icient amends for; which unaided by the unlucky charms of
Poetry, could never have possest a thinking Creature such as man.
However true this is, I am myself well able to affirm that none of all
our English Poets, and least the Dramatique (so I think you call them)
can be justly charg'd with too great reformation of men's minds or
manners, and for that I may appeal to general experiment, if those who
are the most assiduous Disciples of the Stage, do not make the fondest
and the lewdest Crew about this Town; for if you should unhappily
converse them through the year, you will not find one Dram of sense
amongst a Club of them, unless you will allow for such a little
Link-Boy's Ribaldry thick larded with unseasonable oaths & impudent
defiance of God, and all things serious; and that at such a senseless
damn'd unthinking rate, as, if 'twere well distributed, would spoil near
half the Apothecaries trade, and save the sober people of the Town the
charge of Vomits; And it was smartly said (how prudently I cannot tell)
by a late learned Doctor, who, though himself no great asserter of a
Deity, (as you'll believe by that which follows) yet was observed to be
continually persuading of this sort of men (if I for once may call them
so) of the necessity and truth of our Religion; and being ask'd how he
came to bestir himself so much this way, made answer that it was because
their ignorance and indiscreet debauch made them a scandal to the
profession of Atheism. And for their wisdom and design I never knew it
reach beyond the invention of some notable expedient, for the speedier
ridding them of their Estate, (a devilish clog to Wit and Parts), than
other grouling Mortals know, or battering half-a-dozen fair new Windows
in a Morning after their debauch, whilst the dull unjantee Rascal they
belong to is fast asleep. But I'll proceed no farther in their
character, because that miracle of Wit (in spite of Academick frippery)
the mighty Echard hath already done it to my satisfaction; and whoever
undertakes a Supplement to anything he hath discourst, had better for
their reputation be doing nothing.

Besides this Theam is worn too thread-bare by the whiffling would-be
Wits of the Town, and of both the stone-blind-eyes of the Kingdom. And
therefore to return to that which I before was speaking of, I will have
leave to say that in my judgement the increasing number of our latter
Plays have not done much more towards the amending of men's Mora