The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-11-14 00:00:00

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Was concluded, Mr. LIsTON, advancing to the
front of the stage, bowed, mid solicited a hearing,
which was very readily granted.
,Mr. Liston lamented that he shoelti have been
that object of the public indignation ; but, as he
conceived himself to be acquainted with the cause
—and which had originated iii a mistake, he begged
pertaission to state the facts—on hearing which he
tiatbered himself the audience would absolve him
from the imputation that had been unjustly
cast upon hint—(Tlio applause stns here very
great.)
A: letter signed Instigator, had hppcared is as
'eventing paper (The Statesman) of the '2lst of
last *loath, in which he was aceneed of having
said, that 66 the Managers of Covent Garden
" Theatre would have carried the New Prices,
44 but fur the opposition of Me Blackguard Citi.
serve." [The following is a Copy of the
j Letter.] ,
ata--I was this evening sitting is a public coffee-roam
with a flieud t it was puiiliely sensed by a tient:man thee
present, that Mr. Liston had said is a mixed company, that
i.e Mastageri of Ciivetit-flurdeu Thretre would have carried
the pain! of the New Priers, but f".i the opposition of the
blaagotuvt eiiisens. Not having the owesas of aseertnia lag the
truth of this matter through mks private channel. 1 beg yuss
will Insert this is your impiartiat and tralyissatst fUIISIIIIIS,
that hfr. !Atm nib have au iippoitimity of answering
it as vpintly and With the baine roadster, as it is mow
I avowed. 2do sot wish to injure rte Ittelinp or interest of a
Performer who ranks so deservedly high Is the opiniall of this
labile at Mr. L.; but the stroclou• mixture of *fretted con.
beguesce awl base ingratitude cost si;•ed in this rharge. bora
nature that, is the pretest slate of toratei:al attain. !opined%
the most severe antorldiersioa. Illat.kviard Uterus, Weed
%Viet the Rise iof Temple-bar closed het for one night, ou
all yuar cit ir ens who (regent the Theatre, Xraged 'sight
It
raw, wad Comedy &ugh.. bat there would ire linty " a beg.
gayly account of empty Acres,' to weep or to sidle on eke
occatitin. " /ours, " LN D AGA roit."
" October 19, 1809."
Now he would assure the audience, on the ho.
sour of a man, that he had never uttered that es_
pressiou, or any other of a similar tendency.--
[Very lortd applause.] Ile had lost no time Oh
sending a coatrailictiou to the paper in which
gator's letter had appeared ; and he trusted
the audience would do him the honour to be.
lieve him incapable of offering such an insult to
that public by whom he had been so kindly pain.
uized, and for whose countenance and favours he
was impressed with the deepest gratitude."
This speech was received with universal appose.
bation.
The following is a copy of the letter which, at
the request of 31r. LISTON, was inserted ie Tug
ST ATILIN
" Slit—The benfiseass, who suerted, Ia the presccreof
InedsatTea, that I have said, " that therm of Cis.
vent Garde. The 4 w ptre would have rival clot of the
New Prices, beat taw the opposition of tte • sari COM
semi," uttered, kitatcbtr, A gross and nsalistiossiulsetoed.
" Your luierting th will oblige.
" Sir, year obedient Servant,
°' Ili, Strand, Oct. 23." " J. LI4TON."
In our account in 'rue StA.TEsm.ttv of Saba.
day last, of the transactions at the 'theatre on Fri.
day evening, We stated, that " A gentleman in
4 6 the Pit, addressing the audience, adverted to
64 th' application of the term Plockgaard
44 tens, by Mr. Ltrron"—and that a porton in
tke :4econd tier of /lines answered Wes by saying,
" that Mr. Maven Add publicly contradicted the
46 assertion of hike term BlackguerstGitiasor.'•
These observations we wore partieutirly careful
to notice, expressly with a view to correct the er.
rancour opinion with respect to Mit. Lisrote, who
is now firmly reinstatli in the favourehle opinion
of the Publie...which he has so long mijoyed, and
so eminently merits.
The performances of the evening concluded
amidst a manifest increase of noise and expresiletts
of indignation. Placards were more numerous
than ever (with the exception of one night). ,The
fronts of several Mize* were literally covered with
them, regularly limited side by side.
Mo'heo Richard killed King henry, a wag in,
stantly parodied the speech of Richard, with;
happy facility that is not often displayed—heist-
claimed
" Down! down! New Prices !—down to !fell
" Asd stay, OLD Pates% sent thee there I"
The Private Boxes begin to present that appear.
antic of a " splendid desart," to which, py the
fulfilment of Mr. Kausee's well-known threat,
leihe late Theatre at Drury lane was reduced..e.
In these privileged ruceptac:es, we looked in vain
for the splendid tenantry with which they were
wont to be graced. In five Boxes only, out of
twenty-eight, were enrConipany discoverable,—
As we lately observed, nut only are females now
averse to braving the observations of the Companf
its other parts of the (louse, but the presence of
Gaitlemen is become equally unpleasant. Th.
truth is, the People of England conceive them.
selves insulted by this end olive privilege granted to
iodividuals, be they who they may,. hooever ex.
sited, or respectable, in a public Theatre—at
which the respected Monarch of these realms has
never disdained to appear in a part of the
Theatre to whack any one of Mt subjects may
have access. We again repeat, that the root of
the opposition is, the Private Boles. Remove
the partitions—open that part of the house to the
Public..-ft any preee—even a guinea —for atimis-
bits° to that circle—and thePelilie will be gratifse4.
Nor have we the lest hesitation in avowing
it u our unqualified opinion, that no concession
will appease the public indignation, without the
restoration of every part of thu Theatre to its
former publicity anti simplicity, by the abolition
of Private Boxes, which are an insult to the
whole People of England.
Among the Placards appeared a representation
of the Manager in the pillory. At the top—
" To guilty mias a terrible example."
Sbakspear.
Beneath it—
" For keeping alf *use of 111.1kme." A
On the reverse nes the following distich :-
8, A %retched tumbril was the actor's stage.
We make improvenients its the present tagc."—" See tha
other bide."
" No Blind-tiny llcwetson I
No false-sweiaring 'lnformer !"
OPpeee OPpreftive °Palace."
Keiuhk to rheat,
Ilennetoo spy,
White to ill-treat,
Brandon to lie."
The tascals, by demolishing styrenes, have inrreaard ma
tit het.
6.1 Terms of Peace—That the tild Prices shall be adopted
that all the Frerniere Phan be dropped; that Kowa,

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