The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-01-05 00:00:00

DINNER at the CROWN e 4 ANCHOR.

This dinner, which visa prim9sed as a reconcilia-
tory iweetisig between the 0. P. Public and the
Proprietor, of Covent-garden Theatre, took place
yedertlay. The great room of the tavern was suf-
ficiently filled, as nearly ahree hundred permits oat
down to the tables, of which there were only three,
lougitudisially set in the room, end not four. as on
thelitot 0. P. entertai 1111 l rut. The dinner in itself
wis good, thought there was wo second course;
and the wines were fair nod palatable. Ott the right
of Mr. Clifford, the Chairman, ill perfect amity and
good humour, sit Mesors..liemble, and Harems,
Jun. ; ou her left, Mr. Miller, the Tieitoister of the
O. P. fund. When the cloth was removed,
Kiog" was drunk. and calm) " The voice of the
people," without honours, or the customary moon-
iest-atom of loyal attachment, to the one, or deep
intereet in the other.

Mr. Ct.tyt•uso then said, that he had a toast to
propose, in which they were all so much interested,
that he would beg of them to drink it, with three
times three 44 Pie Trial by Jury." This was ►e.
ceived with much applause. The song of " Pat
illtirphy the Piper," from Mr. Jones, was called
fur, and his exertions warmly applauded by the
company. The next toasts were—" The Slit."
with three ; and " The ancient and unalienable Ju-
dicature of the Pit," with three tinier three; both
of which were loudly cheered. A party at the cross
table then gave the glee of Glorious Avello."
v.itli much taste sad science, and the lest lute, in
relebration of " Oar Unity sad Jay," way must ex-
ultingly greeted throughout the room. The
enairinan begged their serious attention to the toast
lie was now shout to propose. In drinking, it, he
was sure they would feel as much pleiemie as lie
did ; anal none, they would perceive, could he b-t-
-ter framed for the present 0ccii.101,—.... May this
happy recunciliati.in be of triad adoanta,te to the
Public, in aninsement, and tl the Proprietors, in
enewfatreeal," was then given, and t.hintrit with
three times three, and all the honours of a favourite.
Upon this Mr. lisneta rose and said—

" Harris and Applause./
Gentlemen, Mr. Harris and myself concur must
cordial!) in the toast which has been girea, and we
beg to have the honour to drink your heulths."—o
(Much applause followed this short speech.)
A Mr. Richards was called on for a song ; but he
deelining, on account of a cold, Mr. Jones fa-
voured toe consimmy with, " There tree a Lady."
Co this succeeded the toast of " The irw,ortit
inatery of Sleakspeare ;" and this, in its turn, was
sucgwerird by a sung from' a Mr. Green. Mr.
Green did not .ing with the voice of a Syren, and
as the vinous principle, even by this early time, be-
gun to operate, he at first received considerable in.
terrupt 1111 l but the humour of the smog itself at
length prevailed, and we Weft allowed to bear
few goo., verses of a new political madrigal—
" Mum, Down. hey Derry Down;" iu which
Bommarte's want of legitimate heirs to his Imperial
Crowns is wittily enough described. end he is re-
en ninendeil, with his new wife ( parilonne—Eled-
prat ) to the rare of the Persian A antiarmalor,
who ha% six children in a day.

Mr. Mt LLeit propos.-41 to the meeting, the health
of their wilithy Chairman, whteh fttvorglitigly
drunk with three time* three. a mi inany ,IlOlite.
Upon this dr. CLutioltst reisc. and addlemord
them nearly in them words s—
" Galina:use-4 return yon most sincerely my
thanka; not only for the honour too have dune me,
by calling we to till the office of your Chairman,
but for the han.lootne manner iu which you have
di milt soy health. I feel, however, that it is untur-
tunate for me, that it is customary for a Chan loan,
too his health b:iag Kim*, to do more than merely
to r turti thanks, and particularly if his filling that
situation is counected with circuinstauces winch
led to the meeting. lii this I arm unfortumate ;
because 1 wish that the past should be buried in
oblivion ; and that nothing 1 may now say, may,
by possibility, misconstrocuon, or usidevolence, be
tortured into what may be unpleasant to ail in-
divitAual living. But there
is out; coucern to which
1 miy advert without offence to any. I happened
to Tag Plaintiff in a case lately tried, arising out
of 14 theatrical disimtes ; and. though not able to
be present myself, I learnt from the newspaPers. the
day after the trial, that it was said of me, that I was
ihe leader of an infuriate mob, rising to attack pri-
vate property-4.0 trample on the Constitution—to
insult the Osverionent, and to overthrow the Mo-
narchy, (Load cries of No! nit !/—Gentlemen ! 1
only repeat what the newspapers sufermed me of
—1 ens making no statenieut of my own, nor
you. hing fie the truth of any opinion. I recol-
lect full well, that when Mr. Wardle brought
forviard his charges against the Duke of Yolk, in
the Morse of Commons, Mr. C g made use
of that tree, but most dangerou. expression. Wet
• infamy must rest somewhere--either on the ac.
or the accuser.' As for the part I have taken
in these de,sensitros, 1 am sure infamy does not rest
with me. 1 have your voicew-wl nave the voices of
my countrymen. from Orkney to (.rod's-eurt—that
it does not attach to use, Neither sloes it attach 'o
yen ; you are acquitted by the seine suffrages.—
Let it then shine, not with brilliancy and lustre, but
se a don and h.q., room' the grey hem' of
him that pre the calumny utterance.—(Greta ap-
plause). Before l sit down, I have an observation
to mike ou one subject. which, though not inti-
mately coonecteil with the object of our present
meeting, is a fit suliject for every popular meeting :
1 menu popularity. On a late trial for conspiracy,
(that of Mrs. Clarke and the Wright.) 1 was as-
touished to hear the Attorney-General charge it on
the opposite Comipiel, (Mr. Alley) as a crone. that
he courted popularoy ; and what astonished me
still more, was the defence of the person so charged,
and his detain' of the offence. it is said that • many
obtain popularity without merit. and it is with.
drawn without their deserving it,' Of the first of
these propositions. we have, alas ! too many exam.
plea. The snood is only an argu:nent used by the
champions of corruption. who wish it to appear,
thaf the individual performing. and not the service
prrffnied, is the object of public approbation.-s-.
Wein will deny this? Let them give use an instance
/Illicit' the public estimation and popular applause
wari.withdrawa from a man who steadily pursued
ta cowman good. No I but. when the public tied
that the moo. pretending to have then. cause at
keart, is only in thing it We ladder for his ambition, •

. .
as their applause has accompanied his first steps, so ,
will their contempt punish his apostecy. like the ,
landeto*n when brit lie goes to sea, he persuades
himself, that his friends on the shore, the houses,
the woods, and even the solid land itself, move
and recede from him ; till experience convinces
him that these are stationary, and that it is
himself who moves from them. So is the man,
who, allured by the Treasury garrets to desert his
cause and friestile, attempts to veil his corruption
by accusing the popular opinion of inconstancy and
variability.---(Shoats of applause.)-1 fear, and
feel, I have •detalued you too long ; longer than
my weakness from indisposition has permitted me
to do, without feeling the effects of my trespass.
The business lately concluded will always be a
cnnsolnlifon to me. hlf share in it has been bens-
field. I, as well as every one who hears me, la-
mented the disputes and dissensions which existed
at the Throat". Of these I was unwillingly forced
to take a part ; hut w I did was not to widen
the breath; I was the It fthhle instrument to tiring
those who were exasperated together. and was tile
worker of harmony and peace. Gentlemen, I
drink all your good healthy."
This speech was frequently interrupted by bursts
of applause, and his conclusion was marked by the
loudest tokens of approbation.
A Gentleman, whose name we understood to be
lIER, next addressed the company; but the ap-
titude for listening to speeches eerwed to be ex-
hausted with that of his predecessor. He congra-
tulated the Meetin..; on the close of the deaseitsions,
and expressed himself not surprised that, on a sum-
mons to celebrate so auspicious an event, liberal-
minded men had Hacked to hail the reconciliation.
Could he suppose that what he lied to propose would
be dl Kt:cep:ed, he would not venture to trespass on
their lime; lint he hoped what they had to do would
be done effectually. For himself he was totally
utteminected with the Theatre, and with every in-
dividual belonging to it, and stood on grounds
purely independent. Ile perceived it was under-
stood that he was in favour of an individual, not in-
elu-led in the general amnesty.—{He e the uproar,
which had been very great duriug th..: whole of this
address, rose to such a pitch as to silence the
speaker, and ti6his and stierrels took place in se-
veral•parts of the room at the mine momentl—At
length, however. -Mr. Bonner obtained a short, in-
terrupted, further hearing. He wished to recall a
fact -to awn recollection. When the Gentleman
now in the Chair was oppressively and
attacked, from whom did he seek redreensaoint from
the °dicer who attacked hi-o, hut from his prin-
cipal. If, then, they absolved the Proprietors, on
what principle of equity or justice could they think
Of punishing their servant ?

Here, atom, the tumult liecame dreadful ; and,
afire mmy h4rninering4, and cries of Hear! Hear !
Chair I Chair ! a disturbed silence was °biome('
fur

Curroito, who .aid be would he obliged to
the Meeting to allow the siiesker to let them know
whet he Ilea to rolowe. It they would but keep
sllenee for to ntinote4, he would get through hi
ltY7diant, and came to the point.

Mr. Bunnell rej.iined, thAt, io the tweflf.eth part
of the time, he would cum.- to a conclusion. They
were not there simply as individuals, but represent-
ed an holiest old gentle:nail, whose character was at
stake—JJsu Ball; %lie 'away* tits his dealings
had a sa%mir of mercy. Toe public displeasure
against Mr. Brandon was fur the improper dis-
charge of his duty ; but he wished them to recollect,
that Mr. Brandon's situation was a desperate one,
where all the passions were called into play (noise).
lie would conclude—(again thefightingead brawl-
kg, re-rowireeireedl. The Cha:rinan in vain endea-
voured to obtain lirsler. The friends of 'jiff-rent
parties warmly espoused their several causes,, and a
scene of kicking wit, knocking down, breaking of
glasses, overthrowing deeenter.i. and general anarchy
ensued, diag,acsfal to the 'fleeting, and to civilized
society.—Vl all ii.E.4lit Mr. Brandon tedium—
" Save ine i.,y friends ;" fur we will venture
to say, the indiacretion of Mr. Bonner has dour
him more injury thou lie had hitherto sustained in
the public

The noise haying: subsided—the CSAIIMAII ob-
served, that he •as anxious no person should have
an opportunity, or a pretence of uccusing bins of
partiality, he was desirous to hear the Clewlemon
nut, who then addressed them, beton- he stated
what the opinions of the Gentlemen olio arranged
the dinner were up!' ihat bubject. Tiie question
hpd b.eo debated by them, and it was agreed that
it ought not to he introduced. as it would, in all
probability, lead to a discussion, srbith, of all other
things. should. in such a meeting. be avoided.
Applauses.) This wars a reconciliation-dinner with
the leaders of the Theatre. end nothing should be
introduced but what tended to show that both
sides were good friends, and averse from all useless
diricusstous. Lend applawws.) If that was their
opinion, they would proceed to the great business
of the day, and hear a song from Mr. Watts.
(Lord applonses.)
A bustle now took place. in which some blows
were exchanged, but it happily terminated by
torniing* few misbehaving persons oat of the room ;
after whirls, tranquillity bring restored, a glee was
aoug., to the great delight of the company.
The next toast proposed was, May a brew-beating
Judge ever be opposed by ax enlightened and antpar-
Jary which was drank with
Aft, r this followed : The Bill V Rights, and con-
dign plusidusiest to those Magic/rotes who infringe
it, by requiring excessive Gail. This being also
drunk with enthusiasm.

The CIRAIIMAN Said, that as he had now given
all the toasts handed to him on paper. he would Leg
leave to propose some from himself. The toast who h
he was now about to give. was included a former
general toast. but he felt greet pleasure in now
proposing it partietelar4 ; he would therefore b.g
leave to give the healths of two Gentle into who had
favoured them with their company. Mr. Nesni.le,
and Mr. Ha►ris. It was accordiugly druid' w►th
three t. me* three.

Mr. KaitaLE, in returning thanks, observed,
that though he had already had the honour of
drinking the health of the company, he should
dank it spin, becazi: he could not too often re-
ceive that satisfaction. /Lord opplarsm I
Mr. Norms returned his !sincere thank., for the
honour they had done him in drinking his health ;
at the mute time, he sisla4 to express his setts.

faction that he had been present at such a dinner.
at wind) he hoped that the cease of any difference
between the Public and Covent-Garden Theatre
war effectually removed. (Land of pleases.)
The CliAt Ullet•N begged leave, before he went, to
propose one tout, wl,i. h .houlti be hie last for the
night —" The Cause if Civil and Religious Liberty
allorer the World."
The Clidirinan, ■nd Messrs. liemble and Harris,
then retired, accompanied by some others. Lam/
lend applause.

!VESTA, INS FESESSIONS-JAK. 4.

Before Mr. MAINVIARING, and a Bench of Magic

St ales.

Henry Holt, a surgeon. residing at Tot.
tenhain, was indicted for areaulting James Cobleb
hostler at ?I Dixon's livery stables, iu Drury.
taut'. on the night of the Sid of July last.
Mr. CoesT opened the clue.
Mr. Dixon deposed, that, shout eleven o'clock
st night, the Defendant, accompanied by Mr.
Clark, Mr. Simpson. au Officer in the Army, and
his lunch, r, applied at the witness's stables for a
post-chaise to carry them to Tottenham. They
were saswered, that there was not out' at home, and
that it would be impossible for them to get our, as
the witness had sent all round the neighbourhood
in search of one for a cusininer, but he could nut
procure our ; and reconi nended to them to take a
hackney-coach, as they were in the halri,, at that
season of the year, of going as far as Tottenham. The
Defendant said, it was untrue, and offered to bet
a guinea he could get a chaise ; the ictiies. said,
he would bet with him, but, if lie did, he would be
guilty of an imposition. as he had made every in•
quire for a chaise, arid could nut find one; on whick
the befendrint replied, it was a da--s1 lie, MIA that
he, the witness, was a scoundrel; which he retaliated,
by saying, he believed the Dofilidant sod his corn.
['anions to be • party of scoundrels; the Defend.
ant stripped off his colt, and put himself in an atti.
tulle of figlitiug; at which the witness went irate
his counting-house, took up a poker, and told
the Defendant, if hr offered to strike !aim, he would
knock him down with it ; nn which the Defendant
struck at the Prosecu;nr Cobb, and knocked hies
down ; a wo•nan who was in the pint rot sod called
the watch. In the mean time the witive.s was struck
several times ; he dekuded himself as
vs-Re:lavas.
hihel
could : tht• guarrl:aus of the ni4lit came, and this
Defesid..nt and his companions were taken to tbet
watch hoax.
On his cress-elerninelion, by Mr. Gauntly,
said, that the Defendant's fwd., Clark and Sling•
sou, had brought -viola against him iu the Cu-0
of and had laid their damages at
1,001. each. for false imprisonmelit.
James Cobii, the Pirosecutor, corroborated•the
testimony of the last wit:trio.
Mr. GCR,ILT, Counsel for the Defendant, co*
tended, that this prosecution was brought for the
purpose of getting rid ache actions, but he trusted
it would not mead he would call witneeses who
would prove that Dixon, the proprietor of the posts
c,:aises, and his servant. the (+Ater, the present
Prosecutor, committed the first assault. The only
question for the Jury's decision wee, who committed
the first breach of the peace end they ought to
give it their moat st'llOtbs deliberation, as the pre.
sent trial would decide the 'Klaus brought in the
Court of Kiiig's bent h.

Mr. Clark,-Mr. Sinit.son, unrl a brother a the
Defendant, deposed, that the first blow they sets
given ism by the Prosecutor; but they would not
tin the length of saying that Wawa might not have
passed heture the one they saw.
The LINO' 111t91 CHAIKMA MUlnfned up the Pei.
deuce, and the Jury fouttu the liefendant gui ty.
it hasitig biro ilaulerstorid by the Court, that the
*client. in the Court of King's Bench, would be
vitithilraan. the Detracting was ordered te pay 34.
4 I. cud I.tc doichareest. •

Sittings •ptwinted is Nlhhtterra and London,
liefwe the Right lion. Sir MeNSIli LEO.
Knight, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of e.itu.
iron Pleas, at %Vestiuisister, la and after Hilary
Term,