1699

=** A Historical Look Of London in 1699 **=

During this last year of the century there was a lot going on abroad in the countries surrounding England.The London post, was more concerned about reporting about that which was going on in the surrounding countries than that which was going on in London. Topics that were discussed about occurrences happening in London usually reported about the Kind's activity or varies crimes that occurred. The London Post was printed by Benj. Harris, at the Golden Boar's-head against the Crofs- Keys-Inn in Grace-church-street.

** Foreign and Domestic Intelligence: **

 * In Rome **, in February, the Cardinal Morrigia, in the presence of 20 Cardinals took to the Papacy. Only the Imperial, French, and Venetian Ambassadors and the Queen of Poland saw this private affair.


 * In Amsterdam, ** in July, a Spanish vessel, that was sent out to obtain information about the state and strength of the Scots, had been captured. 60 men, along with another Spanish vessel with a large amount of valuables had also been captured.


 * In Warsaw, ** in September, there was a huge debate about how to pay the electors of Brandenburg 300,00 Rixdollars, and a suggestion was made to use the crown jewels but the Elector rejected the jewels because he was not interested in the fame that came along with the jewels. It was also suggested that the Elector may be easily persuaded to drop all debts if an agreement were made that no Polish Commissaries will be sent to see the Homage paid for Prussia and the Elector would not be bound to send 1500 men to assist poland.

--2 Individuals were arrested on the suspicion of being Highway men and were committed to Newgate. --King William, with 50 guns and 150 men was set to sail for India with in the next few days on the Old Company's Account.
 * In London, ** in October, t he King went to Windsor to meet the Prince, Princess, the Duke of Gloucester, and was expected to travel to Kensington and Hampton Court.

__** A Summary Of The Theater During This Period **__
The theater during this period is best understood through the various playhouses that existed during this time. They are as follows:


 * The Lincoln's Inn Fields Company, ** which was headed by Thomas Betterton. During the early season this particular company did not prosper much, partially because they did not bring forth any greatly successful plays. It was thought that this company was extremely small and inadequate.


 * [[image:http://media.web.britannica.com/eb-media/58/112758-004-F3A3748B.jpg width="257" height="171" align="left" caption="The Drury Lane Company Playhouse"]]The Drury Lane (and Dorset Garden) Company **, which was primarily headed by Christopher Rich, with some assistance from Sir Thomas Skipwith. This company with the exception of one exceptionally production of //The Island Princess,// did not prosper much during the first season of this year. Although in a larger perspective this company had always been better off financially from the beginning.

Both companies struggled greatly during this season, and imported singer and dancers to try and appease the audience so they would come out to the playhouses. Both companies equally shared backlash of moral and legal accusations in the plays that they produced. They attempted to console such threats by offering to give some of their profits to charity.

==__** A Summary Of "The Plain Dealer"-William Wycherley **__==

Capt. Manly is a direct fellow that hates the hypocrisy that he sees in day to day life in which people will behave fawningly toward anyone in the room, but then will show derision toward them with others once they are no longer in earshot. The only two people he implicitly trusts are his fiance and his best friend, Olivia and Vernish, until Olivia jilts Manly to marry Vernish.

Manly then pursues his revenge by making Olivia an adulterer, and Vernish a cuckold with the assistance of a paige, who is really Fidelia disguised as a boy. When Fidelia is found out, and expresses her feelings toward Manly, he is so impressed with her fidelity that he weds her.

**__ Conclusion __**
Based on my findings within the newspapers about domestic and foreign affairs I found no mention of theater or drama which made it hard to relate the play to the atmosphere in which it was performed. For this particular periodical I did not find any reports about entertainments or the arts. Each of the articles that I read through mentioned mostly politics between England and other countries as well as with the church. The classified ads would mention religious texts for sale and various acclaimed cures for venereal diseases. I did however see a relationship between the concept of defying trust within the play to the pirate raids that took place mid this year. I also related Manly's desire to marry someone whom he trusts to England's desire to end any unnecessary expenditures in relation to the Polish commissaries.

**__ Works Cited __**
Lennep, William. //The London Stage: 1660 - 1800 ; a Calendar of Plays, Entertainments & Afterpieces Together with Casts, ////Box-Receipts and Contemporary Comment, Compiled from the Playbills, Newspapers and Theatrical Diaries of the Period //. Carbondale, Ill: Southern Illinois Univ.Pr, 1960. Print.

//London Post with Intelligen ////ce Foreign and Domestick// [London] 26-28 Feb., 1699, ed.: 114. //Eighteenth Century Collections Online//. Web. 15 Aug. 2013.

//London Post with Intelligence Foreign and Domestick// [London] 30 June-3 July, 1699, ed.: 12. //Eighteenth Century Collections Online//. Web. 15 Aug. 2013.

//London Post with Intelligence Foreign and Domestick// [London] 27-29 Sept., 1699, ed.: 50. //Eighteenth Century Collections Online//. Web. 15 Aug. 2013.

//London Post with Intelligence Foreign and Domestick// [London] 30 Oct.-1 Nov. 1699, ed.: 64. //Eighteenth Century Collections Online.// Web. 15 Aug. 2013.

Wycherley, William. //Plays Written by Mr. William Wycherley: Containing The Plain// //Dealer, The Country Wife, Gentleman Dancing Master, Love in a Wood. // Ed.Benjamin Motte London, 1731. 459. Google Books. Web. 15 Aug 2013.