The Sun.
London, England, 1848-06-15 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

A similar scene to that which took place on
Monday was repeated last night, with increased in-
tensity. The English party seemed determined to
carry out their intentions vigorously and consist-
ently, and, as we consider their cause a good one, it
has our hearty wishes for its success. The pity is
that, while contesting for victory, they are bringing
money to the treasury, which otherwise would
most assured!, never have reached it. But one of
our national characterestics is not to regard outlay
when a moral good is to be achieved. The system.
adopted last night by the direction to force these per-
formances down the throats of the public is most re-
prehensible, the pit being packed before the doors
were opened with a herd of Frenchmen, who,
to judge from their appearances, seemed to
be
the vilest scum that ever congregated at the lowest
cabaret of the French Republic. By a singular ac-
cident we were admitted amongst the "foreign
affairs," and we are therefore enabled to state the
matter as an eye-witness. When the doors were
opened to the public, would it be believed that an,
effort was made by the incumbents to prevent the
legitimates from taking certain vacant seats; but this
modest endeavour was properly resisted by a cry of
"No places taken in the pit !" some of the most
earnest shouted " Britons, be bricks I" and " Britons,
support the British drama !" and various other patri-
otic cries. Then came the National Anthem, sang
capitally by a majority of the audience. All then
was hushed in grim silence; but the lull was threat..
ening in its aspect, and foretold the coming storm ;
and no sooner did the curtain rise, than one
burst of indignation was yelled forth, sufficient to
fright the isle from its propriety. Up stood the
Gallic cocks, and crowed with might and main, and
shook their dingy wings, but the roaring of the
British lion and his determined front were not thus
to be put down. The'euse of the French party was
to call for the police, and then to rush in overwhelm-
ing numbers upon the offending parties. This, for a
time, answered, but upon repetition failed. Now, as
the question of tolerating a second French company
at the Theatre Royal Drury-lane is entirely Eng.
lish, the brutal interference of these Frenchmen
should at once and for ever be stopped. Foreign ar-
tists of every nation have been received with libe-
rality and generosity by the people of England,
and that the expression of their will should be inter-
fered with by a horde of hired foreigners, marshalled
expressly for the purpose, should be resented in a
manner that should convince them that if they are
suffered to dwell here, and gain that subsistence
which their native country refuses to them, they
should be modest and peaceable, and not grossly
thrust their feelings and their peculiar likings upon
the people who willingly afford them a shelter and a
home. The English public have no personal pre-
judices against the troupe of the Theatre Historique,
but to the occupancy of our great national theatre
by a second French company. No voice has been
ever raised against Mr. Mitchell's admirably con-
ducted theatre—it has existed, we cannot say
flourished, for some years, and has been honoured

by the continued presence of the Queen and most of
the leading families of our aristocracy, a portion of
which countenance, had it been bestowed on
English authors and actors, our national theatres
would not have become the refuge of Italian singers
and French speculators. They manage these things
differently in France. Upon the last attempt made
by Mr. Mitchell to establish for a brief period an
English company in Paris, the theatre occupied by.
the Italians was let to him for twelve nights. Be it
understood the theatre was not devoted to French

performances, and yet, upon his application for
a renewal Of the term, not only was an op-
position raised by M. Verron, the director of
the Academie Royale, upon the grounds that his
theatre enjoyed a subvention from the Goveria-
ment, with the proviso that the " Italiens" were

only empowered to perform three nights a week,
and on the alternate Sabbaths, and that the
letting of the theatre on the open nights was a viola-
tion of the Government monopoly, but an action for
damages was commenced against M. Vattel and Mr.
Mitchell, for losses said to have been incurred by the
performances of the English troupe. But the English
actors were permitted to perform for onenight at the
Opera Comique, for the benefit of the distressed
widows and orphans of French authors. When, some
years since, Mr. Penley attempted to establish a
small English troupe in Paris, the actors were pelted
off the stage with sous and other missiles, and for
these courtesies we owe them so much gratitude.
The riots at Drury-lane should be stopped at once,
and the most effectual method of accomplishing this
desired end is for the Lord Chamberlain to withdraw
his license.

HAYMARKET THEATRE.—The comedy of Morey
was revived last night at this theatre, in which Mr. and
,Mrs. Charles Kean played with their accustomed ability.
The house was well attended, and these populist' artists
were loudly applauded. In other respects the comedy
is very strongly cast.
LYCEUM THEATRE.—Gay's Beggar's Opera for
which Mr. W. Harrison has been engaged is announced
for representation here this evening. From the very
effective cast we have no doubt the admirers of old
English opera will experience a rich treat, and that the
opera itself will prove highly attractive.
CHARTIST PROCEEDINGS AT LOUGHEOROUGH.A.
visit having been promised by Mr. F. O'Connor to the
Chartists of this town, to take place yesterday, the
magistrates issued a notice, setting forth the illegality of
large meetings being held in the open air, and took
precautions to prevent the occurrence of a riot by calling
out special constables, the police force, the Yeomanry
Cavalry, and a division of the Royal Irish Dragoons.
A carriage drawn by a pair of grays awaited the arrival
of Mr. O'Connor from Sheffield by the train, and bun-
dreds of persons were on the spot to receive him. On
seeing the dragoons, he expressed his surprise, and on
being informed of the cause of their presence, he said,
had be known it he should have gone direct on to Lon-
don. Mr. O'Connor then had an interview with the
magistrates in a private room. In a quarter of an hour
he mounted an elevated spot in the railway yard, and
addressed those assembled around, recommending peace-
able behaviour, and affirming the sufficiency of moral
power to obtain for the working classes all they wanted.
Mr. O'Connor then withdrew, and took the next train
for London, and the people dispersed quietly.
THE POISONING AT A PUBLIC DINNER AT NORTH-
AMPTON.— NORTHAMPTON, Wednesday.—The inquiry
which had been opened before the County Coroner (Mr.
Hicks) respecting the death of Mr. Wm. Cornfield, an
accountant, who, with twenty others, was poisoned at a
public dinner, given here on Wednesday last, was con-
cluded at a late hour last night, at the Guildhall. From
the evidence it appeared deceased had partaken freely
of some blanc-mange, coloured with emerald green—
form of arsenic—a large quantity of which poison was
found in his stomach after death. Verdict, " Man-
slaughter against Edward Franklin end Edward Ran-
dall," who bad prepared the blanc-manse.