I have this morning received the following letter from the famous Mr. Thomas Doggett:[26]
"Sir,
"On Monday next will be acted for my benefit, the comedy of 'Love for Love': if you will do me the honour to appear there, I will publish on the bills, that it is to be performed at the request of Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq.; and question not but it will bring me as great an audience, as ever was at the house since the Morocco ambassador was there.[27] I am, (with the greatest respect)
"Your most obedient and
"Most humble Servant,
"Thomas Doggett."
Being naturally an encourager of wit, as well as bound to it in the quality of censor, I returned the following answer:
"Mr. Doggett,
"I am very well pleased with the choice you have made of so excellent a play, and have always looked upon you as the best of comedians; I shall therefore come in between the first and second act, and remain in the right-hand box over the pit till the end of the fourth, provided you take care that everything be rightly prepared for my reception."[28]
FOOTNOTES:
[27] The Morocco ambassador made his public entry into London in April 1706. Don Venturo Zary, another Morocco minister, visited the Haymarket Theatre on May 4, 1710, with his "attendants in their several habits, &c., having never as yet appeared in public." There was no play at Drury Lane Theatre that night (Postboy, April 29 to May 2, 1710).