THE THEATRES.

COVENT GARDEN opened for the season on Monday; and the temp-

tation of low prices coupled with a feeling of curiosity drew an over- flowing audience. There was actually a rush on the opening of the doors at the box-entrance, and the staircase was thronged as at a fare- well benefit. Long before the curtain rose, every place was occupied which afforded even a peep at the stage. The audience, as is usual on such occasions, was noisy ; and some discontented persons, who could not get seats, clamoured for their money ; arid the uproar was not quieted till the first act of the play was nearly half over,—when Mr.

H. WALLACE, the stage-manager, came forward, and promised admis-

sion on another evening to those who were dissatisfied; hinting also,

that for other disturbers there were peace-officers on duty. This should

have been done at first. It was worthy of remark that the interruption proceeded from the boxes ; the galleries were quiet, only indulging in vociferations between the acts. Their silence was propitiated by the very proper precaution of admitting no more to the upper regions than there were seats for. The audience seemed to be much of the same

character as usual; the dress circle exhibiting a great number of ladies,

and the private boxes being all filled : the lower gallery perhaps contained a larger proportion of the " unwashed " than usual. The house has been cleaned, and presented a light and cheerful appearance. The new

drop.scene, painted by MARSHALL, is rather a tawdry affair; the only part of it that is worthy. of admiration being a temple looking as if

seen in an oval mirror in its centre—it is designed in classic taste, and beautifully painted. " God save the King " was sung in a manner that we foitear to

characterize. Miss TURPIN shouted with all her might, and the gal- ,

leries vociferously applauded ; while Mr. COLLINS'S voice, not being so well able to bear the straining, cracked, and provoked a slight hiss.

Miss TAYLOR then came forward to deliver a poetical address; but the

confusion was so great that not a word of what she spoke reached our ears—perched as we were on a coign of 'vantage " Olympus high :" by those who were able to catch its import, it was received with great ap- plause. Let it speak for the Manager.

" Patrons and Friends, trembling 'to ixt hope and fear, I venture forth ;—say, am I welcome here? If so, my happy ditty I pursue, And bid a grateful welcome, here, to you.

Next, 'tis my task to say a humble word, For Covent Garden's new-created lord ; To give you greeting in his proud domain, And ask your suffrage fur a prosperous reign.

Here, chiefs of loftier fame have third to guide The Thespian bark o'er Fashion's changeful tide,.

And nobly struggled amidst adverse winds, Their best reward—the praise of liberal minds. Not less ambitious is the hardy Right

Who spreads the sail and takes the helm to-night; Heedless of toil, he owns, with heart sincere, The public voice has taught him how to steer;

Fearless of storms, he trusts, as heretofore, The public smile will pilot him to shore.

So the first mariners, by safe degrees, Paddled through RIVERS ere they saird the SEAS;. Arid thus Britannia's matchless navigators

Conquer in cock-boats ere they command first-raters.

Such is our Manager ; who ventures all, Proudly to rise, or, not inglorious, fall;— Resolved, by zealous effort, to maintain

The Drama's golden volume free from stain ;

And diligent in search of all that tends

To please the Stage's best and truest friends t Not by profuse expense for foreign ware,

But well-rewarded, sterling, native fare ; Substantial dishes served with tasteful spices

The highest banquet at the lowest price !

The play was Hamlet; CHARLES KEMBLE personating the Prince of TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR. Denmark, DOWTON Potonius, and Miss TAYLOR Ophelia : the other : Hampstead, 16th October 1835.

though it is saying but little, is yet more titan we expected to have the now much-agitated question of the abolition of slavery in the United States, been able to say. Miss TAYLOR'S Ophelia is a clever stage per- and fearing that your opinions, though in my humble opinion erroneous, are formance ; yet utterly worthless, wanting the simple and profound yet enforced with an appearance of oi iginality and power which may induce pathos of the character. Polonius is not quite stated to the admirable many wellwishers to the Negro population to believe that it would be injudi- powers of DOWTON. FARREN is now the only actor that combines the cious to persevere in favour of their emancipation at the present period of time, shrewdness of the worldly man and the servility of the courtier with I beg permission to send in a few remarks in opposition to your views. the garrulous imbecility of the shallow wit and the privileged freedomThe grand objection which you raise to the practicability of the emancipa- of the old servant ; and moreover, he seldom plays the buffoon. KEMBLE'S Hamlet is a graceful, solemn, and even impressive piece of and the West, where land is so abundant as to be obtained at an almost no. measured declamation; but it is not the Hamlet of our imaginations. minal price. Therefore you believe that the rice plantations of South Carolina Neither, indeed, is MACREADY'S, beautiful as it is in many parts. and the sugar fields of Louisiana would be thenceforth laid waste, the planters MACREADY'S assumption of the natural and familiar manner of real would be ruined in a mass, the exports of the country would decline, and so life, brings the character nearer home to our feelings ; but his great would be the multitude of evils to arise that Congress never could be studied elaboration is so apparent, that we cannot forget the actor ; brought to look them steadily in the face. Now, in answer to all this, I shall whose peculiar manner—not to call it affectation—is only now and not advance the argument that it is equally just that planters should be ruined, then lost in a burst of energy. But it is somewhat late in the day as that Negroes should be starved, flogged, and destroyed,—or that though all to go into a minute criticism of the acting of MACREADY and CHARLES the calamities anticipated from emancipation should in reality atke, yet that

KEMBLE. justice should he done, though the heavens rush down,—but shall proceed to

got up ; and found the cast quite equal to that at Drury Lane ; for is home to the Negro as much as to a man of any other coloured skit ; and the Mrs. W. WEST is at least as tolerable in Lady Macbeth as ELLEN Negroes who have been born in the sunny regions of South Carolina would not TREE; and KEMBLE'S Macbeth is more massive and robust than very long remain in the icy winters of Massachusetts or of Maine. Even there- .MACREADY'S, if it be also more heavy. KEMBLE is not comparable gion of the Ohio, though one of the finest portions of the earth, is subject to very to MACREADY in the vividness with which he depicts the wretch. intense cold in the winter months ; and it is perfectly well known that Negroes, edness of the conscience-stricken murderer; nor is his vigour now from the languor of the circulation of the blood which is peculiar to that race equal to the energy of MACREADY : still it is a noble performance of men, do fly invariably from the influence of cold. From the operation of of its kind. For the rest, H. WAcLAcK'S Macdujf was better this natural cause, there is little doubt that the mass of the Negro population than WARDL'S, and G. BENNETT'S Banquo no worse than COOPER'S. will always remain in the Southern States. But allowing that the cultivation From the two specimens we have seen of the strength of the Covent of sugar and of rice should decline, or even be extinguished altogether, still Garden company in tragedy, we should say that, though but little in- that would form no real objection to the emancipation of the slaves. Sloth of those crops are cultivated in the United States ; and are so fatal to the health, ferior to the cast at Drury Lane, it will not attract permanently. energies, and lives of the Negro population, that the abandonment of the sugar Drury has the advantage ; and moreover it is at the lowest point of and the rice plantations would he a most beneficial change in a political mediocrity there. Why does not Mr. OSBALDISTON strengthen his and economical point of view. The sickness, mortality, and consequent pecu- company by his own exertions? He is no mean actor ; and would be niary loss to the planters, through the waste of Negroes in the swamps of South to KEMBLE what VANDENHOFF is to MACREADY. Carolina and Louisiana, is so great as to reduce the real income of the planters The music in Macbeth was passably performed, but not with the of sugar and of rice considerably below that of the cultivators of cotton cr of corn strength in numbers of the vocal corps at Drury Lance. As his cum- upon the uplands, where the air is pure. The prohibitory duty upon the sugars pany IS at present constituted, Mr. OSBALDISTON would do well to of Cuba and Brazil, and the consequent taxation of the whole population of the eschew opera. United States, to an amount of many millions per annum, in the double price FITZBALL has dramatized Paul Clifford ; which is to be brought out of the sugar consumed in the country for the purpose of bolstering tip the mo- nopoly of its cultivation in the State of Louisiana alone, has enabled the planters on Wednesday. If well done, it will be an effective play, of the melo- dramatic of that State to contend against the pecuniary loss arising from the waste of In the mean time, POWER will be the chief attraction. He makes deed, it could be shown that the sum paid by the people of the United States his first appearance since his return from America, on Monday, in to the sugar-growers of Louisiana would, in some three or four years, amount to the Irish Ambassador and Teddy the Tiler. KEMBLE'S engagement a fund equal to the purchase of the whole of the plantations ; which, as sugar terminates to-»ight. It was a short one, made for the nonce, to give could be procured so much lower in price from Cuba and Brazil, are not indis- eclat to the opening-week, the " star " having some provincial en- pensable to be cultivated in a country where land so much abounds, and thus, gagements to fulfil. We infer that it has been renewed, however ; for as uninhabitable by man, might be allowed to revert to a state of waste. Again, the bills speak of it as a " first engagement." though the whole of the rice plantations of Georgia and South Carolina were At Drury Lane, MACREADY is going the round of his characters ; abandoned through the refusal of the Negroes to work amidst the slime of those and on Wednesday be played Othello, with VANDENHOFF as Ivo ; filthy and fever-breeding swamps, yet the world would not be at an end though no more rice were raised in those States after the emancipation of the slaves,— Mrs. YATES being the Desdemona, and ELLEN TREE Emilia. 1 his since the Negro who should abandon his work in a rice swamp would be raising cast of the female characters may be accounted for by the circumstance corn or other agricultural value in a healthier place ; whilst the aggregate of of Desdemona's husband (we do not mean Othello, but Mr. YATES) production would be increased by the greater physical energies of the Negro, being the acting manager. Mrs. YATES is an admirable actress, but and the more numerous and healthy offspring which the chance in his condition she is surely more fitted than ELLEN TREE for the matronly part of would tend to bring into the world. My proposal, therefore, is, that in any Emilia. It is but fair to add, that we did not see this performance. scheme for the einancilration of the slaves, the sugar and the rice plantations In the cast of the Provoked Husband last week, Mrs. YATES was an- should be purchased, if insisted upon by the planters, along with the Negroes; nounced for the part of Lady Grace "on this occasion ;" a phrase the State afterwards letting out or selling them in small portions to the Negroes implying a condescension on the part of the person playing the cha- who now are accustomed to their cultivation. And should the Negroes refuse teeter. Mrs. YATES'S powers are too well appreciated for her repo- to remain upon them upon any terms, and the whole of the plantations be aban- tation to run any hazard of being lessened by the performance of a domed, yet I am entirely sure that the political economy of the question would secondary character. We might prefer her Lady Macbeth to ELLEN be abundantly satisfied by the change. With regard to the cotton plantations, TREE's, but surely not her Desdemona. BALFE'S opera is now elver- there is not the slightest reason to suppose that the Negroes would abandon tised for Tuesday. them or refuse to work upon moderate terms, and therefore no arrangement for their purchase would be required ; for no Negro would leave the delightful Ian- The new melodrama at the Lyceum, called the Muleteer's Vow, is tudes of the uplands of South Carolina for the rigorous climate and to him one of those strange compounds of mystery, that, if they do not quite equally prejudiced and inhospitable people of the Northern or Western States. baffle comprehension, at any rate will not repay time trouble necessary Should you insert this communication, I hope to send you at a future time to understand them. The Muleteer is a brigand chief—one of that some more particular calculations, for the purpose of showing that time abolition tribe of virtuous, gentlemanly, and interesting rascals, who are found of slavery in the United States is not only less impracticable than is usually exclusively on the stage, and his vow is one of vengeance against the supposed, but may he effected more easily in that country than in any other wrongful accuser of his father and persecutor of himself. The fulfil- portion of the world. The excitement and boiling.over of rage which nab:T- s:pent of the vow brings retributive justice on the head of the Muleteer's pity and most needlessly exist in America itself at the present time, render. it victim, in a very complicated shape, and by very intricate means. doubly the duty of persons abroad to discuss the subject with that impartiality SERLE'S acting as the Brigand Muleteer is admirable for grace, spirit, which only can be observed at a distance from the scene. Prejudice, I am per- suaded, will soonyield to the influence of reason and arithmetic upon so en- and feeling,—allowing for his incurable mannerism. A Miss RICHARD- lightened a people as those of the United States ; and as the style in which. the SON, in the character of a gipsy woman, evinced talent and good taste, Spectator is accustomed to enforce its poiitical opinions, renders doubly thsad- that we hope to see developed to greater advantage in some more vantageous any error in its views of this great question, it is not to be doubted worthy part. Her voice is peculiarly sweet ; and in her acting she that impartial discussion will be allowed in the columns of a journal of which never " o'erstepped the modesty of nature,"—which, as the situations the influence is so extensive both at home and abroad.

were merely melodramatic, is great praise of her discretion. Mr. I am, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

RHODES showed considerable stage tact in the foolish character of a H. FAIRBAIRN. For this he earnestly invites the aid Of British genius in each various grade; Aspiring merit need repine no more, For here 'twill ever find an open door ; And ripeu'd talent gain beneath this dome A friendly welcome, and a fostering home. Lastly, he bids me say, with honest pride, Ile stands ALONE, whatever may betide ! Shuns COALITION, and resolves to be Unshackled as his birthright, Liberty !

When Heaven's bright lamps are wedded in their flight, Both are eclipsed, and Earth deprived of light ; But when apart they steer their vestal course, They shine twin- glories of the Universe ! Thus, may the Sister Temples of the Muse Henceforth an independent ray diffuse ; Each, boldly emulumeto gain the weed,

By generous rivalry alike succeed ;

And both resume their just and equal claim To present patronage and lasting iame.."

foppish Count ; but he did not sing. The songs, which are pleasing, were allotted to Miss P. HORTON and Miss NOVELL°. A musical farce is announced for Monday.

Another farcical burletta, from the French, has been produced at the Adelphi, for the purpose of introducing WEBSTER on this stage. It is called Yellow Kids,—from the circumstance of a pair of yellow kid gloves being the source of the jealousy, suspicion, and squabbling, which constitute the fun of the piece. WEBSTER personates a French dancing-master; and, not content with cutting capers, he grimaces also, thereby spoiling the effect of his acting. BUCKSTONE, whom he reminded us of, would have played the part with more drollery, though he might not have played the fiddle so well. Mr. LIONEL GOLDSMID is the last new star at the Queen's. Ile is announced to appear on Monday, in a new piece calculated to display his peculiar powers of mimicry. A new burletta, by JERROLD, with the exclamatory title of The Man's an Ass ! is to be produced at the Olympic on Monday.