ABSTRACT
Two nineteenth-century schools of thought on the subject of leisure can be represented by Jeremy Bentham and Edward Bulwer Lytton. Bentham, whose interests encompassed ethics, jurisprudence, logic and political economy, is best remembered as one of the ablest champions of utilitarianism. Edward Bulwer Lytton was a Liberal politician, novelist and playwright. Bentham died in 1832, the year of the Reform Bill and of the Select Committee appointed to Inquire into the Laws affecting Dramatic Literature, of which Bulwer Lytton was a key member. The Select Committee recommended establishing copyright for dramatic authors and abolishing the metropolitan monopoly on the performance of 'legitimate' drama enjoyed by Covent Garden and Drury Lane since King Charles II granted them patents in 1660. The second recommendation was not approved until1843, but its objective remained as stated:
While, as regards the Public, equally benefited by these advantages, it is probable that the ordinary consequences of competition, freed from the possibility of licentiousness by the confirmed control and authority of the Chamberlain, will afford convenience in the number and situation of
Thiswasahugeadvancetowardsfreetradeandexpansion,eventhough thepublictheatreswerestillcircumscribedby'theconfirmedcontroland authorityofthe[Lord]Chamberlain'throughhisExaminerofPlays,who ensuredthattheatresremained'freedfromthepossibilityof licentiousness'.OppositiontothecontinuingroleoftheLordChamberlain aslicenser(censor)ofplaysstrengthenedtowardstheendofthecentury, butplaygoerssuchasLewisCarrollwouldnodoubthavefavouredmore rigourfromhimastheyfoundplaysthathehadpassedfellfarbelowthe standards(subjectmatter,language)thattheyregardedasacceptable.The existenceofcensorshipmayverywellhavebeenanimportantfactorin reassuringtherespectablemiddleclassesandattractingthemtothetheatre duringQueenVictoria'sreign.
