aim 
 Cljeatre 
 
 PAUL LEICESTER FORD 
 
 of 
 
 , 1899 
 
 8. 
 
,??. J. 
 
 / 
 
This is one of an edition of two hundred and sixty- 
 five copies printed from type for the Dunlap Society 
 in the month of January, 1899. 
 
WASHINGTON AND THE THEATRE 
 
THE 
 
 CONTRAST, 
 
 A 
 
 COMEDY; 
 
 IN FIVE AC TS: 
 
 WRITTEN BY A 
 
 CITIZEN or THE UNITED STATES; 
 
 Performed with Applaufe at the Theatres in NEW- YORK. 
 PHILADELPHIA, and MARYLAND; 
 
 AND PUBLISHED (lotJtr an AJfignmtnt oftbt Copy.RlgbtJ BY 
 
 THOMAS WIGNELL. 
 
 Primus ego in patriam 
 Aonio- -deduxi vertice Mufas. 
 
 VlRClt. 
 
 ( Imitate J.) 
 
 Firft on our fhores I try THALIA S powers, 
 And bid the laughing, ufeful Maid be ours. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 FROM THt fRESJ OF PRICH/JRD f HALL, IN MARK1T STRUT, 
 
 BETWCEM StCOND AND FRONT STREXTS. 
 
 M. OCC. .\C. 
 
 Washington s own copy of Tyler s "Contrast." 
 Original in possession of Mr. S. P. Avery. 
 
WASHINGTON AND 
 THE THEATRE 
 
 BY 
 
 PAUL LEICESTER FORD 
 
 NEW-YORK 
 
 THE DUNLAP SOCIETY 
 
 1899 
 
Copyright, 1899, by 
 PAUL LEICESTER FORD 
 
n 
 
 TO MY FRIEND 
 
 RICHARD MANSFIELD, ESGL 
 
 IN RECOGNITION OF HIS SERVICES 
 TO THE DRAMA 
 
 I DEDICATE THIS MONOGRAPH 
 
 M883443 
 
Washington an* 
 Cf)e theatre. 
 
 IT is interesting to note, in running through the let 
 ters of Washington written during the dark hours 
 of the Revolutionary struggle, that the only quotation 
 which appealed sufficiently to the general to lead him 
 to repeat it, was the line, " T is not in mortals to com 
 mand success" words peculiarly fitted to express his 
 mistrust of his own ability. Many years after, when 
 the military difficulties of the command of the Conti 
 nental army had been succeeded by the political per 
 plexities forced upon him by the Presidency of his 
 country, to express his longing for retirement he used 
 another quotation by writing, " The post of honor is a 
 private station." Of the thousands of letters written 
 by the great patriot but few give evidence of literary 
 cultivation; and in his library there was no copy of 
 the work in which these two lines appeared. For his 
 knowledge of them, therefore, some other source than 
 reading seems probable, nor is it necessary to seek far 
 to find it. The two excerpts are from Addison s 
 " Cato," the most popular play in America during a 
 
anb 
 
 large part of Washington s life, and from his youth 
 the theatre was one of his favorite pleasures. 
 
 In this fondness for the dram,a, Washington was but 
 the true Virginian of his time. That there was play 
 acting in New York, and in Charleston, South Caro 
 lina, before 1702, are unquestioned facts, giving to 
 these two places, so far as can be discovered, priority 
 of claim in the first patronage of the mimic art. But 
 nowhere in America during the Colonial period did 
 the dramatic muse receive a kindlier or more enthusi 
 astic support than in the Old Dominion ; indeed, the 
 Rev. Samuel Davies arraigned the colony in 1755, 
 on the ground that " Plays and Romances " were 
 "more read than the History of the blessed Jesus"; l 
 and no doubt had there been play-acting at the time, 
 he would also have been able to charge the Virginian 
 of his day with a stronger preference for the play 
 house than for the house of God. 
 
 It is impossible to say when Thalia and Melpo 
 mene first set foot on Virginian soil, the earliest refer 
 ence extant concerning these muses being in 1718, 
 when Governor Spotswood, " In Order to the Solem 
 nizing his Maj ty s Birthday," gave " a publick Enter 
 tainment," to which " all Gent n that would come 
 were Admitted," 2 and furthermore marked the festal 
 day by a " Play w ch was Acted on that occasion " 
 a production presumably of the college boys of William 
 and Mary. Hugh Jones, in his " Present State of 
 
 1 " Religion and Patriotism the Constitution of a Good Soldier," 
 p. 29. 
 
 2 " Spotswood Letters," n, 284. 
 
anb fjc Cfjcatre, 
 
 Virginia," published at London in 1724, describing 
 Williamsburg, notes that not far from the Magazine 
 and the Jamestown Court House " is a large area for 
 the Market Place, near which is a Play House and 
 good bowling green " ; and this probably was still 
 standing and in use twelve years later, for the " Virginia 
 Gazette" of September 10, 1736, advertised that: 
 
 This Evening will be performed at the Theatre, by 
 the young gentlemen of the College, The Tragedy of 
 "CATO," And, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 
 next, will be acted the following Comedies, by the gen 
 tlemen and ladies of this Country, viz. : The Busy-Body, 
 The Recruiting-Officer, and the Beaux-Stratagem. 
 
 In 1751, however, the greatest advance was made; 
 for by Acting Governor Richard Lee s permission 
 " the New York company of comedians were permitted 
 to build a theatre in Williamsburg, and a taste for the 
 elegancies as well as the more erudite parts of litera 
 ture shone out beneath the patronage and example 
 of the president." 1 The original prospectus for the 
 building of this theatre reads : 
 
 By Permission of His Hono^tr the President. 
 
 Whereas the Company of COMEDIANS that are in New 
 York intend performing in this City ; but there being no 
 Room suitable for a PLAY HOUSE, tis propos d that a 
 Theatre shall be built by Way of Subscription : Each 
 Subscriber, advancing a Pistole, to be entitled to a Box 
 Ticket, for the first Nights Diversion. 
 
 IBurke s " History of Virginia," in, 140. 
 
iagl)ington anb Cije Cljeatre, 
 
 Those Gentlemen and Ladies who are kind enough to 
 favour this Undertaking, are desired to send their Sub 
 scription Money to Mr. Finni^s, at the Raleigh, where 
 Tickets may be had. 
 
 N. B. The House to be completed by October Court.i 
 
 In spite of the favoring smile and permission of 
 officialdom, the Thespian path was not an altogether 
 easy one, an " Advertisement " presently notifying the 
 patrons that : 
 
 The Company of COMEDIANS having been at a greater 
 Expence than they at first expected in erecting a THEATRE 
 in the City of Williamsburg, and having an immediate 
 Occasion for the Money expended in that Particular, in 
 Order to procure proper Scenes and Dresses, humbly hope 
 that those Gentlemen who are Lovers of theatrical Per 
 formances, will be kind enough to assist them, by Way of 
 Subscription, for the Payment of the House and Lots, each 
 Subscriber to have a Property- therein, in Proportion to 
 the Sum subscribed. As the Money is immediately 
 wanted, we hope the Gentlemen will be kind enough to 
 pay it as they subscribe, into the Hands of Messrs. Mitch- 
 elson and Hyndman, who have obliged us so far as to 
 receive the same, and to whom Deeds will be delivered, 
 on the Subscription being compleated, for the Purpose 
 above-mentioned. Which shall be gratefully acknow 
 ledged, by 
 
 Their most obliged humble Servants 
 
 Charles Somerset Woodham, 
 
 Walter Murray, 
 
 Thomas Kean. 2 
 
 1 " Virginia Gazette," August 29, 1751. 
 2 " Virginia Gazette," October 24, 1751. 
 
anb 
 
 Meantime, however, the first play had been given, 
 which the "Virginia Gazette" on October 17 adver 
 tised as follows : 
 
 By Permission of His Honour the PRESIDENT, 
 
 At the NEW THEATRE in Williamsburg, 
 
 On Monday the 2ist Instant, will be presented a Tragedy, 
 
 called 
 
 KING RICHARD THE THIRD: 
 
 To which will be added, a Grand Tragic Dance, compos d 
 
 by Monsieur Denoier, called 
 
 THE ROYAL CAPTIVE. 
 
 After a Turkish Manner, as perform d at His Majesty s 
 Opera House, in the Hay Market. 
 
 Boxes 75. 6d. Pit 55. 9d. Gallery 35. 96. 
 No Person to be admitted behind the Scenes. 
 
 So far as can be learned, it was not in Virginia that 
 Washington saw his first dramatic performance. He was 
 but four years of age when " Cato " was played in 1736, 
 and if there were plays acted in Virginia between that 
 date and 1751, the school-boy was not likely to have 
 witnessed them, much less the hard-working and lean 
 of purse young surveyor, who spent so much of his time 
 "amongst a parcel of barbarians" in the frontier 
 counties, measuring off farms. Nor was he fortunate 
 enough to witness the first professional performance in 
 Virginia; for on October 17, 1751, the night when the 
 Comedians were delighting the elite of Williamsburg, 
 Washington was on board a small schooner already 
 3 
 
6 fa$)tngton anb Clje Cljcatre* 
 
 half-way between the capes of the Chesapeake and 
 the island of Barbadoes in the West Indies. In place, 
 therefore, of listening to " Richard the Third," he was 
 enduring " a disturb d and large Sea, which eminently 
 endang d our masts roling away," which presently in 
 creased to such violence that "the Seamen seem d 
 disheartned confessing they had never seen such 
 weather before," so that the final quieting of the sea, 
 and setting in of the trade wind, " after near five Weeks 
 buffiting & being toss d by a fickle & Merciless ocean," 
 was hailed by the youthful voyager as "glad ening 
 knews." 1 
 
 But if this trip deprived the young fellow of nineteen 
 of his opportunity of being present at the " first night " 
 in Virginia, it nevertheless gave him his earliest ex 
 perience in the theatre. The voyage had been made 
 as the traveling companion of his elder brother, Law 
 rence, stricken with consumption and seeking health, 
 and a landing was made at Bridgetown, the capital 
 of the island, November 3. On the day of their ar 
 rival they evidently made the acquaintance of a Mr. 
 Carter, for the following day the younger of the bro 
 thers notes that " we were again invited to Mr. Car 
 ter s and desired to make his house ours until we could 
 provide lodgings agreeable to our wishes, which offer 
 we accepted," 2 and through his aid the brothers 
 shortly secured an abiding-spot. Nor did the Barba 
 dian s service cease with this double kindness, for 
 Washington further notes in his journal that on Thurs- 
 
 1 Washington, Barbadoes Journal, pp. 29, 30, 37. 
 
 2 Ibid. , p. 40. 
 
Facsimile of page of Washington s Barbadoes Journal. 
 
HEtagtytngton anb f)e Cljcatre* 7 
 
 day, November 15, he "Was treated with a play ticket 
 by M Carter to see the Tragedy of George Barnwell 
 acted : the character of Barnwell and several others 
 was said to be well perform d there was Musick a 
 Dapted and regularly conducted by M [blank]." 1 
 The piece thus seen was a favorite play of the eight 
 eenth century, written by George Lillo. Whether 
 it was an amateur performance of the citizens or 
 garrison, there is nothing to show. If there was a 
 regular theatre and dramatic company in the island, 
 the youth enjoyed no further pleasure from them ; for 
 two days after this first experience he " was strongly 
 attacked with the small Pox," 2 the result of a break 
 fast and dinner with a Major Clarke, to which 
 Washington went, so his journal states, " with some 
 reluctance," because the contagion was in his host s 
 family. This housed him for several weeks, and gave 
 him but a few days of health before he set sail for home. 
 Washington reached Virginia in January, 1752, and 
 probably spent his summer at Mount Vernon. He 
 was now, however, one of the four military adjutants 
 of the colony, and therefore had occasion to be in 
 Williamsburg from time to time. It is quite possible, 
 therefore, that he was one of the audience at the " new 
 Theatre in Williamsburg " at the second performance, 
 but the evidence seems rather against it, for on May 
 20 he wrote that he " would have been down long be 
 fore this, but my business in Frederick detained me 
 somewhat longer than I expected, and immediately 
 
 1 Barbadoes Journal, p. 52. 
 
 2 Ibid., p. 53. 
 
anfc l)e Cljeatre, 
 
 upon my return from thence I was taken with a violent 
 pleurise, which has reduced me very low." This per 
 formance is of interest in another connection, and 
 from the "Virginia Gazette" of April 17 the original 
 advertisement is quoted : 
 
 By Permission of His Honour the GOVERNOR, 
 
 At the New THEATRE, in WILLIAMSBURG, 
 
 For the Benefit of Mrs. BECCELY, 
 
 On Friday, being the 24th of this Instant 
 Will be performed, a COMEDY, called the 
 
 CONSTANT COUPLE: 
 
 or a 
 TRIP to the JUBILEE. 
 
 The Part of Sir Harry Wildair to be performed 
 
 By Mr. KEAN 
 
 Colonel Standard, 
 
 By Mr. MURRAY, 
 
 And the Part ^/"Angelica to be performed 
 By Mrs. BECCELY. 
 
 With Entertainment of SINGING between the Acts : 
 
 Likewise a DANCE, called the DRUNKEN PEASANT. 
 
 To which will be added, a Farce, called the 
 
 LYING VALET. 
 
 TICKETS to be had at 
 Mrs. Vobe s, and at Mr. Mitchel s, in York. 
 
anb 
 
 If Washington was probably not present on this 
 night, he was soon to see the company. After the 
 one performance an advertisement notified their pa 
 trons that 
 
 The Company of COMEDIANS, from the new Theatre at 
 Williamsburg, propose playing at HobUs-Hole, from the 
 loth of May to the 24th ; from thence they intend to pro 
 ceed to Fredericksburg, to play during the Continuance 
 of June Fair ; and hope, That all Gentlemen and Ladies, 
 who are Lovers of Theatrical Entertainments, will favour 
 them with their Company. 1 
 
 It was in the course of this tour that the first proof 
 of Washington s seeing a play on Virginian soil is dis 
 coverable; for in his ledger, under June 2, 1752, is en 
 tered a record of money loaned his younger brother, 
 Samuel, "By Cash at the play House 1/3," prov 
 ing that the two brothers were then staying with their 
 mother at her home near Fredericksburg, and were at 
 the theatre. The indebtedness was probably the price 
 of a ticket of admission, and the amount shows that 
 the youngsters were still content to be boys and rank 
 themselves as " gallery gods." 
 
 In this same month the " Virginia Gazette " printed 
 a prospectus heralding the advent of another and more 
 ambitious venture : 
 
 This is to inform the Public, 
 
 That Mr. Hallam, from the NEW THEATRE in Good- 
 mansfields, London, is daily expected here with a select 
 Company of Comedians ; the Scenes, Cloaths and Decora- 
 1 " Virginia Gazette," April 30, 1752. 
 
Cljcatre. 
 
 tions are all entirely new, extremely rich, and finished in 
 the highest Taste, the Scenes being painted by the best 
 Hands in London, are excelPd by none in Beauty and 
 Elegance, so that the Ladies and*Gentlemen may depend 
 on being entertain d in as polite a Manner as at the The 
 atres in London, the Company being perfect in all the best 
 Plays, Opera s, Farces, and Pantomimes, that have been 
 exhibited in any of the Theatres for these ten Years past. 1 
 
 In pursuance of this promise, the " London Com 
 pany of Comedians," usually termed Hallam s com 
 pany, " arrived after a very expensive and tiresome 
 voyage, at York River," on the 28th of June, 1752; 
 and coming to Williamsburg, through the medium of 
 the press notified the Virginia lovers of the drama 
 that 
 
 We are desired to inform the Publick, That as the Com 
 pany of Comedians, lately from London, have obtain d 
 His Honour the Governor s Permission, and have, with 
 great Expence, entirely altered the Play-House at Wil 
 liamsburg to a regular Theatre, fit for the Reception of 
 Ladies and Gentlemen, and the Execution of their own 
 Performances, they intend to open on the first Friday in 
 September next, with a Play, call d The Merchant of 
 Venice, (written by Shakspear) and a Farce, call d The 
 Anatomist, or, Sham Doctor. The Ladies are desired to 
 give timely Notice to Mr. Hallam, at Mr. Fisher s, for 
 their Places in the Boxes, and on the Day of Performance 
 to send their Servants early to keep them, in Order to 
 prevent Trouble and Disappointment. 2 
 
 1 " Virginia Gazette," June 12, 1752. 
 
 2 " Virginia Gazette," August 21, 1752. 
 
anb 
 
 Concerning this first performance the " Virginia 
 Gazette " l prints the following information : 
 
 By PERMISSION of the Hon ble ROBERT DINWIDDIE, 
 Esq; His Majesty s Lieutenant-Governor, and Com 
 mander in Chief of the Colony and Dominion of 
 Virginia. 
 
 By a Company ^COMEDIANS, from LONDON, 
 
 At the THEATRE in WILLIAMSBURG, 
 On Friday next, being the I5th of September, will be 
 
 presented, 
 A PLAY, Call d 
 
 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. 
 
 (Written by Shakespear.} 
 
 The Part of ANTONIO (the MERCHANT) to be perform d by 
 
 Mr. CLARKSON. 
 
 GRATIANO, by Mr. SINGLETON, 
 
 Lorenzo, (with Songs in Character) by Mr. ADCOCK. 
 
 The Part of BASSANIO to be perform d by 
 
 Mr. RIGBY. 
 
 Duke, by Mr. Wynell. 
 
 Salanio, by Mr. Herbert. 
 
 The Part of LAUNCELOT, by Mr. HALLAM. 
 
 And the Part of SHYLOCK, (the Jew) to be perform d by 
 
 Mr. MALONE. 
 The Part of NERISSA, by Mrs. ADCOCK, 
 
 Jessica, by Mrs. Rigby. 
 
 And the Part of PORTIA, to be perform d by 
 
 Mrs. HALLAM. 
 
 l August 28, 1752. 
 
 4 
 
12 
 
 With a new occasional PROLOGUE. 
 To which will be added, a FARCE, call d, 
 
 The ANATOMIST: 
 
 OR, 
 SHAM DOCTOR. 
 
 The Part of Monsieur le Medecin, by 
 
 Mr. RlGBY. 
 And the Part of BEATRICE, by Mrs. ADCOCK. 
 
 %* No Person, whatsoever, to be admitted behind the 
 
 Scenes. 
 BOXES, 75. 6d. PIT and BALCONIES, 55. gd. GALLERY, 
 
 3s. 9 d - 
 To begin at Six o Clock. 
 
 Vivat Rex. 
 
 More interesting still is the prologue spoken at this 
 performance, appended to a brief description 1 of the 
 
 event : 
 
 Williamsburg, Sept. 22. 
 
 On Friday last the Company of Comedians from Eng 
 land, open d the Theatre in this City, when The Merchant 
 of Venice, and the Anatomist, were perform d, before a 
 numerous and polite Audience, with great Applause ; the 
 following Prologue, suitable to the Occasion, was spoken 
 by Mr. RlGBY. 
 
 PROLOGUE. 
 
 O ! FOR the tuneful Voice of Eloquence, 
 Whose Numbers flow with Harmony and Sense, 
 That I may soar above the common Wing, 
 In lively Strains the grateful Subject sing; 
 
 l " Virginia Gazette," September 22, 1752. 
 
anb 
 
 13 
 
 To celebrate the laurePd Poet s Fame, 
 
 And thro the World the Stage s Use proclaim. 
 
 To charm the Fancy, and delight the Soul, 
 
 To deal Instruction, without harsh Controul, 
 
 To cultivate (by pleasing Arts) the Mind, 
 
 To win to Reason, and with Wit refin d 
 
 To check each Error, and reform Mankind. 
 
 For this the Bard, on Athen s Infant Stage, 
 
 At first produc d the Drama s artful Page ; 
 
 At once to please and satyrize he knew, 
 
 And all his Characters from Nature drew ; 
 
 Without Restriction then, as Nature taught, 
 
 The Player acted, and the Poet wrote ; 
 
 The Tragic Muse did Honour to the State, 
 
 And in a Mirrour taught them to be great ; 
 
 The Comick too, by gentle Means reprov d ; 
 
 Lash d every Vice, and every Vice remov d: 
 
 For tho the Foible, or the Crime she blam d, 
 
 Smil d on the Man, and with a Smile reclaim d. 
 
 Thus was the Grecian Stage, the Romans too, 
 
 When e er they wrote, had Virtue in their View : 
 
 In this politer Age, on British Ground, 
 
 The sprightly Scenes, with Wit and Sense abound, 
 
 The brilliant Stage with vast Applause is crown d, 
 
 And Shouts of Joy thro the whole House resound; 
 
 Yet not content to bear so great a Name, 
 
 The Muse still labour d to encrease her Fame ; 
 
 Summon d her Agents quickly to appear, 
 
 Haste, to Virginia s Plains, my Sons, repair, 
 
 The Goddess said, Go, confident to find 
 
 An Audience sensible, polite and kind. 
 
 We heard and strait obey d ; from Britain s Shore 
 
 These unknown Climes advent ring to explore: 
 
 For us then, and our Muse, thus low I bend, 
 
anb f)e Cljcatre, 
 
 Nor fear to find in each the warmest Friend; 
 Each smiling Aspect dissipates our Fear, 
 We ne er can fail of kind Protection here; 
 The Stage is ever Wisdom s Tav rite Care : 
 Accept our Labours then, approve our Pains, 
 Your Smiles will please us equal to our Gains ; 
 And as you all esteem the Darling Muse, 
 The gen rous Plaudit you will not refuse. 1 
 
 It is impossible to discover if Washington was pres 
 ent at this opening night, there being no evidence either 
 for or against it. It is almost certain, however, that he 
 witnessed some performances ; for the company con 
 tinued at Williamsburg eleven months "before we 
 thought of removing," and "performed with universal 
 Applause and met with the greatest encouragement, 
 for which we are bound by the strongest of Obliga 
 tions to acknowledge the many repeated instances of 
 their spirit and generosity." They were then " per 
 suaded to come to New York by several Gentlemen," 
 and for the next five years there seems to have been 
 no professional acting in the Old Dominion. 
 
 Even had the London Company remained in Vir 
 ginia, it is not likely that the young officer would have 
 seen much of the drama, these years being busy ones to 
 him, and for the most part were spent on the frontier in 
 the service of the colony. Yet the instinctive craving 
 probably remained, if it was not gratified. When in 
 1756 military duty carried him northward to Boston, 
 
 1 This, the first prologue delivered in America so far known, 
 should not be confused with the apocryphal one printed by Dun- 
 lap (I, 17) as given him by Hallam, and from that source frequently 
 reprinted in other books. 
 
ington anb Cfte Cfteatre, 15 
 
 there was, so far as known, no company then playing 
 in any city of America. At New York, however, there 
 was then on exhibition a piece of mechanism which 
 Washington, for want of something better, went to see 
 twice, his ledger recording items of expenditure, " for 
 treat g Ladies to ye Mm. [^]i. 8," and "treat g 
 Ladies to ye Microcosm [^]i. 4." In the "New 
 York Gazette" of February 16, 1756, is a descrip 
 tion of the machine, and in a contemporary pamphlet 
 prospectus is a plate of it, so it is possible to know 
 exactly what the ladies and their cavalier saw. 
 
 To be seen at the NEW-EXCHANGE, 
 
 That Elaborate and Celebrated Piece of 
 Mechanism, called the 
 
 MICROCOSM, 
 Or, The WORLD in MINIATURE. 
 
 Built in the Form of a Roman Temple, after Twenty- 
 two Years close Study and Application, by the late in 
 genious Mr. Henry Bridges, of London; who, having 
 received the Approbation and Applause of the Royal 
 Society, &c. afterwards made considerable Additions and 
 Improvements; so that the Whole, being now completely 
 finished, is humbly offered to the curious of this City, as 
 a Performance which has been the Admiration of every 
 Spectator, and proved itself by its singular Perfections the 
 most instructive as well as entertaining Piece of Work in 
 Europe. 
 
 A Piece of such complicated Workmanship, and that 
 affords such a Variety of Representations (tho all upon 
 the most simple Principles) can but very imperfectly be 
 described in Words the best chosen ; therefore tis desired, 
 
1 6 ial)inflton anb i)e 
 
 what little is said in this Advertisement may not pass for 
 an Account of the Microcosm, but only what is thought 
 meerly necessary in the Title of such an Account, &c. 
 
 Its outward Structure is a ni(tst beautiful Composition 
 of Architecture, Sculpture and Painting. The inward 
 Contents are as judiciously adapted to gratify the Ear, 
 the Eye, and the Understanding; for it plays with great 
 Exactness several fine Pieces of Music, and exhibits, by an 
 amazing Variety of moving Figures, Scenes diversified 
 with natural Beauties, Operations of Art, of human Em 
 ployments and Diversion, all passing as in real Life, &c. 
 
 1. Shews all the celestial Phenomena, with just Regard 
 to the proportionable Magnitudes of their Bodies, the 
 Figures of their Orbits, and the Periods of their Revolu 
 tions, with the Doctrine of Jupiter s Satellites, of Eclipses, 
 and of the Earth s annual and diurnal Motions, which are 
 all rendered familiarly intelligible. In particular will be 
 seen the Trajectory and Type of a Comet, predicted by 
 Sir Isaac Newton, to appear the Beginning of 1758; like 
 wise a Transit of Venus over the Sun s Disk, the Sixth of 
 June 1761; also a large and visible Eclipse of the Sun, 
 the First of April 1764, &c. 
 
 2. Are the nine Muses playing in Concert on divers musi 
 cal Instruments, as the Harp, Hautboy, Bass Viol, &c. 
 
 3. Is Orpheus in the Forest, playing on his Lyre, and 
 beating exact Time to each Tune ; who, by his exquisite 
 Harmony, charms even the wild Beasts. 
 
 4. Is a Carpenter s Yard, wherein the various Branches 
 of that Trade are most naturally represented, &c. 
 
 5. Is a delightful Grove, wherein are Birds flying, and 
 in many other Motions warbling forth their melodious 
 Notes, &c. 
 
 6. Is a fine Landskip, with a Prospect of the Sea, where 
 Ships are sailing with a proportionable Motion according 
 
JE>al)ington ant) <t)c Cljcatre* 17 
 
 to their Distance. On the Land are Coaches, Carts and 
 Chaises passing along, with their Wheels turning round 
 as if on the Road, and altering their Positions as they as 
 cend or descend a steep Hill; and nearer, on a River, is 
 a Gunpowder-Mill at Work. On the same River are 
 Swans swimming, fishing, and bending their Necks back 
 wards to feather themselves; as also the Sporting of the 
 Dog and Duck, &c. 
 
 7. And lastly, is shewn the whole Machine in Motion, 
 when upwards of twelve Hundred Wheels and Pinnions 
 are in Motion at once: And during the whole Perform 
 ance it plays several fine Pieces of Musick on the Organ 
 and other Instruments, both single and in Concert, in a 
 very elegant Manner, &c. 
 
 Tis hoped (as this Machine cannot be mov d without a 
 considerable Expence and Loss of Time, and its purpos d 
 Stay here so very short) that Gentlemen and Ladies will 
 be as expeditious as convenient. 
 
 It will be shewn every Day from Ten in the Morning 
 till Six at Night, to any select Company (not less than 
 Six) at Six Shillings each, which entitles them to see the 
 internal Parts of this Machine, in Motion, and upon what 
 Principle the Whole is perform d, so worthy the Notice of 
 the Curious, &c. It will likewise be shewn every Monday, 
 Wednesday, and Friday Nights, to more or less, exactly 
 at Seven o Clock, at Four Shillings each, tho Prices 
 quite inferior to the Expences and Merits of this Machine. 
 
 Tis likewise humbly hoped, no Person will take it amiss 
 if not admitted without a Ticket, on Monday, Wednesday 
 and Friday Nights ; and that the common Notion of its 
 being exhibited cheaper at last, will not disappoint them 
 of seeing so noble a Piece of MECHANISM. 
 
 TICKETS to be had at the above Place, where a Fire 
 is constantly kept. 
 
1 8 U3al)intan anb 
 
 In the following year, while on the frontier, Wash 
 ington subscribed to what was probably a garrison 
 play ; for entered in his ledger, under date of January 
 10, is an item : " By Cash Jave the Players at Fort 
 Cumbd." i. From the same source are taken two 
 entries: "March iyth By Mr. Palmas Tickets 52/6," 
 presumably an expenditure made in Philadelphia dur 
 ing the officer s visit there to meet Lord Loudon ; but 
 whether the tickets were for the theatre or for a lot 
 tery cannot be discovered. The second entry is more 
 specific, being to the effect: "Apr. 27. By Tickets to 
 the Concert," 16/3. 
 
 The French and Indian war still engaged the ser 
 vices of the militia colonel in 1759, * o tne exclusion of 
 all his pleasures; and from Fort Cumberland he wrote 
 to Mrs. George William Fairfax, " the hours at present 
 are melancholy dull," while in a second letter he adds, 
 after alluding to the probable failure of the campaign, 
 " I should think our time more agreeably spent, be 
 lieve me, in playing a part in Cato, with the company 
 you mention and myself doubly happy in being the 
 Juba to such a Marcia as you must make." 
 
 With his resignation from the service, and his mar 
 riage, came the leisure and opportunity to gratify his 
 love of the drama. Furthermore, as a " burgess " or 
 member of the Assembly of his colony, an annual visit 
 to Williamsburg to attend the meetings of that body 
 became necessary ; and as this period was always the 
 capital s season, when plays were given, if at all, he 
 was at once able to attend to his senatorial duties and 
 to enjoy the theatre. It is nowhere recorded that there 
 
anb 
 
 19 
 
 was a company playing in Williamsburg in 1760, but 
 Washington s ledger proves that there must have been 
 one acting during the session of the Assembly, for it 
 records under October 8, " By Play Tickets at Sun 
 dry times [\i. 10. 3." 
 
 Of such type are recurring entries in the succeeding 
 years, best told by simple excerpts : 
 
 1761 Mar. Play Tickets in March [] 2. 7. 6 
 
 1762 Nov. Play Tickets 2. 18. 3 
 
 1763 Apr. 26 Play Ticket 5/ 
 
 29 Play Tickets io/ 
 
 May 2 Play Tickets 12/6 
 
 3 Play 8/9 
 
 19 By Play Ticket 5/ 
 1765 Apr. 2 By my Exps to hear the Ar- 
 
 monica 3.9 
 
 1767 Apr. io Ticket for the Concert 5/ 
 May 20 By Exps in seeing Slight of 
 
 hand performance i. 7. 6 
 
 With 1768 something better than these bald entries 
 is procurable. In that year the " Virginia Company 
 of Comedians " gave a season of two months in Wil 
 liamsburg, and on May 2 Washington wrote in the 
 daily record he kept of " where & how my time is 
 spent," that he " went to Williamsburg with Colo. 
 Bassett, Colo Lewis & Mr. Dick. Bind with Mrs 
 Dawson and went to the Play." From the ledger 
 it is discovered that Washington was clearly the host, 
 for the tickets cost him ^i. 75. 6d. So again, on Sep- 
 5 
 
20 
 
 anb 
 
 tember 20 of the same year, his diary states that he 
 " & Mrs. Washington & ye two child n were up to 
 Alexandria to see the Inconstant or way to win him 
 acted " ; the entry for the next day reading " Stayd 
 in Town all day & saw the Tragedy of Douglas playd." 
 Probably these were given by the same company which 
 had played in Williamsburg, and the double perform 
 ance cost him ^3. i2S. 6d. On October 6 he made 
 an additional expenditure, " By Play Ticket for Jno. 
 P. Custis 5/." It is of interest to note that " ye two 
 child n " thus taken to the theatre were his stepson and 
 stepdaughter, John Parke and Martha Parke Custis, 
 respectively fifteen and thirteen years of age. 
 
 The only fact obtainable concerning Washington s 
 " play " hours in 1769 is a brief statement in his diary 
 that on September 19 he " went to Court" at Alexan 
 dria, " stay d all night & went to see slight of hand 
 perform d." The year 1770 makes a better showing, 
 for there are three entries in his ledger : " May 24 By 
 4 Play Tickets 307 "; "June 16 Tickets to Play &c. 
 15/6"; and June 23 " By Play Tickets 2." 
 
 Of all these years of pleasant social life, 1771 was 
 the most full in dramatic enjoyment. On January 29 
 he " In the Evening went to a Play " acted at Dum 
 fries, at a cost " By two Play Tickets" of io/, supple 
 mented " By Exps. at the Play " of 6/3. On May 2 
 he " set out with Colo Bassett, for Williamsburg, and 
 reached Town about 12 O Clock dined at Mrs. 
 Dawsons & went to the Play." The following even 
 ing he " Dined at the Speakers and went to the Play 
 after wch Drank a Bowl or two of Punch at Mrs. 
 
anli 
 
 21 
 
 Campbells " ; and on the 8th he " Dined at Southalls 
 with Colo Robt Fairfax & some other Gentlemn & 
 went to the Play &c," the total expenditure for tickets 
 on these three evenings being 52/6. Again, on July 
 23, he spent i5/ for the same purpose, presumably a 
 performance given in Alexandria. In September of 
 the same year he went to Annapolis to attend the 
 races, and of this visit his diary records: 
 
 Sept 24 Dined with the Govr and went to the Play & 
 Ball afterwards 
 
 25 Dined at Doctr Stewards and went to the Play 
 
 and Ball afterwards 
 
 26 Dined at Mr. Ridouts and went to the Play 
 
 after it 
 
 28 Dined at Mr. Bouchers and went from thence to 
 the Play and afterwards to the Coffee H. 
 
 The cost to him "By Play Tickets at Different 
 times " was ^3. But a month later, during the session 
 of the burgesses, he spent " By Sundry Tickets while 
 in Wmburg 4. i. o." Concerning this theatre-going 
 his diary chronicles 
 
 Oct. 29 Dined at the Speaker s and went to the Play in 
 
 the Afternoon 
 
 31 Dined at the Governor s & went to the Play 
 Nov. i Dined at Mrs. Dawson s Went to the Fire 
 works in the afternoon and to the Play at Night 
 4 Dined with the Council and went to the Play 
 afterwards. 
 
22 
 
 anb tje Cljeatte. 
 
 In the " Virginia Gazette" for January 23, 1772, an 
 advertisement, or " Preliminary Notice," informs the 
 public that " The American Company of Comedians 
 intend for this place by the meeting of the General 
 Assembly, and to perform till the end of the April 
 Court. They then proceed to the Northward by en 
 gagement, where it is probable they will continue 
 some years." And from the same source something 
 can be learned of the repertoire of the Thespians, a 
 paragraph announcing: "New Plays. We hear that 
 a new comedy, called The Brothers, written by Mr. 
 Cumberland, author of the much approved West In 
 dian, is now in rehearsal and will soon make its ap 
 pearance on our theatre ; also that False Delicacy 
 and a Word to the Wise, the productions of the in 
 genious Mr. Hugh Kelly, whose spirited letter to the 
 Lord Mayor (Beckford) has been read by most people, 
 are in great forwardness." From Washington s diary 
 and ledger the following extracts are made : 
 
 Mar ii. Dined at the Club and went to the Play 
 
 Mar 17. Dined at the Club and went to the Play in the 
 
 afternoon 
 19. Dined at Mrs. Dawsons & went to the Play in 
 
 the evening 
 
 25. Dinedat Mrs. Lewis Bunvells and went to the Play 
 
 26. Dined at the Club and went to the Play 
 
 Apr. 3. Dined at Mrs. Campbell s and went to the Play 
 
 Then to Mrs. Campbells again 
 7. Dined at Mrs. Campbells and went to the Play 
 
 Apr. 9 By Sundry Play Tickets for myself & others 
 whilst in Town [] 5. 12. 6 
 
3a$)ington anb fje Cljeatte. 23 
 
 Light on his play-going during another attendance 
 at the races at Annapolis is obtainable from the same 
 sources, as follows : 
 
 Oct 5. Reached Annapolis Dined at the Coffee House 
 with the Jockey Club & lodged at the Govr 
 after going to the Play. 
 
 7. Dined at the Govrs and went to the Play after 
 
 wards. 
 
 8. Dined at Colo Loyds and went to the Play 
 
 from thence early to my lodgings. 
 
 9. Dined at Mr. Roberts went to the Play & to 
 
 the Govrs to Supper. 
 
 In his ledger is the item " Oct 6 By Sundry Tickets 
 to the Plays [;]i," supplemented by other items in 
 his cash-book as follows : 
 
 Oct. 5 By Douglas s Compy [] i. 19. o 
 By Play .6. 
 
 8 By Play Ticket .6. 
 
 9 " " " 6 
 10 " " " ts 12 
 
 Nov. 16 By cost of seeing Wax Works .7. 6 
 " Do Do Puppit Show n. 6 
 
 Having occasion to come to New York in 1773 to 
 enter his stepson at King s College, Washington be 
 guiled part of his stay in the city in a manner briefly 
 described in his Journal: "May 28th Dined with Mr. 
 James Delancey, and went to the Play and Hulls 
 Tavern in the evening," the plays being " Hamlet " 
 
24 ia$)ington anb 
 
 and " Cross Purposes," and the cost " By Play 
 Tickets" 8/. Once again he attends the Annapolis 
 races and plays of this year, entered thus briefly in 
 his diary : 
 
 Sept 27. Dined at the Govrs and went to the Play in the 
 Evening 
 
 28. Again dined at the Govrs and went to the Play 
 
 & Ball in the Evening 
 
 29. Dined at Mr. Sprigs & went to the Play in the 
 
 Evening. 
 
 With this ends Washington s enjoyment of the thea 
 tre for several years. In 1774 the controversy between 
 Great Britain and her Colonies had reached such a 
 height that a Congress met at Philadelphia to discuss 
 what united action should be taken, and one of the 
 resolutions come to and recommended to the people 
 was : 
 
 We will in our several Stations encourage Frugality, 
 Oeconomy, and Industry, and promote Agriculture, Arts 
 and the Manufactures of this Country, especially that of 
 Wool ; and will discountenance and discourage every 
 Species of Extravagance and Dissipation, especially all 
 Horse Racing, and all Kinds of Gaming, Cock Fighting, 
 Exhibitions of Shews, Plays, and other expensive Diver 
 sions and Entertainments ; and on the Death of any Rela 
 tion or Friend, none of us, or any of our Families will go 
 into any further Mourning Dress than a black Crape or 
 Ribbon on the Arm or Hat for Gentlemen, and a black 
 Ribbon and Necklace for Ladies, and we will discontinue 
 the giving of Gloves and Scarves at Funerals. 
 
? 
 
 Facsimile of Washington s Diary, 1773. 
 
C 5 ] 
 
 have any commercial connexion, with fuch 
 merchant. 
 
 Sixth. THAT fuch as are owners of veflels 
 will give pofitive orders <o their captains, or 
 mafters, not to receive on board their veflels 
 any goods prohibited by thefaid non-importati 
 on agreement, on pain of immediate difmifiion 
 from their fervice. 
 
 Seventh. WE will ufc our utmoft endeavours 
 to improve the breed of {heep and incieafe their 
 number to the greatefl extent, and to that end, 
 we will kill them as fparingly as may be, efpe- 
 cially thofeof the moft profitable kind-, nor will 
 we export any to the Weft- Indies or elfewhere; 
 and thofe of us who arc or may become over* 
 (locked with, or can conveniently fpare any 
 (heep, will difpofc ot them to our neighbours, 
 efpecially to the poorer fort, on moderate terms. 
 
 Eighth. THAT we will in our feveral (la- 
 tions encourage frugality, ceconomy, and in* 
 duftry ; and promote agriculture, arts, and the 
 manufactures of this country, efpecially that of 
 wool; and will difcountenancc and difcourage, 
 every fpecies of extravagance and difllpation, 
 efpecially all Jiorfe racing, and all kinds of 
 gaming, cock fighting, exhibitions of (hews, 
 plays, and other expenfive diverfions and en 
 tertainments. And on the death of any rela 
 tion or friend, none of us, or any of our fami 
 lies will go into any further mourning drefs, 
 than a black crape or ribbon on the arm or hat 
 
 for 
 
 One page of the Association of the First Congress, 1774. 
 
X^-^2 
 
 A*/# 
 
 ^rwf^ lct/LJtvn& 
 
 Facsimile of Washington s signature to the Association of the First Congress. 
 
3a$)ington anfc CJje Cjjeatre. 25 
 
 Of this Congress Washington was a member, and he 
 signed the " association " of which the above para 
 graph is a part. It was sufficient to put an end to all 
 play- giving in the Colonies ; but even if it had not been, 
 his military appointment to the command of the Con 
 tinental Army would have prevented the general from 
 further enjoying them. 
 
 If the outbreak of the Revolution ended for a time 
 Washington s seeing of plays, it produced a new phase, 
 by putting him into them not, as he once wished, as 
 a performer, but as a character. Thus, Thomas Lay- 
 cock s play entitled " The Fall of British Tyranny " 
 and an anonymous farce styled " The Battle of Brook 
 lyn," both issued in 17 76, introduce the commander-in- 
 chief in the caste; the one, a Whig production, presents 
 him as a hero, while the second, of Tory origin, gives 
 the obverse, though it is an interesting fact that he is 
 drawn even in this as the one honest and high-princi 
 pled man of a band of rogues. No other plays issued 
 during the war introduce him, but in 1784 Peter 
 Markoe s tragedy of " The Patriot Chief " was based 
 on his Revolutionary services, and in 1791 another 
 tragedy, entitled " Vashington," was issued in Paris, 
 the author being a M. de Sauvigny. From that time 
 he has been several times a dramatis persona. 
 
 Although the First Congresshad disapproved of plays, 
 and Washington had signed the interdiction, the dreari 
 ness of the winter at Valley Forge led to his not persist 
 ing in his disapproval ; and that he himself witnessed 
 at least one play is told in a letter from Colonel William 
 Bradford to his sister, that deserves full quotation : 
 
26 MDaf)ingt0n anb Clje STljeatre, 
 
 May I4th. 1778 
 MY DEAR RACHEL 
 
 I find by a Letter from my father that you are on a 
 visit at Trenton. I should be happy could you extend your 
 Jaunt as far as full View. The Camp could now afford 
 you some entertainment. The manceuvering of the Army 
 is in itself a sight that would charm you. Besides these, 
 the Theatre is opened Last Monday Cato was performed 
 before a very numerous & splendid audience. His Excel 
 lency & Lady, Lord Sterling, the Countess & Lady Kitty, & 
 Mrs. Green were part of the Assembly. The Scenery was 
 in Taste & the performance admirable. Col. George 
 did his part to admiration he made an excellent die (as 
 they say) Pray heaven, he dont die in earnest for 
 yesterday he was seized with the pleurisy & lies extremely 
 ill If the Enemy does not retire from Philada soon, our 
 Theatrical amusement will continue The fair Penitent 
 with the Padlock will soon be acted. The " recruiting 
 Officer " is also on foot 
 
 I hope however we shall be disappointed in all these by 
 the more agreeable Entertainment of taking possession of 
 Philada There are strong rumors that the English are 
 meditating a retreat Heaven send it for I fear we 
 shall not be able to force them to go these two months. 
 
 I scrawl these few lines to accompany a letter which I 
 send to my Father Love to sister Betsy & all Friends 
 
 Adieu ma chere soeur, je suis votre 
 
 W. B. 
 
 These plays, and others announced to be given in 
 Philadelphia soon after its reoccupation by the Whigs, 
 once more stirred the Continental Congress into a cru 
 sade against the theatre, and the " Journal " states 
 that on October 12 
 
JDa$jingtott anb f)e Ctjcatre. 27 
 
 A motion was made that Congress pass the following 
 resolutions : 
 
 Whereas true religion and good morals are the only 
 solid foundations of public liberty and happiness : 
 
 Resolved, That it be and it is hereby earnestly recom 
 mended to the several states to take the most effectual 
 measures for the encouragement thereof, and for the sup 
 pressing theatrical entertainments, horse-racing, gaming, 
 and such other diversions as are productive of idleness, dis 
 sipation, and a general depravity of principles and manners. 
 
 This motion was carried by vote of all the States 
 except Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, two 
 of those being in the negative, and Virginia divided. 
 The resolution apparently not having the desired 
 effect, Congress passed, on October 16, a more drastic 
 one: 
 
 A motion being made in the words following : 
 Whereas frequenting playhouses and theatrical enter 
 tainments has a fatal tendency to divert the minds of the 
 people from a due attention to the means necessary for 
 the defence of their country and the preservation of their 
 liberties : 
 
 Resolved, That any person holding an office under the 
 United States, who shall act, promote, encourage or at 
 tend such plays, shall be deemed unworthy to hold such 
 office, and shall be accordingly dismissed. 1 
 
 1 The French minister, Ge rard, wrote to his government concern 
 ing these resolutions : 
 
 "The Philadelphia papers contain two resolutions passed by 
 Congress. . . . The second is a renewal of the request made by 
 certain States to interdict dances, spectacles, and races. The very 
 day this resolution appeared a public (theatrical) performance, given 
 
28 iBa^ington anfc f)c Cljeatre* 
 
 This, too, was agreed to, only New York, Mary 
 land, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia voting 
 against it. And on the same day the President of Con 
 gress Laurens inclosed to*the commander-in-chief 
 " an act of this date in a printed paper forbidding 
 every Person holding an office under the United States 
 to encourage or attend at Theatrical Entertainments." 
 That this crusade did not produce the suppression 
 of all plays is certain ; but it seems to have put an 
 end to Washington s being present at them. 
 
 After the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, the com 
 mander-in-chief spent some weeks in Philadelphia, 
 that he might consult with Congress concerning the 
 future operations of the army. During this visit Lu- 
 zerne gave an entertainment in his honor, which the 
 " Freeman s Journal " of December 19, 1781, described 
 as follows: " On Tuesday evening of the nth inst. 
 his excellency the minister of France, who embraces 
 every opportunity to manifest his respect to the wor 
 thies of America, and politeness to its inhabitants, en 
 tertained his excellency general Washington, and his 
 
 by army officers and Whig citizens, was to take place. The follow 
 ing day the Governor of Philadelphia gave a ball, numerously at 
 tended. Congress, finding that its simple recommendation was not 
 regarded a law, prepared a resolution on the i6th to enforce it, 
 which rendered incapable of employment every officer who should 
 take part in or attend any spectacle. On the other hand, Maryland, 
 Virginia, and Carolina regard horse-racing as a national affair. It 
 is the northern members, called the Presbyterian party, that delight 
 in passing moral laws so as to keep their credit and rigor in full ex 
 ercise. Such contests interfere with important business. It is plain 
 to me that the delays which have occurred since I came originate 
 in these." 
 
anb 
 
 29 
 
 lady, the lady of general Greene, and a very polite 
 circle of the gentlemen and ladies, with an elegant 
 Concert, in which an Oratorio, composed & set to 
 music by a gentleman whose taste in the polite arts is 
 well known, was introduced, and afforded the most 
 sensible pleasure." A second pleasure was given to 
 Washington during this Philadelphia visit, reported in 
 the issue of January 9, 1782, of the same paper : " On 
 Wednesday evening the 26. instant, Alexander Ques- 
 nay, esq. exhibited a most elegant entertainment at 
 the playhouse, where were present his excellency gen 
 eral Washington, the Minister of France, the president 
 of the State, a number of the officers of the army and 
 a brilliant assemblage of ladies and gentlemen of the 
 city, who were invited." The entertainment was held 
 at the South wark Theatre, corner of South and Apollo 
 (now Charles) streets, between Fourth and Fifth 
 streets. " After a prologue suitable to the occasion, 
 EUGENIE an elegant French comedy was first pre 
 sented (written by the celebrated M. Beaumarchais) 
 and in the opinion of several good judges was ex 
 tremely well acted by the young gentlemen, students 
 in that polite language. After the comedy was acted 
 the LYING VALET a farce, to this succeeded several 
 curious dances, followed by a brilliant illumination, 
 consisting of thirteen pyramidal pillars, representing 
 the thirteen States on the middle column was seen 
 a Cupid, supporting a laurel crown over the motto 
 WASHINGTON the pride of his country and ter 
 ror of Britain. On the summit was the word Vir 
 ginia on the right Connecticut, with the names 
 7 
 
GREENE and LA FAYETTE on the left the 
 word Pennsylvania with the names WAYNE and 
 STUBEN ; and so on according to the birth place and 
 state proper to each general. The spectacle ended 
 with an artificial illumination of the thirteen columns." 
 Alexander Quesnay de Glouvay, who had the direction 
 of this "most elegant entertainment," was a French 
 teacher. 
 
 In July, 1782, Washington was again in Phila 
 delphia, and while there he attended a second enter 
 tainment given by Luzerne. Of this the " Pennsylvania 
 Packet " for July 18, 1782, said : " Last Monday His 
 Excellency the minister of France celebrated the birth 
 of Monsigneur the Dauphin. In the evening there 
 was a concert of musick in a room erected for that 
 purpose. The concert finished at nine o clock, when 
 the fireworks began, and at the same time began a 
 very brilliant ball: this was followed by a supper. 
 The presence of His Excellency General Washington 
 and Count Rochambeau rendered the entertainment 
 as compleat as could possibly be wished." 
 
 The resolutions of the Continental Congress, as well 
 as various laws passed by the States, had served to 
 suppress all professional acting in the United States 
 during the Revolution. With the arrival of peace, 
 however, Hallam returned to America, and early in 
 1784 petitioned the Assembly of Pennsylvania to re 
 peal their law forbidding plays. Failing to accom 
 plish this, he began to give performances in Phila 
 delphia, veiling their true nature by advertising them 
 as lectures. While he was thus evading the law, 
 
31 
 
 Washington came to the city to attend the meeting 
 of the Society of the Cincinnati, and on May 22 he 
 purchased four " Play Tickets " at a cost of 30/5 thus 
 indicating that he thought the law not one that should 
 receive the support of good citizens. Having occa 
 sion later in the year to go to Richmond, he spent in 
 that city (November 20) ^3. i6s. for four play tickets; 
 and on November 29, at Annapolis, he bought another 
 four, at a cost of i. IDS. Both of these performances 
 were probably given by Hallam. 
 
 In the seclusion of Mount Vernon which followed 
 Washington s retirement from the public service, there 
 was no play-going; and not till he journeyed to Phila 
 delphia in 1787, to attend the Federal Convention, 
 did he have the opportunity to hear anything dramatic 
 or musical. His journal of that stay carefully notes 
 on each day his various occupations and enjoyments. 
 Following these entries are the advertisements of the 
 performances heard: 
 
 Tuesday, May 29. "Attended Convention, and 
 dined at home, after wch accompanied Mrs. Morris to 
 the benefit concert of a Mr. Julian." 
 
 Tuesday, June 12. " Dined at Mr. Morris s and 
 drunk Tea there. Went afterwards to the concert at 
 the City Tavern." 
 
 MR. REINAGLE S 
 CONCERT 
 
 Will be performed at the City-Tavern, This Evening, 
 the 1 2th Instant. 
 
32 ItDnaijtngtcm aiiD l)e 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 Overture, Bach 
 
 Concerta Violoncello, Capron 
 
 Song, Sarti 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 Overture, Andre 
 
 Concerto Violin, Fiorella 
 
 Concerto Flute, Brown 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 Overture (La Buono Figluola) Picicini 
 
 Sonata Piano Forte, Reinagle 
 A new Overture (in which is introduced 
 
 a Scots Strathspey) Reinagle 
 
 The Concert will begin exactly at a quarter before 
 8 o clock. 
 
 Tickets, at 75. 6 each, to be had at the City-Tavern, 
 and of Mr. Reinagle, in Carter s alley. 1 
 
 Tuesday, July 10. " Dined and drank Tea at Mr. 
 Morris s, drank Tea at Mr. Binghams, and went to the 
 
 play." 
 
 SPECTACULUM VIT^E. 
 At the Opera House in Southwark 
 This Evening, the 10 July, 
 Will be performed 
 
 A Concert, 
 
 In the First Part of which will be introduced an Enter 
 tainment called the 
 
 DETECTION : 
 or, the Servants Hall in an Uproar. 
 
 i "Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser," Tuesday, June 
 12, 1787. 
 
aitfc f)e l)catre, 33 
 
 To which is added A Comic Opera, 
 
 in two Acts called 
 
 Love in a Camp, 
 
 or Patrick in Prussia, &c. &c. 
 
 Saturday, July 14. " In Convention. Dined at 
 Springsbury with the Club and went to the play in 
 the afternoon." 
 
 SPECTACULUM 
 At the Opera-House in Southwark, 
 This Evening, the I4th July, 
 Will be Performed 
 
 A Concert, 
 In which will be introduced 
 
 An 
 
 Opera, 
 
 Called The 
 Tempest, 
 Or, The 
 
 Inchanted Island : 
 (Altered from Shakespear by Dryden) 
 
 To Conclude with A Grand 
 Masque 
 
 of 
 Neptune and Amphitrite; 
 
 With entire New 
 
 Scenery, Machinery, &c. &c. 
 
 The Music composed by Doctor Purcel. 
 
 %* The Managers respectfully inform the Public, 
 
 that on account of the Variety of Preparations in Sce 
 
 nery, Music, Dresses, &c. necessary for this Opera, 
 
 there can be no Entertainment this Evening. 
 
34 Ja$)higton anb {)e Cljeatre, 
 
 At the Desire of several Ladies and Gentlemen, 
 The doors in future will be opened at Seven o clock, 
 
 and the Curtain drawn up precisely at Eight 
 Tickets to be purchased at* Mr. Bradford s Book 
 store, in Front-street, and places for the Boxes to be 
 taken of Mr. Ryan, at Mr. North s, next door to the 
 
 Opera House, from Ten till One o clock. 
 Ladies and gentlemen are requested to send their 
 
 servants in time to keep their boxes. 
 Box 75. 6d. Pit 55. Gallery 35. gd. 1 
 
 Saturday? July 21. "In Convention. Dined at 
 Springsbury with the Club of Gent n & Ladies. Went 
 to the play afterwards." 
 
 SPECTACULUM VIT^E. 
 
 At the Opera-House in Southwark, 
 
 This Evening, the 2ist July, 
 
 Will be Performed 
 
 A Concert : 
 
 Between the Parts of the Concert will be recited A 
 
 Moral Poem, 
 
 Called the 
 
 Crusade, 
 
 Or, The 
 
 Generous Sultan. 
 
 By Mr. James Thomson, Author of the Seasons. 
 
 With the Original 
 
 Epilogue 
 
 To 
 Edward and Eleonora. 2 
 
 1 " Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser," Saturday, July 
 14, 1787. 
 
 ^ " Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser," Saturday, July 
 21, 1787. 
 
anb fje l)catte* 35 
 
 The plays thus witnessed were given by Hallam s 
 company, which had come from New York to play 
 during the session of the Convention. Apparently 
 Washington was a guest at two of these performances, 
 as his ledger only mentions one disbursement, " July 
 9. By a Play Ticket 7/6." 
 
 Elected President of the United States, Washington 
 came to New York in April, 1789, to be inaugurated 
 an event the John Street Theatre signalized by illu 
 minated transparencies, "one of which represented 
 Fame as an angel descending from Heaven to crown 
 Washington with the emblems of immortality." De 
 spite the inevitable press of business on the newly elected 
 official, due to the organization of the government, 
 there was little delay on his part in his attendance at 
 a play, only ten days having elapsed between the 
 taking of his oath and the event announced in the 
 " Gazette of the United States " as follows : 
 
 THEATRE. 
 
 On Monday evening, THE PRESIDENT of the United 
 States, His Excellency the Vice-President, His Excellency 
 the Governor, His Excellency the Count De Moustier, and 
 several other foreigners and natives of distinction, hon 
 ored the Theatre with their presence. There was a most 
 crouded house, and the ladies who were numerous made 
 a most brilliant appearance. The judicious choice of per 
 formances for the evening, and the proper assignment of 
 the parts to suitable characters, rendered the exhibition in 
 a high degree entertaining. 1 
 
 1 May 15, 1789. 
 
36 M5a$)ington anfc 
 
 From the journal of Senator William Maclay what 
 plays were seen, and other facts, are discoverable: 
 "May nth. I received a ticket from the President 
 of the United States to use his box this evening at the 
 theatre, being the first of his appearance at the play 
 house since his entering on his office. Went. The 
 President, Governor of the State, foreign Ministers, 
 Senators from New Hampshire, Connecticut, Pennsyl 
 vania, M[aryland]., and South Carolina; and some 
 ladies in the same box. I am old, and notices or at 
 tentions are lost on me. I could have wished some 
 of my dear children in my place ; they are young and 
 would have enjoyed it. Long might they live to 
 boast of having been seated in the same box with the 
 first Character in the world. The play was the * School 
 for Scandal. I never liked it ; indeed, I think it an 
 indecent representation before ladies of character and 
 virtue. Farce, the * Old Soldier. The house greatly 
 crowded, and I thought the players acted well; but I 
 wish we had seen the Conscious Lovers, or some 
 one that inculcated more prudential manners." 
 
 The "Gazette of the United States" shows that 
 once again the President witnessed a play in the spring 
 season, the notice of the performance of June 5 read 
 ing: 
 
 THEATRE JOHN STREET. 
 
 Last Evening was presented that excellent Comedy the 
 CLANDESTINE MARRIAGE. 
 
 THE PRESIDENT of the United States and his Lady 
 the Most Honorable ROBERT MORRIS and Lady 
 the Gentlemen of the President s Suite Honorable Gen 
 eral KNOX and Lady Baron STEUBEN and many 
 
/,,tt < >X s i/ ft /ft/tit / 
 
anfc lje l)eatrc, 37 
 
 other respectable and distinguished characters, honored 
 the THEATRE by their presence. 
 
 The reiterated plaudits bestowed on the various parts 
 of the performance, designated the merit of the actors 
 and it is but just to say, that, animated by the counte 
 nance of such illustrious auditors, the characters were 
 supported with great spirit and propriety. Mrs. HENRY 
 and Mrs. MORRIS, played with their usual naivete and 
 with uncommon animation. 1 
 
 First sickness and then a journey through New 
 England interrupted further play-going for a time; 
 but the President s ledger shows that if he did not at 
 tend himself, he sent a niece, for a charge on Novem 
 ber 3 is : " By a play ticket for Miss Harriet Washing 
 ton 3/." Very promptly on his return to the city he 
 resumed his visits to the theatre, his first one being on 
 November 24, 1789. Of this he wrote in his diary: 
 " Went to the play in the evening sent tickets to the 
 following ladies and gentlemen and invited them to 
 seats in my box, viz : Mrs. Adams, (lady of the Vice- 
 President,) Genl. Schuyler and lady, Mr. King and lady, 
 Majr. Butler and lacly, Colo. Hamilton and lady, Mrs. 
 Green all of whom accepted and came, except Mrs. 
 Butler, who was indisposed." The advertisement of 
 the performance read : 
 
 Mr. WlGNELL S Night. 
 
 THEATRE. 
 
 By the Old American Company, 
 
 THIS EVENING, the 24th instant, 
 
 will be presented, a COMEDY, never acted in 
 
 America, called, 
 8 l June 6, 1789. 
 
3 s 3&a$f>tngton anb ty Cljeatre, 
 
 The TOY ; or, 
 
 A Trip to Hampton Court. 
 
 As now performing with appjause at the Theatre 
 
 Royal, Covent Garden. 
 
 To which will be added, a COMEDY, in two acts, 
 by the Author of the School for Scandal, called, 
 
 The Critic ; or, a Tragedy Rehearsed. 
 With a Grand SEA ENGAGEMENT, and an At 
 tack upon Tilbury Fort, by the Spanish Armada, 
 with the total Defeat of the Fleet, by Fire-Ships, 
 Cannon and Bombs, from the Fort. 
 
 The Whole to conclude with a COMIC SKETCH, 
 interspersed with Music, called, 
 
 DARBY S RETURN. 
 
 With an Account of the Countries which he has 
 travelled through, particularly America. 
 
 The Parts by Mr. Wignell, Mr. Biddle, Mr. Woolls, 
 and Mrs. Morris. 
 
 The Public are respectfully acquainted, that on 
 this particular Occasion the Curtain will be drawn 
 up at Six o Clock precisely. 1 
 
 The " Gazette of the United States " 2 printed a para 
 graph on this performance which is also worth quoting : 
 
 THE A TRE JOHN STREET. 
 
 The Entertainment at the THEATRE, on Tuesday 
 evening last, appeared, by the repeated plaudits, to give 
 
 1 " Daily Advertiser," November 24, 1789. 
 
 2 November 28, 1789. 
 
anfc 
 
 39 
 
 the fullest satisfaction to a very crouded house: The selec 
 tions for the Evening were made with judgment and 
 animated by the presence of the illustrious personages, 
 who honored the exhibition, the Players exerted their best 
 abilities. The Pieces performed were the TOY The 
 CRITIC, and a new Comic Sketch, entitled DARBY S 
 RETURN. The latter piece is the production of the 
 same ingenious hand, who hath already contributed so 
 much to the entertainment of the public by " The Father, 
 or American Shandy ism " DARBY S RETURN" is re 
 plete with the happiest illusions to interesting events, and 
 very delicately turned compliments. On the appearance 
 of THE PRESIDENT, the audience rose, and received him 
 with the warmest acclamations the genuine effusions 
 of the hearts of FREEMEN. 
 
 William Dunlap, the author of " Darby s Return," 
 thus mentioned, tells an amusing anecdote concern 
 ing the President and this "first night" of Darby 
 that is well worth repeating : 
 
 When Wignell, as Darby, recounts what had befallen 
 him in America, in New York, at the adoption of the 
 Federal Constitution, and the inauguration of the presi 
 dent, the interest expressed by the audience in the looks 
 and the changes of countenance of this great man became 
 intense. He smiled at these lines, alluding to the change 
 in the government 
 
 "There too I saw some mighty pretty shows; 
 A revolution, without blood or blows, 
 For, as I understood, the cunning elves, 
 The people all revolted from themselves." 
 
40 JaJ)ington anb 
 
 But at the lines 
 
 " A man who fought to free the land from wo, 
 Like me, had left his farm,.a-soldiering to go : 
 But having gain d his point, he had like me, 
 Return d his own potato ground to see. 
 But there he could not rest. With one accord 
 He s called to be a kind of not a lord 
 I don t know what, he s not a great man, sure, 
 For poor men love him just as he were poor. 
 They love like a father or a brother, 
 
 DERMOT. 
 As we poor Irishmen love one another." 
 
 The president looked serious ; and when Kathleen asked, 
 " How looked he, Darby ? Was he short or tall ? " 
 
 his countenance showed embarrassment, from the expec 
 tation of one of those eulogiums which he had been 
 obliged to hear on many public occasions, and which 
 must doubtless have been a severe trial to his feelings: 
 but Darby s answer that he had not seen him, because he 
 had mistaken a man " all lace and glitter, botherum and 
 shine," for him, until all the show had passed, relieved 
 the hero from apprehension of further personality, and he 
 indulged in that which was with him extremely rare, a 
 hearty laugh. 1 
 
 The papers advertised another " benefit " night for 
 November 30, as follows : 
 
 Mr. HENRY S Night. 
 Being positively the last but one of performing this season. 
 
 iDunlap s "History of the American Theatre," I, 160. The 
 whole piece is reproduced in the Appendix. 
 
anti 
 
 41 
 
 THEATRE. 
 
 By the Old American Company, 
 This Evening, the 3oth inst. will be presented, 
 
 (By particular Desire) 
 An Opera, or, Dramatic Romance, called, 
 
 CYMON and SYLVIA, 
 
 Or, Love and Magic. 
 
 With a Grand Procession of knights of the different orders 
 
 of chivalry, shepherds and shepherdesses of 
 
 Arcadia, Cymon and Sylvia in a 
 
 Triumphal Car, &c. &c. 
 In Act 5th, will be introduced the original scene of the 
 
 SINKING of the BLACK TOWER. 
 End of the 4th Act, Hippesly s Drunken Man, 
 
 By Mr. Henry, 
 End of the Play, (by particular desire,) the second time, 
 
 A MONODY, 
 Or, Eulogium on the American Chiefs who fell in the 
 
 Cause of Freedom. 
 
 To make mankind in conscious virtue bold, 
 Live o er each scene, and be what they behold. Pope. 
 
 The Recitation and vocal parts, (as the Genius of Columbia) 
 
 By Mrs. Henry. 
 
 To which will be added, a Comedy, in two Acts, the latest 
 
 production of the Author of the Poor Soldier, and 
 
 Twenty five other pieces, as performing at 
 
 the Hay Market London, with un 
 
 common applause, called, 
 
 The PRISONER at LARGE, 
 Or, The Humours of Killarney. 
 
42 fagf)in0ton anb 
 
 Mr. Henry respectfully, informs the public, that his 
 late benefit having amounted but to a trifle, over the ex- 
 pences, he has relinquished it, by the advice of his Friends, 
 and requests their patronage on*this occasion. 
 
 The Doors will be opened at half after Five, and the 
 Curtain drawn up precisely at half after Six o clock. 1 
 
 Of this performance Washington wrote : " Went to 
 the Play in the evening, and presented tickets to the 
 following persons, viz : Doctr. Johnson and lady, Mr. 
 Dalton and lady, the Chief Justice of the United 
 States and lady, Secretary of War and lady, Baron de 
 Steuben and Mrs. Green." According to the " Ga 
 zette," 2 "The THEATRE was unusually crouded on 
 Monday Evening The Campaign bids fair to close 
 very much to the satisfaction of the Old American 
 Company Recent exertions have in a peculiar man 
 ner contributed to their success. Sat verbam, &c." 
 Interesting relics of this particular " theatre party " are 
 Washington s invitation to Chief Justice Jay and the 
 latter s reply : 
 
 The President of the United States presents his best 
 compliments to the Chief Justice of the United States and 
 his lady, and encloses them tickets for the theatre this 
 evening. 
 
 As this is the last night the President proposes visiting 
 the theatre for the season, he cannot deny himself the 
 gratification of requesting the company of the Chief Jus 
 tice and his Lady ; altho he begs at the same time that 
 they will consider this invitation in such a point of view as 
 
 1 " Daily Advertiser," November 30, 1789. 
 2 December 2, 1789. 
 
anfc 
 
 43 
 
 not to feel themselves embarrassed, in the smallest de 
 gree, upon the occasion, if they have any reluctance to 
 visiting the theatre ; for the President presents the tickets 
 as to his friends who will act as most agreeable to their 
 feelings, knowing thereby that they will meet the wishes 
 of the person who invites them. 
 Monday, November 3oth, 1789. 
 
 The Chief Justice of the United States and Mrs. Jay 
 esteem themselves honoured and obliged by the Presi 
 dent s invitation, which they accept with pleasure, and by 
 his delicate attention to their embarrassment, which he 
 had reason to think probable, but which ceased with all 
 questions between government and the theatre. 
 
 3oth November, 1789. 
 
 This performance was not merely the last night of 
 the season, but was also the last play seen by Washing 
 ton in New York ; before the theatre was reopened, 
 the seat of government had been removed to Philadel 
 phia, and after its departure Washington never again 
 visited the city. George Washington Parke Custis, 
 the grandson of Mrs. Washington, in his " Recollec 
 tions," ! writes of this period : " In New York, the play 
 bill was headed, ; By particular desire/ when it was 
 announced that the president would attend. On those 
 nights the house would be crowded from top to bot 
 tom, as many to see the hero as the play. Upon the 
 president s entering the stage-box with his family, the 
 orchestra would strike up The President s March 
 (now Hail Columbia ), composed by a German 
 named Feyles, in 89, in contradistinction to the march 
 i P. 368. 
 
44 IDastiington anti Ci)e Cfiratrc. 
 
 of the Revolution, called Washington s March. 
 The audience applauded on the entrance of the presi 
 dent, but the pit and gallery w.ere so truly despotic in 
 the early days of the republic, that so soon as Hail 
 Columbia had ceased, Washington s March was 
 called for by the deafening din of an hundred voices 
 at once, and upon its being played, three hearty cheers 
 would rock the building to its base." 
 
 One further dramatic incident that occurred in New 
 York, probably during the winter of 1790, when the 
 theatre was not open, and which should not be omitted, 
 is told of by William A. Duer. " I was not only fre 
 quently admitted," he writes, " to the presence of this 
 most august of men, in propria persona, but once had 
 the honor of appearing before him as one of the drama 
 tis personae in the tragedy of Julius Caesar, enacted 
 by a young American Company (the theatrical corps 
 then performing in New York being called the Old 
 American Company ), in the garret of the Presidential 
 mansion, where before the magnates of the land and the 
 elite of the city, I performed the part of Brutus to the 
 Cassius of my old school-fellow, Washington Custis." 
 
 Yet one more link between Washington and the 
 drama at this time is his subscription to the publica 
 tion of Royal Tyler s play of "The Contrast," his 
 name heading the list. Wignell s note to the Presi 
 dent, sending him copies of the book, is still pre 
 served, and reads : " Mr. Wignell, with the utmost 
 respect and deference, has the Honor of transmitting 
 to the President of the United States two copies of 
 the Contrast. Philadelphia, May 22nd 1790." 
 
V 
 
 -1 
 
 1 
 
 
 v 
 
 a 
 
 > 
 
 !^ 
 
 N 
 
 
 
LIST 
 
 o P 
 
 SUBSCRIBERS, 
 
 HE PreGdent of the United States. 
 
 Roger Alden, Efq. New-York, 2 copies. 
 Samuel Anderfon, Efq. 
 Mr. Henry Anderfon. 
 Mr. George Arnold. 
 
 Mr. W. Alexander, Philadelphia. 
 Mr. Jofeph Anthony. 
 Mr. Thomas P. Anthony. 
 
 Alexander Aikman, Efq. Ifland of Jamaica, 20 copies* 
 
 B 
 
 J. Barrell, Efq. Bofton. 
 
 Dr. Richard Bayley, New- York. 
 William Banyer, Efq. 
 Mr. George N. Bleecker. 
 George Bond, Efq. 
 
 Washington s subscription to WignelFs edition of 
 
 Royal Tyler s "Contrast." 
 From copy in possession of Mr. S. P. Avery. 
 9 
 
ant) Clje Cfjcatre. 45 
 
 With the transfer of the government to Philadel 
 phia, the Old American Company began a season in 
 that city. " This was probably agreeable to President 
 Washington, who was fond of the theatre and fre 
 quently occupied the east stage-box, which was fitted 
 up expressly for his reception. Over the front of the 
 box was the United States coat- of- arms and the in 
 terior was gracefully festooned with red drapery. The 
 front of the box and the seats were cushioned. Ac 
 cording to John Durang, Washington s reception at 
 the theatre was always exceeding formal and ceremo 
 nious. A soldier was generally posted at each stage- 
 door ; four soldiers were placed in the gallery ; a mili 
 tary guard attended. Mr. Wignell, in a full dress of 
 black, with his hair elaborately powdered in the fashion 
 of the time and holding two wax candles in silver 
 candlesticks, was accustomed to receive the President 
 at the box-door and conduct Washington and his 
 party to their seats. Even the newspapers began to 
 take notice of the President s contemplated visits to 
 the theatre." As an example, the " Pennsylvania 
 Journal" of January 5, 1791, announced: "We hear 
 that the President of the United States will honour 
 the Theatre with his presence, this evening," and ad 
 vertised that : 
 
 At the Theatre in Southwark 
 
 This Evening January 5 A Comedy called 
 
 THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL 
 
 Dancing by Mr. Durang 
 
 To which is added, a Comedy in two Acts, called 
 The Poor Soldier. 
 
4 6 Ial)ingt0n anb 
 
 Only three days later, so the diary of Jacob Hiltz- 
 heimer states : "At 1 1 o clock the members of Con 
 gress and the Assembly attended a concert of the 
 Lutheran Church on Fourth Street. The President 
 of the United States with his lady were present." 1 
 
 During the season of 1792, on June 5, Dunlap s 
 " American Daily Advertiser " informed its readers 
 that : " We have authority to inform the Public, that 
 the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES intends 
 to honor the Theatre with his Presence this Evening." 
 In the same paper the performance was advertised : 
 
 For the Benefit of Mons. Placide. 
 
 BY AUTHORITY. 
 By the Old American Company, At the Theatre in 
 
 Southwark. 
 This Evening, June 5, Will be presented a COMEDY, 
 
 Called - 
 
 The Beaux Stratagem. 
 
 End of the Play, DANCING on the TIGHT ROPE, 
 By Monsieur Placide and the Little Devil. 
 
 Some months later Washington attended what the 
 " Pennsylvania Journal " advertised as : 
 
 By Authority, 
 
 By the Old American Company, 
 At the Theatre in South-wark, 
 This Evening, November 14, 
 Will be presented (by particular desire) A Comic Opera 
 
 called, The 
 Maid of the Mill. 
 
 1 P. 166. 
 
47 
 
 To which will be added, A Musical Farce, called, The 
 
 Romp 
 
 Or, A Cure for the Spleen. 
 
 Places in the Boxes may be had at the box office next door 
 to the Theatre, from ten to one every day, Sundays 
 
 excepted, 
 and on days of performance from three to five, 
 
 P. M. where 
 
 also Tickets may be had, and at Mr. Bradford s book-store. 
 
 The proprietors respectfully request that their friends and 
 
 patrons will supply themselves with Tickets, as the 
 
 door-keepers 
 
 are in the most particular manner prohibited from receiving 
 
 money Boxes seven shillings and six pence; Pitt five 
 
 shillings ; Gallery, three shillings and nine pence. 1 
 
 The " Federal Gazette" of the lyth, in its article on 
 the plays given, declared that " When Mr. Hodgkin- 
 son as Lord Aimworth exhibited nobleness of mind in 
 his generosity to the humble miller and his daughter, 
 Patty; when he found her blessed with all the quali 
 ties that captivate and endear life, and knew that she 
 was capable of adorning a higher sphere; when he 
 had interviews with her upon the subject in which 
 was painted the amiableness of an honorable passion ; 
 and after his connection, when he bestowed his bene 
 factions on the relatives, etc., of the old miller, the 
 great and good Washington manifested his approba 
 tion of this interesting part of the opera by the tribute 
 of a tear. Nor was his approbation withheld in the 
 afterpiece when Mrs. Hodgkinson as Priscilla Tomboy, 
 
 1" Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser," Wednesday, 
 November 14, 1792. 
 
anb 
 
 and Mr. Prigmore as Young Cockney, played truly up 
 to nature. The humorous scenes unfolded in this piece, 
 being acted to the life, received the approving smiles 
 of our President, whose plaudits they have studiously 
 endeavored and, we hope, will endeavor to merit." 
 During the season of 1793 there was an interruption 
 in theatrical performances in Philadelphia, due first to 
 the split of the Old American Company, and the conse 
 quent journey to England by Wignell to organize his 
 troop, and secondly to the outbreak of the fever, 
 which drove every one who could leave from the city. 
 During this interregnum a substitute to the theatre, 
 so far as Washington was concerned, was Ricketts 
 circus. On April 24, 1793, Hiltzheimer notes in his 
 diary that : " After dinner Mr. and Mrs. Barge and 
 my three daughters went to Rickett s circus. General 
 Washington and family were present." The same 
 writer again records that on July 13 he " went to see 
 Mr. Ricketts ride, and saw there the President and 
 his lady." 1 Concerning this especial performance the 
 " General Advertiser " states : 
 
 The benefit to the poor, last Saturday (July 13), by 
 Mr. Ricketts, produced 430 dollars, which is intended as 
 a beginning for establishing a Fund, to be placed in the 
 hands of the Corporation, for the purpose of laying in 
 Fire-Wood, to be distributed in the winter to such poor 
 families as may require it. The appearance of the Presi 
 dent of the United States, with his family, amongst his 
 fellow-citizens, always adds to the satisfaction we receive 
 from those innocent public amusements, and it was ren- 
 i Pp. 190, 192. 
 
3a$)hi0ton anti %$t Cljcatre* 49 
 
 dered particularly agreeable by a handsome compliment, 
 very genteely tho indirectly, paid by Mr. Ricketts, who 
 being obliged in the middle of the performance to drink a 
 glass of wine, was required by one of his people to give a 
 toast : He instantly drank off a bumper to the health of 
 The Man of the People. This operated like electricity, in 
 producing a general clap of applause, accompanied by a 
 huzza from every part of the Circus. 
 
 Of this incident Jefferson tells in his " Ana " a cu 
 rious, but wholly untrustworthy anecdote. " Lear 
 said he no longer ago than yesterday expressed to the 
 President his suspicions of the artifices of that party 
 [Federalist] to work on him. He mentd. the follow 
 ing fact as proof of their writing in the character of 
 their adversaries. To wit, the day after the little inci 
 dent of Richet s toasting < the man of the people (see 
 the gazettes) Mrs. Washington was at Mrs. Powel s, 
 who mentd. to her that when the toast was given 
 there was a good deal of disapprobation appeared in 
 the audience, & that many put on their hats and went 
 out : on inquiry he had not found the fact true, and 
 
 yet it was put into s paper, & written under the 
 
 character of a republican, tho he is satisfied it is alto 
 gether a slander of the monocrats. He mentd. this 
 to the Presidt." 1 
 
 In connection with this fondness for the circus, it 
 is pleasant to record a speech of Ricketts, as quoted 
 by Custis. He " used to say, I delight to see the 
 general ride, and make it a point to fall in with him 
 when I hear that he is abroad on horseback; his 
 
 iFord s " Writings of Jefferson," I, 245. 
 
50 Ja$)higton anb i)e Cfjeatre. 
 
 seat is so firm, his management so easy and graceful, 
 that I, who am a professor of horsemanship, would go 
 to him and learn to ride. " In this the circus-master 
 but echoed contemporary opinion, for Colonel Hum 
 phreys asserted that " all those who have seen Gen 
 eral Washington on horseback, at the head of his 
 army, will doubtless bear testimony with the author 
 that they never saw a more graceful or dignified per 
 son " ; and Jefferson said of him that he was " the best 
 horseman of his age, and the most graceful figure that 
 could be seen on horseback." 
 
 In March, 1794, Washington s ledger 1 once more 
 records the items of his theatrical expenditures, the 
 entries being made by his secretary. In connection 
 with each item, the advertisement of the performance, 
 from Bache s " General Advertiser," is added. 
 
 " 3d. Do Pd. by mr. Lewis for 8 Seats in the Theatre 
 by the Presidents order $8." 
 
 NEW THEATRE. 
 THIS DAY EVENING, March 5, 
 Will Be Presented a Tragedy (never per 
 formed here) called 
 THE CARMELITE. 
 Saint Valori, Mr. Fennell, 
 
 Lord Hilderbrand, Mr. Whitlock, 
 Lord De Courci, Mr. Green, 
 
 Montgomeri, Mr. Cleveland. 
 
 Gyfford, Mr. Harwood, 
 
 Fitz Allen, Mr. Francis, 
 
 Raymond, Mr. Warrell, 
 
 Matilda, Mrs. Whitlock. 
 
 1 In the possession of Mr. William F. Havemeyer, of New York. 
 
IO 
 
THE 
 
 BATTLE OF BROOKLYN, 
 
 A 
 
 FARCE 
 
 O F 
 TWO ACTS; 
 
 As IT WAS PERFORMED ON 
 
 LONG ISLAND, 
 
 On TUESDAY the 2;thDay of AUGUST, 1776, 
 By the REPRESENTATIVES of the TYRAWTJ of 
 
 AMERICA 
 
 ASSEMBLED AT PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 For as a Flea, that goes to bed, 
 Lies *iuitb bts tail ako-ve his Lead . 
 So m th n /c ngrel Stale of ours, 
 *Thc rabble are the fupreme f>cvjrs - y 
 Wbo*-ve kors*J us cm their Macks y io Jheiv us 
 A jadijb trick* at lafty And thfo-uj ui. 
 
 HuDIER A5. 
 
 N E W - Y O R K : 
 
 PRINTED for J. RIVINGTON, in the Year of the 
 KEBZLLION. 1776. 
 
anfc 3Ei)e 3Tfjeatre, 51 
 
 After the Play a Scots Pastoral Dance, 
 called 
 
 The CALEDONIAN FROLIC. 
 
 To which will be added, a Farce, in two 
 acts, called 
 
 THE SPOILED CHILD. 
 
 Little Pickle, Mrs. Marshall, 
 
 Old Pickle, Mr. Finch, 
 
 Tag, Mr. Francis, 
 
 John, Mr. Blisset, 
 
 Thomas, Mr. Darley, jun. 
 
 Miss Pickle, Mrs. Shaw, 
 
 Maria, Mrs. Cleveland, 
 
 Margery, Mrs. Bates, 
 
 Susan, Miss Willems. 
 
 fi3T Ladies and Gentlemen are requested to send their 
 servants to the Box-Office, the day after the performance, 
 for any thing which they may leave in the boxes. Several 
 things are now deposited there, which will be delivered 
 by Mr. Franklin, on application. 
 
 * # * As inconveniences to the public have arisen from the 
 Box book being opened on the days of performance only, 
 in future attendance will be given at the office in the 
 theatre every day from ten till one, and on the days of 
 performance from ten till three o clock in the afternoon. 
 Applications for Boxes it is respectfully requested may be 
 addressed to Mr. Franklin, at the Box-Office. 
 
 Tickets to be had at the office near the Theatre, at the 
 corner of Sixth street & at Carr & Co s Musical Reposi 
 tory, No. 122, Market-street. 
 
 BOXES, one dollar; PITT, three quarters of a dollar; 
 GALLERY, half a dollar. 
 
52 ia$)ington anb 
 
 The doors will be opened at five, and the performance 
 to begin at 6 o clock precisely. 
 
 No places can be let in the side boxes for a less number 
 than eight, nor any places retained after the first act. 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen are requested to send their ser 
 vants to keep places, at half an hour past 4 o clock, and 
 direct them to withdraw, as soon as the company are 
 seated, as they cannot on any account be permitted to re 
 main in the Boxes. 
 
 N. B. No money or tickets to be returned, nor any per 
 son admitted on any account whatsoever behind the scenes. 
 
 The managers request, to prevent confusion, servants may 
 be ordered to set down and take up with the horses heads 
 towards the Schuylkill, and drive off by Seventh street. 
 
 " i ith. Do. pd. for 8 seats in the New Theatre by 
 the President s order. $8. " 
 
 NEW THEATRE. 
 
 TO-MORROW EVENING, March 12, 
 
 Will Be Presented a Tragedy, 
 
 called 
 
 DOUGLAS. 
 
 To which will be added a Comic Opera in two 
 
 acts (by the author of the Poor Soldier) 
 
 called 
 
 THE FARMER. 
 
 Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre: Price one 
 eighth of a dollar. 
 
 " 1 5th. Contgt Exps. delivd mr Lewis to buy 8 play 
 tickets, by order of the President $8." 
 
attfc 
 
 53 
 
 NEW THEATRE. 
 THIS EVENING, Saturday, March 15, 
 
 Will Be Presented a Comedy, 
 called 
 
 EVERY ONE HAS HIS FAULT. 
 
 Lord Norland, 
 
 Sir Robert Ramble, 
 
 Mr. Solus, 
 
 Mr. Harmony, 
 
 Captain Irwin, 
 
 Mr. Placid, 
 
 Hammond, 
 
 Porter, 
 
 Edward, 
 
 Lady Eleanor Irwin, 
 
 Mrs. Placid, 
 
 Miss Spinster, 
 
 Miss Wooburn, 
 
 Mr. Whitlock, 
 Mr. Chalmers, 
 Mr. Morris, 
 Mr. Bates, 
 Mr. Fennell, 
 Mr. Moreton, 
 Mr. Green, 
 Mr. Warrell, 
 Mrs. Marshall, 
 Mrs. Whitlock, 
 Mrs. Rowson, 
 Mrs. Bates, 
 Mrs. Morris. 
 
 The EPILOGUE by Mrs. Whitlock. 
 To which will be added an OPERA, called 
 
 ROSINA. 
 
 Belville, 
 
 Captain Belville, 
 
 William, 
 
 Rustic, 
 
 1st. Irishman, 
 
 2d. Irishman, 
 
 Rosina, 
 
 Dorcas, 
 
 Phoebe, 
 
 Mr. Marshall, 
 Mr. Moreton, 
 Mr. Francis, 
 Mr. Warrell, 
 Mr. Green, 
 Mr. Blisset, 
 Mrs. Warrell, 
 Mrs. Bates, 
 Miss Broadhurst. 
 
54 3Ba$)in0ton atifc f)c CJjeatre, 
 
 With the original overture and accompaniments composed 
 
 by Shield. 
 
 The Scenes designed and executed by Mr. Milbourne. 
 Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre : Price one- 
 eighth of a dollar. 
 
 " 24th. Contgt. Exps. delivd mr Lewis by the Presi 
 dent s order to buy 8 tickets New Theatre $8.00." 
 
 NEW THEATRE. 
 
 In aid of a Fund, about to be established for 
 the relief or redemption of American Citi 
 zens, Captives in Algiers, 
 
 THIS EVENING, March 24, 
 
 Will Be Performed a Comedy, 
 called 
 
 EVERY ONE HAS HIS FAULT. 
 
 Lord Norland, Mr. Whitlock, 
 Sir Robert Ramble, Mr. Chalmers, 
 
 Mr. Solus, Mr. Morris, 
 
 Mr. Harmony, Mr. Bates, 
 
 Captain Irwin, Mr. Fennell, 
 
 Mr. Placid, Mr. Moreton, 
 
 Hammond, Mr. Green, 
 
 Porter, Mr. Warrell, 
 
 Edward, Mrs. Marshall, 
 Lady Eleanor Irwin, Mrs. Whitlock, 
 
 Mrs. Placid, Mrs. Rowson, 
 
 Miss Spinster, Mrs. Bates, 
 
 Miss Wooburn, Mrs. Morris. 
 
 The EPILOGUE by Mrs. Whitlock. 
 
anb Clje Cfjcatrc, 55 
 
 Previous to the Comedy an Occasional Address. 
 End of the Comedy a characteristic Pantomimical Dance 
 
 called 
 THE SAILOR S LANDLADY, 
 
 or, 
 
 JACK IN DISTRESS. 
 Jack, Mr. Francis, 
 
 Ned Haulyard, (with a new song) Mr. Darley, jun. 
 Sailors, Mesrs. Warrel, Blisset, Warrell, jun. 
 
 Lee, Bason, and De Moulin; 
 Lasses, Mrs. Cleveland, Mrs. Bates, 
 
 Miss Rowson, and Miss Willems, 
 Landlady, Mr. Rowson, 
 
 Orange Girl, Mrs. De Marque. 
 
 To conclude with a double hornpipe, by Mr. Francis and 
 
 Mrs. De Marque. 
 To which will be added a Comic Opera, 
 
 called 
 
 THE POOR SOLDIER. 
 Capt. Fitzroy, Mr. Darley, 
 
 Father Luke, Mr. Finch, 
 
 Dermot, Mr. Darley, jun. 
 
 Patrick, Mr. Moreton, 
 
 Darby, Mr. Wignell, 
 
 Bagatelle, (with the song) Mr. Marshall, 
 Boy, Master J. Warrel, 
 
 Norah, Miss Broadhurst, 
 
 Kathleen, Miss Willems. 
 
 Those ladies and gentlemen who have requested boxes 
 for the comedy of " Every one has his fault," are respect 
 fully acquainted, that it must necessarily be laid aside 
 after this evening, on account of other pieces now in 
 preparation. 
 
anfc 
 
 One other entry in Washington s ledger slightly 
 akin to these is: March, 1794, "24. Contingt Exps. 
 pd. for 2 tickets for Mrs. Washington and Miss Custis 
 to see automaton $2." The show thus seen was de 
 scribed in the " General Advertiser " as follows : 
 
 The very extraordinary spectacle that is exhibited by 
 Citizen SANS CULOTTE, and Mr. L ARISTOCRATE, 
 having been received with the applause and approbation 
 of the Public, the author of these singular pieces of mech 
 anism, whilst he conceals his name, gives notice, that in 
 tending shortly to go to New York, this curiosity is to be 
 displayed every day without intermission before his de 
 parture, that there may be a sufficient opportunity for every 
 one to enjoy a spectacle so rare, and such as never before 
 was exhibited on this continent. These two artifical men, 
 who are of the ordinary size of man, perform feats of dex 
 terity that surpass nature itself: they are set at one end 
 of a room, entirely by themselves, having not the least 
 connection with any thing, nor any person near them. 
 When they are to be put in motion, a person that attends 
 does no more than wind up the moving springs that are 
 contained within their bodies : they then, as it were re 
 ceive life by degrees, salute the company and seem to 
 rival each other to please the spectators with their agility. 
 Their motions are formed to music, and they dance to 
 many airs, Mr. L Aristocrate excepted, who cannot be 
 prevailed on to dance to the Carmagnole or Ca-ira. 
 These curious automatons, or artifical men, after showing 
 many great feats of their activity and of lofty tumbling 
 over an iron bar fixed horizontally, finish their labors in 
 leaping a somerset backward and forward, and saluting 
 the company, who, as the author of this extraordinary 
 
JDagtyington anfc ty Cijeatre, 57 
 
 piece of mechanism flatters himself, cannot but be pleased 
 with the whole of the performance. 
 
 This spectacle is exhibited under the ladies academy 
 room of Mr. Poor, No. 9, Cherry alley, between Third 
 & Fourth streets, near the synagogue and the sign of the 
 White Lamb. Entrance half a dollar. It begins at 
 seven and ends about eight o clock in the evening. 
 
 If any number of persons, not less than 12, should de 
 sire to see this curiosity displayed at any particular hour, 
 they may give notice to the person who attends ; but then 
 each person is to pay a dollar. 
 
 The "Aurora" for December 4, 1794, remarked: 
 " We are happy in announcing to the public that the 
 President of the United States means to honor the 
 OLD AMERICAN COMPANY with his presence 
 at the THEATRE this evening." This performance 
 was advertised in the same issue in the following 
 words : 
 
 Old American Company. 
 THEATRE. CEDAR (or South) Street. 
 
 LAST NIGHT THIS SEASON. 
 
 FOR THE BENEFIT of Mr. and Mrs. HALLAM. 
 
 This Evening, Thursday, December 4. 
 
 Will be presented, a Comedy, called 
 
 THE YOUNG QUAKER; 
 
 or The Fair Philadelphian. 
 
 Written by O Keefe, and performed in London with the 
 most unbounded applause. 
 
 End of the Play 
 (by particular desire) 
 
 the Pantomime Ballet of the TWO PHILOSOPHERS. 
 ii 
 
58 i$a$)tnston anb lje fjeatre* 
 
 To which will be added, a new Musical Piece, called 
 The CHILDREN in the Wood. 
 
 The MUSIC by D t . Arnold, 
 
 with additional SONGS by Mr. Carr. 
 
 End of the Farce, Mr. Martin will recite 
 
 Dr. Goldsmith s celebrated Epilogue in the character of 
 
 Harlequin. 
 
 The whole to conclude with a 
 LEAP through A Barrel of FIRE. 
 
 Not till February 29, 1796, is there any further 
 evidence as to the President s play-going. On that 
 date the " Gazette of the United States " notified its 
 patrons that " We are informed THE PRESIDENT 
 OF THE UNITED STATES intends visiting the 
 Theatre this Evening; and, the Entertainments are 
 by his particular desire." From a letter of John Adams 
 to his wife it is further learned that: "March i. 
 Yesterday (February 29) the President sent his car 
 riage for me to go with the family to the theatre. The 
 Rage and the Spoiled Child were the two pieces. It 
 rained and the house was not full. I thought I per 
 ceived a little mortification. Mr. George Steptoe 
 Washington and his fair lady were with us." The 
 advertisement of this performance read : 
 
 NEW THEATRE (north side of Chestnut above 
 
 Sixth Street) 
 
 By Particular Desire. 
 
 On MONDAY EVENING, February 29, 
 
 Will be presented, 
 A celebrated COMEDY 
 
 (written by the Author of the Dramatist) called 
 THE RAGE ! 
 
THE FALL 
 
 O F 
 
 BRITISH TYRANNY: 
 
 
 O R, 
 
 AMERICAN LIBERTY 
 TRIUMPHANT. 
 
 THE FIRST CAMPAIGN. 
 
 A TRAGI-COMEDTop FIVE ACTS, 
 
 AS LATELY PLANNED 
 
 AT THE ROYAL THEATRUM PANDEMONIUM, 
 AT ST. JAMES S. 
 
 THE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF ACTION IN AMERICA. 
 PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO ACT OF PARLIAMENT. 
 
 Quis furor 6 cives ! quae tanta licentia ferri ? 
 
 Luc AN. lib., i. ver. 8. 
 
 What blind, detejied madnefs could afford 
 Such horrid licence to the murdering /word ? 
 
 ROWE. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PRINTED BY STYNER AND CIST, IN SECOND-STREET. 
 NEAR. ARCH-STREET. M DCC LXXVJ. 
 
anb 
 
 59 
 
 To which will be added, 
 A Farce in two acts, called 
 
 THE SPOILED CHILD. 
 
 The Public are respectfully informed, that the Doors 
 of the Theatre will open at a quarter after FIVE o clock, 
 and the Curtain rise precisely at a quarter after six 
 until further notice. 
 
 The final visit of Washington to the theatre occurred 
 on February 27, 1797. Of this genuine "last appear 
 ance " Claypole s " American Daily Advertiser " an 
 nounced : " We are informed that the President of the 
 United States will be at the representation of the new 
 comedy The Way to get Married/ this evening, at 
 the New Theatre." The advertisement of the plays 
 in the same paper read : 
 
 NEW THEATRE. 
 
 THIS EVENING, February 27. 
 
 By particular desire, 
 
 will be presented, 
 
 the last new Comedy. 
 
 The way to get Married ; 
 
 after the comedy the comic ballet 
 
 Dermot &> Kathleen, or Animal Magnetism. 
 
 Five days later the President retired from office, 
 and spent the remainder of his life, with unimportant 
 exceptions, at Mount Vernon, out of reach of what 
 had given him in the past such keen enjoyment. 
 
 In Bernard s " Retrospection " is a story of the 
 actor s meeting with Washington. As a number of 
 the circumstances are impossible or improbable, it is 
 
60 IBamton anb 
 
 presumably as wholly apocryphal as is so much else of 
 the volume. 
 
 Before dropping the curtaiu, a glance at Washing 
 ton s library should be taken. It is to find little dra 
 matic literature, though it is pleasant to discover that 
 despite its paucity, the great American possessed a 
 copy of the greatest playwright, and on at least one 
 occasion quoted from him. Otherwise, the already 
 mentioned " Contrast," together with copies of Bick- 
 erstaff s " Lionel and Clarissa," Cumberland s " The 
 Carmelite," and Vittoria s " Bruto Primo," are the 
 only plays; for those included in the volumes of writ 
 ings of Mercy Warren and David Humphreys scarcely 
 deserved to be ranked as such. One volume,, entered 
 briefly in the inventory as " Plays, etc.," is not in 
 cluded, and may have somewhat bettered the meagre 
 collection. The ledger for 1794, too, mentions a piece 
 that should be added to the above: "Mar. i, 1794. 
 pd. for the Grecian Daughter (a play) for Mrs. Wash 
 ington $.20." 
 
 Washington died on December 14, 1799, and from 
 one end of the land to the other memorial services 
 were held to mark the nation s loss. In this the 
 Theatre bore its part, and the memorial performances 
 it gave fittingly close this outline. The following 
 describes that given by the theatre in Philadelphia : 
 
 THE THEATRE 
 
 Last Monday evening joined in the public testimony of 
 regret for the loss of America s hero. The house, which 
 was "full to overflowing," displayed a scene calculated to 
 
anti 3c Clcatrc, 61 
 
 impress the mind with the utmost solemnity and sorrow. 
 The pillars supporting the boxes were encircled with black 
 crape, the chandeliers were decorated with the insignia of 
 woe, and the audience, particularly the female part, ap 
 peared covered with the badges of mourning. About 7 
 o clock the band struck up "WASHINGTON S march," 
 after which a solem dirge was played, when the curtain 
 slowly rising, discovered a tomb in the centre of the stage, 
 in the Grecian style of architecture, supported by trusses. 
 In the centre of it was a portrait of the general, encircled 
 by a wreath of oaken leaves ; under the portrait a sword, 
 shield, and helmet, and the colors of the United States. 
 The top was in the form of a Pyramid, in the front of 
 which appeared the American Eagle, weeping tears of 
 blood for the loss of her General, and holding in her beak 
 a scroll, on which was inscribed "A nation s tears." 
 
 The sides of the stage were decorated with black ban 
 ners, containing the names of the several states of the 
 union, in golden letters, over which mourning trophies 
 were suspended. A monody was recited by Mr. Wignell, 
 accompanied with the following airs. 1 
 
 Airs in the Monody. 
 
 Air I. 
 
 SLOWLY strike the solemn bell, 
 Nature sound thy deepest knell, 
 Power of Music ! touch the heart, 
 Nature there will do her part. 
 God of melancholy come ! 
 Pensive o er the Hero s tomb, 
 In saddest strains his loss deplore, 
 With piercing cries rend ev ry shore, 
 For WASHINGTON is now no more, 
 l " The Spectator," January i, 1800. 
 
62 Jafinton anb 
 
 Air II. 
 
 GLORY, bring thy fairest wreath, 
 Place it on thy HERCt s urn, 
 MERCY, in soft accents breathe, 
 He never made this bosom mourn. 1 
 Ev ry virtue here attend 
 Bending o er his sacred earth ; 
 GRATITUDE thy influence lend 
 Make us feel his mighty worth. 
 
 Air III. 
 
 Hold not back the sacred tear, 
 Give to him the sigh sincere, 
 
 Who living, liv d for all. 
 Sorrow take the solemn hour ! 
 Prostrate to thy melting power, 
 
 Let humble mortals fall. 
 Come sable Goddes, take the soul 
 Devoted to thy dark controul ; 
 Come take our hearts, and press them deep, 
 Angels may joy, but man must weep. 
 
 The tragedy of the Roman Father, which concluded 
 the performances of the evening, gave general satisfaction. 
 
 Even more elaborate was the memorial paid him by 
 the Thespians of New York. The newspapers an 
 nounced that " In consequence of the afflicting intelli 
 gence of the death of General Washington, the Theatre 
 will be closed for the ensuing week." With its re 
 opening on December 3oth, there was paid to Wash- 
 
anfc Zfyc Cfjcatre, 6 3 
 
 ington s memory the following tribute, which was de 
 scribed by " Crito " in the " Spectator " of January 
 4, 1800, as follows: 
 
 THEATRICAL COMMUNICATION. 
 
 Monday evening was presented, for the first 
 
 time, to an overflowing house, 
 
 The ROBBERY, 
 
 Translated from the French of Monvel; 
 With the after-piece of 
 The SHIP-WRECK. 
 
 About 6 o clock the band very improperly struck up 
 "Washington s March; " it was executed in a somewhat 
 slow and lingering manner, but Mr. Hewit should cer 
 tainly have remembered that no alteration in the mood 
 can ever change a sharp key to a flat one. 
 
 In about 20 minutes the encreasing impatience of the 
 audience was relieved, by the curtains drawing up ; it 
 arose slowly and discovered the scenery all in black, with 
 the words, 
 
 "MOURN, 
 
 WASHINGTON IS DEAD," 
 In large letters painted on a black back ground. 
 
 "A Monody "was now spoken by Cooper; he came 
 on, with a bow not the most graceful in the world, but 
 with a countenance that seemed to say, "If you have 
 tears prepare to shed them now," and in truth never was 
 an audience more predisposed to harmonize with " sorrows 
 saddest note." His tongue, however, soon counteracted 
 every such emotion, for he began to speak in the very 
 tones of Mrs. Melmoth, artificial and declamatory, ending 
 12 
 
6 4 H9at)ingt0n anti 
 
 his lines with a full cadence of voice, exactly in the man 
 ner of that actress when she repeats her Black-bird Elegy. 
 Still we were in hopes that as fye went on, his feelings 
 would have got the better of this school-boy rehearsal and 
 have enabled or rather betrayed him to do the poetry a 
 little more justice; but oh ! pitiful to relate, he had hardly 
 exceeded thirty lines when "Vox faucibus haecit" or in 
 plain English, his words stuck in his throat, and he lost 
 all power of recollecting a line further, we do not say 
 " Steteruatque comae," each "particular hair stood an 
 end," for the gentleman has such a decent share of what 
 my Lord Chesterfield calls "modest assurance," that 
 when every one in the house blushes for him, he never 
 blushes for himself. He edged a little nearer the prompter, 
 caught his cue and went on stopt again moved on a 
 word stopt again the ladies cast down their eyes 
 he caught another word, and went on stopt again 
 the Pit groaned aloud, and a small hiss began to issue 
 from the gallery when some good honest fellow got up 
 and clapped his hands, which encouraged our favorite 
 Cooper to start once more, and to go quite thro the piece, 
 consisting in all, perhaps of 60 or 70 lines, much to our 
 own as well as his relief. To add that he pronounced it 
 very ill, after the above, is, we presume, unnecessary, as 
 no man can ever speak with propriety and effect, whose 
 whole attention is constantly occupied in the sole business 
 of recollection. If Mr. Cooper s sensibility is hurt at our 
 remarks, his conscience must at least acquiesce in their 
 justice, for how will he excuse it to us, that after having 
 had the Monody in his possession ten days, he has had 
 the unparrelled assurance to present himself on the stage 
 in such a state of utter dificiency, as to call up the sym 
 pathetic emotions of shame in a whole auditory ? If what 
 we have now said is not sufficient to reclaim him, perhaps 
 
VASHINGTON 
 
 OU LA LIBERTY 
 
 DU NOUVEAU" MONDE , 
 
 TRAGEDIE, 
 
 En quatre Actes 5 
 Par M. x> 
 
 Representee pour la premiere fois le z 
 juilht 1791 , surle thedtre de la Nation. 
 
 Prix, 30 sols. 
 
 A PARIS, 
 
 Chez MAILLARD D ORIVELLE , Libraire, quai 
 des Augusuns, N 43 , au Contrat social. 
 
 1701. 
 
anb 3Tl)e Cljcatre* 6 5 
 
 he may learn, when it is too late, that he is not so firmly 
 rooted in the blind affections of the public as he has hith 
 erto persuaded himself to believe. 
 
 The Monody or Recitation animadverted on in the 
 preceding criticism was quickly published in the press 
 of the day, accompanied by a brief explanation to the 
 effect that " The author of the Monody published yes 
 terday in your paper, regrets that he omitted to men 
 tion as in justice to Mr. Cooper (by whom it was 
 delivered at the theatre) he ought to have done, that 
 upwards of thirty lines were added anew to the copy 
 sent to the press, which were wanting in that which 
 was prepared for the stage." As thus revised, it read : 
 
 MONODY. 
 
 No mimic accents now shall touch your ears, 
 
 And now no fabled woe demand your tears : 
 
 No Hero of a visionary age, 
 
 No child of poet s phrenzy walks the stage ; 
 
 Tis no phantastic fate of Queens or Kings, 
 
 That bids your sympathy unlock its springs; 
 
 This woe is yours, it falls on every head ; 
 
 This woe is yours, for WASHINGTON IS DEAD ! 
 
 No passing grief it is, no private woe, 
 
 That bids the universal sorrow flow. 
 
 You are not call d to view, bereft of life, 
 
 By dread convulsion seized, your child or wife, 
 
 To view a parent s feeble lamp expire ; 
 
 But WASHINGTON IS DEAD, his country s Sire. 
 
 Not for your children s friend, your tears must fall, 
 
 For WASHINGTON IS DEAD, the friend of all! 
 
66 Ja$)ington anb lje fjeatre. 
 
 Not singly we, who haunt this western shore, 
 Our parent, guardian, guide, and friend deplore ; 
 Not those alone who breathe this ambient air, 
 Are called to weep at this illustrious bier ; 
 Each watery bourne of this great globe afar, 
 Was brightened by this tutelary star ; 
 Each future age, through wide extended earth, 
 Like us, may triumph in his hour of birth ; 
 Each age to him its grateful dues may pay, 
 And join with us to mourn his funeral day. 
 
 But why lament the close of his career? 
 
 There is no cause no cause that asks a tear ; 
 
 Fate gives to mortal life a narrow span, 
 
 And he, our guide and friend, was still, a man. 
 
 Triumphal wreaths far rather ought to wave, 
 
 And laureat honors bloom around his grave : 
 
 Far rather should ascend our hymns of praise 
 
 To Heaven, who gave him health and length of days, 
 
 Whose arm was seen amidst the deadly fray, 
 
 To open for his sword victorious way; 
 
 Who turn d aside from him the fateful ball, 
 
 And bade the steel on meaner crests to fall ; 
 
 Who gave him for our guide, with steadfast eye, 
 
 O er stormy waves, beneath a troublous sky ; 
 
 And life dispens d till war s loud tempest o er, 
 
 He safely steer d our barque to peaceful shore. 
 
 Twas vain, that, rescued from a tyrant s hand, 
 Sweet liberty consol d his natal land ; 
 For brief her stay where discord breathes her spell 
 And not on hostile bounds she deigns to dwell. 
 In wide dissevered realms new factions grow, 
 And call from far, or procreate the foe. 
 
anb Cfje fjcatre, 6 7 
 
 War springs afresh rekindled flames arise, 
 And back the ghastly train of thraldom hies; 
 No liberty, no life, no blest repose, 
 No self preserving arts his country knows, 
 Till joined in vassalage to sacred laws, 
 One oracle directs, one centre draws; 
 Till all-embracing policy imparts 
 Her harmony to distant motley parts : 
 Till every scatter d tribe from end to end 
 Be taught in forceful unity to blend. 
 
 Thus, after foes subdued, and battles done, 
 
 The kinder task was his, to make us one; 
 
 The seeds to crush with his pacific hand, 
 
 By homebred discord scattered through the land. 
 
 Twas he, the darling child of bounteous Fate, 
 
 That rear d aloft the pillar of the state: 
 
 Twas he that fixed upon eternal base, 
 
 The freedom, peace and glory of his race ; 
 
 O ! let no change, thy glorious work befall, 
 
 Nor death betide, till death betide us all ! 
 
 Firm may it stand, though compass d by alarms, 
 
 Though broils intestate shake, and hostile arms, 
 
 Though the four corners of the world combine 
 
 Against thy sons, the victory be thine ! 
 
 Not to such frail and mouldering forms we trust, 
 
 As monumental stone and ivory bust; 
 
 No altars to thy worship s name shall burn, 
 
 Nor rest thy bones in consecrated urn; 
 
 No sacrificial scents perfume the air, 
 
 No pilgrimage be made, no hymn or prayer: 
 
 Thee, in our country s bliss, our eye shall trace ; 
 
 Thee, in the growing good of all our race; 
 
68 UDa^lintott anb 
 
 Be taught by thee, when hostile bands are nigh, 
 
 To live for our dear country and to die. 
 
 A fane, thy God and thee befitting best, 
 
 NOTBUILTWITHHANDS,beraisedineverybreast. 
 
 The rites be thine that virtue gives and claims, 
 
 That lift thee far above all former names 
 
 A place below, but next to Deity, 
 
 Our hearts, O ! WASHINGTON, assign to thee ! 
 
 Then let us mourn, let every voice deplore, 
 Our country s guardian, parent, now no more ! 
 But let us more exult that bounteous Fate 
 Gave to his vital breath so long a date ; 
 That, born upon the eve of social strife, 
 He lived to give us liberty and life. 
 Rise all our praise, and all our joys awake, 
 That distant lands the auspicious boon partake; 
 That Freedom s banner was by him unfurled 
 To bless each future age and either world. 
 
 This memorial of the New York theatre to our first 
 citizen is interesting in more senses than one. The 
 director of the theatre was then William Dunlap, who 
 may well be styled the first American playwright, and 
 the writer of the " Monody " was Charles Brockden 
 Brown, our first American novelist. 
 
 The New York theatre was kept draped in mourn 
 ing from the memorial performance of December 
 30, until Washington s Birthday, February 22, when 
 it was once again closed out of respect to his mem 
 ory. From that day to this, the theatre has done 
 more than its share in celebrating the Birthday of 
 George Washington. 
 
APPENDIX 
 
DARBY s RETURN. 
 
 A COMIC SKETCH. 
 
 S PERFORMED A? THE NEW-YORK THEATRE, 
 
 NOVEMBER, 24, 1789, 
 FOR THE BENEFIT OF Mr. WIGNELL. 
 
 WRITTEN BY WILLIAM DUNLAP. 
 
 NEW-YORK: 
 
 PRINTED BY HODGE, ALLEN. AND CAMPBELL. 
 
 And Sold at their refpetfive Bookflores, 
 and by BERRY AND ROGERS. 
 
 M.DCC. LXXXIJC. 
 
ro r# PUB LIC. 
 
 THE following Dramatic trifle was not written 
 
 for publication, but merely toferve the Gentleman on 
 
 wbofe night it was performed. The Author is fully 
 
 fenfible, that the plea of its being a hajly Production 
 
 is no excufefor obtruding on the Public an incorreft 
 
 Compojition ; but, being importuned by his Friends, 
 
 he has confented to throw this Child of the Day on the 
 
 protection of the World, encouraged by the flattering 
 
 reception it received at the Theatre, and the candour 
 
 once before Jhewn to its Author. 
 
 CP The lines marked with inverted comma s, were 
 omitted in the reprefentation. 
 
CHARACTERS. 
 
 MEN. 
 
 Darby, . - Mr. WIG NELL. 
 
 Dermot, - - Mr. WOOLLS. 
 
 Clown, - Mr. RYAN. 
 
 Father Luke, - - Mr. BIDDLZ, 
 
 WOMEN. 
 
 Old Woman, * - Mrs. HAMILTON. 
 
 Kathleen, - - Mrs. MORRIS. 
 
DARBY S RETURN. 
 
 SCENE. 
 
 The Village of Carton. 
 
 AFTER fome airs from the Poor Soldier, the 
 curtain draws, and difcovers Darby, furround- 
 ed by Father Luke, Dermot, Kathleen, and villagers 
 They huzza and advance. 
 
 AIR. " What true Felicity." 
 FATHER LUKE. 
 
 Come neighbours come, come, all around me come, 
 
 Let s welcome home, 
 
 Tbisjilly loon, 
 
 That s wandering been, 
 
 Thro* many a feene, 
 And left his own village to mourn him. 
 
 KATHLEEN. 
 
 Now Darby we re glad to fee you, 
 Good wijhes .have ever been wi you, 
 
 Since Dermot is mine, 
 
 My friend/hip is thine ; 
 No longer good Darby I II flout you. 
 
 CHORUS of Villagers. 
 
 Now Darby we re glad to fee you, 
 Good wijhes have ever been wi you, 
 
 Now 
 
D A R B Y s RETURN. 
 
 Now where have you been * 
 And what have you feen ? 
 Iprythee good fellow now tell us ? 
 
 FATHER LUKE. 
 
 Now Darby let s hear oftSe many fears, 
 
 Ton got in wars ; 
 
 The man who dares 
 
 In battle to mix, 
 
 Tis feven to fix, 
 
 But he d make agoodfeive ever after. 
 
 DARBY. 
 
 Oh truft me no hit of a wound Jtr, 
 
 O er Darby s whole car cafe is found Jtr ; 
 
 He doesn t know fear 
 
 But he never could bear, 
 To dirty good cloaths on the ground Jtr. 
 
 CHORUS of Villagers. 
 
 Now Darby we re glad to fee you, 
 Good wi/bes have ever been wf you. 
 
 Now where have you been ? 
 
 And what have you feen ? 
 Iprythee good fellow now tell us ! 
 
 " DARBY. 
 
 " I prythee good people now Jl and away 
 
 " Make room I pray ! 
 
 " Hear what I fay 
 
 " P II tell you fuch feats, 
 
 41 In colds and tn beats^ 
 " As will make ye all gape till ye choakjirs. 
 " Now neighbours ftand off; pray don t crowd fo, 
 And what need ye all gabble loudfo, 
 
DARBY S RETURN. 
 
 " 
 
 " 
 
 " Who the devil can fyeak, 
 " While ye cackle and \fqueak* 
 " Like Jo many gee fe in a hog-Jlye. 
 
 " CHORUS of Villagers. 
 
 " Now Darby we re glad to fee you ; 
 " Good wi/hes have ever been w? you; 
 
 " Now where have you been $ 
 And what have youfeen ? 
 
 I prythee good fellow now tell us ! " 
 
 (Mufic ceafes. 
 
 DARBY, advancing. 
 
 Now ! give me room to breathe ; there ! ftand away ; 
 All form a ring, and then we ll fee fair play. 
 You 
 
 OLD WOMAN. 
 
 Darby I m deaf, and muft nearer come. 
 
 DARBY. 
 
 If you would hear good dame, you mufl be dumb. 
 
 You all remember, neighbours, ah ! too well, 
 
 (Tho faith ! full cheery m the ftory tell.) 
 
 How I was jilted by this gypfy here (to Kathleen. 
 
 Never tight Irilh boy fure, felt fo queer : 
 
 Then Pat muft come too, with his " row de dow,"l 
 
 So, for a gen ral s ftaffl fold my plough, V 
 
 My baldfac d Robin, and my brindled Cow\ J 
 
 Then off to Dublin, joy, I nimbly pack, 
 
 And there I play d a game at paddy whack : 
 
 Oh, to be fure, I didn t flafh at all ! 
 
 I did nt dance a little at the ball ! 
 
 But having fpent my cafh -for cam will go! 
 
 FATHER 
 
8 D A R B Y s RETURN. 
 
 FATHER LUKE. 
 Ah, Darby ! that s a truth we all well know ! 
 
 DARBY, 
 
 Sure I refolv d for London ;* aye my boys ! 
 When I took leave we made a glorious noife ! 
 
 OLD WOMAN*. 
 Good fouls ! fhed tears fo, ha ? 
 
 DARBY. 
 
 Tears, mother ! no, 
 
 We nothing fhed but whifky : Off I go ! 
 Pop board a fliip fuddled miftook my way \ 
 And when I come to rub my eyes next day, 
 Was on my way to Dantzick : Silly loon ! 
 
 OLD WOMAN. 
 Poor Darby! taken feajick too, fofoon! 
 
 CLOWN. 
 Oh, Darby, did you ever fee a whale? 
 
 DERMOT. 
 Hufh, neighbours, hufh,, let Darby tell his tale. 
 
 DARBY. 
 
 Well, fee me landed ; fure, without a farthing, 
 So, Pruffian hero turn d, to keep from ftarving ; 
 Drill d, drub d and bailed, curft andkick t and rifted, 
 My nice fhock golden hair, black t, greas d & twifted ; 
 I m fure 1 wonder how it ever come 
 To bring its own dear carrot-colour home ; 
 
 So 
 
DARBY S RETURN. 9 
 
 So clofefcrcw d up, fuTe,Dermot, you would think, 
 My fkin like drum-head tight : I couldn t wink ; 
 Loaded with belts and buckles at all points* 
 We mov d like wooden men with iron joints. 
 But merit can t be hid : I foon was rais d. 
 
 OLD WOMAN. 
 Aye, aye, I warrant, goodnefs now be prais d ! 
 
 FATHER LUKE. 
 What, to a Halbert ? Thirteen-pence a day ? 
 
 DARBY. 
 
 No, to three halberts ; cat-o -nine-tail pay : 
 There I was fav d by little Captain Pat, 
 And where d ye think I went to after that ? 
 To Auftria, my lads ! and there I fwagger d, 
 Strutted & puff d, look d big, drank hard & flagger d. 
 While my great matter, doing much the fame, 
 Bully d the Dutchman thus we play d the game ; 
 Till the curft Turks, thofe whilker d, fabred dogs, 
 Men-eating Hannibals, with hearts like logs, 
 Made war upon us ; then I thought twas beft, 
 To feek an army that was more at reft ; 
 Not that I minded fighting : Not a button ! 
 (For fome may think I meant to fave my mutton :) 
 No, no ! But being taught by Father Luke> 
 That Turks are heretics, I wifely took 
 Precautions not to have my morals hurt, 
 By any intercourfe with fuch vile dirt : 
 So finding this was not the place for me, 
 Once more, good neighbours, I embark d for fea. 
 
 KATHLEEN. 
 
 Alas ! what hardfhips twas your lot to prove. 
 
 DARBY. 
 
io D A R B Y s RETURN. 
 
 DARBY. 
 
 Yes, Kathleen, yes ! and all for fake of love. 
 Now on the waves again, with fwelling fail 
 
 CLOWN. 
 Do Darby tell me ! Did you fee a whale ? 
 
 DARBY. 
 
 Whales ! Aye, yes thick as hops fmce you mufl 
 
 know. 
 Dancing Scotch reels two thoufand ftrong or fo. 
 
 CLOWN, 
 Oh marcy ! 
 
 OLD WOMAN. 
 Gooddy ! 
 
 CLOWN. 
 Odds bobs fningers. 
 
 OLD WOMAN, 
 
 Oh! 
 DARBY. 
 
 Well neighbours, now by deftinies and fates, 
 See me fafe landed in the United States ; 
 And now I m at the beft part of my (lory, 
 For there poor Darby was in all his glory ; 
 From north to fouth, where ever I appear d, 
 With deeds and words, my fpirits oft they cheer d ; 
 But more efpecially I lik d to work, 
 At one nice little place they call d New- York ; 
 Oh ! there they lov d me dearly, never fear 
 
 But 
 
D A R B Y s RETURN. n 
 
 But Darby loves them too, with heart fincere. 
 There too I faw fome mighty pretty fhows ; 
 A revolution without blood or blows ; 
 For as I underflood the cunning elves, 
 The people all revolted from themfelves ; 
 Then after joining in a kind confeffion, 
 They all agreed to walk in a proceffion ; 
 So turners, taylors, tinkers, tavern-keepers, 
 With parfons, blackfmiths, lawyers, chimney 
 
 fweepers, 
 
 All neatly drefs d, and all in order fair, 
 Nice painted ftandards, waving in the air, 
 March d thro the town eat beef and drank 
 
 ftrong beer. 
 
 Soon after that I faw another fhow, 
 A man who d fought to free the land from woe, 
 Like me had left his farm a Joldiering to go 
 But having gain d his point, he had, like me, 
 Return d his own potatoe g round to fee ; 
 But there he coldn t reft ; with one accord 
 
 He s call d to be a kind of , not a Lord 
 
 I don t know what he s rot a great man, fure, 
 For poor men love him, juft as he was poor ! 
 They love him like a father or a brother. 
 
 DERMOT. 
 As we poor Irr/hmen love one another. 
 
 DARBY. 
 Juft fo. 
 
 FATHER LUKE. 
 Why that s the ftrangeft fight of all. 
 
 KATHLEEN. 
 
 I4A 
 
12 D A R B Y s RETURN. 
 
 KATHLEEN. 
 How look d he Darby ? Was he fhort or tall ? 
 
 DARBY. 
 
 Why fare I didn t fee him : to be fure, 
 As 1 was looking hard from out the door, 
 
 I faw a man in regimentals fine, 
 
 All lace and glitter, bother um and fhine j 
 And fo I look d at him, till all was gone, 
 And then, I found that he was not the one. 
 
 II By this time, boys, I wanted to get home; 
 
 " 1 thought you would be glad to fee me come ; 
 
 44 So, as I ve often heard the people fay, 
 
 44 The fartheft round is much the fhorteft way, 
 
 * I went to France. I always did love quiet, 
 
 4 And there I got in the middle of a riot. 
 
 " There they cried " vive la nation" "liberty" 
 
 ** And all the bag and tails fwore they d be free ; 
 
 44 They caught the fire quite acrofs the ocean, 
 
 " And to be fure, they re in a nice commotion : 
 
 " (Down with the baftile tuck up the jailor, 
 
 44 Cut off my lor s head, then pay his taylor.) 
 
 " Oh blefs their hearts, if they can but get free, 
 
 " They ll foon be as fat and as jolly as we ; 
 
 v Some took the liberty to plunder others, 
 
 " Becaufe equality is more like brothers. 
 
 " You may be fure I didn t flay there long. 
 
 44 So here I am boys, .hearty hale and flrong I" 
 
 But oh, New- York s the place to get a wife, 
 
 Aye, that s the place to lead a merry life. 
 
 FATHER LUKE. 
 Why Darby, boy, why didn t you flay there ? 
 
 DARBY. 
 
D A R B Y s RETURN. 13 
 
 DARBY. 
 
 Becaufe I wifh d to pay a vifit here ; 
 
 To fee how all the Carton lafles thrive, 
 
 And alk ye, fure, if ye are all alive. 
 
 But I ll go back again, oh never fear ! 
 
 I ll not be after leaving them, my dear: 
 
 You will not catch me flaying a great while, 
 
 From where I m never feen without a fmile. 
 
 Oh may their little country ever prove, 
 
 The land of liberty and feat of love. 
 
 Oh blefs their little hearts, and all they ve got, 
 
 And may they foon have all that they have not. 
 
 CLOWN. 
 
 Well, Darby, but did you fee nothing more ? 
 Didfl fee no Indians ? 
 
 DARBT. 
 
 Indians ? By the fcore. 
 
 I faw balloons too, and I learn d a fong ; 
 
 I ll fing it t ye it isn t very long. 
 
 AIR " The Taylor done over." 
 
 I. 
 
 We had a balloon there, as big as a church Jirs, 
 And when it went off we were left in the lurch jirs ; 
 For while we were watching, like Jportfmenf or plover, 
 Tbe linen took fire and did us all over. 
 
 Over, over, oh ! 
 
 II. 
 
 Oh when we look d up and faw nothing but f moke firs; 
 We all of us laugh d; tho none found out the joke firs, 
 
14 DARBY s RETURN. 
 
 Then all in a flock* like before-mentioned plover, 
 We freak" d into town j very fairly done over. 
 
 Over, over, oh! 
 
 Tbu.s Darby bis travels, has briefly related, 
 And all his adventures, in due order flated : 
 And as be basprov d, that of trutb be* s a lover, 
 He bopes the pit critics will not do him over. 
 
 Over, over, oh ! 
 
 He looks to tbe boxes, in bopes to flnd favour, 
 He s a tight Irifo boy tbd* of clownijb bebavioitr ; 
 Let tbe ladies remember, love made him a rover, 
 And tbey can t bave tbe heart, fure to doDarby over. 
 
 Over, over, oh ! 
 
 V. 
 
 Tou jolly round faces, poor Darby s long lov d you, 
 
 (to the gallery. 
 
 Tour applaufe be may hope,Jince be often hasprov dyou: 
 May you ne er want for fun, while you! re here under 
 
 cover, 
 And the flddlesflill play you tbe Taylor done over. 
 
 Over, over, oh ! 
 VI. 
 
 Tour healths will be drink, in a cup of brown nappy, 
 
 (all around. 
 
 May tbe Jingle be married, tbe married be happy: 
 And as gratitude many great failings may .cover, 
 Darby s heart Jball be grateful till death does him 
 over. 
 
 Over, over, oh ! 
 THE END. 
 
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 Written in the Year 1789. 
 
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