The Sun.
London, England, 1838-07-02 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Another of those disgraceful scenes which are so foreign to
the usual habits of this theatre took place on Saturday night.
We trust that some means will be discovered to prevent the
recurrence of similar disorders, for it is clear if they be often
repeated that the character of the Italian Opera mest be se-
riously compromised. Where the fault lies it is difficult to
determine, but we believe that the evil arises from several
causes, among which the most prominent arc the competition
of subscribers and booksellors' tickets in the pit with those
which are admitted for money on the night of performance,
and the lessening of the usual accommodation in that part of
the house by the addition this year of three benches to the
stalls. With regard to the first, as long as the present consti-
tution of the house exists no remc dy can be applied. But the
other should next year be corrected by a radical cure. Either of
two things must be done—the whole of the twena must be con-
verteti into stalls, or the stalls must be restored to the pit.
It is idle on these occasions to throw the blame on M. La-
porte. We cannot see how he is accountable. I-Ic pays an
enormous rent, and salaries of an incredible amount to all the
prir.cipal artists of Euroite in the opera and ballet. He bas
been compelled, in his own defelice, to convert a portion of
the benches into stalls, for otherwise every seat would be oc-
cupied by the extra tickets of the boxes, and on the nights of
the greatest excitement the money of the public would go into
any other hands but his. Tice evil can be tram din the first
instance to the exorbitant terms imposed by the assignees, and
then to the causes we have already mentioned. We hope that
something may be done before the next seaaon, for really the
manger in which the property of the first theatre in the world
is managed is disgraceful to the country. What can the dis-
tinguished strangers now in London think of our state of civi-
lisation, when we see the theatre of her Nlnjesiy made the
scene of riot more disgraceful than any twat has occurred at
Hyde Park fair? From the prices of admission they infer that
none but respectable persons can he found in the house, but
from the conduct of the audience they believe that our gentry
have the manners of the canaille of other capitals.
The doors were opened on Saturday night at the usual
hour. The first rush was tremendous, and the pit was filled
in the course of a few mitutes. The people who gained the
first seats, finding they were pressed in from behind, jumped
over the barrier, and took possession of the stalls. This
relief deceived those who were eager for admission, and an
equal number to that which was absirbed by the stalls was
admitted to the pit. In the meantime the subscribers to the
stalls demanded their places, but the well-dressed mob
refused to give- them up until threats of the police were
heard, and a compromise ol* admission on the stage offered.
Them causes induced the refractory to submit, and some
hundred persons found their tvay behind the scenes. But
here a mote serious evil was made manifest the moment the
curtain was raised; The crowd refused to withdraw beyond
the wings, and, in defetuce of all order, filled up the
a hole extent of the stage. The body of the house be-
came indignant at this outrage, and a volley of cries and
Kisses broke from the stalls, pit, and gallery. A regular tat-
tle was about to take place between the intruders and the
audience, when L. Laporte came forward and explained the
cause of his difficulty, and offered at the sante time to return
money to all who would leave the theatre. The manager was
assailed by the grossest language. The people cried out that
they came to see the opera, aid did nut want their money
back. M. Laporte withdrew, but the tumult still continued
both in front and oe the stage, and it was nine o'clock before
the performance could he commenced. Finding all his efforts
to restrain the noisy multitude unavailable, the manager re-
sorted to an artifice, which was successful. Ile let down
the curtain, and dropped the most remote scene, as if the
Opera was to begin with it. The people backed as much
as possible, so as to secure safe places during the pert*.irlll-
- and the chamber scene, which commoners the Nozzi
di Figaro, was • let down, catching he discontented in a
trap between both scenes. The Opera then proceeded with
• as much rapidity as the di, ided state of the scenes would per-
mit. Some of the crowd agreed to take back their money
and withdraw, while others laid ;,old of choirs and benches,
on which they stood at the wings and overloo!led the perfor-
mance The singers were in de :pair. It was impossible with.
the greatest difficulty to make 'Nay through the throne. of
persona who blocked up every scrim.
The audiencepen-
deavoured to drive back the crowd by hissing' and vocifera-
tion, but the greater number could not be kept within bounds,
and the black hats and black coats mingled with the Spanish
coatumes of the opera. It was a pity that such unpleasant cir
curn-tances occurei to de-troy the beauty and brig envy of
t e house, for the boxes on Saturday eveninw catitainel
perhaps the most distinguished that was collected in thou since
the visit of the Allied Sovereigns in I Pl 4. Every stranger
of eminence shining in order and radiant with diamonds was
present, and the English Nobility vied by the display of all
their magnificence with their illustrious guests: The Queen
was trot present, but the R .yal box was occupied by a part of
her usual retinue. The Elslers danced a pas de deux, and
Taglioni gave one of her best scenes from the Bayaiere.
The opera and ballet did not terminate till near one o'clock.

TII E QUEEN.—On Saturday afternoon, the crowd
of respec'alde persons asFentbl:d in St. James's Park to witness the
departure of her Majesty from Buckingham Palace, far her .accu,tomed
ivc, was great heyend all precedent. At a quarter past five o'clock
her Majesty entered her open barouchc, accompanied by her illustrious
mother, the Duchess of Kent, and Baroness Lehzen, and, preceded by
two outriders, proceeded through the stable.yard, up Regent-street and
the other principal streets, and returnt d through Hyde Park to the
Palace about scren o'clock. The Queen locked, we rejoice to say, re-
markably well, and was receiv,d by the assemblage with the most en.
thusiastic demonstrations cf attachment. tier Majesty was dressed in
white, and wore a white chip hat„ . Colonel Caveniiish accompanied
the royal carriage on horseback.
Dr. Wardlaw, of Glasgow, has accepted a formal
invitation from the " Three Denominations," London, to deliver a
course of lectures in the ensuing spring, on the " Voluntary- Question."
_ _

During Mr. Bnlieley s necessary absence. from Par-
liament, both his brothers, the Hon. Grauttcy and Craven Pc; keley
have kindly volunteered to do every thing in their power to supply his
place with the Bristol Constitum..y, in whose behalf Mr. Betkeley's
attentions have, on every occasion in which ha has beenapplied to;
been most ready and unceasing,—Bridol Mercury.