1718

// The London Gazette // is categorized as one of the British Government’s official journals, and is considered the most important. This journal circulates not only throughout London, but throughout the UK as well. Most statutory documents are required to be published in the issues of this journal. Formerly know as The //Oxford Gazette,// the journal was first published on November 7, 1665, while King Charles II and his court fled to Oxford to escape the deadly plague. (Handover, 5). At the time, the publication was distributed twice a week and again was solely about government affairs. The paper has been described as aesthetically pleasing, informative and politically correct (Handover, 7). After the King and his court returned to London after they fled as a result of the plague, the paper was named The //London Gazette// andhas been dubbed the first official newspaper because of its double sheet single sided format. From the publications beginnings, it has covered news relating to business and trade, and foreign dispatches. Journalist Henry Muddiman was the creator of The London Gazette, and remained the head editor until the Glorious Revolution of 1688. (Burney Collection Newspapers, 2014). Sir Richard Steele founder of the Speculator and the //Tatler// and the founder of the //Daily Courant// Samuel Buckley succeeded him as editors of the journal. The journal was additional published in French and was sent out for circulation in 1666. This version of the journal also publishes government notices each weekday, and is the oldest surviving English newspapers and the oldest continuously published newspaper in the United Kingdom (Burney Collection Newspapers, 2014).
 * __ About the London Gazette __**


 * __ Issues Covered in 1718 __**

Most of what is covered in The London Gazette has to do with government affairs to keep people updated about what was going on politically. Two of the most covered topics in the Gazette’s 1718 issues were the Transportation Act of 1718 and the beginning of the War of Quadruple Alliance. The Transportation Act of 1718 was an act passed by the British government when crime rates in Britain began increasing. This problem started in 1615 when criminals were offered the choice of either being punished for their crimes or being deported to the New World (Ancestors, 2006) The problem with this system was the fact that it was poorly regulated and criminals had to find their own means to financially support their voyage and to find their own transportation (Ancestors, 2006). As a result, no one really kept track of where people were going. However, when this new piece of legislation was mandated, the system became more organized. Under the Transportation Act, the government paid merchant companies a solid fee to transport criminals to the new world. Though the system was newly regulated, it was still a brutal voyage for passengers. Ship captains were very abusive and barely treated the convicts better than slaves. They were reported as being kept in chains below the decks. It was in the ship’s best interest for being cautionary with these delinquents for there was always the chance that they would murder the ship’s captain and crew (Ancestors, 2006). Another large issue that was covered by the Gazette was the beginning of the War of the Quadruple Alliance. The beginning of the conflict was a result of King Philip V of Spain to reclaim Italian territories and to overtake the French throne (Blanning, 1948) Britain, France, Austria, the Dutch Republic and later Savoy combated his efforts. Though the feuding started as early as 1717, the war was not officially declared until December 1718 (Blanning, 1948). With the appointment of a loyal Whig Samuel Buckley in 1714, the newspaper maintained its name for publishing news free of opinion. It had always been his motto to let readers make reflections for themselves. In the last of his times as a published, he had served the Whigs well with two skillful leaks of information in 1711 with a three peace text of peace preliminaries with France which disclosed concessions that in the Whig view betrayed allies and offered little advantage to the country of England (Handover, 47). This was followed on December 5 on the peace by the text of the memorial of protest against the peace from the Elector of Hanover (Handover, 48). Though the newspaper never published either piece since it couldn’t be risked, Buckley’s motive was to embarrass the government as a whole. When the Tory majority in the Lords melted away, the queen accepted Whig advisers in her presence again. Under the new king, the Whigs returned to full power (Handover, 48). During the 1718 theatrical season in England, there were more changes than there usually were. Though the rivalry between well known theaters Lincoln’s Inn Fields and Drury Lane still existed, John Rich assigned the management of Lincoln’s Inn Fields to two players: Theophilus Keenes and Christopher Bullock. He recruited the insights of these two gentlemen because they had more extensive experience in company management than Rich had, and his prior techniques in running the company had not been very successful (Avery, 461). Rich, however, did receive a percentage of profits from the theater and participated in pantomimes with his brother Christopher, but the arrangement was broken later into the season because of Keene’s death. The shift in circumstances in the opera company also lead to the suspension of operation in 1717-1718, and Italian opera was not performed during that season and was not resumed for several years after. However, more concerts were advertised than usual during this particular season. Another important event that happened during this theater season was the opening of a theater in Richmond during the early summer under the management of William Penkethman (Avery, 461). He did not legitimately compete with Drury Lane or Lincoln Inn’s Fieldhouse, but had plays in the evenings when both of the other playhouses were closed. Rumors in other newspapers were hinted as well, such as the involvement of foreign actors in comedies and for the creation of a theater in Hampton Court Palace (Avery, 462). The main source for information on the theater scene in London was through //The Courant//. The newspapers issued during this season offered a lot more gossip than usual to its readers, but the Courant still reigned supreme in distributing theatrical information (Avery, 462).
 * __ The Whig Party Takes Over The Gazette __**
 * __ Theater in 1718 __**


 * __ Theater Season of 1718 __**

The theater season 1718 ran similarly to that of other seasons as well. The rivalry between Drury Lane and Lincoln’s Inn Fieldhouse was apparent, for there were instances in which both houses would debut the same play within days, for example The Indian Emperor in January, and the debuts of the new plays the //Nonjuror// and //A Bold Stroke For A Wife.// As well as in past seasons, there were always room for classics to be shown in the playhouses as well, such as Shakespeare’s //Macbeth// and //King Henry IV// along with other classic restoration comedies such as the //Rover// and the //Relapse// (Avery, 472) There were also many musical concerts given at smaller theaters aside from the playhouses (Avery, 500).


 * __ Susanna Centilivre __**

Centilivre was one of the most successful female English playwrights, actresses and poets of the eighteenth century. She created a long career for herself at the Drury Lane Theater, and many actors and actresses became famous by playing characters in her plays. As a playwright, Centilivre is highly acclaimed for her comedies, which often follow the Spanish style (Bower, 6). This means that they are romantic, but consist of more emotion than the Restoration comedy. Centilivre held a strong belief in the fact that comedy was meant to entertain. Since she was a female playwright, she was often times criticized and was forced to please the masses rather than focusing on sending controversial messages through her plays (Bower, 6-7). Centilivre was more than just a political dramatist centered her plays on the beliefs of the Whig party, but she took pride in speaking against Tory beliefs entirely. She identified very clearly as an anti-Catholic, which can be seen in many prologues and epilogues in her plays (Bower, 6-7).


 * __ A Bold Stroke For A Wife __**

Set in 18th-century England, the play tells the story of a military officer, Colonel Fainwell who wants to marry a young woman named Anne Lovey. However, he faces the authority of Miss Lovely’s four guardians who each have their own idea for an ideal husband for Lovely. But the reality is that each of these men has their own flaws, but they are not apparent to one another because the men do not see eye to eye (Centilivre, 30).

For Fainwell to be able to have Miss Lovely’s hand in marriage, he must convince the four guardians that he will make an ideal husband (Centilivre, 30). Fainwell goes to great lengths to win the hand of Lovely, disguising himself as many different people. Collectively, Fainwell disguises himself as a fop, a traveller of the world, a country steward, a not so bright Dutchman and a preacher in turn (Centilivre, 42). The identity that Fainwell impersonates is Simon Pure, which eventually lets him win the hand of Lovely, however, before the marriage can take place, the real Simon Pure must reveal his identity (Centilivre, 72).

Works Cited

Handover, P. M. //A History of the London Gazette, 1665- 1965.// S.l.: S.n., n.d. Print.

London Gazette (London, England) January 4, 1718-January 4, 1718 Issue 5604

London Gazette (London, England), July 12, 1718 - July 15, 1718; Issue 5659

London Gazette (London, England), July 19, 1718 - July 22, 1718; Issue 5661

"The Transportation Act of 1718." //Ancestors// 2006: n. pag. Web.

Blanning, Tim. //The Pursuit of Glory: Europe 1648-1815//. Penguin Books (2008)

"The Transportation Act of 1718." //Ancestors// 2006: n. pag. Web.

Avery, Emmett L. "1717-1718." //The London Stage, 1700-1729: A Critical Introduction//. Carbondale and Edwardsville: Southern Illinois U, 1968. 461-500. Print.

Bowyer, John.//The Celebrated Mrs. Centlivre//. 1952.Duke University Publications.

Centilivre, Susanna. "A Bold Stroke For A Wife." //Eighteenth Century Collections Online//. Gale Cengage Learning, n.d. Web.