The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-11-06 00:00:00

TR i STATESMAN.

COVENT GARDRN THEATRE.

At the rising of the curtain on Saturday night,
this Theatre presented a more melancholy and
deserted appearance than on any evening since
that of the memorable " Jubilee" night. Even
the dress Boxes did not display the usual number
of Orderlies—and of the Pit, more than (um-
bel( of the benches were untenanted. Of the
company which occupied the lower benches, it was
not difficult to form a pretty correct opinion.—
The hired retainers of the Manager formed a
considerable majority of the Company. During '
the first act of the Grecian Daughter, the corn.
parry in the Pit were ull quietly seated, and with
the exception of an occasional hiss, the per. '
formance was uninterrupted. Of the powers of
Mrs. CLA Rut we had a favoUrable specimen ; but
unfortunately the construction of this Theatre is
such, that iu many parts of the House the voice
of the Performers is so absorbed, that the dia..,
lope is absolutely unintelhgible. In the Pit the,
:ortieulation is heard distinctly ; but in the Dress
Boxes the most attentive auditor is disap-
pointed in a vain endeavour to hear the dia-
logue ; and we venture to assert, that at the
performance of a new piece it will be int.
practicable to understand correctly, what the
performers may deliver. To *hat error in
the, building this defect is attributable, we do
not presume to know—such however is the fact.
' 'fhe House is, to be sure, alt French—the Pigeon
Holes arc French—the Private Boxes arc
French—the disregard of the People, is French
—and the ontrageuus despotism of the Pro-
prietors and their Myrmidous, is French--
In the second act, an Englishmen, of the name
of John Birket Wienholt, (residing at Thames
Ditton,) in the front scat of the Pit, presumed to
express his disapprobation by hissing—" Silence,"
and " torn him out," were vociferated by the
myrmidons—but this admonition being disregarded
—Perry, the Fireman, and a Mr. White (or
iVyatt), of Park.street, Westminster, son of a
Gentleman of that name, who, we understand, is
connected with,or concerned in the Proprietorship,
accompanied by, the usual gang, rushed to the
place from whence this symptom of mutinous
" insubordination"—seemed to issue. Mr. White
addressing Mr. Wienholt, commanded him to de.
sist from hissing, Me. Wienholt again hissed.
" If you hiss again," said Mr. White, " I will
turn you out." Mr. Wienhult again hissed, on
which Mr. White collared him, and, with the as.
sistance of Perry and the gang, Mr. Wienholt
was dragged to the edge of the Pit, which he in.
stantly quitted.
We shall here state, that Nlr.Wienholt then ap-
pl.o_ at the office in Bow-street. Mr. GRAIIAM
having heard the complaint, oliscrved that those
who " hissed, must expect to be roughly han-
dled ;" to which Mr. W. replied, that conceiving
himself as an Engiishman,entit led to hiss or applaud,
he shuold, after such an intimation from a Magis-
trate, in future " arm" himself, that he might be
enabled to repel force by force. Mr. White,
making his appearance, was held to bail---himself
in TWENTY pounds--and two sureties in SEX
pounds each!!! Mr. Wienholt theta returned
into the Pit.

To return to the performance. In the third
act, the opposition became so decided, that neither
Mr. White nor Mr. Perry thought proper to
make their appearance; or, if they were prtsent,
!o commit any farther assault. The remainder of
the Play, and the whole of the Review, or the
Wag: of Wind:or, were rendered completely in.
audible by the " Wags" in the Pit. Several rat.
ties, a horn, penny trumpets, whistles, and cat-
calls, were in constant requisition ; and of pia-
cents, the number ►was greater than we remember
to have seen at any time. It were fruitless to
papicolarize all that were exhibited—but one
double sheet of hieroglyphic: seemed to give par-
ticular olfe►►ce to the company in the private
Buzes. A certain tree, which formerly flourished
at Tyburn, with two theatrical figures, susp. per
coll. Aogiice, hanging by the neck, adorned one
side of this placard while the other was
oriumented with an immense key, announced
to be removed from Cliandos.street. The in-
dignation of the Pit was directed against the
private Boxes, with decision so marked, that
almost every lady retreated ; and this privileged
circle became a " splendid desorl," with the ex.
ception of one Box, in which remained three men,
who braved the tempest of the l'it, and amused
themsel►es with gesticulations of "proud defiance
and contempt." Several 0. P.'s shone in the Up. '
per Boxes, an 4 on some Ladies we saw► purple
ribbons, nal' the following inscription
" Old prier, and no imposition on toe Labile."

The curtain dropped at a very early hour, and
after some hearty cheers And deep groans in the
Pit, the House cleared rapidly.
It is worthy of remark, that after the begin.
ming of the third Act, the Pit began to till rapidly,
and after half price it was completely full. The
Company who occupied the front benches, were
man►festly, from their dress and nianotrs, " Or.
derlys"—but the 0. P.'s, ►► Rich were worn by at
least two-thirds of the Pit, were habitod, and in
every respect had the appearance, of Gentlemen.
The House was clvarcd at a very early hour.

On leaving the Theatre,the 0. P.'s stopped be-
fore the Public Officsond gave a deep and dismal
groan--from times they proceeded to the Stroud
—at The Clipecie they cheered—at the poor,
old Post theYietuined--and at the office of the
feeble Press and ever-turning Globe thegrolus was
protracted to • considerable length. To the groan
succeeded .an universal hiss. Before the office of
The Day there was nut a total absence of groan-
ing. At that of The Star, appprobation was
exprew4l...as also at the office of Tne STATIU.
Wan, before which the 0. P.'s remained about
ten minutes, and then proceeded Eastward to
their respective homes.
It will, perhaps, be in the recollection f tf
our Readers, that we noticod about a fortnight
ago, the attempts of two miscreants in Cle
one of whom exclaimed, put out the lights—awl
the ether, notorionsly by newt a Jew, rive la
Republirse —the Cumkany, hoss•Ter2 instantly

detected the stratagem, by which these hirelings
attempted to impute to the Opposition, sentiments.,
of baseness, which have hitherto enterednft‘hisidr
of none but The Post, and the rimple Press—
and the incendiaries were turned out. But on Sa.
turday, taking advantage of the darkness, se.
veral voices shouted out " Let's to to Kern-
bles"—and a small party immediately turned
westward ; amongst these persons, have been seen,
and we believe identified, several of the ruffians
who have nightly been advocating the cause of the
Managers on the faces and ribs of the People....
This party was composed principally of this
description of persons—and here it should be
observed, that several individuals with 0. P.
in their hats, were challenged in the Pit the
1 same evening, as belonging to the " banditti`
—and we take this opportunity of warning our
Readers against the spies who are notoriously
known to mix in the Pit with 0. P.'s in their hats.
On arriving in Great Russel-street, they knocked
at the door, but obtained not, as might be expect-
ed, admittance. Groans and hisses were copiously
bestowed on the Theatrical Monarch, and some
Need miscreants at the outskirts of the crowd,
began to throw dirt against the windows; in this
operation, two tall stout men, in loose great coats,
and a boy, were purticularly observable ; a vol.
Icy of halfpence and penny.pieces was then fired
against the windows, and the individuals made of
with as much speed as they could, the tallest of
the men being lame, into a street at the back of
Bloornsbury.square.
On examination, it appears, that five panes of
glass were broken in the parlour, and one iu the
drawing-room. Some of the few persons who
wore 0. P.'s, from one of whom these particulars
are derived, pursued the perpetrators of this in.
famous attack—but unfortunately, without suc-
cess. We say unfortunately, for there is no doubt
of the characters who committed the outrage, and
hail they but fortunately been secured a " nle"
would probably have been " unfelded"—of
which, although we have absolute conviction,
we cannot venture to speak—until evidence irre-
fragable can be brought forward to chew the pub.
tic, what are the arts, and despicable ntananicres,
by which they are assailed. That such ,:vidence
will be brought forward, we, however, entertain a
confident hope.

In the mean time, we trust, that the public,
seeing, as they now do, these Machiarclian ma-
nwuvres, will feel the propriety and expe-
diency of refraining in
.future from express.
mg their approbation or disapprobation at any
place, but in the interior of the Theatre.
Confident, as we are, that the opposition which
has been expressed at the Theatre, has for its ob-
ject, no view that is not strictly legitimate---we
trust that the good sense of the Public will see
the necessity, the propriety, and the good sense,
of abstaining from any external conduct, which
can give their numerous and insidious enemies an
opportunity of imputing to them that which never
entered their imagination, namely, the commission
'of outrage or violence.

A Gentleman in the Pit, of the name of Hardy,
of Uird.street, Westminster, took the liberty of
saying, on Saturday, that he thought Air. White
ought to he turned out, as he. was making
more noise than Mr. ‘Vienhuitl. Ou this, Mr.
‘Vhite knocked him dowu,and beat him over several
beaches. For this assault, this sou of a Pro.
prietur was also held to bail, in the enormous sum
of WI. and two sureties in 101. each.