In his book The pin-basket to the children of Thespis, Anthony Pasquin (aka John Williams) provides a wonderful account of the riot at the Drury Lane theatre when David Garrick was manager of the venue:
Behold a fugitive, from bleeding France,
Wooing your plaudits in the mazy dance*;
* Anecdote of Mr Garrick and the Chinese Festival.
‘At the time that this grand spectacle was in representation at Drury Lane theatre, the audience one night began to be very clamorous, on account of foreign dancers being employed in preference to their own : the tumult increased, and the house was in great danger of being pulled down. -Mr. Garrick, who was behind the scenes, seeing such a tremendous appearance, and fearing that his property would be quite demolished, was in such a state of despondency, that he wandered up and down without knowing what remedy to administer : Colonel West (of well-known memory) being also behind the scenes, and seeing Mr. Garrick so much distressed, applied to him, as a friend, and told him, if he would give him permission, he had a thought that struck him, which would inevitably put an end to the confusion. Mr. Garrick, from the desperate situation that matters were in, was glad to seize the least chance that might tend to extricate him; and the Colonel’s services were accepted — On which he made his appearance on the stage : the audience, seeing a man of his well-known character addressing them, grew silent — when he seized the opportunity of informing them, that he came on a treaty. A pause ensued for some time : — at last, two or three gentleman in the pit, who had been attentive some time, asked the Colonel as to the nature of the treaty, and requested to know between whom it was to be established. The Colonel, turning his back to them, took up the skirts of his coat, and clapping his hand, as John Moody says, “just there,” replied, in a loud tone of voice, “Between you and my ____.” Mr. Garrick, who was attending with the utmost anxiety, thinking that the Colonel’s apology might have a good effect, no sooner heard the coarse reply, than he ran out of the theatre to his house in Southampton Street, where he then resided, in the greatest trepidation. The mob, after doing very considerable damage to the theatre, proceeded to his dwelling-house, where they demolished his windows; and perhaps, had they met the owner, he might have felt the force of their resentment ; however, after this, the extraordinary business subsided, and the theatre went on as usual’.
