348 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1S09. 



The proprietors and performers 

 seem, at length, to have been 

 wearied out by this vulgar and un- 

 ceasing clamour; they lost their 

 temper, the most ominous of all 

 Josses in a contest with a mob. A 

 pugilistic corps was imprudently 

 introduced into the pit, composed 

 principally of the children of Isra- 

 el, with Dutch Sam at their head, 

 and a body of constables armed 

 with staves of authority. For 

 awhile, there was in the gallery a 

 delusive calm ; but as the curtain 

 drew up, the actors were saluted 

 with the customary hisses and 

 groans. The constables and fight- 

 ing men, however, were not want- 

 ing in activity, and though stoutly 

 opposed, they had before half-play 

 clearly the advantage. But when 

 the pit began to fill, the yell of 

 horror was renewed, and, in five 

 minutes, a hundred fists were 

 clenched in savage hostility. The 

 people were exasperated, almost 

 to phrenzy, at the idea that brutal 

 force was thus employed to com- 

 pel them to submission ; and the 

 evening closed in unwonted confu- 

 sion. 



These disgraceful tumults at 

 length began to subside, and the 

 peaceful admirers of the drama 

 were congratulated on a prospect 

 of returning tranquillity, when an 

 incident occurred which rekindled 

 those flames which were about to 

 be extinguished. Mr. Clifford, a 

 barrister of distinction, appeared 

 in the pit, with the 'etters O. P. in 

 his hat, and was saluted by the fa- 

 miliar and commendatory address, 

 — " Here comes the honest coun- 

 sellor!" and way was made for 

 him ,to the center of the pit. Thus 

 encouraged, and as it was thought, 

 authorized, the people again gave 



free scope to their clamour, and 

 " Old Prices,"— and " Clifi"ord for 

 'ever," became the rallying words 

 of the night. Brandon, the box- 

 keeper, got Mr. Clifford appre- 

 hended as a rioter, and carried be- 

 fore a magistrate at Bow-street, by 

 vfhom, however, he was immedi- 

 ately discharged. Mr. Clifford 

 now indicted Brandon for an as- 

 sault and false imprisonment, in 

 which indictment Brandon was 

 cast. When the jury came in with 

 their verdict for the plaintiftj a 

 burst of applause and uproar broke 

 forth in such a manner, as entirely 

 to disregard the decorum of a 

 court of justice. Cries of huzza 

 by hundreds at once, were com- 

 municated like electricity to the 

 multitude in the open hall, and 

 echoed, in the instant, in Palace- 

 yard. 



In consequence of the issue of 

 this trial, a dinner took place at 

 the Crown and Anchor Tavern, 

 Mr. Clifford in the chair, and a 

 committee was appointed to defend 

 the persons under prosecution for 

 the Uke conduct. These symptoms 

 of a regularly organized opposi- 

 tition, added to the late decision of 

 the jury, showed the proprietors 

 the necessity of an immediate com- 

 promise, and Mr. Kemble request- 

 ed admission to the meeting, when 

 the following resolutions were 

 agreed upon : " That the boxes 

 should continue at 75.; that the pit 

 should be lowered to the old price, 

 3*. 6d. ; and that the tier of private 

 boxes (the tier of boxes in the 

 front of the house) should be 

 thrown open and restored to the 

 public at the end of the present 

 season ; and that all prosecutions 

 on both sides should be stopped." 

 The people, hontvcr, would not 



be 



