22 NOVEMBER 1828, Page 9

NEWSPAPER PARTICULARITY.

A PORTION of the newspaper-press rejoices in turning every horror or calamity into food for a rabid curiosity which is supposed to exist in the public ; and accordingly, it makes the most of dis- aster by spinning out its narratives into the most trifling details. Twenty years ago the accident at Covent Garden Theatre would have been told in twenty lines, Now it fills a couple of columns of the Morning Chronicle's small print*. The name and occu- pation of every person alluded to in the account is given with the nicest exactness. When the fire-engines are brought to the spot, they too are described as British, Globe, Atlas, &c., to the un- speakable benefit of the reader. A Mr. Anderson is mentioned ; and all would be incomplete without the addition that he is "Deputy Inspector of the New River Company." Mr. Farmer's exertions could not be comprehended without the knowledge of his con- nexion with the Chartered Gas Company. Safety-lamps are procured ; and it is imperatively necessary to acquaint the public that they were got" at Mr. Owen's the lamp-maker, at the corner of Bow-street." But all- these particulars, so essential to the accuracy of history, and nourishing to the public understanding, fade in interest before the report of the rare demonstrations of concern and feeling in Mr. CHARLES KEMBLE, and the other per- formers. Strange to say, Mr. KEMBLE, inquired anxiously of the firemen whether the fire was likely to extend ; and, on their replying in the negative, the answer "appeared to afford much pleasure to MT. KEMBLE, MT.BARTLEY, MT.FAWCETT, Mr. WARD, Mr. EGER- TON, Mr. EVANS, and others." This is so uncommon, so unex- pected a sentiment, that were it not distinctly affirmed in leaded type, it would scarcely be credited. These gentlemen actually seemed pleased to hear that their house was not likely to be entirely burnt * Exclusive of the Inquest, which fills another couplejjof columns.—.Printer's down! How extremely odd ! When search was being made for poor DOUGLAS and FENNELL, Mr. CHARLES KEMBLE is reported to have delivered himself of this remarkable expression—" My dear sir, I fear poor DOUGLAS is dead." It was most important that that "my dear sir" should be put on record. A "my dear sir," on such an occasion, is not to be lost in thin air. It should be added, that the apple-woman at the corner, on seeing the smoke, exclaimed "Oh Lord!" and took her pipe from her lips. Several children too cried out "my eye !" and one person was so deeply moved as to say, with the eloquence of emotion, "Dear, what a pity !" Here is a very fine piece of circumstantiality.

"Mr. C. Kemble, to whom the fact was communicated as he stood near us, expressed himself in a manner which did great credit to his feel- ings. He said that he was satisfied that the tire would not extend further, and he deplored the accident, which he feared had caused the loss of hu- man life (he burst into tears). A gentleman asked him how the accident happened, and he replied—' The workmen were clearing out the residue of the gas, and they imprudently had a lamp or candle, and the gas being mixed with atmospheric air the light came in contact with it, and i.t ex- ploded, and caused the shocking calamity—poor fellows, they were dread- fully injured!' (Here his feelings were so acute, that he again burst into tears)." Now, is it not offensive to see this minute publication of the or ffinary household humanity in which no man is to be supposed deficient. The mixture of the pathetic and the minute is most unlucky in effect. The former,.indeed, reminds us of that beautiful piece of historical accuracy attributed to Nancy Lake in the Re- jected Addresses, when seeing her brother set off to the play.

"I saw them go :

One horse was blind, The tails of both hung down behind, The shoes were on their feet."

The Morning Chronicle would improve on this, and tell us of which eye the horse was blind, and how he became so, and all about the person in whose possession he lost his sight—the call- ing, &c. of Mr. Jobson the costermonger. It would also not fail to give the colour of the horses, and turn of their tails, and the name and abode of the gentleman who shod them and it would pro- bably venture to say that the animals appeared to have four legs "a piece."