The Sun.
London, England, 1825-02-05 00:00:00

THE THEATRE.

Dautty-Liste.—Mr. KEAN again made his
appearance last night, and in the character of
Macbeth. The Pit was well attended soon after
the opening of the doors, hut the rest of the
house was by no means abundant in visitors.—
' The Performers experienced little interruption
previous to the appearance of Mr. KEAN, and
when he entered the bridge a vehement shout of
:►elcornu burst from the Pit, and the same zeal of
applause accompanied him throughout his per-
formance, ii► that part of the Theatre. In all the
others he appeared to have -•pry few supporters,
and very few opponents, for tl►e violence which
prevailed in the Pit in his favour, rendered his
opponents afraid to express their sentiments.—
in the Pit.those who had presumed to differ from
the majority were turned out without mercy.—
In fact, though Mr. KEAN was heard and ap-
plauded, his success cannot he considered as the
decision of the Public ii► his favour, but of those
who occupied the Pit, and who, by their aspect
and demeanour, can hardly he supposed to
have paid for :heir admiesion. This specks
of triumph Mr. KEAN may doubtless ex-
pect to enjoy till his engagement is fulfill-
ed, but we conceive with little advantage •to
the Managers, for all decent people must de-
cline visiting the Theatre as long as it is con-
verted into a Bear Garden. Many placards were
issued in favour of Mr. KEAN, but none worth
notice ; and it would hare been a dangerous ad-
Venture indeed to have issued others of a con-
trary description. Some of the Public Prints have
specified passages which they state to have been
adopted by the audience, and applied to the Per-
former, but as far as we observed, they could
seldom be heard so as to admit of such appticn-
tion, ex'tegt.' when Lea Macbeth addressing. him,
said, Look like the, innocent toner,"—this pas-
sage excited a shout immediately, but it is
evident that it could not come from his
friends, and it• is probable that it would have
been greeter if the re►nainder of the sen-
tence had been heard, viz—" but be the ser-
pent under it." Upon the whole, Mr. KEAN did
not appear to us to play with less than his
usual spirit, though it is natural to suppose that
the loss of the moral favour of the Public in
general, and the rough reception which he
has experienced since his return, so differ-
, cut from that which heretofore marked his
efforts, must have " cowed his better part of
man." The Play altogether passed with little
interruption except the tumults of applause
which arose from Mr. KEAN'S supporters. At
the end of the Play there was a vehement
call for Mr. KEAN, and after a short interval
Mr. YouNGE came forward, and was understood,
to say that Mr. KEAN was so fatigued that lie
had entered his carriage, and left the Theatre.—
The after-piece was then suffered to proceed
without interruption. We have taken no vio-
lent part either way, nor have we entered
into the question as to the right of the Public to
interfere with the private conduct of a Public
Performer ; but who can blame the Public for
the expression of its feelings, after transactions
so notorious, or that part of the Puauc PRESS
which has apparently expressed the general senti-
ments of mankind ; for, violent as the language
of some Journals may•have been, they have cer-
tainly not exceeded the violence of Mr. KEAN'S
Partizans iu the Theatre.

ANECDOTE.—Sir ROBERT NV A I,POLE, it is well
• known, was of a convival turn, and a great ad-
mirer of wit and humour. Au Innkeeper in the
neighbourhood of Houghton Hall, who was
distinguished for his readiness at repf;rtee,
was patronized by Sir ROBERT, who frquently
ordered a dinner for himself and friends at the
Inn, and always invited the landlord to join the
company after dinnur. On one occasion an old
Norfolk Baronet, dull and ignorant, jealous of
the favour which the Landlord received, remon-
strated with Sir Itoncarr for admitting such a
companion. Sir ItouEtur excused himself on ac-
count of the good character of the man, and on
his mind, so superior to his situation, and the land-
lord modestly observed that if Sir Roactur kindly
tolerated his presence, bethought the Baronet had
no reason to object. All the answer of the Ba.
ronet was " Peh ! your father was a Butcher."
Well, rejoined the Landlord, there is no
great difference between your father and mine,
for if my father killed Calves yours brought
them up." This sally highly gratified the com-
pany, but the dull old Baronet, insensible of the
joke, vehemently exclaimed, " What, do you
make my father a Grazier?" This anecdote
used to be related by the celebrated Dr. Mom-
cEv, of Chelsea Hospital, who practised as a
Physican at the time in Norfolk, and who was
present on the occasion.