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CONTINUATION OF THE APPENDIX.

(BY THE EDITOR.)

WHAT paffed during the infancy and boyish days of Hale, till he entered at the University, nothing is known beyond what Burnet has told. But the charge, which his biographer alleges against him, that he neglected his ftudies in the latter part of his refidence at College, is positively denied by Mr. Stephens, who publifhed his Contemplations. This gentleman, who profeffes to have occupied a diftinguished place in his esteem and friendship, and poffeffed a correct knowledge of his early habits, expreffes himself with a degree of warmth at this imputation on the memory of his honored friend. It is, however, but a tribute of justice that is due to Burnet, to acquit him of an intention to mifrepresent a fact to the prejudice of Hale, on whom he lavishes, at every opportunity, the warmest encomiums for his diligence and affiduity, no less than his piety

and virtue.

The natural gaiety of his difpofition and sprightlinefs of his imagination, too eafily inclined the inexperienced youth to indulge in the levities of the times, and partake of the pleafures which prefented themfelves. It was not to be wondered at, therefore, that on the arrival of the players at Oxford, the exhibitions of the stage fhould prove a fpecies of amusement too captivating to withstand; and overpower by a temporary violence the dictates of his prudence and better judgment. It was not long, however, before he discovered that in proportion as these entertainments gained upon his affections, his habits of

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seriousness relaxed, and his plans of study were dif concerted. He faw his temporal profpects were in unminent danger of being intercepted, and, above alf, his religious principles of being loofened and eradicated. Before, therefore, his paflion for these vanities acquired ftrength, he courageoufly refolved upon its immediate conqueft. It redounds to the honor of Hale, that he never through the course of his life violated the folemn vow which he then felt himself called upon to make, "That he would never see a play more." He accordingly refumed his habits of vigilance and felf-denial, profecuted his ftudies with increased ardor and affiduity, and availed himfelf of the invaluable opportunity, which he had nearly miffed, of enriching his capacious mind with stores of learning, and fixing thofe virtuous and religious principles which formed the ground-work of his future fame and fortune.

I ale had reason to congratulate himself on his for tunate escape from a fnare, in which thousands of both fexes have been entangled and ruined. His example cannot be too earnestly recommended to the imitation of the young and inexperienced, who wifh to preserve the principles of chastity, modefty, and fobriety, which they have imbibed in their education, pure and untainted. Though I am fully aware of the tender ground on which I venture, I hold it an imperious duty to warn every parent, who wishes to promote the prefent peace and future happiness of his children, to difcourage by his example and advice, a propenfity

for dramatic entertainments. Allow thefe exhibitions all their boasted advantages; concede to their advocates the rational and harmlefs fatisfactions which are to be found in the charms of mufic, poetry and painting; in the fpecimens of brilliant wit and refined fentiment, the graces of elocution, the delineation of the paffions, and the exhibition of human nature under all her forms, and even in her most amiable drefs; yet will it not at the fame time be allowed, that the gratification arifing from theie fources is purchased at

much

much too dear a price, when they court an alliance with profaneness and immorality, and the path to these pleasures is strewed with temptations to vice of the moft bewitching and alluring nature? If, by chance, the character and moral of the dramatic compofition itself be free from objection, yet when the circumstances, which are infeparably connected with the reprefentation of a modern playboufe, are gravely confidered, is it not at least unfafe for the fober youth and unfpotted virgin to vifit it? Is not the danger of corrupting the morals and inflaming the paffions too great to juftify a participation in these amufements?

It is poffible indeed to imagine fuch a regulated theatre, as fhall be exempt from the evils which are the ground of complaint; but until fuch a theatre can be realized, it will be difficult to prove, that thefe evils are not interwoven in the very conftitution of a dramatic exhibition, and vitally effential to its fuccefs and popularity.

There is implanted in our nature a veneration and refpect for the majefty of virtue. Even vice ftrives to hide her own deformity under her garb. Hence the patrons of theatrical reprefentations have been studious to deny, or, at leaft, to extenuate the mifchiefs which are imputed to them. Some perfons will gravely contend for their utility, will extol them as fchools of morality, and will recommend them for the leffons they teach, and the powerful incentives they propofe to the cultivation of good and amiable qualities, or the performance of brave and benevolent actions.

It is a confolatory reflection that this homage is still paid to virtue, that this honourable fuffrage is univerfally acknowledged to be her due, and both candour and justice claim of us the perfuafion that the warmest patrons, and moft ftrenuous advocates of these exhibitions want only to be convinced of their fatal confequences, to acknowledge their error and fubfcribe their recantation.

Names do not alter the nature of good and evil.

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The boundaries of virtue and vice, of religion and prophaneness, are marked by a clear and broad line of diftinction, amidst all the fluctuations of fashion, and varieties of human opinion. Were our opinion even asked of the morality of our modern dramatic pieces, we do not fcruple to declare our pointed reprobation. They are calculated to corrupt the morals, and instil the most dangerous and criminal maxims. Did we wish to root up every religious and moral principle from the heart, to tempt our daughters to barter away the brightest jewel of their fex; to inflame the paffions of our fons, and abandon them to their lawless empire; did we wish our children to become familiar with crime, to blunt and deaden thofe delicate fenfibilities which fhrink at the touch of vice; did we wish to harden and inure them to fcenes of blafphemy, cruelty, revenge, and proftitution, we would invite them to the fight of the most popular plays which are now performed on our ftage; we would fend them for inftruction to the German School, where by the most subtle and malicious contrivance, vice is decked out in the air of virtue, and the deluded youth is feduced to the road of ruin, while he believes that he indulges in the nobleft feelings of his nature; where a cafual act of generofity is applauded, whilft obvious and commanded duties are trampled on, and a fit of charity is made the fponge of every fin, and the fubftitute of every virtue. We would invite them to the plays of Pizarro, the Stranger, and John Bull, where the fpurious virtues are blazoned out, and the genuine are thrown in the back ground and degraded. In the one is a bold and fentimental ftrumpet, whom the paffions of luft and jealoufy prompt to follow the adventures of her paramour, In the other an adul trefs, who had forsaken her amiable husband, and lived in criminal commerce with her feducer. In the laft is the daughter of an humble tradefman: fhe suffers herself to be feduced by the fon of a baronet, flies from the roof of her fond and most affectionate father,

and afterwards is united in marriage to the defpoiler of her virtue. And, to the shame and difgrace of the stage, and the age we live in, thefe three ladies are the prominent characters of the refpective pieces, and instead of being held up inftructive warnings to others, are contrived to be made the objects of our fympathy, esteem and admiration.

And furely it is no recommendation of our modern dramas, no proof of our superior refinement and delicate feelings, when we not only tolerate, but openly encourage the immodeft allufions which abound in our favourite comedies, and tinge with blufhes the virgin cheek of innocence; when the ears are shocked with thofe equivocal expreffions, which the most profligate rake dares not repeat in the drawing-room, without incurring the danger of being fhewn to the door by the father of a virtuous family; and when to this is added the unpardonable privilege which the performers themselves affume, of improving, as they imagine, upon the author, by additions from their own prolific genius. Their coarfe profaneness and fhameless blafphemies with which they interlard their fpeeches, and fupply the imperfections of their memory, are too notorious to be denied, and too revolting to the moral feelings to enlarge upon.

Hale had received the advantage of a religious education from his childhood, and at a very early age made his religion, the religion not merely of his education but of his judgment and choice. He perufed the Holy Scriptures to digeft and understand them, and then proceeded to the ftudy of the works of Creation, Providence, and the moral evidences of the Christian religion, to be convinced of its truth. Having laid this deep and folid foundation, he ever after raised upon it his fuperftructures of piety and learning. Thefe ftudies he commenced at a very early period. His friend who published his "Difcourfes of the knowledge of God and ourselves," which was written at the age of thirty, fays, that Hale was engaged