FIRST PROLOGUE WRITTEN IN AMERICA. 17

easy task, but when he found himself in presence of the audience he was panic-struck. He stood motionless and speechless, until, bursting into tears, he walked off the stage, making a most inglorious exit. We need not say that he was the hero and favourite in tragedy and comedy for nearly half a century.

This night's performance is rendered the more memorable, as it gave occasion for the first composition connected with the drama which was written for, or addressed particularly to, an American audience-a prologue especially composed for the purpose, probably on ship-board, by Mr. Singleton. It was spoken by Mr. Rigby. These lines were written down as recited at the request of the author by Lewis Hallam the second, forty years after their debut. Mr. Hallam seemed to remember every transaction of that period, every circumstance attending these first histrionic adventures, as though they were of yesterday. We think lines brought forward under such auspices are worthy of record, and accordingly give them.

To this New World, from famed Britannia's shore,
Through boist'rous seas where foaming billows roar,
The Muse, who Britons charm'd for many an age,
Now sends her servants forth to tread your stage;
Britain's own race, though far removed, to shew
Patterns of every virtue they should know.
Though gloomy minds through ignorance may rail,
Yet bold examples strike where languid precepts fail.
The world's a stage where mankind act their parts;
The stage a world to show their various arts;

C

While the soul, touch'd by Nature's tenderest laws,

Has all her passions rous'd in virtue's cause.
Reason we hear, and coolly may approve,
But all's inactive till the passions move.
Such is the human mind, so weak, so frail,
"Reason's her chart, but Passion is her gale."
Then raise the gale to waft fair Virtue o'er
The sea of life where Reason points the shore.
But, ah! let Reason guide the course along,
Lest Passion, listening to some siren's song,
Rush on the rocks of Vice, where all is lost,
And shipwreck'd Virtue renders up the ghost.
Too oft, we own, the stage, with dangerous art,
In wanton scenes has play'd the siren's part:
Yet if the Muse, unfaithful to her trust,
Has sometimes stray'd from what is pure and just,
Has she not oft, with awful, virtuous rage,
Struck home at vice, and nobly trod the stage?
Made tyrants weep, the conscious murderer stand,
And drop the dagger from his trembling hand?
Then, as you treat a favourite fair's mistake,
Pray spare her foibles for her virtue's sake;
And while her chastest scenes are made appear,
(For none but such will find admittance here)
The Muse's friends, we hope, will join our cause,
And crown our best endeavours with applause.

Mr. Singleton afterwards published a volume of poems; the principal or longest was descriptive, or intended so to be, of the West India islands.

CHAPTER II.

Departure of the Company from Virginia-Annapolis-First Theatre in New-York-First Theatre in Philadelphia —Death of Hallam, the first Manager in America-Succeeded by Douglass - Old American Company in New-York under Douglass-Second Theatre in New-York-Second and third Theatres in Philadelphia—Third Theatre in New-York-Newport-Theatrical Expenses and Profits-Customs of the Theatre - Benefit Bill Destruction of the third New-York Theatre.

THE precise date at which the comedians left Williamsburg is not mentioned in the memoranda taken from the dictation of Lewis Hallam the second. At their departure Governor Dinwiddie gave the manager a certificate signed in council, recommending the company as comedians, and testifying to the propriety of their behaviour as

men.

It would answer no useful end to follow the Thespians in their manifold wanderings; but a notice of the time and manner of introducing the theatre into our principal cities, and some of the changes which occurred in the company, shall be recorded as far as information can be now obtained.

A writer in the Maryland Gazette, under date of June 19th, 1828, claims for Annapolis the first theatre, in point of time, erected in the United States. He says, "In the year 1752, it appears, from the files of the Maryland Gazette, that plays

were performed in what is there called the new theatre-so called, I presume, in contradistinction to the temporary theatres previously used, which I am told were such commercial warehouses as could be gotten, and substituted for the purpose*." This writer gives the following advertisement:

By permission of his Honour the President. At the new theatre in Annapolis, by the company of comedians, on Monday next, being the 13th of this instant July, 1752, will be performed a comedy called The Beaux' Stratagem. Likewise a farce called The Virgin Unmasked. To begin precisely at 7 o'clock. Tickets to be had at the printing-office. Box 10 shillings, pit 7 and 6 pence, gallery 5 shillings. No person to be admitted behind the scenes.

66

The writer in question says, the names of the company, as no dramatis persona are given, I am unable to ascertain. In the advertisement of Richard the III., which was acted twice, the character of Richard was performed by a Mr. Wynell, and that of Richmond by a Mr. Herbert. another play the name of Mr. Eyarson is mentioned."

In

In the first chapter, the account given by Lewis Hallam, the son of the manager, is followed. He was then twelve years of age. It appears that the company arrived at Yorktown in June, as the passage was six weeks, and they sailed early in May. From his account they did not play at Williamsburg until the 5th of September, which leaves ample time for Winnel (Wynell) and Herbert to

* Probably used by boys or young men to enact plays after their fashion, as was the case, and will be the case everywhere.

FIRST THEATRE BUILT IN AMERICA.

21

have gone to Annapolis, and to have performed with a Mr. Eyarson, who as we have seen was not one of William Hallam's company, and others who had associated for the purpose of performing plays. Winnel and Herbert were inferiors in Hallam's company, and their performing the parts of Richard and Richmond accords with this supposition.

The writer in the Maryland Gazette goes on to say, that "The theatre (in Annapolis) which in 1752 is called the new theatre, was a neat brick building, tastefully arranged, and competent to contain between five and six hundred persons. It was built upon ground which had been leased from the Protestant Episcopal church in this city. When the lease, about ten or twelve years ago, had expired, the church took possession of the theatre. It was sold. It was pulled down merely to procure the materials of which it was built. Scarcely a fragment of it now remains. It was the oldest theatre in the United States. It was the earliest temple reared in our country to the dramatic Muse. Perhaps it was the first spot upon which the characters of Shakspeare were exhibited to the people of the western world. It would hereafter have become an object at which the citizens of this ancient metropolis would have pointed with pride, which the curious would have sought, and which the admirers of genius and the drama would have revered."

Such is the claim put in by the citizen of Annapolis. That the whole of Hallam's company were