| Citation |
SCAGG.775.045
11-18 Aug 1775:11, 21 (18/884)
London, May 20. On Thursday the 11th instant, Mr. Justice
Aston reported to the Court of King's Bench his minutes of
the evidence on the trial of five persons on the 24th of
February last, four of whom were convicted of a conspiracy
and riot, and the fifth of a riot only, in Covent Garden
theatre, on the 18th of November 1773, with intent to drive
Mr. Macklin from the stage. Lord Mansfeld observed on the
nature of the offence, called it a national disgrace, and
reprobated the conduct of the parties concerned in it. He
said in the first stage of the business he had urgently
advised the defendants to make Mr. Macklin an adequate
compensation for the great damage he had sustained; that he
then particularly pointed out as an advisable measure the
saving of the costs by putting an end to the matter at once;
that the new expences were now swelled to an enormous sum,
which sum the defendants had themselves given rise to by
their want of prudence. Some time was spent in the Court's
endeavoring to make an amical adjustment of the matter and a
final conclusion of it. Mr. Colman was proposed as arbiter
general, which the defendants agreed to, but Mr. Colman
declined the office; at length Mr. Macklin, after
recapitulating his grievances, informed the Court that, to
show he was no way revengeful, with which he had been
charged, he would be satisfied for the defendants to pay his
law expences, to take 100l. worth of tickets on the night of
his daughter's benefit, 100l. worth on the night of his own
benefit, and another 100l. on one of the manager's nights,
when he should play. This plan, he observed, was not formed
on mercenary views; its basis was to give the defendants
popularity and restore mutual amity. Lord Mansfeld paid Mr.
Macklin some compliments on the honourable complexion and
singular moderation of this proposal; his Lordship declared
it did him the highest credit; that generosity was
universally admired in this country, and there was no manner
of doubt but the publick at large would honour and applaud
him for his lenity; his Lordship added further, that
notwithstanding his acknowledged abilities as an actor, her
never acted better in his life than he had done that day.
The proposal was accepted by the parties and the matter was
thus ended. During the course of the business Lord Mansfeld
took occasion to observe that the right of hissing and
applauding in a theatre was an unalterable right, but that
there was a wide difference between expressing the natural
sensations of the mind as they arose from what was seen and
heard, and executing a preconcerted design not only to hiss
an actor when he was playing a part, but also to drive him
from the theatre, and promote his utter ruin. Since the
above decision, the managers of Covent Garden theatre have
met and generously agreed to give up their claim to the
hundred pounds worth of tickets.
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