The New York herald., 1848-11-25

THEATRICAL EMkUTE IN PHlLADELPHIA-FoR-
REST AND MAcREADY.-The quarrel between For
rest and Macready, which has been sumberng
tor several years, and only broke out the other
day violently and publicly In Philadelphia, has
given rise to good deal OF conversation, much
remark, some bon mots, and small modcum of
philosophy, in this latitude. The history of the
difficulty between the two aspiring tragedians of
the present age, as given In the speech of the one
and the card of the other, at Philadelphia, pre-
sents some neaments not very creditable to either;
but generally the opinion of the public, or the
greater portion of IT, Is against the strange exhI-
bltlOn presented In Mr. Forests yronunctansento.
According to the best and most authentic data,
there be doubt that the friends or clique In
London, of which Mr. Macready was the centre,
attempted to write down Mr.. Forrest even before
he appeared on the London boards. Whether
Mr. Macready Instigated or concurred In this
movement, it is difficult to tell There can be
no doubt, however, Of the truth of the statement
disclosing the fact, that literary man named
Foster, made the onsets on the American trage-
dian which are referred to. This Foster, we
know, although he Is a man of superior talent
belongs to the clique of which Macready and
Dickens were members and soon after the return
ofDickens to England from this country, Foster put
forth in the Fme'gw Quarterly Rer,ep several most
savage and brutal articles against the people, mo-
rails. taetes, and everything connected with the
American people.
In this general aspect, Mr.. Forrest presents a
strong case against the unfriendliness OF the
Macready clique in London; but we doubt very
much whether Macready was lndlscreet enough
to commit himself very much IN the matter. We
rather think Macready held back IN that affair, In
pretty much the same way in which Forrest says
he himself held back In the attempt against Ma.
crsady in New York, on his first appearance at the
Astor Place Opera House.
All these matters, however, are no excuse for
the style, the language, and the tone of the
card put forth by Forrest. We think 1t is one Of
the most brutal, ungentlemanly, disgraceful pro-
uunciamentos that ever emanated from one the
atrlcal man towards another. Mr.. Forrest has a
great many merits, much talent, unquestionable
originality, high principles of honor private life
that Is believed to be unstained; and how such
man, in moment of passion, could put forth such
brutal and disgraceful card as that to which he
has affixed his name, in Philadelphia, is beyond
our philosophy. He has clearly given the evan.
tage ground to Macready, and public opinion, at
than ever 1t was before. As between the two
artists, the public care nothing about their quar-
rels, private or professional. Those who prefer
the taste, and grace, and cold correctness of
Macready, as an actor, will pay their dollar, and
see him. These who like the energy, the variety,
the contrasts of vulgarlty and refinement which
sometimes mark Mr.. Forests style of acting,
will, Of course, pay their dollar to see him, and
take the worth of their money accordingly. Both
of them in private life are correct, gentemanly
and polished men; both, to the lower members of
the drama, as far as have heard, they are equally
insolent, aggressive and selfish. But those traits
of character the public have little to do with. and
care nothing about.
On the whole, Forrest has lowered himself in
public estimation very materially, by the course
which he has pursued in this quarrel, while the
prudence and discretion of Mr. Macready have
raised him as much as the other has been de-
pressed; and this, we believe, is the judgment of
the public.