On December 19 Puglia wrote to explain why his comedies had been neither acted nor printed: “William Warren, Manager of this Theatre, had on his return to Town the perusal of the two Comedies, entitled the Embargo &
the Double Disappointment with my solicitation for their early performance; but, I am concerned to announce, that the republican
spirit of the former, being in a direct opposition to his political disposition and views, was the unexpected cause of both
being indiscriminately rejected, thereby condemning the innocence of the one for the supposed sin of the other.
"Thus situated, I looked upon the supercilious conduct of the british comedian as highly deserving to be exposed--John Binns,
Editor of the Democratic Press in this City, being informed of the fact, approved of the measure; and on the 10
th November last he received of ME an essay to that effect, which in his next daily paper as you will observe,
promised to publish: he, however, has not thought proper to insert it since that period, notwithstanding my repeated exhortations--Whatever
be the cause of this remarkable neglect on the part of said Editor, it certainly proves that all my best exertions are to
remain fruitless, and that the Author of the Disappointment must undergo the fate of being himself completely disappointed--
"A friend advised me to put both productions in press without delay, but he, like the rest, is unacquainted with my actual
circumstances which will not permit it (with sorrow I express it) to venture on an expence unavoidable on such an occasion:
leaving, therefore, their publication till better times begin to smile, I feel only the consolation that they are not unknown
to the person whose approbation was originally solicited.-- . . .”
James Philip Puglia, fl. 1800, lived at various times in Philadelphia. His name is not consistently in the Philadelphia Directory year by year.
It appears for the first time in 1799 “sworn interpreter of foreign languages and broker, 57 Walnut Street.” In 1810 he was
still a sworn interpreter, but had become a health officer in Carter’s Alley. These two comedies were never printed.
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27
Plays by several hands.
1. v.
8
vo.
1815 Catalogue, page 151, no. 24, as above.
1839 Catalogue, page 622, no. J. 21. Plays, 8vo, viz: Madrigal and Trulletta.--Platonic Wife; London, 1765.--Stratford Jubilee;
London, 1769.
REED,
Joseph.
Madrigal and Trulletta. A Mock-Tragedy. Acted (under the Direction of Mr. Cibber) at the Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden. With
Notes by the Author, and Dr. Humbug, Critick and Censor-General. By J. Reed . . .
London: Printed for
W. Reeve, at Shakespear’s Head, Fleet-Street.
1758. [Price
One Shilling and Sixpence.]
PR1241 .L6 vol. 56
First Edition. 36 leaves.
Cambridge Bibl. of Eng. Lit. II, 481.
Backer III, 21.
Clarence 271.
Joseph Reed, 1723-1787, English dramatist. This play was performed at the Theatre-Royal, Covent Garden, under the direction of Theophilus
Cibber, for one night only. At the beginning of the printed play is a list of the Dramatis Personae (fourteen men and three
women) with the names of two actors only, Mr. Davis and Mr. Blakey, and a footnote: As these TWO were the only persons, who
receiv’d the applause of the publick, it is unnecessary to add the names of the other performers.
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