1794… Yes, well… very interesting…

But shall we begin our story in 1793? The summer of 1793, to be precise.

When we arrived in Philadelphia early that summer, the heat was already unbearable. So hot and dusty! And with refugees of all shapes and hues streaming in from the French West Indies, the city was overwrought with activity.

We were fifty more in the throng, the lot of us who had made the passage with Mr. Wignell from the North of England. It had been a rough voyage and we were relieved to be on terra firma. Yes, and I remember thinking to myself that the heat and crowds, though unpleasant, should perhaps be perceived as indications of future success.

By the time September rolled ‘round, I figured, all these suffering people would be eager and grateful for a season of theatrical entertainments. It would be the very first season, mind you, at the New Theater on Chestnut Street, soon to become America’s most prestigious theatrical venue. We were the theater’s first troupe of performers. Quite exciting.

Ah, but then our lives became a bit too exciting. Before settling in properly, we were off again, chased away to the seashore by a deadly outbreak of yellow fever.