Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-12-10

by Mr.. Woodat the opening ofNthe New Thea
\ re. The address we published was hottie adj
dress writtenby Mr.. Sprague or spoken by Mr.
Wood Weowe to the pubic an, xplanation
of the causes which led US. into the error of
publishing the address Ne did, as the address
spoken on Monday night Knowing that the
public would be deslrous to see the Premium
Address, we on Monday wroteto afrieed. we
know to be intimate with the managers, and
requested him to procurs for US. from them,
copy ofthe address for publication. On Tues.
dav morning we received from our friend, en-
closed in note to him, from one ofthe Mana.
gers, ia manuscript copy Of the address we
published last evening.
Not doubling but We had correct copy of
the address spoken by Mr.. Wood, we Publish-
ed il. From ourfriendwe now learn that by a
combination Of unfortunate circumstances,
there was copied and, sent to US BY mistake one
ofthe rejected Addresses instead ofths address
written by Mr. Sprague.
This detail Of facts viii shew--that we took
proper pans, to obtain the proper copy, from
the best authority, and that the copy We did
receive came in so unquestionable shape that
We had a right to putt to press tpt6outa doa6t
as to its accuracy or its authenticity. The ac-
cident has disappointed our readers and caused
us some modification. We now do all in our
power to give general satisfaction: we state
how the mistake occurred and present cor
rect copy of THE ADDRESS written by Mr..
Spragas aud spoken by 1Ir. Hood at the open.
ing OF the New Theatre on Monday evening
Dec Q. 1922.
When learning slulnber'd ia the converts
shade,
And holy craft the cropping nations swaysd,
BY dizziness banned, the muses. wandered long,
Each Tyre neglected, and forgot each song,
Fill Heavens bright hale wreath ID the Dramas
dome,
Aud great AppolIo called the pilgrims home
Than their glad Harps, that charmed old
Greece, they swept,
Their affairs thronged, aud joys high Sabbath
kept;
Young Genius there his glorious banners
reared,
TO float forever loved, forever feared.
The mystic legions OF the cloister known,
Old superstition tumbled from his throne;
Back to his cell the king OF gloom retired,
Toe bnskin triumphed and the world admiredt
Since that proud hour, through each unfet-
tered age,
The sons of light have CLUSTERED roundthe stage
From fiction's realms her richest spoils they
bring, m
And pleasures walls with rapture's echoes ring,
Here hermit wisdom lays his mantle down,
TO win with Smiles the heart that fears his
frown.
In mirth's cay robe he talks TO wand ring youth,
And grandeur listens to the stranger, Truth.
Here beauty's daughters bend with tinghng ear,
When love repeats the tale to love dear
Their sacred bowers the sons of learning quit,
a'or with fancv and to feast with wit.
All come TO gaze, the valiant and the vain,
Virtues bright troop, and fashions ghttering
tram, stls.. s
Here labor rests, pale grief forgets her wo;
And vice, that prints his slime on all below,
Even vice looks on For this the stage was
reared,
TO scourgsthe fend, so seornsd and yet so
feared. f3 H.. aite
The halls ofjudgment, as the moral school,
His foot defles, the bronzed and reckless fool:
Gods lovely temple shall behold him there,
With eve upturn'd and aspect false as fair.
Then hither let the unblnshing william roam,
Satire shall knot It's whip and striker 1t home.
The stage one groan from his dark soul shall
draw, tG
That mocks religion, & that laughs at law
To grace the stage, the bard's careering mind,
Seeks other worlds, and leaves ms own behind:
He lures from air its bright, imprisoned forms,
9sreaks through the tomb and deaths dull re-
gions storms.
Der ruined realms he pours creative day,
And slumbering kings his mighty voice obey.
From It's damp shroud the long laid spirit walks,
And round the murderers bed IN vengeance
stalks.
Poor maniac beauty bringsher cypress wreath,
Her smilea moon-beam DER blasted heath
Round some cold grayesweet flowers she comes
to strew,
and lost to reason, still to love is true.
Hate shuts his soul when dove-eyed mercy
pleads, .-v-r
Power lifts the axe, and truths bold servant
bleeds.
Remorse drops anguish from his burning eyes,
Feels hell's eternal worm; and shuddering dies.
Wars trophied minion, too forsakes the Dust,
Gsrasps his worn shield, and waves his sword of
rust, QN
Springs to the slaughter atthe trumphet's cah,
Again to conquer, or again to fall.
With heads to censure, yet with soul to feel,
Friends of the stage receive our frank appeal.
No suppliant lay we frame, acquit your trust |!
The Drama a guard be gentle, but be lust