The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-10-25 00:00:00

COVENT-C ARD EN THEATRE.

'east night Mr. COlAlam's Play of
the
hex Chest
war performed at Ore Theatre, with Afterpirce
df Nal mad Virginia. The boxes Were, as native,
filled at an early hour, bud the company, conaist-
lug a great measure of females, war highly re-
spectable. There were very few persons in the pit,
and these who appeared there before the hour of
half-price, seemed very well inclined to behave
theintielves, and enjoy the performance. I'he three
first acts were attended to with only one symptom
of disorder, bat that one was of a description which
calls for the .reurebation of every individual, who
possessis the fetlinge of a gentleman. Li the very
first scent 44 the flay, an advocate of " justice and
old ilrices,'' flung an "apple at Mrs. Lurrow, while
singing *as her
longs; it was thrown with much
violence, but fortunately missed her, having struck
near her feet; Whoever the poison was whoee seal
prompted him to etch an act. be ought to be dis-
claimed even by hit diiti party. Outrage, Heaven
knows, is bad enough; without mixing it with cow-
ardice and barbarity. ~
The play, as far as Wiens heard, was well sup:
ported ; and the sanitise:4On it produced 'was evi-
dent, in the applauses it forth, until the ad-
mission of the malcontents.
IXr. You nu, ill the
character of Sir Allsrstril Mawr. displayed
great feeling and judgment, and was well-secended
in the scene by the able acting of Mr. C. Kuntz,
who unstained the part of Wilford with ability. In the
discovery of his crime. sad the consequfrist develop..
went of his character Mortimer, the enthusiast of
honour, was well ',emanated by M r.Yue ear,itlile the
fewful affection of Wiffird, found an ad4uste
expression iu the performance of the latter getitle-
man. • Messrs. Esselte, . LUTON, and F AWCR 1-4
acquitted themselves also with much eclat us their
respective parts ; and all the other performers dis-
charged their duty to the audieoce, as long as the
audience would permit them.
The moment of heir-price, as =mil, was the mo-
ment of interruption ; the disturbers of theatric re-
pose and dramatic elocution made their appearance;
but, as we before predicted, intern) • in aumber and
effect. The noise was almost exclusively confined
to the Rat; and so untrue is it that the voice of die
half-pnce men is the voice of the whole public, that
the pit wet not, at any time during the night, near
full. The expedient which they have adopted of
shoving one another *bout, for the purpose of driv-
ing all but their own party from the pit, was ieniin
repeated, in a shameful wanner ; several females,
I who were near the Orchestra, were so inconveni-
enced by the pressure of those gallant rioters. that
they were obliged to retire ; we are. however, of
opinion, that they will soon abandon this plan, for
they will find their own party to be so very small,
that the exclusion of other people will only serve to
expose its weakness and insure its punishment. ()f
the few persons in the pit, we do not think that
there were above forty engaged in the tumult.
Cod Seim Mc Klieg was bellowed forth in the
course of the night, lent much weakened in its tone.
A few placards appeared and disappeared. and the
curtain dropt amid the hies.% of the half-price men,
and the plaudits of those who could afford to at-
tend at the cosarnenceiniht. The beautiful over-
ture to Oscar and rifeienge, which was completely
lust in tupielt the night 'refer,. was audible
throughout last night; and it was not in the power
of the brawling jump to prevent us from observing
the beautiful scenery with which this piece is fitted
up. Some persona who were active in the pit were
removed by the Koweitreet officers, and a few rows
occurred, without any disagreeable consequences.
During the last scene, and after the curtain dropt,
the half-pries men joined in a full, but compare-
' tively weak. chohis, singing
" We9l fight, and we'll conquer, apin and twain !"

After which, they pie three gruatis for John
Kemble and three hnzzas for John Hull. In say-
ing they, we beg nut to be understood to man
'he whole andienze, but about thirty or forty per-
MIIIII in the pit: not even the galleries, who, on
former nights, joined the outcry; they were this
night most peaceable. There were only two pla-
cards exhibited. which were u follow :
" Kiug Joke shall Tickl to Julio Ball."

A large face, the muscles contracted with anger,
and underneath written.

" May I beg lease so ask laud it is you waut /..
These were the only productionsof the night. A
person is one of the centre boxes, who had been
troublesome during the latter part of the evening,
having received a hint that an escort was iu waiting
for him on the lobby, thought proper to make his ha-
treat good by jumping into the pit, and so escaping.
The pitites followed, •ud by 11 o'clock the house
was completely cleared.
The number of malcontents was never so dimi-
nutive, nor that class of personas* little respectable
in appearance, since the first night of the Theatre's
opening. This presages well ; and we hope, in ■
very short time, to be able to announce, that they
cease to exist as enemies to good order; and that
we shall be able to rsaure the lovers of the Drama,
that they may visit this beautiful theatre without
fear of being interrupted, or danger of being in-
sulted.

Last night TNOMAS Busse LL was brainght before
the sitting Magistrate, at Bow-street, fin promot-
ing a riot in Covent-Garden Theatm by wearing
0. P. on his hat, and was committed.
A letter from Dublin, dated the 21st. say.—
" Much bustle prevails here, in consequence of the
preparatitv is for the Jubilee. The National Bank,
the Rotunda, the Exchange. and several other
public buildings promos a brilliant display."
Atno ngst-the donations. of this day. Mr. INGLE,-
NT will give the produce of his performance, at his
Theatre, in Catherine-street. Strand, to the pour
of the parish of St. Clement's.
The Earl of WtrrsioaLann returned, last night,
to his bon*, in (Irosvenor-snuare.
The Earl and Countess of CARDIGAN left town,
yesteritiy, tot Windsor.
As it is understood to be His MAJESTY'S moat
FINGSONs ItAtiltiots to create *number of new l'eers,
on the present joyful occasion, enmprehendirg
some of the very highest Naval and Military ranks,
we trust that old rueutnrtmin ut of the Creun,
Sir Perrot PARSZR, Bart., tl.e Admiral *of the
Fleet of Great Britain. may be inclutled, should
each a creation take piece.