*p1767 09 14 cg The Rehearsal. Bayes-Shuter; Smith-Clarke; Johnson-Dyer; Others-Dunstall, Gibson, Perry, Davis, Dibdin, DuBellamy, Gardner, Bennet, Morgan, Barrington, R. Smith, Holtom, Cushing, Legg, Redman, Wignell, Baker, Mrs DuBellamy, Miss Pearce, Miss Mills, Miss Ford; With additional Reinforcements of Mr Bayes's New Rais'd Troops-; a New Occasional Prologue-.*a1767 09 14 cg The Mock Doctor. Doctor-Dunstall; Sir Jasper-Massey, 1st appearance that stage; Leander-R. Smith; James-Quick; Harry-Holtom; Charlotte-Miss Helme; Dorcas-Mrs Green.*c1767 09 14 cg Mainpiece: Not acted these 12 years. [See 24 Jan. 1758.] <i>Prologue</i> written by $Paul Whitehead=. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of $Mr Sarjant= (only) at the Stage-Door. No persons can be admitted behind scenes, nor any Money returned after curtain is drawn up. To begin exactly at 6 o'clock. [Customary note in succeeding bills.] Receipps: #190 14s. (Account Book). @The New Occasional Prologue@As when the merchant to increase his store@For Dubious seas, advent'rous quits the shore;@Still anxious for his freight, he trembling sees@Rocks in each buoy, and tempest in each breeze@The curling wave to mountain billow swells,@And every cloud a fancied storm fortells:@Thus rashly launch'd on this Theatric main,@Our All on board, each phantom gives Us pain;@The Aatcall's note seems thunder in our ears,@And every Hiss a hurricane appears;@In Journal Squibs we lightning's blast espy,@And meteors blaze in every Critic's eye.@Spite of these terrors, still come hopes we view,@Hopes, ne'er can fail us--since they're plac'd--in you.@Your breath the gale, our voyage is secure,@And safe the venture which your smiles insure;@Though weak his skill, th' adventurer must succeed,@Where Candour takes th' endeavor for the deed.@For Brentford's state, two kings could once suffice;@In ours, behold! four kings of Brentford rise;@All smelling to one nosegay's od'rous savor@The balmy nosegay of--the Public favor.@From hence alone, our royal funds we draw,@Your pleasure our support, your will our law.@While such our government, we hope you'll own us;@But should we ever Tyrant prove--dethrone us.@Like Brother Monarchs, who, to coax the nation@Began their reign, with some fair proclamation,@We too should talk at least--of reformation;@Declare that during our imperial sway,@No bard shall mourn his long-neglected Play;@But then the play must have some wit, some spirit,@And We allow'd sole umpires of its merit.@For those deep sages of the judging Pit,@Whose taste is too refin'd for modern wit,@From Rome's great Theatre we'll cull the piece,@And plant on Britain's stage the flow'rs of Greece.@If some there are, our British Bards can please,@Who taste the ancient wit of ancient days,@Be our's to save, from Time's devouring womb,@Their works, and snatch their laurels from the tomb.@For you, ye Fair, who sprightlier scenes may chuse,@Where Music decks in all her airs the Muse,@Gay Opera shall all its charms dispense,@Yet boast no tuneful triumph over sense;@The nobler Bard shall still assert his right,@Nor Handel rob a Shakespear of his night,@To greet the mortal brethren of our skies [upper galleries]@Here all the Gods of Pantomime shall rise:@Yet midst the pomp and magic of machines,@Some plot may mark the meaning of our scenes;@Scenes which were held, in good King Rich's days,@By sages, no bad epilogues to plays.@If terms like these your suffrage can engage,@To fix our mimic empire of the stage;@Confirm our title in your fair opinions,@And crowd each night to people our dominions.@--(<i>Poems and Miscelaneous Compositions</i>, Ed. $Capt. Edward Thompson=, 1777) <i>Covent Garden</i> opened with the <i>Rehearsal</i> with alterations. I was in the Pit. $Powell=, from <i>Drury Lane</i>, one of the new managers who have bought the patent from $Rich='s heirs, spoke an occasional <i>Prologue</i>. $Shuter= did <i>Bayes</i> pretty much to my liking, adding many crochets of his own.... Entertainment <i>The Mock Doctor</i>,...<i>Young Jasper</i> pretty well by one $Massey=, being his first appearance on that stage (<i>Neville MS Diary</i>).