e chapel, master's
apartments, &c. are in the front of this building, and the lodgings of
the other inhabitants, &c. in the two wings, of which that on the east
side was handsomely new built, in 1739, at the expense of the college.
They have a small library of books and a gallery of pictures with that
of the founder at full length. The inscription over the door concludes
with these words: _abi tu et fac similiter_--go thou and do likewise.

INTRODUCTION

TO

THE DRAMATIC CENSOR.

I have always considered those combinations which are formed in the
playhouse as acts of fraud or cruelty: He that applauds him who does not
deserve praise, is endeavouring to deceive the public; He that hisses in
malice or sport is an oppressor and a robber.

_Dr. Johnson's Idler, No. 25._

The establishment of a regular and permanent work of dramatic criticism,
and of censorship upon the public amusements of this city has often been
attempted. The uniform failure of these efforts renders it natural to
apprehend that the proposition now submitted to the public will incur
the charge of presumption, and perhaps experience, for a time, the
coldness and discouragement with which the majority of mankind are
always inclined to treat even laudable exertions, if they in any degree
militate against the dictates of common prudence, and are not
recommended by a certainty of public approbation. Taking their auspices
of the present undertaking from the fate of those hasty productions on
the same subject, which have been brought forth and expired within the
compass of their short season, there are too many, who, instead of
applauding the hazardous boldness of the measure, and for the sake of
its public utility standing forward in its encouragement and support,
will endeavour to damp it by premature censure, ascribe the undertaking
to vanity, or unworthiness, and if it should fail, be ready to aggravate
the disappointment of the projectors with the galling imputation of
temerity, impudence, or overweening self-conceit. The sympathy which
mankind in general think it handsome to feel for unassuming merit,
stumbling in its way through life by incautiously venturing upon ground
untrodden before, will be gladly withheld from persons who are supposed
wilfully to rush forward into error, with the warning monitions of
example before their eyes--who obstinately persist in an unadvised and
hopeless enterprise, in defiance of manifold and recent experi