But this is sufficient to illustrate the pioneer character of his work and influence. Inaccurate he may have been in his "History of the American Theatre," but the atmosphere is there, and he never failed to recognize merit, and to give touches of character to the actors, without which our impression of the early theatre in this country would be the poorer. The name of William Dunlap is intimately associated with the beginnings of American painting, American literary life and the American Theatre. It is for these he will ever remain distinguished. As a playwright, he wrote so rapidly, and so constantly utilized over and over again, not only his own material, but the materials of others, that it is not surprising to find him often in dispute with dramatic authors of the time. A typical disagreement occurred in the case of the actor John Hodgkinson (1767-1805), whose drama, "The Man of Fortitude; or, the Knight's Adventure," given at the John Street Theatre, on June 7, 1797, was, according to Dunlap, based on his own one-act verse play, "The Knight's Adventure," submitted to the actor some years before. Only the play, based on the 1798 edition, is here reproduced. The authentic documents are omitted. FOOTNOTES: [1] The/Father;/or,/American Shandy-ism./A Comedy,/As performed at the New-York Theatre,/By the/Old American Company./Written in the year 1788./With what fond hope, through many a blissful hour,/We give the soul to Fancy's pleasing pow'r./Conquest of Canaan./New-York:/Printed by Hodge, Allen & Campbell./ M, DCC, LXXXIX./ [2] Darby's Return:/A Comic Sketch,/As Performed at the New-York Theatre,/ November 24, 1789,/For the Benefit of Mr. Wignell. Written by William Dunlap./ New-York:/Printed by Hodge, Allen and Campbell./And Sold at their respective Bookstores,/and by Berry and Rogers./M, DCC, LXXXIX./ [3] Andre;/A Tragedy, in Five Acts:/As Performed by the Old American Company,/ New-York, March 30, 1798./To which are added,/Authentic Documents/respecting/ Major Andre;/Consisting of/Letters to Miss Seward,/The/Cow Chace,/Proceedings of the Court Martial, &c./Copy Right Secured./New-York:/Printed by T. & J. Swords, No. 99 Pearl-street./1798./ [4] One of Dunlap's best-known tragedies was "Leicester," published by David Longworth in 1807. [5] Freneau began a play, "The Spy" (Pattee, "Poems of Philip Freneau"), in which Andre was a character. [Illustration: ANDRE; A _TRAGEDY_, IN FIVE ACTS: AS PERFORMED BY THE OLD AMERICAN COMPANY, NEW-YORK, MARCH 30, 1798. TO WHICH ARE ADDED AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTS RESPECTING _MAJOR ANDRE;_ CONSISTING OF LETTERS TO MISS SEWARD, THE COW CHACE, PROCEEDINGS OF THE COURT MARTIAL, &c. _COPY RIGHT SECURED._ NEW-YORK: Printed by T. & J. SWORDS. No. 99 Pearl-street. --1798.-- FAC-SIMILE TITLE-PAGE OF THE FIRST EDITION] PREFACE