| Citation |
NYM(G.753.036
2 Jul 1753:11 (47)
The case of the London company of comedians, lately arrived
from Virginia, humbly submitted to the consideration of the
publick; whose servants they are, and whose protection they
intreat.
As our expedition to New-York seems likely to be attended
with a very fatal consequence, and ourselves haply censur'd
for undertaking it, without assurance of success; we beg
leave, humbly to lay a true state of our case before the
worthy inhabitants of this city . . . little imagining, that
in a city, to all appearance so polite as this, the muses
would be banish'd, the works of the immortal Shakespear, and
other the greatest geniuses England ever produc'd, deny'd
admittance among them, and the instructive and elegant
entertainment of the stage utterly protect against . . . In
the infancy of this scheme, it was proposed to Mr. William
Hallam, now of London to collect a company of comedians, and
send them to New-York, and the other colonies of America. .
.We were eleven months before we thought of removing; and
then asking advice, we were again persuaded to come to New-
York, by several gentlemen, &c. whose names we can mention,
but do not think proper to publish: They told us, that we
should not fail of a genteel and favourable reception; that
the inhabitants were generous and polite, naturally fond of
diversions rational, particularly those of the theatre:
Nay, they even told us, there was a very fine play-house
building, and that we were really expected. . .Therefore, if
the worthy magistrates would consider this in our favour,
that it must rather turn out a publick advantage and
pleasure, than a private injury; They would, we make no
doubt, grant permission, and give us an opportunity to
convince them, we were not cast in the same mould with our
theatrical predecessors; or that in private life or publick
occupation, we have the least affinity to them.
|