Wyan's Court

Wynam's court, Great Russel street. †

Wyan's Court in Maitland, 1739, and Dodsley, 1761, called Wynam's Court Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury. In this court (it no longer exists) lived Lewis Theobald, the editor of Shakespeare, and the hero of the early editions of The Dunciad. There is a long letter written by him in defence of his notes on Shakespeare, dated, "Wyan's Court, in Great Russell Street, April 16, 1729." In this court also lived Elizabeth Thomas, "Curll's Corinna," the go-between in the publication of Pope's letters to Cromwell, and in consequence condemned to everlasting infamy in the Dunciad.

Wyan's Court

Jo[hn] Stirling to Robert Cunningham, in Wyan Court in Great Russell Street, near St. Giles' Pound.

1707, November 26. London.—"I am at present very uneasy upon my stay here, having been near five months from home. Th Profession (sic) of Divinity through the Professor's death since I came from Glasgow is now wholly vacant and cannot be supplied till I return ...; so I find myself under a necessity of leaving this. I am concerned not only upon the University's interest in the matter I have been negotiating, but for the satisfaction of many others, that I have had so little success; yea I know divers members of the House of Commons are somewhat surprised at it, that all circumstances considered so little regard has been had to so reasonable and necessary a request—as particularly Mr. Montgomery from Glasgow, Sir Robert Pollock and others—especially when all the Queen's servants for Scotland have jointly applied to the Treasurer for procuring the desired gift. ... Therefore I must entreat you would do me the favour to wait on Mr. S[ecretary] H[arley] and represent these things to him. I am very sensible of the honour he did me when I waited on him and the kind concern he was pleased to express for this affair. ... If he would only lay a lasting obligation on the University of Glasgow but many others."—Sessional papers. Inventory control record 1, Volume 44 (Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons, 1907), 299.

 

For the Benefit of the Author of Shakespeare Restor'd.
By His Majesty's Company of Comedians,
At the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane, on Wednesday next, being the 24th Day of May, will be presented, A Comedy call'd, Rule a Wife, and have a Wife. Written by Beaumont and Fletcher. The Part of the Copper Captain by Mr. Wilks; Estisania, Mrs. Oldfield; Leon, Mr. Mills; Margaretta, Mrs. Horton; Cacafogo, Mr. Harper; the Old Woman, Mr. Norris. To which will be added a Farce, call'd the Strollers. With Entertainments of Dancing.
    N.B. Tickets may be had at Mr. Theobald's House in Wyan's Court, Great Russel-street, Bloomsbury.
—Daily Post 2389, Saturday, May 20, 1727

 

A Gentleman lately come to Town, has, by an unwearied Study, happily attained the Catholicon of the Antients, by which all Diseases of the Blood are radically cured, viz. the Gout, Dropsy, Consumption, Fever, Pleurisy, &c.
    Those desirous of being cured, need not apply, but direct for J.O. at Mr. Restevo's in Wyan's Court, Great Russel-street, Bloomsbury, and they shall (if of approved Character) be informed when they may attend or be attended.
    This Method is made use of only to introduce this great Arcanum to the Public, and to shew the Disinterestedness of this Advertisement. No Money is requir'd without Cure.
—Public Advertiser 94682, Saturday, March 23, 1765