Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-05-15
MOND, VA.
Monday Morning, May ID, Is49.
LAMENrABLE AND DISGRACEFUL
AFFAIR

To throw all possible light on the terrific d.
tails below, we give running view of the Gil
cumstances preceding the denouement. 1t car
not be denied that this bloody stain upon III
fair name of our Republic-[which, short tim
since we congratulated ourselves, prematurei
as it turns out, occupied proud position {
law and order, contrased with the riots in GU
neighbor, Canadal--it cannot be denied the
this awful outbreak and bloodshed in New Yor
are traceabe to quarrel between two actors
men Of talents, it is true, but still mere indi
viduals whose "world is STAGE We shall
not 60 into The origin or progress OF that quar-
rel. Suffice it to say that upon candid e1a
mination Of all the evidence, we are iorceu u
the conclusion that Forrest. with his morbit
temnerameDt and inlamed Imagination, has in
/ volyed himself in false position. He charges
Mscready with having turned the batteries Of
the English press against him while in England
and with having gotten up the mobs TO hiss him
down. So far from this being the case, Ma
cready publishes letters from Fonblanque,
Proprietor of the London Examiner, Forster,
the Literary critic, Mitchell, Lessee of St.
James Theatre, H. Gordon, the High Sheriff OF
Ednburg, Murray, Proprietor of the Theatre
Royal Edinburg, Ryder, the Comedian, Sir E.
Bulwer Ly,ton, Sc, showing that Macready,
instead of fomenting the opposition to Forrest,
urged forbearauce and kindness towards him.
1t appears farther, that Forrest alone in the
Edinburg Theatre Kissed Macready--and that
on Forests sec und visit to England, bis treat
ment was solely in retaliation for the Ameri-
can reception of Dickens book on American
mannersl Thus stood the matter previous 10
the dsgraceful scene on the FIRST nights Mon
day) appearance Of Macready in the Astor
Place Theatre, of which VIC hayo published
full accounts.
The New York Courier of Tuesday charged
the Macready row upon Forrest-that he had
instiga,ed the row, and paid for the admission
Of tho rioters-and other charges in very gross
and insulting language. The next days Cou
rier withdraw, the serious charge and the
Editor who wrote the first article, says:
sin connecting The name OF Mr.. Forres, with
their perpelralion, he spoke from no knowledge OF
facts which would establish any such conne C ion.
His statements upon this point were entirely in
iereplial He had no doubt whatever that the
circumstances OF Mr.. Forces s controversy with
MIR. Macready, and the tact that Mr.. Forrest
had declared in public that Mr.. Macready should
never be permilled 10 appear again upon the
Stage in This city, warranted the inference which
he drew, that The disturbance on Mondag night
was oil MIR. Forests procurement. He makes
This explanation, because the paragraph was pub.
lished without the KIN, Wedge OF the responsible
editor, sho does not deem the facts sufficient TO
wairan ne assertion that MI Forrest had any
thing 10 DO with The outrage in question"
The writer further states that the charges were
made and published without the knowledge or
approval OF the responsible editor, Col. Webb,
who adds mole, in which he says:
at is quite certain that there is no evidence
of Mr. Forests being party TO the proceed
inss, and VIC 90 I"~"~ = A'sulne 'Ha' NJ va
not"
After The above had been written but before it's
publication, the editor of the Courier received
le,er (Which it cheerlully publishes) from Mr.
r. Ssdswick, the friend OF Forrest, who ins.ructs
him 10 say that every charge against Forrest, in
said article, is absolutely and grossly false and
asking retrac,ion of the accusation Tin the most
immediate, direct and ample manner"
Mr.. Forres, is not entirely satisfied with The
courer's explanation and Mr.. SedgWick sends
another leuer 10 tie Courier, from which we take
the following extract:
Bu, YOUR paper Of this morning contains n as
serlion which MIR. Forrest cannot, TOR moment,
allow to pass uncon'radicted.
You slate "as fact in The article to which
refer, shat MIR. Forrest had declared 10 public
ina, Mr.. Macready should never be permiued lt
apnear again upon the stage in this city" AM
the inference again said 10 "be warranted by int
fact, is that The disturbance on Monday night wa
OF MIR. Forests procurement
| Mr.. Forrest pronounces The assertion 10 be ao
solutely false; and am instructed 10 request ina
Won will a, once contradict il or give The auhorI
| ~ on whose information the statement is MADE
| The Courier makes another retreat from lhl
assertion also, saying thai they "presume The.
were missintormed in regard TO The matter an
accordingly withdrew entirely the inference
drawn from the alleged statement" and that the
again regret lha, the original statement shoul
ba 70 been made. So much for Mr.. Forests po
s;riop towards The row en- Monday night, iron
which, we rejoice, he took such prompt and de
| cisiye measures 10 clear his skirts.
MIR. Macready had resolved TO play no NOR
after Monday nights oulbreak-but forty sever
prominent citizens, including Washington lrV
ing. Ogden Hoffman, A. L. Jordan, VIM Ken
N. M. Noah, David Graham and others, az
dressed him card, in which they say that
"Hayins heard that the outrage al the Asto
Place Opera House on Monday evening, is like
| " 10 have the effect OF preventing you from cor
tiuuiny your performances and from concludin
your Intended farewell engagement on The Anne
Tican Stage, take This public method OF reques
ing you 10 RECONSIDER your decision, and OF as
surfing you that the good sense and respect 10
order prevailing in this community, will suslai
YOU on the subsequent nights OF your periormar
ces"
In hi. reply, Mr.. Macready says:
DEAR SiRs.- have the honor Of acknowlede
ing your obligins letter delivered 10 me this day
/, is one find some difficulty in answering
Hinder the unprovoked indigniles offered IN
in the Asor Place Theatre, it was certainly IN
desire and my fixed purpose, 10 avail myself Q
The leea. right thus offered me, and withdraw a
once from INV engagement contracted there.
l. leaving This country, which has been en-
dcared 10 nv recollection by long and strong a
,achments, should not have done you The INNS
iice OF associaling The American character VII
the i'll deeds OF persons, unhappily too frequent
10 be found in every large community: and j
The caue spirit which would preserve me from
has!y and inconsiderale judgment upon the lal
occurrences, assent 20 your 'equest, hononn
and feeling grateful for The sentiment that ma
dictated il. | remain, dear sirs,
Most Painfully yours
w. G. MACREADY.
New York Hotel, May 8, i849.
Accordingly, Mr. Macready who has through
out The affair shown most manly spirit and az
mirabe firmness, was TO appear on Thursda
night. The day before, however, there appeare
strong symptoms OF popular Inflammation an
passion aud among them the most sisn'lcaI
was the following reckless, absurd and mischie'
Gus hand.bill, which was posted up in yariou