Draft:The New Athenian Comedy

In 1693, Elkanah Settle published ''The new Athenian comedy containing the politicks, oeconomicks, tacticks, crypticks, apocalypticks, stypticks, scepticks, pneumaticks, theologicks, poeticks, mathematicks, sophisticks, pragmaticks, dogmaticks, &c. of that most learned society'' a play in three acts satirizing the members of The Athenian Mercury and the associated intellectual culture surrounding coffeehouses in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The play occurred in three acts, and despite being published with an extant copy, the play seems to have never been performed.

Cast of Characters

 * Obadiah Grub, Divinity and Poetry Professor of the Society
 * Jerry Squirt, Casuist and Physician in Ordinary
 * Joachim Dash, Mathentatician
 * Jack Stuff, a subtile, ingenious, half Author, hall Bookseller
 * Darby Fetlock, an Ʋnder Turnkey of Newgate
 * Dorothy Tickleteat, an Islington Milkmaid
 * Mr. Freeman, Two worthy Gentlemen of the Town
 * Mr. Hardy, Two worthy Gentlemen of the Town
 * Poll, the Coffee-man
 * Brush, his Man

Among the characters, clear allusions to the actual members of The Athenian Society are present. Obadiah Grub likely represents Dr. John Norris of Bemerton, a noted English theologian, philosopher, and poet. Joachim Dash may refer to Richard Sault, a mathematician associated with the society. Jack Stuff likely draws his characterization from John Dunton, the founder and publisher of The Athenian Mercury.

Major Sources

 * Ellis, Michael. (2006). "Elkanah Settle, The New Athenian Comedy, containing the politicks, oeconomicks, tacticks, crypticks, apocalypticks,’s typ ticks, seep ticks, pneumaticks, theologicks, poeticks, mathematicks, sophisticks, pragmaticks, dogmaticks, &c. of that most learned society (London, printed for Campanella Restio, next door to the Apollo, near the Temple, 1693), [8], 28pp.; 4°. BL: 644.e.61. ESTCR9900", Eighteenth-Century Coffee-House Culture, vol 3. Routledge.
 * Settle, Elkanah. (1693). "The new Athenian comedy containing the politicks, oeconomicks, tacticks, crypticks, apocalypticks, stypticks, scepticks, pneumaticks, theologicks, poeticks, mathematicks, sophisticks, pragmaticks, dogmaticks, &c. of that most learned society", Early English Books Online. London, printed for Campanella Restio, next door to the Apollo, near the Temple.