148 



II. — Xute on nonie Old Play-hills found at Launceston, hy C. Le 

 Neve Foster, D.Sc, Joint Son. Secretary. 



Read at the Annual Meeting, November 24th, 1874. 



N the iiionth of May this year, Mr. Pearce, the landlord of the 

 White Hart Hotel, Launceston, had his attention called to 

 an old trunk, and on examination it was found to have been 

 papered inside with play-biUs, which had since been covered over 

 with a second papering. Endowed with a large share of 

 patience and a natural taste for anything relating to the drama, 

 Mr Pearce worked hard for a couple of days and succeeded in 

 saving more than a dozen of the play-bills from destruction. As 

 they form an item in the county history of the last century, 

 and, in my opinion, fm'nish some particulars of the life of a dis- 

 tinguished native of this town, a few remarks concerning these 

 play-bills will not be out of place at the Poyal Institution of 

 Triu'o. 



The facts that may be learnt from an examination of these 

 play-bills are as follows : — 



In 1772, a regular theatrical company, known as the "The 

 Exeter Comedians," came over from Exeter to act at Launceston. 

 They played some seven or eight weeks, from April to June, and 

 then went to Plymouth where they were joined by actors from 

 the London "Theatres Poyal." The London season appears to 

 have terminated much earlier than at present, as its " extraordin- 

 ary length" that year is spoken of, although it ended before 

 loth June. 



The company performed thi'ee times a week at the New 

 Theatre, White Hart, Launceston. Mr Pearse informs me that 

 there is a large granary at the White Hart, which was perhaps 

 fitted up as a Theatre 100 years ago. However, it must not be 

 supposed from this that the company was merety one of strolling 

 players. Exeter could doubtless support a good theatre even a 



