Star.
London, England, 1817-02-26 00:00:00

cortsr.ciltDLN

•
The apprehenasoos of a. vioßfit opposition to. Mr.
Boom, last night, in Richard the Third. were well
founded. It coeinsericed before the rising of the
curtain, and the Moment he presented himself to
was assailed by a most furious clamour of disappro-
bation, mined with expressions of encouragement.—
The pit, uhich was crowded to excess, rose, and
was violently agitated by friends and foes. Unfor-
tunately in such cases the clamour of the friend, as
it cannot be distinctly masked, operates as moth to
the disadvantage of the pet former as that ofr his
enemy. Mr. Boom, after same silent and unavail-
ing entreaty to be heard, retired from the storm, and
the Manager (Mr. FAWCHTT) came forward ; but,
after at least a quarter of an hour spent in vain en-
deavours to be heard, he also withdrew from the
pitiless storm that raged tuouod. The play then pro-
aeeded, but not one word of it was beard from be-
ginning to end ; the clamour never subsided, except
in the short interval between the acts, and whenever
Mr. Blom appeared, he was assailed with peculiar
uproar. The modesty, and yet the firmness, with
which he conducted himself in these trying and ap-
palling circumstances, and the talents whichlre dis-
played, deserved a better fate. The play was con.
vetted by the noise into a complete pantomime ; but
then the action, the manner, and the expression of
Richard, were unimpaired, and ;heir effect last night,
sbewed bow much the audience bad list by the ob-
structions which deleated a complete reprtseivation.
The silent entreaties Of Mr. Fawcarr and Mr. BOOTH
Kt procure a l&eating having proved abortive, a phi-
card was exhibited to the first act, with the following
inscription--,, Groat silence to noplaie." This not
having commanded any notice, a second was intro-
duced in the progress art the piece, inscribed
Booth gulags to explain." Mr. BOOTH seconded the
notice by prefenting himself in an attitude of humble
entreaty, but the clamour did not in the least sub-
side. A third placard, inscribed, ‘4 Cast Eneithaten
concha' intheartl?" bad no better fate. At the end
of the third act an attempt was made in the pit to
introduce the 0. P. dance, but after a short trial it
was abandoned, and not inewed-in the course of the
night. At the conclusion of the play Mr. FAwCICTT
again presented himself, with Mr.,Bocirst in his hand,
in exrctation of obtaining a hearing, but it was all
in vases

The Farce then went on, but not without some in-
terruption from the squabbles between the Mends
and opponents of Mr. lgourn I there was also a pugi-
listic match, which lasted several rounds, and ended
in the spilling as much blood, and producing us
ghastly and unsightly countenances,- as would have
gratified the stomach of Richard himself in one of
his most sanguinary humours.—ln the Tragedy, du:
ring the fencing scene, ABBOT, who played Rishwocid,
was called epos to kill his antagonist outright, and
tot settle the question and .tbe career of Mr. BOOTH
at once.—When the performance was concluded,
a large portion of the audience remained in the
Theatre, calling alternataly-for the Manager and. for
Mr. Boors till a very late hair, and long after many
of the lights had been extinguished. The uproar
became nearly as loud as it had been at any period
of the Play; the calls for the Manager-became louder
and louder, and Mr. Famotrt, Who had retired,
was again obliged to appear and address the audience:
Despairing of prevailing on the audience to hear him, gut
the repeated efforts be had Made to do so without success, (be
said) he bad retired to hie borne, from which be bad been called
in consequence of the new densand it bad been dirk pleasure to
mule. k was his dit v as well as Ids iodised.° to etenply with
arty wish expressed by them; but be apprehended it was Mr.
Booth, rather than him, whom they whiled to see. Neither. he
cur Mr. Bomb could have conceived that it would have been
deemed necessary for him to appear before them at that late hour,
when so many of the audience having departed, It might be
deemed disrespectful towards those who were absent to enter into
explanations when only a part remained to bear theist. The cause
of Mr- Booth would, be feared, 'be Injured in MS hands, as his.
[Wimp could only be expressed by .himself. That Gentleman
had remained in the Cheat!" ill a eery late hobr, hoping they
would be pleased to bear chat be bad to submit to them, and
which, he bad Battered Mmself, would have been satlefaetory bf
every one. Disappointed, be 'eclat length refired, overwhelmed
with animism at having Inearreueloir disphassure, and was now
It bed. 1 hen bring him forward Dow; some takes ex-
claimed. That. Mr. kawcet did not hesitate to say, would be,
a enmity. Harassed as his feelings were, to Mill lusts Irian his
bar as that hour to appear before them,' was that which he
Ilhounbt too person could serloutly require. As fat as eapected
Massed, be (Mr. Fawcett) felt called epos only satisfactorily to
mipialathe conduct el the, Proprietors. which be was ready to-do.
The question between them and the Managers-of the other
Theatre was now reduced to a point of law sad would be dee'.
dud before the peeper tribenaL That decision, be trusted, the'
public would be tamest to watt for, and by it the Mussers
mum abide."
After some further remarks, which were not ma.
trrial to the question, Mr. Fawcarr bowed and re-
tired, but a considerable number of the onetime, re.
audited after his departure, many of them calling
out, 44 No 81selving"" No Wolves"—f4 !Mods for
ever," &c. kc. &c. The House was not entirely
closed till near twelve o'clock.
Among' the means used to .excite a prejudices
against Mr. &ova. it has been given out that in his
letter to Mr. Rea. on Saturday, stating his indispo-
sition, he had asserted a falsehood. This was broaght
into action last night by his opponents, and the word
liar" was otters heard among other reproschfull
terms applietl to him. To repel this charge an
affidavit has been published from a professional (feu-
detnan, Mr. BALTitito of Norton Falgate—it states,
" That Mr. Salter was present and did see Junius Booth, of
the Theatre-Loyd, Creent-Gardeo, on Saturday morning last,
about twelve o'clock. when he -complained to Mr. Salter of se-
ver.: indisposition, owing to the satiety of his mind, and fatigur,
during the lasi week, and appeared to he so setiou.ly Indisposed
a. to be totally Incapable of performing that evening. He et:-
pressed a wish to leave town Immediately, aad wrote a li•tter to
Mr. Rae, of Drury-Lane Theatre, teasing his htdaapuaition,
which letter Mr. SA LT' a delivered to the reaspeekeeper of Unary-
Lane Theatre, abtiut three o'clock on Saturday Mat, after waiting
Some WUs it vain to see Mc. RA e• Mr. BALTIC immediately
proceeded with Mr. Wont to the house of a friend at Totten-
ham, where they both retrained until late the next day. And
Mr.SALTsa further deposes. that• be the said JONICS BOOTY
appeared to be extreineiy ill during die wittiest( the said time.
" Scorn at the Public-Office, Bow. • (Steed) 'a J.SALTeII.
street, Feb. 45, before a. Hum
The affidavit was posted up at all the peones.
leading to the Theatre early in the evening.
On thiequestion'we are unwilling to offer much in
the way of opinion. Mr. Bciorn was considered tv
have put an affront upon a London audience on Sa-
turday, which it was proper to resent; but we have
the affidavit of a respectable Outdrawn that, his all-
sence on that occasion was entirely owing to illness.
Whatever the character of Mr. Boom 's error may
have been, it was perhaps neeeisery that it should
not be antlered tti go' Unresentad ; and we believe it
• .
• . • • •

. . . . . .
will be admitted that his punishment bts ad..
'gime to the greatest offence that could possibly tine
been committed professionally by any
Oak Ch.,.
tisement and humiliation might be necessaty, bit the
generous nature of Englishmen is act to shut tl.e do, t
agalinst even a repentant prodigal. or to hi.,s, tn.v.%
prospects for ever, by driving him from t! e Bret of
his exertions, fo: only a single juvenile act of
ti n. His constrict towards the Mar agersrwe own O.
serve, is a question with which the poSlic have
.e
do. He was n • censuted because be was persusded to
go from Covelt-garden to Diary-lane; he ,ntebt net
to be hunted 3,,wn, because; deeply lamenting the
error he was in that • case led int.', he has been in_
duced td' retort, to Covent garden. has been
placed in a very extraordinnry situation, and has not
acted ~•isely ; hut his vacillating conduct, it noon t,
be rentembereJ, was causei by the treatinenr be had
received. At all events we ought never to for.vt, that

••To er: is human, to forgive divine!"
Several Theatrical ptranns were in the Brust;,
among whom Were Mr. RA a. Mr.Bervrond Mr. JON AncoN t
SPORTING IPTTLLLIGEXCE.

STATE OF THE ODDS—BETTING, FEBRtART IS.
Dgg ■v.-10 to I apt Momentina, taken-1 ito 1 agOt Bra
tberto Crispin, taken—ll tot apt Brother to Smolensk°, takes
—l2 to I apt Gazelle-12 to I apt 14,1nia, by Sebui-171,,1
aget Merrywsker—l 7to I apt Indus-20 to I asst Mr. 8,4,n,
hewer's, ow of Wasp-40 to 1 apt WatettUo-.AO Guintastshes
for 1,000 Mt. For di's apt Wa.erloo._

OA K-.-84 to I apt Del vantet filly-10 to 1 apt Tett Trte-
-910 I vest Selitia—t Ito 1 eitlt Sisttr to ST Joshua—lL in tst.e
I.t.rd ktouet, by Soroettr-1! to 1 ugst Duke of
Reubet.s.

TWO TUOUSAND GUINEAS STARE/.5 to I apt Brother.
Smolensk° —5 to I apt ltrutiser to Crispin-8 to i apt eetth.
by 50 was taken try Mr. Stonebearer that Btu.
ther to Smolensk° woo the 11,000 an.neas, and his oats borne,
at of Wasp, woo the Derby.