The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-05-09

President and In his flrmness and integrity, that
we may owe the happiness of escaping the dangers
which threaten us with consequences more fearful
than ever yet have taken place in all the past his
tory of our politics.
Forrest and Macready-The Great Theatre
cal Excitemcnt-Its Origin, Progress, and
DcnOuement.
Our contemporaries deprecate and denounce,
with more or less severity, the occurrences at the
Astor Place theatre, on Monday evening last, of
which we gave detailed account in our paper yes
terday morning. Undoubtedly, these occurrences
ought to be deprecated They were much more
heavy than agreeable-much more disreputable
than dignifed. But human nature is singular
commodity, and is pretty much the same in all
great cities. Philosophy must not go Oft in hyste-
RIGS at every little outburst of human emo
tion-particularly of theatrical human emotion.
New York, in the present jocund month of May, is
not alone distinguished for theatrical explosions of
feeling London has, in times not yet wholly for
gotten, earned very respectable reputation in the
same way; and we ourselves have had, before
Monday last, few extremely lively melo-dramas,
"got up expressly for the occasion " Indeed, we
think that the theatrical riots in London-the ia
nous o. p. riots, for nstance-or the ferocious
sault on the French singers, some twelve or four
teen years ago-were more formidable than any
thing we have ever been able to get up here, even
with the best "native talent" We generally con-
tent ourselves with panomime and farce. Our
amable brethren, on the other side of the water,
like to sprinkle their performances in this way with
dash of tragedy, broken skulls and bloody noses.
In fact since the days when the "b'hoys" of
al ~c
McAristophanes for his attack on their favorte
Cleon, theatrical audiences in all countries have
assumed the right of expressing their sovereign
wrath and dispeasure. In this respect, John Bull
and Brother Jonathan have both, at times, been
very naughty, and generally look silly enough
when they wake up next morning.
But, not content with denouncing this unpleasant
scene at the Astor Place theatre, one of our con-
temporaries, the Courier and Enquirer, directly
accuses Mr.. Forrest as the author of the distur-
bance The Courier alleges in explicit terms, that
Mr.. Forrest organized and paid band of men to
90 to the theatre and hiss Mr.. Macready off the
stage We regard this accusation as gratuitous
and unjustfable. Whatever may be our notions
about the propriety of the letters written by Mr.
Forrest relative to Mr.. Macready, (and these no.
tons have not been hdden,) or however decidedly
we may condemn any manifestations of ill-temper
which he may have displayed in this controversy,
yet we must not allow such charge against hun
as that preferred by the Courier to pass without no.
tee Where is the evidence that Mr. Forrest had
any personal agency in the disturbance! Perhaps
he does not regret it very much; and his cards and
letters may have walked up the "b'hoys" to work,
but that is all
Here, we think, it may not be amss to give the
public little insight into the origin of all these diff
fcutes. The public have been, heretofore, a good
deal in the dark this subject. A brief statement
of the facts will be at once instructive and edi-
flying. 1t is discreditable business all round
and the saddle should be put on the right horse.
We must go back TO the first visit of Mr.. Forrest
TO London Young, and comparatively unfriended
and unknown, he sought fame and fortune on the
English stage. Mr.. 1Iackett was in the British metro
polls at the time, and urged upon MIR. Price, then
manager of Drury Lane theatre, the propriety and
justice of giving their youthful countrymen an en-
gagement. '.He has no talent!'' exclaimed Price,
in his own gruff way 'Not so''-returned IIackett
che is a young man of high promise you must
give him an engagement" Price, although
coarse sort of man in his manner and way of ex-
pressing himself, was not without generous feeling.
He did give Mr.. Forrest an engagement, and the re-
suit is known. The young American actor was kind
" received. Mr.. Macready himself treated him
in a very friendly manner, and his attentions were
gratefully acknowledged by Mr.. Forrest himself, in
a letter which was subsequently published IN the
Paindealer, of this city, conducted by Mr. For
rests early, fretful and faithful friend, Legget.
On his return from Europe, with increased repu-
,a,oo and add;tional nrofes c, onal experience Mr.
Forrest played, for the first time, at the Park, and
speedily attained that position which he has since
held among his friends and admirers.
The next chapter in this astounding history,
which beats 'Plutarch's Lives" all to pieces opens
with the visit of "Boz" alias Dickens, to the Uni
ted States Some aged inhabitants probably yet
recollect the excruciang fuss which wasmade about
the talented little Cockney in this metropolis.
Inc ball at the Park theatre capped the climax,
and The popular enthusiasm then reached its culmi-
mating point. Poor Dickens was bamboozed, be-
wildered, stunned, deafened, and quite overwhclm-
ed by this foretaste OF the apoheesis of the "uni-
versal naton," and he almost nodded his well
perfumed head off his shoulders, in reply to the
salutations OF the New York arisocracy, of all
shades, castles, shapes, and dimensions, from cod
fish up to salt pork, "Boz" was, like the prophets
ass elevated TO the seventeenth heaven. Next day,
he awoke. He found out that il was all capital
hoax-a farce-a fam The ball had been gotten up
TO put a few thousand dollars into the dilapldated
treasury Of the Park theatrel Horror and agony! The
dinner to Lord Morpeth happening at the very time
Of this moumful awakening, presented so remark
able contrast to the fussy, farcical attentions