The Sun.
London, England, 1825-02-01 00:00:00

THE THEATRE.

Dnuay-LANE.—We lament, for the honour of
the Dui :n.4, the best invention ever devised for
the moral improvement of Society, mingling in-
struction with amusement, that we have to record
another scene of riot, turbulence, and mischief,
which took place last night at this Theatre. The
Play that was to have been represented wasMAs-
sINGEIeS old Comedy, A New J-Vaq to Pay
Old Debts, but previous to the drawing up of
the curtain every portentous indication of an
approaching storm was to be heard. The pit
was filled almost immediately after the doors
were opened, and we regret to my that it was
filled with a turbulent assemblage, who had no
other view than to stifle public judgment, and to
render Mr. KEAN triumphant. The tumult be-
came more stormy when the Performers appeared,
'am( reached its height on the entrance of Mr.
KERN. This violence continued through the first
two Acts, constantly more violent when Mr.
KLAN appeared. At length Mr. ELLISTON
came forward, accompanied by Mr. KEAN, who
however retired to the back of the stage. Mr.
Er.msToN in vain, by deprecatory action, at-
tempted to ..,_obtain a hearing. his supplica-
tory attitude, lasted about a qoarter of an hour.
During part of the time he shook hands -with
Mr. K r..% sr, and seemed intended to betoken
the harmony that subsisted between them. This
circumstance, however, had no influence upon
the spectators, for audience the), cannot be
styled. In the Course of his appeals, by action,
Mr. EttAsToN advanced, and took up an orange
that, among many other siMilar missiles, had been
thrown upon the stage, and held it with a kind ,
monitory look to the people, and then, after re-
ferriOg to the performers behind, shook his head
" more in sorrow than in anger ;" but all his pa-
thetic motions were without effect ; he then
left the stage, and Mr. K EAN, convinced that all
attempts to obtain a patient hearing would be •
fruitless, fesumed his theatrical character of Sir
Giles 011erreach, and the Play proceeded in ac-
tion, but not at all in recitation. The dress circle
was not fully attended,and there was a sprinkling
of ladies, pparently genteel, who seem to take no
interest in the passing scene, but what related to
their personal safety, for oranges, apples, &c.
were thrown from the pit into the dress circle,
and some hard substance hit the breast of the
writer of this article, t bough lie was not near any
party who took a lead in the question, and it was
evident that, to avoid this hostility, they were
obliged to take part with the advocates for Mr.
KEAN, Several of the. lower chandaliers were
injured: -Numerous placards were issued of the
same description with those which we noticed on
the former occasions, but unworthy of farther at-
tention. The galleries were filled, but not the third
tier of boxes. On the final conclusion of the play
some cessation of tumult took place, and, during
its progress, more of what the other Performers
had to -say was heard than on the preceding
nights. Several of the Public Journals of this
day record passages from the play, which they
state to have been taken up by the public, and
applied to Mr. KEAN, but we do not think,
from what we observed, that it was possible for
them to be heard so as to admit of being thus re-
corded. This reign of outrage, with little inter-
mission, remained to the end of the Play. The
Farce was Old and Young, and Miss C. FISHER
was acting with applause, when the tumult again
broke forth, and vehement calls for Mr. KEAN.
At length he came forward in his usual dress,
and, after some difficulty and great interruption,
was permitted to utter the following speech :
" Twill make any submission to an English audience that
can become an English 'charactcr.—(Applause and some hoot-
ing.)—l hope, for the honour of my country, from which after
twenty nights I shall retire for ever—( Cries of" No, no," front
part of the pit); 1 hope, for the honour of my country, that the
report of this persecution will never find its way into foreign
journal.."
Ile then withdreW amillst mingled applause and
marks of displeasure, and the farce was suffered
to go on. flow this matter is to be settled we
know not, as we anticipate nothing but a repe-
tition of the same turbulence wheneVer. Mr. KEAN
appears. It is proper, however, to offer a few words
in vindication of the Public Press. Some of the
daily Journals have made bitter comments on
the conduct of Mr. KEAN, and others have been
warmly in his favour, but for the honour of them
all, they have never lost sight of morality-, or at,
tempted to palliate his conduct, as reported in a
Court of Law, and it is impossible to suppose that
the most hostile Journals could have induced the
riotous wretches who attended the Theatre to
enter into the cause, as perhaps most of them
were unable to read the contents of those Jour-
nals, much less to comprehend their reasoning, or
to relish their oblique satire and sarcastic inu-
endues. We have faithfully recorded the events
of this disgraceful warfare, so far as they pre-
sented themselves to our notice, and sincerely
hope, that the general feelings of au impartial
Public will be manifested on all future occasions,
put an end to party dissensions on either side,
give fair scope to theatrical talents, and restore
the freedom of our great National Amusement.

PUBLIC CnAnurres.—lt is rumoured that it is
in the contemplation of tl►e CHANCELLOR of the
ExcnEonen. to include the repeal of the LEGACY
DUTY on bequests to PUBLIC CHA ITI ES, kith
that of other Taxes, in tl►e approaching Session
of Parliament.

EnwAnn EARL, Esq., who has been several
years Chairman of the Board of Customs at Edinburgh, has
been appointed a Commissioner of his Majesty's Customs in
London. The " 'Merchant Company of Leith" have sent him
a Letter of Thanks, for his past conduct, and of regret at his
departure. The " Chamber of Commerce" of Edinburgh have
sent him a similar expression of their feelings, and testimony of
" the sense they entertain of his intimate knowledge of all
matters connected with the Revenue; of his uniform suavity of
manners on every occasion, when the Trade either individually
or collectively had occasion to consult him ; and who, while he
never compromised the interest of the Crown, was most useful
in obviating the difficulties which occur in Mercantile trans-
actions."

Lord BRAYMIOOK, we regret to hear, has been
seriously indisposed.

No fewer than 1,100 stage-coaches are esti-
mated to pass daily through the Borough of
Southwark.

Miss FOOTE is to make her first appearance on
Saturday next at Covent-Garden Theatre, in the
Belles.' Stratagem.