| Citation |
SCG-C.749.034
22-29 May 1749:12 (786)
Captain -- trafficking upon the coast of Africa went up the
country, where he was introduc'd to a Moorish King, who have
40, 000 men under his command. This Prince being taken with
the polite behaviour of the English, entertained them with
the greatest civility; and at last reposed such confidence
in the Captain, as to entrust him with his son, about 18
years of age, with another sprightly youth, to be brought to
England and educated in the European manner. The captain
received them with great joy, and fair treatment, but basely
sold them for slaves; shortly after he died, and the ship
coming to England, the officers related the whole affair on
which the government sent to pay their ransom, and they were
brought to England, and put under the care of the Right Hon.
the Earl of Hallifax, first commissioner of trade and
plantations, who gave orders for cloathing and educating
them in a very genteel manner. They have since been
introduced to his Majesty, richly dress'd in the European
manner, and were very graciously received. They appear
sometimes at the theatres, and particularly on the 1st
instant were at Covent Garden, to see the tragedy of
Oroonoko. They were received with a loud clap of applause,
which they acknowledg'd with a very genteel bow, and took
their seats in a box. The seeing persons of their own
colour on the stage, apparently in the same distress from
which they had been so lately delivered, the tender
interview between Imoinda and Oroonoko, who was betrayed by
the treachery of a captain, his account of his sufferings,
and the repeated abuse of his placability and confidence,
strongly affected them with that generous grief which pure
nature always feels, and which art had not yet taught them
to suppress; the young Prince was so far overcome, the he
was obliged to retire at the end of the fourth act. His
companion remained, but wept the whole time; a circumstance
which affected the audience yet more than the play, and
doubled the tears which were shed for Oroonoko and Imoinda.
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