. It is indeed very odd, to see our Stage strowed with Carcasses in the last Scene of a Tragedy; and to observe in the Ward-robe of a Play-house several Daggers, Poniards, Wheels, Bowls for Poison, and many other Instruments of Death. Murders and Executions are always transacted behind the Scenes in the

French

Theatre; which in general is very agreeable to the Manners of a polite and civilized People: But as there are no Exceptions to this Rule on the

French

Stage, it leads them into Absurdities almost as ridiculous as that which falls under our present Censure. I remember in the famous Play of

Corneille

, written upon the Subject of the

Horatii

and

Curiatii