The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-02-08 00:00:00

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VISIT OF THE ICIN6 TO COVENT-GARDEN

TIIRdITRE.

A considerable crowd was collected in the streets be-
tween Carlton-house and Covent-garden yesterday after-
noon, between six and seven o'clock, in expectation of
seeing his Majesty proceed in state to Covent-garden
Theatre, which it was publicly announced that he in-
tended to visit in the evening. That annunciation at-
tracted also at an early hour, a vast number of persons
to the doors of the Theatre; and the crushing and
squeezing, which occurred in consequence, were such
as have been seldom exceeded on any public occasion.
His Majesty started from Carlton-pakee at a quarter
before seven o'clock, preceded by a small detachment of
the Life-Guards, and accompauied by such of the grand
officers of state as usually attend him upon these occa-
sion. There were five carriages in the cavalcade,
which were closed by a small squadron of the Life-Guards.
His Majesty was driven at a very rapid pace, and went
along St. Martin's-lane, Longacre, and James-street,
to the Royal door of Covent-garden Theatre, in Hart-
street. Of the numbers of individuals collected in the
streets, though some were busy in huzzaing his Majesty.
by tar the greater portion of them were exhorting their
lungs in repeated vociferation: of "The Queen." ills
Majesty arrived at the Theatre a few minutes after seWS
o'clock, where he found his two brothers, the Dukes of
York and Clarence, waiting for his arrival. He was
received at the doors by Mr. Harris, Mr. C. Kemble,
Mr. Fawcett, and Mr. brandon, the three former in full
court dresses.
Previous to the King's arrival the theatre appeared is
an extremely agitated state. Frequent terms of °pro-
brison and defiance passed between the pit and the gals
keit*, and in both divisions of the theatre oceeeinniel
skirmishes took place. From this object a diversion was
produced as many persons of leading political character
entered the boxes prepared for there, who were received
with a mixture of applause and disapprobation, as they
appeared to be in accord with those who made the dis-
covery. We were not able, amidst the immense crowd,
to discover all who were thns honoured with notice ;
bet we understood that Mr. Hobliouse was one of them,
and we noticed Lord Exmouth, who received a very
li-
brral share of applause from the pit. Sir Win. Curtis
' appeared to he weleoused with a great feeling of good
humour in lootitpartir.. In tlsese exercises the hostile
temper of the house seemed to lose itself, and the audi-
ence gradually settled into a more sedate mood as the
boor of performance approached.
His Majesty. entered Isis box a few minutes before 7.
attended by his Royal brothers of York and Clarence,
and solid% steady the same persons in Isis suite as when
he visited Drury-lane Theatre. The box fitted up for the
King's reception was formed from the two last looses of
tlsr dress circle, adjoining the stage, hut with a closepar-
tition separating it from the boxes on the same side,
thus preserring in souse degree the character of a pri-
vate box. The general feature of the house, and the
acclamations with which his Majesty was greeted on his
entrance, corresponded nearly with those of the pieced-
iis.. evening. A few hisses and cries of" Queen!' were
heard, but overpowered by the cheering. " Hod save
the King" was sung in full chorus, and encored,
though nut without some resistance, immediately on the
entrance of Isis Majesty, who acknowledged the
applause that succeeded it by profound obeisances.—
The interval between the acts, which was, of course,
rendered as short as possible, could not, however, pass
over without indications of returning chaos and disorder.
At the end of the first act a small white flag was exhi•
hited from one of the upper boxes, which served during
the remainder of the evening as a signal for the enthu-
siastic testimonies of loyalty. It bore the followint
scription in gold letters:—
" Long live our Sovereign, George the 4th !“
The impression produced by this fine flag was awk-
ward, as it did not fail to excite in many a susLiffirsieti
the seemingly spontaitaiiiiiiid- illPfrona—re-
of respect for the Sovereign were thi result of previous
concert. At the close of the play the anthem of Ride
Rritaunia" was given, and was succeeded. at the call of
the audience, by anotherl repetition of "clod save the
King." The latter was once more called fur and given
at the conclusion of the pantomime.
At five %ninnies past It o'clock, his Majesty quitted
the theatre, and proceeded on Isis return to Caritdo-pa-
Ince. The people had been awaiting his return in ren-
siderable numbers fur two hours previously, and kept
amusing themselves by repeatedly calling out "The
Quern for ever.** On his Majesty •leaving Hart-street,
sad entering James-street, he was assailed with the most
dismal Isootings ; and though some individuals cheered
him, their cheers were almost rendered inaudible by the
repeated cries of " Time Queen, the Queen." one indi-
vidual repeatedly asked, " Where is yonr wife—why is
not she here'?" whilst another exclaimed in a stentorian
voice, "Hod bless your Majesty, hut el—a your Mi-
nisters." The cavalcade drove on with considerable ra-
pidity ; but, though it left the original hooters brbied
it, it found another body of them assembled in its front.
At the corner of James-street the buzzes were more
distinguishable; but even there they were soon lust
amid the cries of " The Queen, the guess."
The rapid pace at which the royal carriage drove,
compelled time Life Guards who were on duty to follow
at a pare equally rapid. lu doing so, one of their
horses fell, owing to the slippery state of the pavement
from the recent frost; and he(ore the horses of those
who followed could he pullet, np, one or two of them
hail, according to the best judgment we could form in
the glimmering light afforded by the letups, passed over
the fallen Life-gnardsuian. What rendered his situation
still worse was, that one of the forewheels of a gentle-
man's carriage, which was following in the rear of the
procession, and the driver of which knew nothing of
what had happened, likewise passed over his breast--
I His comrades were riding on in ignorance of bisdaager,
' when they were recalled by his exclamation " ; for
lied sake, bait !" The tone is which this wertered
vaulted the coachman immediately to pull np his lesseMs,
land before the gnardsinen had returned to look for their
comrade, the people had extricated him from his situa-
tion under the carriage. Persons on the spot declared
that the man was killed, but as no medical man was
there to corroborate their opinion, it is hoped that the
accident was not so dangerous as we at first believed.
During the evening, the police were stationed at both
sods of Hart-street, to prevent the intrusion of carriages
(except such as accompanied the King), and an =cider'
rather serious in its natnre took place, owing to an un-
fortunate misunderstanding between tom and tW mill-
tart.. When his Majesty arrived, an order was given to
force all persons bacu, to afford free access to the ear-
riagea ; but one of the Dow-street patrol, who had lest
his staff, refused to go away until lie fossil it, when sae
of the foot soldiers felled him to the grossed by a blow
of his musket, and indicted a dreadful woad on his
temple. The man, on receiving the blow, immediately
ran into the stage-door, and was taken frost thaw to a
surfeon's shop to he dressed.
from the style in which the reception of the King
represented in the Ministerial papers of this morning'
it is obvious that more is meant than meets the eye.
According to Mr. Peel's prediction, a great chaste,'
was about to take place in public opinion : and these thea-
trical exhibitions ere deafness gut upwith a view to be re
(erred to as evidenced's revulsion. &sot, without detract-
ing from the eoattitetional spirit of the popie of Lantos.
or giving more thas a hist of the distinction they are
used to make betimes the King and leis Ministers, V.
eantiot help observing, that abasdasit care was takei'
that the reception of his Majesty shook Ipi marred air
loyal as p le, At easseot.Gardes, as well aattreer
Lase Theatres, it is that reteSeel bowie to be

• .Ttik iiiiiiiiii..

.

avowed supporters of the present Administration, ware
F allowed to take their choice of stations, previously to
the opening of the doors; and in the Pit, as well as the
Oalleries, we have been assured. Among every score of
persons, a police-officer was statione4l. So far as the
preservation of peace was the object, the precaution'
may admit excuse; but the knowledge of this fact, with
the appearance of the King'4 guards in the side scenes
daring the performance, and the preparation and evolu-
tions of the flag, are calculated to convey ap impression
of preconcerteol movements, inconsistent with that spon-
taneous and general expression of feeling, which it is
the aim of the creatures of Ministers and their mer-
cenary adherents to make believe is now beginning to
prevail.

MR. KEAN'S FIRRT APPEARANCE AT THE PHI•
L.tUELPIIIA THEATRE.

EFEOW TWE NEW TORE WILEETTE OF JAN. 12.1
On Monday evening 31r. Kean, so inucb celebrated as
an actor, made his first appearance as ;Acted M. at
Philadelphia. The house was 101 l to overflowing; but
the audience was principally masculine, owing to an ap-
prehension of crowding, anti accidents arising out of the
occasion. The performer was received with flattering
cordiality, and frequent bursts of applause during the
action, and very deservedly. —The prevailing feeling was,
however, that tooke was the greater actor, as well as in
part the model of Kean—there were various touches
truly fine anti original ; some that might be relished after
acquaintanee; but, at present, apparently over-wrougbt—
bat May become, by fantiliarity, allowable.—The secu-
rity of the house was put to the test by the weight of
the audience, and un that score, puts apprehension aside.