War; yet, I confess, I am afraid, that too much is deriv'd from the Defects of the Stage it felf. When I was a young Player under Sir William Davenant, we were under a much better Difcipline, we were obliged to make our Study our Bufinefs, which our young Men do not think it their duty now to do; for they now scarce ever mind a Word of their Parts but only at Rebearfals, and come thither too often scarce recovered from their laft Night's Debauch ; when the Mind is not very capable of confidering fo calmly and judiciously on what they have to ftudy, as to enter throughly into the Nature of the Part, or to confider the Variation of the Voice, Looks, and Gestures, which fhould give them their true Beauty, many of them thinking the making a Noise renders them agreeable to the Audience, becaufe a few of the Upper-Gallery clap the loud Efforts of their Lungs, in which their Understanding has no fhare. They think it a fuperfluous Trouble to ftudy real Excellence, which might rob them of what they fancy more, Midnight, or indeed whole Nights Debauches, and a lazy Remifnefs in their Bufinefs.

Another Obstacle to the Improvement of our young Players, is, that when they have not been admitted above a Month or two into the Company, tho their Education and former Bufinefs were never fo foreign to Acting, they vainly imagine themselves Mafters of that Art, which perfectly to attain, requires a studious Application of a Man's whole Life. They take it there

fore amifs to have the Author give them any Inftruction; and tho they know nothing of the Art of Poetry, will give their Cenfure, and neglect or mind a Part as they think the Author and his Part deferves. Tho in this they are led by Fancy as blind as Ignorance can make it; and fo wandring without any certain Rule of Judgment, generally favour the bad, and flight the good. Whereas it has always been mine and Mrs. Barry's Practice to confult e'en the most indifferent Poet in any Part we have thought fit to accept of; and I may fay it of her, the has often fo exerted her felf in an indifferent Part, that her Acting has given Success to fuch Plays, as to read would turn a Man's Stomach tho I could never pretend to do so much Service that way as fhe has done, yet I have never been wanting in my Endeavours. But while the young Gentlemen will think themselves Mafters before they understand any one Point of their Art, and not give themselves Leisure and Time to study the Graces of ACTION and UTTERANCE, it is impoffible that the Stage should flourish, and advance in Perfection.

and

I am very fenfible (faid I, finding that he had done) of the Juftnefs of what you have faid, Sir, but am apt to believe much of thofe Errors, which you remark proceed from want of Judgment in the Managers, in admitting People unqualified by Nature, and not providing fuch Men to direct them, who underftand the Art they fhould be improv'd in. All other Arts People

are

are taught by Mafters skilful in them, but here Ignorance teaches it felf, or rather confirms it felf into the Confidence of Knowledge, by going on without any Rebuke. I have often wifh'd, therefore, that fome Men of good Senfe, and acquainted with the Graces of Action and Speaking, would lay down fome Rules, by which the young Beginners might direct themselves to that Perfection, which every body is fenfible is extremely (and perhaps always has been) wanted on our Stage. And tho you have not had the Benefit of fuch an Education in the learned Languages, as fome Men may have had, yet fince you have read much in French, and your own Mother Tongue, by the Affiftance of which Languages all Knowledge may now be obtain'd, and have befides a confefs'd Genius, and a long practice in the Art, I wish I could prevail with you to deliver your Sentiments on this Head, fo that from them we might form a System of Acting, which might be a Rule to future Players, and teach them to excel not only themfelves, but those who have gone before them.

Were I, Sir, (reply'd he with a graceful Modefty) as capable as you would perfuade me that you think me, I fhould eafily be prevail'd with to communicate my Notions on this Head; but being fenfible of my Incapacity, for the very Reasons you have mention'd, of my Ignorance of the learned Tongues, I must be excus'd; yet not to disappoint you entirely, I fhall fetch you a Manuscript on this Head, written by a Friend

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of mine, to which I confefs I contributed all, that I was able; which if well perus'd, and throughly weigh'd, I perfuade my felf our Stage would rife and not fall in Reputation.

On this he went into his House, and after a little Stay return'd to us with fome loose Papers, which I knew to be his own Hand ; and being feated, after a Glafs of Wine about, he thus began.

Being to treat of the Art of Playing, and the Duty and Qualifications of Actors, I think it will be no improper Method first to confider, What Regard an Actor ought to have to his Conduct off the Stage, before we treat of what he is to do upon it.

I have not found in all the Clamours against the Stage, any one that denies the Usefulness of the Drama, if juftly manag'd; nay, Mr. Collier the moft formidable Enemy of this Diversion, (tho his Proto-Martyr, Archbishop Laud, contended fo violently for the Book of Sports, and Plays were acted at Court, in the Time of the Royal Martyr, even on Sundays) does allow, that the Wit of Man cannot invent any more efficacious means of encouraging Virtue, and depreffing of Vice.

Hence I believe it is evident, that they fuppofe the Moral Leffons, which the Stage prefents, may make the greatest Impreffions on the Minds of the Audience; because the Inftruction is convey'd with Pleasure, and by the Miniftration of the Paffions, which always have a

ftronger

ftronger Remembrance, than the calmer Precepts of Reafon.

But then I think there is no manner of doubt but that the Lives and Characters of thofe Perfons, who are the Vehicles, as I may call them, of these Instructions, muft contribute very much to the Impreffion the Fable and Moral will make. For to hear Virtue, Religion, Honour recommended by a Prostitute, an Atheist, or a Rake, makes them a Jeft to many People, who would hear the fame done with Awe by Perfons of known Reputation in those Particulars. Look but into Religion it felf, and fee how little the Words and Sermons of a known Drunkard, or Debauchee affect his Parishioners, and what an Influence a Divine of a pious and regular Life has on his Congregation, his Virtues preparing them to hear him with Refpect, and to believe him as a Man whofe Actions call not his Faith into doubt. Tho' the Pulpit must be allow'd to be the more facred Place, as difpenfing the most holy Mysteries of the Chriftian Religion; yet fince the Gofpel confifts of the Agenda as well as Credenda, of Practice as well as Belief, and fince the Practice is fo forcibly recommend'ed from the Stage by a purifying our Paffions, and the Conveyance of Delight, the Stage may properly be efteem'd the Handmaid of the Pulpit.

For this Reafon, I firft recommend to our Players, both Male and Female, the greateft and moft nice Care of their Reputation imaginable;

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