Letter to the Countess of T. on a Second French Theater in Paris

and even unknown Such as "Crispin the Tutor." The names were changed. M. Linguet expressed himself thus: one cannot help but regret that the Comedians take the trouble to revive Plays that deserve it so little, while they neglect others that are more interesting. Literary Gazette no. 6. See the Preface to The Egoist., and to leave aside the new ones received, good or bad, which would at least attract by their novelty? Is this not giving laws to the Public? I humble myself again to defer to the decision of the Comedians' partisans; let them pronounce judgment themselves. It is true that these Gentlemen and these Ladies repeat incessantly, to anyone who will listen, as if to excuse themselves: "Ah! if we accepted all the Comedies and Tragedies that are presented to us, upon my honor, we could not suffice."

Very well; if you cannot suffice, Gentlemen and Ladies, yield your Place to others, renounce the Theater: but it is difficult, I suspect, to renounce the twelve thousand livres a unit of French currency of annual income that one full share provides; and when one joins two individuals together, male or female, one enjoys a thousand louis gold coins worth 24 livres each (let this be said in passing). I return, Madame, to my main object. If the current number of Comedians cannot suffice to perform all the Plays that the imagination and genius of our