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Before eight of the clock, Mr Stagg, peering from behind the curtain,

noted with satisfaction that the house was filling rapidly; upon the

stroke of the hour it was crowded to the door, without whichthat there an to play and reetings from one part of the house to another, as

much movement to and fro as could be accomplished in so crowded a space

The manners of the London playhouses were aped not unsuccessfully To

coht have been Drury Lane upon a gala

night If the building was rude, yet it had no rival in the colonies, and

if the audience was not so gay of hue, iue, or paramount

in fashion as its London counterpart, yet it was coreatness

In the centre box sat his Excellency, Williainia, resplendent in velvet and gold lace, and beside him Colonel

Alexander Spotswood, arrived in town froe, by the Assee his iron works Colonel Byrd of Westover, Colonel Ese, and Colonel Ludere

likewise of the Governor's party, while seated or standing in the pit, or

entleesses, owners of vast tracts of land, of

ships and many slaves Of their nuland's wars, and soentle blood, sprung froreen island which with fondness they still called home, andtheir way to honor through a