THE THEATRICAL AFFRAY:
WE know nothing of the quarrel between Mr. CHARLES KEMBLE and the reputed editor of the Age; and we do not intend to enter into the inquiry whether wounds to the feelings are more or less: ' cruel 'outrages than 'blows on the back, or whether bamboos or pens am the severer instruments of malignity. These investigations we-at present decline ; nor will we stop to raise the.question,. whe- ther the proprietor of a theatre is taking the best course to pro- cure the habit of order, when. he himself sets the example of se- lecting it as the place fora breach of the laws, of the coarsest kind. - Whatever Ma•WESTMACorr may have been with his pen,' lie- lifts been suitably matched by Mr. CHARLES KEMBLE with his cialgel. Besides these persons, there is, however, a third patty whosecon- duct more immediately interests the public ; we mean -Mr:THOMAS, the police-officer ; whose account of his proceeding- on witnessing • the assault was as follows. In answer to. Mr. HALLS' queStion, • why he had not interposed and taken Mr: KEAti31.4 at once into custody,. Mr..Thorhas replied (we quote the Chronicle's report) that he knew such was the priietice -in general ; and explained time cause of his not having acted-in that way, by stating, that on part of the audience becoming ac- quainted with the persons of Mr. Westmacott and Mr. Keinble, a general hooting took place, anti a disposition was evinced by many gentlemen pre- • sent to follow up the assault upon Mr. Westmacott, who had fallen oh the floor. After having prevented Mr. Kemble from assaulting him further,' he was engaged in begging those present to keep the peace, and see that no further iirjhry was done to Mr. Westmacott. Whilst so engaged, (and the whole affair was the work of a moment,) Mr. Kemble, without saying anything, walked away to the green-room. , Mr. Westmacott asked him then-to take his arm.; hut this. he refused to do, noticing that the audience manifested strong feelings of dislike to Mr. Westmacott. The latter then charged hiM with having acted unfairly, and told hiM at hiS peril to go and take Mr. Kemble into custody, and convey him -to Bow Street. He accordingly went to Mr. Kemble, in the green-room, and told him what had been said. Mr. Kemble said be would .go cheerfully to Bow Street,
and accordingly walked with him to the office. .
We recommend to the attention of the superintending authori- ties, the courageous and humane bearing of, the officer, who refused aid • to a severely-beaten person, .becansehe appearedtO be disliked by the spectators of the 'fray. his office, Mr. THOMAS would seem wondrously nice in respect of services of assistance... He eschews giving support to an';. unpopular man beaten to the ground with a 04dgeklYerbaps he thought, to.pro. tect him from the assault equally unbecoming his character, and an officious interference with the pleqatire of the master of the house.
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