4 7 + R E M A R K S o » . t h b
eonfequences which might accrue to themfelv.es from thence, being
fully convinced, o f the rectitude of. their adtion, and the falutary
effects that might be derived for the benefit o f the riling generation.
Laftly the whole audience deferved. in my opinion,, likewife to be
commended j for when the witty farcafms were falling from the
lips o f their theatrical heroes, they laughed at. their jokes-j but
when they obfer.ved that thefe fhafts o f tatirewere not difcharged at
random, but made the per-fon fmart who was the objedt o f their
inftrudtive irony,, when they faw the marks o f returning modefty*
o f repentance and felf-condemnation, in the attempts to hide her
fhame,. and in the copious tears o f the poor g i r lm a n y an eye was
moiltened, and.many a heart lympathized with her; laftly; when
the dramatic performance was. over,, every one was eager to give
her the moil unfeigned and unlblicited marks o f his efteem and
friendlhip, . to comfort her in. her diftrefs and affliftion, to countenance
her modefty and return to her duty ; and in a manner to
thank her for. having contributed to the innocent mirth;* as-well
as to the inftrudtion and the warning o f her, country, women. I f
we refledt upon the want of feeling in the frequenters o f our
theatres, their indolence and inattention, and I may add their
fhamelefs
* Thanks were returned'to Lucius By tile magiffrates of a town in' Theflalia,' for having;
conirihuted to their mirth in his Iham-tryal. ApnUHtl. te AJino Anne.
T
I I U : M A N S P E C I E S. 475
fhamelefs' effrontery, cive muft give the.pialm to to the O-Taheiteans;. a r t s
I . . a n d
who, like the true children o f nature, have a fympathizing .tear, SCIENCES
and unreftrained.feelings;, the 4 ribute::and glory: o f humanity,. in
readinefs on all proper occafions.
- if - . - | Mallijjima corda -
Humana generi dare fe natura fatetur;
Qua: lacrymas dedit v hat nojiri pars optima fenfus.
J u v e n a l i s . '
Dances, mufic, and poetry, are uled at O-Taheitee totdiffufe
ehearfulnefs and mirth, the bleflingsof a fecial life, into the minds
■ of the whole nation,* and the ftage is tKere, thei inftrudtor of.
virtue, arid cerifor o f immorality and v ic e ; inafenfe by far more
true than i t is at prefent with the refined inhabitants . o f Europe.
When the: polite arts become the. promoters« o f fo great and fo
univerfally beneficial advantages, even the mpft.morofe and gloomy,
philofcphers muft allow them a place among the objedts, which
ought to be communicated in a fyftem o f tifeful and.moral education.•
In this light therefore, thefe nations confider thefe arts; bevery individual
delights in the exercife o f them, and endeavours to acquire
excellence in them. T h e profeffors o f thefe arts are.fo far from
P p p 2 being
* Ai«» ^n\h\i re q>iM %ogo»rs,
£$>](M&cty MtTga Tt 0£g//«j Ketlevtai, '
Homeri Odyff. © 247, 248.
I