The New Licenser.
The Times, 1824-02-24T00:00:00

TO TH1E EDITOR OF THE TIMDES. Cacvendish-square, Friday, Feb. 20, 1824' Six,-As Iundcsstandais impression hbs been exc ted intheminds of some persons, that the nev tragedy of Adzsco has been interdict. ed oa religious as well as political grounds, and as it is of some importance to nle that those who interest themselves il its fate should not, for a moment, be left to suppose that the most vigilant malevo. lence could discover in any work of minec even a pretext for such an imputation, I am obliged, reluctantly, to trespass again on your attention, with a request that you will hav^ the goodness to insertin *our paper the following letter from the bord Chamberlain of his tMajesty's Household. When I tell you, Sir, that I have received this letter in answer to an appeal, in whieh I assert, in. the face of those authorities that have tlhougbt rit to inflict on my character and interest so scvce an injury, that my work contains " not one semi. timent moral, religions, or political, of which an honest subject of this erupire can justly disapprove, or. wlich anly honourable umar of any patty, should be ashiamed to avow " you will know how to appleciate the admissions in his Grace's fetter; to which, in my -own justification, I beg to direct the public attention:. (Copy.) " Grosvenor-spuare, Feb. 19. Sir,-Thinking Mr. olman a very sufficient judge of hls duty and as I agree in hi coiitlusioll, (fiom the account he has given me of, the tragedy called Altasc), J do conclutde, that at thi,i time, -without conkiderable onmssions, the tragedy should not be acted ; and wbilst I am persuaded that your intentions are upright, I con- ceive that it is precisely lbr this-rteon (thoughiit mmay^ not strik4 au. thor)a tlhat it has been the wisdori of the Legislature.to have an exa. miner appointed and power given to the Chaiiberlain of the llouse. hoild to judge whether certmin plays should be acted at all, er not acted at paiRcular times. " I de notrnean to enter into an argumemit with you, Sir, on the aubject, bit think that your letter, conceived in polite terms to me, calls upon me to return an answer, showing that your tragody har been well coivBidered. I remain, Sir, with esteem, Your obedient servanL '; IMONITROSB. l-o X ltrun tircner ofie, rB(C., MOl, MC From the above official letter, Sir, you will observe,, that the Lord (jamuberlain aeknowltdges the upriglhtness of my intentiobs. You will perceive also tbat lis Grace neither asserts nor Insinuates that say work contains one sentiment or expression, in itself moraiylry re- ligiously, or politically objcctionable, but expressly all]gci the -prc. sent time as the cause of its exclusion from the stage. But, Sir; the letter of the Lord Chamberlain excites reflectionS far more important than any which concern the interests of so humble an iWWdjv'dual as I am. We find from tiat letter, that theflat of the newly.appointed examiner is irrevoeable-that he rules lord paranmount of the Bri. tislh drama, and that, in a question of appeal against the mann'r in whichbe exercises the duties of his office, the Lord Chamberlain thinks himsclfjustificd in tuking the reportof the officer accuped as the: foundation of the judgment which he is caUed upon 't, prooounce. It novw orly remains for n e, Sir, bv the publication of my play stta; gU the exp-edition of wliclh its aas6age through the press ad: sedito show what the particular sentimrents are Which the new dra- lu^ffi(eensor thinks unfit to be addressed to the ears of Englishmen ini;n&iulc theetre,-to otTermv in humble psotiuction to the fuiture ceu&daifeofor tragic fame, as an exrmIlple of the delicacy and consi. deriiomt which; he may expect fronm the judiei6ua zeal of this vigi- lantfarafan of the tnorality and decotmn of the stage. mIremaiu. Sir, Yourmost obediezit bumhle servaint. I. .- AARIN ARCHER SIIEE. THE NW W LICENSER.