The Sun.
London, England, 1817-02-26 00:00:00

THE THEATRE.

COVEN T-GARDEN,—.-We annex the account given
by a Morning Paper of the occorreoces at this
Theatre last night, corrected in a few points from
our own observation. As the Pohlic takes so
warm an interest iu this dispute, .we may be ex-
cused a few 'remarks, especially as they. willrierye
to vary the theme front polities, to which our co-
lumns are at present necessarily so mud, devoted.

lietween the Themes we do not wish to hold a
balance, being inclined in tl►is utfair to say witl►
Ale.reutio—

" A ph►gnu on.buth you►` 11,puief."

That Drury-Lane snapped up an Actor of its
Competitor before he was loose (according to
their mutual understanding) is evidettt ;--that
Covent-Garden revenged itself by re-seducing
this Actor is equally elar that this very
young man (not 20 ,years of age), elated by
success, distracted by a contest for himself, who
was not value,' at a pin's fee ouly,a few clays be-
fore, and driven One way, and pulled another, did
proceed without discretion and lacking candour, is,
we confess, ukt, undeniable. But surely his hav-
ing set the two !louses by the ears could not war-
rant the public interference, or jusiify the rigour
with which he was treated last night. We dill not
want ,their contest, but the contest of the more
ancient [louses of Yolk and Lincaster, which
there is no sound reason that .the foe tiler should

interrupt.
The gravamen of Mr. BOOTH'S Offence how-
ever, quoted the Public, is, that he did not per-
,form h Drury-Lane on Saturday night, 'and this
is in fact all the crime for which he is fairly
responsible.. Ills apology is held by man/ to be
insufficient, and is probably exactly like u hat most
theatrical excuses are on similar trespasses (of
which we have seen numerous instancet), neither
very ingenuous nor quite correct. But, inthe name
of humanity, is this a sin which cut) only be ex-
piated by driving thiri youth from his profession,
and dooming him to watt and wretchedness, in-
stead of the respectable independence within his
grasp ? Is not tae punishment out of all propor-,
Lion to the crime—severe beyond example in dra-
matic- history—a cruel perseeution instead of a-
light penance We were really surprized at the
asperity and fierce abhorrence manifested by the
opposers of Mr. Bowl stentecUns if lie bad
committed some hot rid milder, and that nutliiug
bat his blood could appease their thirst sd ven-
geance.. The dignus viudice nodus was lamentably
wanting, and five minutes hissing would have
been more " German to the business ! !" The
party mist marked in their clamours were joined
by whets, out of pure love of mischief, and 'for-
-'-getful that the prospects of a fellow-creature
were blasted by such unforgiving barbarity. •

" Parmi lea Loops on apprvoil it boiler,"

says the French proverb, and it was verified last
night, foy " among the Wolves many learnt to
howl'' destruction to poor *flown'. But we trust
there will be no more of this, and that one so
green in years, and so honourAly aspiring to the
highest rank in: his profession, having kissed the
rod and been made sufficiently to feel his fault,
will be not only forgh en by a Rnerons and liberal
Public, but kindly taken into favour and cheered
in his arduous career

We mentioned in our Paper of yesr erdrty the fact
of the Managers a Covent-gardeu Theatre having'
been positively assured that a Society called Tbe
!Vulva" had resolved to attend the Thetitre, for'