| Citation |
BPB.761.017
21 Sep 1761:32, 33 (214)
Newport, Sept 18, 1761. The publick have been entertain'd
in the Newport Mercury of the 15th instant, with a pompous
account of a charity of L. 1030 rais'd by acting the
provok'd Wife (husband it should have been) and given by the
comedians to buy corn for the benefit of the poor. Mr.
Gibbs who has the distribution of this extraordinary charity
will doubtless act his part well, in rendering it of the
utmost publick utility; but we must be excus'd in dissenting
from the abettors of such idle amusements, who from the heat
of their enthusiasm and frenzy, extol it as a religious act,
when in fact, it is but acting a mere farce, and will be
view'd in the light of a glaring imposition on the weak and
unthinking, to answer an interested purpose.--The motives
are so obvious that he who runs may read them; besides, it
would be difficult to prove the foundation from whence it
arose has one incentive to moral virtue. It must be
acknowledg'd the money is well applied; for 'tis certain the
unusual drought of the summer; will increase the scarcity of
corn the approaching winter, and no mortal can foresee the
distress'd circumstances of the town, for want of bread and
fireing.
This indeed is a matter worthy of the most serious
attention, and the town zealous for their true interest,
call'd a meeting which was really pointed to the proper
object, viz. to prevent a destructive experience of time and
money, which the people were in no possible capacity to
bear, and to put a stop to such publick rendezvous, which
have a direct tendency to corrupt the morals of the people;
a vote was accordingly put play or no play, and carried in
the negative no play, by a great majority: not withstanding,
methods were artfully contriv'd to accomplish the design, in
opposition to the avow'd sentiments of the town, and 'tis
needless to mention the indefatigable measures pursued, to
draw persons of every rank into the game; the contagion
spread like wildfire, and affected persons of every degree
and quality.--It was expected the wisdom of the legislature
would have interpos'd and effectually crush'd so prejudicial
a scheme; but we are sorry to observe the general assembly
which set soon after was ineffectually address'd on this
interesting occasion. The comedians complimented the house
with tickets, the lure took, and it was accordingly
adjourn'd by Mr. Speaker, and the play-house attended by the
major part of the members; this unparallel'd conduct, left
the town to be pillay'd without redress.
To oppose vice, luxury and debauchery, is for the publick
good, but to offer robbery for burnt offerings, is an empty
sacrifice.--To feel the avants of our fellow-creatures and
relieve them, is one essential branch of the christian
religion, but if a man visit the widow and fatherless and
give all his goods to the boor, and does not keep himself
unspotted from the world (which is part of the text) that
is, if he does not shun every appearance of evil, and oppose
every destructive scene of vice and immorality; his
benevolence and charity, to answer an interested vice will
profit him nothing; and in a proper sense is no better than
sounding brass, and a tinkling cymbal.
However well the pretended charity has been adapted, a
theater is in no respect adapted to the state and
circumstances of this poor, small town.--Can any man in his
senses, not abandon'd to pleasure, think a place so young
can throw away three or four thousand pounds a week at a
play-house, or can he probably imagine, that a thousand
pounds given to the poor to still, what is term'd a popular
clamour, can be an equivalent for the loss of L.30,000
consum'd in the short space of eight of ten weeks, besides a
great loss of time.--To all such charities, may not the
following maxim be justly applied, he steals the goose and
gives the giblets in alms.
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