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.
University of California, Los Angeles
A Letter to A.H. Esq; Concerning the Stage.
LONDON,
Printed for A. Baldwin, near the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-Lane, 1698.
(I)
TO A.H. Esq; &c.
SIR,