1749

//The London Stage //, //The Gentleman's Magazine, and// Samuel Johnson's "Mahomet and Irene"in the form a Letter to my dear Cousin Ginerva from Sheffield Village in the Year of 1749 Anno Domini
 * From Ignotus Peverell. Godric's Hollow, London, 31 July, 1749. **

Dear Cousin Ginerva,

 I hope I find you in the prime of your health. Harry recently called my offices here in London and I was very concerned to hear that your health has been fragile lately. I think it is sheer ignorance that people believe the country air is good for rehabilitation. Upon my word! You should visit and stay at my dwelling here in London. Lily and I would love to have you as a guest. Since I know you are going to disagree with my proposal because of your undying loyalty to your locale, I rest my case at the risk of being superfluous. I do, however, insist on maintaining my offer, madam.

 Dear Cousin, I have fond memories of how we used to discourse extensively on the state and running of the theatre here in London. I will flatter you by saying that you are one of the most artistically aware ladies that I know of. This is another reason why I believe you would find better company in London as opposed to those country ladies of your acquaintance. In either case, your extensive bed rest concerns me because you obviously have not been able to keep up with the going-ons of London theatre as you usually do. Therefore, I have taken the great pleasure and liberty of writing this letter to you, madam. I will endeavor to fit a full calendar year's worth of London's best theatre and give you exclusive details of a play that I had the liberty to see. I will even give you some excerpts from //The Gentleman's Magazine//.

 I hope you will accept one caveat in advance: you will destroy this letter once you are done reading this. I can trust my indelible gentlemanly reputation to your remarkable memory.

 With that being said, I gather from The London Stage, the play season of 1748-1749 included a large number of performances. You would be surprised to know that the grand total stands at 513, which includes 43 at the Opera. Dear Cousin, you missed the hilarious competition between the Woodward at the Drury Lane and Samuel Foote at the Haymarket (59). They were both apparently vying for the most number of successful plays. I could care less about the so-called winner as you know, cousin, I never had the heart for commercially successful plays. I live by your motto that Quality sees Quality. The plays that we see need to befit our stature, otherwise we are no better than mere plebeians.

 David Garrick, the playwright and theatre manager that you are so partial to, managed pretty well this season. The London Stage reports he manages a company of over eighty and put on around 175 performances at the Drury Lane theatre (59). I already congratulated him on your behalf. You know how he is always very appreciative of your ladyship's remarks. I hope you are not displeased at my use of this liberty. Garrick's management opened two new tragedies-Samuel Johnson's //Irene// and Hill's //Merope// (59). I went to watch //Irene// out of these two tragedies and will give you an account of it shortly.

 Do you remember, Cousin, of the Jeremy Collier Controversy? He claimed in no less than 300 pages about how our stage productions are suffering from moral degeneration and vulgarity at its worst? Well, Dr. Johnson responded very vigorously against Collier's assertion. He responded that, "the drama's laws the drama's patrons give," in the same vein as Daniel Defoe: "the errors of the stage lie all in the auditory" ("London" 60). I actually agree with Dr. Johnson's and Mr. Defoe's responses. Think about it, Cousin. Isn't it unfair for the audience and critics to complain about the quality of the theatre when they are the patrons who spur the whole process? The immoral content of such dramas is supported by the masses who get to see what they desire to see. Talk about irony.

 I digress. As for //Irene//, you would be interested to know that the Drury Lane theatre hinted as early as November of last year at its opening in the Theatre Royal after Christmas. The announcement was made during the screening of a rendition of //Romeo and Juliet//. In addition, //General Advertiser// also made sure to repeat this announcement so people who were not at the play could benefit from this good news ("London" 78). The news was repeated once again after the screening of //The Stratagem// this January (90). In both cases, the name of the author was claimed to be unknown.

 Cousin, you know my temper is short. I was getting sick of their peevish antics and eventually used my influence to figure out if it was even worth my time to watch this prized play. I was able to determine a full nine and a half days ahead of the play's opening whose play it was! Samuel Johnson had penned the fully titled //Mahomet and Irene// and it was performing on Monday 6th February. The name sounded enticing enough, but the authorship was even more awe-inspiring. Needless to say, I was at the center gallery seat on the opening night. The first 4 acts went off very well, but the 5th one was booed and hissed ("London" 95). It was such a shame to see such a good play go to waste just because the audience was not cultivated enough to understand the complexity of its plot.

 Did I ever confide in your grace of my passion for reading a fabulous periodical called //The Gentleman's Magazine//? It is a periodical that coins itself as a "magazine." Peculiar word, if you ask me. It makes me think of a French pastry. Ah, I disagree with the French in the manner of clothing and mode, but their food is relatively decent, don't you think? Anyways, //The Gentleman// was established by Edward Cave in 1731, nearly two decades ago. The idea behind a magazine is that it presents the reader with a variety of topics ranging from literary to the political to the everyday. I humor myself reading such a fascinating novelty because it makes me feel more well-rounded when I am conversing with my friends over at St. James'. I would attribute the magazine with raising my reputation at other coffee houses as well. I am the talk of London because of well-suited and neutral views on almost any matter, thanks to Mr. Cave.

 One of my most favorite issues of the magazine were the first ones. Of course, I used to be quite young then, but I recently got my hands on the very first issue of the magazine and it had a poetical essays section. You would never be able to guess what it had: the ode to Sir Robert Walpole for New Year's Day in 1731! ("Poetical Essays" 1731). Cousin Ginerva, I cried when I read the ode since Sir Walpole died a mere 4 years ago. Who knew? Time doth fly fast.

 As you may very well remember, Cousin, that Dr. Johnson's authorship of //Irene// was shrouded in mystery and suspense when the play was announced to be performed at a two month's notice. The announcement took place at a screening on //Romeo and Juliet// in the November of last year. A little after, the //General Advertiser// announced it too. Something serendipitous happened then before I embarked on my detective mission: //The Gentleman// published a short heroic ode in the stanza of Spencer and titled it aptly, "Irene" (Nov 1748). When I read the glowing ode, it burned such passion in me to watch the play that I had to confirm Dr. Johnson's authorship to ensure it was worth my while to watch it.

 "Irene! fav'rite daughter of the skies! <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Round whose calm brows immortal graces <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> glow;"

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ah, such beautiful poetry and graceful command of language! I was so impressed that I had to send a monetary donation to Mr. Cave for founding such a wonderful magazine.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> //The Gentleman// also published a "Prologue and Epilogue to //Irene//" and "Plans and Specimens of //Irene//" in its February issue this year to complement the opening of Dr. Johnson's play (1749). No wonder it played a role in the play's extreme commercial success. According to both //The Gentleman// and //The London Stage//, //Irene// ran from Monday February 6 to Monday February 20, inclusive at the Drury Lane Theater. Dr. Johnson made more money from this tragedy than all of his other works. Unfortunately, I have very recently heard rumors that Dr. Johnson is not very happy with his work. He thinks that his work is a critical failure. I need to talk to his pupil, David Garrick, or his former employer, Mr. Cave, to convince our beloved Dr. Johnson that his play was brilliant. If it was not, then why did people flock to Drury Lane every time the play played during that memorable fortnight?

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Although the magazine publishes literary tales to suit the desires of the English public, these stories are not the magazine's only forte. You would be glad to know, Cousin, that the magazine occasionally delves into the country environment by publishing interesting articles. I recently read a fascinating article detailing how to keep cattle free from disease. The column writer proposed a medicine recipe that is remarkable to say the least:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> "Take of fresh madder, strong leaf tobacco each half a pound; pigeon's dung, rue, for each handful; of brownsworth, otherwise golden, a handful; if this cannot be had, a handful of devil's-bit will serve: Boil them in seven quarts of stale urine. A drenching hornful of this to be poured down the throat of each beast. The above quantity will serve 30 cattle" ("Firework. Remedy for Cattle." Jan 1749).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is quite a barbaric way to treat anyone, even if it the creature in question is the beast. I am glad that you keep servants to do this for you, Cousin. I could not bear seeing you perform any of these horrendous tasks on your own.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Finally, it is important to note that //The Gentleman// regularly publishes book reviews and birth, death, marriage, and promotion notices in every issue ("Births. Deaths. Promotions." Mar 1749). You would think that this is reminiscent of a cheap newspaper. But I would argue that this is what makes the magazine so interesting: it has special literary and political discourses for the pleasure of the elite but it does not neglect to mention the silly happy and sad trifles of the life of the masses. In my opinion, this is a more compelling approach to reading and discussion than having a one-sided discourse on life.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> You are well aware of my views on theatre, dear Cousin. It is a very important part of entertainment and learning, and in case of tragedies, it sketches out the human condition. Naturally, //The Gentleman// takes the liberty to publish reviews of popular plays to furnish its readers with a short summary. In fact, a February publication of //The Gentleman// reviewed //Irene// ("Plans and Specimens of //Irene//" 1749). It is a wonderful review as it epitomizes the play to an epic and presents mythological parallels. I highly recommend you to read it (I have especially preserved that article for your in your toilet here in the guest room). Hopefully that will be an incentive for you to stop by and stay in London for a little while. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Dear Cousin, you must be dying for me to summarize Dr. Johnson's tragedy for you. I realize this letter is getting very long. You should probably prepare the embers so they can get hot enough soon to burn this letter! Remember, our promise!

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> //Irene// is a very intriguing and engaging tragedy. It involves a Turk Sultan, Mahomet, who conquers Constantinople in the middle of 15th century. While visiting a temple, he falls in love with a pious Greek lady, Aspasia:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> "The sultan gaz'ed, he wonder'd, and he lov'd: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> In passion lost, he bade the conqu'ring fair <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Renounce her faith, and be the queen of Turkey. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The pious maid, with modest indignation, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Threw back the glitt'ring bribe." (Johnson 10)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">However, she refuses Sultan's offer to renounce her faith. Her companion, almost equally fair Irene, presents a more mellow countenance and demeanor. She falls for Sultan's charm and will eventually take up on his offer, much to Aspasia's horror. The Greek soldier Demetrius (played by Mr. Garrick) is in love with Aspasia and is shocked that the Sultan has forcibly made her live in his palace. Demetrius conspires with Cali Bassa, the Sultan's first Vizier, to release Aspasia from the Sultan's grasp.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Irene is not much better off either. Since she becomes so close to the Sultan, she becomes an invaluable pawn in the hands of the Cali, Mustapha (a Turkish Aga), and Abdalla (a Turk officer who is in love with Aspasia). Mustapha turns the Sultan against Cali by lying to him that Irene is working with his Vizier. Abdalla, on the other hand, suffers a blow when Aspasia rejects his love. Aspasia successfully and safely flees the palace with Demetrius. Abdalla sends for soldiers to kill Irene. At her deathbed, Irene reveals that Cali's accomplice was Demetrius and not her. The Sultan is so moved by his rashness that he sadly proclaims in the end:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> " <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Robb'd of the maid, with whom I wish'd to triumph,  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> No more I burn for fame or for dominion;   <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Success and conquest now are empty sounds,   <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Remorse and anguish seize on all my breast;   <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Those groves, whose shades embower'd the dear Irene,   <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Heard her last cries, and fann'd her dying beauties,   <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Shall hide me from the tasteless world forever." (Johnson 69).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Does not this short plot just move you to tears, dear Cousin? The issues of foreignness of the so-called dark Turk Muslims against the ostensibly innocent fair Greek Christians is definitely at stake here. The audience is forced to look beyond the Turk Sultan's faith and his forcible conversion of fair Irene by the political duplicity of the Cali and Abdallah. In my opinion, the play wants the audience to look beyond the obvious differences between two clashing cultures and nationality. The barbarism and tyranny is not in the racial binary, but is in the corruption and power struggle to attain political superiority to achieve and maintain that binary. When the Sultan realizes his mistake, he is heartbroken. His love shines through his demeanor. However, the tragedy is that he has realized it too late. His power and corruption had completely blinded him.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> //Irene// is the reason why I think people should be more aware of their surrounding cultures and keep abreast of events going on in foreign countries. Although //The Gentleman// does not take sides, which I presume is typical of a magazine maintaining neutrality, it does go out of its way to keep its subscribers updates on the events in places outside of England. From the scenic beautiful lakes and springs in Siberia to a detailed account of the mountainous terrain of Quito, Peru (Jun 1749), //The Gentleman// spurs imaginations to work. It even covers the distant but complicated imperialist politics in Africa (Feb 1749) and the nearby tensions in the Baltic due to the British Fleet being sent (Apr 1749). It seems to me, Cousin, that this internationalism and global awareness is what will make us more well-informed citizens.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">I will pray for your well-being, Dear Cousin,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Your most humbled and obedient servant,


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">Ignotus Peverell **

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">Works Cited <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">"A Description of the Province of Quito, and other Parts of Peru." //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Gentleman's Magazine: and historical chronicle //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">, //Jan. 1736-Dec. 1833// (Jun 1749) // British Periodicals. // <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> ProQuest. University of Maryland College Park. Web. 9 December 2012. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">"A Medicine to Prevent Infection in Cattle. (Firework. Remedy for Cattle)" //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Gentleman's Magazine: and historical chronicle //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">, //Jan. 1736-Dec. 1833// (Jan 1749) // British Periodicals. // <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> ProQuest. University of Maryland College Park. Web. 9 December 2012. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Foreign History-Africa." //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Gentleman's Magazine: and historical chronicle //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">, //Jan. 1736-Dec. 1833// (Feb 1749) // British Periodicals. // <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> ProQuest. University of Maryland College Park. Web. 9 December 2012. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Irene: An Heroic Ode." //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Gentleman's Magazine: and historical chronicle //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">, //Jan. 1736-Dec. 1833// (Nov 1748) // British Periodicals. // <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> ProQuest. University of Maryland College Park. Web. 9 December 2012. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Johnson, Samuel. <span class="apple-converted-space" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> //Irene// <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">//: A Tragedy. As It Is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. By Mr. Samuel Johnson.// Dublin, 1749. //Eighteenth Century Collections Online//. Gale. University of Maryland College Park. Web. 9 December 2012. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Marriages. Deaths. Promotions." //The Gentleman's Magazine: and historical chronicle//, //Jan. 1736-Dec.1833// (Mar 1749) // British Periodicals. // <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> ProQuest. University of Maryland College Park. Web. 9 December 2012. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Of remarkable Lakes and Springs in Siberia." //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Gentleman's Magazine: and historical chronicle //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">, //Jan. 1736-Dec.1833// (Jun 1749) // British Periodicals. // <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> ProQuest. University of Maryland College Park. Web. 9 December 2012. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">"On the Report of a British Fleet being to be sent to the Baltic." //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Gentleman's Magazine: and historical chronicle //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">, //Jan. 1736-Dec. 1833// (Apr 1749) // British Periodicals. // <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> ProQuest. University of Maryland College Park. Web. 9 December 2012. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Plans and Specimens of Irene, a Tragedy." //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Gentleman's Magazine: and historical chronicle //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">, //Jan. 1736-Dec.1833// (Feb 1749) // British Periodicals. // <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> ProQuest. University of Maryland College Park. Web. 9 December 2012. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Poetical Essays." //The Gentleman's Magazine: and historical chronicle//, //Jan. 1736-Dec.1833// (Jan 1731) // British Periodicals. // <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> ProQuest. University of Maryland College Park. Web. 9 December 2012. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Prologue to Irene, a Tragedy." //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Gentleman's Magazine: and historical chronicle //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">, //Jan. 1736- Dec.1833// (Feb 1749) // British Periodicals. // <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> ProQuest. University of Maryland College Park. Web. 9 December 2012. // The London Stage, 1660-1800: A Calendar of Plays, Entertainments & Afterpieces, Together With Casts, Box-receipts and Contemporary Comment: Part 4, 1747-1776: //<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 59, 78, 90- 99. 1st ed. Ed. George Winchester Store Jr., et al. Carbondale: Southern Illinois UP, 1962. Print.