| Citation |
NYJ-N.774.032
10 Mar 1774:41 (1627)
It is not certainly known here, who was the original author
of the curious East-Indian farce or opera, lately prepared
in England, to be plaid in America, for the entertainment of
the British colonies. It is generally ascribed to Lord
North, --at least the finishing and preparing it for
exhibition on the American stage. It is however certain,
that many persons, besides his Lordship, had a hand in it;
and that it was intended only as a kind of overture,
prelude, or introduction to a grand performance-- (I don't
know whether to call it comedy or tragedy) in which the
whole British nation were intended to be actors. We
Americans are certainly under prodigious obligations to the
great people at home, for honouring us so far by their
notice, and laborious schemes for our entertainment! The
parts alotted for Boston, Philadelphia and Charles-Town,
have already been acted with great applause, notwithstanding
some mistakes in the latter place, owing to inadvertency or
want of experience in the American actors; whose faults,
however, may pass off without any material disadvantage to
the general performance and design. The part assigned to
New-York, we had prepared to act as well as we were able,
and hope we should not have fallen behind our sister
colonies;-but by some means or other, the piece has not yet
been brought upon our stage--After so long a delay, we began
to think--that either the design was dropped, or that
Providence had interposed to prevent its exhibition, or our
having any thing to do in the performance. But, by our
advices this week, we find, that tho' the subject of our
entertainment has proceeded in an indirect course, having,
after its rival on our coast, touched at Antigua, in its way
to us; yet that we may shortly expect it--(unless indeed
that it should make another excursion in its passage, and
come by the way of England) so that it behoves us to be
prepared to give it a proper reception. It does not appear
that the people at home have furnished it with suitable
musical decorations; this it seems they have left to us:--
And we in New-York, might have been splendidly provided--by
Poplicola, if he should have happened to be at home, and at
leisure, and on good terms with the muses, and in fit
disposition, and inspired with a proper spirit--but since
all these circumstances may not concur,--that we may not be
wholly destitute, in case of a sudden emergency, I desire
you will publish in your Poet's Corner the following
Ode. Sung at the opening of the Grand India Opera, performed
at Boston, 16th December, 1773. By Signora Boheti.
Sweep all! Sweep all!
'Tis Liberty's call--
From the temple her echoes resound;
`Away to the port,
`My vot'ries resort,
`Oppression's curst arts to confound.'
. . . [21 more lines]
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