Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1806-06-02
THEATRICAL ANEcpoTE.


OfoH Liauef the Holfag bLayy.
Linnet, while at Hammerfmith
with his company, exprehed a defre
TO play at Chelfea, but was informed
that il was under the controul of
very inAexible magiitrate, particular
ly averfe to giving any encourage
ment TO plays or other anGfements.
However, notwithstanding this fee
ming inlurmountable difficulty, Lin
net met with friend, gentlemen,
who wrote warm recommendation
letter for him to the obduratc macii-
trate. and gave him ahurance of his
meeting with iuccels. With this en-
couragenent Linnet boldly pulheJ
to the j'ltice's houie, directing MS
whole Company TO proceed % Chel-
fea, and order, a dinner at The Swan,
and rega'e themielves. This san-
date waScheerfully complied with,
and the eentful letter was delivered
according 0 direction. But what
was the pu oFt of Jhis letter In
itead OF thai which fhould feeure a
welcome aid fupport, it was one
that menacd the reader with fud-
den fcenc oihorror. lis proper to
explain.
Then thus it was The comedy
of the Bold stroke for VII, had
been played few nights before, and
old Linnet on this occaGon, refolying
to make grand appearance, had
put on the ltage waiitcoat he had
worn in the old col. in one of the
pockets Of which, was letter fuppo-
fed to be fent to the coIonel's friend
70 Obadiah Prilr upon hearing that
the real oimon Pure was actually
come, which ilnot timely prevented,
mutt ruin the colonePs defign upon
the cautious Friend. Judge Of the
msgiitrate's frpriie on opening the
letter Of recommendations, when he
found il begin thus -" There is a
deGgn fcrmd to rob your houfe and
cut your thrpat' The juitice rang
his bell frvant appeared ; Where
is the man that brought this letter ?
In the hall ir Call him Up direct
ly; Whilethe fcrvant was employed
in going ID fetch up the unconfciou,
culprit, OH Quorum read on-"The
gang, whFcoi am one, tho now
refolved tD rob no more, (here old
! LinDet padc his appearance. -
Well friad, fays the jufice,you be-
long TO agang how many are there
Of YOU HI" NE are fourteen in all
Sir" r."-Fburteen I! and where are you
all 7 -"At FOOLS fir, at the Swan"
Indsed / Oh, very well, you have
all your tools at the Swan, have
you III take care Of you and your
tools prfeutly. " Many thanks TO
you lr," Squire-toId me you
would encourage US" Aye, was it
he that fent you to my houle ? /" Yes
Gr" Well and when do you intend
TO begin this grand affair ." We
always bagin about teven o'clock,
fir "-You do Here Thomas here
ieize this daring hardened old vii
lain !; he and his whole gang, are
coming 0 rob and murder my family
this night, and their hcrrid tools are
at The swan publick houfe II did
bot think this Of you,fays the fervant
10 Linrct. Wbat do you know
that fellow Sirrah ! Yes fir; he is
maaer Of the play. A player I! and
axe you not an open and avowed
murderer ?-"Oh l., fir, what do
you mean p-Look at this letter,
yeu hang dog ? did you not deliver
this 10 me ? Who can defcribe the
innocent LinAet's aitorifhment upon
the difcovery of this mifake : Oh,
dear FIR. fays he, ! beg your pardon,
here IS 'Squire-'s letter, | hope
this will fatisfy you. Hold him till
| fee what is here. On the pcrulal