d. From a long and attentive consideration
of the subject, founded upon a perfect knowledge of the private
characters of the stage, and the general complexion of society off of
it, we are persuaded that in point of intrinsic virtue the players stand
exactly on a par with the general mass of society. That there are
offenders against the laws of morality and religion among them is
certain; but it must be remembered that they labour in this respect
under great disadvantages, from the publicity of their situation. There,
they stand exhibited to public view, every turn of their conduct,
private and public, becomes a subject of general scrutiny. Ten thousand
eyes are rivetted upon them, for one that is fixed upon individuals in
private life. And though it often happens that some of them are
suspected whose lives are perfectly pure, none who have deviated from
the paths of virtue can long keep their fall concealed. Can the same be
said of the other departments of life? No. Now and then indiscretion,
accident, or a total abandonment of decency brings to light the
misconduct of an individual; but in general the irregularities of
private life either escape detection or are hushed up by pride.
Sometimes indeed one vitious purpose occasions the detection of another,
and family disgrace is revealed to pave the way to a divorce, with a
view to another marriage, and perhaps to another divorce. Were the
private conduct of individuals in other stations as well known as that
of the people of the stage, the former would have no cause to exult at
the superiority of their morals; and in truth if a candid review be
taken individually of the actresses of the English stage, by which we
mean every stage where the English language is spoken, it will appear
that, with few exceptions, they stand highly respectable for private
worth and pure moral character. In England, Scotland and still more in
Ireland, an unblemished reputation is necessary to a lady's success on
the stage. In some instances, the greatest favourites of the public have
been driven for a time from the stage, for trespasses upon virtue, and
when permitted to return were never after much more than endured. To
these instances we shall have occasion to advert in the course of this
work.

While we assert, on the best grounds, that the theatre may be made, by
proper established regulations, a school of virtue and manners, we do
not wish to conceal our persuasion that there is nothing mo