Star.
London, England, 1830-04-21 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE..

An attempt was last night made to perform the opora
of Guy Mannering ; but it was rendered in a great de-
gree abortive in consequence of the recent dispute be-
tween Madame Vestris and Mr. Anderson, the new can-
didate for vocal honours. The friends of the belligerent

parties mustered in considerable numbers on this occasion ;
and their noisy zeal in behalf of their respective favourite
completely marred the enjoyment of thane who paid their
money in the hope of bearing some pleasing music, and
who cared not one straw about " Tweedle-dum" or Twee-
dle-dee" in their individual capacity. At the conc:usion
of the duet which introduces Henry Bertram (the cha-
racter sustained by Mr. Anderson) to the scene, the
greatest confusion prevailed. Cries of " Off ! off !"
" Encore," hisses, and every species of noise, brought
the performance to a stand-still. At length Mr. Ander-
son, who, throughout the evening, evinced a great deal of
nerve and presence of mind, in his embarrassing situation,
stood forward and said, " Ladies and Gentlemen, if your
disapprobation arises from any thing which you have read
in the public prints, I can truly affirm, that what Madame
Vestris or her friends have said is utterly without founda-
tion." This attack on the veracity of Madame Vestris pro-
duced an indescribable commotion. One party was loudly
vociferating, " An apology ! " while another, who believed
that Mr. Anderson had merely stated the fact, shook the
roof with shouts of" Bravo !" In the midatof the turmoil,

Madame Vestris advanced to the foot-lights, evidently
with the intention of addressing the audience, but although
her friends, and particularly one " hoary-headed swain,"
with Stentorian lungs, shouted lustily " Hear Madame
Vestris," that object could not be effected. The cries of
" Let Madame Vestris speak" being still continued,
Mr. Wallack felt it necessary, as stage-manager, to make
his appearance. He, however, could not for some time
obtain silence. The eloquence of Madame Vestris ap-
peared to be in extraordinary request, and the cry was,
" We don't want to hear you, Mr. Wallack, we wish to
hear Madame Vestris." With much difficulty Mr. Wallack
was enabled to procure silence, when he observed, in effect,
" that as the matter in question, out of which the present
disturbance arose, must very speedily be decided by legal
authority, it would certainly be better if the friends of
the parties would not, in that place, exhibit their feelings."
(Loud plaudits, accompanied by marks of disapprobation
equally loud.) Mr. Wallack proceeded to say, " that the
audience ought in justice to suspend their opinion until
a legal investigation of the circumstances had taken
place." (Shouts of" No, no !" and" Yes, yes!") In
the midst of the tempest Mr. Wallack approached Ma-
dame Vestris, and having conversed witii her for a moment
he thus addressed the audience—" The lady herself says,
that she trusts you will not make this a place for deciding
a question which must undergo judicial investigation."
(A general shout of " bravo !" one facetious gentleman
caUed out, " Why don't they make it up now ? Can't
they kiss and be friends ?" which interrogatories ex-
cited much laughter.) Madame Vestris here left the
stage, apparently en colere ; but was shortly afterwards
led on by Mr. Wallack. The uproar still continuing, Mr.
Wallack came forward and observed, that the situation of
Mad. Vestria was new to one who had always been a pub-
lic favourite, and who had constantly endeavoured by every
exertion in her power, to merit the favour which she had
so long enjoyed. He entreated the audience to suffer
the performance to proceed in silence. The noise still con-
tinuing, Mad. Vestris advanced " like Niobe, all tears,"
and having calmed the anger of the opposing factions,
she said,—" With respect to Mr. Anderson, if I had not
every proof of his conduct, I would not have taken the
steps which I have felt it to be my duty to adopt. I am well
convinced that he hired persons to drive me from the stage.
(Cries of No, no,' and true, true.') If, ladies and
gentlemen, he can clear himself from the stigma of
having thus behaved, no person will be more rejoiced at
it than myself. (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen,
I hope that, for your amusement, you will suffer us to
finish the opera." (Bravo, bravo.) The opera then pro-
ceeded, but, during the whole evening, the feelings of the
respective parties were loudly expressed. Towards the end
of the first scene of the second act, Madame Vestris made
her exit rather abruptly, saying—as we caught her words,
"If you insult me, I must leave the stage." What Mr.
Anderson had said or done, we know not ; but the
expression was followed by redoubled marks of dis-
approbation towards the new performer. In the third act,
Madame Vestris was very much interrupted ; and she at
length appealed to the audience. She requested to know
what she had done to offend them ; for her own part,
she was unconscious of having deserved their displea-
sure. This ended the speechification of the evening.
Had the opera been allowed to proceed quietly, it would,
we think, have given great satisfaction. Miss Stephens
sang delightfullyes-Madame Vestris with grace and
skill—and Mr. Anderson displayed capabilities of voice,
which, if sedulously cultivated, will place him among the
most popular vocalists of the day. Touching this quar-
rel between Mad. Vestris and Mr. Anderson, we have one
remark to make. It was asserted at Bow-street, that when
on Tuesday week, Mad. Vestris appeared as CaptainMac-
heath, she was assailed by a party hired for that purpose,
with hisens, cries of " off, off," " no ladies in small
clothes," &c. Now the writer of this critique was pre-
sent throughout the whole of the performance of the
Beggar's Opera on that evening, and can positively as-
sert that he heard no cries of the kind. Frcm fitit to
last, Madame Vestris was received with applause. Those,
therefore, who, it is alleged, were employed to annoy
Madame Vestris, must have been guilty of what in the
prize-ring is denominated " a cross," and taken the
course exactly opposite to that which they had under-
taken to pursue. Should the trial for conspiracy take
phice, it is said that some curious disclosures will inevi-
/• tably be made.
to

An individual of respectable connections, and known
to the dealers who frequent the Southampton and neigh-
bouring markets, is in custody, charged with having sto-
len 25 sheep from Humley-park, the seat of Sir Win.
Heathcote, one of the county Members.
A LAPLAND WZDDING.—It is death in Lapland to
marry a maid without her parents' or friends' consent ;
therefore, if one bear affection to a young maid, upon
breaking thereof to her friends, the fashion is that
a day is appointed for their friends to meet to be-
hold the two young parties run a race together.
The maid is allowed in starting the advantage of a
third part in the race, so that it is impossible, ex-
cept she will of herself, that she should be overtaken. If
the maid overrun her suitor, the matter is ended ; he must
never have her, it being penal for the man to renew the
offer of marriage. But if the virgin bath affection for him,
though at first running hard to try the truth of his love,
she will (without Atalanta's golden balls to retard ber
speed) pretend some casualty, and a voluntary halt; be.
fore she cometbto make an end of the race. Thus no are
compelled to marry against their own wills ; and this is
the cause that in this poor country the marritul pia* are
richer in their own contentment than in other
where so many forced matches make feigned love, and
I oam real unhappiness.