ROBERT COATES, ESQ. 1/
contributions of theatrical criticism fill the columns of a
certain paper, was the real object for which Coates drew a
house. As this was a man of more abilities than respecta-
ble character, and as he generally spoke in favourable terms
of our Amateur’s acting, the public became more incensed.
They did not scruple saying, that if Mr. Coates did notshim-
self receive worldly pelf for his exertions, there was an
understanding between his landlady and himself—she wras
to receive the fee for an introduction to the great Roscius.
—This, however, was not the case—we never believed it; and
as if to countenance our opinion, the following advertisement
appeared in the papers, Feb. 18, 1814, in consequence of a
person, who made himself conspicuous in the pit of the Ly-
ceum, on Wednesday evening, December 1, 1813, while
Mr. Coates was acting for a benefit, by holding up a note
of 40h, and telling Mr. Coates it passed through his hands,
though given fonanother purpose-
“ London* to wit.—Martha Lyall, of Craven Street,
Strand, having heard it has been represented, that Robert
Coates, late of Antigua, Esq. had participated in monies
given to this deponent by Mrs. Bury, to induce this depo-
nent to persuade the said Robert Coates to recite, at Free-
masons’ Hall, at a Concert given for the benefit of Mrs.
Bury, certain verses, written for the occasion; and know-
ing such representation to be untrue, this deponent volun-
tarily maketh oath, and saith, that her receiving money to
persuade the said Robert Coates to recite the last mentioned
verses, or publicly to perform, was totally unknown to the
said Robert Coates. And this deponent in her conscience
believes, that if the said Robert Coates had known that this
deponent had received any money from any person whatsoever,
for the purpose of inducing the said Robert Coates to per-
form at any theatre, or to recite verses in any public room,
the said Robert Coates would not have consented so to do.
And lastly, this deponent positively saith, that the said
‘ VOL. V. D
contributions of theatrical criticism fill the columns of a
certain paper, was the real object for which Coates drew a
house. As this was a man of more abilities than respecta-
ble character, and as he generally spoke in favourable terms
of our Amateur’s acting, the public became more incensed.
They did not scruple saying, that if Mr. Coates did notshim-
self receive worldly pelf for his exertions, there was an
understanding between his landlady and himself—she wras
to receive the fee for an introduction to the great Roscius.
—This, however, was not the case—we never believed it; and
as if to countenance our opinion, the following advertisement
appeared in the papers, Feb. 18, 1814, in consequence of a
person, who made himself conspicuous in the pit of the Ly-
ceum, on Wednesday evening, December 1, 1813, while
Mr. Coates was acting for a benefit, by holding up a note
of 40h, and telling Mr. Coates it passed through his hands,
though given fonanother purpose-
“ London* to wit.—Martha Lyall, of Craven Street,
Strand, having heard it has been represented, that Robert
Coates, late of Antigua, Esq. had participated in monies
given to this deponent by Mrs. Bury, to induce this depo-
nent to persuade the said Robert Coates to recite, at Free-
masons’ Hall, at a Concert given for the benefit of Mrs.
Bury, certain verses, written for the occasion; and know-
ing such representation to be untrue, this deponent volun-
tarily maketh oath, and saith, that her receiving money to
persuade the said Robert Coates to recite the last mentioned
verses, or publicly to perform, was totally unknown to the
said Robert Coates. And this deponent in her conscience
believes, that if the said Robert Coates had known that this
deponent had received any money from any person whatsoever,
for the purpose of inducing the said Robert Coates to per-
form at any theatre, or to recite verses in any public room,
the said Robert Coates would not have consented so to do.
And lastly, this deponent positively saith, that the said
‘ VOL. V. D