66 monopoly, or to abridge the profession of the fair "reward for their talent; but, on the contrary, your "petitioner feels that he should have little claim to the 66 gracious protection he now seeks at your Majesty's "hands if such were his intention. 66 "That your petitioner has endeavoured to prove by the annexed address, that the consolidation of "the two theatres was the best expedient which, in "the present very critical and depressed state of the "national drama, could be devised for upholding it. "That your petitioner is fully awarè, in his 66 attempt to reform some of the abuses which have "existed in these establishments, and which have "caused the ruin and downfall of each successive "lessee, he shall have much to contend with; but 66 པ 66 your petitioner most humbly trusts he shall receive "the protection of your Most Gracious Majesty and the public at large, if he pursue the honest and honour"able course of excluding no member of talent of "either of the established companies, without first 66 having proposed to them an adequate remuneration "for their services; nor will the effect of the scheme "proposed by your Most Gracious Majesty's peti"tioner go to the exclusion of minor talent, or "subordinate persons employed, beyond the ordinary changes at the end of every season, which experience "has proved to be necessary. 66 "That your petitioner is aware that the recent "proceedings of the Covent Garden lessee and his 66 company may be productive of dissatisfaction on "the part of that body; and in his treaty for engage"ments with some of its members they have shown 66 no disposition (contrary, your petitioner believes, to "their own interest) to forward the views of your "petitioner, in the hope that your Majesty will be graciously pleased to look upon their case in such a "light as to induce your Majesty to grant them a "licence for a third theatre. 66 66 "That your petitioner throws himself on your Majesty's generosity and condescension, to take ❝into consideration the number of persons dependent "on the fate of those establishments, so long held on "the faith of the Crown. And your petitioner also "most humbly begs to submit to your Majesty that 66 as NINETEEN THEATRES have lately been kept 66 open on the same evening, any attempt on the part "of the actors to establish what they call a third "theatre would, in the event of their procuring a "licence, patent, or charter, in this undramatic city, finally complete the ruin of all parties holding "theatrical property. 66 66 "Your petitioner, therefore, relying on your Majesty's protection, implores that your Majesty will "be graciously pleased to take his case into consider"ation; and humbly hopes that, under the circum"stances herein set forth, your Majesty will see the 66 same just grounds for refusing to grant any licence, "patent, or charter for the erection of a third "theatre at this critical period, which the Lords of "the Privy Council saw and decided on in the year "1810. "And your petitioner, as in duty bound, "Shall ever pray, &c., &c." By the following reply it will be seen, His Majesty was graciously pleased to accede to my prayer, and to reject that of my opponents: "Lord Chamberlain's Office, "SIR, 66 August 15, 1833. "I am commanded by the Lord Chamberlain to "inform you that your memorial has been laid before "His Majesty, and it will receive the fullest attention " and consideration. "In making this communication, I am desired by “the Lord Chamberlain to express a hope you will 66 employ as many of the Covent Garden performers "as are deserving, and not confine your selection to "the Drury Lane company. "To "I have the honour to be, Sir, "Your obedient servant, "Alfred Bunn, Esq. "T. B. MASH." The whole secret of the affair lay in a nutshell— the MONOPOLY, about which there was so great an outcry, was aimed at by the ACTOR, and not by the MANAGER; and His Majesty's excellent sense and clear-sightedness saw through it instantly. It served however to make the malcontents of the profession think Mr. Bulwer a wonderful genius for the time -at all events he thought so himself. The reader readily understand that every prospect now presented itself of, at least, a skirmish: it was better than that—it was little short of a regular pitched battle. I was assailed in every direction, and by every missile, assertion upon assertion, contumely upon contumely, and, the grand ingredient of both, falsehood upon falsehood! Caricatures, anonymous letters, authorless pamphlets, blackguardisms, and sottises of every description met one at the corner of every street; but with temper for a preceptor and truth for a guide, the path to follow was not so difficult as, under opposite influences, it might have been. I examined this, perused that, laughed at the one, and despised the other; and in the conflict these impressions occasioned, I left London for Paris. 124 CHAPTER VII. Mems. of a Manager, during a Continental trip-Terms on which to meet a bad dramatist-French honour, and its reward-Opinions on the novelties of the day-Mademoiselle Falcon and Madame Vestris-Death of a celebrated theatrical character-A man can never be drowned who is born to be hanged-Mr. Braham and his talent for anecdoteOpening of the patent theatres after their union-Free ListSome on it," more free than welcome"-John Barnett and John Bull-Musical genius-First effects of the GRAND JUNCTION, and its overflow. I WILL now endeavour to amuse my reader with a short journal, kept during a trip to the capital of our diverting neighbours, which I have found amongst my papers. August 6.-Steamed to Ramsgate. Fine weather: no excuse for being sick, but there are those overreaching rascals in the world who will be. Landed "after a prosperous voyage," dined, strolled on the sea shore. What a glorious sight is that said sea, whether "Calm or convuls'd-in breeze, or gale, or storm, "Dark heaving !" |