Dispute on the return of Regulus to Carthage.

have no regard for my interest yet have for Helen. Heavens! to what a despicable state is Troy sunk when you will bear such injustice to me your Son, nay to yourself. But 'tis plain whence this is. Antenor is corrupted and would persuade your favouring Greece. But Oh! Father retain the same tenderness to your children as ever. Had the cause of Menelaus been just he would not have come with Force. But what do we regard his power. Heaven and our arms shall soon repell the invaders. Look on the number of your children—these shall defend your Kingdom. Nay Hector only will defend Troy. Thus defended by your children regard them. You gave me life and don't take it away by restoring Helen. 'Twas foretold I should be a flame in Troy, and now behold 'tis verified. I will be a flame in Troy, to burn Greece and let them know we think it worth keeping what is so universally desir'd.

Mr Pres orders Mr Buck to speak in the character of a Rom: Senator against the return of Regulus to Carthage-He does-says

Romans if you regard the good of your Country add to it by saving your best citizen; and you Regulus let not your virtue oppose your Country's interest. But why should I say Virtue, it is not such, there is no tie to call you back. That promise which you made to Carthage cannot bind since it was forc'd and the Gods will wink at the breach of it. Why then do you by your obstinacy advance Carthage? No Regulus, live to hurt them and exalt your Country.

THE

No. I.

REFORMER.

T

HERE a cert in Period PLAYS am the favourite Diversion when Duine sing arrived of People of Fafhion, and every one is to its full Growth, and fenfibie how much they influence ther Spreading over JJ Nation Tafte and Manners; if the Source then becomes fo infolent, that it forces Men be conupted, what a Depravation mult of Gius and Spirit to rife up, in Spie we expect of both: The People copy of their natural Modefty, and work that from the Geaty, and Bad Aathors from Dentre 16 it is ripe for. If we may the People Inus Vice and l'otty, he Judge of the Empire of Dalne by other Mond DEATH go round the great co whofs Unwieldines brought Nation hand in hand, and doubtless will on their Ruin, the is ceruly its Time; continue to do fo, unleis fome People for the Depravation of Taft is as great are found public-pirited enough to op as that of Mora's, and tho' the correcting pofe them; for thele Reafons we fhall the latter may feem a more laudable have a watchful Eye over the Theatre, Defign, and more confitent with public to prevent, if poffible, fuch Prodigies of Spir, yet there is to fureng & Connection Dulness and Inimorality as we have been between them, and the Morals of a Na- entertained with this Winter; or, to put tion have to great Dependance on their them in their proper Light, when repreTife ared Writings, that the fixing the fented. latter. Ses the firft and fureft Method of etabling the former.

The Defign therefore of thofe Papers is, carefully and impartially to examine, not only thofe Writings which may be produced among ourselves, or imported from abroad, but alfo our Theatrical Amulement

Our Countrymen are effcenied in a neighbouring Le he duhet of Mankind, and there is fource a Scribler among them who has any other Name for this Nation than BEOTIA; I don't know for what we deferve the Appellation more than the fenfeless Encouragement we give their wretched Productions; fo plentifully do

they

First page of the Reformer.

APPENDIX II

THE REFORMER

No. I

TH

THE REFORMER

THURSDAY the 28th of January, 1747-8.

Provok'd too long we resolutely must,

To those few Virtues that we have be just.

Roscommon.

HERE is a certain Period when Dulness being arrived to its full Growth, and spreading over a Nation becomes so insolent that it forces men of Genius and Spirit to rise up, in Spite of their natural Modesty, and work that Destruction it is ripe for. If we may judge of the Empire of Dulness by other great ones, whose Unwieldiness brought on their Ruin, this is certainly its Time: for the Depravation of Taste is as great as that of Morals, and tho' the correcting the latter may seem a more laudable Design, and more consistent with public-spirit; yet there is so strong a Connection between them, and the morals of a Nation have so great Dependance on their taste and Writings, that the fixing the latter, seems the first and surest Method of establishing the former.

The Design therefore of these Papers is carefully and impartially to examine, not only those Writings which may be produced among ourselves, or imported from abroad, but also our Theatrical Amusements.

PLAYS are the favourite Diversion of People of Fashion, and every one is sensible how much they influence their Taste and Manners; if the Source then be corrupted, what a Depravation must we expect of both: The People copy from the Gentry, and bad Authors from the People: Thus Vice and Folly, like Milton's SIN and DEATH go round the Nation hand in hand, and doubtless will continue to do so, unless some People are found publicspirited enough to oppose them: for these Reasons we shall have a watchful Eye over the Theatre, to prevent, if possible, such Prodigies of Dulness and Immorality as we have been entertained with this Winter; or, to put them in their proper Light, when represented.

Our Countrymen are esteemed in a neighbouring Isle the dullest of Mankind, and there is scarce a Scribbler among them who has any other Name for this Nation than BŒOTIA1: I don't know for what we deserve the Appellation more than the senseless Encouragement we give their wretched Productions; so plentifully do they supply, and so greedily do we swallow that Tide of fulsom Plays, Novels, and Poems which they pour 1 See the poem Ballitore, ante p. 157, "Boetia's scornful name."