Gazette Of The United States, & Daily Advertiser

The following prologue, written by a respectable citizen of Washington, was spoken at the opening of the Theatre in that city, with peculiar pathos, by Mr Wignell.

THANK Heaven! ten tedious anxious years are past,
And here we've all together met at last--
The Grecian States, ambitious to destroy,
Took the same time to level cloud-capt Troy:
Their Hero, by subverting, ought his praise,
Our patriot's nobler glory was to raise
Let other nations look to Greece and Rome,
Columbia's bright examples are at home:
Whate'er is great or good we find in one,
All virtues joined to form a Washington.
Heaven partial seemed occasions to dispense,
Pleased to unfold his great pre-eminence.--
Exulting thought! Why thus appear distress'd?
But ah! you feel the most who knew him best
Mourn not, but thankful that his life was spared
So long; enjoy the blessings he prepared-
As planetary systems roll on high
Ruled by th' Almighty's law of harmony;
These States in ceaseless unity Shall roll,
Swayed by the plans of his inspired soul.
"To-night we'll make you weep by mimic play
For tears are tributes which delight must pay.
Expand your tuckers, ye sigh welling fair,
Unfurl your fans, your handkerchiefs prepare:
Catch the soft moments, ye enamoured beaux,
Arrest the tear drop, trembling as it flows:
Sweet sensibility the soul endears,
And beauty lends a lustre most in tears.
This grand hotel, for epicures designed,
Now makes provision only for the mind;
For you, each night, two courses nice we cater,
And for our wants the prompter call, not waiter.
A bad exchange, you'll say, solids for air;
Who's he that whispers "it is city fare."
Sir, you're a poet, and delight forsooth,
Rather to deal in fiction than in truth.
Those ruddy cheeks evince the air is fine,
And those fat sides show on the best you dine.
"Well faith--we've formed a tolerable stage,
There's room for comic glee or tragic rage.
But there pointing to pit and boxes the city populates so quick,
I fear you've stowed yourselves a way too thick.
Ladies, you smile as if the crowding pleased
Sure your fine frames must tremble to be squeezed.
Tho' now our corps rather too thin appear,
This central spot must draw forth volunteers;
If power's their wish, to monarchies we'll raise them,
If fame, 'twere ample scope for you to praise them;
If death and glory, here they may be slain,
And what is better, "rise to sight again."
Their country's service to a generous mind,
That first incentive, true they cannot find;
And yet we act no despicable part,
Who gladden life and meliorate the heart.
The floods of late which drowned you many a horse,*
Have caused to us a much severer loss;
Our groves, our temples gone beyond repair,
The torn. hath wept our canvas almost bare.
For this deficiency we'll soon atone,
Would you could build as fast with brick and stone.
At first behold us with indulgent eye,
And soon with zeal we'll every want supply-
Thus too the city all things will acquire,
That fancy can suggest, or heart desire;
The bayonet, the sword, the cannon's roar,
Drive arts and science to this peaceful shore
If various tongues from building could disable,
Your houses would of course be topped like Babel;
Dutch, Irish, Germans, French, all hither flee
To enjoy the happy fruits of harmony.
With your permission-[bell rings hark! I'm called away,
That bell cuts short the best I had to say
Accept the will, I pray you for the deed,
For this on all occasions we must plead,.
By your indulgence only we succeed,
* Alluding to casualties occasioned by overflowing of the creeks, and damage sustained by stage scenery

N. B. The lines with the commas before them were omitted in the delivery.