insists on seeing that room-it proves to contain a large treasure-the Duke's father had deposited it there, and taken an oath from Archas and Boroskie not to reveal it, unless his son should be reduced to distress-the Duke carries off the treasure, and enjoins Archas to send his daughters to court-in the 4th act, the Duke invites Archas to supper-Theodore gives him warning that he is in danger—Archas is offended-at the banquet the Duke orders his servants to bring cloaks for the guests-Archas has a robe of death given to him-the Duke tells Boroskie not to exceed his command-Boroskie, who is an enemy to Archas, puts him to the rack-Theodore and the soldiers threaten to fire the court, unless Archas be restored to them safe and well-Archas appeases the soldiers the Duke is very sorry for what had happened to Archas, and vows vengeance on Boroskiein the 5th act, the soldiers seem determined to revolt from the Duke-Archas again appeases them—he is on the point of killing Theodore-Putskie enters with Young Archas-he says he will kill Young Archas, if Archas should kill Theodore-the Duke enjoins rchas on his allegiance to spare his son Archas obeys-in the first 4 acts Young Archas is disguised as Alinda-at the conclusion, the Duke, Young Archas and Burris marry Honora, Olympia and Viola-this is one of the plays in which Fletcher carries loyalty to its utmost pitch-Archas shows no resentment for the injuries which he had received from the Duke, but is extremely angry with his son for resenting them-the play is a very good one-the elder Sheridan is said to have made an alteration of

the Loyal Subject; it seems to have been acted at Dublin, but not to have been printed.

July 29. Loyal Subject-last performance. (Bills from B. M.)

L. I. F. AND HAYMARKET 1704-1705.

The bills of these Theatres were very irregularly inserted in the Daily Courant.

L. I. F. Oct. 2. Metamorphosis, or the Old Lover Outwitted-3d time-this is a good Farce by John Cory-probably the actor-it is printed without the names of the performers, but there is a second Prologue designed for Verbruggen in the habit of Trickwell the Astrologer-Cory has borrowed the plot, and sometimes the very words from Albumazar, but in order to conceal the theft, he has the impudence to tell us in the titlepage that this Farce was written originally by Moliere-Albumazar was printed before Moliere was born-and Moliere has no piece that resembles this Farce.

16. For bt. of Mrs. Evans and Mrs. Mountfort. Sir Mannerly Shallow. (Country Wit)-Betty Frisque = Mrs. Mountfort with an Epilogue-and Stage Coach.

Nov. 3. Sophonisba.

9. Henry 4th. Falstaff Betterton his 1st appearance this season.

is

very

=

=

=

Dec. 4. For the Author-the Biter-Sir Timothy Tallapoy Betterton: Pinch (the Biter) Pack: Clerimont (Sir Timothy's nephew) = Verbruggen: Friendly Booth: Scribblescrabble (a city solicitor) =Leigh: Bandileer (a foot soldier) = Knap: Trick (servant to Friendly) = Fieldhouse: Mrs. Clever= Mrs. Barry Lady Stale Mrs. Leigh: Mariana = Mrs. Bracegirdle: Angelica (daughter to Sir Timothy) Mrs. Mountfort: Mrs. Scribblescrabble = Mrs. Lawson :-Sir Timothy is a rich East India merchant -a great affecter of Chinese customs-and a sworn enemy to the Biters-he is in love with Marianashe is privately married to Clerimont-Lady Stale desirous of marrying Friendly-Sir Timothy had engaged his daughter to Pinch whom he had not seen at their first meeting, Pinch bites Sir Timothy, and Sir Timothy breaks Pinch's head-at their second meeting, Pinch says that he is Squire Pinch and come to marry Sir Timothy's daughter-Sir Timothy insists that it is impossible his friend Sir Peter Pinch could have a son who is a Biter-he treats Pinch as an impostor, and confines him in the cellar-Sir Timothy, by the persuasion of Mariana, gives his daughter to Friendly-he had been previously tricked out of a settlement on him-Lady Stale, on finding that Friendly is to be married to Angelica, makes her exit in despair-Sir Timothy, on finding that Mariana is already married to Clerimont, makes his exit in a rage-the scene lies at Croydon at the time of the Fair-Downes says that this C. in 3 acts was acted but 6 times-it is very far from a bad play— the story, that Rowe laughed vehemently at his own

jokes, tho' the audience did not sympathize with him, is related by Dr. Johnson, who speaks of Rowe as having failed ignominiously in Comedy-Dr. Johnson probably never read the play-other writers have spoken of it contemptuously, who seem to have followed each other "not like hounds that hunt, but "that make up the cry."

The Biters were not unlike the Humbuggers, and a fair subject for ridicule -the best story about biting is told in the Spectator-a condemned felon sold his body to a surgeon-when he had pocketed the cash "bite," says he, "I am to be hanged in chains." Dec. 12. Abra-Mulé, or Love and Empire. Jan. 9. Man of the Mode.

Feb. 8. All for Love-20. Amorous Widow. 22. For the author-Gamester with a new scene.

Young Valere Verbruggen: Hector (his valet) = Pack: Lovewell (in love with Lady Wealthy) = Betterton: Sir Thomas Valere Freeman: Dorante (his brother, in love with Angelica) Corey: Marquess of Hazard (a supposed French Marquess, but really Mrs. Security's nephew) = Fieldhouse: Angelica (sister to Lady Wealthy) Mrs. Bracegirdle : Lady Wealthy (a coquetish widow) Mrs. Barry: Mrs. Security Mrs. Willis: Favourite Mrs. Hunt: -Young Valere is in love with Angelica-he repeatedly promises her to leave off gaming, but breaks his word in the 4th act, Angelica wins all his money, and her own picture which she had given him set with diamonds—at the conclusion they are reconciled -there is a dull underplot between Lovewell and Lady Wealthy-Young Valere and Hector are excellent

=

characters--this C. was printed in 1705 without the name of the author-Love at a Venture 1706 is said in the titlepage to be written by the author of the Gamester, and the dedication is signed Susanna Carroll.

March 1. For bt. of Pack and Mrs. Bradshaw Agreeable Disappointment-this is the 2d title of Love Betrayed.

10. Mrs. Barry's bt. Don Sebastian and Judgment of Paris.

31. For bt. of Cave Underhill. Virtuoso-it being the last time of acting in this house.

Haymarket.

April 9.* Vanburgh opened his new Theatre (now the Opera house) with a Prologue written by Garth, and spoken by Mrs. Bracegirdle-after which was performed the Triumph of Love set to Italian Music (B. M.)-this Opera was unsuccessful, and the formers, being liked but indifferently by the gentry, were in a little time sent back to their own country; they were the worst that ever came from thence.

per

The first play acted was the Gamester-then followed the Amorous Widow-Duke and no DukeShe wou'd if she cou'd, and half a score of old plays, acted in the clothes brought from L. I. F.-the audiences fell off greatly-Downes thinks the Company would have succeeded better, if they had opened the house with a new play, or an English Opera. (Downes.)

*

1706.

Cibber blunders as usual, and says this house was finished in