The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-06-08 00:00:00

DRURY-LA.VY: THEATRE.

Last night Mr. Elliston took his benefit, and we are happy
to say, that shortly after the curtain rose there was not s
standing place to be had ia any part of the house. The ILI,-
pocrite, which has been so often and so successfully played
this season, was repeated, and its repetition was hailed
with all that applause which the acting of Dowton, Liston,
and Mrs. W. 'West could not fail of insuring. The
inedy of the Liar followed, in which Mr. Elliston sus-
tained one of hiss most favourite characters, that of Yoeng
I Wilding. This performance forcibly reminded us of Isis
I younger slays ; and if in the progress of time Mr. Elliston
has almost necessarily lost a portion of his vivacity, be has
not lost that peculiarity of power which early obtained for
him a distinguished place in the public approbation. We
never heard any Liar who assumed grater earnest-
' ness, or more apparent sincerity ; and if there were
a fault in the narration of his adventures, it was
that of their being rather of the sombre and sermonizing
cast. His introduction of the mock :Marquis to his
father was well given ; and the story of his pretend«l
marriage was told with an air of plausibility and
seeming regret for having offended the old gentleman by
so indiscreet an act, which drew down peals of applaus ,
and did not fail of calling every risible muscle into motion.
The burthen of this piece falls on Mr. Elliston, and be
very ably sustained it. During these performances, Ma-
dame Catalani (who had volunteered her services) sat
several Italian airs, with all that magical power which
she alone possesses in so eminent a degree. After the con-
clusion of the second piece, Mr. Elliston came forward,
• and addressed the audience to following effect :

" Ladies aid fientlensen,—While I most respectfully beg leave
to return you my cordial thanks foe the amp patronage with
which you have honoured me on this weasion, allow me—permit
me to explain to you how much I have been cheered by the •
general favour which has been shewn me, through so large a per-
tion of time as that in which I have had the honour of struggling
un this spot for your favour.
" Five years dre now nearly elapsed, sine, under the present ad-
ministration, I was induced to take the conduct of the complicated
affairs of this Vliestre, and I may add, of retrieving it from its
pecuniary pressure and enabl.mottonents (applause); and I am
now enabled, thank God„ to state, that. under the present direction,
its debts are &excusing. that a short time will see them entirely
paid, and that the shareholders, by whose subscriptions this edifice
ban been erected, will ultimately realize that price fur their shares
from which they deteriorated, and that they will be raised to their
full and original value. (Applause.)
" I mention not this prosperity with the view of raising my own
credit, by speaking of my individual industry, but to chew the:
where the manager of such an establishment is zealous and perse-
vering, the public will second all his efforts. And, Ladies
and Gentlemen, I can honestly assure VIM, that I could have ef.
feeted nothing without the aid of British liberality. (Loed Ap-
plause.)
" To you, Ladies and Gentlemen, L owe every thing on my
part ;—on yru I confidently rely for the future ;end, believe
me, that slide I say I can only live by the fair profits and
emoluments of my labour, those profits shall be butt is secondary
consideration to that high delight which I shall ever meet in sitar-

ing your generous protection.
" As a iilettge that I shall not relax any effort to please you, I
beg leave to notice, that reports have been circulated of the speedy
secession of many of your favourites tram this theatre ; but such
reports, I take pleasure in stating, arc totally groundkas. I am ;
willing to suppose that these reports originated in mistake rather :
than in malignity or hostility to this establishment, for with the
exception of Air. 31unden, whose loss to the stage every lover of the
histrionic art must deplore—(applause)—l can assure ;mu con.
fidcndy of the continuance of almost every one of your favourites
for the next i• onion with die additional talent to be gathered front
the provincial theatres; and let me add to the lovers of music,
the engagement of a gentleman DO generally esteemed, I mean Mr.
Sapid.
1 fear, Indies and Gentlemen, that I have too long. intruded I
upon your patience, and I shall oely repeat the expression of my'
heartfelt gratitude, and my fixed resolution, by every the most
arduous effort, to merit the coetiouance of the public favour."
(Loud applause.)
After the applause with which the address was received
had subsided, Madame Catalani was again led on the stage
by Mr. Elliston, and she sang two verses of " Rule
Britannia" with the most surprising animation. The
listeners would hare thought that the Genius of England
inspired her, while she poured forth the melody of this
Anthem with an ardour and devotion for freedom which
is alone be found in this " isle of beauty" and of
well-attempered liberty. We have however to ask,
why the kwincipal singers did not join in the chorus?
It'hy all decency to Madame Catalani was violated in
suffering Abe ill-dressed refuse of the theatre to be
her only companions on the stage? 117hy at least the
performers who played for the evening did not at-
tend ? And why the public are to be insulted by the
,absence of those persons whose duty it should be. to aid
in every case, where the national honour and glory are
concerned ? 7wo Wires, era Hint to Hushonds, followed,
in which Harley, as usual, was highly diverting,
After ene conclusion of " Rule Britannia," we should
have a'.ated that Mr. Elliston again addressed the audience,
anal 'rutted, that in consequence of the overflow of the night,
—no doubt materially influenced by the presence anal exer-
tions of Madame Catalani,—the same performances
we uld be repeated to-morrow (this evening). We had
nearly omitted to state that Miss Cubitt was encored in the
song of " Bid me discourse." This ungenerous irony was
toro severe ; fair, although Miss Cubitt cannot rank amongst
the higher melotlists at Old Drury, or elsewhere, she gene-
Tally makes herself useful. Were her pretensions higher,
we should not notice this ill-timed and unnecessary call, on
the part of certain portions of the audience, for an encore of',
a song almost peculiarly the property of another lady of '
`unequalled talent ; but it becomes the bounden duty of
the British press to rescue from undeserved attack a
female who has many claims on public approbation.