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
night, in order to avoid expense ; nay, it might
happen 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 int4ht 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 loalc.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 your 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.