Star.
London, England, 1819-10-05 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUNDAY MONITOR.

Edinburgh, September, 1019.
Stn—l have read with. attention some romarks upon my In-
tended departure fur America, contained in your Paper of the
06th ; but while I thank you for the liberal manna- in which
you have there spoken of me, I must beg leave to add, that I
should esteem myself unworthy of the encomiums you have
passed upon my character, both as an actor and a man, could
I persevere in that intention, after having learned through you
that the Public were dissatisfied with it. The Public have been
to me the most liberal Masters and the kindest Patrons. I
should be ungrateful, indeed. if I could ever forget the many
marks of awerohation I have received at their hands—that ap-
probation which has always been numbered among my fondest
remembrances, and is to me the highest reward of my profes-
sional endeavours. No man can leave his native country, even
for a time, without regret; but cherished as I have been iu Eng-
land, since my first appearance upon the boards of Drury-lane,
that regret has been deepened into anguish. He must be more
or less than man, who, circumstanced like me, could, without
pain, contemplate the prospmrct, that half the globe would soon
separate him from a Public, before whom he never appeared
that he was not received with acclamation, nor from whose pre-
sence did he ever retire without the humble consciousness that
his highest efforts were far exceeded by the applause and admi-
ration they elicited. My present determination to return, there-
fore, is not unaccompanied with pleasure indeed, this is too
weak a word to express the delightful satisfaction I feel in giv-
ing this unequivocal testimony of my respect and gratitude to
the enlightened and liberal audiences before whom I have ap-
peared, in every part of the United Kingdom, but chiefly to that
audience whose approbation first raised me to that rank in my
profession now hold. With the London audience is associated
every feeling of pride I may be allowed to indulge, and still to
merit their approval must be the highest object of my ambition.
It is in furtherance of this object that I beg leave to solicit your
attention to the following brief statement of those reasons which
at first suggested to my mind the propriety of withdrawing my:
lee': from Drury-lane for a short time.
For the last two years, my situation at the Theatre has been
highly embarrassing. I have been considered as responsible fisr
circumstances over which I have had no controul, and even the
Press has attached blame to me for occurrences I could neither
foresee nor avoid. It would be, perhaps, indelicate for Me to
enter into particulars; but you, Sir, seem to be yourself aware,
that I have been an Innocent sufferer. upon occasions when I
should have been held blameless. When the Theatre fell into
the hands of Mr. ELS.LiTONi I'Understood that be had made such
arrangements as were a virtual breach of My Articles. and I was
unwilling to embarrass an undertaking of suck risk and impost-
ance, by returning to claim their fulfilment. The former reason
still powerfully operating on my miod as an inducement to with.
draw myself, fur a period, I thought it would be equally advan-
tageous both to Mr. Er aston and myself, to take upon msi the
responsibility of breaking with hint Under the circumstances,
too, which had come to my knowledge, I thought that Mr. EL-
Lino?, would himself consider the thousand pounds penalty.
which I offered to pay, a full equivalent for my services; and I
even now, doubt whether he would not prefer this arrangement.
By my Articles, I must be Manager on the nights on which I
play, and this must necessarily eraburam Mr. Bassrrom, irks has
not provided for it. By another clause is my Articles, which I
only mention by the way, since I have a right to demand their
fulfilment to the very letter, to show that Mr. &LISTON could
not have consemplatni my return, my name must still continue
as large in the Bills as the Committee fun chose to advertise it.
Should I Insist upon airtight to this point, Mr. Etuasoit will
be forced to break with an Actor (in kis line) of the first ma-4
penance in his profession-. I mean Mr. I: kowtow, who Junin Ms
Articles, I understand, stipulated that my name should be ad.
vertised like others: Tin matter, dem* a trifle fa
must lead to the question, Whether I ant to yield tolrit:::
sex, or Mr. Dowse to me? How, Mr. Bwarou has provided
maim OW alterative, had act my subadmioa to ratic *Salon

obliged me to forego Ply 6m Intebtiolt of retiring to Ameries :
he has engaged Mr. VAIIDI.I4IIOiT, of Liverpool, an Mbar a the
first consequence, and a Gentleman whose high talents deserve
the first place, and whom it would be therefore degrading to
make secondary to any one. This Gentleman's walk In the
Drama is the same as my, own, and he has established a high re-
putation by his performance of Brutus, So. Giles Overreach Sir
Edwin! Mortimer, and all those characters in which I have been
any way distinguished.
What place then, is there for me at this Ikuse? I still can-
not help thinking, that to withdraw for a time would be only
fair towards my compeers, and an advantage to Mr. ELLISTON.
But since the Public voice demands my return, I shall obey it,
as I have always done, and obey it cheerfully; nor shall I be
wanting in every exertion to deserve that approbation which
they have hitherto so liberally accorded to my poor endeavours.
Bogged as I am, I scarcely know what I have written. I have
written, I fear, very disconnectedly, for I have been obliged to
write in a hurry; but you will, of course, excuse the composi-
tion, and only consider the sentiments I wish to convey by it,
through you, to the Public. EDMUND KEAN.