Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-06-01
To THE Enron or THE RIcHmoND ENoUInEn.
SIR,


SIR,
have read production in your last
number, under the signature osTama, proesscdly
with no other view than to defend those persons
from unnerited reprosch. who have ed socated the
project Of a Theatre, and to explain their senti-
ments and oIinions"-f will not arraign the purity
OF their motives for, sm sure, from the know-
edge have of the character OF many, should do
them niiistice-But, the writer shews himself to
be a warm advocate for Theatrc-I am under q
strong conviction. that the ground taken by him is
faacious and, as esteem the ingenuity, modera-
ton and dignity with which he manages his subj ct,
anticipate his iiberaty towards adversary, who
Giscairns euy thing ike ssperity nr ill-will.
disapprove OF the Ecclesiastical denuncstons
with which, am told of late, ali the advocates OF q
Theatre have been mathematical; and proceed
in a calm investigation in search of truth. We are
told, 81 the drama may be considered in two points
of view 6ist absolute good and secondly, as
succedsneum for greater evils lhcse two pro-
positions are the basis Of the whole argument, that
shall attempt to combat may not FOLLOW in all
the branches Of the subject. bat will oiler such re-
marks rs naturally occur. on these t~o points
make some structures the prof-sion OF plsy-act
ors--and conclude. MS the preacher would say, with
some applications as to the proprey or necessity of
Theatre here.
Ia the first place, the two proportions seem to
defeat each other, cal undermine tie whole super
structure q" The drama is an absolute COOL and
yet it is " succeianeun for greater evils 1t a.
mouHts then, to great evil, or, as substitute Tor
grester--and yet, it il abso ute so"l--it"w can
this Be reeorclel | admit the drama has had,
ans, probably, will connue tn have great and geod
men in its favour; but hy have b al advocates for
what is called " we'll rrgulsted st''ge:" SUCH as,
think the writer aliude to b u in view, and such rs
] too would approve but such a. suppose never
has existed and probably never viii ex'st-but Il it
did, what would Il consist i'm Iapprehend there
should he number If good plays, ct undoubted
yood soor.aity sffordng such variety to suit all
tastes and capacities with nothing ike obscenity TO
sppear IN them not d0ub'e meaning or lnslnuai
on ut which the virgin geek would redden, or the
lceniicns rake feel his otndulged guilty appettcs
revive--1hc manager should preserve such order,
ror-r,Iari,v and decnrim, that one might think him
self sschoo Of morality" or, almost m 2 church
and, there shoald be board Of csn.ors, who
would attend 20 the strci observance otth' arrange
ment, in failure whereof, some penalty should COR
rect tic abuse
Bn,, le; MS dismiss this view Of the subject, and
take the picture, rot wonld have 1t be, but as
tits
II Theatrical rcpr senia'ions are not popular, The
PLAYERS Md moi he supported therefore, tie ma.
mayer mus Introduce such plays viii suit the ss-
dcnce u is an important inquiry, then--irst, to
sseeriai the description Of periQishat compose this
audience. fom which The exhibnons suitable tn
their taste can be dednccd--In this investigation
AN indebted for the assistance afforded by the vii
ter in tive y qulrer. lie says" many peIsohs ne
eye that Theatre viii have the effect Of drawing
the Tile, the gay ADD the dissonte from anusein ss
much more r prehensble aid praeiices h"t"ly
more ,i.ion-, than any which the seyerest censor %
Gat eniertsinr -nt ever sscribed to t. In eonsd-
sr.hi town. whiher flows, rs tn common sewer,
uie irers and feculence Of every ian|, IS try
Impossible TO expect the whole, or even tie larger
pat its nppulaon 70 abstain altogether from fol-
y ard vice. Nov then, this is the description Of per-
sons toc,mr She audience, whonstesd oFimpro'e
met. -es,r, 10 he theatre merely for amusemenl
snr = es,..,.,i,er mathematical. whether these
fvoll5 eee.a ta. srme time IN q worse manner, or,
oven 90 sst--l5snss the manager must adapt his