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, Forgive me if I think it Ill-nature in you to leave the Town, at a Time when it wants your Company, and seems to beg your Assistance: How can you propose to live at Ease in the Country, when so many of your Friends, the Wits, are engag'd here in open War? Let Mr. _Collier_ say what he pleases of Mr. _Dryden_, I begin to think 'twas his prophetick Genius mov'd him to declaim against Priests; and there is great reason to complain of their being the Incendiaries of the People, when they set the World on fire by Preaching, which they were only sent to warm. But what can Mr. _Collier_ mean by exposing the Stage so? he wou'd not surely have it silenc'd: That wou'd be a little too barbarous, and too much like Cant to be entertain'd by Men of Thought or Ingenuity. I wou'd rather suppose he design'd a Reformation; and that is so reasonable, I wonder any Man should put his Face in disorder, or study a Revenge for the Attempt. But it may be ask'd, Cou'd he not have done that without exposing so many great _Genius_'s? Had it not been better to have let Mr. _Durfey_ alone? Tho' even this Method wou'd not have pleas'd every body; for whate'er Effect it has had on Mr. _Vanbroug_ and _Congreve; Motteux_ and _Guildon_ resent it to the last degree. Is their nothing in their Works Illustrious, or that cou'd merit Censure? Indeed some People are not to be reclaim'd by Ridicule; and Mr. _Collier_ knowing their Vertues, with how much Compos'dness and Resignation they can bear a Hiss, out of Compassion, took Example by the Town and neglected both.