venient to receive Spectators from the County of Surrey, who may be wafted thither by water carriage, esteemed by all Projectors the cheapest whatsoever. To this may be added, that the river Thames may in the readiest manner convey those eminent Perfonages from Courts beyond the feas, who may be drawn either by Curiosity to behold fome of our most celebrated Pieces, or by Affection to fee their Countrymen, the Harlequins and Eunuchs; of which convenient notice may be given, for two or three months before, in the public Prints. 4. That the Theatre abovesaid be environed with a fair Quadrangle of Buildings, fitted for the accommodation of decayed Critics and Poets; out of whom Six of the moft aged (their age to be computed from the year wherein their firft work was published) shall be elected to manage the affairs of the fociety, provided nevertheless that the Laureat for the time being, may be always one. The Head or Prefident (to prevent difputes, but too frequent among the learned) fhall be the most ancient Poet and Critic to be found in the whole Ifland. 5. The Male-Players are to be lodged in the garrets of the faid Quadrangle, and to attend the perfons of the Poets, dwelling under them, by brushing their apparel, drawing on their fhoes, and the like. The Actreffes are to make their beds, and wash their linen. 6. A large room fhall be fet apart for a Library to confift of all the modern Dramatic Poems, and all the Criticisms extant. In the midft of this room shall be a round table for the Council of Six to fit and deliberate on the Merits of Plays. The Majority fhall determine the Dispute; and if it should happen that three and three should be of each fide, the Prefident fhall have a cafting Voice, unless where the Contention may run fo high as to require a decifion by SinEgle Combat. 7. It may be convenient to place the Counsel of Six in fome confpicuous fituation in the Theatre, where after the manner ufually practifed by compofers in mufic, they may give Signs (before fettled and agreed upon) of Dislike or Approbation. In confequence of thefe Signs the whole audience shall be required to clap or bifs, that the Town may learn certainly when and how far they ought to be pleas'd? 8. It is fubmitted whether it would not be proper to diftinguish the Council of Six by fome particular Habit or Gown of an honourable shape and colour, to which may be added a fquare Cap and a white Wand. 9. That to prevent unmarried A&reffes making away with their Infants, competent provifion be allowed for the nurture of them, who fhall for that reason be deemed the Children of the fociety; and that they may be educated according to the Genius of their parents, the faid Actreffes fhall declare upon Oath (as far as their memory will allow) the true names and qualities of their feveral fathers. A private Gentleman's Son fhall at the public expence be brought up a Page to attend the Council of Six: A more ample provision shall be made for the son of a Poet; and a greater ftill for the fon of a Critic. with 10. If it be difcovered that Actress is any got Child, during the Interludes of any Play wherein she hath a Part, it shall be reckoned a neglect of her bufinefs, and she shall forfeit accordingly. If any Actor for the future fhall commit Murder, except upon the stage, he shall be left to the laws of the land; the like is to be understood of Robbery and Theft. In all other cafes, particularly in thofe for Debt, it is propofed that this, like the other Courts of Whitehall and St. James's, may be held a Place of Privilege. And whereas it has been found, that an obligation to fatisfy paultry Creditors has been a Difcouragement to Men of Letters, if any Perfon of Quality or others fhail fend for any Poet or Critic of this Society to any remote quarter of the town, the faid Poet or Critic fhall freely pafs and repaís without being liable to an Arreft. 11. The forementioned Scheme in its feveral regulations may be fupported by Profits arifing from every Third-night throughout the year. And as it would be hard to fuppofe that so many perfons could live without any food (though from the former course of their lives, a very little will be deemed fufficient) the mafters of calculation will, we believe, agree, that out of those Profits, the faid perfons might be fubfifted in a fober and decent manner. We will venture to affirm further, that not only the proper magazines of Thunder and Lightning, but Paint, Dietdrinks, Spitting-pots, and all other Neceffaries of Life, may in like manner fairly be provided for. 12. If fome of the Articles may at firft view feem liable to Objections, particularly those that give so vaft a power to the Council of Six (which is indeed larger than any entrusted to the great Officers of state) this may be obviated, by swearing those Six Perfons of his Majesty's Privy Council and obliging them to pafs every thing of moment previously at that moft honourable Board. ART OF SINKING IN POETRY. That the Bathos, or Profund, is the natural 102 II. The Neceffity of the Bathos, phyfically confi dered 104 IV. That there is an Art of the Bathos or Pro- fund 106 108 V. Of the true Genius for the Profund, and by what VI. Of the feveral Kinds of Genius in the Profund, and the Marks and Characters of each 115 119 IX. Of Imitation, and the Manner of Imitating 127 |