasphemed1 his ,providence questioned and denied1 his ,name prophaned1 his ,attributes ascribed to sinful ,creatures1 and even to ,heathen ,gods1 his ,holy ,word burlesqued1 and treated as a ,fable1 his ,grace made a ,jest of1 his ,ministers despised1 ,conscience laught at1 and ,religion ridiculed2 in short1 the ,christian ,faith and ,doctrine exposed1 and the sincere ,practice of ,religion represented as the ,effect of ,vapours and ,melancholy1 ,virtue discountenanced1 and ,vice encouraged4 ,evil treated as ,good1 and ,good as ,evil1 and all this highly aggravated by being done in cool ,blood1 upon ,choice and ,deliberation8 ,can those1 ,i say1 that frequent the ,play-,houses1 and are not displeased with any of these things1 be thought to have any due ,sense of ,religion8 ,,ii4 ,can ,persons who often spend their ,time and ,money to see ,plays1 be suppos'd to be displeas'd with1 and to have a due ,indignation at1 the ,hearing the ,outrages beforementioned1 which so often occur in them1 and of which there is a dismal ,specimen laid before the ,world in this ,paper8 ,,iii4 ,can sincere ,christians encourage and assist1 by their ,presence and ,purses1 ,men in committing such ,practices1 and in their living by a ,profession1 which1 as it is managed1 is so inconsistent with ,christianity8 ,,iv4 ,can any who have a true ,concern for the ,honour of ,almighty ,god1 give ,countenance and ,support to such ,entertainments whereby he is so dishonour'd and affronted1 though they could suppose themselves above the ,danger of being the worse for them1 which they can never be8 ,v4 ,can ,persons who know 'tis generally allowed1 that the ,infidelity and ,looseness of the ,age is very much owing to the ,play-,houses2 who have observed1 that the ,zeal of particular ,persons have decreased1 and their ,strictness of ,life abated1 by their going to ,plays2 and do think that the ,gospel obliges them to discourage1 by their ,reproof and ,example1 ,sin in their ,neighbours1 to endeavour1 according to their ,advantages and ,opportunities1 to further their spiritual ,welfare1 and to be ,lights to lead others in their ,duty and ,way to ,heaven8 ,can such1 tho' they could think themselves wholly secure from taking ,infection in going to the ,play-,house1 encourage others1 even weak and feeble ,christians1 by their ,example1 to run to the same dangerous ,place likewise8 ,can this be thought an ,expression of their ,charity to their ,neighbour1 or to be acceptable to ,almighty ,god8 or rather1 ,should not ,compassion to the ,souls of their ,neighbours keep such as have a due ,concern for them from going to such ,places8 ,,vi4 ,can it be denied1 but that the going of a few sober ,persons1 tho' but once a ,year1 to see a ,play1 that they think less offensive and dangerous1 does encourage many others to go frequently to ,plays1 and to those that are more abominably loose and prophane2 who might never go at all to them1 if none frequented them but such as were entirely abandoned to ,shame as well as ,vice8 ,,vii4 ,can ,persons who have good ,dispositions to ,religion1 who go but once or twice in a ,year to the ,play-,house1 say1 upon their ,experience1 that they think the seeing of ,plays is proper to encrease the ,love of ,god in ,men1 to fit them for holy ,exercises1 and to promote their spiritual ,welfare8 or rather1 ,must they not own1 that by the seeing of ,plays they are more indisposed for ,religious ,performances2 that the ,awe and ,reverence which they had for ,god and ,religion1 and the ,horrour which they had at the ,sins which they there see ,men divert themselves with1 and make a ,jest of1 does thereby wear off2 that their sensual ,desires are more heightned and enflamed2 that they are more alienated from ,god1 and more enamoured with the ,world8 ,,viii4 ,can ,persons who are sensible of1 and do heartily lament their want of the ,love and ,fear of ,god1 their too great a ,love of the ,world1 the frequent ,distractions of their ,mind in ,prayer1 and the ,unruliness of their ,lusts and ,passions1 delight to frequent a ,place where they are surrounded with ,temptations to the ,love of the ,world2 where what can excite to unlawful ,desires and ,actions is promoted2 and the ,arts of an easie ,defilement are studied8 ,can they think this consistent with the ,rules of keeping from all ,appearance of ,evil1 of avoiding the ,occasions and ,temptations to ,sin1 and that ,watchfulness over their ,thoughts1 and that ,diligence in making their ,calling and ,election sure1 as the ,gospel requires8 ,do they in any wise herein adorn their ,profession1 resemble the ,christians who lived in the first ,ages of ,christianity2 or those who in any ,age since have been celebrated for their ,virtue8 ,,ix4 ,can ,persons in good earnest pray1 as they are directed in the ,lord's-,prayer1 ,not to be led into ,temptation1 and yet frequent the ,play-,house1 where they are assaulted with more and greater ,temptations than incounter them perhaps in any other ,place8 ,x4 ,can such ,persons as go to the ,play-,houses on ,week-days1 and appear in our ,churches on the ,lord's-day1 and even at the ,holy ,sacrament1 where they declare1 that they present themselves1 their ,souls and ,bodies1 as a reasonable1 holy and lively ,sacrifice to ,god1 be suppos'd to attend upon these ,holy ,ordinances with a suitable ,frame of ,mind2 since the ,language and ,design of ,sermons1 and of our ,liturgy1 and of ,plays1 are so different and even directly contrary to each other8 ,,xi4 ,can ,ladies really dislike ,lewd ,discourse in ,conversation1 and yet like to see ,lewdness represented in all the ,dresses that can vitiate the ,imagination1 and fasten upon the ,memory8 ,,xii4 ,can ,parents1 or any other ,persons who have the ,conduct of ,youth1 and have any serious ,concern for the ,souls of their ,children1 or of those that are committed to their ,care1 satisfie their ,consciences1 without ,restraining them from going to a place of such ,impiety and ,infection2 where they would be in the way to unlearn the best ,instructions of their ,parents and ,governours2 where ,pride and ,falshood1 ,malice and ,revenge1 ,injustice and ,immodesty1 ,contempt of ,marriage1 and false ,notions of ,honour1 are recommended2 where ,men are taught to call in question the first ,principles of their ,religion1 and are led to a contempt of ,sacred things8 ,,xiii4 ,can sincere and judicious ,christians think that the ,players exposing 7as they pretend to do7 ,formality1 ,humour1 and ,pedantry1 is an ,equivalent for their insulting sacred things1 and their promoting to so high a degree the ,prophaneness and ,debauchery of the ,nation8 ,,xiv4 ,can modest and prudent ,christians think1 that the ,opinion of the ,general ,councils1 ,primitive ,fathers1 and so many wise and good ,men in the several ,ages of the ,church1 who have condemned the going to ,plays as unlawful1 and as a renouncing the ,baptismal ,engagements1 doth not deserve great regard8 ,,xv4 ,can sincerely religious ,persons hear of the most horrid1 licentious ,treatment of sacred things as is in our ,plays1 and this not among ,mahometans and ,infidels1 not at ,rome and ,venice1 but in a ,protestant ,countrey1 without a ,fear that the ,judgments of ,god will fall upon us8 ,,xvi4 ,can less be expected from good ,christians1 who are sensible of the intolerable ,disorders of the ,play-,houses1 and the ,mischiefs that are brought upon ,mankind by them1 than that they would use all proper ,methods for the ,discouraging and ,restraining their ,relations and ,friends from going to them1 as they have any ,concern for the ,honour of ,god1 the ,good of ,mankind1 and the ,welfare of their own ,immortal ,souls2 that so by ,persons1 who have any virtuous ,principles1 keeping from a ,place which they will never be able to frequent with ,safety to themselves1 under any partial ,regulation2 the ,players1 the unhappy1 the miserable ,players1 may be necessitated to quit their ,profession1 and take upon them some honest and useful ,employment 7wherein good ,men ought to encourage and assist them7 and thereby the execrable ,impieties of the ,play-,houses1 and the ruinous consequences of them1 be prevented8 ,,xvii4 ,lastly1 ,can ,persons frequent the ,play-,houses1 after the outragious ,impieties of them1 and the fatal ,effects of their going to them1 are in so full and advantageous a manner laid open to the ,world1 without a greater ,aggravation of their ,guilt8 ,,finis4 ,some ,,thoughts ,concerning the ,,stage ,,in ,a ,,letter ,,to ,a ,,lady ,london1 ,printed ,anno ,dom4 #agjd ,madam1 ,it is with no little ,pleasure ,i behold you treading in the ,paths of ,virtue1 and practising the ,duties of a ,holy and ,religious life4 ,this1 as it has deservedly gain'd you the ,love and ,admiration of all that know you3 so1 ,i doubt not1 but you will always find it a ,fund of solid ,peace and ,satisfaction to your own ,mind4 ,i heartily wish there were many more such bright ,examples in the ,world1 that the ,ladies might be at last convinc'd1 ,that there is something worthy their ,imitation beyond the ,modes of ,dress and ,equipage2 something which will render them much more agreeable to the best and wisest of their ,admirers1 and1 in time1 no less pleasing to themselves4 ,i make no doubt but the ,age 7as corrupt as it is7 can furnish us with many ,instances of those of your ,sex1 who think the ,beauty of the ,mind does far surpass the gay ,appearances of the most splendid ,outside3 ,but yet1 it must be confessed1 that there are others1 7and those not a few7 whose ,lives are almost one continued ,circle of ,vanity and ,folly4 ,such as divide the best and most precious part of their ,time between their ,toilet1 the ,exchange1 and the ,play-,house4 ,this1 ,i believe1 upon ,enquiry1 will appear to be no unjust ,censure2 tho' at the same time1 ,madam1 ,i must freely own to you1 that ,i think it a most amazing thing1 that the ,ladies 7at least those who make any ,pretensions to ,virtue and ,goodness7 should ever be seen at the last of these ,places2 where they find themselves so scandalously treated4 ,i am apt to think1 that very few of 'em have read ,mr4 ,collier's ',view of the ,stage'2 if they had1 they would there see the ,corruptions of the ,plays set in so clear a ,light1 that one would believe1 they should never after be ,tempted to appear in a ,place where ,lewdness and ,obscenity 7not to mention other ,immoralities7 are so great a part of the ,entertainment2 a ,place that is now become the ,common ,rendezvouz of the most ,lewd and ,dissolute ,persons2 the ,exchange1 7if ,i may so call it7 where they meet to carry on the vilest and worst of ,practices4 ',tis the ,nursery of all manner of ,wickedness1 where the ,seeds of ,atheism and ,irreligion are sown1 which ,weak and ,tender ,minds too readily cultivate1 and from thence are easily led into a ,contempt of all that's ,serious4 ,it is impossible to say1 how many1 and how great the ,mischiefs are that spring from thence2 which if a ,man should take a ,view of1 it would perhaps1 be one of the most ,melancholy ,prospects that ever he beheld4 ,to look into our ,modern ,plays1 and there to see the ,differences of ,good and ,evil confounded1 ,prophaneness1 ,irreligion1 and ,unlawful ,love1 made the masterly ,stroaks of the fine ,gentleman2 ,swearing1 ,cursing1 and ,blaspheming1 the ,graces of his ,conversation2 and ,unchristian ,revenge1 to consummate the ,character of the ,hero2 ,sharpness and ,poignancy of ,wit exerted with the greatest ,vigor against the ,holy ,order2 in short1 ,religion and all that is ,sacred1 ,burlesqu'd and ,ridicul'd2 ,to see this1 ,i say1 and withall1 to reflect upon the fatal ,effects which these things have already had1 and how much worse are likely to follow1 if not timely prevented1 cannot but fill the ,minds of all good ,men with very dismal ,apprehensions4 ,and are these then the ,entertainments for a ,christian to be pleas'd with2 for one whose ,salvation is to be wrought out with ,fear and ,trembling8 ,will the ,strictnesses of ,virtue and ,religion be ever relished by a ,mind tinctur'd with such ,licentious ,representations8 ,must not such ,diversions 7to say no worse of 'em7 insensibly steal upon the ,affections1 especially of the ,younger sort2 give their ,minds quite a wrong ,biass1 and disarm them of that ,severity which is their greatest ,guard1 and which1 when once lost1 leaves 'em an easie ,prey to every ,temptation8 ,will not those ,lewd ,scenes of ,love1 wherewith almost every ,play is fraught1 inflame the ,fancy1 heighten the ,imagination1 and render a ,person thus prepar'd1 a fit ,subject for ill designing ,people to work on8 ,but suppose it were possible to be so armed as to be ,proof against all these ,dangers2 yet let any that have the least ,regard to what is ,serious1 tell me how they can answer it to ,god1 or their own ,consciences1 to be any ways ,instrumental towards the ,support of so much ,wickedness8 ,do they think it a ,sin to give the least ,encouragement to ,vice1 and at the same time believe themselves ,innocent1 when by their ,persons1 and their ,purses1 they contribute to the cherishing the very ,seed-,plot of ,irreligion8 ',tis to no purpose for such to say1 ,that they are cautious what ,plays they see1 and always go to the best and that the ,play-,houses would thrive whether they frequented them or no4 ,this may he true1 but what then1 ,will this excuse them8 ,suppose a powerful ,rebellion is begun in a ,nation1 and carried on successfully1 for some time2 and a ,man should not only appear sometimes among the ,rebels1 but should1 now and then1 send them a ,supply 7tho' never so little7 of ,money and ,arms3 ,could such a one pretend that he was no ways ,instrumental in this ,rebellion1 nor ,accessary to the ,mischiefs that attended it1 and that because it was not only begun1 but would have prosper'd too1 without him2 and altho' he did sometimes appear among the ,authors of it1 yet it was with the ,party which did the least ,mischief8 ,do you think1 ,madam1 this a just way of ,reasoning8 ,i dare say you do not4 ,is not this then the very ,case ,i am speaking of8 ,is the ,stage1 as 'tis now manag'd1 any thing else but a downright ,rebellion against ,god and his ,holy ,religion8 ,are not the ,plays1 7if not by ,design7 yet by a natural and necessary ,consequence1 an undermining of his ,laws1 and an ,attempt upon his ,government8 ,and must it not then follow1 that every one that frequents them1 is a ,party in the ,cause1 and encourages the ,undertaking8 ,and tho' he should be so ,happy as never to smile at a ,prophane ,jest1 nor join in ,applauding a ,vitious ,play2 yet1 will that exempt him from a ,share of that ,guilt which his ,presence and ,purse has help'd to support8 ,no1 ,madam1 'tis ,numbers strengthen the ,enemy1 and give fresh ,courage to his ,attempts6 ,a ,full ,house is the very ,life of the ,stage1 and keeps it in ,countenance1 whereas thin ,audiences would1 in time1 make it dwindle to nothing4 ,i know1 ,madam1 this is strange ,doctrine to some ,people4 ,if a ,man talks to them of leaving the ,plays1 they wonder what he means1 and are ready to take him for a ,madman4 ,they have so long habituated themselves to the ,play-,houses1 that they begin to think a ,place there1 to be part of their ,birth-,right3 ,but ,i desire such would be perswaded to hear what the late ,a4 ,b4 ,tillotson thought of these matters1 7and ,i hope some ,deference is due to his ,judgment74 ,if they look into the #aath ,volume of his ',sermons'1 they will find that in his ,discourse against the ,evil of ,corrupt ,communication1 he tells them1 ,that ,plays1 as the ,stage now is1 are intolerable1 and not fit to be permitted in a ,civiliz'd1 much less in a ,christian ,nation1 ,they do most notoriously minister1 says he1 both to ,infidelity and ,vice4 ,by the ,prophaneness of them they are apt to instil bad ,principles into the ,minds of ,men1 and to lessen that ,awe1 and ,reverence which all ,men ought to have for ,god and ,religion3 and by their ,lewdness they teach ,vice1 and art apt to infect the ,minds of ,men1 and dispose them to ,lewd and ,dissolute ,practices4 ,and therefore1 says he1 ,i do not see how any ,person pretending to ,sobriety and ,virtue1 and especially to the pure and holy ,religion of our ,blessed ,saviour2 can1 without great ,guilt and open ,contradiction to his ,holy ,profession1 be present at such ,lewd and ,immodest ,plays1 much less frequent them1 as too many do1 who would yet take it very ill to be shut out of the ,communion of ,christians1 as they would most certainly have been in the first and purest ,ages of ,christianity4 ,this is the ,opinion1 ,madam1 of that ,excellent ,man3 and1 one would think1 it should put those ,persons who are the ,encouragers of ,plays1 and the ,frequenters of them1 when they read it1 upon an ,enquiry1 ,what it is they are doing8 ,whether they are not carrying on the ,designs of the great ,enemy of ,mankind8 ,but if that will not prevail upon them1 let 'em reflect upon the late ,instance of ,god's severe ,displeasure against us1 and tell me then1 whether they think it consistent with that ,humiliation and ,repentance which this great ,judgment ought to awaken in us1 and which ,her ,majesty1 by ,her late ,gracious ,proclamation1 calls upon us to ,exercise1 to be ever again present at a ,place1 where they must often hear the ,name of ,god ,prophaned1 and every thing that is ,serious made a ,jest of8 ,a ,place which they cannot but know1 and must own1 7if put to the ,question7 has contributed so much to the ,corrupting the present ,age2 and which1 'tis to be fear'd1 is one of those accursed things1 that has provok'd the ,almighty to be so angry with us4 ,these are things1 ,madam1 of no trifling ,importance2 they are such as deserve the serious ,reflections of all good ,christians1 whatever the ,pretenders to ,gaiety may think4 ,and though some may1 perhaps1 misconstrue and ridicule such ,considerations by the ,names of ,preciseness and ,fanaticism2 yet1 'tis to be hop'd1 that all who have any regard for the ,honour of ,god1 the ,welfare of their ,countrey1 and the ,interest of our ,established ,church1 will not be laugh'd out of their ,duty1 but be perswaded1 not only to withdraw themselves from a ,place of so much ,danger1 but advise others to do the like2 that the ,stage may no longer ,triumph in the ,spoils of ,virtue and ,religion4 ',tis now the time to begin such an ,undertaking3 ,we have a powerful ,enemy abroad1 and a more formidable one at home2 ,i mean that ,looseness and ,irreligion which so abounds3 and what will it avail us to subdue the one1 while we encourage the other8 ,the ,hand of ,god has been lifted up against us1 we have seen the ,terrors of the ,lord1 and felt the ,arrows of the ,almighty2 and what can all this mean1 but to awaken us to a due ,sense of our ,danger8 ,and1 'tis to be hop'd1 the ,nation has already taken the ,alarm1 and begin to think how to avert ,god's ,displeasure4 ,the ,stage is called in ,question1 and ,papers are dispers'd to warn us of its ,mischiefs2 and it is not improbable that the ,licentious and ,unbounded ,liberty the ,players have taken of late years1 and particularly in their daring to ,act ,,the ,,tempest within a very few ,days after the late dreadful ,storm1 has rais'd in the ,minds of ,men such an ,abhorrence and ,indignation1 that we may possibly be so happy as to see the ,stage 7if not totally suppress'd7 yet brought under such a ,regulation1 both as to the ,plays that are ,acted1 and the ,company that ,resort to them1 that ,foreigners may no longer stand amaz'd when brought into our ,theatres1 nor ,good ,men tremble at the ,continuance of them3 but that ,virtue may appear there with all its ,charms1 and ,vice be expos'd to the utmost ,contempt4 ,in short1 that the ,stage may become so ,chast1 that even those ,birds of ,prey who now hover about the ,play-,houses and make the ,avenues to 'em so dangerous1 may fly away from a ,place that will no longer ,encourage nor ,protect them4 ,but after all1 ,madam1 ,whether this is such a ,scheme as can ever be reduc'd in ,practice2 whether so noble a ,structure as ,i am speaking of1 can be erected upon so rotten a ,foundation2 whether the ,wound is not ,gangreen'd1 and must be cur'd by ,excision2 ,i say1 whether such a ,regulation of the ,stage be possible1 must be left to those who have ,skill and ,authority to try the ,experiment4 ,in the mean time1 it will be every one's ,duty to run from a ,place of such ,infection1 least they contribute to the spreading a ,disease which may1 in time1 prove ,fatal to the whole ,nation4 ,but ,i forget1 ,madam1 ,i am intrenching upon your ,patience1 while ,i detain you in a place you have so long abandon'd4 ,i am fallen upon a ,subject1 which 'tis difficult not to say much of3 but ,i shall no longer interrupt your better ,thoughts1 than while ,i beg ,pardon for this ,trouble1 who am1 ,madam1 ,your very ,humble ,servant4 ,jan4 #ajth4 #agjd4 ,a _/ ,representation _/ of the _/ ,impiety ,immorality _/ of the _/ ,english ,stage1 _/ with _/ ,reasons for putting a ,stop thereto3 _/ and some ,questions ,addrest to _/ those who frequent the ,play-_/ ,houses4 _/ ,london1 _/ ,printed1 and are to be ,sold by ,j4 ,nutt _/ near ,stationers-,hall1 #agjd _/ enclosed within double frame of rules ,collation3 ,a#h ,b#d4 ,pp4 #a- #bd4 ,p4 #a title1 as above2 p4 #b blank2 pp4 #c-bd text4 ,three editions were issued in #agjd4 ,if we take the author's words literally1 the pamphlet was written between the ,great ,storm of ,november #bf1 #agjc and the day of fasting decreed by ,queen ,anne for ,january #ai1 #agjd4 ,according to ,arthur ,bedford 7',the ,evil and ,danger of ,stage ,plays' 444 ,london1 #agjf7 the pamphlet was published ,at the ,time of the ,fast 444 ,colton ,storm ,,acknowledgments ,the ,editors of the ,augustan ,reprint ,society wish to thank the following people for assistance rendered during the first year of the society's publication3 ,mr4 ,warner ,g4 ,rice1 ,director of the ,library1 ,university of ,michigan4 ,mr4 ,stanley ,pargellis1 ,director of the ,newberry ,library1 ,chicago4 ,mr4 ,william ,jackson1 ,director of the ,houghton ,library1 ,harvard ,university4 ,mr4 ,r4 ,b4 ,downs1 ,director of the ,library1 ,university of ,illinois4 ,mr4 ,leslie ,bliss1 ,director of the ,henry ,e4 ,huntington ,library1 ,san ,marino1 ,california4 ,mr4 ,colton ,storm1 ,curator of ,manuscripts and ,maps1 ,william ,l4 ,clements ,library1 ,university of ,michigan4 ,miss ,ella ,m4 ,hymans1 ,curator of ,rare ,books1 ,general ,library1 ,university of ,michigan4 ,alvina ,woodford1 ,photostat ,department1 ,general ,library1 ,university of ,michigan4 ,cal ,markham1 ,edwards ,bros41 ,ann ,arbor4 ,the ,augustan ,reprint ,society announces its schedule of publications for the ,,second ,,year ,may1 #aidg3 ,series ,i1 no4 #c--;,john ,gay's ,,the ,,present ,,state ,,of ,,wit and a section on wit from ,,the ,,english ,,theophrastus4 ,with an ,introduction by ,donald ,bond4 ,july1 #aidg3 ,series ,,ii1 no4 #c--,rapin's ,,de ,,carmine ,,pastorali1 translated by ,creech4 ,with an ,introduction by ,j4 ,e4 ,congleton4 ,sept4 #aidg3 ,series ,,iii1 no4 #c--,t4 ,hanmer's 787 ,,some ,,remarks ,,on ,,the ,,tragedy ,,of ,,hamlet4 ,with an ,introduction by ,clarence ,d4 ,thorpe4 ,nov41 #aidg3 ,series ,i1 no4 #d4--;,corbyn ,morris's ,,essay ,,towards ,,fixing ,,the ,,true ,,standards ,,of ,,wit1 etc4 ,with an ,introduction by ,james ,l4 ,clifford4 ,jan41 #aidh3 ,series ,,ii1 no4 #d4--,thomas ,purney's ,,discourse ,,on ,,the ,,pastoral4 ,with an ,introduction by ,earl ,wasserman4 ,mar41 #aidh3 ,series ,,iii1 no4 #d--;,essays on the ,stage1 selected1 with an ,introduction by ,joseph ,wood ,krutch4 ,publications ,the above schedule is subject to slight modification4 ,on the whole the choices were made in response to requests by members of the ,society4 ,you are urged to write the editors1 who are anxious to know1 not only what you would like to see reprinted1 but also what items already printed you have found most useful1 and what sort of information you think is most profitable to include in the ,introductions4 ,at present we offer a minimum of six issues annually4 ,as soon as the ,society's membership increases sufficiently to warrant it1 we shall bring out additional publications at no extra charge4 ,future ,plans ,it has seemed desirable that for the ,second ,year we should continue the present series 7on ,wit1 on ,poetry and ,language1 and on the ,stage74 ,but next year we hope to run one or two new series3 ,rare ,poems1 ,rare ,plays1 ,swiftiana1 ,drydeniana1 ,popeana1 ,rare ,periodicals1 or some such unifying topic or theme4 ,send us your suggestions for items in these or in the present series4 ,all suggestions are listed in our files2 and our policy in publications will be determined by the requests of members4 ,bibliographical ,notes ,from time to time we shall include ,bibliographical ,notes in our publications4 ,if members find this addition valuable1 it will become a regular feature of the ,reprints4 ,membership ,fees ,with this issue we conclude our publications for the ,first ,year4 ,if your membership expires1 please send us your renewal before ,may #a1 so that you will not miss the first issue of the ,second ,year4 ,membership rates remain fixed at #b4ej per year in the ,united ,states and ,canada1 and #b4ge in ,great ,britain and the continent4 ,back ,numbers ,a limited supply of back numbers is still available4 ,publications of the first year may be secured by members for #b4ej1 the annual membership rate4 ,for your convenience we list them below3 ,may1 #aidf3 ,richard ,blackmore's ,,essay ,,upon ,,wit 7#agaf7 and ,joseph ,addison's ,,freeholder no4 #de 7#agaf74 ,july1 #aidf3 ,samuel ,cobb's ,,of ,,poetry1 and ,,discourse ,,on ,,criticism 7#agjg74 ,sept4 #aidf3 ,anon41 ,,letter ,,to ,a4 ,h4 ,,esq2 ,,concerning ,,the ,,stage 7#afih7 and ,richard ,willis's 787 ,,the ,,occasional ,,paper1 no4 ,,ix 7#afih74 ,nov41 #aidf3 ,anon41 ,,essay ,,on ,,wit 7#agdh71 together with ,characters by ,flecknoe and ,joseph ,warton's ,,adventurer nos4 #abg and #acc4 ,jan41 #aidg3 ,samuel ,wesley's ,,epistle ,,to ,a ,,friend ,,concerning ,,poetry 7#agjj7 and ,,essay ,,on ,,heroic ,,poetry 7#afic74 ,mar41 #aidg3 ,anon41 ,,representation ,,of ,,the ,,impiety ,,and ,,immorality ,,of ,,the ,,stage 7#agjd71 and anon41 ,,some ,,thoughts ,,concerning ,,the ,,stage 7#agjd74 ,libraries ,libraries as well as individuals are eligible for membership4 ,because the publications are issued without profit it will be impossible to allow discounts to libraries1 agents1 or booksellers4 ,foreign ,subscriptions ,our agent for ,british subscriptions is ,b4 ,h4 ,blackwell1 ,broad ,street1 ,oxford1 ,,england4