1707+-+Prospero

** Snapshot of 1707: The World Stage and the Theatrical Stage **
 * 1707 **


 * The Daily Courant **

The Daily Courant began its publication on 11 March 1702. The Courant was published daily; its original publisher was noted bookseller Elizabeth Mallet. Mallet was an active in the publication area from 1683 to 1703. After her retirement, Mallet’s husbands ran the paper. Samuel Buckley eventually bought The Courant. The Courant was notable for being the world’s first daily newspaper, the paper became possible after the abolishment of the Licensing of The Press Act, which were strict regulations on the press that were enacted in 1665 but abolished in 1695. While Mallet was the editor the paper focused mainly on foreign affairs with some local advertisement. But subsequent editors focused on local issues.

In 1707 the Daily Courant would file different dispatches from various parts of the world. For example, during the February 28 issue of the Daily Courant there are stories from Venice that were filed on February 5. The Daily Courant in 1707 would focus on issues throughout Europe, England, and The Americas and its reporting was very non biased and straightforward. Two events were focused on during the early part of 1707 and that was the War Of the Spanish Succession, which was raging throughout Europe and The Acts of Union, which united England and Scotland during the early part of the year. Also, the advertisements in the paper normally included a list of plays in the begging of the classified section, usually with an advertisement from Drury-Lane followed by The Queen’s Theater. Throughout the classified section there are goods on sale and medicine advertisements.

The paper ceased to be published in 1735 when it merged with The Daily Gazetteer and was published until 1797.


 * The War **** of the Spanish Succession **

====During the early part of 1707 the war of Spanish Succession was a major story that the Courant was covering. The war of succession was a conflict between rival Spanish houses that were in conflict after the death of King Charles II of Spain. On one side their was the forces loyal to the Hasburg Family of King Charles II which included The Holy Roman Empire (ie Germany and Austria), Great Britain, the Dutch Republic and The Kingdom of Portugal. On the Other side there was the Kingdom of Naples, Sicily, and France, which were loyal to Philip of Anjou who was from the Bourbon House that ruled France.====

[[image:WO2_B0181DAILCOUR_1707_08_25-0001-F.jpg width="251" height="173" align="left" caption="Daily Courant report on the Battle of Toulan "]]
====The conflict spanned a wide range of territory from Germany to Spain to Italy to France and included the major European forces. In 1707 major battles occurred in the war. One major battle that was covered by the Courant was the Battle of Toulon. The battle pitted Austrian, Dutch, and British soldiers against French and Bourbon Spanish forces, and it cost ten thousand people their lives. And it was was a Franco – Spanish vicory. Throughout the early part of 1707 The Courant was constantly reporting on the war from royal proclamations to the marshaling and movements of troops.====

====The conflict did not end in 1707 but seven years later. The conflict led the new Spanish government to cede its territories in The Netherlands, Naples, Milan,Sardinia, Sicily, and Savoy. But, it led to a bourbon king to sit on the Spanish throne.====

In 1707 an important happened in England and that was the union of Scotland and England into Great Britain. The act was ratified by the English parliament in 1706. And the Scottish Parliament began debating the Act of Union on January of 1707. Both the Scottish and English Parliament enacted the Act on May 1 of 1707.
 * The Union of England and Scotland **

The act unified The Scottish and English Parliament and both lands. It was unique that Scotland and England, who had been in conflict for a long time, would be unified peacefully. In the beginning the Union faced resistance from the lower classes who feared the new taxes that would be enacted with the new union. Yet, as a whole the unification ran smoothly and the act was helped by the fact that Queen was from the Stuart line, which originated from Scotland. The unification of England and Scotland into Great Britain helped their position in the Spanish War of Succession.

1707 was a very interesting time in British theater. In March 8 of 1707 The Stratagem by noted playwright George Farquhar opened at the Royal Theater. During the 1707 season there were many productions of Shakespearean classics like Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Othelo, Macbeth, The Tempest, and The Taming of The Shrew. Yet other classics like Richard III, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream were not produced during the 1707 season. Other plays during this season included The Carless Husband and The Double Gallant by Colley Cibber, The Constant Couple, The Recruiting office, and The Stratagem by George Farquhar. Also, during this season John Vanbrugh and Owen Swiney, the owners of both The Drurry Lane and The Queen’s theater, reached an agreement which allowed for the mobility of actors between theaters, which allowed for a greater variety in parts actors could play and led to diverse performances of the different plays presented.
 * Summary of the Theater Season of 1707 **


 * Summary of //The Beaux Stratagem// **

The Beaux Stratagem was a late comedy by the noted playwright George Farquhar. The play first appeared in the Queen’s Theater, in Haymarket, London on March 8 1707. The play like Farquhar’s previous works takes a critical look at marriage and divorce within Restoration England.

The Stratagem major plot deals with the divorce of The Sullen’s and the main character Archer’s relation with the Sullen. The play also deals with inheritance and the divorce laws of England. The play also deals with wealth. The wealth part is dealt with in the divorce of the Sullens and how Mrs. Sullen’s estate would be divided when she divorced her husband. There is also the relationship between Archer’s brother, the poor Aimwell and the wealthy Dorinda. The Beaux Stratagem analyzes the conquest of wealth. Both Aimwell and Archer hope to gain wealth in the town of Linchfield, they seek to maneuver themselves into a prosperous position. Yet what starts out as a cynical plot to seduce the rich women of the town turns into a very romantic tale of love and how divorce stifles love. The stifled love is symbolized by the relationship of Mrs. Sullen and her husband who have nothing in common and who are opposites throughout the play. The play ends happily; Mrs. Sullen is divorced from her bad husband and in a relationship with Archer and Dorinda has accepted Aimwell even though he confesses to her that he is poor and not a man of quality.

1707 was an interesting period of English history. It was the year that England and Scotland united to form Great Britain. During this year The Daily Courant reported a Europe that was in turmoil. The Spanish War of Succession was happening throughout Europe and Great Britain was heavily involved. Also, in 1707 //The Beaux Stratagem// premiered in The Queens Theater. The play that dealt with wealth and the division of wealth a perfect play for a time when a conflict dealing with the division of wealth and lands was engulfing Europe. The Spanish War of Succession occurred because the heirs of Charles III could not divide his Spanish kingdom, the Beaux Stratagem ended happily because Archer was able to secure Mrs. Sullen’s wealth and divorce. If Spanish and European politics were like a Farquhar comedy the nobles would find love among the gentry and love and cleaver maneuvering would avoid conflicts, sadly that was not the case in 1707.
 * Conclusion **


 * Work Cited**

"Act of Union 1707: Overview." Living Heratage. Parliament of the United Kingdom, n.d. Web. 2 July 2016.

Alcoberro, Agustí. "The War of the Spanish Succession in the Catalan-speaking Lands." Barcelona University, 20 Sept. 2009. Web. 5 July 2016.

Farquhar, George, Vincent F. Hopper, and Gerald B. Lahey. //The Beaux' Stratagem.// Great Neck, N.Y.: Barron's Educational Series, 1963. Print. Theatre classics for the modern reader; Theatre classics for the modern reader.

Judge, Ben. "11 March 1702 – the World’s First Daily Newspaper Published." Money Week, 11 Mar. 2015. Web. 5 July 2016.

“London, Aug. 8.” The Daily Courant. 18-30 Aug 1707: 1. 17th-18th Century Burney Collection Newspapers. Gale. University of Maryland College Park. Web. 3 July 2016.

“London, Mar. 4.” The Daily Courant. 4-31 Mar 1707: 1. 17th-18th Century Burney Collection Newspapers. Gale. University of Maryland College Park. Web. 6 July 2016.

"Mob Unrest and Disorder for Scotland." Living Heratage. Parliament of the United Kingdom, n.d. Web. 2 July 2016.

"Ratification, October 1706 - March 1707." Living Heratage. Parliament of the United Kingdom, n.d. Web. 2 July 2016.

"Spanish Sucession 1707." //Spanish Sucession//. Spanish Sucession, 6 July 2016. Web.

The London Stage, 1660-1800: a Calendar of Plays, Entertainments & Afterpieces, Together With Casts, Box-receipts And Contemporary Comment. [1st ed.] Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1960196811965.