The Statesman. — London, England, 1809-09-19 00:00:00

Pur *_l Anived• Dtblin 1 1 • Wuterford.... ..... fiuttenburgh 0 IS DAY AT ON E O'CLOCK. Exch. Dills. b. 13s. press. India flume, Ws. 1/11. Letter) Tirtet , ,, 211.175. PRICK IIToCKS Till 3 pet Cent. Car. 611 ?Amyl 914 I.*towole for Acc....bSei 0 naihoo liplos. THE , STATESMAN. IMUPOSITI TLNAI. LONDON: TUILSOLY, SEPTLMBER 10. .....i5im...... F sou the intelligence received by the Tow, the re-occupation of Ferrol and Coruna* by the French acquires increased probability. The de. feat of VANEGAS I. certainly more serious than was at first reported. The letter of Marshal Most. i ota is at once complimentary to the milit ar y character of the British, and illustrative of the wretched falsehoods that have so liberally been cast upon the French. Lord WELLINGTON and CUIESTA are understood to he mutual accusers... we repeat, we should like to see the account of CUESTA. THE Paris Papers bring na news. NAPOLION has nut returned ; '• it the Papers contain a state. meat of the abolition of Monachisns—of Monks and Nuns in Spain, which will seat King Jostru immoveably ou his new Throne. The reported peace between France and Arne. ?kali mentioned in letters from Halifax, in Nova Scotia. Jusicza.--Teeaday next is, we understand, the day appointed for receiving the Report of the Jubske Committee. At the last Common Coen. oil, turtle add venison, triumphed over reason land consmon sow; but we have beard a report, what we hail with joy, that poor reason and common sense have rallied is the Gosnetittee, and finally defeated turtle sod venison. What share the trorthg Baronet, Sir IViLuAM, had in the discussion (if such be the fact) we know not, hot we tremble for the ail. tens, in announcing that there is considerable dam. gcr of losing the dinner. COVENT G.4RDEN. trams natural that the Proprietors of the new Theatre should exert themseiva to prepossess the public in jib favour, and with that view, several *erriptions of the exterior, and interior, of the building were sent forth to the world ; written, if not by themselves, certainly tinder their inducers. Of these we selected two, but without itiTectiug to give them as the results of oar ono observa tions. Innumerable remarks, 'applauding, and con demning the construction of the and the conduct .1 the Proprietors, have appeared in the daily prints, but, with the exception of laughing at the sculpture, as it is ludicrossly termed, on each side of the portico in Bow-street, we refrained from blaming, or approving by anticipation, that which we had not seen, If, therefore, our sett. events, after having last night carefully examined the interior of this 'theatre, and the accounted& (ion for the various classes, for whose amuse. znent it met, or might to have been constructed, should be displeasing to the Proprietors, they, will at least admit, that we have not at. tempted to prejudice the public. The Ad.: Tertisement, anuonneittg, that the Theatre would' open yesterday, attracted, as was expected; an immense isnititude. So early as two o'clock, the assemblage at the Pit and Gallety entrance ender the Plans, was considerable ; at three it was eery great : and lung before the door was opened, the crowd was immense. On the Bow-street side, the two iron gates were besieged about the same time, and soon after four, the crowd became impa. tied— a rummer was circulated that the door of the Pit which fronts Bow-street, would net be opened, which excited considerable dissatisfaction, qui Mr. Brandon was loudly called for, to state definitely, whether that was the fact ; malty hun dreds had beat waiting at that gate for hours, upon the faith of the instructions in the Advertisement, and no attention being paid to their inquiries--the chain by which the gabs was fastened, at length yielded to the efforts of the people, who thus obtained admission to the area surrounding the Theatre. Of the multitude thus admitted, one part immediately planted themselves at the door of the pit, opposite to Boa-street, while others proceeded round the south-east corner, and took their stations at the first pit-door, in the space where the pit and up per and lower gallery doors are all nearly toge ther. At length the door under the piazza opened, and immediately after, the pit and gallery doors on that side. Those who had entered treat Bow. street, in vain waited at those doors—the other Pit doors were opened, but they remained closed. The dissatisfaction .f those who were at the Bee-street door at length manifested itself, by the demolition of the lamp, which was effected by a missive apple. At 20 minutes past 6 that door was opened, and, of at least .100 persons who had been in waiting from three o'clock until that hour, not more than ?A entered the Pit. In fact this trick epos the pub. he was a necessary part of th e plan of the open. lag, fur without esaggention, it may be safely "- meted, that both the pit and the galleries were Jure than half filled before the doors were opened, for the admission of the public. Hired o lgt ars were, as heretofore, on similar stationed in every part of the house, not except ing the Bocci, into which the Managers had not even bad the decency to preserve appear ances ; for these agents were there peeinedy'dis tiognishable, by a conspicuous variety of esksur in their MUMS. The number of performers sp- Pelldltle Snap fAa andience, in different of the Inns% late good humour, was eel in to that of eke clappers—there was, howefkir l withstaailag the umber of these perforates their less lighting than we have sometimes The 'citifies in the Side.boxes, Pic, and Lower Gallery, were numerous—bat nothing serious happened. The Boxes presented one monoto. nova scam of male auditors—the number of ladies was so inconsidesuble, that the Theatre resembled that of Athens t so far as related to the absence of females. The private alias An nual Boxes (to which both Galleries, Pit, and the perennial Boxes almost consentaneously is. neatly applied the ironer term of Anneal Br—els), were not all filled; for after repeated attempts to ascertain .the number of the happy Ate who carelessly weeded their limbs at perfect ease in this privileged circle, and to whom the presstire and inconvenience of the perennial part of the audience was a subject of mirth, we could not at any time during the evening count more than 100 of these listless Annuals. From the Pit, which was of course cramasea4 the coup d'ail greatly surpassed in beauty every description that has appeared. The brilliancy* the lights was exquisite; and so judiciously are they imaged, as to be without the stare that has generally been supposed inseparably connected with the quantity of light necessary to illumine so large a room. The elegance and lightness of the !mitres extorted the admiration of even the must discontented. The roof is painted to imi. tate a dome—of which the Rotunda of the Bink of England may serve, though imperfectly, as a comparison. It is light and beautiful ; but disfi gured by a contemptible lyre in the apex or centre, which has in it too much of that insien ificance which the French express by the word pellte. Immediately beneath the roof is a circular line of low arches, reseeibling the blank arched recesses in the anks of a dwelling-house, passing quite round to each side of the Stage; these appear designed to convey au idea of support ; and the erterneleffect to the spectator, is as beautiful, as is disgusting the in kraal effect, to their luckless perennial inhabi- Visits. Of these pigeon-holes or mouse-traps—by which names they are already, and will hence forward be pernsanenag designated...the five centre peep-holes compose what is now called the One Shilling Gallery, beyond which the three front seats of the Two Shillings Gallery be neath, project ; as also do the upper side Bores, -Which are separated from the Lower Gallery only by a wooden screen, painted crimson, and surmounted with gilded spikes, which, however, do nut- preclude conversation and intercourse betweeo the persons in these Boxes and in the Gallery : in fact, but for the side screen, the Gallery and upper side Boxes appear to be one and the same. From the pigeon.holes, elevated, as they are, and thrown back, it is obvious, that the senses of seeing and hearing, are not violently affected, by what passes on the Stage. The Two. shillings Gallery, contains tea ro Is of benches, and a back bench. In the front row between b 0 and 60 persons may be jammed—three rows of benches, as has already been observed, project beyond the Upper Gallery, and are certainty as pleasant seats as any in the House. The nett three rows, ars greatly inferior, the Upper Gallery de. secluding very low—the pillars by which the front is supported are square, cased with wood, and of a size which greatly inconveniences those behind ; but the five beck rows are absolutely intole.' rabic. The declivity, from the buck to the front, is very steep, so that the spectators at the back of the Gallery have a very imperfect view of the Stage ; of which, some ides may be formed from the circumstance of those in the back seat, being unable to see more than the legs of those in the beautiful Bridge Scene. In the Two Shillin g s Gallery there is not a single light, and when the audience stand up covered between the acts, all beneath the Upper Gallery is darkness. Tile back seats are literally as dark as the street at midnight. The " Annuals" are immediately be. heath the Two Shillings Gallery, and the upper side Boxes, and occupy the entire of that circle, which is the third. In number, they are twenty. eight, besides two on each side, over the Stage. doors. The sides of these snug retreats are radii, the fronts of which tend to a central point on the Stage, of which each box commands a view. In the interior of these " sanctum sanctorunie," our profane feet have not found admission. We understand, that they ace all what is vulgarly cal led private, and that to each, is an approach through a private anti.ohantbcr, furnished with every accommodation fur convenience, lux ury, and indulgence—there, the weary, whose delicate frames are exhausted by the fatigue of viewing the performance from a chair, my, in the security of extreme privacy, hide them " from day's garish eye," and repose io soft indolence between the Acts, or during the performance, on a conch, with which indispensi bk convenience these delicious Boudoirs are re. spcctitely furnished. Happy people of England, where all are equal, where privileged distinctions are unknown, where every spectacle is equally ac cessible to all, where no distinctions exist but those, by which the less operknt are enabled, by an inferior price, to choose the station most suit. able to their finances, or economy !—nay, where eveu the Monarch is wont to seat himself on the very same level with his subjects, and scarcely to assume a superiority by which ho can be distinguished from them!!—To construct this annual, privileged, voluptuous circle, the Gal. !cries arc contracted, darkened, and inconve nienced in a degree that is scaededout, and calls most loudly on the people to resent. To deny the fact is impossible—those parts of the Theatre, as well as such others as were not, from being privileged, inaccessible, we examined—and the Galleries are reduced in size and convenience. That the abolition of the Upper Gallery has long been meditated, is well know n.—lt was even once attempted...but as that attempt failed, they have now come as near to it as possible. —As our object is at present description, wo shall not dilate upon the subject of the diminution of the galleries—we reserve that for a future period. Suffice it for the invest to say, STATMfAN. ,~ t that the patent—legalised Monopolists of Covent Garden Theatre have granted a sub.viossopely of one ea' lire circle of the Theatre (which ought to , have been accessible to the whale British people), to ..168 individuals, which is the whole member that tneesimenualprivadee ere capableof containiugithitt for these 28 private Boxes, which are inaccessible to the public....(an imperials in imperio)-- tbe proprietors, if the reported rent of 400 Ohms be correct, receive annually upwards of 12,000 Guiness....and that the Galleries, in. , stood of being greatly enlarged as they ought have base, are materially diminished, where. by the people of Ragland are injured, in sulted, and deprived of that enjoyment which it were the soundest of all policy by every means to facilitate and increase. Is the lower Boxes and the Pit, we do not find any thing remarkable to describe; there is in fact no essential difference, but what alteration there is, it is plea sant to state, is for the better. Ip elegance, in splendour, and in neatness, the present Theatre we think pre.eminent. The access to the Pit is convenient, and the intermediate approaches to the Boxes, are truly superb. The painted crim son curtain above the stage, is stiff and clumsy —the folds appear rather to be temporarily pinned up, than gracefully suspended. Of the scenery, we are convinced, nothing ap. preaching to equality, has been yet exhibited in a British Theatre. It surpasses all that we have ever seen ; and in every quality that can produce perfection, of which deception is certainly the oust pramiuent, it exceeds what might have been rea. rowdily deemed practicable. The illusion of the scenery is absolutely perfect ; and, sposking generally, of the interior view of the Theatre, it may be pronounced the most beautiful that has been constructed in this island. That it cannot claim equal praise, with re ' speet to cenvmdence and accommodation, (al ways excepting the privileged circle), we con fidently aver—for the convenience and accommo dation of the people are diminished..-they are sacrificed to the cupidity and avarice of the Ma nagers, who have sold, fur the gratification of a few, the convenience and accommodation which ought to have been open and extended to all. The popular, and indeed national tunes of God' Sere the King, and Rule Britannia, judiciously opeued the Entertainments of the evening. If any thing could have put a British audience ' into good humour, it would have been the successive performance of two airs, the one ex. pressivo of affectionate respect for a Ma i starch, whose character as an individual, is dear to every subject over whom he reigns—and the other, of that paramount ascendancy on the Ocean, which is conceded by the world to the inhabitants of the British isles ; but the accost ;panisnerst the asidietica convinced us, that last night was not the season of harmony. 1 At length the bell tinkled, and forward came, arranged in the costume of Macbeth, the promi nent character of the night, Jous Petra, Kan ei.x, Esq. ; for a moment he was greeted by sp. letups, which, although it came, as Buckingham map is Richard, " From some followers of my mein, planted at the lower end of th' hall"—we Seedily admit to be not greater than his merit as se actor—to this instantly succeeded, a burst of moecration, of the system on which he has acted as II Proprietor and Manager. From the motion of his lips, he doubtless delivered the Address, of which we have given a copy, but that it was not beard by any human creature but himself, if in. deed, he did hear himself, we are morally car. tail, so tremendous was the roar of disapproba. ' tion ; a few persons, here and there, but mod conspicuously in the Pit, where we were 'laced, waved their hats. Mr. Kawet.s bowed deist humbly, and cast around imploring looks for pity, but the audience was inexorable, and at ft* he slowly retired, amidst a volley of his • and execrations, surpassing any this see feet rd. The rising of the curtain, male for a moment, extorted some slight applause, I,oi on the very first entrance of Macbeth, there was a salute which shook the House..." hisses; of of; whoop; no inspositioss ; no extortion ; doseig with Private Boxes; no snug retreats; Ix: your prices, and raise the cielings ;-.. the Galleries) damn your pigeon holes." In short, it was Chaos let loose again. During the first act, in the side Boxes, both sticks, fists s • and lungs were brought into the line, and the Gens'men in the party-coloured cravats were active in discharging their duty. The tumult abated on Mr. Kanames going off the Stage, but on his entrance redoubled. The disapprobation was incessant, and increased pro., digiously oat Mr. Kr:dime's appearance in the' Second Act, when some Gentlemen in the Pit ad. dressed themselves to him, " John, do you bees to feel any aiches to.night ?" On his exit, the audience spared the rest of the Performers, by ai abatement: of vociferation, bet that did nut ap. pear to arise from kindness to them, so mediae from a desire to take breath, for the purpose of chewing more vehemence lu their displeasure towards the Her 0...." Ilow rascally the Pit is filled," exclaimed several. When Macbeth ap. peered with his crown oil, a general and prodi. gious howling was set up—some imitating the cry. ing of children—some that of women in hysterics —and one person in a box excited much mirth by imitating closely the barking of a huge mastiff.... In the Banquet.seene, which was beautiful beyond the powers of delineation on paper, or expression by words, an attempt was made to support the performance by applause, but even here, the Not. Contents had it. This was succeded by a fight in the Pit—then " a Ghost !...a Ghost," cried se. moral, by way of address to Mr. Keusble.....at the sight a Banquo's itell done, John Kembk," said several—" You are really fright ened now—you never played that scene so well before."—(Off! of ! off!) —but whenLadyMac. beth dismissed the guests at the banquet, the uproar became more excessive than ever. In,the scene of the Witches singing " Welly by Night," the au dience triumphantly sung a stanza of the song 6, Witte tie ow. ray wise de blew." Then they echoed ironically— " Hobble i bebbk.leil nod freebie." " Wan NNW we threesome apis." The uproar bemuse it last So "Joker, that the cooperatively few wile wished tat tapport the per. feemaoce gave up: the contest altogether, and the discontent. became dearly total. One Gcnitletnaa in the Pit recited Meceeth's words—' " Oat, end, brief candle, Life's hat & walking shadow, A poor player, that grub and frets Iwo hour opoe the stip, And then is bawd no wore." Here was vociferated " Old prices ! old prices --No Private Boxes...No fornication at the Theatre—No band-box Gallery;" which pro. ducad such confusion in the Pit that the audiened disregarded entirely what was passing on the stage, and turned to scenes more interesting to them, which were those of several scuffles in different parts of the Pit and Buses, and when the curtain dropped, there followed a triumphant shout of I'A/- content, which might have " torn hell's concave." In the farce of The Quaker, Mr. Ltsvor met some tokens of personal favour, hut nothing to divert the determined purpose of expressing ge- neral discontent. The whole performance being over, a prodigi. ous cry was set up of " Manager ! Manager! John Kemblc ! John Kemblel you have p:,..ked our pockets, and you arc now ashamed to look us in the face." Three Magistrates at length appeared on the Stage, and a fourth (Mr. Bond, we heard sense exclaim) peeped through one of the side door.. One of the Gentlemen took a paper, out of his pocket, which was said to be the Riot Act, but was not read. The appearance of some men in military habits in the Upper Gallery induced the Gods to descend...they all dropped over the front iota the Two Shillings Gallery. The tumult and uproar continued tilt a late hour. At one o'clock the Bates were crouded, and it was not until two that the House W 4/ cleared. But wo are most happy to say that uo. thing like a riot took place, nor was the slightest damage committed in the interior of the Theatre. The Proprietors and Managers must, from the opening specimen of last night, be convinced that neither the increased prices nor the Private, which they base so ingeniously termed Annual, Boxes, will be tolerated. The Individuals who inhabit those Privacies will be subject to incessant intuit ; for the people have really got Into their heads certais grass ideas of possible accomasoda. ddtion, which they will not be scrupulously deli. bete in announcleg. I.' The prices must be lowered, and the Private 'eons opened the public, or the Managers nig *depend upon it that the tempest of public liadignation will not subside. If the Proprietors thrown the third circle of Private Boxes and Blear anti.rooms into Public Boxes at the price of SALIh.A.ntIINEA for admission, the public would tame thatiked them, and instead of 16$ they would then have contained at least 420 spectators.—.. But the public will not endure, nor is it fitting that they should, the granting de sub.monopaiy 'by the Proprietors of an origin , tl monopoly .--granted for the Wait of the public at large. Were the present circle of Private Boxes to be tolerated, we might expect the next year to see the appropriation of another and another cir tie, and so on, till all was sang, close, and private, and our national Theattes, at length inaccessible to the 2EOPLE of ENGLAND. OCCASIONAL ADDRESS, On the Opening of the NEW THEATRE-ROYAL IN COVENT-GARDEN, sprairasa HI. MM. drop* by Mr. ZEMBLIC. • A rts lie early Oreeci; and in a terh'reus age, .) • ~. A wretched tumbrel was the Actor's Stale t The Muse. with cheek reelied in pensive shame. Bluited foeher wand'rers from the path to fame. Embylessprane.-ead storm'd, as Warm, His ommtry's possums. like his country's foes. Rough from the battle, tmin'd to vanquish men, E'en as Mt sword he a fielded, 90 his pen. He miaow the haul. the trembling seem appealed, And gave so quarter to the batman breast. Yet, Sfte improvesant nsarled the soldier's sway. And tinge‘with tact! . t ir t eli ntives fa his lay. 4 Thee ant (the cart overthrown), Famed by rude pleas, a 'beats* was known C'd by the Homes, it overspread the lawn, And light no scenic drew appear's' to dame. But, ail Melte, when Sophaes appearid. 'Tim than die Drama's Majesty wee rear d. 'Whim and degerators came i—thele beam Waa l The millrace the lofty Peet meet : The Way Peet bele.' ssigein not e tbe brains So 's sp ew. ki Naterh l That den's springs from various parts I " Aad Minor" needs the Meter Arts. Male the opisod oar of the seams--eed hoes The thalembelltsh timmette t-- Dance. music, All that give aelltPll44ol:24aelde— atogoornoght the s fres Onset insprsvid die pion At lest the Same maim liktrope ran. Our scene Dow d ue atalliflinked offs The Thw a m : re Sh;t i lt he s w pea tmli Sta r7a that g6ve ro ba bsep riselj t :htr buli th i r oo o more re l ; And Per this oar FabrielP4asith we, Uptight. Figures scorn threadbare. maseohers grovre Wk. Noyhasoix from her ashes shall arise— Sink to oar t houetiteas sparrows to our ayes I No naked truant be cksak'd anew, Tn tell that lire which cheers remains es toe I No—let a Briton now to Britons speak, Ills cause is strong, although his language weak s We feel, with glory, all to Britain due, And British artists rah% this pile for you While, maims as ors parer, Isere we stmt. To nosed ebarbe as of ear lane. &did oar Bethke, heavy ear slimier r We rest our deka et yet* else : What ardour ptau a Melee's mate to nine. A natlee's Ilisesdity repays. Friday sennight, Capt. John Smith Newelia was committed to the Southgate prison in Exeter, by the Mayor of that city, for stealing four Bank of England notes, valise 61. the property of Bans Peter Pctcrjcn, master of a vessel in the Danish service. The parties had slept the preceding night in a two-bedded room at the White Lion Inn. Exeter, where the prisoner contrived to purloin the property of the foreigner, while the latter was asleep. The Prisoner is a yonng men of genteel appearance, and a supernumerary Captain in the Cornwall Artillery Local Militia. He is well known in Plymouth and Dock, in both which places be has contracted debts to, a considerable amount : be is also accusol of drawing a note on a brother officer, without his knowledge or con soot. E U I' i I ► i