Considerations on the State of the Stage

As an Act of Parliament passed in the Reign of His late Majesty restricting Theatrical performances, it is proposed to examine into the Cause, as &is not impossible it may be understood to have its rise from a presumption that the Number existing at that time was prejudicial to Society in general: but this was not the Case – for its affects are directly contrary, as can easily be proved from various instances & Reasons – but prior thereto it is fit to shew whence the restriction took its rise, – about the year 1738 a Theatre was opened in Goodmans feilds Wh for some time performed Theatrical Peices unmolested – their success encouraged a Broken Wit (says Cibber) to collect a 4th Compy in the Hay market; who soon finding the best Plays ill performed turned to a bad Accot, thought it necessary to give the Public some extraordinary peices, of such a Specie that no bad Acting coud Spoil; and that from their Nature, shoud, if not draw the attention of the Judicious, at least attract that of the Million (the Mob): under this distress he became Intrepidly abusive and licentious & in several Frank and free Farces, he pelted his Superiours and seemed to Aim at the destruction of every Idea of distinction in Mankind, both on the Heads of Religion, Governmt, Priests, Ministers & Judges; all were leveled by this Draw-cancer in Witt, who Spared neither Friend nor Foe till at last by his own Poetic Fire (like a second Erostratus) he consumed his own Stage, by writing up an Act of Parliament, for the purposes before recited – thus farr Cibber who wrote at the time the Act passed: but it was suspected that this Adventurer was hired to do this dirty business by the Patentees, who possibly were apprehensive if some Check was not given their Emolumts woud soon decrease.