Henry Smeaton: A Jacobite Story of the Reign of George the First.

In the bustling heart of London’s St. James’s Square, 1715 unfolds amid gilded fountains, curious children in a pleasure‑boat, and the low murmur of political drama. A sharply dressed yet unassuming stranger watches the scene, his plain attire and hidden sword hinting at a purpose beyond mere curiosity. As the city’s elite gather to hear the impeachment of Lord Bolingbroke and the Earl of Oxford, the newcomer’s silent presence suggests a secret allegiance stirring beneath the surface of everyday life.

Against this backdrop of aristocratic intrigue and bustling street life, the narrative follows the stranger’s quiet investigation into a burgeoning Jacobite conspiracy. Through careful observation and whispered encounters, he begins to piece together a network of discontented nobles and covert operatives. The first act sets a vivid portrait of Regency London while quietly pulling the listener into a world where loyalty, mystery, and danger intertwine.