The National Register.
London, England, 1809-11-19 00:00:00

THE NATIOI'iTAL REGISTER.

no obligation ; because they have nut the Public, but
fieir own interest, in contemplation. It is, therefore,
arrogant and unwarrantable, on their part, to consider
themselves injured by the resistance which is made to their
extraordinary pretensions. Every one is interested in this
dispute, so far as it is a question of right; and because one
party, instead of the conciliatory and submissive tone
which became them as servants of the Public, had recourse
h► defiance and force, when they found the latter did not
agree to their alledged necessity, If, what has been gene•
tally stated, be true, that they had the audacity to crowd
the avenues and seats of the theatre with blackguards
and bravoes, in order to overawe the audience;--if that
be true, we have no difficulty in calling it the grossest out-
tage upon order, and _the vilest contempt of forms that
bad been ever committed in any theatre, or any country.
The people of London ought not to he treated like a Pa-
tisian rabble ; they are justly vaunted for their liberality,
and have a right to insist upon liberal treatment. Upon
the whole, the conduct of the Proprietors has been silly,

arrogant, and, in the extreme, inconsiderate. The senti-
ment, in fact, is general, that their behaviour has been
• flagrantly improper. We have seen only one parallel
point of folly and thoughtlessness, and that at St. Luke's;
where a poor lunatic threw her porridge into the face of
her attendant, who had just brouzlit it to her.—She lost
her dinner, and outraged her benefactor
But we mean neither to defend, nor even to palliate the
proceedings of the oppositionists. They have been fre-
quently outrageous and ind6cent in the extreme. Their
allusions to the private boxes are atrociously indelicate;
and di.!Serve contempt and chastisement when it can be in-
flieled. But where sliaq we find terms to reprobate their
behaviourto the other sex ? It is barb :rots; it is cowardly,
because their numbers sevure them • Emu.: the punishment

their brutalit'y merits. Their vcanton destruction of the
property of the Theatre is equally reprcheasible; and, in
opposing an uiljustitiable claim, they must not cbinmit an
unjustifiable act. 117:lir riotous coialuct in the streets 13 a
direct insult to the M ov THE ; aild its repeti-
tion, and its impunjy, convey the ce,isure upon
the Executive. The proceedings of nil the parties, impli-
cated in the business, seem to imply a. reirrelietisible
sSnbi-
tion, to excel each other in irregularit;ii; and eery feieati
to Order and &Conlin *mist be nauseated in. that ollctinaLv
displayed On the -.one, and the false cnorp, on the other
side.

or the papers, which have taken a prominent part trpon,,
the occasion, The Staleaman has displayed a flilgitibus 7.eal
in fanning the flame. it is a I•ad wind which nobo4
4-00 d.! And the profits and the publicio of this adopted..
foundling of Mr. 'CosaErr, have increased in proportion to
the violence of the storm, and the damage which others
bave sustained. But is it fair, is it honourable, is it alto-
gether boniest, to increaie the profits of o:le concern to the
luanifest detriment of another ? It has a large field for fair
competition; and if it possess merit, it may acquire puhli-
city, without taking an indecent, partial, and furious. part
In this unforiunate contest. it has only to substitute:solid
'reasoning for frantic, inebriated declamation ; be more
sparing of its disgusting Olio of Alma Mater and
Blew fair t—of pethintry and harlcquinade,—and it %light
DOi find jt difficuli to acquire distinction amongst its even-,
big tom' tatitort4 But it thought fit to prefer the other

NOV. 19;

road, because it is the nearer, though not the more ho-
noureble.

The continuance of this nocturnal riot, is an atrocious
comment on the competency, energy, and vigilance of
the present Cabinet ; and must convey to foreigners, a very
droll idea of the national character and manners. In the
savageness, which was formerly imputed to us, there Was
something great, and which commanded the admiration of
those who threw out the approach ; because it proceeded,
from an exuberance of independence, social and political.
But, we have descended from that savage grandeur which
could contemplate only great objects, to the level of our
degenerate and enslaved neighbours; and begin now to
manifest our sensibility and interference, about objects,
which our less polished ancestors would have supremely
contemned. This misguided sensibility affords a humiliating
explanation of the indifference shown to our reverses abroad,
and to the squabbles,. intrigues, and indecent disputes,
which degraded the Administration at home. We call here,
publicly, upon Mr. PEacilvAL, to 'explain the cause why
this disgraceful riot is suffered to continue. Shrink not, Sir,
from the question; but answer it fairly and unequivocally.
You may have fouinl it very opportune to turn fhe current
of public indignation from the late unfortunate effects
of ministerial incapacity and intrigue; hat that, as well as
the memory of those occurrences, are long extinct ; and
you may now, without apprehension and danger, restore
quiet and reflection to the disturbed minds of the Public.
The experiment, Sir, is not hazardous ; because a people,
who tear and worry each other about a theatrical squabble,
and are insensible to national insult, are not very troublesome
or dangerous to a Minister. You may, therefore, without
fear of disagreeable consequences to yourself and colleagues,
adept some speedy and efficacious mode of terminating a dis-
turbance which is destructive of the peace and reputation of
the Public. It is the ardent wiS: of rational and well-mean-
in4 men; and we implore you io have.the courage to gra-
tify their wishes. Oh ! how the national spirit is sunk and
degraded, when we are obliged to intreat and remind a-
Minister to put an end to a riot, which dilionours and en-
daa2;ers the Metropolis.