666 Notes of the Month on [JUNE, 



and other places, has nothing- to do with this question. The public there are 

 little in the habit of exercising their right over the mode of admission to public 

 places, and the prices at the King's Theatre are already higher than any others 

 in Europe. They secure, as they are, the most brilliant recompense that can 

 possibly await individual talent. We may allow, perhaps, to very rare emi- 

 nence in a public performer, that he shall occasionally count his hundreds for 

 a single night; but this scheme, should the public swallow the bait, may 

 possibly secure his thousands to Paginini he may appropriate as much in 

 that one night as former managers have assigned to our Billingtons and Cata- 

 lanis for a whole season. 



As to doubling the prices in Berlin and other Continental cities, the 

 " Times" might have added, that the prices are extremely low, compared 

 with those of England, and especially with those of the King's theatre ; 

 and that the theatres are generally small. The King's theatre being, 

 with the exception of La Scala at Milan, probably the largest in 

 Europe. 



M. Laporte, being perfectly astonished at being taken to task/ wrote 

 an attempt at an apology, in the following letter, to the editors of the 

 different newsp pers :- 



" Sir, It is with deep regret that I have seen in a Morning Paper a para- 

 graph which tends to throw upon me the intended advance of prices of Signer 

 Paganini's concert. A feeling of delicacy, and the lateness of the hour when, 

 on my return to town, the said paragraph came to my knowledge, do not allow 

 me to enter, for the present, into a minute explanation, but I hope that a 

 further investigation of the case will be granted me, when I have no doubt my 

 character will be cleared of an undeserved charge, and restored to that public 

 estimation which it has ever been the aim of my exertions to obtain. I have 

 the honour to remain your obedient humble servant, " J. LAPORTE." 



" King's Theatre, May 19." 



This note explained nothing, further than that the lateness of the hour 

 when Monsieur returned from his country excursion prevented him from 

 explaining any thing. But it does not deny that he was fully acquainted 

 with those exorbitant demands before; or that it was his duty as a 

 manager, protected by the public and the subscribers, to take care that 

 no such impudence should be practised on them. We would ask also, 

 whether this M. Laporte was not to have had a share of the signer's profits 

 originally ? and whether the idea of doubling the rates of admission met 

 with any resistance whatever from the Frenchman ? Those rates had been 

 partially announced too a week or ten days before ; why did not M. La- 

 porte then announce his dissent from them ? This is the only shape in 

 which explanation can be received, and this we shall see whether the 

 manager is able to give. 



The first result, however, was tolerably intelligible. It is said, that 

 no more than eight or ten boxes were taken. The speculation on national 

 foolery, of course, fell to the ground. On the night previous to that 

 fixed for the concert, bills were posted in various parts of the house, 

 announcing that " Signer Paganini's concert" had been postponed, and 

 giving a copy of a note in Italian, addressed by him to Laporte, of 

 which the following is a translation : 



"Sir, Finding myself rather indisposed, I beg you will do me the favour 

 to inform the respectable public that I shall not be able to perform to-morrow 

 evening. I am, Sir, your humble servant, " PAGANINI." 



Laporte's friends say, for he seems to have been able to say nothing 

 for himself, that he had told the sign or, " that the liaut ton of London, 



