who conform to fixed rules, will succeed better than those who throw off every kind of restraint, and only follow the caprices of their unruly imagination; by these means the collection will be brought, and ever kept up, in a state of desirable perfection.

It is not sufficient to form the collection of theatrical pieces: we must still farther select, and form performers fit and worthy to be their organs. The best way to have valuable comedians, would be undoubtedly to establish dramatic schools in the capital, and in some of the great towns, where such individuals only should be admitted as are endowed with physical and moral qualities, which are requisite for the exercise of so difficult an art. A sound constitution, a clear and flexible voice, great quickness, exquisite sensibility, and still farther, the preliminary knowledge of French literature; a knowledge which is indispensable for the display of the natural qualities of which I have just been speaking, ought to be strictly required in the admission of the pupils; select professors ought to give them lessons upon declamation; private theatres should be instituted for the public exercises of the candidates, until they are admitted into the national theatres.

The regular establishment of these schools would undoubtedly rid the company of comedians of a crowd of inferior performers who, totally without talent, appear to be thrown into this arduous career, because they are unfit for any thing else.

These unworthy artists, who compose the greater part of the provincial companies, are the perpetual objects of the contempt of the public, whom they disgust: by disgracing their profession, they keep from it those individuals whose talents and taste would call them to it, but who cannot be persuaded to share a situation disgraced by folly.

When the pupils are become regular comedians they will be like other officers of government, raised by degrees, and rewarded or punished by the laws according to their merit: the administration should have a strict control over their conduct, as their morals are not of less consequence to the art than to public order. Who is unacquainted with the destructive effects occasioned by the greater part of them giving themselves up to excesses, which break their constitutions and corrupt their morals, the preservation of which is necessary in the exercise of this art? Their bodies grow deformed, their understanding is impaired, their voice is spoiled, the mind loses its energy; that delicacy, and exquisite sensibility: in a word, of that sacred fire, so requisite to the expression of moral beauty, which cannot be assumed by those who have lost it by their own fault; this sacred fire, I say, is soon extinguished in the artist it animated.

very

The necessity of compelling comedians to be watchful over their conduct would contribute to draw their profession from the low

state into which it has long fallen; and would partly regain them that consequence they enjoyed among the Greeks, by making these new officers of government equal in opinion, and in reality, to the members of other valuable and useful professions.

Under the patronage of so respectable an administration, we shall no longer see authors obliged to sacrifice the interest of art and the approbation of the enlightened public to the caprices of comedians, whom they are now always obliged to consider in the composition of their works to prevent their being refused. We shall no longer see our present masterpieces neglected or disguised by the arbitrary arrangement of the characters, over which ignorance and jealousy so often preside, and combine to destroy the consistency of the performance, in which nature and the talent of the actors ought only to be consulted. A new external government of the theatres would strengthen that of the interior; and we should see this hooting, hissing, indecent clamor, and all those blustering and arbitrary marks of approbation and disapprobation abolished, which too often turn the pit into a bear-garden, and also those cabals which, when not productive of dangerous consequences, are as disgraceful to the authors as to the objects of them as disagreeable to the public. Sensible people take no part in this disorderly behaviour, convinced that a cool reserve is as effectual to show the deserved denial of their applause as the extravagant clamor of the crowd, who are incapable of judging properly, but always eager to condemn or approve.

These are my ideas on the important subject with which I have been employed; ideas which have drawn me into minute details, perhaps not suited to the nature of this essay, but which I thought it my duty, at least in a general way, to point out, as I am persuaded, that the question upon which I have treated, would not be elucidated, if its solution had no practical consequence.

It is in following such principles that we may hope to see an end to those well-founded and constant complaints made by the friends of public order, against the pernicious effects of the present state of our theatres; and that reconciling morals and good taste to the amusement they wish to enjoy from them, these institutions would be found generally acceptable, they would last for ever. By means of such essential improvements, our theatre would become an auxiliary to education not undeserving to be mentioned with the university itself, because it would add to the preliminary knowledge which is acquired in the Lyceums, the knowledge of the morals, customs, propriety and manners of the nation. Being on this account more suited to the immense family of which the empire is composed, it would gain a juster title to the admiration of foreign nations, to whom it would be more glorious for, and more worthy of us and of them to give great examples of wisdom and

taste.

There are unreflecting and selfish minds to whom futurity does not offer any doubtful prospect, because, easily forgetting what is past, and thinking all is well, because the present time has a smiling appearance, they do not extend their ideas beyond their momentary existence: these men will say in their deceitful security, that the severity of my principles is incompatible with our existing manners; but all enlightened and well-disposed judges, to whom I address myself, and all worthy citizens, feel that it is of less consequence to know what our manners actually are, than to inquire if our manners are what they ought and may be; and the result of this examination cannot be doubtful: wise legislators at all times and in all countries made it their constant practice never to mould their constitutions to bad or depraved morals, but to oppose to such, institutions suited to improve and preserve them in the state in which they ought to be, to serve as a basis and support of society; otherwise, it would be useless to endeavour to seek for perfection in any thing human; instead of opposing a bank to the torrent which hurries, confuses, and destroys every thing, we need only let it flow unnoticed, and the infallible result of such an apathy will ever be the same as it has been: the disorganization and ruin of societies, the most celebrated nations of antiquity, and the most florishing and populous countries would be changed into frightful deserts.