jectionable on another ground; it engenders irritable feelings, and inclines even gentle natures to asperity. Literary warfare has often rendered men, otherwise amiable, callous and uncharitable on a favourite question. Milton expressed no compunction for the death of Salmasius, nor has the Quarterly recorded any penitence for the article that put an end to Keats. My object in the present instance is to maintain what I believe to be a correct view of the subject, and in support of which I have produced many evidences: at the same time I am ready to alter my opinion when those evidences are set aside by sound argument. It is only necessary to add, that I have verified every extract introduced into the following pages by a careful examination of the original authors: this is not mentioned from any parade of erudition or research, but because I think every man is bound to do so who wishes to be considered an honest reasoner, and because I have endeavoured to show that our antagonists have not done so, in more than one important instance.

AUTHORITIES

QUOTED IN DEFENCE OF THE STAGE, OR REFERRED TO IN THE FOLLOWING WORK.

St. Antoninus, Archbishop of Dr. Porteus, Bishop of Lon

Florence.

Pope Leo X.

Cardinal Bibiena.
Cardinal Richlieu.
Bishop Trissino.

Archbishop Sheldon.

Archbishop Potter.

don.

Dr. Horne, Bishop of Norwich.

Dr. Percy, Bishop of Dromore.

Dr. Warburton, Bishop of Glou

cester.

Dr. J. Still, Bishop of Bath and Rev. W. Mason.

Wells.

Dr. Rundle, Bishop of Derry.
Dr. Hurd, Bishop of Gloucester.
Dr. Lowth, Bishop of London.
Dr. John Bale, Bishop of Os-

sory.

Dr. Watson, Bishop of Llandaff.

Dr. John Christopherson, Bishop

of Rochester.

Rev. Dr. Brown.

Rev. James Miller.
Rev. Robert Potter.
Rev. Dr. Gloster Ridley.
Rev. James Townley.
Dr. John Watson, Bishop of
Winchester, 1583.

Dr. Welsh, Bishop of Derry,
1670.

Rev. Dr. Francis Wrangham.

Dr. Van Mildert, Bishop of Rev. Dr. Plumptre.

John Taylor, the Water Poet. Adventurer.