Congreve, Dorset, Southerne, and Wycherley, a clever fellow who loved the bottle and the ladies so much that, according to Giles Jacob, he died at 36, “a Martyr to the cause.” His Epistolary Poems, published in 1694, had been dedicated to Hammond and had included an effusive poem addressed to him.  Some other wit among Hammond’s friends might have been the author of the pamphlet, however, for Hammond yearned for immortality through the works of others and frequently asked writers of his acquaintance to mention him.

Whoever the author was, he spotted the weaknesses in Collier’s arguments, at the same time pointing out the essential usefulness of the Short View as a corrective.  He was not particularly original, for many of the points he made were considered public property by writers in the controversy.  Thus, along with Dennis and others, the writer admitted the necessity for reform, but opposed Collier’s apparent desire to abolish the stage.  He pointed out the fallacy of Collier’s argument from the authority of the church fathers and the absurdity of his contentions about the ridicule of the clergy.  And using ancient doctrine, he defended the stage as an instrument of instruction in manners and morals.  Of particular interest is his belief that the stage had contributed to the improvement of the language, especially in dissuading the clergy from a fantastic, conceited rhetoric.

The fury of Collier’s attack seemed to dull the wits of the defenders of the stage.  Too often they allowed themselves to be drawn into quibbling over trivialities.  None of them distinguished himself with a brilliant answer.  With the exception of Dennis’s The Usefulness of the Stage, the Letter to A.H.  Esq. is as suave and sensible as any of the answers, and considerably better then many.

Among the pamphlets taking the part of Collier was The Occasional Paper:  Number IX, attributed to Richard Willia, Chaplain to William III and later Bishop of Winchester.  In this paper the approach of literary criticism is abandoned completely, the author feeling that the controversy over the stage has already been obscured by wit and learning.  He concerns himself with religion and morality, and argues the danger of going to plays.  Though he admits that good plays are possible, it is clear that he considers the stage a bad influence upon Christians.  Collier might veil his true attitude toward the theater, but Willis makes no pretense of hiding his.  Plays are bad.

The Letter to A.H.  Esq. was announced in the Post Man of June 11-13, 1698; The Occasional Paper:  Number IX was noted in the same journal for May 19-21, 1698.  The copy of the Letter to A.H.  Esq. reprinted here is owned by the University of Michigan. The Occasional Paper:  No.  IX is reproduced by permission of the The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

H. T. Swedenberg, Jr.