Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Extracts From Mr. Oulton's " History Of The Theatres Of London,
publicly read bv John Morgan , Esq . Recorder of Maidstone ; of which the following is an authentic copy : " The Inscription on this Scroll is JOHN WILMOT , Esq . being the Architect intended to convey and Builder . The following Information , — The Ground selected for the Purpose That Being situated within the Liberty On Mondav the 261 I 1 day of December , Of
In the year of our Lord 17 S 5 , His MAJESTY ' S FORTRESS and And PALACE In the 26 th year of the Reign Of the TOWER of LONDON , Of our Most Gracious Sovereign It has been resolved , that in honour GEORGE THE THIRD , of the Magistrates , the Military Offi-The First Stone of a Building , cers , and Inhabitants of the said For-Iutended for a Place of Public Entertain- tress aud Palace , the Edifice , Avhen ment , erected , shall be called ,
Was laid by THE ROYALTY THEATRE . JOHN PALMER , COMEDIAN , Sanctioned by Authority , and liberally In the presence of a numerous Party of patronized by Subscription . " Friends to the Undertaking ;
Mr . Palmer , of Drury-Lane Theatre , was the appointed Manager . Whether that Gentleman Avas deceived by the subscribers or not , cannot be said , but true it is , too true , that many a performer , author , & c . Avas deceived by Him . Among the performers Avere Moss . Quick , Ryder , Johnstone , Mrs . Martyr , Mrs . Wells , & c—But when no legal authority could be produced for the opening the house , they \ -ery prudently declined any connection with it ; among the authors were Messrs . Murphy , Vaughan , & c . besides a number of Composers , Painters , & c . The opening of the Theatre was announced for June 201787 but previous to
, ; this , a cautionary advertisement appeared in the public prints , signed by Messrs . Harris , Linlcy , and Colman , Managers of thz Theatres Royal , showing the statute , Avhich enacts , that persons acting contrary to the provisions in that act shall be deemed Rogues and Vagabonds ; and announcing a determination to prosecute all tvlio should offend against the laAv . This annunciation had the desired effect ; for now all the chief actors and actresses seceded from the company . Finding they could not act legally for hire , a subterfuge was adverted to , find the theatre was opened for the benefit of the London Hospital . The house was exceedinglfull ,
y but far from brilliant , for no ladies of distinction ventured in ; the contest for places Avas very violent ; the curtain rose at seven o ' clock , and a fetv voices calling for Mr . Palmer ' s patent , occasioned some disturbance—on Avhich the Manager came forward , and in a conciliatory speech implored the audience to preserve a peaceable conduct , and not give his enemies cause of complaint . He also gave orders that the doors should be shut . When this tumult subsided , he then spoke the following address , Avritten by Arthur Murphy , Esq . v
" WHERE'ER fair science rear'd her Iaurel'd head , In ev'ry clime , Avhere Truth her light has spread : ¦ Where civil union harmoniz'd mankind , And join'd to polish'd manners , taste refin'd , Thither on eagle wings the Muse has flown . There fix'd , and made the favour'd spot her own . In Greece her tuneful strains she taught to flow , And the scene charm'dAvith imitated Avoe .
Terror and pity seiz'd th' impassion'd breast , And the fair Moral to the heart was press'd . The Magistrates soon saw , in Virtue's cause , The stage a supplement to public laws . And from the nation's fund , with gen ' rous aim , Rais'd the proud dome , and fann'd the poet ' s flame . The well proportions pile was seen to rise Oa marble columns tow ' ring to the skies .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Extracts From Mr. Oulton's " History Of The Theatres Of London,
publicly read bv John Morgan , Esq . Recorder of Maidstone ; of which the following is an authentic copy : " The Inscription on this Scroll is JOHN WILMOT , Esq . being the Architect intended to convey and Builder . The following Information , — The Ground selected for the Purpose That Being situated within the Liberty On Mondav the 261 I 1 day of December , Of
In the year of our Lord 17 S 5 , His MAJESTY ' S FORTRESS and And PALACE In the 26 th year of the Reign Of the TOWER of LONDON , Of our Most Gracious Sovereign It has been resolved , that in honour GEORGE THE THIRD , of the Magistrates , the Military Offi-The First Stone of a Building , cers , and Inhabitants of the said For-Iutended for a Place of Public Entertain- tress aud Palace , the Edifice , Avhen ment , erected , shall be called ,
Was laid by THE ROYALTY THEATRE . JOHN PALMER , COMEDIAN , Sanctioned by Authority , and liberally In the presence of a numerous Party of patronized by Subscription . " Friends to the Undertaking ;
Mr . Palmer , of Drury-Lane Theatre , was the appointed Manager . Whether that Gentleman Avas deceived by the subscribers or not , cannot be said , but true it is , too true , that many a performer , author , & c . Avas deceived by Him . Among the performers Avere Moss . Quick , Ryder , Johnstone , Mrs . Martyr , Mrs . Wells , & c—But when no legal authority could be produced for the opening the house , they \ -ery prudently declined any connection with it ; among the authors were Messrs . Murphy , Vaughan , & c . besides a number of Composers , Painters , & c . The opening of the Theatre was announced for June 201787 but previous to
, ; this , a cautionary advertisement appeared in the public prints , signed by Messrs . Harris , Linlcy , and Colman , Managers of thz Theatres Royal , showing the statute , Avhich enacts , that persons acting contrary to the provisions in that act shall be deemed Rogues and Vagabonds ; and announcing a determination to prosecute all tvlio should offend against the laAv . This annunciation had the desired effect ; for now all the chief actors and actresses seceded from the company . Finding they could not act legally for hire , a subterfuge was adverted to , find the theatre was opened for the benefit of the London Hospital . The house was exceedinglfull ,
y but far from brilliant , for no ladies of distinction ventured in ; the contest for places Avas very violent ; the curtain rose at seven o ' clock , and a fetv voices calling for Mr . Palmer ' s patent , occasioned some disturbance—on Avhich the Manager came forward , and in a conciliatory speech implored the audience to preserve a peaceable conduct , and not give his enemies cause of complaint . He also gave orders that the doors should be shut . When this tumult subsided , he then spoke the following address , Avritten by Arthur Murphy , Esq . v
" WHERE'ER fair science rear'd her Iaurel'd head , In ev'ry clime , Avhere Truth her light has spread : ¦ Where civil union harmoniz'd mankind , And join'd to polish'd manners , taste refin'd , Thither on eagle wings the Muse has flown . There fix'd , and made the favour'd spot her own . In Greece her tuneful strains she taught to flow , And the scene charm'dAvith imitated Avoe .
Terror and pity seiz'd th' impassion'd breast , And the fair Moral to the heart was press'd . The Magistrates soon saw , in Virtue's cause , The stage a supplement to public laws . And from the nation's fund , with gen ' rous aim , Rais'd the proud dome , and fann'd the poet ' s flame . The well proportions pile was seen to rise Oa marble columns tow ' ring to the skies .