Diary of John Yeoman, 8-9 April 1774

urn:iso:std:iso:639:ed-3:eng

25–26, 28, 30

text excerpt

8^th.  Friday  We Set out for London about 5 o Clock in a Stage Coach, I got out in Piccadily, [...]  Dined. Went back to Market Lane to Mr. Forrestor, where I found my Couson Betsy I Stay’d there till the Company was come to go to the Play, there was Six onus Set out att [corner of MS. torn] o Clock for the play.  got there before the doors was Open’d, but Soon as ye Door was opend what a drunge (?) there was, yet we got a Second Seat in the two Shilling Gallery.  We waited Some time before there was any thing to Entertain us with but the Looking at the House which is fifty times as Large as our Church, but Ive forgot to Mention that we was at Drury Lane.  the Musick begun to play the first Thing, it consisted of 

                10 Violens

                2 French horns

                4 basesoons

                2 Base files

and another Great (file?) in the Shape of a Basefile But So Large as Six common ones, it was 2 Foot above the Mans head that Play’d him and I could Hear him Like Thunder att a distance, or like Something a Jowling in the Bowels of the earth.  the Curten was then drawn up and the Play begun, but I cannot mind much of it.  I can Remember they cauld the Rehersal, it was a composition of Blunders.  there was a Variaty of Very Butifull Scens, one I can very well Recolect.  att the further end of the feild as it apeard [the]re was a Large Bridge and we could here the Sound of Drums, kettle Drums, then we Saw an Army of Horsemen comeing over that Bridge and an Army of Foot seemd to Draw up to Battle before us with all the Appearance of War.  In an instant the Battle was begun & they Fought till there was not a live man left.  the entertainment was Harlequins Invation which was very prety.  [...]  they conclude the Play with a Chorus Song about 20 Musitioners and about 30/50 Commeadons which made a Pretty Harmony […]

Saterday 9^th  […]  There was two or three things in ye play I’d forgot to mention;  [...]  The Curtun was drawn once and there was neer to twenty boys & girls Danceing, the oldest did not appear above 10 yr. Old.  I took that to be a prety Sight; Theres Not That Man Liveing who can form any Idea of unless they See it.

excerpt from 'Diary of John Yeoman, 8-9 April 1774' pp. 25–26, 28, 30 (405 words)

1543493283295:

1543493283295