Star.
London, England, 1821-07-12 00:00:00

MR. KEAN.

The following Letter from Mr. KEAN, in explana-
tion of his rather abrupt departure from Boston,
is copied from the New York National Advocate of
the Ist of June, addressed to the Editor :
Stn—As I have yet some months to remain in this country,
it is my earnest wish to preserve the good opinion of those
friends who have so generously and nobly manifested their ap-
probation of my character and talents. As the servant of the
Public, I am aware that I am amenable to public opinion and
censure; and if the public voice declare that I have been in
error, lam ready to apologize with all due submission. But,
Sir, is it not extraordiliary, that the offence with which I am
charged: took place at Boston, with the concurrence of the Ma-
nagers; with the approbation, of friends, with whom I after-
wards spent the evening, Gentlemen of fortune and literary so.
quirements ; and that I should not hear any dissatisfaction ex-
pressed until I arrived in this city? I passed the following
morning at Boston tranquilly; and on my arrival in New York,
murmurs of disapprobation were heard, which appeared to
me Ike an overwhelming aratandx at the termination of a bril-
liant harvest.

" At an immoderate expense, and with all that additional
cost which falls to the lot of a stranger, I repaired to Boston to
fulfil my engagements. Had I been acquainted with the customs
of the country, I should have made different arrangements; but
my advisers never intimated to me tha Theatres were only
visited in certain months of the year; that when curiosity had
subsided, dramatic talent Was not in estimation. I never could
or would believe that the Arts in this country were only en.
couraged periodically, or that there could be any season in which
SHAICSIMARZ was diminished in value; but as I am now initiated
in these mysteries, I shall hereafter profit by my experience.
Sir, I live by my professional exertions. Innumerable fa-
mily claims are satisfied by each month's disbursements: I can-
' not afford to give those talents away. I had performed two of
my principal characters without hopes of remuneration in that
town, where my efforts had, two months before, contributed
largely to augment the Public Charities. I repeat, I had acttd
two characters to the very extent of my abilities without profit.
On looking through the curtain, at seven o'clock, on the night
I was to represent Richard the Third, (that character which has
been the foundation of my fame and fortune), I counted twenty
persons in front of the Theatre. I then decided, hastily if you
please, that it was better to husband my resources for a more
favourable season, and, in this decision, no disrespect was con-
templated to the audience, slender as it was. The Managers ap-
parently concurred with me, deplored the unfortunate state of
the times, and we parted in perfect harmony and confidence.

,
" It was my intention to leave America on the close of my
southern engagements. I now think it my duty to return again
to Boston, and, in person, vindicate my cause at the season
when those who most patronise the Theatre are assembled.—
The Public have treated me with the greatest liberality, and I
shall ever acknowledge its favours with pride and gratittade. At
the latest hone I shall remember those friends by whom I have
been encircled, and whose amity and confidence I am convinced
I have not forfeited. But I may be ',omitted to say, that the
present hostility is not the voice of the Public ; it is that spirit
of detraction ever attendant .on little minds—a spirit which
watches for its prey, and seizes upon transient and accidental
occurrences to defame and destroy. That respectable Presses
in this country should have been influenced by such feelings,
and denounce with such acrimony and bitterness, is to me ex-
traordinary. ''l here is something in it more than natural, If
philosophy could find it out.'
" I understand some Gentlemen have asserted that I have
acted to equally bad houses in England. I lament that they are
driven to such extremities, or, rather, that they should compel
me to declare that their assertions arc untrue. The present
existence of the first Theatre in Europe is founded cn the abili-
ties which they affect to despise. The Provincial Managers of
England, Scotland, and Ireland, have thankfully rewarded my
efforts by sums equal to what I receive from my friend Mr.
Price, the worthy and efficient Manager of the Theatre in this
city.. For the first three years of a career unprecedented in
dramatic annals I was in receipt of double that sum in every
Theatre in which I acted, and, even allowing a trifling dinthrp_
tion in the space of seven years, what am I to think of a city
in which I have been received with equal enthusiasm, and wit-
ness a total desertion in the space of three months? But the
Public say I was too precipitate—that I should have performed
that evening, and then closed my engagement. Granted. Our
feelings frequently mar our better judgments, and from trifling
causes lead to results which we subsequently regret. The error
was venal, for who is exempt from error? But all tu.prejudicid
people will, I trust, take into consideration the ut peofitable
labour of acting Richard the Third to a solitary few, web subse-
quently acknowledged themselves perfectly contented with the
Gentlenun who represented the character.
"I adt now convinced that the fine weather was my ebielp
enemy, and shall again resume my station in the Beaton Theatre
before I return to England.
a I beg leave, Sir, to submit this ' rourd unvarnished tale' to
the consideration and decision of the Public; and I have too
exalted an opinion of their justice and liberality, nut to antseipt.tes
a verdict in my fAvr.,.r. •• EDUCAD Kt....,"

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