Rivalry between Forrest and Macready.--Macready's Arrival in this Country.--The Announcement of his Appearance at the Astor-place Opera House, and Forrest at the Broadway Theatre the same Night posted Side by Side.--Bowery Boys crowd the Opera House.--Anxiety of the Managers.--Consultations and Dramatic Scenes behind the Curtain.--Stamping of the People.--Scene on raising the Curtain.--Stormy Reception of Macready.--Howled down.--Mrs. Pope driven from the Stage by the Outrageous Language of the Mob.--Macready not allowed to go on.--His foolish Anger.--Flees for his Life.--His Appearance the Second Night.--Preparations to put down the Mob.--Exciting Scene in the Theatre.--Terrific Scenes without.--Military arrive.--Attacked by the Mob.--Patience of the Troops.--Effort to avoid Firing.--The Order to Fire.--Terrific Scene.--Strange Conduct of Forrest.--Unpublished Anecdote of General Scott. Probably there never was a great and bloody riot, moving a mighty city to its profoundest depths, that originated in so absurd, insignificant a cause as the Astor-place riot. A personal quarrel between two men growing out of professional jealousy, neither of whom had any hold on the affections of the people, were able to create a tumult, that ended only by strewing the street with the dead and wounded. Mr. Forrest, it is true, had a certain professional popularity, but nothing to awaken a personal enthusiasm for him. Viewing the matter in this light, some have thought, there was a mysterious underground influence at work, that has never yet been discovered. But one needs not to go far to find the causes that produced it. In the first place, ever since our revolt from England, especially since the second war with her, in which the contest for the supremacy of the seas was decided, the spirit of rivalry between the two countries has been intense and often bitter. No matter what the contest was, whether between two boats, or two bullies in the ring, it at once assumed the magnitude of a national one, and no matter how conducted, the winner was always charged with unfairness. It so happened that Forrest and Macready were the two popular tragic actors on either side of the Atlantic. If they had stayed at home, nothing would have been thought of it, but each invaded the domain of the other, and laid claim to his laurels. Of course criticism followed, national prejudices were aroused, and national peculiarities ridiculed. The press took sides, and fanned the excitement. Among other things, it was currently reported that when Forrest was in London, Macready went to see him act, and publicly hissed him. This was generally believed, and of course it alone would insure the latter an unwelcome reception from Forrest's admirers here, should he ever appear on our stage.