Some thoughts on the present state of the theatres, and the consequences of an act to destroy the liberty of the stage.

Some thoughts on the present state of the theatres, and the consequences of an act to destroy the liberty of the stage.

[London] : [s.n.], [1737]

3, [1] p. ; 31 cm (fol.)

Against the restriction of the number of playhouses; compares the freedom of the stage to the freedom of the press. Occasioned by "A bill for the more effectual punishing rogues and vagabonds" read in the House of Commons on March 9 but never enacted (Lockwood).

Title from caption.

Docket title on p. [1] at end.

Published anonymously. Author attribution and suggested publication date from: Lockwood, Thomas, "A new essay by Fielding", Modern Philology 78, no. 1 (August 1980): pp. 48-58. Attribution accepted by Battestin, who includes this essay in his New essays by Henry Fielding (Charlottesville, Va. : University Press of Virginia, 1989).

Dated 1737 by Lockwood, and 1735 by Arnott.

Appeared in the Daily journal on March 25, 1737, with a cover letter signed "A Well-wisher to the stage."

Signatures: [1]².

Arnott, J. F. Engl. theatrical lit., 171
English short title catalogue (ESTC), N37024

Great Britain -- England -- London.

PN2593 .F36 Cage