The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-02 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL COVENT
GARDEN.,

Madame Vestris elosedher season and her management at this
theatre on Saturday night. when, whatever disappointments she
may have previously experienced, the public exhibited their
avpreciation of her abilities by filling her house to overflowing.
The performances consisted of La Sonnambuia, Charles
Mathews's farce of Patter v. Clatter, and the Easter extra-
vaganza of The White Cat. After the second niece
Charles Mathews came forward and delivered the following
" Farewell Address":—

"Ladies and Gentlemen—No seasons, excepting' Thomson's
Seasons,' are endowed with immortality; and ours, having run
the undeviating course marked eut for it on the railroad of
Time, has arrived at its terminus. Following the railroad
metaphor, may I venture to appeal to you for a certificate, under
your hands, that the general line we have adopted has met with
your approbation—(Loud applause)—that the engine has worked
well—that the seats have been comfortable—(Hear)—the en-
tertainment satisfactory—the fares moderate—and the con-
ductors civil and attentive.—(Renewed cheering. )
" But let us leave the railroad, and return to the stage.—
(Hear, hear.) I mean the' old, original Covent-garden stage
—that stag', which we took with a view to running constantly
from Covent-garden to the Bank.—( Applause. ) My partner
and I have been its Directors for. three years, during which
time we have endeavoured, at much personal and pecuniary
sacrifice, to sow the seeds of that solid prosperity which we
hoped would, one day, manifest itself in permanent satisfaction
to you, and in a golden harvest to ourselves ; but, alas ! for
' the mutability of human affairs !' our first season was
merely sowing—our second little more than hoeing ; and
though the third has been growing, we must leave to other hands
he fourth, which might have been our mowing.—( Cheers.)
Why we have felt it our duty to quit these
.premises, I will
not intrude upon you to explain. Suffice it to say, that in
quitting them, we leave not only our business, but our good-
will, to our successor—( Applause)—and if, Ladies and Gentle-
men, that successor should prove to be a gentleman—the ad-
mired representative of that thrice-honoured theatrical family—
(Cheers)another gifted daughter of whose gifted house it is
our pride to have brought so triumphantly under your notice—
( Renewed approbatien)—in that case, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I can only say, that as far as one manager can 'forgive another'
—(Laughter)—it will afford us much consolation should the
change prove to be for his and your gain.—(Cheering.)
" For Mrs. Mathews and myself, Ladies and Gentlemen, I
beg most unaffectedly to return you our humble and cordial
thanks, for the unvarying kindness you have shown us. Both
as actors and as managers we are deeply beholden to you ; and
hereafter, whether as actors or managers—whether here or
elsewhere—we trust that a proper sense of that kindness will
be present, to animate and to sustain our best exertions for
your amusement.--( Hear, hear. )
Ladies and Gentlemen, in the joint names of ourselves and
the performers, I most respectfully bid you farewell."