firm a support for virtue, must be undoubtedly ascribed their fixedness in evil principle, their difficulties of restoration, their excesses in dissipation, and their almost inevitable ruin.

The baneful influence of theatrical amusements on the moral character of the performers, supplies a powerful additional argument against this species of gratification. The services of the performers are indeed voluntary, but this circumstance cannot be admitted as an apology. Christian benevolence not only forbids us to become the instrument of others' ruin, it requires us to use exertion, as occasion may serve, for the prevention of selfinflicted injury. He would be guilty of his brother's blood, who willingly supplied the suicide with the instrument of selfdestruction, or who neglected the occasion. of preventing the rash design.

Without further, therefore, protracting discussion, a decision as to the lawfulness

of stage amusements may be safely pronounced. If the instituted test of their character is legitimate, if the reasoning adopted is not totally defective, the conclusion must inevitably involve a negative. The evils of which it is productive, decidedly outbalance its advantages; and for the same reasons that any system, obviously injurious to society, requires to be discountenanced, theatrical amusements cannot be sanctioned. Ingenuity may doubtless invent many plausible arguments in support of an opposite verdict, as well as entangle the reasoning by which the present conclusion is obtained; inveterate prejudice may oppose, and voluntary scepticism doubt; but we mistake if the candid and conscientious inquirer has not obtained satisfactory evidence and perfect conviction. The argument has been constructed on a basis, to which none, who embrace the first principles of ethical truth, can possibly object. The question is not, whether the amusement may be indulged in by any individual without immediate moral injury to

himself; whether he may not be in such a degree proof against the attacks of temptation, as to stand in no peril from its advances; whether his virtue may not be so much confirmed, as to render harmless an occasional encounter with vice; whether he may not possess in such perfection the faculty of moral discrimination, as to be able accurately to separate the evil from the good, and have his virtuous principles so fully in exercise, as promptly to choose the latter, and reject the former. These inquiries are rendered both impertinent and useless. The position has been made secure, that on the whole the stage is injurious to society; that it is a moral engine of mischief; he, therefore, who acknowledges the obligations of benevolence, and who feels himself bound to consult, in his pursuits, the interests of his species, is reduced to the alternative, unless he oppose his principles to his practice, of either denying the preponderance of evil attending the stage, or withdrawing from it entirely his approbation and support.

CHAPTER III.

CARD-PLAYING.

Oh! the dear pleasures of the velvet plain,
The painted tablets dealt and dealt again;
Cards with what rapture, and the polished die,
The yawning chasm of indolence supply.

COWPER.

THERE are few persons, it is presumed, who would not admit the justness as well as the pungency of this satire. Cardplaying, for the most part, is so destitute of science, has involved in it so few intellectual qualities, and is altogether of so frivolous a character, that it must be matter of surprise, even with the votaries of the amusement themselves, if they have made it the subject of serious thought, that it should be capable of supplying any degree of pleasure to a rational mind. Its

prevalence, however, amongst all classes of society; the firm ground which it maintains amidst the fluctuations of taste and of fashion, and that too in spite of the contempt and ridicule with which it has been constantly assailed, render it sufficiently evident that the amusement possesses some intrinsic qualities of powerful interest and fascination.

Its advocate argues, that as a social amusement, card-playing is highly convenient. It serves as an agreeable pastime, unites the friendly circle, excludes conversation of an insipid, frivolous, or injurious character, and supplies the party with pleasing employment. Politeness has certainly no easy task to perform in the conduct of a mixed party. The social circle exhibits a great diversity of mental character, tastes, habits, education and talent. In the absence of cards, how is it to be supplied with convenient and agreeable employment, such as will engage the attention of all, and render intercourse