The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-12-09 00:00:00

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ratarr GARDEN ringArits.
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. the eirtaierreee last night to!! mesas in the
Pits of the mositapleadid Theatre in the wqrld.
Amidst this laultltatle were seen Mr. Jew Bennett,
Mr. Osbnivisei the sei-disent' bed P 0 the.
firehnati, antt a select fete of the Do - . 'Mks.
In the Dreee Bears were 17 females. TIM nem.
ben in the other parts of the House Were propos'.
donate, •
' At half.price, there was en' scosseidevable ac.
cession of numbers, in thel'it, *which, at no pe-
riod of the evening, contained 130 persons.
The disapprobation exprestseil by the company
id the Pit, begun iu the fourth act, and although
that part of the Theatre was thinner than on any
precedifig evening, the absence' of numbers wasi
amply supplied by the increased energy with
which thu usual noise was maiistained. It our.
passed, in continuity, any that has been heard,—
there was no interval, until the fifth act, when there
was a short pause ; but the curtain Willy dropt
amidst a tremendous soar. IVith the exception.
of one gentleman in the Basket, neither Boxes nor
Galleries joined. In the Pit we saw but one 0. P.
which was, however, splendid, being composed of
French paste, lia.,lsomely set. 0. P. medals nen
numerous, as well in the Boxes, as in the Pit.—
We saw. only two placards, and thugs were but
momentarily elispla)ed. There was one horn iti
the Pit.
In the fourth act of The hferchent of reniee,
a Gentleman entered the Pit, not in the entire
costume of a Barrister, but with his head adorned
by a goodly Counsellor's wig. . lie advanced to
the centre of the Pit, and there took his
station ; he hail a stick, un which be leant,
and, with his het stuck on one side of his
head, he stein!, with flog: most inflexible
gravity. A circle was soon formed around hill.
He einitisturil immoveable, with his eyes fixed on
the stage. He neither spoke, hissed, or made any
other 'mite during the time be was in the Pit
The scene was irresistibly ludicrous, and the whole
!louse was convulsed with laughter. At length it
was resolved to take him into custody, and Taun-
ton (the mass who took Mr. Clifford), said, in our
hearing, to another (Meer, 46 you go and stand
•by him, soil 111 fetch assistance." los a few mi-
nutes a detachment arrived, and entering, one by
one, at the three doors, gradually contracted their,
circle, and mixing with the few who were round
the gentleman in the wig, at length took him into
custody. lie made not the least resistance, Ater
was he ruoghly seised. He was conducted to
BOW-STREET,
where he stated himself to be Arthur William
Shubecpeare, of Gray's Inn, barrister. Mr.
J iistii4 Nano demanded the occasion of his tw-
ill brought there, and for s time nobody
-knew ; but it was announced that Mr. Brandon
would he there presently. Out Readers will pro.
hably'reeollect numeral's instances in whirls the
Magistrates have had to wait fur the Professor.
How are we to accoeut for this ? The Professor
directs the Officeri.to take sinati, and frequent,.
personally assi: tit in'thevapttott.it might beethoeght
littoral that he stolid') make oi, 3p/learance at the
Office with the prisoner. We are Ica! to suspect
that the Professor has a visit tii make behind the
scenes, or into one of the M ',lager's Boxes, to
take advice, or receive:instruct' s from certain
men of law,- whose fares are nightly recognised.
At last. however, the Profssasor arrived, end de-
mounted Mr. Skakesprare, who had been guilty
91%—w-raring a Counsellor's nig- -end an 0.11. 011
Iris breast. It was not alleged that Mr. Shake.
speare hall hinter spoken, but although he had
I nut beets witty himself, he had, by his appear.
aace, been .
" The cause or wit to others."
his uppearagre had excited laughter and •eproer
throughout the house.. The Professor had there-
fore ordered him to be taken into custody..
Mr. Sliekespearu asserted, that he bad tosser
' spoken nor committed any act of disturbance,
and was astonished that he should base been brought
to, the office in Bow.street, to ansner such a
charge as bail been made. • -
. The Magistrate said, that although he had not
actually broke the peace, by noise or action, his
appearance, hid excited others to diatarbence, and
therefore he should hold him to bail in 1001., and
t‘vo sureties in 601., not for his appearance, but
for " good behaviour."
A placard, which was in the pocket of Mr.
Shakespeare, was then produced before Mr. Nava,
who, on seeing it, said, that the discovery of that
placard convinced him of the propriety of hold.
lug Mr. S. to bail. During this examinatien at
Bow-street, a man of mean appearance in the
PIT, •
and who had been seen previously conversing with
Jew Bennett, and in consequence of that colorer-
salion was taken for a noire, was attacked by a
very strong party of the Officers, who hurried hint
down to the Pit..door on the Prince's &We, before-
any one was aware of the transaction. The O. P.s
immediately rteihed to the split, and a more rms.
lute and determined fight ensued than has fet
been seen in the House. The Officers with their
staves, and the 0. P.'s with their sticks, 64 mode
ozediessi js4o,"—the wietim was so near the
door that the officers pulled him out.; bet on their
attempting to re-enter, they were completely
beaten off the field. The 'vibrations u 1 sonic
sticks from the Dress Boxes produced a very sen.
sible elect on the craniums of the Officers. The
captive was, however, Conveyed to Boar.street,
and ordered to find bail fur riotous conduct.—He
statml his name to be John M'Cartuey. The officers
in the Pit, in extenuation of their conduct, asserted
that they had a warrant against him. •
• W nest Shyloek said, " I stand here for lam,"
" So do we," said a man In the Pit. To this,
anotherishooted, " Where the devil will you get
It P ie." 'Why, with an homiest. Jury." This ex.
cited snitch applaine. The. wigs wore 17 the
PerforMers, its 'Tom Moils, occasioned great
nietriment s: " 0. P. Iris, !" This was followed
by alurst of laughter t " No rigs l No Pigs!"
--‘4 Thee 'wield Btsai4fresi P' added'to the gene-
ral damper,

• The Iv wield the awl cheert;
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