576 Notes of the Month [MAY, 



blockhead who performs law at Bow Street, that Sir Richard Birnie 

 (such is knighthood) a party in the cause, from whom she proceeded 

 to lay her wrongs before our sovereign lord the king, in the form of a 

 bill presented to the grand jury against Anderson, for " hiring people 

 to deprive her of her bread by hissing," &c. &c. 



As all grand juries must do something for the honour of their office, 

 they brought in the bill at once, and the parties were in a fair course of 

 hearing themselves very handsomely abused on both sides, by men 

 learned in the law, and handsomely paid for the same. But the children 

 of the muses are of a more glowing temperature ; and they could not 

 wait for the tardiness of forensic Billingsgate. So, on the very first 

 public opportunity, the performance of Guy Mannering, they declared 

 their mutual confidences. The detail is too brilliant for our frigidity, 

 and we give it from an eye-witness. 



Let our readers imagine Guy Mannering, act 2d, scene 1st; the duet 

 of " Now hope, now fear" is over, and the Henry appears. He bore 

 the " strife of gods and men" with most laudable nonchalance, while Ma- 

 dame realised Byron's description of a boarding-school miss, and seemed 



" So much alarmed that she was quite alarming." 



The tumult which ensued was a hot-bed for extemporaneous eloquence 

 both on the stage and in front. Anderson stated that Madame's asser- 

 tions were altogether fa Ise. This we thought a strong expression towards 

 a lady; for had he used it respecting a gentleman, the consequences 

 would have been unpleasant. Wallack begged a hearing for Vestris, 

 and seemed to feel for the novelty of her situation. He remarked that 

 extemporaneous speaking was not exactly in her line, and seemed good- 

 naturedly to intimate that, as it was in his, he was ready to be eloquent. 

 The lady, not duly appreciating this handsome offer, preferred (as ladies 

 do occasionally) using her own tongue. She appealed to her affidavit, 

 and assured the audience that she was prepared to substantiate her 

 charge. She added, " With respect to Mr. Anderson, if I had not every 

 proof of his conduct, I would not have taken the steps which I have felt 

 it to be my duty to adopt. I am well convinced that he hired persons 

 to drive me from the stage. (Cries of ' No, no,' and ' true, true.') If, 

 ladies and gentlemen, he can clear himself from the stigma of having 

 thus behaved, no person will be more rejoiced at it than myself. (Ap- 

 plause.) Ladies and gentlemen, I hope that, for your amusement, you 

 will suffer us to finish the opera." (Bravo.) "Make it up ! kiss and be 

 friends," said one in the pit. " Josephine would kick at the kissing," 

 was answered from the upper boxes. " He 's to blame," from one quar- 

 ter ; " She 's to blame," from another ; " They 're a pretty pair for a 

 curricle" says a third. It would seem that Anderson does not cherish 

 Falstajf's sentiment, " The better part of valour is discretion ;" for they 

 do say in the theatre, that when remonstrance was used on the ground 

 of incurring public censure, he said, " I '11 fight any man in the house 

 who says I should m^ke an apology." He showed fight when his groom 

 said that he knew his master could fight any one of them ; and if a second 

 appeared he would be glad to encounter him. 



All this is excellent. And we peculiarly admire the sublimity of 

 Anderson, who thus laid down the chivalric maxim, that any who dared 

 to think him any thing short of Braham or King Solomon, merited a 

 brace of bullets in his brains, or a thrust in the thorax. His groom, too, 

 becomes an historic character ; and the whole is a very fine burlesque. 

 " Kiss and be friends," indeed ! We say, " War to the knife." 



