148 



|>iiblic. In town, it may be remarked that 

 the houfe, on all occafions, Is perfe<3:Iy 

 obedient to the audience. This is difcreet 

 on the part of the managers and the adors, 

 and entitles them to fome merit, for it is often 

 a matter of aftonifhment and admiration how 

 they can govern themfelves, fo implicitly as 

 they do, and maintain enough of forbearance 

 to bend fubmiffive to the will of the public. 



The loyal fong of " God fave the King " 

 being called for, fome of the performers ad- 

 vanced to the front of the ftage, and, bowing 

 to the audience, obtained a general filence, 

 from the idea that they came forward to fing 

 it : but, to the furprize of the multitude, they 

 began the air of " Rule Britannia," which, 

 however grateful to the ears of Englifhmen, 

 was not the fong demanded ; therefore from 

 a fenfe of indignity, at the adors afTuming 

 the quality of dldators, they ftrenuoufly op- 

 pofed it, and a violent clamor enfued. " Rule 

 Britannia" was, however, continued, notwith- 

 ftanding the loud oppofition, and the general 

 cry for *' God fave the King 5" and after 

 having gone through this, amidft all the con- 



