had not broken entirely through the trammels and prejudices of their education; or rather the general spirit and education of their times. The learned men of those times not only commenced with the study of the Greek and Latin languages; but they studied no other than Greek and Latin authors. Homer, Virgil, Horace, &c. in poetry; Herodotus, Thucydides, Livy, &c., in prose, were their constant text-books. Hence the spirit of war that too often breathes in and blurs their compositions; and hence so frequent a mixture, in so many of their writings, of other heathen notions, besides war, with the purer maxims of the gospel. We do not mean, therefore, to tread rudely on their ashes; but only to warn the youth of our country against their errors. As to Mr. Addison, his fame is too far beyond the reach of any feeble javelin of ours, were we disposed to hurl one at him; but we are not so disposed on the contrary we highly respect his memory, and as to his literary merit, we do not differ widely, if any, from Dr. Johnson. "Whoever," says he, "wishes to attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, and elegant, but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison."

We have alluded to the licentiousness and obscurity of such dramatic authors of old, as Aristophanes and Plautus; and it may not be

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amiss to add, that as it was in the beginning, so is it like to be to the end; for the moderns have shewn themselves as guilty of licentiousness, low buffoonery, and gross obscenity or vulgarity, as the ancients; and still more blasphemous, because the ancients worshipped false gods and foul oracles, whereas we pretend to adore the true God, and yet blaspheme his name on the stage and every where else: And in the christian climes of Great-Britain and America, and under Protestant governments, nominally so at least, we have long seen both the press and the stage prostituted most shamefully in the publication and exhibition of comic productions, obscene enough, in many instances, to excite not only the indignation of every pure mind and sound heart, but to make even the devil himself to blush, could he be present in person, as he is in spirit, during their exhibition! And not only comedies like those of Mrs. Centlivre, notorious for her vicious life, as well as her licentious pen, some of which are still exhibited; but tragedies, like that of George Barnwell, by Lillo, in which Millwood, who represents a common prostitute, exhibits, for the edification of an audience composed, in part, of those who claim the exclusive right to the character of "good society," all the vile arts and vicious ingenuity of her most disgraceful profession, We

have seen ladies of the highest respectabilitymothers, with their daughters by their sidesnodding and winking significantly, while some handsome, but shameless actress has been playing the part of Millwood. But justice to the sex demands that we should add, that we have seen other ladies at the same time, both young and old, hiding their faces in confusion, and no doubt silently deprecating the disgraceful scene.

As I propose to myself no systematic order in the composition of these lessons; but write down whatever happens to come uppermost on the subject, as my pen glides along, I will here insert a partial correspondence, in which I was lately engaged. In the Albany Daily Advertiser, of May 27th, 1837, there appeared the following article:

Mr. HILL. This most admirable comedian commences a short engagement at the Theatre this evening, and we welcome him here with great pleasure to the Albany boards. No American performer has ever acquired a more universal popularity than this gentleman; and he has obtained it not only by his high excellence in his particular branch of his profession, but by the exercise of all those qualities which form the amiable man, and the exemplary citizen.

It is some years since Mr. Hill visited Albany, and in the intervals, as our readers know, he has visited England, where the stamp of approbation of his countrymen was confirmed by the judicious critics, and theatrical amateurs, of London. His original, effective and peculiar humour made him at once a favorite with every body; and he succeeded in carrying a correct idea of the New-England characteristics where not the slightest notion of them had been entertained—and the new mine of amusement he opened was hailed with the most cordial satisfaction. In England and Scotland he played upwards of seventy nights, and no actor has ever had more reason to be pleased with his reception.

The quaint, dry, and racy humour, and sallies of playful wit, in

which Mr. Hill is so happy, have been embodied in several new pieces written by the London playwrights, and some of which will be presented during his present engagement. In all these the blending of gravity and grins is irresistible; and we look upon him as a public benefactor, coming as he does at the present time to unbend the serious faces, and relax the moody brow so prevailing in this juncture of public affairs. The performances this evening are the Knight of the Golden Fleece and Old Times in Virginia-the comic effect of which must be seen to be appreciated, and which, when seen, makes the spectator anxious to witness it again.

On perusing this article, we thought it our duty, under the impressions which we then entertained, and which we feel perfectly confident will never be shaken, to reply to it; and accordingly, through the politeness of the editor, the following appeared in the same paper of May 31st, 1837:

We give place to the following communication, coming from a highly respectable source, because our columns are. and always will be, open for fair discussion. We do not agree with the writer-we look upon the drama, properly managed, as the handmaid of virtue, and the nurse of intelligence. Surely, if we can learn great moral lessons from Shakspeare in the library, we can learn them as well from Shakspeare on the stage.

Mr. BROOKS

For the Albany Daily Advertiser.

An old man, who has seen much of the great as well as the little world, begs leave to make a few hasty remarks on your article of Saturday morning, announcing the arrival of Mr. Hill, the celebrated comedian.

I shall not attempt a regular essay on dramatic exhibitions; but content myself with remarking, that they are relics of heathen antiquity, of very questionable utility; and, to say the least, in any view of the subject, not at all congenial with sound morality or pure religion. I confess frankly, that these were not the impressions of my early life; but mature reflection, and some bitter experience, have irresistibly forced them upon me.

As to a correct idea of the New England characteristics,' I have my doubts whether Mr. Hill, or any other comedian, ever succeeded either in conceiving or exhibiting such an idea. I attended theatres of the first order some 20 or 30 years steadily; but never saw on any

stage a correct exhibition of New England manners and habits, or of the manners and habits of any people, or any portion of them. Caricatures, the most extravagant and unnatural, I have often witnessed, of brother Jonathan, and our good old Father, John Bull: but rarely, if ever, any thing like a faithful and national delineation.

But to the point-and on this, I know you are too much of a gentleman and a scholar, not to tolerate a difference of opinion between yourself and any correspondent, who may address you in a becoming style. I am satisfied that you have the good of this community at heart; and that you would not wantonly or wilfully write a line to detract from it. But, my dear sir, permit me to ask you seriously, whether this be a juncture of public affairs,' or of private affairs, which calls for the 'blending of gravity and grins,' and constitutes the man a public benefactor,' who sets an idle, if not a thoughtless, multitude into a roar of laughter, when they ought to be upon their knees, at their firesides or their altars, imploring an offended God to forgive their sins, and look down with compassionate forbearance upon their ruined and distracted country?

I am no enemy to innocent mirth, on any proper occasion: but I could not be made to believe again, should I live a thousand years, that the mirth arising from theatrical exhibitions is innocent either in itself or its consequences, and if it were so at any time, this is not the proper time to enjoy it. If, my dear sir, our merchants are failing in every direction on the sea-board; and if inland we feel the distressing consequences :-If our banks have been driven to the necessity of violating their express or implied engagements to redeem their bills in specie:-If our mechanics in every city and village, are daily losing their employment, and feeling consequently the want of their daily bread :-And if our rulers are reckless of all this public and private calamity :Is it, then, I would put the question seriously, a proper time for any portion of our people to be sacrificing their time and money at the shrine of the Heathen Divinity, MOмUS? Is it, my dear sir, a time for 'the blending of gravity and grins?' Or is it not rather a time for blending pious and calm meditation with devout and fervent prayer to God for deliverence from the evils that beset us as a nation-from public and private profligacy-from the wickedness of contending as parties, for the spoils of victory,' instead of the salvation of the state? Is it not indeed a time for us to go to work with all possible ' gravity' and sincerity, at fasting and praying, instead of laughing and grinning over the real or supposed ludicrous features of New England characteristics ?

I feel satisfied, my dear sir, that on reflection, you will not impute these remarks to bigotry, superstition, or fanaticism; and that you will agree with me, that the present is no time for any public exhibitions but such as those which contribute to advance the cause of literature, science or religion; such, for example, as the exhibitions of Mr. CATLIN, now going on, and which deserve the attention of all who wish