THE QUEEN AT THE THEATRES.
Tile Queen's presence has shed a lustre over the two patent houses this week ; and the players, who do not hold lightly .their privilege of basking in the sunshine of Royalty, greatly rejoice tit their transient glorification. RALFE was honoured by the Siege of Rochelle being commanded at Drury Lane, on Wednesday ; and POOLE boasts of the Royal patronage that his amusing force of Simpson and Co. is honoured with—this lmine, the third time that the Sovereign has looked in at their shop. Werner was the Royal selection at Covent Garden last night—pro- bah] v on account of alaciteanv's powerful acting. The first act of Fra.Diavolo was the afterpiece. " We" made one of the throng that filled the stage on this occasion. It was curious to see the array of painted checks and feathered heads, and the motley group of persons in stage dresses and plain clothes, drawn up facing a canvas screen ; and to hear, when the doors were opened, the rushing in of the eager au- dience. First, there was the scrambling tread of a few hasty foot- steps, like the pattering of rain in a shower ; then the torrent of people pouring tumultuously in on all sides ; then the gradual subsidence as the house got too full for the reverberation of sound. At last a gene- t-al shout, swelling into a boisterous roar of welcome, and mingled with the music of the national anthem, proclaimed the Royal presence. The curtain drew up, and disclosed an amphitheatre of people all seemingly moving to and fro with excitement, and waving hats and handkerchiefs: at one coraer, surrounded by a brilliant circle of plumed ladies and em- broidered lords, stood the fair creature who was the cause of all this frenzy of delight,—a gentle girl, with a quiet, unaffected air of dignity, herself awed almost to timidity, (though never losing a graceful self- possession,) curtseying to her enthusiastic subjects, until it became rudeness to continue their vociferous greetings. The evreme pressure of the crowd in the pit and galleries, un- fortunately, caused some interruption at the commencement of the performance. The Queen was a little alarmed at seeing people dragged out of the pit into the boxes, to effect their release in the quickest way ; and appeared at one time as if she would have retired. But the house was soon relieved from its superabundant audience, and
the performance proceeded without interruption. The Queen took an i evident interest n the tragedy : and it was never better represented-- MAC:READY, especially, played his finest. But behind the scenes is
not the best position to see the effect of a play. " Rule Britannia" was sung :it the conclusion, as " God save the Queen" had been at the
commencement ; her Majesty standing during both. The Royal box and its retiling-rooms were handsomely and comfortably fitted up : but the Queen seemed to feel the draught from the stage, for she kept her black scarf close over her shoulders, and held her white boa round her
throat. Her Majesty was simply attired, and her hair was adorned by a light circlet of brilliants. The Dutchess of KENT was seated, but the Lady and Lords in Waiting stood during the performance. This is barbarous etiquette, and must be painful to the Queen as well as irksome to the victims of it.
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