Star.
London, England, 1826-12-01 00:00:00

THIC THZATRZ.

The announcement of his Majesty's intention to visit
the National Theatres is always received with unmingled
satisfaction by the public, and is justly regarded as some-
thing more than a matter of mere show and amusement.
It is, indeed, a peculiarly favourable occasion for the
manifestation of popular feeling, and the people of
England are too free, and too much accustomed to open-
ness of conduct, not to avail themselves of all fair oppor-
tunities for the undisguised declaration of their send.
ments. The expression of feeling in numerous assemblies
of persons of various ranks, may want formality, but it
rarely wants sincerity. His Majesty, therefore, cannot
but have been highly gratified by the reception which
be has uniformly experienced from his people. It has
evinced at once the strongest attachment to the estab-
lished fgm of Government, and the most affectionate
regard Tor the person of the reining Monarch. It is
one great felicity of his Majesty s reign and character,
that although he has ever evinced a desire to avoid osten-
tation, yet he has uniformly come before the world when
the course of events compelled publicity, as one who
has resigned some pecuniary advantage, as a benefac-
tor to distressed merit, or as a promoter of some plan
for the advancement of the arts, or the convenience of
the public. .
That the proprietors of theatres take more than an or-
dinary share in the satisfaction caused by an expected
visit from his Majesty, we are quite ready to believe.—
It may, perhaps, be doubted, whether all their subor-
dinate agents are equally delighted. Certain it is, that
box office keepers, box keepers, and some other persons
is authority, are occasionally very hard pressed on such
occasions. First, the box office is besieged for some heirs,
and many an applicant is sent away disappointed, full of
threats and vexation. Then on the night of performance
come the miseries of the box keepers, the honors of soli-
citation, the necessity of refusal, and the hard extremity
of being obliged to resort to force to keep the place-
hunters in order. The patience of these official person-
ages has been seldom more in requisition than it was
last night. All the takeabk places in the boxes were
occupied, and every part of the house was crammed
soon after the opening of the doors. The pit presented
a remarkable dense and dark appearance. In the whole
space there were not a dozen females to be seen, a
convincing proof of the excessive pressure of the crowd
outside, for it must be admitted, that the fair sex seldom
exhibit any deficiency of courage or eagerness in such
affairs. Ia the boxes the Ladies were numerous. While
waiting the arrival of the King, the tenants of the gallery
passed their time according to their usual custom, in va-
rious elegant colloquies, and animated exclamations.
One great source of amusement to them was the transfer
of persons, who were exhausted, from the pit to the
dress boxes. These persons were raised up by those
near them, and lifted into the dress boxes with the aid
of the tientlemen who were sitting there. One Gentle-
man particularly distinguished himself by his vigour
and dexterity. Each successive hoist received its tribute
of applause from the upper regions. The two dress-
boxes nearest to the stage had been thrown into one,
and tastefully fitted up, as on former occasions, for the
reception of his MAJESTY. To this point the gaze of
the spectators was principally directed, and, punctually,
to the usual hour for commencing the performance, his
h.IAJZSTY entered the box, followed by the distinguished
personages whose names have been mentioned above.
The house at this moment presented a meet animated
appearance. The audience sose and the cheering and
plaudits were universal and enthusiastic, and continued
for a considerable time. His MAJESTY bowed repeatedly
with great dignity and kindness of manner. The
curtain immediately rose ; the whole company appeared
ranged on the stage, and God save Me laag was sung,
the solo parts br Madame VisTRIS. Sirro, and Miss
ParoN, the audience joining heartily in the chorus.,
In obedience to universal acclamation, the Air was
repeated with undiminished spirit and effect. Through.
out the opera of Oberon, the Krtha appeared to pay
close attention to the music, and frequently expressed
satisfaction by his gestures. The passage which
appeared to attract his MAJESTY'S approbation more.
than any other, was a very pleasing duet, " Near me
is my own true knight," by Miss PATON and Madame
VESTRIS, which occurs just before the chorus with
which she first act closes.
Between the acts, the indefatigable shouters of the
galleries gave vent to their feelings, by calling out the
name of the KING, as if by way of a toast, and following
it up by a due Dumber of cheers, a compliment which,
if not quite courtier-like, was doubtless suggested by
warm hearted earnestness; ai,d this, 4. not to speak it
profanely," is no bad substitute for cautious accuracy in
point of etiquette. At the end of tire Opera, 4. GOD save
the King: was again called for and sung ; ands as if

'`.••

increase of appetite had
_grown. with what It fed on,'
it was again encored. Whoa 4. Auk &hermits". was
given, the solo parts by SAPID, halticto, and Miss
PATow. The audience, as before, joined in the chorus.
The Scepe Goat was the afterprece, and the acting
of Mr ADDEN and Miss Josses seemed to afford great
diversion to his MAJESTY. Two points seemed especi-
ally to tickle his MAJESTY—one where the Doctor was
enforcing the unfitness of any man to marry, until he
reached the mature age of sixty ; and the other, where,
with great simplicity, he introduced the wife and child
of his pupil as ready-made to the hands of the father.
On the fall of the curtain, amidst vociferous applause,
" GOD save the King" was once more sung. The Kixo
then took his leaves by graciously bowing three several
times to the audience, and retired amidst cheering, plau-
dits, and other demonstrations of respect and attach-
ment, which cannot be justly described otherwise than
by saying that they could not have been more earnest
and enthusiastic. Not only was the interior of the house
'crowded, but the lobbies were full of persons unable to
obtain room even to enjoy such a view as could be ob.
tained by looking through the doorr. We did not hear
that any accident occurred throughout the evening.