by Edmund Burke
The Faults of an Audience, may be reduced to these general Heads: A Taste for what is vicious, what is unnatural, and their Customs of clapping, hissing, &c., the First we have already mentioned, the Second is a very glaring Evil, and unless this Taste too much prevail’d, we should long ago have seen farcical Scenes excluded from Tragedy, dancing Statues banished to Dr Faustus, and Faustus himself with all his Brethren, banished the Stage; for as Miracles are unnecessary to convince thinking Men; so are Prodigies to please Men of Taste.
I scarce remember a taking Tragedy of the English in which there is not some Body butchered on the Stage; but what is the greatest Hindrance to the laying aside this barbarous Practice is the Passion the People have for the Actor’s dying; but this Practice of fighting and killing is so far from having the desired Effect, in raising Terror that it carries something ridiculous with it: A Couple of Men clattering Foils will sooner give the idea of a pushing School, or a Drunken Duel, than of two great Warriors engag’d. The Narrative (for which we have so little Taste, and which made so beautiful a Part of the antient Tragedy) if judiciously manag’d, will not only raise a greater Idea than Representation possibly can, but perhaps than such a real Combat would.
The Generality of those who frequent Plays, may rather be called Spectators, than an Audience; their whole Delight is in their Eyes: Ask one how he lik’d the Play, “Mechel did Wonders,” or if they mention the Beauty of a Scene, they mean the Painting: In short, the Play seems the least Part of their Concern. To Fools true Comedy is displeasing, because it holds the Glass to them, and the ill-natur’d don’t care to see a generous Distress, but dancing Buffooneries and Harlequin eases them of these, as well as all other Thoughts. Few can judge what is sublime or witty, but no Understanding is so mean, as not to perceive an high Spring, or a dextrous Cut.
Clapping is another obvious Grievance in our Theatre; our People have so exquisite a Sensation of the Beauties of an Author, or Actor, that they cannot forbear this expression of their Rapture, even before the Sentence is out of his Mouth, by which means they lose that, and some of the following Parts of the Speech. Every person who goes to a Play, should endeavour to persuade himself, he sees some real Action, this one consideration would put a Stop to impertinent Clapping, at least, to the End of the Scene. A thinking Audience gives, and a judicious Actor receives, a profound Silence as the best Applause.
Hissing is still worse than the former, being an unmanly Insult on those, who do their best to please. If the Play is not lik’d, to go to it no more, and if the Actor, to desire his Removal, is the best Method of proceeding.
We hope our Readers will let us see this good Effect of our Writings, that henceforth they will be none of the Clappers, that they will not be above Measure transported with the Dancers or Harlequins; or if they hiss, it will be when only ’tis allowable: when the Actor put in any thing of his own, or commit any thing against Decency. And this we are sure of, that the Ladies will not countenance by their Presence such Plays as discountenance Virtue and good Manners. If we can see this done, we shall proceed with Boldness and Pleasure not doubting to make a thorough and lasting Reformation.
THE REFORMER No. 4
THURSDAY the 18th of February, 1747-8.
Omnium Societatum nulla est gravior, nulla carior, quam ea quae cum Republica est unicuique nostrum. — Tull. Off.
WE laid it down as a Certainty in our First Paper, that Taste and Virtue had a close Connection; in Consequence to which, before we attempted to reform the Morals of the People, we began with their Taste; and the Encouragement we have met with makes up hope, that our Industry may at last prove effectual to the Amendment of both: Several perhaps might have been alarmed, and attributed that to particular Prejudice, which was meant for the public Emolument: The Ladies might have feared this Paper was design’d to destroy their Pleasures, when its Aim was but to refine, and render them worthy their Attention.
When we set up for Reformers, we expected a violent Opposition, therefore we enter’d boldly on our Design, and threw the Odium where we thought it due; we excus’d none thro’ Partiality, nor attacked any thro’ Prejudice, but in warring with Ignorance, we could not let those escape who publickly countenanced it, nor could we in endeavouring to overthrow Vice pass by so great an Obstacle as the Theatre, for which Reason we exposed the ill Choice of some Plays, and recommended those which we thought at once instructive and entertaining. We are very easy about those who for this Reason brand us with the Name of Party, and equally despise the Appellation, and those who give it, unless they mean, that by their Dulness they have made all Persons of Taste a Party against them, and then we Glory in the Title. But ’twas no Hatred to particular Persons, but a Love of the Publick that gave life to this Design; and we would endeavour as much as in us lies, to infuse the same Spirit into our Readers.
Hospitality and Public-Spirit have the same Source, namely, the Love of Mankind; yet ’tis no less certain than surprising, that we who are remarkable for the former, discover very little of the latter, tho’ it seems more strongly enforced by Nature, yet thro’ an odd Perverseness, all People are welcome to our Favour, but those whom Nature and their own Merits make worthy of it; while several of the Nobility and Gentry, in whose power alone it is to prevent this Evil, are not only passive, but Assistants to it, as if conscious of the Poverty and Infamy their Behaviour raises to their Country, they fly it and bestow their Riches, where, as they are less wanted, the People are less thankful for them.
Men of Virtue will require no other Incentive to doing Good than Virtue itself; but as if that was not sufficient, Providence often joins Honour and Interest in rewarding it, but to no Virtue more than this of Publick-
Spirit: What can the ambitious Man hope for more, than to live where all Men honour him as a Friend or Benefactor, to meet none but those who have been made happy by his Influence, and whom his Goodness hath tied in a Relation nearer and dearer than that of Blood? such are not only Rewards for what is done, but Incentives to proceed in so honourable a Course; and surely no Country has more need of the Exertion of such a Virtue, whose Men of Fortune are not satisfied with impoverishing, but also despise it. The Complaint of our Manufactures is so generally known, we need not instance it, but let us beg leave to mention that those Gentlemen who are the most violent Decryers of them are the most easily deceived, not chusing goods from their own Knowledge, but the Shop-keeper’s Testimony of their being Foreign; what an unaccountable Temper is this, that Men must be cheated to do good! But even if our Manufactures were inferior to other Nations, (which we will by no Means allow) what is the greatest Hindrance to their Improvement, is Want of Encouragement; the Trader meeting no Reward adequate to his Labour contracts a Poverty of Spirit that restrains him from contending with Foreigners, who he knows will gain more Credit from their Name, than he from Years of Labour; whereas were our People properly zealous for their Honour, in bearing indifferent Things at first, they would shortly have Goods of equal excellence with any in Europe: And who would think his Expence ill bestow’d, because not he but his Children were to have the Reward.
If in so few years the DUBLIN SOCIETY could be of such signal service to our Country, what might we not expect from the joint Endeavours of Nobility, Gentry, and People?
It seems very odd that a civilized Country should labour to deserve the Name of the only Nation whose People entirely neglected their own Interest, yet such it is, that had not a few risen up for the publick Good, even the manual Arts would have wanted a Support, and all the Industry of the Trader had never made this Country emerge from Scandal or Poverty. But besides Riches there are many Things necessary to the Prosperity of a Nation, and bad as the State of Trade is, that of Science is still worse, which as the noblest may be made the most profitable Acquisition of Man. Not to mention how few Patrons of it there are, Learning is fallen into such Disrepute that an Author is generally hated or contemn’d.
The first Reflection a good and wise Man has, after his Studies is, ho
w to make them useful to Mankind; but he generally meets so many Obstacles from the Pride or Dulness of many that he must sit down content with the Appellation of Learned; or, if he does write, comply with the capricious Multitude, and follow the Road their vitiated Taste points out, rendring those Talents designed for their Instruction, the Debauchers both of their Taste and Manners.
With many it is a Fault to be above the common Level in Knowledge, and to have Wit odious, because unfashionable or unintelligible; — from such Science can have no hopes; but ’tis hard that those who owe much of their own Fortune to their Parts, should be so slow in rewarding them in others, and be so diligent in raising Funds for Folly, but none for Science.
We before discover’d, that it was not what was truly valuable in our Plays that met with Applause, let us now also shew that those very Plays which the Publick esteem are less encouraged than Dancers or Singers; so that proportionably as those things decrease in real Value, they grow higher in Esteem: I have seen what they call a polite Assembly, sit in Rapture a full half hour at the Gestures of a foreign Dancer, and after reward him with the loudest Applauses, while an endeavouring Native who has racked his Lungs in their Service met with Inattention, or had his Words drowned in their Clamours. This might perhaps have proceeded from the Politeness of the Audience, who would not dishonour their Country, by ill-treating a Foreigner; but let them consider that this Complaisance is a Detriment, not to say Disgrace to our Nation; Politeness we grant in itself very laudable, but when, by Misapplication, it opposes that greater Virtue Publick-Spirit it is liable to the severest Reproach.
We shall perhaps enlarge more another time on this Head, tho’ we are sure that the living Examples of some excellent Men will have much more Force than any thing we can say. We shall however be happy, if we can by our Writings assist in carrying on this great End, and persuade Men of Fortune to promote useful Arts, and prove their Worth consists more in the just Uses, than the bare Possession of Estates. —
Since our Last, we received the following Verses, which thinking both Moral and ingenious, we give to the Publick:
ON THE SEVERAL CONDITIONS OF LIFE
With even Hand has all disposing Fate,
Pleasure and Pain annex’d to every State:
Kings who Dominion with their Maker share,
Tho’ free to govern, live the Slaves of Fear:
While Peasants whom no regal Cares invade
Find their Contempt with Safety well repaid:
Content when lodg’d within the poor Man’s Breast.
Equals his worst of Fortunes with the best;
While the rich Wretch whose Wishes nought confines
In Midst of Plenty as in Want repines.
To heal his Wounds the Soldier gets a Name
And dies in Battle but to live in Fame;
The Hopes of Heaven cheers the suff’ring Saint,
While keen Remorse the Sinner’s Pleasures taint;
The Bard whose Labours are with Genius crown’d
Oft sees his Worth in Seas of Envy drown’d
Saint-like he voluntary Want must chuse,
Nor reap, till dead, the Profits of his Muse.
[Among the Advertisements in this number was the following:]
THE OLD COLD BATH in Crown-Alley near Temple-Bar, Is now thoroughly repaired, and in excellent Order, for the reception of such Gentlemen, Ladies, &c as may have Occasion to use it.
THE REFORMER No. 5
THURSDAY the 25th of February, 1747-8.
Tot Homines, tot Sententioe.
SITTING in my Room the other Day, I heard a News-boy cry something that alarmed me: viz. A Letter to the Reformer; being curious to know what it might contain, I immediately sent for it; but how great was my Surprize! when I found the Author of this Paper (who calls himself the TICKLER) accused me with being one of the Manager’s Partizan’s, an Accusation so much the more disagreeable, as I had with the utmost Caution avoided giving any Room for a Suspicion of Party; I began then to lament the wretched State of Man, who is not only liable thro’ his own Frailty to fall into Errors, but has also his best Actions misconstrued. However as I did not know but this might have been the Letter-writer’s particular Opinion only, and not that of the Publick, I determined to quit my recluse Way of Life for one Day, and go abroad, to see how the Town stood affected to my Labour. For this Purpose and that I might look the less like a Wit, I had my Wigg dress’d my Cloaths brushed, and made myself as spruce as possible; when I went out, I did not assume any of those Airs, which Men who have a great Opinion of themselves use, to make others have the same; but being content to pass for once for an ordinary Man, I suited my Behaviour to that of others: My first Sally was into a certain Coffee-house much frequented by Politicians, as they are generally a sober Set of talkative observing Men, I did not doubt but in this Dearth of News, I should find them employed in remarking on my Papers: But, alas! how great was my surprize, when instead of this, I found them all sitting one by another in a Kind of wakeful Lethargy! At my first entring the Room, they all fix’d their Eyes upon me, which threw me into some Confusion, fearing they took me for the Author; but this Fear vanished, when in a few minutes after, I saw they did so upon others; so taking up an old News-Paper, I seated myself by a Cavalier, who by the Gravity of his Aspect, seemed to promise most Wisdom of any in the Room; but after many fruitless Endeavours to entice him into a Discourse, I was forced to desist. So leaving those Mopers to enjoy their sullen Melancholy, I adjourned to another Coffee-house.
Here Noise, Laughter, Whispering, and a perpetual Flux of Motion, afforded me a very different Scene, for it seems, the Gentlemen of this Coffee-house resorting thither, less for News than Company, find all Seasons alike. My Heart overflowed with Joy, to think that what I sought for, I should here find; for not to say, these Gentlemen were perpetually talking, there was not one of them who had not all the external Marks of a Wit of the first Class; such as, sharp Eyes, flippant Tongues, jaunty Airs, and undaunted Foreheads, add to this, that their Hats were all of the fiercest Cock, and Cloathes of the most approved Cut in Fashion. I sat down here with a Kind of Content, feasting my Mind, with the Hopes of the coming Entertainment, nor was it a small Pleasure to me that every one being so attentive to his own Discourse, I by that Means pass’d the less Notic’d. They were all convened in small Parties at different Parts of the House, some with Dishes of Coffee in their Hands, which, for the greater Grace they sipp’d, and talked standing; others by adjusting their Wiggs at the Glass, gained thereby a Renewal of Spirits, and departed thence very much edified: I hearkened with all the Attention I was able, sometimes lending my Ear to one Party, sometimes to another: But alas! how great was my Disappointment? for had they known my Intention, they could not have taken more effectual Means to elude me: nothing less than Taste or Learning was talked of among them, their Talk for its Emptiness, might rather be called, the Affectation of Discourse than the Thing itself: yet amidst all the mighty nothings that they utter’d, this was very observable, That no Man told a Story that did not in some Part or other redound to his own Glory. In short, I heard many Secrets whispered, that for their little Significance might be spoken out: much hearty Laughter thrown away upon insipid Jests, and many Jokes meant that were never taken; ‘till at last, vexed to see so much Gentility, with so little Appearance of Reason, I took my Stick, and walked on to the next Coffee-house.
Fortune was more kind to me in this Expedition, than either of the former, in bringing me into a mixed Company; here were People of all Conditions; Divines, Gentlemen, Grave Citizens, Scholars, Fops, Pedants, Lawyers and Politicians; so that this small Assembly seemed an Epitome of the great World. I prepar’d as before, to listen to their Discourse, but was so confounded, with the Variety of their Jargons, I knew not which to attend to: In one Part I overheard two Traders talking of Traffick with the grave and important Looks of Statesmen; in another were two Men disputing a Point of Law; and over against those stood a Knot of four or five young Fello
ws, warmly engaged in Poetry; the Divines were employ’d in remarking what Company appeared last Levee at the Castle-, the Gentlemen, in talking of their Wenches, or who danced best at the Theatre; the Fops, in adjusting their Wigs and Cravats; and the Pedants in criticising them: the more thoughtful were employed at Chess or Backgammon, and the Politicians sat with discontented looks poring over old News-papers. This Medley would have proved a pleasing Entertainment, was I not chagrined that I did not hear any of them talking of my Paper. At length, when I was almost in Despair, peeping into an inner Room, I spied a clever tall Fellow, standing in the Middle of a Circle, who were gathered round to hear him: The Earnestness of his Expressions, and the frequent Application of his Hand to his Breast, made me conclude he was engaged in some very high Matter. I drew near to listen but how agreeably I was surprised, when I found myself the Subject. He harangued much in Praise of the Manager; swore, that all the Plays that were acted this Winter, were good: and that I, the Reformer, must necessarily be some Scoundrel, who was tempted to write thus for the sake of a Dinner. The Meanness of this last Reflection so grated me, that I could not help stepping up, and representing to him, how unworthy of a Gentleman such Expressions were; which so raised his Choler, that the Cudgel, which till now stuck under his Arm, began to appear in his Hand; when one of his Auditors (who seemed to be more apprehensive of his striking me, than I was for myself) cautioned me to have a Care what I said, for that, to his Knowledge, this angry Person was one of Manager’s Partizans, who had it in his Commission to abuse all who dared dislike his Proceedings. As I thought it was beneath my Dignity, both as a prudent and wise Person, to contend with such a Ruffian, I immediately grew silent; when he, as elated with his Victory, went boisterously vapouring all over the House. Such an Accident could not fail rousing the Attention of all who were heedless of the Matter hitherto; so that his Discourse made the Subject undulate thro’ the Room. They all fell to talking of my Paper: The Politicians agreed that it was a trivial unaffecting Performance, void of all material Occurrences: The Tradesmen, that such Cabals hurted Business: The Lawyers were of Opinion it was a Libel, and as such should be presented: The Divines thought it impertinent and that the Talk of Reformation should be left to them, whose Province it was to preach it: The Gentlemen declared themselves neuter, because, not having read it, they could give no Opinion of it: The Critics, to a Man, said it was dull: The Beaux, it wanted Spirit: And the Pedants, that there was palpable false Grammar in every Line. A little Gentleman, with a black Wig, and of a sower Aspect, whom I took to be either a Physician or Apothecary, said it was so malevolent, that the Authors ought to be purg’d for the Spleen. Every Man spoke his Sentiments so much in the style of his Profession, that I was rather delighted with, than offended at their Censure. When they had sufficiently wearied themselves, with remarking; they fell to guessing at the Author: ’Tis a Physician, says one, or a Lawyer who wants Practice, says another; or it may be a Courtier out of Place, says a third; or one who would fain get in, says a fourth: That he is no Scholar is certain, says a Pedant, because I saw his Manuscript, in which was bad spelling: Let him be what he will, says a Beau, he’s certainly a very insolent Fellow. Thus they pleased themselves in framing Conjectures, but me much more in hearing them. As I thought I had heard enough, I prepar’d to depart, when I was pluck’d by the sleeve, by a Man who had hitherto been inattentive to their Discourse, and perceiving me to be more than ordinary diligent in listening to it, desir’d to know the Matter; I told him all, as I have here related; which when I had done, he broke out in the following Exclamation: “Heavens! the Perverseness of “Mankind, that never will be satisfied! bad Writings displease by their “Dulness; and the good, by their Sufficiency. Men will not receive Instruction, because it is an Acknowledgment of the Inferiority of their “Parts: and Envy is such a spreading Mischief, that it rises every where!