| Citation |
SCAGG.769.063
24-31 Jul 1769:34 (12/562)
To the Publick. The repeated encouragement, countenance,
and protection the American theatre has met with here from
an audience of one of the most respectable on the continent
is deeply known and has deeply imprinted the sentiment of
gratitude in the breasts of the American Company of
comedians; in consequence of which Mr. Douglas, the manager
of that company, has sent me here from New York to build an
elegant theatre fit for the accommodation of so numerous and
polite an assembly as formerly honored this stage with their
patronage. On these principles, with a strict charge to the
elegance of the decorations on which neither pains or cost
were to have been spared, I set out for this metropolis, but
on my arrival was very much disappointed to find the colony
involved in the present disagreeable, though glorious
struggle. I thought my duty to enquire of our former
patrons their opinion with regard to erecting a theatre at
this juncture, but found that, until those unhappy
differences were subsided, it would be disagreeable to the
majority of the inhabitants.
Under these circumstances it would be doing the highest
injustice to the worthy and respectable public, as well as
to our own private principles of gratitude for the
innumerable favours received here, to have the most distant
thought of what never was meant but as a grateful proof of
our constant endeavours to entertain, in the most elegant
manner, so generous and judicious an audience; therefore
without the least hesitation, in compliance with the general
desire, I declined it until a more favourable opportunity.
The ladies and gentlemen of this town have always been as
particularly conspicuous in their taste for every kind of
rational amusement as for their encouragement of the polite
arts in general, among which the theatre has always claimed,
and as constantly received, their generous protection; and I
am fully convinced, did not matters of the utmost importance
merit their highest attention at this critical juncture, it
would not fail of that patronage it has hitherto been
honoured with.
I shall beg leave to observe, before I conclude, that from
the most sincere gratitude and to endeavour at meriting the
favour so generously bestowed on the theatre, the manager
has been at a most considerable expence in every decoration
belonging to it to render it compleat for the purpose,
amounting to some thousand pounds; and it is hoped, as soon
as every political affair which concerns the welfare of this
valuable colony is settled to general satisfaction, that
under such generous and respectable patrons, like every
other of the polite arts, the British may not exceed, if
equal, the American stage. I have the honour to be, with
the utmost respect and deference, the publick's most devoted
and very humble servant. July 31, 1769. John Henry.
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