should try their prowess in carrying off a shoulder of mutton from a butcher’s shop,—­a loaf from a baker,—­or lighter articles from the pastry-cools, fruiterer, or linen-draper?  For, having seen the dexterity of the clown, in these cases, they will not be at a loss for methods to accomplish, by sleight of hand, their several purposes.  In my humble opinion, children cannot go to a better place for instruction in these matters, or to a place more calculated to teach them the art of pilfering to perfection, than to the theatre, when pantomimes are performed.  To say that the persons who write and introduce these pieces are in want of sense, may not be true; but I must charge them with a want of sufficient thought, right feeling and principle, in not calculating on their baneful effects on the rising generation, for whose amusement it appears they are chiefly produced.  Many unfortunate persons, who have heard sentence of death passed upon them, or who are now suffering under the law, in various ways, have had to lament that the first seeds of vice were sown in their minds while viewing the pilfering tricks of clowns in pantomimes.  Alas! too little do we calculate on the direful effects of this species of amusement on the future character of the young.  We first permit their minds to be poisoned, by offering them the draught, and then punish them by law for taking it.  Does not the wide world afford a variety of materials sufficient for virtuous imitation, without descending to that which is vicious?  It is much easier to make a pail of pure water foul, than it is to make a pail of foul water pure.  It must not be supposed that I wish to sweep off every kind of amusement from the juvenile part of society, but I do wish to sweep off all that has a pernicious tendency.  The limits which I have prescribed to myself will not allow me to enter more at large into this subject; otherwise I could produce a number of facts which would prove, most unquestionably, the propriety of discontinuing these exhibitions.

A conversation which I once heard between some boys who were playing at what is called pitch-in-the-hole, will prove the truth of my assertions.  “Bill,” said one of the boys to the other, “when did you go to the play last?” “On Monday night,” was the reply.  “Did you see the new pantomime?”—­“Yes.”  “Well, did you see any fun?”—­“Yes, I believe I did too.  I saw the clown bone a whole hank of sausages, and put them into his pocket, and then pour the gravy in after them.  You would have split your sides with laughing, had you been there.  A.B. and C.D. were with me, and they laughed as much as I did.  And what do you think A.B. did the next night?”—­“How should I know.”—­“Why,” replied the other, “he and C.D. boned about two pounds of sausages from a pork shop, and we had them for supper.”  This conversation I heard from a window, which looked into a ruinous place where boys assembled to toss up for money, and other games.  This fact alone, without recording any more, is sufficient to show the evil of which I have been speaking.  And I do most sincerely hope that those persons who have any influence over the stage, will use their utmost endeavours, speedily, to expunge every thing thus calculated to promote evil inclinations in the minds of children, and vicious habits in the lives of men.