The Sun.
London, England, 1822-11-28 00:00:00

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1822

AMATEUR THEATRICALS.

( From the Chester Courant, Nov. 26.)

On Wednesday evening last the neighbour-
hood of Martin's Ash, in this city, was thrown into a state of
alarm and trepidation by the appearance and sudden irrup-
tion of from half a dozen to half a score policemen and con-
stables, into a public-house, known by the sign of the Ship.—
We have been told they were well armed, and presented an
appearance sufficiently formidable to have secured -a Cato-
street gang. It subsequently appeared, however, that the ob-
ject they were directed to accomplish was by no means of that
magnitude which required all this hostile preparation. The
fact appears to be, that a few stage-struck young men and
women, who doubtlesi had sustained many a sleepless hour in
studying their respective characters, were engaged in a room
of the house in acting the Castle Spectre, for the • amusement
of their private friends, and prOliablY—fi: some of them in.
nocently enough imagined, laying the foundation for the fame
Of a future Garrick or Sidsions. They were thus 'engaged,
when this immense posse conzitatus, without having the good
manners to wait the conclusion of; act or scene, sansceremonie,
darted upon , and seized all, the actors and actresses of the
drama. Several accounts we have seen agree in describing 'the
violence used as greatly beyond what the occasion required;
we should be glad to see this represetitation substantially re, •
futed, as nothing tends more to bring the law or its officers into
disrepute than an uncalled-for and unnecessary display of
authority.—Be this as it may, they were taken into custody,
(except a hero and heroine, who escaped through a window),
and instantly conveyed to the house of correction, without be-
ing permitted to change even their dresses; where they were
kept in hold during the night —On Thursday,: they were
brought before the Magistrates to the Pentice, but the
noise and hubbub which the occurrence had spread through
the city, brought together such a concourse of people, and
the crowd became so oppressive, that the examination was ad-
journed to the Town-hall, and subsequently took place pri-
vately in an adjoining room. Mr. Folliott is said to have
highly distinguished himself in defence of the captiNes. He is
stated to have said, that he stood forward as a man ought to
do, on behalf of the young ladies and others who had been ap-
prehended—he was there to defend their cause to the last drop
of his blood, without fee or reward,* and what he said he hoped
would appear in the Chester papers ; for it should in the Lim-
don, and should be spread throughout Europe. He was al-
ways the friend of the poor, he always had been ; and they'
should always find bins a firm supporter of them as long as
God spared his life! Three cheers were then given for Mr
F.—The result of the examination, it seems, was this, that the
offending culprits were told by the Magistrates that their pro-
ceedings were illegal, and dismissed them ! is far from
our intention at any time to weaken the hands of the civil
• power,-or encourage in the lower or higher claSses of • society
an approach• to disorder or immorality. , But we cannot avoid
saying, on the present occasion, there appears either a want of
correct information on the part of the Magistrates, or that they
have acted, to adopt the most tender expression, indiscreetly.
The apprehension and imprisonment of these people are
stated to be under 111 r. Chetwynd's vagrant act, Geo. IV. c.
40, as applied to " common stage players not authorized by
• law." But a very' superficial observance of .the provisions
of that act will satisfy any man that it is necessary to prove
that these stage players receive money for 'their exhibitions,
in order to convict them of vagrancy, and subje& them to the
penalties of that act.—The section applicable-to this species of
vagrancy refers only to " common stage players, who shall for
hire, gain, or reward, act, represent, or perform, or cause to be
performed, any interlude, or entertainments of the stage, or any
part or parts therein," &c. Now it is not pretended that any
money was given or taken on the above occasion, and we there
fore can only conclude, that the Magistrates have received
wrong information on that head, or. have acted on some other
ground of offence—what, we cannot tell.—However, under
any circumstances, the proceeding to such extremities—the
seizing—dragging to gaol—and keepinVin confinement for
a whole night—a number of young nerd:Cris, some of them
of respectable connexions, for an offence at most of a
very venial nature, savours of harshness, if not cruelty, whe-
ther the law will justify the arrest or not. But in saying
this, we will never be apologists for the practice, against which
these measures have been taken. It was a very fit subject of
magisterial interference ; and however it may be justified by
those who affect an enthusiastic love for the drama, yet surely
it will not be contended that our public-houses are to be turned
into play-houses. All we lament is, that some other equally
effectual and less obnoxious method was not taken to prevent a
repetition of play-acting at the Ship.