THE STAGE: ITS CHARACTER AND INFLUENCE. BY JOHN STYLES, D. D. Fourth Edition, Revised. LONDON: THOMAS WARD AND CO., PATERNOSTER-ROW. MDCCCXXXVIII. PREFACE. THERE are certain works which, as soon as they appear, not only provoke controversy on account of their subject, but which also excite hostility against their authors. The "Essay on the Stage" happened to be one of this class; but neither sophistry nor calumny arrested its circulation. After a third edition, however, and the lapse of many years, the author lost sight of it; nor did he entertain a thought of republishing it, till he received the suggestion from several quarters, at nearly the same time, accompanied by a most liberal offer, to enable him to carry another edition through the press. This will account for its re-appearance in the present form, and at a considerably reduced price, as compared with that of former impressions. The moral evils of a Theatre, against which the work was originally directed, are, it is to be feared, little abated. And recent circumstances seem to threaten not only their continuance, but their increase. While other, and able opponents of the Stage have lately appeared, the author of the Essay, published thirty years ago, deems it to be his duty to bring out and to polish his long-neglected armour, and once more to take the field. Should any of its readers be struck with the coincidence of sentiment, and argument, and style, and language, between this work and certain discourses, treatises, and tracts, with which they are familiar, its author has only to observe, in his own defence, that the original edition was published in the year 1806, while the works in question bear the date of a much later period. It was intended to add an appendix to this edition, and a chapter from "Happiness," illustrative of the influence of Christianity in alienating the lovers of the Theatre from their once favourite amusement, is referred to in page 90, as inserted in the appendix. It was found, however, expedient not to extend the volume beyond its present limits; the reference, therefore, must be transferred to page 205 of the second volume of " Happiness." July 7, 1838. CONTENTS. Page An Inquiry into the Principal Causes which have con- Cursory Observations on the Writers for the Stage, on 118 |