16 Aft Oak Gazette 
orders that the gate upon the down 
only should be opened, and that the 
company in their fancy dresses should 
pass along the front lawn, by which 
means the curiosity of thousands would 
be indulged. 
The company began to make their 
appearance about half-past six o’clock, 
and continued pouring in till past 
nine. As soon as any carriage had 
set down a party, and they had got 
within the gate which led upon the 
lawn, they were saluted by French 
horns placed in a retreat so obscure as 
not to be observed by the company. 
The front lawn soon became crowded 
with fancy dresses, and the ladies by 
their pastoral appearance and simpli¬ 
city made beauty appear with additional 
charms, and by their elegant fancy ha¬ 
bits, meant certainly to outvie each 
other in taste and magnificence. 
About eight o’clock a signal was 
given for the company to attend the 
masque on the back lawn ; accordingly 
General Burgoyne, who was the prin¬ 
cipal manager and conductor, and for 
whose skill and abilities on the occa¬ 
sion the greatest compliments are due, 
came forward and conducted the no¬ 
bility and other visitors through the 
house to the voluptuous scene on the 
back lawn. No sooner did the rural 
picture present itself, hut amazement 
seized the whole company; the first 
thing that caught their attention was 
the concourse of people on each side 
the road, and the branches of trees 
bending with the weight of heads that 
appeared as thick as codlings on a tree 
in a plentiful season. 
At the upper end of the back lawn was 
a most beautiful and superb orangerie. 
or plantation of orange-trees, inter¬ 
mixed with a great variety of valuable 
green-house plants ; behind the oran- 
gerie lay concealed a capital band of 
music under the sole direction of Mr. 
Barthelemon, the composer of the 
masque. On the right from the com¬ 
pany appeared swains in fancy dresses, 
amusing themselves at the game of nine 
pins, while shepherdesses, neatly at¬ 
tired, were at the swing. On the left 
side were other swains with their bows 
and arrows, shooting at a bird which 
had percbed itself on a May-pole; 
whilst some were shewing their agility 
by dancing and kicking at a tambour 
de basque , which hung, decorated with 
ribbands, from a bough of a tree. In 
short every rural pastime wa£ ex¬ 
hibited. 
Extraordinary. [Aug. 1, 
In the centre of the orangerie sat 
Mr. Barthelemon and Mr. Vernon, 
making wreaths of flowers, and con¬ 
tinued in that employment till after 
the company had taken their seats upon 
benches placed in a circular form on 
the green. As soon as the ladies and 
gentlemen were thus arranged, two 
Cupids went round with a basket of the 
richest flowers, and presented each 
lady with an elegant bouquet , the gen¬ 
tlemen had likewise a similar present. 
When the Cupids had distributed the 
flowers, nimble shepherdesses supplied 
their baskets with fresh assortments. 
Thus, whilst the attention of the com¬ 
pany were taken up with admiring the 
agility and pretty manners' of these 
little attendants accommodating the 
nobility and others with their nosegays, 
they were on a sudden surprised with 
the harmonious sound from the instru¬ 
mental band, which being conveyed to 
the company through the orange plan¬ 
tation and shrubbery, created a most 
happy and pleasing effect, and which 
was still the more heightened by the 
company not being able to distinguish 
from what quarter it came. 
The symphony, whose sweetness of 
sound had given every face a smile of 
approbation, being ended, Mr. Ver¬ 
non got up, and with a light and rustic 
air, called the nymphs and swains to 
celebrate the festivity of the day, in¬ 
forming them that Stanley, as lord of 
the Oaks, had given the invitation, and 
on that account he demanded their ap¬ 
pearance fo join in the festive song and 
dance. After this air followed a grand 
chorus, which was composed in so re¬ 
markable a style, and carried with it 
so much jollity, that the company 
could scarcely be prevailed upon to keep 
their seats. Next followed a dance by 
Sylvans; then a song by Mrs. Barthe¬ 
lemon ; afterwards a different dance 
by the whole assembly of figurantes 
Was executed in a masterly style, and 
was succeeded by a most elegant and 
pleasing duet, by Mrs. Barthelemon 
and Mr. Vernon, which concluded 
with a dance. 
The next air consisted of ten verses, 
sung by Mr. Vernon, at the end of 
each line was a chorus. The dance of 
the Sylvans continued during the whole 
time of the chorus, and had an excel¬ 
lent effect. 
Thus ended the first masque , which 
the public had an opportunity of seeing 
in some degree as well as the visitors; 
and the loud acclamations of joy at 
"the 
