| Citation |
PG-Y.778.020
16 May 1778:41
From the London General Advertiser of Feb. 11, 1778.
. . . [2 lines in Latin]
Now acting in America.
A New Tragedy.
As it was first attempted at Bunker's-Hill, called
The Destruction of Liberty.
The principal parts to be performed by the Germans and
Scotch, assisted by detachments of the Guards.
Between the acts are exhibited, most magnificent pieces of
fire-work, such as burning of towns and ships; concluding
with a general massacre of old men, women and children,
performed to the life.
To which will be added,
A Farce,
called Conciliatory Measures;
Never attempted but once, being damned by the American
Congress; but to be tried once more by the Ministry,
Who are embarked for that purpose.
With the original prologue, as spoken by ---, at
Westminster.
The epilogue by L--d G--e G---e.
It is thought that this piece will meet with the utmost
contempt, as before.
Places to be taken on board any of his ---ships, just ready
to sail for America.
Any gentleman desirous of acting a part in the aforesaid [
], and properly qualified, may be immediately supported
with a proper dress at the drill, and all other necessaries,
besides having the advantage of being transported at the
public expense.
----
Wanted, several capital performers, who must be endued with
the following qualifications:
Want of common humanity,
common sense,
--- honesty
public spirit.
---- money.
All such will be sure to meet with the greatest
encouragement particularly if they are G---s or Scotch;
either of whom [ ] at this time more acceptable than the
English, who have become so refractory and sullen, that it
is with the utmost difficulty that they can be prevailed
upon to act these several parts in this bloody tragedy,
numbers of them preferring the horrors of a jail to the
having any hand in the performance: so there is great reason
to imagine that the majority of them will desert, and leave
the managers to perform it by themselves.
For further particulars, enquire at B---m H--e, or the
Highlands of Scotland.
The managers have been at a most extraordinary expense to
provide a compleat band of German and Scotch music,
especially drums and bag-pipes, which last are to delight
the Americans with their favorite tune of Yanky Doodle; they
are to begin as soon as the Americans command Britons Strike
Home; this is the only tune they intend to play, and will,
it is thought, very much animate the whole performance,
which is said to be as deep a tragedy as ever was acted
since the massacre in Ireland in 1641, when 40, 000 English
protestants were butchered in cold blood.
A book of the play will be published as soon as possible,
with a compleat list of all the capital actors, with notes,
critical and explanatory, by T. C. Bill Hill [?]
B--ks; an appendix will be added, entituled a
Dissertation of Arbitrary Power, wherein it will be palpably
proved, that no man has a natural right to eat, drink,
sleep, &c. without the consent of King, Lords and Commons.
As this is a most curious tract I have engaged a Highlander
from Caithness to write comments upon it, it being intended
as a present to the majority of a certain house, to be by
them carefully perused and consulted . . .
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