The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-04-03 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN

kir. MATtiEWS.

We extract from the Philadelphia Gazette and Daily
Adrertiser a statement of the circumstances which gave
rise to the prosecution against a Boston Editor, which,
we sometime ago learnt, Mr. Mathews felt himself called
upon to commence.
It is not unknown among us that the seats in the boxes
of the Boston Theatre were, during Mr. Mathews' en-
gagement, and, in accordance with a practice adopted
when Mr. Kean was in that city, sold at public auction ;
and it should be mentioned that the sum of 2,400 dollars,
beyond the established price of the box tickets, was
raised from these sales. To one half of MN sum Mr.
:Mathews was entitled by the terms of his engagement,
and 1,260 dollars were faithfully paid over to haw by the
Boston Managers.
The engagement of Mr. Mathews with the Managers
of the Theatre was completed to their entire satisfaction,
anti to that of an unanimous public ; and the terms of
that engagement did not, in any wise, forbid an exhibi-
tion of his justly popular talents, before the public after
its conclusion. No such construction or interpretation
of his agreement was claimed by the Managers, nor was
the language in which his arrangement or its termina-
tion was announced in the papers such as authorised
that expectation.
Very many respectable persons, whose stations and
whose pursudis did not permit their visiting the theatre;
and some of whom had sought and cherished an intimacy
and friendship with Mr. Mathews, as a companion and
a gentleman, intimated their earnest wishes, that he
o maid afford to them anopportunity to be present at some
ut his performances at a pithily room. Botlawilling and
desirous from sentiments of gratitude, for their hospi•
talities and kindness, to comply with those wishes, as
well as to contribute to a charity, to which his aid had
been invited, he determined to announce that he would
be " At flume," at Boylsnan Hall, on a particular even-
ing, and one not appropriated for' dramatic
.perform-
emcee at the Theatre.— co this measure, thus intended,
and the emolumen.s, of which were to be appropriated
to " the British Charitable Society," the Managers of
the Theatre made no objections a bich were known to
Mr. Mathews, and a great number of the most respecta-
ble numbers of satiety in Boston and its vicinity Were
shout to accept the invitation of Mr. Mathews, when on
the day appointed for the exhibition, the following arti-.
cic appeared in the Galaxy :
• After publishing the address of Mr. Mathews, offered
at the close of his engagement isith the Boston 31ana-
ger+, the Emfoor proceeds :
" After all this ext vs of grateful feeling, and the posi-
tire assurances that his benefit %outd he the last night
of his public appearance in Boston, it was to have beets
bored that Mr. Mathews would bare left the city with- I
out forfeiting the gcod cpinion of his farads, and with-
out committing any act of gross and unpardonable in-
justice to the people of his profession ; but it seems that,
to gratify certain Ladies and Gentlemen, who, from
various causes have been prevented front visiting the
theatre,' Mr. Mathews is to be' at home' this evening.
at Royston Hall. Mr. Mathews made a good bargain
with tie Managers of time Theatre. He must have known
that his visit to this place injnred their business before
lie came, as well as after his departure. He has repeat-
edly assured them that Wednesday. evening was the last
time that he could possibly appear in public, and on the
faith of there assurances the manager assured the pub.
lie, that it was the last opportunity they could have of
witnessing his entertainments. But certain Ladies and
4ientlemen could rot vi it thy Theatre to see him. Why
could they not? Because they would not. They will
mot even give their countenance to support a Theatre and
a stationary company of players,hot they will encourage
by thair countenance and money. an itinerant mimic, who
offers his instructive and chaste imitations in any other
place. They will not go to a Theatre to see a tragedy
of Shakespeare, or a comedy of Sheridan, but they are{
extremely anxious to get into Boyston Hall, to see Mr.
Mathews irn't ,te a sea-sick rustic, or a drunken coach-
man, and to hear him retail the old stale jokes of Joe
Miller, and tell the delicate adventures of Mr. Rump-
footle and Mrs. Ninicompips.
.6 We hope that some oldiging.correspondent will fa-
vommr us with the nausea of the ladies and gentlemen
Wm° are most forward in patronizing. this entertainment,
which can be viewed in no other light- than a premedi-
tated act of injustice to the Managers of the Thea•re. and
an instill to the public generally.—lf we hear of any
of our learned Professors, sage Judges. wise Legislators,
or pi eats Clergymen being present, we shall ro: fail to
wake report thereof to the public, and endeaa our to hold
up to the almiration, if not to the imitation of our read-
• ers, the example of those fastidious ladies and gentle-
men, whase delicate stomachs cannot digest a pley, but
can gorge their cormorant appetites on the vulgarity and
smut, n hich have hare been scooted from the stage as
wale and disgusting excresenres.
" On further reflection, we think Mr. Mathews not so
very much to blame. His audience this evening will
stipply him with abundant materials wherewithal to far-
nith a new entertainment when he is next • at home,'on
the taller side of the Atlantic."
It would he a violation of the respect due to time un ier.
standings of those for whose perusal this paper is intended,
to enter into an argument to show, that there is nothing
of just or lib• ral critic ism, nothing of generous or prop, r
coutinent, nothing of fa;r impartial observation in the
article which has hi en faithfully copied.
It charges Mr. Mathews with having practised a fraud
on the public,
epres and
ention upn the manaers of the Boston)
Theatrfs, by rg his performances at the nein
tre as the last time he could possibly appear before the
'Swoop public.
But the Elitist. was not satisfied with this. He pro-
ceeded to hold tip the exhibitions of Mr. Mathews to the
em noires and condemnation of the moralist ; he represents
them as " furnishing the means of gorging cormorant
appetites with vulgarity and smut, which have been
scouted from the stage. as stale and disgusting excres-
cences •" thus exposing to a criminal prosecution time ob-
ject of 'his slanders, and then he goes on and threatens to
" make report" to the public of those who should b•-
come knowu to him to bare been visiters of the per-
fvrmances.
The nature of • this attack can better he known by its ef-
fects, than by an 'gemination of tt a particular language in
which it was made. Numbers of the citizens of Boston,
who intended to visit Mr. Mathews in the evening, ere de-
terred by it from accomplishing their design. The fattier
hesitated to attend himself, or to permit his children to view
en exhibition represented to be immoral and shameful in its
nature and in its character ; and many a virtuous citizen
refused to countenance an entertainment thus openly &-
Pounced, and others who did sot desire to hate their names
held up to public notice, refused to be among the auditors
of Mr. Mathews. Thus the purpose of the author of this at-
tack was accomplished ; the fee ings of Mr. Mathews were
severely wounded; a great number of persons were preveat-
red the enjoyment of a must amusing and an unexceptionable
spectacle ; and a charity, which gives food to the hungry
and clothing to the naked, was deprived of a large addition
• to its means. •
Mr. Mathews, before hetet Boston. in &mance of a ale-
termioation formed and expressed long before, gave to the
Theatrical Fund the sum of 1,-200 dollar; heist* Olds por-
tion of the extra receipts for the tickets -, and to the British
Charitable Society, and the Tiseatriea. Fund, time net receipts
at Boylston-ball.

A eat belonging to a person who lives at .the north
part of the town; had been missing a fortnight, when she
was Wand &Übe bottom of a well, above sixty feet deep,
which Was lately dug and bad been ill secured by boards
placed over the opetung. The poor
reduce
animal was take
awn
alive out without a bone fractured, hut dfn
want of food to &mere skeleton.—{Brighton Chronicle.)

. ,
PARLIAMENTARY PAPCRS.
—......--
An Amount of the Quantity of GOLD imported into his Ma-
jesty's Mint, and Gold Monies Coined, from Jau. I, 1822,
to Jan l, IM.
-----

Yr. j Weight.

Gold Monies
Coined.

Value.

8:.c.) in July last. It is as follows, ind printed by order
of the those of Commons:—
TOE DIETARY FOR THE PRISONERS.
1w THE MORNING.—Three quarters of a pound of
bread, and one pint of gruel for the males ; and nine
(tutees of bread, and three quarters of a pint of gruel
for the females.
AT NllON.—Three quarters of a pound of bread
and ne piut of soup for the males; and nine ounces
of bread and three quarters of a pint of soup for the
females.
IN THE EVENING..—OIIe pint of soup for the males,
and threelnarters of a pint for the females.
The soup to be made with ox heads, in lice of other
meat, in the proportion of one ox bead for about 100
male prisoners, and the same for about 120 female pri-
' loners ; and to he thickened with vegetables and peas, or
barley alternately, either weekly or daily, as msy be
found most convenient.
The Committee to substitute at their discretion pota-
toes for bread, at the rate of 11b. of potatoes for ilb. of
bread.
The only liquor allowed to prisoners inhealth (except
broth or gruel) shall be water.
Prisoners confined to bread and water diet for punish-
ment, shall be allowed such quantity of bread as the
surgeon may think necessary.
Prisoners employed in works of extraordinary labour,
or under circumstances which may render it necessary,
may b- allowed an addition to the quantity of their pro-
visions, by the direction of the Committee.
tVardsmen, and those employed in the kitchen and
bakehouse, shalt be allowed ell,. of breal extra, daily.
Female prisoners employed in the laundry shall be al-
lowed lilb. of brad daily, with a double allowance of
soup at dinner and supper, on the days in which they are
employed in washing, viz. Mon lays, Tuesdays, and
Wednesdays.
Wardswomen, and those employed in the kitchen, shall
be allowed 111 h. of bread
The Committee may diminish the qnantity of soup. or
the number of days on which soup shall be given, at their
discretion, giving such other provisions in lieu thereof,
as they may think fit.
It is stated, that the consulting Medics) Officers,
(Messrs.,hose
who are appointed to attend the prisoners Hut-
chion. &c.) in consequence of recent arrangements and
events. have written to the Home Secretory, Mr. Peel. re-
quiring that an inquiry into the present state of the Peni-
tentiary should be instituted ; and it is understood !hit on
the re-assembling of Parliament, a Committee of the
House of Commons will be appointed for this purpote, on
the motion of Mr. Holford or Mr. O. Bennet.
[We should think that the only cause of the illness of
the prisoners, is the dampness of the situation. A more
unwholesome place could not have been chosen.]

SOUTH AMERICA.

Catomar v.—Extract of a letter from Capt. Matthews,
Commander of the National Colombian brig Patriots, of IS
guns (formerly the Mosquito of the British Navy), to a
House in the C.ty :
" I am sure it will give you pleasure to hear of my being
promoted to the command of the Patriots, of IS guar. Our
crew consists of 126 men, SO of which are English seamen,
and as prime as can be icked, being generally from 25 to
36 years of age, and of such a sort as will command success
in any fair and equal combat. Our marines are half Eng-
lish and half native Colombian'. One Captain nod one
Lieutenant, both the latter were formerly in the English ser-
vice, as Lieutenants of Marines.
6! Soon after our arrival here from Europe, we sailed with
the fleet under Commodore Daniels, and returned after a
cruise of three weeks, bringing with us amongst other prizes
a Spanish Ship of War, mounting 24 guns. and having a
complement of 2635 men. We found 3e,000 dollars on board.
The Spaniards only fired four guns; we did not lose a stogie
man ki led or wounded. They had two killed and four
wounded. I hope my share of prize money this short cruise
will amount to 3001., 2201. I have already received. The ar-
ticles shipped by you are nearly all disposed of. but the
prices are rather lower titan we were led to expect, as every
thing is in great abundance from America. The Americans
having acknowledged the independence of Colombia (which
will soon be as rich and powerful as the United States. the
English are losing the trade fast, and nothing but the recog-
nition of our independence by Britain will give the English
merchants an equal chance.
" La Guyra produces abundance of Indigo, Corot,
andeatfee,besides all that can be required for the comforts
and elecancies of life. I like the people much, and the
Government supplies us with every thing of the best, in
a manner at once liberal and regular. I find La Ouyra
a very healthy place—the prevailing cause of dissolu-
tion being old age, which will reach you as well on the
banks of the Thames, and from which even our own de-
lightful native town° can claim no exemption. It still
he well for you to advise your friend --not to send
either of his vessels to this place on spec. There are
already a great number of very fine ones here which are
net waste I, nor can any sale be effected, or a commis-
sion for them now be procured. This Government will
not again license privateers, all in future must he o-
vernment ships, the discipline the same ason board EnGg-
lish men of war.
" You will not foil to remember me to all your friends
I have bad the pleasure of meeting, ant to write on
the receipt of my letter to my family at Penzance° ;
inform them that I was never better in health, and
I hope yet to have the pleasure of ‘i•iing an English
port under the national and never-yielding flag of proud
Colombia."
Cunecos, Fan. s.—From a Ion?, article in the Vcve-
zoluno, it seems that the next Congress which still as-
semble in Bogota will be called on to aeitle two questions
of great national importance : in the first place, they are
to make choice of a con-titution from three already
formed at different periods, called the constitutions of
Venezuela, San Tomes de Angostura, and the city of
Rosario de Cucuta: in the second place, they are to de-
termine whether the whole republic shall have but one
head, or shall be divided into several different states,
confederated under one goeernment. The latter plan is
recommended, on account of toe different degrees of cul-
tivation, and the various in:crests and habits existing in
different ports of the country; and it is proposed that the
states be formed as nearly equal as possible, and that each
send a single deputy, or at least all an equal number of
deputies to the general Congress. The Government
have it in contemplation to send an Envoy Extraordinary
to the United States, to remain at Washington, and Jose
Maria Solizar is proposed for that office. He has al-
ready held several important stations in the state and the
army.
A private letter from Curacoa, dated Feb. 11, contains
the following intelligence:—
•' Mr. De Sob informed me yesterday that he ha I just
seen a letter front General Paez, stating that he was
closely besieging Puerto Cabello by Lind; that Morales
had b'een beaten by the Patriot forces near Truxillo ; that
a large body of Lis troops had deserted to the Patriots ;
and that Morales himself was closely pursued, and a ould
in all probability be taken."
• • Penzance, Cornwall.

SPANISH PATRIOTISM.—We feel much pleasnre in re-
lating an anecdote of genuine patriotism on toe ptrt of
the Dun de Lorenzo, and Admiral Jebat. Thee two
Ambassadors have nut only given up to the public service
the whole of the income assigned them as Auibassadurs,
but the profits of all tile appointments of every kind,
civil, military, and naval, they hold from the Spanish
Uoveroment. So noble an example, we trust, will excite
many such Patriotic sacrifices in Sp