The Sun. — London, England, 1817-03-03 00:00:00

TIMAI We refrain front taking any further bhafe hi the scandalous dispute to which the following letters , Ind accounts relate. We have plat a not e to 'AV.' ItAc's letter, confirtning the stateinent therein' euntairied though we certainly cannot apptiovel of the Ma nag th e wlicr with of either Theatre win g to ith the professed intention of con 4rting that into an arena for their squabble s is designed for the entertainment of the Public, We think that almost ever one of the y liters publi s h ed chew how dangerous it is for n Gentlemen to take up the pen. 'COVE'NT-GARDEN T HEATRE. --(MR. BOOM) Macs in The %Otdo of all the a venues l eading to the ord w h; - " , co Mr. B oone was to appear on Sa ray i" ' , W formed at an early hour in the after instant the doors opened, the lea in every part. The. etruggle lesperate in the extreme ; several 144 been considerably hurt in the took place, and hundreds, when sight of the door which the de %vete reunited for all the incoynve h they had subjected themselves, lee that the lionse was full to am 11.14 -11OnTst, which was issued his attempt to perform On 'lnes i" every Box. Many copies of sho bestowed on the and Gal 'm.lll bills were printed on whole if half shieets of piper. and "" r's appeal, as well as the cast of a udience, were no sooner OSSUirt- Cry Of " Hoorn for ever " re ports of the l'it, the occupants on the Benches. This will an - "II of " No lioii'ru," arid the I;4lititt.:l ii,lllin lot eiliatvly joi ne d issue, and proceeded the goodne ss , the strength of their it'°l tis elapai h ts and by tsisigh t b i ' the l'it y hissi ng , by sbou , , th e f emales ass ambled were, eta s exPeeted, comparatively few, but the ,ijoi:!0 boost of the p i esence of many ladies kt4,,,,,,71a0 and I,ishiotiable appearance, n . hn 1,,,kte"..'111 (14posell to lend the aid of their tit 'tretvinA.,ltl'att_of Mr. 800 - rn, in which they. joined 1414 1,11 't - by t gre a t ma j or ity o f th e n l4 era were still. however, enough of to create di sor d er an d inter oyerture of chipping and p hiss.- irfor me d , a person in tile. t. , g placard ou a stick :••••• ibed enough, let us forgive hico." friend s this was hailed with : loose ; hut it met with • gre st malcouten.s, some of wontn . to their possession, when, o f There were several other pa ---" Ilear Boot It, of Old Drury r; nu. l'it forgive him." " .N virdoit him." " No playing . :e years." " Booth ha; ( . 1c) :_ t • J,,ht, cotri , r , ti : i n lee even of ,Ileaven." Br os, 'Drury-lane is in • Covent 'arns tints displayed, accompa . - ly the corresponding eXclaina „ " Booth for ever, Arolves," " No hirelings from laced a tumult fhcouceivably however, do those who were turd contention the. jlistice 31 noise." - The aching hones „ it can te s tif y t h ere was fre -444-14e1:1,cy 11""a git more substantial; for in this, as r..tch al 't .L e W i t h passion glows, he krds Cam e first, and after:-Ltdows." 1 . 1 , 1 N f ,'"4tt, 411,, litch was titchord the Third, opened ~ha,Kilhaietteillpt to address the ritidince•—; pieces or i ‘v O le.' could be heard. Several 4 ltere tl t and one or irowi t on the s ris„ „,4. When Mr Booth 4 came forward, rotwo •I s .acCont -41,41 I,rhvev_r it tt to the provet.. t, some Itss flattering put Is . t,,, t►l c ; !o h ~e'veStrli,eiting the attention of the ti,n(!,l** bityL" tut his apology, lie respecttnny ocee.ded to speak Gloster' .. s first . 'I (If ti ',,r,tosition front the silOpplicating ott „J, t tat, e netor the stern 'exultation of the' tt ,411 i tontieati d failed riot to Strlnlniiig., tit ; r. In ,LL_nookli silence was suit asfarolf ittext stene'Mr. Fawcett step !(). tt axi a , ' ll ' 4 ' thus pectators : • the . mai Y c,, rn „. 18 to hear him, but the 'No • k ne , l hin ' • I out having noisy nil- F t us tto retire wit It iti gil ""rtl it' 3e ' 14,4 tit tioireru_ the second tier of Boxes now;at .,s4l igtvntioti. One of the Opposi -1,4 htiatlit'.'"rown an orange at the friends 01 (4 1)1 4 heti k i l oi ll 'e Pi's was rewarded for , this ef ';, '""ve by blow (as b'e asserted) t; a;ran t Ileor him. A violent contestat pt . ,xl.,.rt,seinitliateil in the expulsion of the lri lt ►' r • With t he loss, of one of his 4; 1 , " II y , the same box, already full, I,,,nather party of Wolves, as they tto,, sts er two nt~tl e4x.t.'e t.ontluct of these.persons (with ht r IQ t]rejuntas} was insolent anti °Ver.. tts " e gret', and a battle royal wa s It, t 4 11 j, i , rritl: " With eitenl t" was t he ~ (1, 5 ttirata ;rely. around them, and the can tilq,jettat M r ' 1 ", l it was promptly obeyed by , iit , rotatlylu 4 . l b. One person, of athletic De a f' Gut inguislied himself, by offering a ;.!13.1411Ce to the efforts made to eject , the end , .tota„4;__, numbers prevail e d, and be tr, et1)4,1,11, turiled out of the Box, were ~),li,tieks 't e ll ee ell by thundering with 'attli t (lour. th t 4 hit n 4 ...,'°1e of the scene in which Richard - tl()%y .%„ r Ludy 4im, a person in 04 , 4 I, which he received in ".tilt t t) Mr. Itt,: ti dr ' l rd a paper the end of a, the most „Nt tltiur 11 (1 having read it retired to t s'lr it, rtl 11 'rtt. 4 letli. in ere l ue hill a conference .with l'"V seconds be again came, Qs . %Ito tut-titiAt.r.• Fawcett by the hand. w h o" .""‘` ,is i.t the wish of the anti - the L ' ti re Was fin e / 7 4 1 0 11 :3 "3 111 %"5 ust be 41eits last Which lirsi I rile ti got a wite to Cater, IV (14, 4 , 3, „ belt( Addre gi it(liitle l 4y, '‘,it Y alter Placed 14 . ' 9 " were al All ti, e , . sin 14,11;t54. last eml th e th e acto r , iltli tl 7* rite lth) wilt) the It ! l e, (1 om all st no, h mit : ; ( .. Y the ( a p ro we 14111,1701 pponents 4 1 ' 4 ti"" A suit of c 61 ) 4 1 4144 b*'en per Mthe followin2 )417e~81&' er, Punish liqotties iif Nt t i t t i/" Inc Iron) et 4,iit wits Ins n. :!,k4ilagainsi— pel42er pi ACC" 111/4741111i,' " kVe •k,44 [o,l' tlitee 1 , 44 .1 i le% rtpellt 4i)r • 14,44111 e TisnOleo they h , rse ) 11. No 4r u °tit I the 1% fj,„l' 4,11 e." p e prod ( innst, tivit!ln fl its it b si 41;4 II W as nest h al ~tAit„ fi n, 411 helnt 11, 3416,1, thst - Meal •'aioilld be beard 1"-.41. (Cheers and groans.) Mr. Booth stepped 'forward, and addressed the house hi the following words Ladies and Gentlemen - , I have endeavoured all in my power to 'atone flat the disapPoititMent of which I was the cause in another plaCe. I have apologized foe my condirct on that occasion, and have en deavoured to explain the circumstances. I now again most humbly and sincerely repeat my apology." , , . . This ,speech - was but very •partially beard, and produced no effect. At the commencement a the third . net, Mr:, Fawcett and Booth . came ford ard hand in hand, accompanied by a person Who exhibited a paper hearing this inscriptian Mr. Booth craves your silence to explain and apologize. " The for , user placard, of " Hear Booth of Old Drury in his proper place," was displayed, amidst loud Shouts and great contusion. Mr. Booth then spoketo the following effect : " Ladies and Gentle Men, I have done every thing in my power to expreSs the sense I entertain of my offence, and I am willing 'to do so again in any way you shall suggest." Having said so much, and finding it itnpossi hie to be heard, he retired once more. A person in the Pit immediately hoisted a paper, on which appeared the words, We pardon Booth." The third act was then gone through, but there was no symptom of abatement in the row, and partial squabbles were o h. serticable hi all parts of theTheatte. The fourth act began under more auspicious, circumstances than any of the former ones, and, for the first time, the voice ut Mrs. Faucit was heard ; she was loudly applauded ; the gleam of peace was however but short, chaos resumed its empire, and continued without interruption to the end of the play. The curtain dropped, and cries for Booth %vete renewed. A ready obedience was paid to every offer of aecommodatio» ; and Mr. Fawcett again came forward, leading Mr. Booth by the hand : a'person came with them, bearing the following placard, iniended to express the feelings of Mr. Booth :—" I have acted wrong; I have made a sufficient apology, and throw myself on the earldom . of Englishmen.'' - - The ft lends of Mr. Booth hailed this lest at tenti.t of their favourite to conciliate the public mind -with renewed cheers, and at least seven eighths Of the audience_ were with them. The opposition of the malcontents, however, was so clamorous, that it was impossible to hear a- singly word of the tew 'observations which,Mr: Booth attempted to' add. In retiring, Mr.• Booth was cheered in the loudest manner, and handkerchiefs were waved in prodigious numbers in every part of the house. lie appeared' completely exhausted by the effortsahe had made, and the opposite emo tAotis. produced in his mind, by the favour of the many', and the unmitigated virulence of the few Who still continued their opposition. His friends celebrated their triumph by -three times three cheers, and the general good humour now became so great, that the new piece met, with a very fa vouralile reception till it approached its close. The Play had not been announced as usual, at ahe end. of the Play. Whca.the Entertainment concluded, Mr. Fawcett was• again loudly called fur. He obeyed the summons. Numerous voices made various demands about Mr. B 0011.; silence being at fast obtained, Mr. Fawcett inquired— ." May I not interpret this call on me to be a re quest on your part, to know what the Play is to be on Monday /" " Yes," " Yes !"—" Booth,"—" Richard 1 ." were the responses of the audience. " Then," said Mr.,FAWCETt, " bowing as I alWays do to your commands, I beg to annonnce, that on Mcinday (with your permission), the Play of this evening will.be repeated."_ A tiimult of applause followed, interrupted by icry.freble op position, and the remainder of the audience, after a few more shapts cat " Bon-rn for ever," (and a few kisses only being mingled. with ht4zas) left the Theatre. - . TO THE EDITOR. Clarges-street, March I, 1817. Stn,--As the Sub-Committee of Deury-latte Theatre, consisting of five Gentlemen, have taken upon themselves to deny, through the medium of the Public Prints, a, transaction of their prede• ce3sors, to which only two of - their present mem bers could possibly be competent to speak, I so li :it the use of the same channel for submitting to the other three the following letter, which o vhilit it strongly confirms the statement which sin ho ourable appeal to my truth and. eandont ford me to withhold; will refresh, no doubt,_ the m e - tilt:try of the Noble Member of the Sub-CoMmitree, to whose tes( iinony it otters so direet A contra diction. I um, Sir, your obedient servant, DOUthalS COPY OF A LETTER rnom THOMAS HARRIS, ESI2. TO THE LION. DOUGLAS KINNAIRD. - - - -- . Belteinuoll, Feb. '27,917. Sipe—Not having the honour of being Pei-mm:111y known to you, I ought to apologise for this intrusion ; but I consider, myself as iniperionsiy called upon, by the unfounded attack on you, annexed 'to the Drury-lane play-bills.of 'yesterday, to state the follOWing facts:— , That an Agreement did exist, (drawn up- by Mr: Sheridan, ancl'signed by us both) in substance such as described by you in your note of 44th instant, to my son, recognizing the sub sisting Treaty between the two Theatres, which must have been known py all who were in any way connected with the conduct of Drury-lane Theatre. For the truth of this, appeal , need only be made to Mr. Gtaham,the Magistrate. That Mr. Whitbread was made fully acquainted with it, and seeing the necessity of it, mot heartily concurred in ratifying 't, on a full explanation, in an interview with Mr. Fawcett, expressly appointed for that purpose. That on the establishment of the present Sit b-Committee, I had the honour of a visit, here, from Lord Essex, the in tent of which appeared to tne that establishing a thorough good and friendly understanding between the twn Theatres. A - short time previous to this, the Drury-LlneControittee had engaged Mr. Cooke (although Mr: Cooke had, on the clay before, settled with Mr. Fawcett an engagement for three Yistaft for Covent Garden Theatre.) - On my' warmly remonstrating to his Lordship on this breach of the bentiAiraltle cligareinent exl MI:1g , hretn tb Theatre's', his tortiship 'expressed himself its •higitiy disap proving . all such :conduct; and at the saute time dectaritv., that he should ever oppose himself to all such Fractices. Hoist the tree Gentletaen of the Drul-Latte COnttaittee (Mr. Lain!) awl Mr.lsOn) have been led into this strange and unwarrantable engagement with Mr. Booth, appears to me quite fnnaccountage ; particularly, as apparently, t!r. Booth could nut at all add to the strength of their Oescht saisisting 'company, while Mr. Kean was belonging to it. • havethe !Amour to be, with much respect, Sir, your obedient humble Servant, T. 'HARais. . , . 'LETTER FRONI MR. RAE.. - Tiara? c Royal, Drury-lane, Sunday, March it. Stll,—A Comiuunication has appeared in a Paper of this day, repeating what has already been stated in almost every Daily Paper, that on Tuesday evening last, I was in one of the front boxes at Covent-Garden Theatre during the whole of the Performance. As - this Communication purports to come from the Manager of the above Theatre, it seems to convey an imputation that I went for the purpose of encouraging the op position to Nit. Booth's perforManee; I therefore think it due to myself individually (though restrained by positive orders from, tlieSnb-Conitnitteeof Drury-lane from makingany fart berstate ment in their behalf) to atiirm, that twrnttherc officially,bythe acquieseenie and sauction of the Sub-Committer, for the pur pikte (if Mr. .Booth expressed any intention of returning to his duty at Drury-lane, which was not totally unexpected) of ex pressing:their sentiments on the subject, and of generally explaining theitismotil es and conduct, in answer to any at taeltll4 toigitt have bran made from any quarter of the Theatre. I solemnly declare, that I neit ber . by word, or sit-n, took the least part in the tumult that prevailed; and for the truth of this, statement, I appeal to those who accompanied me, and to thoie who were near enough to observe I am, Sir, with respect, your humble Servant, J. It AP:. • Mr. RAN was about three lioxes from that iu which we sat, and we' can, from personal observation, bear testimony to the truth of this statement. There was, however, shouts of•;` Rae,! Rae from the Pit several. times.—(Note by the Editor.) The following bill was posted in the neigh bourhood of the Theatre in the comae of the ieverling TO MR. JUNIUS BRUTUS BOOTH. 'So many long statements and counter-state tents, addresses and appeals, have made their pp • learanee, and so many reports have been circu lated, with. regard to your conduct, as to render it extremely difficult to understand the real merits of the case :—Now, as truth requires few words, I would, as a short way of coining at the leading facts, request your answer to a few plain (tiles -00116, founded upon the ditferent statements and reports that have been published ; the answering of which will cost you little trouble, and yet enable the public to judge how far your conduct ought to he supported or condemned. 1. Did not all 'negociation between you and the Covent-.9arden Proprietors end ; previous to Mon. day, the 17th instant ; and was it not settled that your name should be withdrawn froM the bills of that Theatre, and was not • that accoiding. ly done / 2.7Diti you not assure the Drury-lane tinrtit tee, that not only all negotiation was at an end betweenyou and the Covent-garden Proprietors, but that you wottld not engage with them on any terms whatever ; and did you net state as a rea-. son, that they had, both upon that and a former occasion, used you extremely ? 3. Did.not the Drury-lane Committee agree, without hesitation, to the terms"proposed l y . you; and did you not sign a written agreement to play at that Theatre for three seasons-, at an increasing salary ? 4. Was any improper means made use of by the Drury-lane Committee, to induce you to eater into this 'agreement ? 5. Did you inform the Drury,lane Committee; .that you were under age ? and do you not, now, hold that nut as a means by which you can avoid fultillittk your agreement ? 6. Did not the CoVent-Garden M a nageri,after . you bad so signed that agreement, offer you treble the salary they bad originally proposed to giyc you and further agreed to indemnify you against alt prosecution for breach of 'contract with the Drury lane Proprietors ; and did you not enter into Au engagement with the Covent-Garden Proprietors, previous to the evenin w of Saturday, ,the 22d, when you, disappointed n the Pdblic by your, 'non aPpearanee at Drury-lane ? Was'not this-fftereaste Orsalary and new en , g,agentent'or the contemplation thereof, the true reason ' f or your pot performing at Drury-lane Theatre ou the 2r2d ? Or, if indisposition was the cause, why did you not give an earlier notice, that 'you did not mean to perform at that theatre ? mit Feb. 1817. A LOVER OF.:111.UTII. FiOrron. qF H SUPT. Saturday Nke SIR,-414ving read much in the Newspapers of Nlr.Boorit's performance of the vitt of iftehaid, and having riad still more of the dilemma to which he had reguccd himself by his hesitation between Tile rival Thinares, my curiosity was ex cited, and I resolved to go to Covent-Garden this evening.— Thither accordingly I went. Before the curtain drew pp, 1 was not a.little surprized to hear a load contention between hissing and clapping, at a time when there was nothing be fore the audience to excite either applause or disapprobation. I soon found, however, that this was a mere prelude to the battle that was to follow. The opposing parties see►ned, as it were, deiirens of marshalling their forces, and of estimating their respective strength, before the contest began. At length the curtain drew up, when about a-seore,of voices vo ciferated 4, Off ! off!" soon loudly. Asqloortt, against. whom it was Unown their enmity was directed,. was nut then,' on the stage, it was rather difficult to conjecture the cause of this premature explosion. But I was not suffered to remain long in (lonia, for it became obvious that a parry bad gone to the Theatte-for the purpose not only of manifesting their disapprobation of 110011:8 conduct,• but of preventing the reprcso4ation of any performance in which he should bear a part. I need scarcely observe, that this proved the rx k s t o nee of an illegal conspiracy against :an individual, for which the parties might ,be severely punished. Nay, it was WOVAC, for it was a conspiracy to insure the P r pptietnre Of the House, and that rational_pait of the lie an' I t I. e audirnee alio repaired to amusement. In vain did the Manager try to be heard—in rain did the unbany young man who was the object of this cowardly vengeance present himself, 'with the greatest lin- . malty, to the audience. Every effort to be heard was fruit less. The play went on, !.)nt I.was a perfect pantomime—not a word reached thsears : Oithespectatnrs, At the end of the first Att Ilan•r#t appeard in front of the Stage, a man stand . - ins by the side of hiau - Neith apriper on Wbich Sit large letters the audience were inf. Tined, that he humbly begged to be beard and to apologize! I ant aSb . anied to say, that the mis creants who had conspired against him betrayed a thorough contempt for the first principle of justice, and resolved to con demn the man without hearing what he had to say in his own defence. In the second Act, a note was handed to 1100'M from the Pit, on reading:which he bowed and re►ired, and in 4 minute or two returned with . the Manager: but it ivas found . iaipossible fur either of them to obtain a hearing. I staid till towards the conclusion of the fourth Act, when I left the Theatre in disgust. Now, Sir, if any proof were wanting of the existence of a conspiracy to deprive this, promising young actor of his bread, it will be supplied by the circumstance that his as sailants this averring were- prepared with written placards, in- dwative of their intention. On one of these, which was hoisted in the pit, very near to the boxes, was inscribed ' 6 No PAYING Ma THREE YEARS." As this, and other acts of a similar nature, were direct incitements to a breach of peace, it ii much to be lafnented that the 'constables. were not directed to take into custody the parties who displayed them. lam aware that thefrProprictors, after what passed A f..!tv years since, are placed in a situation of some delicacy and difficulty ; but still, suthdisturbanneX In a public theatre as have taken place for two successive nights ought not to be tolerated, and surely it is not too much to expect at l'enst one of the Magistrates from the adjacent °Alice in Low-street, should look in and instruct his constables how to act on suck an occasion. I shall not ehter into the merits of the question between the rival theatres, nor dot mean to vindictitethe etinduct of Bonru—that conduct has, to say the least of it,, been foolish and inconsiderate. But; as the public has been informed that it is about to be the subject of discussion before a legal tribu ual, it cannot be eitherjust or justifiable in an audience to be come parties i❑ the dispute, touch less to anticipate the de cision. Nor is it either just or dctorous, In persons c•ronect ed with Drury-Lane Theatre, to repair to Covent-Garden and take an active Part in the disturbances. Should such scan- clalous misconduct be repeated, they shall ~hear of it in a manner rather more peremptory, mere explicit, and mars definite. A marked enemy to all breathes of the peace, whether is a theatre, a field, or a street, and a decided friend to the ra tional amusements of the Stage, I cannot but 'express my fervent hope that cfrective measureiwill be adopted for ilia prevention' of such disturbances in future. I confess 1 int ashamed ofEnglishmen who can thus condemn a Countryman unheard, and who can, In so base and cowardly a way, seek to deprive, as it were, it young Candidate for the& deal Mina of the means not only of promotion but of subsistence; such conduct is not natural to the English character. A LOVER OF 'ME DRAMA. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. understand that my JUDGMENT respect ,ing the division of the Theatrical CHILD bits sob. jetted me to the imputation of being inimical to the interests of Covent-garden Theatre—nothing Could be farther from my. intention. In-suggesting that mode of conciliation. 1 had only reference to tUe public at large, and by ho means wished to *lance at the cantina of either Theatre. By the —Drury-lane Committee having withdratin their. Bill in Chancery it should appear that they have wiselyretracted an'opposition which certainly (lid them little er , tdit- '1 he Rival Theatre, as Mr. KHAN terms it; hall the vantage ground, and sof, feted not a little in the Dramatic Race front crossing and jostling, If Covent-Garden were to adopt my idea, it wool(' he creditable to their courtesy ; for their right to Mr. BOOTH' mikes appears to me to be unshaken. Match 1, 1811'. TARTAR. KING'S TIIISATRIL—The Opera of Penelope at tracted a splendid audience on S,iturday night,— Fier Royal Highness the Duchess of YoRK and the Duke and Duchess of GLOUCESTEIt were present. FASIIIONABLE ARIVALS. Lady Beresford and Miss Pierse, in.,Harley-street ; Rear. Admiral Sir Edward Codrington, iu Charles-street, Berkeley square; Countess' of Antrim, in Bruton-st reef ; Lady Chu lone Strutt, Miss Strntt, and Miss Olivia Strutt ; Sir Gore Ousley, in 'Bruton-street ; Countess of Bentitick, in Welbeelo street; Marquis of Salisbury, in Arlington-slicer; Ltachess 'of Marlborough, in Grosvenor-place; Viscountess Melville, and Miss Dirndas, at the Admiralty; Lieutenant-General Sir Philip Roche, in Arlington-street I Lieutenant-Colonel Mas ter, in St. James's Palace; Lord Keith, in 'Harley-Urea; Lady Osylston, in Upper Braols-street ; Marquis of Head fort, in Bryanstona-square ; Eat I of F.gremont and the Misses Wvidlia.tu, lip Grosvenor-place ;. Lord Granville Somerset, ikt the Duke of Beaufort's,irt Grosvenor-square. bcrARTURE3. The Doke of Devonshire, to Chattestrorth ; Mrs. Baker, ta , Brighton ; Coldnel Doman, of .the Guards, to Cambray Mr. Douglas, 15th Light Dragoons, to Birmingham. ARRIVAL) AT Batit.—Lord Colville, Sir J. Pollen, Lieut.. `..lonel and Dietensun, Colonel Guitsliell, Colons:I Murray, and Major Ci.. Brock. aBikIERAL PgNITPNTIARY,MILLitANK.. 4- •Tbk; ll . - Stitillion having 'received both male and female prisoners, and. now 'getting into full operation, has recently excited considerable attention. On Monday last, the Bishops of London and Salis bury, and several other distinguished individuals, attended an examination of the iitisonets, as to their progress in religious :instruction, with which, as well as with the intlustty, cleanliness, good or. -der, and discipline c4f the pt ison, vii present ex pressed their satisfaction. During the week Mr. Justice Bayley, tine Hon. li. G. Bennet, and se. several persons or distinction; have visited it ; and on Saturday, March I, her Royal liighnebs the Duchess of York honoured the Instituticin with a visit.. SeveraL, of 'the female' prisoners were exa• Mined., in their religious exercises. her - Royal visited the hitchen, bake-house, wash house, laundry, &c. ‘vich,the whole of which, and the general management thereon, *be was pleased to express her upptobation.