The Statesman. — London, England, 1810-09-17 00:00:00

••• a.-1•r4• 4 . 0 • • . LETTER FROM4PI-OLD 0. A le WC • .% • • • MINDERS OF THE NEW 0. P. ASSOIdiATION. Gomt ne.,—lf the still voice of reason can b o or w reach your wall amid the noise and clamour o f , o ur present occupation', I flatter myself (hat v oile peculiar pretensions to entitle me to a fiveurable hearing . from yowl *. Though by Nature disci:shied feit , taking any active part in tumults of this nature,. being gifted by her Ladyship with a! I . r y moderate portion of lungs, I confess that t i thot gh the greater part of the contests of last sea. sat a pleased spectator et *bat eonsitlerent as o,,li c ationi of very meritorious expression or. seirit amain' managerial encroachment.-1 Th o ugh I "over went so far as to pen a placard my.. 6 ,11, yet I have give n hints to sweble artist in that depaitinent, who did not feal to improve my slender suc,.:ratiots: up to a pitch of laughable:extravaganza. I hate been appesled to on a poem, and consulted u o a cat icaturi In.short, my *idest en that oc. ea ,itot may entele me to the character, if nor of a practical, yet certainly of a contemplative 0. P. With something of the old spirit iu me, 1 did out f a il of being present the first eight of the pre sent season, and fur a while my ears were not un pleasantly regaird with a rapetitm oit Ikesc sounds Ueelessing to a telenellaeliar but in a little time my asktheiyirvi sebsialad, and calmer reason took her•placet • I edultl n,it help lodate/limped no,' and asking, what were the greawds tbe present contest ? W ere they such as to entitle this to the name of a just and items:try war ? or haat they nut, in truth, b hiued their position from time to time, till they had arrived at that conjuncture, where, .without injury to the dignity of either party, a fair and honourable peace might be eassielodett, e i ther upon the basis of the steeds ante s or the esti pussidelis P The Private Buses, that first sod lag bone of retention, to which the raised prices iced Certainly . p e ter any thing inure than a subordinate of sepoe. mentary grievance, which of itself would never have disturbed the harmony between the Public and the Proprietors fur any length of time—the Private Bea r s, the objections to which, on au imaginary ecore of morality, lead been so loudly lasisted upon, t h a t the real grievants() of them, their encroachment upon the right of. public adinisslow . was iu danger o f b e ing overlooked;—the Privaic Boxes had ,hrunk from their reurbitant and insulting dimen. Aleuts into a cgloperitively very MUM Space, • In. stead of that nbalstiotut circle, which formed). Wed and bullied the house, they bad contracted th emb eyes, I was :happy tosee,vinto two witt4s, or rather maestri, of their former domains, anti nu loupr brow.beatvd the lavish(' with the exihnsive. f their eueroaelainents, of the offensiveness of their •Ituation. So much, thought I, we have;, arieJ ; we have a- fair space of two-thirds laid r it ; a goodly common redeemed from iniquitous torl wires; a .lice cut out of the very heart of the rile. , y', c tomes. Let these persons, if they have a vanity of detaching themselves from public con. tee;, enjoy their solitary par.ticipation in the rohlic pleasures in sides and corners, from w hence the continual prospect of the ample territories which we have won from them will not' fail of teaching them a salutary lesson of moderation ; and let the Theatre profit by their weakness. There is room fur us and them ; mourn in that space which we have gained upon them ; roam in the two ample tiers which are below them, no -part of which was ever attempted to be wrested front us; here is room, without ascending higher, for all the decent cam. patty which the Proprietors can hope to see as. sembled ninety.nine out of every hundred eights of perforniance ! If in consequence of .the four boxes tat each side, which are all that are at present ob jected to, a few well.drest prostitutes and their admirers are compelled upwards into a less can- Totten( place for seeing and hearing that Ojai is the list thing they come either to see or !nab the performances — we, the Public, are nail* diners by . their exclusion: and with all our dislike to those privileged separatists, the inmates of the , Pri, vale Boxes, it must be - confessed, that there is nothing. in the exterior of their deportment uirestsive W de trucy or good mauners. These reflections were unavoidably forced upon me by.a casual glince which I gave at the interior of the Theatre, after the first emotions of eyie_ panty, with which I had listened to the yfell. known* snoods of popular displeatilie halt tub. . sided. Bet the Centred Ilya shall we get rid of this treat timat That keeps us pale / Let us fairly look this formidable obstacle in the face, and try. if from some corner of it' we cannot extract some circumstance which may lead us out of the labyrinth. That the Proprietqrs did enter Into a sti— palatiun expressly- to confine the Private Loxes to the number of three ou each side, they do mut attempt to deny. That they somehow consider themselves as released front the literal fulfilment of this promise, k equally certain. Let us enquire how this delusion, if it be one, on their part, was fostered by the sucoura • nt o r acquiescence of edit. the public. "` In the interim, between the entering into the co, teant, and the close of the lain season, the act fur r 'huitiling Drury-tape Theatre passed. It is not • el intention to comment n pun the unqualified liberty tlurein given for the crectiag of Private Boxes, or meddle vs ith the doubtless sage intentions of the I- 'pasture. Perhaps it was not strictly decorous 1 3 House of Lords or Commons to interfere iu a Theatre squabble. It WAS too much like making I'leattelvcs a party with the Managers again•t us.. Perhaps it wits not strictly logical in the Proprietors et Covent Garden Theatre to make this a plea for dcmtn . ding a relessement from the rigorous fulfil- Ism! of their conditions, particularly while their ' 44 1 whose newly.satictioned superius privilege they so much affected to dread, remained in a state of very dubl us revivification. Still they did make thus plea by the mouth of Mr. K. on the last day : f the season, and that request did stein to be very wily acceded to. Nut satisfied with even this sane. thin, Mr. K.' made personal application to the ntlemen who were considered as the leaders of Ole Grown anti 4nchor Association ) and from all tF of /hens hi turs ) receired the fullest aisirrinices of their concurrence in the new urrang.ens Ad.' nutting the propriety of making the request at all, I, do not see -what more he could have done to neer. tine the public sense, the 0. P.'s having ceased to aasemble as a body, unless indeed he. had called 1 9 011 every individoal of us in person et our re-- - spective places of abode : a task, which consider. 'sing the strength of our slumbers at that time, would have been almost too much to have demanded from ,the pliability of any Manager. - Tba crime then by which the Proprietors have 'had the misfortune to merit your resentment, seems to have been, nut that they did not seek to obtain ; your sanction, as far as it could be gathered, to this departure Item the primitive contract ; but that, being once made, they should ever think• of departing from it at all. Gentlemen, the Proprietors of Covent Garden Theatre are men, and not heroes. Let us pat the case home to ourselves. . Which of us that by a dilemma, amounting pretty nearly to compulsion, had at any time entered into an unpalateablo en. gagement, would scruple etideavuuring to, secede from sumac harsh stipulation coutained in it, when. ever we thought we could, perceive a relenting pliysiegisonly, a departure from rigour in the coon. lenance of the .utter party? That something of this friendly aspect had appeared, I argue (rolls the unqualified greetings with which the reappearance of Mr. -K. was received au tile memorable night of the Reconciliation, who. ka ,jtadutgens - Public hailed the;restoretiooof their old' l'abitrites, and consented to bury all 'Past Emirs -its obit/ion:. What wboder if the Prisprietors,,:gacouraged . by such demoustrations of good will,. thought they saw in them something which looked more kindly en them than the face o'f • iigorwts luitiCe is ordi. warily paititel ; something which savou'ted of equity, favour, and -liberal .construotion.? •Where was the heinousness of the utfence, if-by a veniaybecause alight, deviation from the lino of unerring rectitude, they wev anxious to staten the terms of a contract, which, as it placed them ina worse situation than they were hefure the unhappy contests Vegan, had something of rigorous anttover.strattied inits very fir..t concoction ? What if, ;dying upon the kindly fiction of a perfect furgiveness, by. which a state of penitence iv considereti as equivalent to a state:of innocence, they hoped from your re-turning favisar to ho no worse off than they were before they bail the unhappiness to forfeit it formerly ? %Ire were conquerors ; but it has not seldom been seen, that a Conqueror has witig %red those laws, w hich, in the plenitude of his first power, he ;night hove thought necessary to his own dignity to inipuse. In common life two men m ike a contract itt an affair of property. If it shall afterwards appear to one of the parties, that by receding from the letter of the contract in one instance, .he shalt part with stone privilege very insignificant in itself, but, by so doing he pall confer. a most valuable consi deration upop the other party, he will readily do it, if he btu not a 'very's...lush or ill.eativeir man. In the present case what you demand, Gentleiumi, if com., plied with, will diminish the receipts of the Theatre by maw tbousauds Qf Puunds, and nut an individual of you will receive any beuefit by it iu money or convenience. My 1'6%14, it is excellent to have a • giant's strength, bet it is tyrannous to us e it like a giant. Let me request you to smirch your own bosoms, and you will perhaps fioil . iliat there is amu ive, al togedier distinct (rein a feeling of justice, which yet may mingle with that feeling, and render it a little suspicious. Of all the motives which set man, kind to work, the strongest, and what mixes more or less with every ether, is a love of power. Are you sure that you are exempt from this ? That you do not feel a tickling sensation at the thought of de priving the Town of its favourite diversions At converting the Theatre into 4 scat of war, and re. doing the Players to the state of Puppets ? Du you feel no soothiags of complacence, wbeu a' Gentle man of Nlr. K.'s education and talents, by the ac cident of hie torofession, is obliged to subject him self tee,xpressiotis of disrespect, which he dare nut tetanal*? If . any thing of this sort mingles with your sense of injustice, let roe b e g o t y ou t o di sm i ss it as soon as possible. The love of justice cannot be too pure and unmingled. Hoping that these de. .soltory observations - may have some weight, and, with 4 probability of addressing you again soon, I remain, Gentlemen, Your devoted Servant, . CONCILIATOR. Sept. 16. Bears have within a few years increased so consi. dciable in Bengal and the Carnatic, as to induce the India Government to oder large rewards fur their destruction. The Four.in.hand Club have of late been unmer. eifully lashed by our Gazetteers ; and hardly enough, we think, for they have this negative merit at least; seine of them it may be true, can du but little in discharging either the national incum. beraucy or their own ; but, then they take a laude. ble care that their country shall owe nothing to them. A vast quantity of rain foil during the middle of last month in the States of New York and South Carolina, which, causing great freshca, occasioned imineuse losses to individuals whose plantations %or e situated near the river. On Beach Island, tho whole of the crops werdalosts4loJ, and 250 head of cattle drowned. The City intend to apply 'to Parliament, early in the cusuing Session, for Bills to alter and amend the late Acts relative to Smithfield-market, ti, the Sunday toll on Blackfriar's.bridge, the entrances into the City by Picket andSls.inner-streeli, and to some ogler objects of municipal regulation. The Content of Gries, near Berne, was sup. pressed early last month, and converted into bar. racks; all the Convents lit the department of th e Upper Adige will, it is supposed, share the same fate.. . • A peer of 30 persons were assembled in a large building at Petersburglr, it the beginning of last meat, to,celebrale a marriage, when a (builder storm coming on, the root Was struck by the light. o;ng,. which entering, killed the bride and bride. groom just as the Priest si as joining thei r h an d s) without the °then Euetutoles any material Injury. ftT • , ___noit•AtaL. • : ' trraser OF A .FRIVATA :Lelergir MOW. JOATAD I.' . l• •*. , •5 4 We . have,rumnurs here that Alm "dl ,Ns. Ns. 27th at night. An aceount, said to have jiataumi received, states that the . trenches Were opened cnil the 24th ult. and that on th e 27 t h a matizhie blear up, which did such damage to the. place that hada.' render was the consequence. . The place is certainly' of some importance, but the loss by nnineaus ren ders our affairifilesperate. Colonel etas, 'commaad.l ant of the place, is safe. It Is nut impossiltle thitt this may have been the effect of treachery." • • • Lissom, AUG. 27.—We are informed Irons Beira Bahia, that Captain White, commandiog a squadron of the 13th British Dragoons, and another ef the 4th regiment of Portuguese cavalry, 'on the ltd hal a rencounter with an enemy's patrule of 60 horse, near the village of Ladociro. The result of the action was, that the whole were made prisoners, without any loss on our side; but the officer coin. mantling the party made his escape in the confusion. Captain White praisekhighly the Portuguese troops, anti the Ensign Pedro du Oliveira, who comtnanded them. • HADAJO;, Auc. 22. The position of the Mir. 'Os de Romanis remains the sanse as before, as does also that of the French: Lissom, Ave. 27.r-Buan,official letter .from Lord Wellington, dated flead.quarters at Alverca, the 22d inst. we are informed that the enemy are lisbouring at the trend* against Almeida ; but owing to the nature 9 / the ground, as well As the tire from Abe fortress, , their labours are rendered airy difienit: - At the above . date, the enemy had r- not openeti his•brc against the place. Our army is asking a forward movement. Lissom, Amain. 31.—According to accounts from the headquarters at Avelans de B r ibeira, dated the 26th instant, the enemy continue their Works before Almeida, but hare not - yet opened their fire. • • • r The rising in Biscay, Navarre, and the Asittrias, .has become general, and another e xpediti o n. was , iebeut to leave Corunna fur some. point pn that .coast, in order to encourage and render more deci. sive these generous efforts. We shall Soon be able 'tsgive.the particulars of their different movements. General Buitrar has killed or made prisoners-50 .French dragoons in the vicinity of Bienveatids. tittAtkANZA., Aug. 19.—The &zoedition egainst . .Puebla de Senabria has caused mu c h mare lots to the enemy than was at first imagined; for General Serras lost in (rout of that fortress more than 1,200 'meti killed, prisoners, and deserters; of which !last, 240 came over to us, and a much greater nutn. ber to General Mahi; and the enemy, to strengthen themselves at Puebla weakened their garrisons at Leon, Valladolid, 'and Benavente, into which dis. 'trios the Spanish gverriltas entered, and put to the sword. the small garrisons which opposed them, Allaying ',timid destroying all the French property which they found. The enemy have left this vici. ,asty in. order to re.eatishlish their garrisons at ;be ibove places. lawn, SE r. I.—We have received Cadiz G ;antes up to the 26th August, the contents of which Aire iitterebting. The army of the centre, under . the orders of General- Blake, advanced on the 10th of August from Oche to Murcia. General O'Don. nel has hid an interview with General Caro in Peuiscola to concert• their operations ; the bitter had, on the $J of August, his headquarters in Alvali de Xivert. General O'llontiel having entered Tor. too, ordered, on the 4th of August, a general sortie; the result of which was, the destruction of nearly the whole of the enemy's works. General Villacarapa has a line advanced in Arragon, to cut off the communication between the French corps which U(QUIIy Zaragussa and Elaroca.—( Lisbon Gazette, Sept. 1.) ° VA LENCII, AUG. 3.—The divisions of our army which are destined to destroy the French force. which occupies the positions of Murillo, and the right bank of the Ebro, have been considerably reinforced. General Dun J. Caro has already set out to take the cohimand thereof.—c(Sanie Raper.) .LISBON, AUG. 31. —The brigade of Portuguese horse, which, on the '2d instant, arrived in liada, jos, put itself in motion on the /7th to juin the army of the Marquis On the 29th instant, the-Eagle. of the third Swiss battalion in the service of France, which was taken in Puebla de Senabria by the troops commanded by General Silveira, was presented to our G overnment. It is a matter of sincere congratulation for this country, that the Portuguese troops, whenever they meet with the enemy, display the utmost steadiness, intrepidity a and valour. In point or discipline they are equelly conspieuous., thanks to the eminent Weida and uctremitting attiyity of ,his Excellency Marshal J3ereaford.—( Lis4an gazette, disgust 31.) liaomoz, Auo. 23.-The Junta of Govern. intent of this Province has received the following official .account ; " On the Bth, at 7 in the morning, the enemy entered Lerina, to the amoynt of 8000 infantry and 700 burn!, *here they remained to tbss 11th, on which day our troops Attacked them as they were retiring in good order tv Montemolen, where the enemy halted ; the division of our army proceeding in the direction of Valenti*, Ventosa, Zafra, and other • contiguous places. The loss of the French was from 1500 to WOO killed or wounded, and our's much less in both. " On the 12tb, in the evening, the moveable coltimn, established by the party of Gazallas, and consisting of 500 infantry, anti forty horse, left it fur Villagarcir, distant one league, to deliver 450 wounded they had taken, and property which hwi been' left in Lerina on the day of the action, This all4Ull retired on the 13th, and on the 14th the army of the enemy returned, bring. mg wily 4001 infantry : there *Ai alai, a great deficient!) in their cavalry. 1p thanksgiving for what they esti a vici.rty, thoy caused 9 Te Deem j to be sung —a solemn processi=m to ha mole' through the street—and, still su•le to mislead' the people, they save a Ipill-44ht. They hare establish,d a Pretea,t a , 41 a Royal cquros...ary, and havit;g fixed their beast-ti tht ft.li they recritre &ill ) cuisa, 41 lily of pruYiSitooll alli4rcut aci,ids • as urea 010141. • • 4 , • - - - - " • I rw i n th e place. The Chief Magistrate, wire .t , ‘r ip er t ions le authority, with D.in F. Medias, who g e d.k e e li usu they could lint bear snob intolerable' oppr e ssi o n, have been dechteed traitors, and their .property eunfiscAteiL . Toe rouvonble column WS • the 17,k 1,44 its ;Much for Gliailateana; carrying 'Otis it the-sick, wounded, and itruperty, and rik. . kg, according to *l'm we can learn, the ,lirectiun I id Anititteia?k..l /Paritijnz Moot, hiii; *Cr - •GoAit D A, AUG. 28. - Tao enemy has t•wacuated Pinhel, and:lies his principal. force wend Fort do' Is Conception, where MANS111:1 -11:111 pia head-quer. tors. If Massense dues nut move off, he will, in all probability, be attacked to.iiiorrow. Lord Wellington's head quarters are at Alreres e the Marshal's at Avelans de Ribeira, and 'the /gibe brigade at Cebecar Nigra, the 14th Light Unguent* within four miles of Almeida, and the whole ri 1 . •: * . 91111: . remaining force at Guards and Celocii; ant/ ell' • could join its eight hours. ' It is expected General Hill is going to-nchlnee nir as to flank the lett wing of the Fectith, whilst av g . tier's corps is kept in 'citeck by General Leith. It • the enemy only wait, though a bloody, it •Wlll doubtless be a glorious day fur Britain, as ihe re. spective forces arc aearly equal. The soldiers of the French army are very much eliconteitted consequence of being obliged to work in cutting • the corn, threshing, and grinding it. Massenet Mot found it necessary to place all the Ssi'iss and Ger. ; man regiments in his rear. Romaoa has been defeated near Merida, by kl4e., • • osezeozzadmmsomaso T1v#444111-ES. . . 4 ° • • 114TOtastiti.T.—Thes ,sesson - formally,. bola trust Out really, closest on Saturday cvetting.—Tetor following address was skittered on the oceasott:-...- ' " L/DI CS AND GENTLNDEN, ," Althoogli an extends,. of wie tourrith has been recently rul-a ded to the ; al licence tar performances at toil. Tarestre, se. many obstack;s Dow vesriut t.e,usrlves 71,41thrgt coitrysuend of the Kraut, that the sealsou nowt tenni:rare this eveuiug. " I aut desired by those in ta how the imocigemeal is reeted p to offer you their very gratel'ill acknowledgments fur the fa-, your and patronage tot ) . air% e eavrtenced bolo a liberal Pull.' lie: teem endeavours to 'petit a continuance of yorir suppors will he unremitting. Tae Performers odor beg leave to express their sense et the generous encouragement you have afforded them duriog the Summer; aud thus, Ladies .us..l lir adieus" WM NOV rellpeCbs fully take our leave." ....V.4.41‘••• , - • • I. it CVIV--•Thjs commodious lit tie 'neat re 'closed for the Summer Opera' Season oa - iutuulay. The House was filled in every part. At the cuticlusioa of the o.pera, Mr. ltairtioNo, fur whose bestelit the performance was, delivery] the follow - to o ,: lace. well address, which was received u ith acclaotatiostst of applause from every put of the Theatre;— " L•DIES and itiamr‘caturt, " The second scare of the English Opera will clove with ttla performances of site evening. That the FrOlifletors b atespared neither labour nor expellee to resider the amusement. of ibis Theatre worthy of your patrona g e, mu s t I se fully ackirouled4o4 by the amlause with is Inch you have honoured their exe, bran& nod the novelty they have preseuted (*you during a ter) shuri quid limiter liCaboll. In a period of thirteen weeks, tbre, new Operas. Ores row Musical Entertainments, mad two revived Pieces have received the stamp of your approhatioa, e senior+, con..ider log the expeoce and mental labour necessary In render rheas worthy ut your applause, is hick no other Theatre s In Ibis metros• polls has, ut any period, paralleled. " This, Ladies and Gentlemen, has been dope to UM !hum promises held forth at the (lase of lust peagoo,—• rout every exertion should be made to render the Engtuai Opera s worthis the protection of the English bane lionoureld those exertions with your applause, and the Ptoprictocsaresa lisfied and grateful. tt la one. particular which relalcs to the Faaglish Opera. 11. wish to be clearly and di:tiortly undetstood. It "is the dairy of the Proprietors to einclote and excel, not injure any moue establishment of the same form ; and while they slush cxedittlii declare their iutentions, they tespectfuliy solicit 'tort hums support. " A Nationalinstltutiow w,hieh bolds forth promises of mi. lection reward, and eucourageineat to the Natimial Joie", must 14 fully supported by a thizionalleeling; n o d i f part of that patronage which Is bestowed on a foreign estaiaish meat by the wealthy part of this proud and happy .c.ntutry should ever be extended to our native Opera, even is. there " every fair promise that English :oleo' shale oat only equal bur, excel that which, at su edurwoos au expetace, is lean /y impart ed from a foreign land. • " Satisfied with the eacostragemem which . year liberalism has bestowed on the exettions already made4,tne Yraprietord pledge themselves to continue those exertions, andithist lOU ems pence shall be spaced to procure dad cherish talent wherever Alla may be found; and they have so doubt but that. whereto. notirable emulation shalt prevail, sad *Where a desire mittens, is seeu by you to exist in 'Proprietors at well as Performer& your future encouragement w all sachet la snake Sat Essit‘A Opel a Natio* Ornament. " lithe name of the PrnarieblilltirAiliei nod Geodes/Ms dint of the Performers, who individually larie reque s ted me s o turn their sincere thanks for the kaad &amnion surd tipplers* ith whams Jou have !tomcatted their Aahours . I seripectliill4 bid you farewell." • t - - .1 3 0k4fiMOUT11, Stir. "16. ' Exertions are making out of the ordinary way % .send reinforcements to Lord Wellington. The lit division of the 1).111 regiment (Ist bat.), marched rot yesterday from Lewes, and embarked on board tiro Tomeant, 80, Sir John Gore ; and this morning the remainder (fuer companies) embarked buar4 the Macedonian frigate, Lord-Wm. Fitsroy. Dolb .ships, through much exertion, sailed this after/toils fur Lisbon. Thu Melpomene ang Apollo have aatleat suddenly fqr the Liowns, to - take troops o board. The 4th, 71st, and 91,1 d regiments, it i f said, are to embark there. The Vestal st eut out of WNW this Morning,. to -. take troup4 on board, on Monday s and sail immediately foie the Tagus. Several troop-ships are fitting mai with great expedition at Chatham and Sheerness, W. are happy to know that these exCrlloas uotatis* • out of any apprehensions fur the irate of our army in Portugal, or from any expectations that-the <ipe, • . rations of the enemy will btl attended with'vevy ca, traordinary stemma, unless th e y are g ready nit* forced. 0 . 11 Tutsiday the King George cartel sailed fist Morlaix, with public dispatches lir Mr. Alacitemi t t sh e t o ok over a nephew of Fiel(l-Alarslial Noy, wholately arrived in his Majesty's skip l'otrasn4 f rom Cadiz, and whom the Commissioners • Uf ski Transport Board hive most handsomely excitan t :4 without delay, in consequence of the very Cid ma* h uma ne manner, his uncle, the Marshal, mseei o o our unfortunate. countryinett in Spain. M.uusiesit &gine font,iliche• *no also urrived in v ie f utrairde and two other Ciendemmn, are gulls over an 4,14 Kim( linorge. Tii: &ova Jun. Charles yorice, First fordo, he Adnistalty y *lll a:isit this post 4n nbrenil A Lab. night. • I I Id . . • i 4i ' vi, 1 i