which was very tame: then began the expression of the dislike which a considerable party had taken to the advance of the admission prices; viz. boxes from 6s. to 7s. pit 3s. 6d. to 4s, and so loud and vehement was the displeasure, that not one syllable of the address could be heard. The play of Macbeth and after-piece of The Quaker followed, but the uproar conRichard the Third was on Wednes tinued with such unceasing violence, day night as completely spoiled as that throughout the whole evening either of the preceding performances. not a single sentence could be caught Printed papers were exalted in several by any person in the house. The rage places, with "Old Prices-Resist the of the party seemed directed princi- imposition every night until abated— pally against Mr. Kemble; but not No Catalani-Native talents." In adeven Mrs. Siddons, with all her im- dition to all the noises that had before passioned representation of Lady Mac- been made, somebody blew a postbeth, could procure a moment's inter- boy's horn. A little before the conmission of the clamour. The cry ge- clusion of the performances, Mr. nerally was, No imposition-No extor- Kemble appeared, and begged to know tion-No foreigners-No Catalani. No what was wanted-"What affectaother violence was offered, but many tion!" exclaimed several, and the persons continued to a late hour after shouting prevented his being further the performance, vociferating for the heard. When the performances were manager. Two or three magistrates finished, many of the audience kept appeared on the stage with apparently their seats as on the former night. the Riot Act in their hands, but they Mr. Leigh again addressed them. He were disregarded. The manager, how- began by exhorting the audience to ever, never appeared. The overflow persevere in the same line of conduct was prodigious; before six o'clock they had hitherto done, and assured every avenue was blocked up. There them whilst they did so they were not were but very few females in any part amenable to the law. They were per of the house. fectly justified in expressing their disOu Tuesday evening the Beggar's approbation of any performance, or Opera was intended to have been re- on account of the advanced prices of presented, but like the Tragedy of the boxes and pit; but he advised Macbeth on the preceding night, it them by all means not to give the was a mere piece of mummery. From cicers in waiting a handle to ill use the rising of the curtain till the con- them. He had, himself, witnessed clusion of the whole performance, several acts of outrage committed that which was over by ten o'clock, there evening by officers and persons sent was one incessant clamou. When into the house by the manager. He the curtain was let down, the call for had particularly marked the foreman the manager was extremely loud, but of the workmen employed about the nobody appeared. Printed papers theatre, who had conducted himself with the words " Old Prices" were af with the greasest impropriety. He fixed on the front of the boxes, and knew, too, that som hundreds of held up in the pit, but no notice was orders had been distributed, in order taken of them. At length there was to procure a full attendance of the a cry of "Get on the stage," on which friends to the imposition. Mr. Leigh a posse of Bow-street officers appeared, also adverted to a circumstance which and the stage traps were let down: happened at the doors of the theatre; these proceedings deterred the audi- the door keepers were charged to reence from venturing on that part of fuse money, and admit orders in prethe theatre. A gentleman of the name ference; but what seemed to him most of Leigh, an attorney, then addressed surprising was, that Mr. Kemble the audience from the boxes, and should express hits ignorance of what urged them to persevere in the tem- they had to complain of. Their perate opposition they had begun, and grievances, he said, were not confined

he would insure them success. This was received with great applause. The people not dispersing, the constables at length began to attempt to clear the pit and galleries, to which considerable opposition was made, and several persons were taken into custody. It was half past twelve before the house was emptied.

to the advance of prices. He hoped observed t'other night, that not one that the British stage would never be farthing of the advance would ever suffered to be contaminated with Ita- find its way into the pockets of the lian depravity and French duplicity. performers. Now, in truth, I state (Thunders of applause. He conjured to you, (and I am sure that no one the public to be firm, and promised will doubt of my speaking the truth to meet them on the following even- before you) that at the last raising of ing. the prices, the performers were also Mr. Smith, a barrister, next ad- benefited; and I am sure, all the perdressed the audience from the oppo- formers are ready to come forward to site boxes. He said, that Mr. Kemble testify it. Ladies and Gentlemen, I had professed his ignorance of their have only to say, that I fully rely on complaints; he therefore proposed your liberality; and that on mature that Mr. Kemble should be required to attend for the purpose of hearing them, provided the audience would promise to listen patiently to him. This was agreed to, and in less than five minutes Mr. Kemble appeared on the stage, and spoke as follows:

pit produced an octave fife, which he investigating their accounts) to the sounded so sharply, that all the bass Governor of the Bank of England. in the orchestra could not drown his (A partial cry of no! no!! Ladies notes, while God save the King, Rule and Gentleman-I only ask, what I Britannia, and Hearts of Oak, alter- am sure you won't deny me-Imparnately employed his powers. In these tial Justice. (Universal applause, intunes, many of the audience fervently terrupted by sounding a horn, at which joined, and although the cadences great indignation was expressed.) Let were not fine, they were decidedly the Attorney-General of England→ full enough. This was answered with disapprobaThe play proceeded with unex- tion-"None of your law officers. ampled rapidity, and, while" huge Black Jack. The Governor of the uproar lorded it wide," in the middle Bank of England, &c.". The placards of the second act, Mr. Kemble inade of the night were more numerous than his appearance. He was greeted with ever, and some of them extremely mingled acclamations of encourage- large and long. ment, and hootings, and revilings. It was long before silence could be obtained, and the fits of stillness were of very short duration, and liable to be interrupted every instant from the most casual occasions. Mr. Kemble was dressed as before, in black, and, while on the stage, exhibited a considerable degree of agitation. He spoke to the following eflect:

Saturday. The Woodman and Raising the Wind was attempted, when as usual, cat-calls, rattles, &c. struck up at the beginning of the play, and continued in full chorus nearly the evening. Among the placards struck up was, the exhibition of a coffin with cross bones, &c. and the words, "Here lies the body of New Prices, an ugly child, and base born, who died of the "Ladies and Gentlemen-I have a whooping cough, on the 23d of Sep proposal to submit to you, if I may tember, 1809, aged six days." Mr. have the honour to have it heard, Kemble at length informed the audiwhich I am in hopes will effectually ence, that a committee of gentlemen contribute to the restoration of the should be appointed to inspect the public tranquillity. Ladies and Gen- state of the concern, and decide whetlemen-the proprietors are willing to ther the old or new prices were the submit their accounts and books (no most fit and reasonable; and that, no! hear! hear!) to the inspection until the report of these gentlemen of a committee of gentlemen of unim- could be obtained, the house should peachable impartiality and honour, be closed; he also stated that Madam proposed by the public, who, from Catalani had relinquished her engagetheir rank and characters, must be ac- ment with Mr. Harris. The interrup knowledged to be above all suspicion. tions to Mr. Kemble's speech were fre(Hear! hear!) To convince the quent and loud, and he retired amidst a whole world, and shew the state of contending storm of applause and distheir affairs, the proprietors are anx- approbation. The placards of this jous that they should be submitted, evening were still more numerous than for instance, (if he could be prevailed the preceding, some of which displayon kindly to undertake the trouble of ed considerable ingenuity.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Our correspondent "R. H." complains that his communications have been copied into the Glote newspaper, without any acknowledgement on the part of the editor from what work he took them The injury, any, is done to us; for while our correspondent's honours are multiplied, we are robbed of the merit of having introduced the subject of those honours to public notice. We should be glad, however, to see such mein practices abandoned.

Our friend "R. T." writes a doleful phillippic against stinking breath. We pity his sufferings, but know not how to relieve them.

"William Tucker" has our best wishes, and we hope his muse is more propitious, now that he is in the enjoyment of the mens sana in corpore sano.

"JG.'s" confidential communication shall be treated with strict secrecy. Several of his favours have yet to appear.

Numerous communications are deferred for want of room.

UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. XII.

o ll

STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

Parturiunt montes!
HE grandest expedition that has

the brother of Mr.Pitt, the tax-monger, and, we regret to say it, the sou of

of England, has returned home again; of Pitt, the tax-monger, should have and the news it brings with it must acted in this manner, excites in us make every English heart ready to no surprise: he has been in the field burst with sorrow and indignation. as great as the tax-monger in the caWe have alluded sufficiently often to binet. The two brothers have exthe profligacy of some of our public pended more of English money, to no papers and it might have been ex- purpose, than any pair of ministers pected that those, which had endea- and commanders in the annals of our voured to raise the expectation of the history. How would the immortal public to the highest pitch, would Chatham have felt upon this occasion! have been the first to feel for the dis- What would he have said to a son, regrace of the nation. But no! they are turning to town without a single voice base enough, if an individual should being raised to congratulate his ar discover any warmth on the subject rival?—He would indignantly have of the corruptions of the country, to turned away, and the recollection of endeavour, by all means in their a Wolfe must have overpowered his power, to ruin him in the nation's feelings. esteem. But should the nation be ruined, either by evil councils, or by timid wavering or cowardly execution, they would rather screen the culprits, than endeavour to bring them to justice.

It is appointed, by nature, that great minds, with small powers, will produce great effects; whilst little minds, with the greatest powers, will only be tray the more their insignificance.Nothing can be said on this expe The expedition has been attended dition to palliate the conduct of those with the most melancholy circum- who planned, or those who superinstances. We could join in the laughter tended its execution. The navy and at its folly, at the partings of Lord the army were ready to perform every Castlereagh and Alderman Curtis, duty. To the army, indeed, little op at the feasts of the turtle-loving portunity was offered for distinguish Falstaff, if the groans from our mili- ing itself. All that was done was done tary hospitals did not destroy every by the navy and the artillery; and we inclination to merriment. We are need not say that the former acted the laughter and scorn of our enemies. with the utmost skill, promptitude, We have put forth all our strength, and bravery. The latter was served and what have we effected? We with that judgment which marks this have taken two islands, garrisoned by excellent corps: a corps, whose officers not a tenth part of the number of are not parade gentlemen, but men assailants:-we have demolished a who know their duties, and study to town, which we might have taken with perform them with diligence and proscarcely any effort:-we have fritter- priety. ed away our time on these two islands; have quitted one entirely, and it is supposed that if we do not speedily decamp from the other, we shall be overpowered by the enemy. The French, indeed, mean to leave us in possession of the place, during the unhealthy season; but, as soon as the cold weather sets in, they will attack the troops, weakened with sickness, and restore the island to its former

master.

The Earl of Chatham was the commander of this ill-fated expedition;

With such a force what might not have been effected As to the object of the undertaking, the destroying of the French navy in the Scheldt, we have not the least doubt that if it had been left entirely to our ships of war, they would have performed the task with eagerness and facility. As it is, our navy is not involved in any of the disgrace. Our admirals did not form a part of the military council which gave up the undertaking. The Earl of Chatham and his lieutenant-generals must answer to the county for this part

of the expedition; and we cannot fix culpability on them, till we know on what data their opinion was founded. The time may have been so frittered away, that a force was collected on both sides the Scheldt too strong to be attacked by our army, probably at that time too much enfeebled with sickness. Yet why was such a force permitted to be collected? The planners of the expedition had opportunities of knowing the strength of the Netherlands; but in this the lieutenantgenerals will say, that they had no concern; they could answer only for the precise point of time when the Earl of Chatham consulted them; and then they were unanimous that they could not stir a step farther. We laDent only that the matter was necessarily referred to such a council:we wish that the question had been decided by the admirals and captains

of the flect.

But what was the present Earl of Chatham about during his residence in Beveland? How came it that he could not stir from Beveland long be. fure he called this council? What prevented him from making the attack immediately after his landing on this island? This question ought to be decided by a military enquiry. It cannot be doubted that he had sufficient justructions before he went; and, if the plan failed through his mismanagement, his employers are interested in making it known to the public.

that a notable example shall be made; or our army will continue to exhibit the miserable scenes of the Helder, Buenos Ayres, and the Scheldt.

It is no wonder that, after such a transaction, we should have heard of squabbles in the cabinet, and that some of the ministers have been exasperated against each other beyond the usual bounds of public men's resentment. But a pistol ball is a small satisfaction to a nation; and we do not wish ministers to take into their own hands what would better be performed by the justice of the coun try. The expedition to Holland is not the only thing to create among them a spirit of discord; and the news from Spain is supposed to have imparted no small degree of acrimony, We closed our last with a supposed triumph at Talavera; and it was natural to expect, after the triumphant details in the Gazette, and the firing of the park and tower guns, that the next dispatches would inform us of the advance of the combined army, and the retreat of the Gallo-Spanish King to the north of the Ebro.

But no such news arrived.—The

battle of Talavera was productive of one event, which will stamp it for ever in the annals of our peerage, whilst the unennobled will never think of the title but with scorn and contempt, though the wearer of it is a man of distinguished courage and acknowledged talents. The Wellesley, who commanded the British troops on the plains of Talavera, has been made a peer upon the occasion, receiving the title of Viscount from that ill-fated city. He is now Lord Viscount Wellington of Talavera. The title was conferred upon him as soon as possible after the arrival of his first dispatch'; and his next dispatches shewed with what propriety it was conferred. We have seen a British admiral, after having defeated the enemy, and taken two of his ships, degraded for not pursuing farther the advantages of his victory. A general is made a Viscount for repelling the enemy one day but he had no signs of victory to shew, and the event proved what little claims he had to the rewards of distinguished

The Earl of Chatham, however, may not have been culpable. He may have been active and energetic: rising at the dawn of day to prepare his troops for action, retiring late to a few hours of disturbed repose; contenting himself with the commonest fare; every moment on the alert, to take every advantage:–if we grant all this, which however is rather difficult, since it does not appear that he ever was within sight or hearing of the enemy, what becomes of his employers? Where was their skill in forming the plan; their sagacity in providing every thing for its execution? The guilt must be shared between them and Lord Chatham, or lay exclusively on the shoulders of one or merit. other of these parties. Let it fall

:

Whilst England was congratulating where it will, it becomes the nation herself on the bravery of the troops,