Government, and the Christian religion. It contains many of the grossest libels on our nobility, people of fashion, and opulent men. For instance:

66 Since laws were made for every degree, 66 To curb vice in others, as well as in me, “ I wonder we ha'n't better company

"But gold from law can take out the sting; 66 For if, like us, rich men were to swing, "It would thin the land, such numbers would string. Upon Tyburn Tree.

This is a direct libel on our laws, our constitution, our nobility, and all persons of distinction and opulence. It has the audacity to state, that if a rich man, or a man of family, be ever so guilty, he can purchase his escape from the gallows by dint of gold, in defiance of all law; and that, in short, none but poor men can be hanged.

Again; seven common women are introduced to Macheath, at one time, who kisses, every one of them on their entering the room. Here is a most abominable scene of indecency, indecorum, and infamy. Then, on the very moment before he is to be executed, and when the gaoler announces two more wives, with a child a-piece, who wish to see him, the unfeeling monster, without the least compassion, either for the women or the tender babes, and with a bold effrontery and unfeeling heart, tells the gaoler to inform the sheriff's officer that he is ready ; and goes with as much composure to the gallows, as a long-haired, blear-eyed methodist would go to the tabernacle*. The whole

too shocking. But the worst is yet to

*Archbishop Herring preached a course of sermóns against this detestable Opera. And be it known. that I respect his memory for it.

come.

I mean Foote's comedy of the Minor. This is by far the most impudent and profligate performance ever produced on the stage. All the scan dal, debauchery, and fraud, of a common brothel, is publicly exhibited before our virtuous and chaste wives and daughters. An old notorious procuress avows that she has procured a virgin nymph from the country for a nobleman, who is to be introduced to her after she returns from the holy tabernacle that evening. When Loader has the infamy to ask her to tip the peer an old trader, and let his friend, the baronet, have the girl; Lord! Mr. Loader, replies the old bawd, where do think to go when you die?

you

So that hypocrisy is added to complete

the scene of infamy, for the amusement, instruction, and improvement of pit, boxes and gallery.

Then the pious apostle of reformation, and founder of the Tabernacle, Doctor Whitfield-the very corner-stone—one of the most substantial pillars and props -the very arch of religion,—to be publicly ridiculed on the stage! Oh! what an abomination! And then to represent his holy tabernacle as a receptacle for bawds and profligates, which never was polluted with unhallowed breath, and where none but the purest and chastest zephyrs blow! Then how doubly cruel and wicked, and illiberal, to turn into ridicule on a public theatre a natural defect of this sanctified character, under the ludicrous name of Doctor Squintum, because he had a whimsical kind of look that serious people would call a cast in both eyes! All this is wicked in the extreme; nay, what is worse than wicked, it is ungentlemanly. But to return to

is made, after describing the beauty of the deluded nymph, to exclaim, with uplifted eyes;-"that three such lovely tender chickens would, in one winter, make her fortune!" But let me hasten from a scene which makes me shudder as I contemplate it.

The pious Prelates of former ages were industrious in using every exertion in their power to suppress all stage-performances. Not only divines, but laymen, both ancient and modern, have, by their writings, endeavoured to suppress plays, as well as other amorous and unchaste works. Clemens, Romanus, Nazianzen, Tertullian, Ambrose, Jerome, Lactantius, Augustin, and others of the early Christian teachers; the Fourth Council of Carthage, and divers other councils. Bab