510 SHERIDAN. the audience, and the freedom of the stage. He expressed his astonish ment and detestation of men's bringing their private quarrels with mana gers or players into the theatre, and such he apprehended the present case to be; but since the dispute was introduced, it must, like other disputes there, be determined by the majority. He presumed every sober person in the house came to receive the entertainment promised in the bills, for which he payed his money at the door. The actors then, he observed, were the servants of the audience, and under their protection during that performance; and he looked upon every insult or interruption given to them in the discharge of their duty as offered to the audience. He appre hended the matter in dispute was no breach of the duty of the managers or actors cognizable by any persons present; but whether it was so, or thought otherwise by the house, the question might be easily determined. He therefore moved, that those who were for preserving the decency and freedom of the stage, should distinguish themselves by the holding up of hands; judging that when they should come to know their numbers and superiority, they would silence or turn out their opponents. He was heard with great respect, and saluted with shouts of applause; but on the division the numbers were so great against the rioters, and withal appeared so animated for action, that the minority suddenly went off, and left the per formance of that night in quiet. Nothing was yet done decisively, but each party by this time was more exasperated against the other. At length matters came to a crisis. There was an annual play appointed before the riot began, the “Fair Penitent,” for the benefit of the Hospital for Incura bles; and the governors, who were a l l persons o f consequence, demanded the performance o f their benefit play, and sent the manager word (who was t o perform the part o f Horatio) that they would take upon them t o defend him that night; resting assured n o set o f men would oppose a charity play, especially a s a l l the ladies o f quality exerted their interest, and were t o honour i t with their presence. The bills were accordingly posted up, and the governors went early t o the theatre with their white wands: the boxes and pit would have been filled with ladies, i f about thirty gentlemen had not taken early possession o f the middle o f two o r three benches near the spikes o f the orchestra. There were above a hundred ladies seated o n the stage, and when the curtain drew u p nothing could equal the brilliant appearance o f the house. At the entrance o f Mr. Sheridan (who had the honour o f being ushered i n b y the governors) those thirty men, a l l armed, rose u p i n the pit and ordered him off; and they were joined by some few placed i n both galleries. Mr. Sheridan with drew, and then violent disputes and threatenings began between the governors o n the stage and the gentlemen i n the pit; and something very like challenges passed between several o f them, a s a l l the persons o n both sides were publicly known. Among the governors was a student o f the college i n his bachelor's gown, who behaved with some warmth against those who opposed the play, and a gentleman (near the spikes) i n the pit threw a n apple a t him, called him scoundrel, and (as h e declared) said they were a l l a pack o f scoundrels. This exasperated the college, and the members o f i t were very eager t o take their revenge, which i n the end
