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For a Burning Town. If fuch a Defcription be neceffary (because it is certain there is one in Virgil) old Troy is ready burnt to your hands. But if you fear that would be thought borrowed, a Chapter or two of the Theory of the Conflagration, well circumftanced and done into verfe, will be a good Succedaneum.

As for Similes and Metaphors, they may be found all over the Creation; the moft ignorant may gather them, but the difficulty is in applying them. For this advise

with your Bookfeller.

CHA P. XVI.

A Project for the Advancement of the Stage.

IT 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 present 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 Ancestors, and to all the Succeffion of our Succeffors, that to this prefent Day they continue to Out-do even their Out-doings: And when the inevitable Hand of fweeping Time shall have brushed off all the Works of To-day, may this Teftimony of a Cotemporary Critic to their Fame, be extended as far as To-morrow.

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Yet, if to fo wife an Administration 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 Criticks and Reformers then living) made publick in the year 1720, in a Project figned with their names, and dated the fecond of February. I cannot better conclude than by presenting the Reader with the Subftance of it.

1. It is proposed, 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 with the Rope-. dancers, be admitted into Partnership.

2. That a fpacious Building be erected at the publick expence, capable of containing at leaft 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 Houses 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 reason of its proximity to the two Chambers of Parliament above-mentioned, feems not altogether improper ;) it is left to the wisdom of the Nation whether Somerfet-House may not be demolished, and a Theatre built upon that Side, which lies convenient to receive Spectators from the County of Surry, 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 those 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 publick Prints.

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4. That the Theatre abovesaid be environed with a fair Quadrangle of Buildings, fitted for the accommodation of decayed Criticks and Poets; out of whom Six of the moft aged (their age to be computed from the year wherein their first work was published) fhall be elected to manage the affairs of the fociety, provided nevertheless that the Laureate for the time being may be always one. The Head or President over all (to prevent disputes, but too frequent among the learned) fhall be the most ancient Poet and Critick 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 Actrees 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 Dramatic Poems, and all the Criticisms extant. In the midst 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 fhould be of each fide, the President shall have a casting Voice, unless where the Contention may run so high as to require a decifion by Single Combat.

7.

It may be convenient to place the Council of Six in fome confpicuous fituation in the Theatre, where, after the manner usually practifed by composers in mufic, they may give Signs (before fettled and agreed upon) of Diflike or Approbation, In confequence of these Signs the whole audience shall be required to clap or his, 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 diftinguish the Council of Six by fome particular Habit or

Gown

Gown of an honourable shape and colour, to which may he added a fquare Cap and a white Wand.

9. That to prevent unmarried Actreffes making away with their Infants, a competent provifion be allowed for the nurture of them, who fhall for that reafon be deemed the Children of the fociety; and that they may be educated according to the Genius of their parents, the said 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 public expence, be brought up a Page to attend the Council of Six: A more ample provifion shall be made for the son of a Poet; and a greater ftill for the son of a Critick.

10. If it be discovered that any Actress is got with Child, during the Interludes of any Play wherein she hath a Part, it shall be reckoned a neglect of her business, and fhe fhall forfeit accordingly. If any Actor for the future fhall commit Murder, except upon the ftage, he fhall be left to the laws of the land; the like is to be understood of Robbery and Theft. In all other cafes, particularly in those for Debt, it is proposed 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 Discouragement to Men of Letters, if any Perfon of Quality or others shall fend for any Poet or Gritick of this Society to any remote quarter of the town, the faid Poet or Critick fhall freely pafs and repafs without being liable to an Arreft.

11. The forementioned Scheme in its feveral regulations may be supported by Profits arifing from every Third-night throughout the year. And as it would be hard to suppose that so many perfons could live without any food (though, from the former course of their lives, a very little will be deemed fufficient) the mafters of calculation will, we believe, agree, that out of thofe Profits,

the

manner.

the faid perfons might be fubfifted in a fober and decent 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 firft view feem liable to Objections, particularly those that give fo vast a power to the Council of Six (which is indeed larger than any entrusted to the great Officers of State), this may be obviated, by fwearing those Six Perfons of his Majefty's Privy Council, and obliging them to pass every thing of moment previously at that most honourable Board.

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