of Books and Ballads brought to him, of what kind soever, and took great Notice how much they took with the People; upon which he would, and certainly might, very well judge of their present Dispositions, and the most proper way of applying them according to his own purposes. [1] What passes on the Stage, and the Reception it meets with from the Audience, is a very useful Instruction of this Kind.  According to what you may observe there on our Stage, you see them often moved so directly against all common Sense and Humanity, that you would be apt to pronounce us a Nation of Savages.  It cannot be called a Mistake of what is pleasant, but the very contrary to it is what most assuredly takes with them.  The other Night an old Woman carried off with a Pain in her Side, with all the Distortions and Anguish of Countenance which is natural to one in that Condition, was laughed and clapped off the Stage. Terence’s Comedy, which I am speaking of, is indeed written as if he hoped to please none but such as had as good a Taste as himself.  I could not but reflect upon the natural Description of the innocent young Woman made by the Servant to his Master. When I came to the House, said he, an old Woman opened the Door, and I followed her in, because I could by entring upon them unawares better observe what was your Mistress’s ordinary manner of spending her Time, the only way of judging any one’s Inclinations and Genius.  I found her at her Needle in a sort of second Mourning, which she wore for an Aunt she had lately lost.  She had nothing on but what shewed she dressed only for herself.  Her Hair hung negligently about her Shoulders.  She had none of the Arts with which others use to set themselves off, but had that Negligence of Person which is remarkable in those who are careful of their Minds—­Then she had a Maid who was at work near her, that was a Slattern, because her Mistress was careless; which I take to be another Argument of your security in her; for the Go-betweens of Women of Intrigue are rewarded too well to be dirty.  When you were named, I told her you desired to see her, she threw down her Work for Joy, covered her Face, and decently hid her Tears [2]—­He must be a very good Actor, and draw Attention rather from his own Character than the Words of the Author, that could gain it among us for this Speech, though so full of Nature and good Sense.

The intolerable Folly and Confidence of Players putting in Words of their own, does in a great measure feed the absurd Taste of the Audience.  But however that is, it is ordinary for a Cluster of Coxcombs to take up the House to themselves, and equally insult both the Actors and the Company.  These Savages, who want all manner of Regard and Deference to the rest of Mankind, come only to shew themselves to us, without any other Purpose than to let us know they despise us.

The gross of an Audience is composed of two sorts of People, those who know no Pleasure but of the Body, and those who improve or command corporeal Pleasures by the addition of fine Sentiments of the Mind.  At present the intelligent part of the Company are wholly subdued, by the Insurrections of those who know no Satisfactions but what they have in common with all other Animals.