| Citation |
BC.769.148
11-14 Dec 1769:4011,4012 (153)
An Account of the Jubilee in Honour of Shakespeare, at
Stratford upon Avon, 1769.
On the 6th of September, about six o'clock in the
morning, the grand Jubilee opened at Stratford by a triple
discharge of 17 pieces of cannon, and twelve small mortars,
planted on the banks of the Avon. At eight o'clock, Mr.
Garrick's apartments, and Lord Spencer's, were serenaded by
several of the performers from Drury-Lane Theatre, who were
disguised in mean apparel, with their faces besmeared with
dirt, singing a morning address; they after wards chaunted
several ballads through the streets, accompanied with
guittars and German flutes. Mr. Garrick, the Steward, went
to the new Town-hall (the place appointed for the public
breakfasting) a little after eight, to see that every thing
was properly prepared for so brilliant a company. As soon
as the Mayor and Corporation heard of Mr. Garrick's being at
the Townhall, they immediately waited on him, and in a
polite speech, delivered by the Townclerk, presented him
with a medallion of Shakespeare, carved on a piece of the
famous mulberry tree, planted by the immortal poet's own
hand, and richly set in gold. Mr. Garrick made a suitable
reply to this elegant mark of attention, and placed the
present around his neck. Soon after this circumstance the
breakfasting began, during which the drums and fifes of the
Warwickshire militia, in their new uniforms, entertained the
company with martial music. About eleven, the company want
to church, where Dr. Arne's oratorio of Judith was
performed; after which they went to the grand booth to
dinner, which was provided, and served in the utmost order
to more than one thousand persons. When dinner was over,
the company were entertained, after a full bumper to the
Steward's health, for his great care and attention to the
pleasure of all who honoured the immortal memory of
Shakespeare, with catches, glees, &c. by the band; and
nothing but joy and jollity appeared, for more than two
hours. The evening concluded with a ball, and the same
mirth appeared in every countenance.
On Thursday morning, the 7th, a public breakfast was
given, in the same manner as the day before, after which the
company repaired to the Amphitheatre from the Town-hall,
where the dedication-ode was performed, under the direction
of Dr. Arne. The recitative parts were spoken by Mr.
Garrick, and perhaps, in all the characters he ever played,
he never shewed more powers, more judgement, or ever made a
stronger impression on the minds of his auditors. On the
conclusion of the ode, Mr. King got up in the character of a
Macaroni, wholly unexpected by the company, and publicly
attacked Shakespeare, who he censured as a very ill bred
fellow, for making people laugh and cry as he tho't proper.
This produced much mirth, and with Mr. King's admirable
acting, was a considerable addition to the entertainment.
It was intended to make a procession to the amphitheatre of
all the characters in Shakespeare's pieces, but, the day
proving wet, it was postponed till the next day, as was also
a grand firework, prepared by Mr. Angelo.
During this performance, the benches in various parts of
the amphitheatre, from the prodigious pressure of the
company, gave way; and, had it not been for a peculiar
interposition of Providence, Lord Carlisle, who was much
hurt by the fall of a door, must have inevitably been
destroyed.
At night the masquerade commenced, tho' not till twelve
o'clock; several of the characters where well dressed, and
sustained their parts with great propriety. About five
every body retired; and the next morning, as the weather
continued remarkable wet, and that wetness prevented the
pageant, or representation of all Shakespear's characters,
the principal part of the company, who had carriages of
their own, went out of town: Nevertheless, there was a
tolerable assembly at Shakespeare's hall in the evening.--
Mrs. Garrick danced a minuet beyond description gracefully,
and joined in the country dances, which ended at four, and
put an end to the Jubilee.
There was a horse-race on the last day, which afforded
much diversion to the lovers of the turf, though the horses
were almost knee-deep in water. The cup was won by Mr.
Pratt, the rider, and we are told he is determined never to
part with it; though he modestly confesses he has no
extraordinary taste for dramatic performances.
The following is the account, which Mr. Foote, in his
Comedy of The Devil upon Two Sticks, gave to a crouded
audience, after his return from Stratford, of the Jubilee
there. It was received with repeated and universal shouts
of applause, and even strongly encored.
Among other modes of making money recommended, a Jubilee
is mentioned, to which the young man replies, a Jubilee! --
What's that? Don't you know says the Devil: --Then I'll
till you--A Jubilee, as it has lately appeared, is a public
invitation, urged by puffing, to go post, without horses, to
an obscure borough, without Representatives, governed by a
Mayor and Alderman who are no Magistrates, to celebrate a
great poet (whose own works have made him immortal,) by an
ode without poetry, music without melody, dinners without
victuals, and lodgings without beds; a masquerade where half
the people appeared bare-faced; a horse-race, up to the
knees in water, fire-works extinguished as soon as they were
lighted, and a gingerbread amphitheatre, which, like a house
of cards, tumbled to pieces as soon as it was finished.
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