The Statesman. — London, England, 1809-10-19 00:00:00

THE COVENT-GARDEN BUBBLE. BR awoote 1 Bit AVOWS! Prefilter BRANDON I See" Barnacles • of Wood" in ;dew, Bat to peep throngh or I( 4tAnd Oa, That perhaps might not please yew. Mr vDO Z • 1) t N —Professor Hittite, Can sport hi, afic!.svit subtk as a Civic Pittite, He swears " kith' Cardt," as well as yell. - •••• ,• _ • Kraiste ! Kitstat.c ! now we , liveable For par oatb of Six per Cent. Bolt it forth—now don't disoemble, Swear all at ossee—feir not th' event. Maness! Malian ! *hew yoar hard phis; • In the Boudoir o'er the Stage; • Cris and swear; and curse the loud hbs • Of Joni BOLL 's indignant rage. • Arend! Actors! year It ettelartors Jo/It—resist the !motor Doiskep PI or PrlVate Blvees—Pri raSe.Aiteirs; dr Opisoskide to the 0/4 Keg. • . • • JOHN BUM. r• Our abiders asayi.perbapo. be at as great a hiss as mar sehrs to apiersesist this expre..tinn, which is alitsoot less terious as that of " Rotatory Overseer of put next Pteveaseob." which his heeh ludicrously applied to the Perferopre on s very obi English meebine, devised by One ornerston torlltt purpose of famili Arising the Public to voltameter:el.. • + What 'Mao be the tru , meisaing of " geeerrlig by eh' Card" i. doubttel....Perhaps meet the iriod is the tree woe of the author. t. Junior Dung-I—What can this teems ?—W he is the Siv. nior Donkey ? We know but two peruow in the concern t, ho .rand in the relation of Senior and Joalor—Harris anti twit sytionitne for the animal with !nog tare raittuat he intended for the vill:sitt gay Lothariii." who is I 1110;•!. per aalie, for tworrtiug the actors and the w t.° ter. To the EDITOR of THE STATESMAN, • Stn.—When a man has committed a public act, I which he cannot justify, it is geucrally the wisest ' Way net to attempt a dilenee, yet it is by no means uncommon for a persue this circumstanced to du some ridiculous thing, by which he sncceeda in concealiee the fully or iniTiity front himself, and is thee weak enough to suppose, that because he h a s d e eeitt!il himself, he will succeed by the same means in deceiving the Public. In this predica ment is Mr. James Brandon. Mr. B. 66 complains " that he is accused of taking a false onth, and t' that fair. Bish's letter Is intended to prove it." Whether Mr. Bish intended this or nut, ally, if B pleases, be left to his own. deciiion ; but certainly, Sir, Mr. B. has net literally " taken a false oath." What says the bill ? That the Ma. stagers, Etc, Ace. Now Mr. Bish says, that as ear, &c. Sir. Mr. Hish says, " the order was signori J. B ;" trove James Brandon is " not a Manager," and he may, t ierisfore, if he pleases, shelter himself can. der this anthlgnttp fot as the hilt sets out with string. that the 66 orders *ere fernished by Ma yfly's," of course the reetainder of the Mill, as applied to the Managers, is nut trite. But will Mr. B. swear, that if, instead of Maruiger, his oust name were sebstitnted, that the bill is nut then iitrrally true? No; Mr. B. will not do this: leaved Mr. Brateloti will do well to consider ashe:tier his friends, the fightiug Jews, have not else id► been trusted toe far. 'I at) Public are sot to be deceived by such a stateni,ot as this of Mr-Brandon's ; foe though Mr. B. has literally sworn the truth, yet the ob ject evidently is, to persuade the Public, that orders have not been issued.to Mendez* for the purpomts stated in the hand:hill, and I an tempted to ask, if the ruffiars hid not bas free admis sions, atm ••••rething muse wiighty added then-. to, Low did it ea t ti:sti that thcv ..!; of a sud dm collected together, not only to support. the Proprietors of the Theatre in their attempt, but actually to ill-treat every person who manifested disipprubation, and that feu for several surres. sine *debts/ and how has it happened that since the. publication of mine and Mr. 8i,..11's letters, t* .7 hay- so rei.lenly ceased tilt it alt. telance ?... DA thee m .•f , smr. 1h,.• t e Niossrs. Harris aid Kest& put their lives w d a nger-..did some "•Miens place themselves there purposely to be takes' to Thio-sfrert, 'lt's.. to be recugnised ?. ea , on the Ilth iri,taiit, that the. account of th • and Mr. ltrantion's oath ap peared, and on the same das I sent you my former note, stating, that a person caw into a shop with two double pit ordtirs, which he had re dyed from Meildoza. The per. son alluded to, is a Mr. John kidle y, in whose uresence Mend o za indorsed the orders with the letter D. The toiler brought by my Messen. ger has also a similar indorsement on the back, Lich, as well u the hand-writing of Mr. Ilarric, has been verified, and shall ho pro duced, e 11:n necessary. Mr. Ridley, steer& palsied by a Gentleman, went to the Pit of the Theatre with another Order of the saute descrip. Con. 1, myself, accompanied by a friend, also went anti was admitted by a similar Order, the indorsemeet on which the door-keeper cautiously examined. Now, Sir, it may be said, that the Metertor did not issue those Orders—and it is perfectly true; but it is equally to that persons were authorised to issue Orders to the per. suns named in the hand-bill and such or; (leis were issued, and were distributed fur the purposes mentioned in such hand - bill. As I could nut condense the matter this letter into a smaller comps', I shall trouble you again with .1 statement of some particulars respecting Mr. Brandon's conduct, which hive fallen under my uwu immediate observation. I am, Sir, &c. JAMES POWELL. Nc. Orate-place. Canidee.lowa, Oct. ttl, We give the whole of Mr. Powell's Letter—of which only an extrast appears in The Morning Chronicle of this day. The Duke of PuRTLIIND was supposed to be dying on Sunday, the thrush having appeared in his mouth. Dr. Hairs/owes informed Isis family or the circumstance; however, his Grace got better heron c, ght. His Grace, it was supposed, could not survive long, on Tuesday night. If, how ever, he should survive a short time, we under stand it i 4 the intention of the Faculty to remove him to Bulatrode. To the EDITJR of THE STATESMAN. Sin---It was not my intention to have written or said any thing further respecting thedispute be tween the Managers of Covent Garden Theatre and the Public ; nor should I hare publitdied the letter 1 did, had 1 nut seen, what appeared to me a gross insult on the Public---I niea:i a man of IdampozA's description giving away Free Admis sions to the Theatre to persons (as I before ob servial) " more likely to break than to keep the peace." 'ln my letter I neither mentioned Mr. livable, Mr. Harris, Mr. Brandon, nor any other -person, as furnishi'ig Menduca with the Orders. I stated what I saw, and what I ran vtoto'hy fifty respectable witnesses ; and, in ad. dftion to my former charge, I have to inform you, Sir, that at the house of a Jew Pastrycoek in Duke's Place, Mendoza distributed, I may safely say, hundreds of Free Admissions to C ivetit Garden Theatre. The door of the Pastry cook's house was inure crowded, on the occasion, than the doors of the Theatre; and however ignorant the Magagers may pretend to be of inch Orders Ting be shin) they must (or ought to) have n uwn, that th so Orders, daily issued by sre , eudose ; wero milted at the Theatre. retrial% be. dm t, Conlin; October . 11), 1809 i T. D 1 fl. lb•g• ' I Rase teceived a number of anonymous 1 tro t tltigatiito, whick meet the contcsapt they re. ' • . ' "•illidl 1 iiiPiniZoiiiieNDOZA'S AFFID.IVIT. • Vti TN'S BINTOR OF THE NtOßNlail POST. • Stu —g‘ In answer to Mr. Bisn's letter, which " has appeared in some of the Newspapers, I " hare only to observe, that had I taken any part f" in the contest at Covent-gardenTlimstre, 1 'lieu 1.1 " not hare felt any regret. I have a right to ex. " press my opinion, •n any sullied, as well as 46 ens other man. I therefore treat his observe " tiVlli s ith contempt, and shall merely recom " mend him to devote his attention to distribute " his bills, and get rid of his lottery tickets, is " stead of interfering in my concerns. I never interfere in the concerns of any man, mot is it " my wish to intrude upon the public by giving a 64 statement (which if I were inclined L could) of 66 the manner in which sum men have risen to their present greatiims. 66 1 am, Sir, your obedient servant, D. MENDOZA. " Royal Oak, Whitechapel, Oct. 18, 1&19.. " P. S. Since writing the above, I thought " proper to make the following af f idavit, which " I requaat of you to insert, though I have rea. son to suppose that my bare word would be " taken as soon as Mr. Blues, although not so " rich as he is, and which is nut at surprising, " as he has of late years had so many Chuoces iu " his favour ; but Fortune is fickle, o hick Mr. " Hiss knows, and the wheel adaj take another " turn ".D. M." AFFIDAVIT. Iliddletes.—" Daniel Meodoxa, of Vfbitechapel-road, in the canny of Middlesex, roblitao, maketb oath, and milli, that hi, this deponent, ever mien:ed./nun Mr. Barris, Mr. Koombk,lllr.Brestdon,orfrom way tef the Proprietors of the new Theatre Royal, Covent-garden, or from any person or per sons, coossected. or irstirosts4 in the property or concerns of Cie said Theatre, any order or orders, ticket or tickets of admission to the said Theatre of Covent-prdea : and he, this deposseot, further maketh oath aad .aith, that he bath not been inside of the new Theatre, Covent-gardeo, ever since its opening. Ant be, ibis deponent, further makelb oath and with, that be newer rrctived any orders of adosiuion from nay [sewn) or persons whatsoever, for the purpose of distreroliog them to pennon') go to the Theatre aforesaid, to create any riot, or otter: wise to take any adios pert in the contest now 'reading between the Managers and Proprietors aforesaid, and the Public. " D. MENDOZA. "Sworn at Ole Public Ogler, Whitecimpel, this 18ta day of Oct. 1809. Before me, IL BAYLES." [The cautious reserration of this " Hittite's" affidavit, appears to be a counterpart of the etli,lavit of Mr. Professor Brandin. On the sub. ject of these extraordinary Volanteer productions, the Public will very shortly be furnished with some interesting coonler-statemeols.—lt *ill re. main fur this " second Daniel" to state the actual source from whence he received the handful( of orders that he was seen so liberally to dish-thole.] THY. STATESMAN. ' To the EDITOR of TIIE STA TJSdfAN. SIR-I have heard frequently suggested, since the commencement of the present contest between the Public and Mr. Kemble, the necessity of raising a Subscription for the assistance of those who have (in theit zeal in support of their undoubted right, to give a voice in support of their opinion in a public Theatre) had the misfortune to fall under the sweeping fangs of the myrmidons of Bow.strect, or have been deprived of their liberty (in default of finding bail) by the malicious elle gatloni of a perjured Israelite. I have therefore to request, that you will have the kindness to name some gentleman of respectability who would . be willing to take the trouble to receive subscrip. tions for that purpose, as I am acquainted with many gentlemen, who only wait fur an opportu nity of this kind, to advance that relief that is necessary, and whose example, I have no doubt, will be cheerfully followed by every person in this town, whose feelings have already induced them in the Theatre to express their sentiments 'of the conduct of that Manager, who has dared to insult, and attempted to pick the pockets, of a British Audience. We coincide most heartily and sincerely with our Correspondent, who will not regret to see that he has been anticipated by an Advertisement, that has been sent to this Office for insertion. Vo beg to observe, that the subscription will neces. eerily be confined to the support and relief of the oppressed individuals in confinement. A sub. scription for that purpose is strictly legal ; but a subscription to enable them to defend the prise. cutbsns against them, would be illegal ; that would be construed into whet is technically termed main tenance. TO rim EDITOR or THE STATESMAN. WOOL. The Bath and West of England Agricultural So'defy have published a Report on the important subject of Wool, in which they say, " It is with the greatest satisfaction that they arc able to state, what sal clearly appeared to a! large majority of their Meinb:rs, who have investigated the subject, that Wool grown in Great Britain is• equally fit for all the purposes of the manufacture with the best a hich can be itn. ported from Spain ur other countries. More I especially they have, fur two or more successive years, found that' Wool from a cross between the original Merino Ram, and Byelaw! Ewes, and from their posterity, variously intermixed, for several genetatiOns, without any further recur rence to the pure breed, has, in every instance in which the trial has been made, produced cloth and caSaimir, finer'than those manufactured from the most noted Spanish piles for the express purpose 'or competitlon. As, however, doubts still re main w idely extended amongst persons most im. medistely interested in the derision, the Bath and ' %Vest of England Society, in order to put this question to a trial, from which there can be no appeal, have offered a premium of eight guineas to.the grower, and tea guineas to the manufacin. rer of the finest piece of Navy Blue Broad Cloth, dyed in the wool, not less than twenty-five yards in length, which shall be exhibited un Monday, the lath December, 1809, made from any cloth. ing wool from the sheep tribe, groan in any coma. try•; and also premiums of six amid four pineal to the grower and manufacturer of a piece of LW. form White Cassituir, not less than 25 yards in length. PARTIALITY OF THE POLICE. AIN.E.••••1••• Sin—Among the rest of the heinous crimes committed nightly at the New Theatre, it seems the exhibiting a placard is considered by the par tisans of the Managers as tending to create more riot and disturbance than any other proceeding, and the bearers of these dreadful weapons of offence are selected u the rarticular objects of the thief-takers, and are maltreated accordingly. During the performances of Saturday evening, a placard was exposed from the upper Boxes which bore this inscription : " This pile, inscrib'd to Shakespear and the Nati" Demo& from all a liberal approbation." It is almost needless to observe, that this placard created more noise and disturbance than •any other which had been exhibited that evening ; for the adverse party forming a considerable majority of the house, the outcry and yell bared all description. But, Sir, this placard, uotwith. standiug the confusion and alarm it excited, was sufered to remain suspended during' a Consider able tinse l without the interference of How-street officers, or any of those persons who pretend to be keepers of the peace, until a Gentleman, in. dlgnaut at sot+ a proceeding, snatched it from its bearer, and tore it to atoms. October ltt, " OFF, OFF." " Acme? that, Master Brooke!" " What's sande for the goose is sauce for the " gander," is an old English adage, wbich we recommend to.tbe Gentlemen of the Club, ycleped Police Officers—n3y, even to their Commanders in the Public Office. To the EDITOR of THE STATESMAN. ... ..11.1.14••••• St tt —Observing a letter in The Times, of yes. terday, signed " Friend to Old Prices," ani madverting on the conduct of Mr. J. STALI.SRD, 1 beg leave, through the medium of your ,Paper, to make public the following statement, in corro. boration of the fact advanced by that gentleman. Myself and a friend, speaking by chance to a Jew who sells fish in Bartholoneere-lane, ho told ns, that by making use of the names of two Ticket Porters (Niessr4. llaooae and Parr), wo might obtain admission to Covent-Garden Theatre through a Mr. SHORTER. Without intending to profit by this information, we determined to make the experiment ; and ac cordingly, about eight o'clock on Friday evening last, we went to the Stage door, and enquired fur Mr. Shorter. We were received with great civi. lily, and immediately introduced to that Gentle. man—on stating our business, he said he was ex tremely sorry that he could not then accommodate the .friends of Messrs. (Moves and PITT (for such he supposed us to be) ; but Mr. BRANDON! not being in the way, and the evening so far ad. 'aimed, it was impossible. However, if we woow call on him on the following e: erring, by seven o'clock, he would resorve us a couple of orders. Leaving you to make your own comments on the above facts, T am, Sir, your most obedient Servant, . Great Qdeeta-street, Oct. 19, 1809. J. IL , Pnorassoa BRANDON, who led Me van of the nifidavit men, has been followed by Daniel Men duzs. We trust that Mr. SUORTIIII sill not hesi. tate to favour us with a little special pleading on °QM. The Marquis and Marchioness of Boom transit entertained last week, at Stuwe, in a mast rump. tuuus style, the whole of the Royal Family of France, now resident in this country, with a shim. her of French and English Nubility. The festivi. ties commenced on Tuesday, and continued till Friday, when the Royal Party took their leave. UNION H ‘t.r..—Jane Wells and Ann Tomp kins were brneght np by Lockie, charged by istnes Thompson, one of five brothers all deaf and climb, with stopping him near Nelson-square, Bleekfriersi-rnad, hustling him, and rubbing him of a one pound note and some silver. The pri. scrim were both committed fur re-examination on Toooday next. , • To the EDITOR of 7711 . .: STATE.S.JIAN. —mem— Ste—Though frt must at this time be almost' overwhelmed with communications on the subject of Covent Garden Theatre, it is possible the fol. lowiug observations, from an " Old Correspond. ent," may not he ineligNe, I. hove (being eon finiti byeevere bodily iphrinity),read with attention row' rlisirnal repnts 4.* : pecnprences at the Theatre, and give amplaeit credit tofeit accuracy ; and thOlertpre; - , Slr ‘to me), tiireisiks• pardonable insulti' to the Public, ifs.aa " The reading the•RiotAist (he the pointing the Engine Pipes through thavessetain at the Audience; and, the intrainction of Jews, Ruffians, &c. to force the public to sit tamely down under the aggravated circemdances of im position and insult." I ant, Sir, a very John Bull, and rejoice to see sonic of that ancient spi. rit still left, which dares assert that undoubted prerogative of the public, their right to express sentiments of approbation, or otherwise, at a public Theatre. I must feel, in common with all others, the degradation sustained by the Ma. gisterial character, when those who ought to be the protectors of the public against imposition * join in support of, and became partisans in the cause, rather than impartial enquirers into the fact. As, however, the public seem dehtrmined to right themselves, I trust these deluded men will see their error, and find out, that impotent pla cards, pasted up in various parts of the metropolis, and abetting hireling ruffians to disturb the pub. lic peace, is not the ditty they are engaged to per. form, and that they ate not authorised to treat every man brought before them as a highwayman, or a cut-throat. The folly of the Managers needs do comment; but if John Philip Kemble is ever again per. milted to insult the public, by presenting himself before them ait an Actor, they deserve every de gradation which they can receive, from " Con.. tented Cuckolds," Insolvent Debtors," " Ger man Bullies," and the " Twelve Tribes of Israel." I will only ask, Sir, what enabled J. P. K. to purchase a share in Covent-Garden Theatre ?—:— Public liberality. Does he then, from this, de4. rive a privilege of insulting that Public, is likik triple character of Proprietor.' Manager, ,061, 4. Performer? if you think these observn worthy of insertion, A shatl. be happy to for more more at,a future oppetyttinly. YOlll 3 4 l att: V.. rm.* t. • •to dilid ta AS MAI 'otiItRiESPONDIINT. 21 the EDITOR of TILE STATESMAN. • Sea— Managers of Covent-Garden Theatre seem nut to understand what the Public really want; I therefore take this opportunity of stating what I think will be satisfactory. The esami. nation into the accounit of the old concern amounts to nothing, and their shelving only a profit of ,six per cent. dots nut entitle then to the advanced prices. The Public wish to be informed of the expences the Preprieters have been at in re-building the Nero Theatre, and also what it will produce each night when full; at the came time taking into consideration the Privite Boxes, so that an average may be made; and, if it Is found that there is not more than 0 per cent. profit (which certainly is too little), the Public will cheerfully agree to the advance. I say cheerfully, because I well know the gene rous hearts of a British audience. To calculate the espences from the old concern, will never sa. tisfy the Public; for instance, a merchant mach a speculation of a cargo of merchlindixe, and when he receives his returns, he finds only six per cent. profit, which is much less than he expected ; but, notivithstanthei this disap pointedent, he makes • stintier speculation, (and the Proprietors hive tiolftuantither Theatrei having found out whit kraal% Nutt the teirkeli:ij and when he gets his rietureiiihe Beefied time, Mb finds that by his experience, gained in the first shigel meat, he has now a profit or 15 per cenh arse)'' this I make no doubt 41 be the ease with -the, Proprietors of Covent-Garden Theatre:4u the new concern. They would not, 1 think, have reboil the Theatre, had they not been confident, that by the alterations and various improvements which they were able to make, and indeed have made (and which will pay them at the old prices, if pro. perly managed), they would have derived an ade.i quate profit. When they first took into coml.. der.ttiitn the re-building of the Theatre, they cal calmed, no doubt, at the old prices; Drury-lane Theatre was, at that time, in seistence, and if it had not been for the unfortunate circumstance of that house being burned down, they would never have thought of ao advance. However,• if the Managers can make it out, and clear, that the present concern, with all its advantages, leaves only a profit of six per cent. the Public will then, I am convinced, agree to the new prices ; but till this is done, and la a manner that it can be clearly understood and attested, without the sweeping clause of " Errors excepted," the Public neither can, nor will they submit to the imposition. TN's Ceske-bonne, Oct. 16, 1909. rip Mc Elmo of Irak STATESMAN. . L.• • "I • -••••••••6•- Sts—A 'crime holding aw ostensible sheikdom in Covent-Garden Theatre, called upon a Clerk who ranks high is a Public Othce, and asked him how a complaint could be preferred to the Princi. pal of that high Department against jejunior Clerk, who had expressed his disapprobation of the New Prices at the Theatre ? The reply wisi'• he his opinion, " Not at all ; rte if preferredi - (bat it would not be enterteined." Good God I fir, is this course of inSimideien to be tolerated.? Are the Civil Officers ckcitheiCgo,un.Ao degradA in the esteem of Managers, as to boreeluded from giving their opinions oil the conduct of a Theatre I hold it to be law, that ate:English Chimney.. sweeper has a right to hiss or applaud in a Ptay. boos. If you wish for further particulars you have hut to signify as much in your Paper, sad it null be attruilcd to by your's, .i 0. P. Mb.