[ 89 ] 



exhibitions, the expenfes would certainly have been defrayed by an 

 order of the Lord Deputy or Privy Council, on the Deputy Vice 

 Treafurer ; yet no fuch order appears either in the Treafury 

 ofRce, or id the archives of the office of the Auditor General — 

 at leaft, if fuch an order does exift, it has efcaped my re- 

 fearches. 



The Theatre in Werburgh-ftreet continued to be opened, oc- 

 Gafionally, under the fandion of Government till the year 1641, 

 when it clofed for ever *. 



From Werburgh-ftreet the fcene of the Drama was fhifted tO' 

 Orange-ftreet (now Smock-alley) in 1661. But during the civil 

 wars that foon after broke out, the whole company were dif- 

 pcrfed J fo that when the people of Dublin, on the defeat of 

 king James's army, at the battle of the Boyne, amongft other 

 cxpreffions of joy, fays Gibber, had a mind to have a play, 

 they could find no ador to afiift, and fome private perfons agreed 

 to give one, at their own expenfe, to the public at the Theatre |. 



From 



* The laft play performed at this theatre was Landgartla, a tragi-comedy, 

 written by Henry Bornel, Efq. of whom I have only been able to learn, that 

 he was born in Ireland, and flouriftied about the clofe of the reign of Charles I.- 



t Apology, page 136. 



