ceived, and the names of their authors; of all works returned for correction; and of all works rejected, with the names of their authors. This register shall be under charge of the commissioner. A request for a reading must be made in writing to the committee by the author, or an associate for the author. No new piece can be read whose author has not already one work or more accepted, unless an associate certifies in writing that he has read it, and that it has merit entitling it to be heard. Every new author must send his work to the committee, who will have it examined; if the examiner thinks it ought not to be admitted to a reading, he explains his reasons; if the contrary, it is entered on the register for reading. There shall never be more than one reading in a week, except specially ordered by the superintendent. If, however, the piece is of two or three acts, another short piece may be read at the same time. Three pieces of one act may be read at one sitting. Friday is the day for readings, at one o'clock. No member of the reading committee can be excused except for legitimate reasons made known to the directors the day before. Authors or their representatives are alone admitted to the readings. Every work shall be read according to the register, except by special order of the superintendAn author must be apprised of the time of reading his work eight days before, and if he is not ready the next on the list is substituted, and his work carried down to the bottom of the list. An author not wishing to read his work can have it read by any actor he chooses. After the reading, every member of the committee gives in his judgment in writing, always concluding with "I accept," "I accept for correction," or "I cannot accept." These opinions must be couched in decorous and cautious terms. The author has his choice, to hear these opinions read or to have the result sent to him, drawn up by the secretary. If an author agrees to make corrections, he is entitled to a second reading, on which occasion it must be accepted or rejected. This reading must take place as soon as the author is ready. Every piece accepted is registered with the name of the author or his re ent. ઃ presentative. Every new piece shall be put in study in its turn of acceptance. The distribution of parts and the choice of doubles belongs to the author, but no actor can be compelled to go out of his line. If an actor shall, without consent of the superintendent, refuse a part in his line, cast by the author, he shall forfeit three hundred francs, and suffer farther punishment at the discretion of the superintendent, if he repeats the offence. No double is permitted in a new piece unless the principal has played it at least six times. An actor may, at the request of an author, play a new part out of his line, but when he ceases to play it, the part returns to its line, as adjudged by the committee. During the six first nights of a piece of five or four acts, the author shall be allowed thirty seats, viz. twenty in the pit and ten in the first boxes. For pieces of three acts, twelve in the pit and eight in the first boxes. For pieces of one or two acts, ten in the pit and five in the first boxes. After the six first nights, the seats are reduced to six for a piece of five or four acts four for a piece of three acts; and two for a piece of one or two. Let all persons interested in the drama study these laws and regulations. Any manager or association who shall conduct a theatre on a similar plan, varying it according to circumstances, will avoid the abuses which have lowered the drama in the estimation of the world, and may raise it again to its proper level among the institutions which benefit the human race. It may then be truly deserving of the epithet bestowed upon it in the last of the following lines: "Time rushes o'er us; thick as evening clouds Ages roll back; what calls them from their shrowds ? The far, forgotten stars of human kind? The STAGE---the MIGHTY TELESCOPE OF MIND!" CATALOGUE OF AMERICAN PLAYS AND THEIR AUTHORS.* ANONYMOUS.--The Americans Roused, or a Cure for the Spleen printed 1775. Guilt; translated from the German. The Ancient Day. He was a Soldier at the Battle of North Point. The Irish Patriot. Is it a lie? The Jubilee, or Triumph of Freedom. Julia, or the Wanderer. Life in New York, or Firemen on Duty. Love in a Cloud. Lucinda. The Green Mountain Boys. Greece and Liberty. Miontonomon. New York and London. The Poor Student. The Return from the Camp. Road to Honour. Rokeby. Ruffian Boy. Shakspeare in Love; acted in Boston. Sylla; acted in New York. A Tale of the Crusade; a tragedy acted in New York. Blow for Blow; tragedy printed in Baltimore. The Medium, or Happy Tea-party; acted in Boston, 1795. The Pilot, and others from James F. Cooper's Novels. BARKER, JAMES N.-America, a mask. Attila, tragedy. The Embargo, or What News? acted 1808. Indian Princess. Tears and Smiles; comedy, five acts. How to try a Lover. Marmion. Travellers. The Ar * To J. F. Foote, Esq. I am indebted for access to a collection of materials made by him for a new and improved Biographia Dramatica, the publication of which I hope will repay his labours. mourer's Escape. Superstition. All acted with great success. BARNARD-The Wilderness. BARTON, ANDREW-The Disappointment. BAYLEY-The Sultan. BEACH, L.-Jonathan Postfree. BIDDLE, BARNABY-The Mercenary Match; tragedy, acted at Yale College. BOOTH, LUCIUS JUNIUS-Ugolino; tragedy. BRAY, JOHN-The Toothache; farce. BRECK, CHARLES-The Trust. The Fox Chase. BROWN, JOHN PAUL-Sertorius; tragedy. BROWN, MRS.-The Pirate. BURGOYNE, GEN.-The Blockade of Boston; acted in Boston, during the blockade, by British officers.. gomery. BURK, JOHN-Bunker's Hill. Joan of Arc. Death of Mont- CARR, Mrs.-The Fair Americans. Gasperoni. CLINCH, CHARLES P.-The Spy; from James Fenimore Cooper's Novel. The Avenger's Vow. The Expelled Collegian. The First of May in New York. All acted with distinguished success. COOPER AND GREY, DOCTORS-The Renegade. CRAFTS-The Sea Serpent. CROMWELL-The Ocean Spectre. CUSTIS, GEORGE WASHINGTON-Pocahontas. DA PONTI-The Italian Husband; tragedy; The Roman Wife; tragedy. DARLING, DAVID-Beaux without Belles; farce, acted in Petersburgh, Va. DEARING, MRS.-Carabasset, tragedy; acted in Portland, 1831. DUMONT, J. B.-The invisible Witness; acted 1824. DUNLAP, WILLIAM.-The Modest Soldier; comedy. The Father of an Only Child; acted in New York in 1788. rouse. The The Stranger's Birth Day, The Good Neighbour. Indians in England. The Merry Gardener ; opera. Battle of New Orleans. Forty and Twenty; comedy. School for Soldiers. Rinaldo Rinaldini. The Flying Dutchman. Thirty Years, or the Life of a Gambler. A Trip to Niagara. The Knight of the Guadalquiver; opera. Nina. The Knight's Adventure. Robespierre. The Africans; and other pieces unpublished. Most of these acted successfully. ELLIS, MRS.-The Duke of Buckingham; acted unsuccesfully in New York. ELLISON, JAMES-The American Captives, or the Siege of Tripoli; acted in Boston in 1812. EWING, ROBERT W.-Le Solitaire. Sponge again. The Frontier Maid. The Highland Seer. The Election. Imperial Victim. La Fayette. Quentin Durward. Exit in a Hurry. Bride of Death. FAUGERES, MARGARET V.-Belisarius; tragedy, printed |