ITINERANT performers, after this, exhibited in Merchant Taylors Hall, fo called from its belonging to the corporation of that name. The prices there were, for the pit and boxes, 2s. 6d. gallery, Is. 6d. The house would hold at these rates from L.40 to L.45. FROM the violence of the oppofers, and the exertions of the fupporters of the stage Merchant Taylors Hall was foon perceived to be too fmall, on particular occafions, to contain the audiences that applied for admiffion. Oppofition generally exalts and renders popular the object it is meant to deprefs. SOME performers, with Mrs Ward, a favourite actress, at their head, at length found means to procure fubfcriptions towards the erection of a regular theatre: And the tradesmen, encouraged by the promise of a partial payment, were induced to proceed upon credit, on an affurance of being paid out of the future profits. By these means a new theatre was erected on Arnot's Hiftory of Edinburgh, p. 368. Ryan on the fouth fide of the Canongate *. The first stone was laid in Auguft 1746, by Mr Lacy Ryan, then belonging to Covent-Garden theatre. I was favoured with his acquaintance. He bore a moft refpectable character as a man, and was a good actor. He had a particularity of voice, from an accident he had formerly received in his mouth, not pleafing to a ftranger. On his first entrée in Cato, his mode of pronouncing "The dawn is overcaft, the morning lowers, "And heavily in clouds brings on the day— gave an unfavourable impreffion to a perfon The Canongate theatre, at 2s. 6d. Is. 6d. and rs. held from L.60 to L.65. At Lancashire's benefit, I remember there was upwards of L.70'; but the wings and stage were fo crowded, that, when I came on in the character of Hotfpur, to encounter the Prince of Wales, we had not room to fland at fwords length. As he was returning from the theatre, after one of his evening's performance, he was attacked by a frect robber, and, making refillance, received two piflol balls in his mouth, which thattered his jaw. After the fhot, by the help of a lamp, the villain recognized Mr Ryan, begged his pardon for the mistake, and made off. He was firft noticed in Marcus in Cato, which was brought out in 1712. SECT. SECT. II. Tenures of the theatres in Europe-Revival of flage plays in England-Origin of the patent in Covent Garden-Of the theatrical property in Edinburgh-Mr Lee proprietor and manager -Lords of Seffion and other gentlemen proprietors-Mr Callender their manager—Mr Digges and Mrs Ward there-Tragedy of Douglas brought out-Mr Love managerMr Jackson's appearance in Edinburgh—Mrs Bellamy there. THE building of the Canongate theatre, though ftill without the fanction of law, and in defiance of an act of Parliament, was the first regular theatrical establishment in Scot land. From the original proprietors, therefore, of this houfe, the rights of property, belonging to the prefent Theatre Royal, took their rife; together with the privilege of exhibiting ftage reprefentations under the cover of two exprefs acts. The one t, extending D the *to Geo. II. c. 28. † 7 Geo. III. c. 27. * the limits of the liberties of the city, and empowering the King to grant a patent to authorise the acting of plays therein. The other reftraining magiftrates from licencing itinerant actors within twenty-four miles of the cities of London, Westminster, and Edinburgh. THE heritable right, therefore, of the property, with that of the proprietors thereto belonging, of the theatre of Edinburgh, thus fortified and extended, muft proceed by lineal defcent, or by purchafe, to future heritors, without a poffibility of a diminution of its powers or apurtenances, unless by the will and confent of the owner or owners thereof. THE theatres through Europe were originally erected upon the fame precarious footing, and are held by a fimilar tenure. The whole expence attending their building and fupport, were, with very few exceptions, left to the fortunes and industry of private individuals. Thefe men, therefore, have been every where permitted to manage and conduct *28 Geo. III. 1788. See Appendix, No. IV. duct their own property, like other fubjects, under regulations confonant to the police of the refpective countries. THEY were the fabrications of adventurers, and remain in the perfons of their fucceffors, their heirs, or affigns, THE theatres of Paris arofe from a religious fociety, termed, Confrerie de la Paffion. The brotherhood represented facred subjects*; and when these pieces came afterwards to give place to modern comedy, the first religious actors retained, notwithstanding, the property and the licence from the crown, By them the whole was at laft conveyed to the company of the Hotel de Burgogne, in confideration of a certain annuity or annualrent. Moliere founded the other Parifian company, and the proprietors of the present theatres of Paris are the lineal fucceffors of thofe two by D 2 Une troupe groffiere. En public a Paris y monta la premiere, Et fottement zélé en fa fimpliceté, Joua les Saints, la Vierge, et Dieu, par pieté. in Vide Boileau l'Art Poetique, Chaul. 3me et les notes. Le grand Encyclopedie, voce Comedien. |