| Citation |
FJ.782.007
9 Jan 1782:31, 32 (38)
On Wednesday evening the 2d instant, Alexander Quesnay Esq.
exhibited a most elegant entertainment at the playhouse,
where were present his excellency, General 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.
After the prologue, suitable to the occasion, Eugenie an
excellent French comedy was first presented (written by the
celebrated M. Beaumarchais) and in the opinion of several
good judges was extremely well acted by the young gentlemen,
students in that polite language. After the comedy, was
acted The Lying Varlet 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
price of his country and terror of Britain. On the summit
was the word--Virginia--on the right--Connecticut, with the
names Greene and la Fayette--on the left--the word
Pennsylvania, with the named, 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.
A prologue, written at the request of Mr. Quesnay, is as
follows.---
Wars, bloody wars and hostile Britain's rage
Have banish'd long the pleasures of the stage;
From the gay painted scene compell'd to part,
(Forgot the melting language of the heart)
Constrain'd to shun the bold theatric show,
To act long tragedies of real woe,
Heroes, once more attend the comic muse;
Forget out failings, and our faults excuse.
In that fine language is our fable drest
Which still unrivall'd reigns o'er all the rest;
Of foreign courts, the study and the pride,
Who to know this abandon all beside:
Bold, though polite, and ever sure to please;
Correct with grace, and elegant with ease;
Soft from the lips its easy accents roll,
Form'd to delight and captivate the soul:
In this Eugenia tells her easy lay,
The brilliant work of courtly Beaumarchais:
In this Racine, Voltaire and Boileau sing
The noblest poets in the noblest tongue.
If the soft story in our play express'd
Can give a moment's pleasure to your breast,
To you, Great Sir*! we must be proud to say
That moment's pleasure shall our pains repay:
. . . [16 more lines]
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