Transcription
PUBLIC-OFFICE, BOW-STREET.—Rees v. Astley.--
Mr. Rees, the celebrated imitator, late of Covent-garden Theatre, has been engaged at Sadler’s Wells Theatre for some time past, to give his imitations of the most celebrated London performers; and, on the first night of his performance, he gave imitations of Mr. Astley, sen. in his exhibition of some monkies at his Amphitheatre some years since; likewise of his mode of conducting the horsemanship, his dialogue with Mr. Merryman, &c. &c. He gives it in such a ludicrous style, that it was received with unbounded applause. Former imitations of Mr. Astley having been the subject of a violent dispute between Mr. Astley and Mr. Rees, some years since, which ended in a prosecution. Mr. Thomas Dibdin, one of the Proprietors of Sadler’s Wells, thinking this would be reviving old grievances, and that it might be the cause of enmity between the two Theatres, as it would be supposed the imitations had the Manager’s sanction, restricted Mr. Rees from giving any more imitations of Mr. Astley, during his engagement with them; and sent a very handsome letter, with an apology, to Mr. Astley, disowning the imitations to have been given with his approbation, and that he had restricted Mr. Rees from giving them any more, as he did not consider it a fair subject for imitation, but an attack upon the man. It being part of the engagement of Mr. Rees, that he was to have a benefit, which was fixed for Wednesday night last, and it was generally understood among Mr. Rees’s friends that he would repeat the imitations of Mr. Astley on that night, on Tuesday afternoon Mr. Astley, jun. met Mr. Rees in Queen-street, Lincoln’s-inn-fields, and complained to him of his illiberal conduct towards his father, and assured him, if he repeated his imitations of his father, at his benefit on Wednesday night, he would certainly attend and horsewhip him. In consequence of this threat, Mr. Rees applied to the above Office on Wednesday morning, and obtained a peace warrant against Mr. Astley, jun. Mr. Astley was not taken in the course of the day. In the evening, Mr. Rees’s benefit took place, and in consequence of a recommendation of the Managers, and the advice of some particular friends, he relinquished giving any imitation of Mr. Astley, sen. and an apology was made previous to the commencement of his imitations, that part of them were unavoidably obliged to be omitted. This was most violently opposed by a great part of the audience; numbers having come to the Theatre for the express purpose of hearing the imitations of Mr. Astley, sen. and a most desperate riot ensued. It was expected violence would be offered to the Theatre; and it was with the greatest difficulty the performers were suffered to proceed. Yesterday, at twelve o’clock, the parties appeared before JAMES READ, Esq. the Sitting Magistrate, when, in addition to the circumstances above stated, Mr. Rees said, he, as well as several others, saw Mr. Astley, jun. in the boxes, and that he was a principal in instigating the riot. The evidence failing to prove that Mr. Astley was a principal in the riot, the Magistrates only held him to bail to keep the peace towards Mr. Rees. Mr. Astley assured Mr. Rees, that if he attempted to ridicule his father on the stage any more, he would prosecute him under a particular Act of Parliament, against holding up individuals to ridicule upon the stage; under which, for every offence, he would be subject to 50l. penalty.
