Star.
London, England, 1830-10-29 00:00:00

THEIR MAJESTIES' VISIT TO DRURY-LANE THEATIO

Their Majesties last night honoured this Theatre with the:r
saw' for the first time since their accession to the throne. Many year
have elapsed since the British public had an opportunity of witut•ait.„
so gratifying a spectacle as that of a King and Queen of England
familiarly with their subjects, entering into their amusements, and ,HZ
playing before them that unity of feeling and reciprocity of efr,...dcm.
which must, and ought, in a very great degree, to give the tone at ece
to polished and fashionable society, as to that which moves in a less a.
shed sphere. Many circumstances, some of them adventitious, otl 0,
emanating purely from himself, conspire to render William IV. a ',opt:a,
and a beloved monarch. Under the former head we place his proiesnot
under the latter, his domestic habits, his unassuming, though not cr.
dignified demeanour, and the strong desire which he has mani.e.,4
to see, and to be seen by, his people. His reception on this 0e,,, ;
abundantly proved that the plain and straightforward course *hie!,
has pursued since his assumption of kingly power, has earned for hi.,
golden opinions from all sorts of people." It is an honest poptdarity,
and he may well be proud of it. The announcement of the intention
their Majesties to visit the theatre was hailed with pleasure by no.
clam of society. Early in the evening, long, very long, before the ti;
arrived for opening the doors, crowds of people began to assemble. T;
a hole of the boxes had been taken many days previously ; aud, els
at length the doors were thrown open, the multitude assembled aeo
them would have filled half a dosen theatres. The crush, as is ahr.e.
the case, was tremendous, but no accident occurred. Shortly before ;
o'clock ice Royal cavalcade arrived at the entrance to the pie:
boxes in Little Russell street, where a temporary awning, .
Nati:sated by lamps, had been erected. Their Majesties w,•
received by Captain Polhill, M.P. (who on Tuesday was pre.
aented at his Majesty's levee), Mr. A. Lee, Mr. Wank, .t
stage-manager, and Mr. Bucke, the box-bookkeeper. who appear, ;
in full Court dresses, and conducted their Majesties to the Royal
(the first proscenium box on the right side of the stage), which they et.
tend precisely at 7 o'clock. Prince George of Cumberland stood at tt.:
left hand of the Queen, and Prince George of l;ambridge on the •
hand of the King. The King wore the full dress of an Admiral, an.
looked exceedingly well. The Queen was attired in white, with 11:••
and ostrich feathers ; she seemed rather delicate. The Duke of ('en,.
bridge occupied the box formerly belonging to the Earl of Chestcrfi,:
exactly opposite that in which their Majesties were. The whole audience.
which was as brilliant as it was numetrous,immediatelyrose on the entree,
of their Majesties, and manifested, by the most enthusiastic plaudits, fu
delight which the presence of their Majesties inspired. The wevia:
of hats and handkerchiefs in the pit and galleries was general, and, v
the boxes, n any ladies and gentlemen, with their handkerchiefs, gav
sign of gratulation. Their Majesties expressed the pleasure which the;
received from this warm and cordial greeting, by repeated obeisance.
The scene was altogether animated and impressive. When silence wa.
obtained, " GOD save the King was performed. The admirable bent,
excellently appointed aed finely conducted, did perfect justice to the is
strumental part ; and the numerous and well-inxtructed vocal corps s..
quitted theraeelves in a very meritorious manner. Many of the awl:.
once joined heartily in the chorus. and made up by warmth of feclin_
for want of skill. The performance then proceeded. The piece,
originally announced for representation were, The Brigand. The Nu,
trious Stranticr, and itisaniello ; but at a very short notice the cot .
wand for Masaniello was withdtawn, and the Opera of the Ma,.
riaye of Figaro, with which the performances commence&
was afterwards substituted. Their Majesties paid the mime'.
attention to the opera. They appeared, especially the Queen, who
we are informed, a proficient in music, much pleased with the high:•,.
accomplished style in which Mrs. Waylett and Miss S. Phillips eNt •
cuted their two duets. Hsu ley's drunken gardener, which was, in truth ,
very comical,',excited their risible faculties more titan once.
At the conclusion of the opera " Rule Britannia" was loudly eith,i
for. It was sung, but it was not sung well, because the performer.
were quite unprepared for such a call.
The Brigand followed; and here the acting of Mr. Wallatk, whose
performance of the character of Afassaroni is as perfect as any thing
that we have ever seen in this line of the drama, strongly rivetted the
attention of the Royal party. They were, however, speedily relieves:
front any melancholy ideas by the irresistible powers of Mr. Liston
His representation of Booliell in the Illustrious Stranger,was infinitely
humourous. We know not whether it be a sin in Royalty to laugh :
if it be, then certainly their Majesties, and, indeed, the whole Royal
party, committed themselves greatly. for they laughed heartily and in.
cessantly during the whole of Liston's performance.
At the close of the entertainments, " God sere the King" was again
sung, and their Majesties retired amidst the seine plaudits which had
marked their entrance.

The royal box was, on this occasion, ornamented in a rich and ele.
gent style. A new panel, extending a few inches from the ordinary
one, was fixed in front of the :No:, on which were displayed.
on a crimson ground, the Royal arms, encircled by an exceedingly
handsome scroll ornament. The box was surmounted by a figure a.'
Fame, standing on a globe, and supporting a crimson drapery, on whir:.
were embroidered, on that part next his 51aje: ty. the letters "'.V. R."
and on that pan next the Queen, the letters "A. R." The affect was
very beautiful. It is understood that thcir 3lajesties intend, in the
course of the season, to visit each of the what r houses three times.
Their Majesties had before them sevt ral playbills, on white and blt::
satin, by HOWLETT and BittstMEß, the artists. in Frith-street, Soho.
square, with copies of which we have been favoured and from our ad-
miration of this tasteful improvement in the art of printing, we feel it
our duty, in noticing all sorts of novelties, to name the parties who paid
this deserved homage to our popular Sovereigns. At the end of the
performances " GOD save the King" was again required by the audi-
ence, and we then heard, for the first time, two additional stanzas.
which, as they have been sent us in print by their authors-31r. W. P.
(whoever he may be) and Mr. J. R. Plancite--we will insert without
criticism. Mr. W. P.'s verse runs thus :

" First of the brave and free,
WlLLtaat, With joy to duos
Homage we bring !
Thine is no land of slaves—
Planted on heroes' graves,
Here Freedom's banner waves
Proud round her King."
Mr.PLAWCHI's contribution was a gallant compliment to the Quern
which she acknowledged by an especial inclination of tbe head :
" Once more the sceptred dove,
Emblem of peace and love,
Wielded is seen;
L mg may her gentle wing
Blvasings to England bring !
Shout, ye who love the KING,
GoD save the QUEEN !"
The Kum and the whole of the Royal Party waited until the end of
the night, and the cur:ain did not finally fall until considerably past
night. At his departure the shouts and accbunations were renewed and
persevered in for some time.