The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-11-23 00:00:00

G ERM ANY.

The important commerce which the towns of
Brunswick and Magdeburg, end Minden and Cas-
sel, carried on with England and other countries
beyond the svas,• is almost annihilated. Yarn,
rape-seed, and corn, their principal articles of
export, are therefore fallen below their value;
whilst colonial produce, and even French wines,
from the circuitous route which they are obliged
to take, and that partly by laud carriage, have
risen to prices fiequently beyond the reach of the
classes that used to consume these articles Freely
before the change of Government. It may be as-
serted without exaggeration, that, were it not for
a little clandestine trade with a uelghbuuring
Duchy, from whence some articles yet find their
way to the English shores, two-thirds of the
goods formerly destined for exportation would
be thrown back on the hands of their owners.—
In the midst of these misfortunes,. the Westpha.
liana hardly dare to give vent to their feelings,
being encompassed, as it were, by vigilant French
Commitsaires de la haute Police. The very man-
ner in which they manifest their sentiments on
particular occasions affords the best evidence of
their habitual fear. When some twenty young
men of the corps of Schill were shot last summer,
near the gates of Brunswick, sand-hills were soon
erected on the spot where their bodies lay buried,
and their tombs decorated with garlands of flow-
ers, ribbands, and epitaphs, expressive of the

Mn. EDITOR—It was not my intention to go ta
the New Theatre until the distorbassoes hod slob.
sifted; but a termination of the disputes between
Wit bianigers and the Public appearing by the
prints to be as distant as crer, my patience be.
came exhausted, and curiosity led me there a few
evenings ago, for the first time. I went to the
Boars.-.was exceedingly gratified with the ap.
pearance of the grand entrance (which by the bye
might be viewed in Bow-street without paying
for the sight), and as much disappointed at the
diminutive size of the principal lobby or coffee.
room allotted to the use of the Public. Having
walked to the house iu my boots (for in addition
to the New Prices of admission I cannot afford a
coach as I used to do), I did not presume to
enter the dress circle, but went into the back
boxes, or basket. The Theatre at that time was
said to be quiet, but the continuo' noise and bus-
ile in the lobby boliind, and what is called the
Box-passage in front, prevented my hearing a
word of the performance ; to go to this place
again 1 would not give a siapenny.picce that had
suffered from the file of a Jew. Being thus m.
sonably dissatisfied with my situation in the bas-
ket, I became impudent enough to apply to the
Bus-keeper for admission to the Dress Boxes,
which w COMp!ied with. My attention was fillt
given to the holm, which, to say all, is neat,
but not gaudy; and then to the con.pany, among
whom I feared 1 had intruded myself ; e very
little obserdation persuaded me of the propriety
of leaving that Mgr, of the house, having fm.
prudently omitted Ice kavemy watch and pocket.
book at home. I then proteeded to thoseeissid
tier, and nixie several unsuccessful attempts to
get a tolenble seat, being accosted at the door of
every Box with " what name, Sir ?" and
formed by an ill-lookingtAloW. (under whose coat
I perceived .a certain badge) that all lie pleura
were taken, cocept the bacl.row. Xhis game I ob..
served was played up unlit thc end of the first act,for
no other purpose, I presulsse, than to preserve the
front'srits for such persons as. were 14 ',own td be
Orderly. ' Having' no elternatire, 1 repsised
higher, and after ascendidg a long amid irregular
staircase, of about the dimensions of that which
leads from the third flour of my house to the attic,
i reached the Upper Boxes, or fourth tier, the
third beinvillholly monopolised fur privileged
persuns, and to which those who paid fur admis.
sion, like myself, had no access.
I understand the narrow contraction of the
staircase, leading from the second tier to the upper
Boxes, is occasioned by the great space allotted
for the convenient Auti-rooms and superb Saloon
attached to the Private Circle. In the fourth tier
(which is no more than the sides of the Lower
Gallery, separated therefrom by a slight partition)
I could not hear a word the actors had to say ;
mere curiosity led me to the Pigeon Holes, from
whence (the lint and only scat being occupied) I
could nut see the Stage. I left the Theatre h
disgust, awl formed a resolution never to enter it
again until there is a material alteration in the
present system.
2ltt November, 1809 N. P. B.