The Sun.
London, England, 1818-12-11 00:00:00

DHSS

`. In consequence of the reports in this and other
Papers, that Miss Kiit,Ly was engaged at Co-
vent-Garden Theatre, and to make her first ap-
pearance there in Mr. KENNY'S new Comedy, she
has been induced to submit the following Letter
to the Public It was addressed to a private
friend, who, RA:UN; the hardship and injustice of
tile case, has very properly conveyed it to the
Public Prints:—

" -Elenrietta-street, Covent-garden, Dec. 9, 1818.

, " DEAR $lll,---1 am much obliged by the.opportu aity which
your kindness affords me of contradicting, in the proper way,
the report Whicka few days ago required no contradiction.—
My engagement at Covent-garden Theatre was Aced and
settled, excepting as related to the consent of the Sub-Com-
mittee of Drury-lane Theatre, which I find Mr. Harris
deemed it necessary to obtain, , in consequence of a certain
compact between the, two Theatres, by Which each is bound
not to engage any performer who has belonged (within twelve
months) to the rival Theatre! The Sub7Committee, who
have not chosen to retain my services in Drury-Jane Theatre,
have thought it ,proper, and just,
,to refuse their
.consent;
being resolved that, as they do not want my services them-
selves, they shall not be employed in any other Theatre to
which their influence can reach ! By this act of the Sub-
Committee I ant deprived of a liberal, and in every respect
advantageous, engagement at Covent-garden : and for aught
they know to the contrary, may be exposed, together witlrall
those dependent on my exertions, to want the common ne-
cessaries of life ! So much fdr their merciless compact.

" I am, dear Sir, your obliged Servant,
" F. M. KELLY."

\Ve.have often expressed our regret that Actors
and Actresses should be so much at the mercy of
Managers. The Theatrical Profession is sal.
cieotly exposed to the caprice of the Public, and
the fluctuations of Fashion, and therefore its
condition is lamentable indeed, if the interests,
partialities, and vindictive feelings of Managers are
to be added to the other dangers which attend the
Theatrical Calling. qow easy is it for a Mana-
ger, if he wants to get rid of an Actor of real
merit, in order to make room for one mereiy re.
commended by novelty, or from some 'unworthy
motive, to outrage time pride of the tormer, and
disgust him into resignation? Perhaps the Ac-
tor has established himself in London, as he
hopes for life, and has formed numerous connee-
tioos, who, by their annual support at his nenefit,
enable hint to maintain' his family comfortably
through the year, and to provide for declining life.
Before he can
,be induced to relinquish such a
situation, and expose himself to a wandering un-
settled state, with pecuniary means far below
what he received in the Metropolis, he ,may be
obliged to endure many painful mortifications,, and
at last,perhaps,resigns his situation rattier than sub-
mit any longer to caprice, insolence, and oppression.
It may be said that Managers are also exposed to
the caprice and insolence of popular Performers,
who, knowing their influence upon the Public,
may demand an increase of salary, or require pri-
vileges inconsistent with the usages and interest
of the Theatre; refuse characters allotted to them,
and insist on representing some, better suited to.
other Performers; and in fact assume such an over-
bearing tyranny as the Managers cannot resist
without risking the loss of a Performer who may
be the chief attraction. Such cases have occurred,
and may occur again!!! lx is well known that the
caprice and insolence of two Actresses, who ere
unrivalled in their day, induced GARRICK to think
of retiring many years before the Public were de-
prived of,his wonderful powers. But the case is
greatly in favour of the Managers, tor, as Paten-
tees, they hold the power in their own hands, and
may preclude an Actor who quits one Theatre in
the Metropolis from engaging at another till the
expiration of full twelve months, unless with the
consent of the Manager of the rival Theatre.
And who can tell what novelties may start up in
the mean time, and whether, at the end of that
period, the rival Manager will engage the Actor
who has resigned his. former situation ? Flow,
then, is the Actor to support himself and his fa-
mily
,in time mean time, and with such an uncer-
taiu prospect before hint ? Besides, the decision
in„MACKLIN'S memorable case has put an end to
that Tribunal which was called 'lire Tows ; for
any attempt on the part of the Public to procure
redress and restoration to a discarded Actor, or
one aho has Leen the voluntary victim of his
wounded feelings, and a sense of what is due to
a laudable pride, would expose those who advo-
cated his cause in the Theatre to legal punish::
meat. We have said that an Actor who is dis-
charged from one London Theatre cannot be en-
gaged by time rival Managers without the,consent
of his former Governor, as he is styled in the Pa-
tent, till the expiration of a year. But this clause
can only be obligatory when the respective Ma-
nagers are upon hostile terms, and therefore it
does not apply to the case of Miss' KELLY, for
the Managers are DOW upon harmonious terms,
and do not act upon the restriction specified in
their Patents, but on a compact between them-
selves. This is not only a cruel injustice to the
meritorious individual in question, but to the
Public also, .with whom she is a most meritorious,
favourite, and to whose gratification she is full as,
able to contribute, without entering into
dious comparisons, as any Actor or Actress who
may bask in the sunshine of Managerial Partiat-
lity, or the fleeting favour of a capricious multi-
tude.

FOR THE SUN.

BIBLICAL ERRORS.

MR. tniTolt,---It is due to SCIILITATott on this
subject to sae, that I did n, I write the word Mi-
st/an in my Letter, of which he has Made, seek
honourable mention ft WAS the word otiSCURB,
and-the•mistake is whit tlp Printer. '1.;)• other
part of his Essay led the to exp-e' that be would
discuss the merits-of a Translator with that irtge-
nnity, freedom, and fairness, which would shield
Mr. I3ELLAMY from the rude and interested at-
tacks of his opponents ; hut as -he looks on a
moral philosopher, which I profess to he, as an
infidel, and joins me in his observations with this
Gentleman, I receive it as a compliment, however
he may mean the -contrary ; and if he will divest
himself of all fettering prejudices. as a candid
searcher after truth in its hidden recesses, I shall
read him with pleasure, not doubting that, he will
find it. Until then, and while in the uncalled-for
assertion of his own faith, he thinks lightly of Mr.
BELLAMY'S and mine, though be knows nothing
of it, I can have no wish to contend with him.
I have not fotind fault with the worthy and intel-
ligent Editor of a well-conducted. Review I have
only pitied the strictures of. Mr. BELLAMY'S Critic.
I have spoken of criticism, good and bad, accord-
ing to the measure of my own judgment and ex-
perience ;- but I-shall never sanction errors, con-
tradictions, or immodest words, as sacred, nor
hold them above reproof, because they do not re-
late to any man's faith ; a reason a fortiori why
they ought to be expunged. My meanioc: is
sound, "and I never attempt to shake the belief of
any one, let it be what it may.
'The question is not whether I, Mr. BELLAMY,
or his Critic, be perfect Masters of Hebrew; but
whether- the new Translation he not closer to the
original than the old? 1 believe it is ; and who-
ever will read Mr. BELLAIEY's mild reply I further
believe wil say the same. lam, Sir,

Your most humble Servant,
• STACKHOUSE.

FOR THE SUN.

LEGITIMACY.

EDITOR,-4 is a question of some cario-
sity, why the furious Jacobinical Rabble, who
are, in tact, enemies to all Government, should
idolize BUONAPARTE, than whom a more absolute
and unfeeling Despot never existed. This para-
dox admits .of only one solution. BUONAPARTE
confirmed and • completed (as it seemed) the ex-
clusion of an ancient HEREDITARY Monarchy; and
this one merit, in their eyes, overbalanced all other
faults. It is only necessary to observe the per-
petual sneers of The Morning Chronicle against
Legitimacy, to'understand the nature of this feel-
ing. The regular succession of an Hereditary
Monarchy, which they choose to stigmatize by the
'foolishly invented term Legitimacy, is the contri-
vance of the best wisdom of mankind to preclude
the agitations attendant upon any sort of uncer-
tainty in succession. Legitimacy, as it affects the
succession to real estates, which is the widest:
circle of its !.)peration, does not excite their en-
mity ; but that when one Sovereign departs, a
regular successor should be ready, without leav-
ing an opening for the intrusion of any daring ad-
venturer, this galls, this maddens them. &to-
NAPAUTE, therefore, who seized the sovervign
power by force of arms, and held it by might, in
defiance of right—he is their idol. For, by the
same rule, Sir FRANCIS BURDETT or Mr. Hon-
ROUSE might come to be Kings of England. 'rids
is the trot interpretation of the sneers against
Legitimacy. The Editor himself may not be with-
out hope that, it Legitimacy were set aside, he,
might become, if trot King, at least Prime Minis-
ter, or something, much more glorious than the
Editor of a Paper which is a never-ceasing vilifier
of the Country that supports. it.
What pretension has Mr. HOBHOU9E to the fa-
vour of the People of Westminster ? None but
the merit of being the determined favourer and
panegytist of BUONAPARTE ; that great anti-legi-
timate Hero; whose usurpation, if it could be con-.
firmed, would invalidate every existing claim to any
Throne. Yes, that very Book, the mere mention.
of which ought to cover Mr. Hoonouss with
shame,
.and rouse every honest ei•izen of West-
minster to oppose him, is the plea on which he
rises to celebrity ; it is the service which Sir F.
BURDETT rewards with the present of a thousands
pounds ! !-Pao LE .OF WESTMINSTER ! if you
have any regard for your own dignity, be not
bullied by a Jacobin Faction, who give thousands
openly to prevent bribery ; who cover honest men
with dirt to preserve purity of election ; and put
them in fear of their lives when exerting their
lawful privilege, to preserve their freedom and in-
dependence. Terror, however, is the grand engine
of despotism ; and they who endeavour to ovens.
awe rue by terror, certainly have no desire to pre-
serve my freedom.

ANGLICANUS.

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.

.CAMBRIDGE, Dec. 10.—The Address of Con•
dolence, voted ,by the Senate to the Prince Re-
gent; on the death of the Queen,—(see the Lon•
don Gazette)—was presented by the Vice-Chan-
cellor on Friday last, and was most graciously re-
ceived by his Royal Highness, in his clo.tet at
Carlton House.

The sermon at St. Mary's church last Sunday
morning, on the death of the Queen, was preach-
ed by the Lord Bishop orLandatf, from the fol-
lowing text :—Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep.
James iv. 9.—The Dead March in Saul and a fttm
neral anthem were-performed, previous to the
sermon. In the evening, funeral anthems were
introduced in the service at King's land Trinity.
College Chapels, on the solemn occasion.
The subject of the English Poem for the
Chancellor's Gold Medal for the present year
Pompeii.
On Friday last the Rev. WilliQm Williams,
of Queen's College, was admitted Bachelor ja
Divinity ; John Primatt Maud, of Cab's College,
Master of Arts ; and William Henry Harvey, of
Jesus College, Bachelor in Civil Law.

Mr. Edward Wilkins, of King's College, was
on Tuesday last admit•teol a Fellow of that Society.
The orgin at Trinity Chapel was re-opened on
Saturday evening, having undergone various re-
pairs and improvements, among which is the ad-
dition of four drums and some other stops.