The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-11-17 00:00:00

to accept the
Fielding seized every opportunity to express his
contempt of the capacitim, and detestation of the
Conduct, of many of his brethren—did he two'
live, would lie think otherwise ? When I enter
upon the tusk of examining the Theatrical Law,
which has been prumulguted on the present
sion, I find it much more arduous than I appre-
hentled. To establish a truism is impossible ; to
coufute an absurdity is difficult—for it confutes
itself ; and this difficulty increases, as I wish to
itcer dear of persutuil reflection, and that I may
have tie say—
" My taxing like a Wild-goose lies,
`• Unclnisn'd easy man."
If any man claims it, he claims disgrace ; and be
it on his head: and as my sole authorities are the
public papers,lcau scarcely believe, although I have
seen strange timings, that the doctrines therein sta.
ted were uttered by the persons to whom they
are attributed.
I well know the utility of deference to the Ma-
gistracy, it is indeed essential to a well organized
Government, and should be very sorry to lessen
that deference—hut in the state of human society
we are often obliged, of two evils, to chuse the
least, nor is it, shommid it take place, an evil
witbnut remedy—all Magistrates are in this coun.
try remnoveahle—the imsferior at the will of the
Crown—the superior by due course of law. But
we all know the force of precedent, and that
whenever one set of men hive assumed power,
'which cloth not belong to them, however unjust,
how difficult it is to wrest it from them.

The long experience, and indeed the general ju.
dicial character, of the Gentleman to whom the
charge I hare read in the Public Papers is attri-
buted, would make me doubt when I object to it,
acre it possible for a man to doubt the conviction
of his own mind.
In this charge, notice is taken of disturbances at
Covent Garden Theatre, the whole of which, in
my opinion, hath much the aspect of the speech
of a Barrister to a Jury, on behalf of his client.
lion the mischief, which had then takes
place, could hematite of importance to the cont.
meanly at large, or even to the individuals
.more particularly haterested, I cannot conceive.'
I hate seen an hundred times as much done and
submitted to by Managers, who deserved infinitely
more of the Public, both as actors and men, than
du the now set to, without ilie strung arm of the
law being called in, to chastise, as the felluw's
phrase is, their patrons and bLaiciactors.
It is relnetantlN allowed, that custom has given
what is called a butt ol practice, to the express,-
. lug approbation or disappreibation, and that. it is
coodescamdingly sulnaitted le. 117u,v I take it to
be clear that the audience have a right to settle
the prices of admission, and this right hath, I be-
neve, been several tithles exerted. Tile position
that they might as well havets right to settle. the
salaries of the Performers, which is stated miss
absurdity, is by no means such. The Public is
the paymaster, and the paymaster hallo a clear
right to see that he ksth his penityworth for his
penny. Inked thu -applaiiileig the olio actor,
whereby hu gets Isis appointments increased, sad
the hissing another, whereby he gets discharged,
is exercising the right, a right inherent in the na-
ture of things.
The lighting the Theatre is also introineed —an.
other instance of absurdity—for here 1 can brings
c.ise in point, vi hich shows that the greatest thee.
Meal genii's the country ever knew, or that per.
hips ever existed, was aware stitch a claim might
be made, and was prepared to submit to it..
—The stage was formerly lighted by circles or,
candles, suspended front the roof; avid the ilex.
terity of oh,. candle-snuffer, in snuffingi each candle
as he whirled round the sconce, was always to
new spectators a subject of admiratiou. When
Mr. Garrick returned fruit Italy he introduced
the present mode, which, as it ought, met with
greit applause; but lest it shuold not, the clerks:
of candles were all prepared, hid in the clouds,
but ready to be let down ra the call of [tic au-
dience. Jost and lawful rights cannot, it is said,
be maintained by unlawful proceedings ; but pro.
eel:dings to maintain jest and lawful rights, can in
few instances be mils.. fol. All vi.,ient means are
not unlawful. What is often tote case, in abating a
nuisance, and when a mars hall' an iotreler in his
lounsc, whom hu wishes to get rut of, he
deed, in the first instance, to lay 11,5 hand gently
lie him, to endeavour to lead him oat ; if the
party misty, he may increase the force, until at
last he comes to the method a:simile.' in Joe
Miller to have T.eelt used by one Stephen Cole,
who kicked X mail down stairs, to hint to him that
his company was disagreeable.
• I have already disposed of the phrase riot, or
the old ladies would stare mu in the face; lint I
do assert, that by the law of this land, three, nor
three thousand, spectators cannot be guilty of a
riot by the exercise of their lungs, theugh aided
by the most sonorous wind instivaients tbat ever
were constructed.
I shall conclude r
theso
olirrations by stating,
that had I been on the Jury,. I. should hare felt
indignant at being reminded that 1 was upon my
oath.

AN OLD BARRISTER.

The dissolution of the marriage of linuseaßTl:
with JOSEPHINE, as a necessary step to his
espousing the daughter of the King of SAXONY, is
again the subject of speculation in Paris.
Those persons who, fiom the great demand for
Tickets and Shares in the late Lottery, were dis-
appointed in obtaining a chance fur the smiles of
Fortune, will be gratified to find that the Tickets
for the Ncw State Lottery are already upon Sale at
the different 011, ; the more particularly so, as
the Scheme is btarly the same as the last, which
was so generally approved of, and which Ind the
good effect of totally doing away all Insurance,
the whole Lottery beiug;to be drawn in One Day.

'--'y •

ON THEATftrq.,4,l,
.
TO THE IRA) LTOtt.,oor/44-STATE 1‘1A?41. •
• '
SlR—Although his circumstances necessitated
to accept the putt of a Weelmiliter J Lista cti,
C.• • • L