LETTERS. 191 



"With regard to the Monthly Precaptor, I certainly 

 shall be agreeable to your taking it in, as. my only obje^j- 

 tion was the extreme impatience which I feel to sje 

 whether my essays have been successlul ; bat this may 

 Lc obviated by your speedy perusal, and not neglecting 

 to forward it. But you must have the goodness not to 

 begin till August, as my bookseller cannot stop it this 

 month. 



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I had a ticket given me to the boxes, on Monday night, 

 for the benefit of Campbell, from Drury Lane, and there 

 was such a riot as never was experienced here before. 

 He is a democrat, and the soldiers planned a riot in con- 

 junction v»dth the moh. 'SVe heard the shouting of the 

 rabble in the street before the pZa^/ was over : the 

 moment the curtain dropt an officer went into the front 

 box, and gave the word of cummand : immediately about 

 sixty troopers started up, and six trumj.eters m the 

 pit played " God save the King." The noise was 

 astonishing. The officers in the boxes then drew their 

 swords, and at another signal the privates in the pit 

 drew their bludgeons, which they had hitherto con- 

 cealed, and attacked all indiscriminately that had not 

 a uniform : the officers did the same with their swords, 

 and the house was one continutd scene of confusi.n : 

 one pistol was fired, and the ladies were fainting in the 

 lobby. The outer duors were shut, to keep out the mob 

 and the people jumped on the stage as a last resource' 

 One of these noble officers, seeing one man stand in the* 

 pit with his hat on, jumped over the division and cut 

 him with his sword, v»hich the man instantly wrenched 

 from him and broke, whilst the officer sneaked back in 

 disgrace. They then formed a troop, and having 

 emptied the playhouse, they scoured the streets with 

 their swords, and returned home victorious. The players 

 are, in consequence, dismissed, and we have informations 

 in our office against the officers. 



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