The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1809-09-22 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN MUIR e. The public still- persist in 'crowding this Theatre, sad tilling the Managers' pockets with money at this dead time of the year, fur the purpose of mastitis Ike imposition if such conduct was adopted by a Dublin audience, our prints would probably abound in witticisms an Irish spicily; and represent, in various pleasant lights, the cunning determination of that people. who flinig away their money every n ight, in order to avoid expense ; nay, it might h a ppen that they would attach some suspicions to the Manners themselves, as encouragers to resistance, in a case of such profitable hostility. The former night was more crowded than that which preceded rt : cud last night kept up the gradation. being more crowded than either of them ; the doors were !Jo sooner opened, than nit parts were instaatly •s•till t, with the exception of such places it) the boxes zi were previously engaged. Indeed. many even of .hem were taken possession of in spite of the boa-keepers, a circuiustauce which gave rise to some exh;bitions of pugilistic prowess between those who engaged, and those who occupied. In fact, the last in t4 ht presented a far more for midable uppeannice than has been wit ne , scd since the commencement; the chani plc.'s of Old Prices were anxious to distinguish themselves, by,extel ling all their former feats ; the noise was louder, more general. and more discordant; the plecurds were in larger print, find more various forms ; and the eloquetice was full us vehement aad unintelli gible. In addition to the hissing, hooting, scream ing, screeching, clapping,, groaning, tstc. the catcall was introduced already ; the horn succeeded it ; ■nd when it was thought that ingeiniity hail ex hausted its powers, the watchman's rattle was brought in last night, to skew that it. had yet a reserve. As to placards, in addition to the former, the most universal 9f which was "old prices," there were many new ones displayed in the pit, and pinned to the cushions of the boxes, " Be firm,"-.-" Be firm and unanimous, and they most take off the imposi tion'—' to rem priees"—" Dieknns for ever; No L'inalani"—" John Ball against Joh* Ke&'k," I3ut it would be in vain to attempt to describe the manner of their reception ; uproar, confusion, and discord, are each of there sarong terms but *any person present at this scene, LIMA acknowledge thein.incompetent to represent it. It is time to mention what the Play was, but it is time enough ; the Play forms no loa l c.r the business of the Playlionsi? ; thc, audience are converted into actors, and the actors into the audience. The play was Love in a Pillage; Riekons, and Mr. lociedon, exerted their vocal powers with the same effect as before ; and though this superb theatre is now open four nights, not a word, nor even the souud of a voice, has been heard from the performers. As a joist, though uo; sucressful correvtive of the various in flammatory phmcsr•ls, the following hand-bill was circulated through the house action, which put us is mind of a kettle-drummer, and his grimace of a roan in an hysteric fit. as language tnight have been excellent, bet it was not heard ; and, if we were to judge by his other acquisitions, ribald not be very reined. When , he bud concluded, a bustle ensued is the box whence he mounted the rostrum, which **affrighted the poor kr, Itiard- marker, that he ran ajong the front of the boxes, until he reached the centre, and disap peared. Until the commedeement of the Farce, the quiet part of the audience wt re amused with skir mishing parties attacking the box-doors that were filled by well-conducted persons, and attempting, by force cud mviraces, to take violent possession ; but they were in most instances defeated, not without receiving what they en justly merited. Fresh pla cards were hoisted, viz... B.• anent , King John's head •trimus," . 1 Britons he firm," 1. No Catalan Mountain for ester!" 1. Kembk, rentemhtr the Irish tinman," " Resist imposition, to lino/ for Ito. how airs and broken English." These were stye rally hoisted, with loud huzzas; after which they were pinned to the front of the boxes, some even by the fear 'omits of ladies, who were assisting the praiseworthy endeavours of their husbands to create a twilit. The Farce coinineticud with in :Teased noise; the lovers of fun having tired their hangs with roaring, they applied thems‘ .ves to the most indents. noise, mail-coach trumpet.. watelunen's rattles, &c. They excelled in this kind of route beyond any preeeeding nigh , . Mrs. Charles Kvin ble was particularly honoured by their attention— such as palming at her. sun] calling "No Kem bk. !"—Slte bore it with Christian fortitude, and only replied by a look of disdain. Between the first and second act, one of the placard* fell Prom the sipper boxes into the lower; is person with great address nretentled to pick it up again, instead of which heleaperl into the pit with it, stud escaped. Not a word from the stage was heard durnig the entertainment ; not even the comic powers of Mr. Liston, woo exerted himself by dancing, &c. could force a smile. The curtain dr,pt, amidst the most prodigious noise. lm.utxha-fly after, the billiard marker re-appeared, apparently flushed with his retreat, and seemid tui if Ire was repeat ing the following lilies u The m:.* team Nl= away, May live to tight mother day." After here . got Ins tau from the barber, be proceeded— .. GC X TLESIS4II....ThII Illessiplai here ileithipes cos tempt mid imagers, and ham resisted the ;wow' swim more I then ever • Moister dust dn. What d• yes thigh at Mr. itesithle's tiheruMty, whew he hes se , a retired the Beef steek Club the priestess of aroma, which they always had ea this Theatnt Mew me to ass. awes tikemility foam se, that deem sea dew lilt awaskag el'almarsedP—(Lesilhama.).4l4 used set ex* is ear Morel* Se pay so Itlellss Ayer, let him esomilaus MOW. false% and be sel gams a vas. if ha two as • IkUiestes, a Kessesie. a Ilkesse, ea • Lis som, British gratitude will AU hk he... each sight.'"-.(Limit pisseliu.J When they turned their eyes to the spot from which they had been so highly delighted, alas, the orator had Bed, but he was succeeded by another. Thenriginal motor next mounted the rostrum ; but even his rhetoric was insufficient to obtain him a patient hearing. The interruptions and noises were so frequent, that wo could only distin, nub detached sentences, which were received by the malcontents with shouts and lianas. He spoke in reply to what fell from Mr. Re►able last night, and remarked, that it must be very entertainiog to see that Geutlemaa teaching Catslani English, with a birch rod in his hand. He thee repeated the old story about the rents of private boxes covering all the expenses incurred by the Proprietors, in consequence of the tire. Mr. Kemble had called the increased admission a trifling sum ; it was true, a shilling amid a sixpence were bet trifling .4ums ; yet, when ninny of them came toge ther; the Proprietors would find the profit of 15 per cent. a great stein. If, however, it was a trifle, why would the Proprietors pertinaciously permit in making it n bode of contention with the public? why d:d not they, who were only two or three individuals, concede tire trifle to the ge neral opinion P But it was needless to tell him, that the profits of the Theatre were so trifling 'as Mr. Ketnisle stated them to be. As good a judge of capital as Mr. Kemble was, and there was none better, would not employ his money where the einoluineuts were so small. So great a lover of money as Mr. Kemble was, and there was none loved it more, would not sink 45,0001. in a losing concern. Fie concluded by calling on them to continue firm and steadfast to their porpoises, and they must iu the end inevitably conquer. The epplause following this speech was interrupted by the amietrance of 'sir. Kemble, dressed as before, in black, who, after ten mimics:a had elapsed iu endeavours to procure silence, thus addressed the audience LADIrf AND M X LLLL have to express le yea the iirgret felt by the Proprietors of Oda Theatre, thee the statement I had the lionise' of making he yowled eight, did not meet with y our appr,,bettiou. Ladies med Gestlesee—. beg 'rare once more to remind yon. of the natters moo tented in that statement, and to suggest le yo emeal. &ratios The hepatica malcontents would hem se more. and Mr. licit()le retired, after endeavouring. most patiently and perseveringly. to gale alteetise to the conclusion of whet be had to my. "Her u« t ear lorded it wide," and ell was again Meek end unite. It is in this ansannt that the dispute he. CAUTION Lord MANSFIELD, on the trial of the Rioters in ewe of tie. MAC:4:LIN, stated, • British Audience had • right to empress their approbation or disapprobation of Plays and Acton in the sisal way, but if it could be proved that say Person or Persons went, night after night, to the Theat►e, for th,! purpoiw of presenting an Actor exereis , ag his P. dession, or TO INJURE Til C MANAGERS or PICO PRI ETORS, such Perron or PC1140416 would NOT only be subject to AN ACTION nt LAW, but might be INDICTED FOR THE OFFENCE. :lad in the ewe of the Prisoners is the Kin(s Bench, Lord MANSFIELD Mated, if the parties con , mr in doing the act, although they were NOT PREVIOUSLY acquaint ed with earls other, IT IS A CONSPIRACY.,"Sappiemmat is riser's Ahridgmeet.) The placard.. notwithstanding this, were still dis l dayed, and the riot persisted in. The perfor mance went on, without and• intermission of the tumult, except in the interval between the acts, when the belluwers took breathing time. Between the third and fiurth acts, an orator arose in the Boxes, and waved hi. 'mini in signal of an intention to exhihit. After mine time, the uproar subsided into a noise, which was comparative silence ; and the speaker (who, we understand. is junior partner in a barber'. coneern in the city) began ; " LA Dila A!D GENTLEIIE7C, is a most remarkable circumstance, that Mr. limbic uppea, a, inattentive to She wishes and indignation of tlie audience, that he should continue reclining upon his sirs, while the resentment of a Brith.b theatre is loudly and *wirers:4l l y !pressing itaelf. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is ma sett", ou,:lit by Jolts Bell &gona John Linable, arid if you only twricvere, you may depend opus a just and equi table verdict.' ortoor coachuled, the lintm resounded. and vanstles, catcall*, horns, and rattles, bore their ter tin:on:: talrot*, Ilia argument was of that nire chserituinitting, kind ,vhieh is signified by the Omar of splitting hairs. Ois the cooeltisiou of the play, • toy of exultation broke forth, and God Save. Nit Bing' was •ititN ooiversally, when their voices were as hoarse us the raven's. The in terval between the ploy and farce K nee them time to rscoser themselves, sad the farce elcperienced the 1:41116f fl uences. Immediately as the curtain dropped, a new can• dictate for public fame started on the trout of one of the side boxes. He eppeared like any thing but a gentleman or an orator; it was whispered through the house he was a billiard marker in the Leighboinhuoil of the Italian Opera-horse. The um;iroce, however, had too much iseo,e to libten to him ; but they were highly amused by his -__ ~. -' - r - S -- • '.- •\ • tO3 the Proprietors an their adverearioe is pro- longed. Instead of hearing, fairly and discreetly, whet the former have to urge in their own behalf— instead of attending to the common principle of justice, sad abseils pattern—the mingled cries of ‘. Off! if/ Mu! ao !" and " Hear him out !" de stroy at once every notion of equity and sense of decoru.n. Were Mr. Kernble allowed, once for all, to explain, definitely, fully, and fairly, the reasons and resolutions of his eel/sewers awl self, theu the public could determine on the validity of their plea, and in turn express their fixed detertninetioo, either to acquiesce, or to resist. But hued' perence always carries its own punishment with it ; and, front the folly of not listening to the other side, it is, that this scene of contention is prolonged ; mid the sane, unbiassed part of the puhlic,defraaded of the plea ' sure to be derived from such representations as Macbeth, The Beggar's Opera, Richard the Third, and Lone ix a Village. If Mr. Kemble's love of money be so great as is imputed to hits by these silly persons, who are ambitious of rendering them selves courpiciaous, and consequently ridiculous, in • public place, surely the present mode is nut that most likely to bring hint to reason. or as accordance with their erishes.--The house was more crowded to-night thin it has been since Monday ; and to a merely avaricious Manager, it must be indifferent whether the receipts at the door are prodoeed from a desire in the visitors to attend to the actors he produces, or to become actors themselves, and en tertain him with empty speeches, and the opera of catcalls. After Mr. Kemble's exit, the billiard marker again obtained a temporary and irregular hearing. Indeed. so many candidates for popu lar favour now *muted Perth, that almost every box produced its Demosthenes. The billiard-man re insisted on his former arguments, and, with most violent gesticulations, accused the Managers of falsehood and of ideoleoee. in endelivouring to awe a British audience by means of constables, Bove. street officers, staves, fighting watermen, water engines, and trap-doors. Another orator gave a succinct history of his own life. He had been in the navy since he was thirteen years of ac ; but now he wts married, and had a family. He liked plays, and liked that his family should now and then ate a thing of the kind. It was there fore that he was averse to the d--d rascally rise in the prices ; avid he only trusted, that if that scheme was brought to he 4r, His Majesty would be advised to make an ad..,ia v on his pay, to enable him to meet it. God .S.te. , the King, in litany parts, fol lowed this rhetorac.al effusion ; and the front lamps beingoinoved, the pit began to thin; still, how ever, numbers remained, and exercised their agility in learning the new art of our. Au alarm of Con stables being given in the pit, they made a quick inoverneet into the boxes; and, on a similar alarm .ring given in the boxes, they as speedily resumed their stations in the pit. Other public speakers also appeared ; one man from the pit spoke at great length, and, considertEg his appearance, which V 144 that of a common workman, with great ener gy, and often with considerable spirit. He ad dressed hid observations to a Gentleman, who, be said, had espoused the cause of the Proprietors; and contended, that neither of the two reasons alleged by Mr. Kemple, for the advance of price, were sufficient. The high price of every necessary ma terial, was no just ground ; for, if it was, every other Theatre might urge the same claim ; and. indeed, with a much better face; as none of them possessed the advantages Covent-Garden did, or had a monopoly in their favour. He continued to speak for nearly half an hour, in the same stile, and denominated the high, the mighty Mr. Kenable, a vagrant, in the strict letter of the law. This law hail nut been repealed, and it now appeared to be wisely re tained, to keep such ge utry in check ; for if co thing of the kind existed, he supposed the pub lic would in the end be obliged to send peti tions to their own servants to come and enter tain them. In the middle of his speech, a rival started near the stage, and being literally pitted against him, divided the wordy honours of the eight. The gentleman accused of advocating the Case! of the Proprietors, was suddenly precipitated from the boxes into the pit, and was considerably hurt ; and sundry other rows caucludcd the cutertainceents of this evening. A stave of " God s cc the king;' was the signal for departure, and the crowd slowly disappeared by It BULLOCK v. Buo rititt.—Ou Wednesday last, at North Shields, a bullock broke louse from some butchers, and ran through the street in a furious meow", but his progress was at length stopped by his taking down the Hole-iu-the-Wall quay. which was scarcely wide enough to a:low hint a free pas sage. To the astonishment of the spectator, when he came to the door of the Hole-in-the-Wall, which was opened by a sudden twist of his body. he entered the home staid walked majestiv-ally up stairs now the kitchen, where the *revue of uproar and confusion that ensued is iodescribable; the bul lock was heard bellowiii4, the women screaming, and the furniture breakiug in pieces; in the midst of which confusion, the fluor yielded to the ponder-, ous weight of the animal, who, however, disengaged himself by a desper.tte plunge, and, breirki:lg dean a partitios, entered the grand chamber of the Lady Abbeys, where he oleo laid Mine valuable furniture guider his feet, and then thrust his head through Hie window, whence he loudly bellowed defiant.- tn his pursuers. He wax at last secured, and is, nerli. :Is. the tint made visitor that ever got out of that ...tea without having his pockets lighteowl. .‘,_. • ~__ r POLIO'S. k , a~ ilitilLDNALt, MM. 41. trams Mario, empraitiee to Mr. Joseph Aahe, menu &Marlow eilysonnitb, in Se. Martin's le- Grand, was charr.4 with wading Mon hinvnenter.•.spiesitity of silver iliugs Mr. Aube hof loot swam tp susperrltim ;. sod, yrstr rdny eventing, IsM ,, W apon his gulag emit, stoptit awl leatelaeo 11141 ; he euos!ti i Vettese, buntsfy that' •eses of property. The Prisoner was reminded till Pw, in order, if reitible, I t o bilug the persons, parch:smug such from him, iratkin. Reify Key'grat tkiireoll with the fkitiewing ingtelous olt•d• er'reiheer• Jane. WillfieldrirefeWe.ll64ll4ll. ilerbev, littlierdashere, of York-etre( C wso sent •isl. • Wine Imettlii of goods into the City, tweets sad • = l ht tau sight ; be Mop' to rest buiseill at n punt at the earlier of Mb &Val lgaeltange ; white mantling that, be observed ter men croft towinds his, use of 'IAMB Mae is his famet, wed the other the IPromanrr, mine behind him ; iiiitneellairly •hr ether thet:or some muff* hie eyes. mod toe Pnsoiser smart...l the boodle fro. hie abouillev,with which they bath ifinw , Off ; urea his giving the alarm et" stop thief,' the Frisun , v ern gurri with the thud he his yeemetioa ; he did We se, him dept. The two men who actually amyl him out lancing. 'vie'. rd to identify him, the Primmer was retnnnitrd t. 1 t.. ninv, ,r, fur that purpose. Ile hi s :snong thus, hot is mild M Ise well hots s. OLD BAILEY. SE pr. 21. HIGHWAY tteaBERY. ilea& Dger and Jose Neweisgiois were capi tally indicted for felooioesly awaiting Benjamin Bird, and fraudulently takingfrum Lis pe(60.1 usuk notes to the amount of 1031. on the King's high way, in the parish of St. Clemeat Dawes, oi. the night of the 3d of August lost. enjamin Bird, a Purser iu His Majesty's Navy, depoeed, that, on the 3d of August lust, he recciet.ii the sum of 1061. in bank notes, from "devils. Preed and Co. bankers; that between eleven and twelve o'clock the same night. be was knocked. down and hustled between Surrey-street and Tem ple.bar; he was so much wowed by the • fall, he could not tell who bad done it, but he believed it was done by women, as he had just passed some ; on his reeuvenng. his packet -boo k, which contained the nmes, was gone. The witness went • tweet morning to Mews. Praed's, and ascertained the numbers of the notes, (ma whence be went to the Bank of England, and stopped Abair psy t ne ir t„ Thee* was use atil. two Oh one 101. and one 41. notes. Jacob Thos, 'talc to Maws. Pruird and Co. deposed, 1w !od she motes, about three o'clock on the 3d of Augu.t, to the Prosecutor. This witacas produced and proved the Bombers of theta.% John Pollan!, apubfwan, derned, that, on the ath of August, 11,;',.,htitii the Pristhi-r. Dyer, change for a 101. note, which he pr , p!ticed 'lto smother tad date of which corrtartsded with that takes frets Mr. Bird. William Alders, paintei and glassier, deposed that the Prisoner, Kennington, am the 4th August. asked him to change a 501. Dote; he told her that be was not able to do It. She then 1464 if he would get her small notes for it, she would give him a shilling in the pond. He took it to the Bank of England, where it was inclined ; be wrote his mums on the hark of it. ilr. Robert Fish, a clerk in the Bawls of Star land, produced di.. Dole; the 'number and date of which corresponded with the Sol. note taken from Mr. Bird. The Pr*Onell Mstam op defence. Several witnesses came forward to the character of Kennington. They said , they always considered her a hard-working honest woman. She sold aga ten and apples in the streets. ThaJary found theta both—Guilty—Dew& On• Friday se'noight, the folio. v, melancholy affair happened at CilnIUM nvir Blyth, Mr. Jon% SToase, who had been lilting ut sea far his amuse ment, retuned at dusk in the evening, and nom - diateiy proceeded bowie, to annonoce his arrival to his falnely, when his two daughters, wie'oged 11, the other 22 yenta-of -age, proposed to accompany Inas tn the sliore i joprder to assist in securing sty boat. The eldest daughter and father proese.ted towards the boat. velfllo the younger one staid at a distance withaligisk.w/siekauddesly disappearing, the other sister went to ascertain the cause, when, meta!)• holy to rehite; the' wretched father never beheld them again in existm,se. his supposed they had got on a quicksand at the edge of the riser. and had heels tfius precipitated in. The eldest was found floatiritut omen the following day, and the other along the shore. RURAL FEAST.-.-OR Thursday se'itniet, a Rural Feast was gived by some of the most opu lent belonging to the numerous Tenantry of Sir CRARLIND HORS BOLGUTON. at Clee Doivotoci, near Ludlow, in honour of his Son's coming of age. A fine fat ox was roasted whole, and A bugs. heath. 9 of beer, and 2 two of cyder, were given in ample portions to a very large concourse of peruus who had assembled at some little distance from the mansioa, to behold and partake r,f " Ron t Beef of Old England," so prepared for a.-tioni tioti.—Judicious means of precantion were i1dn;.1,41 to prevent riotous !proceedings usual .sash ri tumultuous meether, therefore that the. c , ,Pirrs from the adjacent hill might not come down, and occasion disturbance. two-whole sheep were masted on the top of the mountain, with ;rleuty of limn, for distribution among th• in; and the rocks, nc ., r where their feast took plAte, having been previonsly whitened, afforded au agreeable object fur distant view to the spectitors assembled near the mansion, being • good back-ground to be contrasted ulna their sable-vested bodies and stingy rotes. Bin this absence of lite collie.", did not ',revolt the »wafture of fe..us being gratified with lomat, a noble contest for the houaurs of re4ilistic fame, between heroes of adn:t ago, and Gam,. Chickens of rmin.waig merits in the art of sparvir.^. %When the natural courage had stimulated by beef and bummeog stiugo, black eyes sod bhondy 110-VS were visible many directions. Tim. ter the poptilare of grntlens• ii mid Idles no the out side of the lewiltritswei gratilied with their rumen. mentos i:44w iusgle.of the mausion, a lisnusnine f rold collation was rir!idraf for a numerous anio n . blagepirreiptectifilVeresideurrn, ob.) came to Adi", thief" ireisgrainlotione to Siccitsatts, mr this 1.. i. tine end ermvivislity neer the bent-, with the holinosinia vices brsxcel!ent singers, n dowel! the ownspnly silage tenTrotract their sta:, to a bite hoot.. e -••• AK_ ,1•••• ~,~. , %