| Citation |
VGW(PA.737.040
20-27 May 1737:31 (43)
London, March 12. . . Last Saturday night a great number of
footmen assembled again, with sticks, staves, and other
offensive weapons, in a tumultuous and riotous manner, and
broke open the doors at Drury-lane Play-house, for not being
let into what they called their gallery, and fought their
way in so desperate a manner, to the stage-door, (which they
forced open) that near 30 persons were dangerously wounded
in the fray; and Col. De Veil, who was in the house, being
thereupon apply'd to, and required to read the
proclamation, did accordingly attempt to do it, having a
small guard to support him; but such was the violence and
number of footmen in the riotous assembly, notwithstanding
their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, and
others of the Royal Family were there, that it was
impossible to appease their fury, without coming to such
extremities as he thought very improper; and being thus
obstructed, and hinder'd from reading the proclamation, in
the execution of his duty, and not knowing where this
dangerous attempt would end, he caused several of the
ringleaders of this disturbance to be taken into custody,
the audience having been put into the utmost confusion, and
several ladies greatly frighten'd. The prisoners that were
taken were under examination before Col. De Veil, in an
adjacent room to the play-house, till two o'clock in the
morning, and several of them (after long informations taken
against them) were committed to Newgate. A great number of
persons wounded had, during that time, their wounds dress'd
by a surgeon in the said room.
Two footmen (belonging to two noble lords) who were
concern'd in the above riot, and committed to Newgate, have
been discharged by their masters for their misbehaviour, and
given up to be prosecuted. A footman belonging to a lady of
quality, who was also committed, has been bail'd out.
The director of Drury-lane Play-house hath received two
threatning letters, on occasion of the footmen being
prevented from sitting in what they call their gallery.
The following is a true and exact copy of the contents of
one of them.
Sir, We are willing to admonish you before we attempt our
design; and provide you will use us civil, and admit us into
our gallery, which is our property, according to
formalities; and of you think proper to come to a
composition this way, you'll hear no further; and if not,
our intention is to combine in a body in cognito, and reduce
the play-house to the ground, valuing no detection. We are
"Indemnified."
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