Event Comment: Letter from
John Potter, Proprietor of
the New Theatre in the Haymarket, to
the author of
the General Advertiser: As
the resentment of
the Town for
the disappointment of
the performance advertised to be exhibited at my
theatre on Monday last, shall fall entirely upon me, I hope I may be allowed to acquaint
the public with
the nature of my case. [Suggests he should not be to blame for misbehavior of any person who hired his house, that he had some apprehensions in this case, but that
the Bottle Conjurer paid
the rent in advance and agreed to have a House officer in
the box office to return
the money if
the audience was displeased.] All
the caution above mentioned was taken, and
the money locked up in
the office, guarded by persons of reputation, who would have returned it, and publicly on
the stage told
them, that if
the person did not appear,
their money should be return'd. But instead of complying with that offer, my House was pulled down,
the Office broken open,
the money taken out, and
the servants oblig'd to fly to save
their lives. I hope
therefore this may be deem'd a sufficient justification in my behalf, and all that could be reasonably expected from me; and that those gentlemen who are conscious of having injured me, will be so generous as to make me a reasonable Satisfaction, considering
the damage I have suffer'd, which in a moderate computation will amount to upwards of four thousand pounds. This day is Publish'd, at 1s.
Lethe, a Dramatic Satire, by
David Garrick as it is perform'd at
Drury Lane. By
Paul Vaillant, facing
Southampton Street in
the Strand. [A letter from
Samuel Foote to
the Author of
the General Advertiser clears himself from any imputation of confederacy in
the Bottle Conjuror fraud. See also my Introduction, note 103.] Receipts: #100 (
Cross); #119 2s. 6d. (
Powel)