"Ignatius" as a capital play in 1781, and the only one "worth the attention of his congregation, makes it un"avoidable, without meaning the least offence to so "undoubtedly an inestimable good character, accom"panied with talents that would adorn any situation; consequently he commands every respect from me, "unaided by compliment or insincerity." "Now this truly respectable character, Mr. Milner, "of whom I speak with great esteem, as really a pious man, though at that time hurried into extremes, (and "I beg I may be seriously so understood) yet that gen❝tleman did aver in an anxious moment, that not one 66 play was fit to be seen or heard by a Christian, ex"cept that divine piece of writing, a tragedy in five acts, called Saint Ignatius. The particulars of the "said sermon being mentioned to me, and to prove my "duty to the public, as manager, also of my ad"herence to good rules from the pulpit, I sent for the 66 play, but feared on the perusal, I could not by any means prune it fit for the stage representation, as it "startled me in many places, as bordering on bad, not "good example; but as I yielded the matter to the su"perior judgment of the divine, I pruned it as well as 66 my weak abilities would permit, in order to make it 66 a stage entertainment, and fit to obtain the Lord "Chamberlain's license. "Mr. Stephen Kemble was at that time exceedingly "ill, and did penance very severely, by undergoing the "study of so long a part as St. Ignatius. It was acted on Saturday, December 29, 1781, to a very good "house, and persons at the theatre, whom I believe "had never seen a play before, and though so uncom<6 mon a production, it not only was attentively and "well received, but on the whole rather approved than "the contrary." p. 124, 125. My private account states that "as Mr. M. did not "attend the performance, it was not repeated." In this transaction it appears to me, that, if Wilkinson was really in earnest in endeavouring to conciliate the opponents of the stage, he did not set about it in a judicious manner. But, from the advertisement, the Play-bill, and his own account of the business, I cannot but think, that he was at least half in jest; and, therefore, it is no wonder if neither party were satisfied. Had he intended to have rendered the evening's entertainment acceptable to Mr. Milner and his congregation, he should have added more grave and respectable entertainments to the play, that, whether they staid them or not, the whole performance might have borne a more uniform and decorous aspect. But, had Wilkinson been ever so much in earnest, it does not appear to me, that the piece is calculated for stage representation, or to interest a mixed audience. Were the piece well-performed, I could see it represented with great pleasure on account of the subject, and the tendency of much of the sentiment; but it is by no means well written. Yet I can conceive that Cowper, or Mrs. H. More, could have written a Drama upon the same subject, which should have interested persons in general. According to my own sentiments, even this piece is not altogether unexceptionable. The character of Ignatius is drawn as coveting and provoking martyrdom; not with that calm and resigned fortitude, willing either to live or to suffer according to the will of God, which was so conspicuous in the death of our Saviour, and which I conceive to be the true Christian Spirit. There are at least eleven prayers in this play. At p. 88 of my Discourses, I have applied the answer of John the Baptist to the Soldiers, (Luke iii. 14.) who came to him, when he preached repentance, to know what they were to do, to the case of Players. A similar incident occurs in the first scene of the IVth Act of Ignatius, where the converted Soldier, Claudius, says to Philo the disciple of Ignatius: "I'm wholly Christ's! But how can I be his, " PHILO. "You mean, must not you love them? Here the present state of the world is urged in plea for even the best men doing many things which they may not altogether approve. A most difficult and important subject! Were I to be called upon to alter this play, to render it conformable to what I conceive to be true Christianity, I have little doubt that I should have as much to do to it as I have done in some of the plays in this collection. Wilkinson, in the same Volume of The Wandering Patentee, (ii. p. 121.) says, 66 Every piece that honours the Lord is proper for the Stage, as Miss Han"nah More's "Daniel in the Lion's Den," "Moses "in the Bull Rushes," with corrections and alterations, "where the cxpressions are too solemn and sublime-I "do not mean the sacred parts of Holy Writ." " And in the IVth Volume (p. 78.) it appears that these two pieces were altered, by a gentleman who resided near Doncaster, for Stage-representation, and performed there, Saturday, October 12, 1793, to a genteel audience, with credit and applause." It was the intention of the Manager to have performed them at Hull in the following month; but the design met with determined opposition from the adversaries of the Stage in that place; two of whom he mentions by name, and with much more of asperity than he speaks of Mr. Milner. At this opposition one cannot wonder, after what had taken place with respect to Ignatius. These circumstances, however, I think, clearly evince, that, had Wilkinson been treated in a milder manner, and had a better mode of reforming the stage been pointed out to him, he was by no means unwilling to attempt it.. The kind of plays with which this reformation should be begun, must not be very dissimilar to those, in form and character, to which audiences have been hitherto accustomed; but should be founded on interesting stories, with a considerable share of incident and bustle, and lively dialogue, but freed from all profaneness and immorality, and having a good moral or general tendency. Of this kind. I conceive to be the Play of Deaf and Dumb, translated from the French of J. N. Bouilly, calci The five le II y I had never either ili sericed here last October the Sarvin Campany; and I can me sextube so much interested einmance as I was with that. De a but lite a be a wich is exceptionable, WINE A DAC e arred with great De slewing ri is en undertaken with a view to pare dis desahe one has been gradually atmining is mesec se during a period of upwards of Our Wie and eating several plays, wer amphoma surses. I commonly read wita pa de peci hand and either expunged we plere snot as suck me be objectionable. Some the is this art were lent to friends, some we en 2e them and some tried by that exwe at the sanding them at ladies; when they me he agreed, and wishes here he to the her should be printed. Axa me shut printing one or two plays would or were as a suficient specimen of the thing inchar a few single plays might soon sink into where I was anxious that they should make their apa orm which might carry respect agree with it; that, if they shoul with much notice now, yet the work migh *She writing my Prece t have ablated a copy of the It does great credit to the |