The Sun.
London, England, 1809-12-29 00:00:00

COVEIVT-GARDEN THEATRE.

Though "we have happily no occasion to inforni
our Readers of disturbances at this Theatre rel4tive
to the 0. P. warfare, yet we have the mortification
of being obliged to repeat proceedings hardly less
violent, arising from a different cause.--The Mer-
chant of Venice was announced. for. representation
last night, antl COOKE was to have been the Shylock.
The house was full, and it is probable that many
persons attended in order, to hear what apology
Cooms could offer for the unseemly. manner in
which: be had disappointed the audience ,two nights
before. As-soon as the.audience entered, they saw
the following printed bill in the Theatre
. " in consequence of. Mr. COOKE'S severe indisposition,
the Public are respeafully acquainted, that, with their per-.
mission, Mr. EGEKTON will perform the part of SHY LOCK."

This intimation excited i considerable degree of
disapprobation, which gradually increased, as•the au-
dience augmented, till at last a violent spirit of dis-
content prevailed-all ovet the Theatre. Soon after
the usual time; the curtain. drew up, and the Per-
formers appeared, but the tumultrand cries of " Off,
off-I(xtußLE; .KEMBLE,", rendered it impossible
for them to do their duty, and they respe&fully re-
tired. MCattAY then came for Ward, and began to
Mention " the indisposition of Mr. COOKE "—but
the cries Of " drunk—drunk," re-echoed in all
quarters; and MURRAY was unable to procure a, fur-
ther,hearing. The calls for KEMBLE were then re-,
Dewed with ten-fold violence, and at length
CHARLES KEMBLE appeared, but was obliged to
wait a long. time before the audience would hear a
syllable he uttered. When he could,be heard, he
spoke The, following words with great earnestness
and apparent zeal to soften the feelings of the au-
dience against a brother Performer-:—g. Ladies and
Gentlemen, Mr. COOKE is really indisposed." The
generil cry. was then " SOHN KEMBLE—Jourt
KamBLE--let him play the part." C. KEMBLE, in
answer; said, that..his brother had not performed
t4e part for many years, otherwise he was sure that
he would most willingly obey their cOmmands.—
" Send for him" was then the call from various
parts of the Theatre. C. KEMBLE then resumed,
his address to the audience,, and with much difficulty
informed them that the Prompter had called on Mr.,
COOKE at twelye. o'clock, and found him really in-
disposed, but 'not to such' a• degree as to render it
improbable that he would be able to perforli his
duty in the evening.
At four o'clock, the Prompter, anxious that every
Possible means should be adopted to prevent the
public 'from being
,disappointed, waited on Mr.
COOKE again, and was still in, hopes that he would
attend the Theatre in due time: At length, when it
seemed to be in vain 'to expect him, it was thought.
Proper to place the printed billiO‘ er the doors, and
to issue large and small bills in the neigl,biurhood of
the-Yheatte; that no/ person might enter it with
erroneous expeaations. As many of the auditors'
vehemently declared that they had seen no such
bills, CHARLES.KEMBLE quitted the stage fora few
Moments 'and returned with one of each size, and
attempted to read it. A Gentleman in the pit. then
arose, and addressed CHARLES KEMBLE, observing,
that the chief blame was imputable' to the Managers
for placing the least reliance on such a man as.
COOKii• upon wh6ns po dependence could reason-
ably be laced, as he had so often disappointed, and
insulted the public, and no longer . ago than'. on
WedneSday- night. At this time there' was so
great an uproar that CHARLES KEMBLE thought, Pro-
pti to retire.
After some time; TAYLoR appeared and informed
the audience that Mr. JOHN KEMBLE had been
sought for in vain, but that if they pleased Mr. C:
KEMBLE would read the part of Skyloqk . This
proposal was bj no means relished, and TAYLOR
ha'ving retired a few minutes, came forward again
and stated, that Mr. C. KEMBLE was ready, to the
best of his ability, to act the part. A few persons
expressed discontent at this proposal, but the.gene-
ral, voice was in its favour, and order was soon
restored. .

The play then was permitted to proceed, and Mr.
C. KEMBLE was very warmly greeted when he
peered as Old Shylock. Though, we remember to
have seen him play this character many years ago at
the Haymarket Theatre, we were surprised that
upon so sudden a call, and after the agitation of the
previous storm, he could coned his powers so well
asto g&through it with so much success as he did last
night: ' The part for -which. he had been announced
last night, and for the purpose of performing which
he had attended the Theatre, was Bassani°, and
this was necessarily assigned to CLAREMONT.
• •-Atter such a jumble as the two charaaers must
have produced in the mind of CHARLES KEMBLE,
it ie really a matter of surprise that he could so soon
transfer his attention to that which he was so unex-
pectedly doomed to-a-a; but without that considera-
tion, it may be fairly said, that he performed' it with
great ability and forcible effect. The rest of the
'Play was supported by the usual Performers, and
MUNDEN, in Launcelot, was particularly successful
in confirming the good humour of the audience.
The new Pantomime of Harlequin Pedlar,
,or .the
Haunted Well, followed, and is so Much improved,
by. judicious curtailment in some parts, and addi-
tional. tricks, that it was received with, a tribute of
applause as loud as, the preceding tumult of dis-
pleasure.

If any of BUONAPARTE'S vassal Monarchs should
be taken ill during their sojourn at Paris, it is not
improbable that he may shew so much concern for
their infirmities as to ask in the words of Richard,
" Has my Physician seen them'?" and then, con-
sidering the number of relations and military myr-
midons whom he has still to provide for, i► may
ba easily conceived what chance, the►y hAve fur
•
recovery.