The Sun.
London, England, 1809-10-27 00:00:00

11ESTIIIIASTER SESSIO7V4

COVENT GARDEN TH.EATRE.
The-Sessions of Peace for the City and Liberties of
West rninifer,, commenced yesterday.
the,Granil Jury had been sworn in,
Mr, MAI NW RIN G, addressed, them on the .subj.eiSt
ef the present disturbances, at the Theatre Royal,
Coviit-garden. He observed, that in the discharge
of the important duty to which they were called, it
had become his province to make some observations
Fon a subjed, which had occupied the public at-
tention, and. Which, for its continuance, andalte mis-
chievous consequences that resulted from it, 'was of
considerable importance to the community at „large,
and to the particular individuals-interested Arena.
It .was -a matter of public notoriety, that since the
opening of the new Theatre ROyal, Covent-garden, •
great disturbances of the public peace.had arisen.
large body of persons
.had met at the Theatre,- and
declared,' that unless the Proprietors and Managers.
- would agree to take the same; prices which they, had
osuallraaken,_ prior to the rebuilding of the Theatre,
they would not permit. the performers to,
.be heard.
The most violent outrages had in consequence Been
,committed, and a large body, of the audience, who
Went to the Theatre for amusement, had been kept
in a state of constant alarm and terror. This de-
-Imnd, or claim of right,which they called it (but he,
Mr. M. for his part, knew, not where such right ex-
isted), they:insisted they were at liberty to exercise.
It had been said, that the, audience of, a theatre had
the right' of expressing their, disapprobation ;
_that
custom had given them that sanction; ' which they
might use by clapping of hands and by hissing.
This custom or usage, however, did- by no means
apply to the claim now made by a particular body of
men. They had no right to determine among
themselves- what prices the Praprietors, and, Ma-
pagers, ~who had embarked their fortunes in' a ha-
zardous speculation, should take,; they had no:legal
authority to compel them 'to submit to their. de-
mand. ,It was a demand neither founded in law,
equity, or justice. The audience of a theatre were
riot to be considered 'as a court of justice. They
were not entrusted with-any legal means of 'enforc-
ing their demand. If it was to be tolerated that
they should settlethe price of admission, might they
not as Well fix the salaries of the performers, the
style of the dresses, &c. ?, Who should, say in that
case, that the audience of the next night might, not
rescind what the audience of the former night had
done ? Even stipposing such right did exist, it could
not be sandioned tinier the appearance of riots, of
tumults, and disorder. The law had very wisely.
determined that no man could be his own judge, or
witness in his own cause, unless in criminal cases,
or in the ad of self-defence. Mr. M..then cautioned
the Jury, in the questions which they would have to
examinei with' resped to the subject on which he
had been addressing them, that -they would not
estimate what Was a fair price, or what Was not a
fair price of admission ; but that they would exa-
mine the evidence against the persons charged with
. unlawful proceedings- at the Theatre, to the injury
of the Proprietors; and determine upon the fasts be-
fore them, in order that the accused might be put on
their, trials before a Jury of their country. • The
Learned. Chairman then laid dower the law with re-
,
sped to riots, .Which ,he quoted from the
,au-
thorities of Chief Justice Hale and Hawkins, who
were of opinion, • that the assembling of three
or more persOns for the commission of an un-
lawful a6l; constituted rioting." ,The punishment
which followed. the' Convidion of an .unlaWful as-
sembling, was fine and-imprisonment.- With res-
ped to-the proceeding in the particular cases to which
their attention would be called, he was as yet,uuin-
fertned;': but he understood there were many. per-
sons under recognitances, charged with the offence
of rioting at• the Theatre. It was the duty of the
Court tei preserve the peace; and he hoped the Grand
Jury. would -do their duty.
Several casts of assault were tried, but, none Of
them possessing any public interest.
The witnesses attended to support the indiet-
Ments for the.disturbances inCovent Garden Theatre;
but .the Grand Jury did not- take them into consider-
ation—that lbr to-morrow.

Da: §y4Tir.---This Gentleman, whose death. we
mentioned yesterday, was one of those rare cha-
retied with blend deep erudition with social._ease
and companionable cheerfulness. He was free in
his.masmeri, but never coarse; full of anecdote,
and well atkindinted with mankind. In the earlier
part of his life he was a great admirer of dramatic
amusements, .and always fixed himself in the ph,
near the stage ; never missing.GARRICK, if in town
when that great actor performed ; .and he often
came from Oxford on purpose to see him act. He
devoted part. of the year to the duties of his calling,
and the 'rest he gave Up the social and rational
enjoyments of the 'metropolis, generally fixing his
bead-quarters. at the Oxford Coffee-house. Theie
was a rough kind•of dignity in his person, and his
character corresponded with his appearance; but
though he w:O5 open and manly, • he,always appeared
the scholar and the gentleman. The.. loss of such
a man; will, be deeply felt, by,a very widecircle.of
friends, consisting of the most dignifi.ed members
of the Church, and men of the highest rank in, the
State.;

. ROYAL ACADEMY. —The President, and a consi-
derable nupber idt he Mernbers ,of this Institution,
dined together on Wednesday last, in their Council
Chamber, at. Somerset House, in order to celeirate
the anniversary ot his .I.NlAJzs•rv's accession to the'
Throne.. After dinner the President .delivered• an
address to ihe company, in., which•he pia due ho-'
triage to the.eharatter of his MAJESTY, and part)...
cUlarly dwelt on the obligations 'whioat'the Arts of
this country, had derived from the Institution of
which, they ,'were members. He observed, that
other Al(tatchs ot this country had shewn a zeal
for 'the Arts, but their patrooege had been devoted
to foreigin artists ;.but that his MAJESTY had founded'
a 13ritisb2School, and had been chiefly. zealous to
foster ‘native.talents. The address was throughout
appropriate and impressive, and was received with
great applsuse by the company, -who passed the
day in festivity.
The last three weeks of fine weather has made
considerable alteration in the prices-Of corn; particu-
larly of barley and oats. TII4 Ifitter,are _allowed :to
average a great crop, and in general are won Liar-
vested. •