Allan Ramsay. [A biography.] - National Library of Scotland

io8 FAMOUS SCOTS
In 1722 he wrote an epilogue, to be spoken after the
acting of 'The Drummer'; in 1726 a prologue, to be
addressed to the audience by the famous Tony Aston on
the first night of his appearance; in 1727 a prologue, to
be delivered before the acting of ' Aurenzebe,' at
Haddington School; and finally, an epilogue, recited
after the performance of 'The Orphan' and 'The
Gentle Shepherd,' in January 1729. All these, and
probably others that have not been preserved, evince that
Ramsay cherished a warm affection for the drama, with
an earnest desire to see his fellow-countrymen profit by
it. After the indignant remonstrance
—
' Shall London have its houses twa,
And we be doomed to nane ava ?
Is our metropolis ance the place
Where lang-syne dwelt the royal race
Of Fergus, this gait dwindled doun
To the level o' a clachan toun ?
While thus she suffers the desertion
Of a maist rational diversion,'
he commenced to erect, in 1736, a playhouse in
Carrubber's Close. In his advertisement in the Cale-
donian Mercury^ announcing the prospective opening, he
states, he had built the house ' at vast expense,' in order
that, during the winter nights, the citizens might enjoy
themselves in hearing, performed by competent actors,
dramas that would amuse, instruct, and elevate.
His advertisement, in the issue of the Mercury for
September 15, 1736, reads:
—
* The new theatre in Carrubber's Close being in great forward-
ness, will be opened on the ist of November. These are to
advertise the ladies and gentlemen who incline to purchase annual
tickets, to enter their names before the 20th of October next, on