The proprietors then assembled partisans by distributing _orders_, and this introduced fighting. Between the combats, post-horns confounded the confusion. Pigeons were let loose--symbols that the public were pigeoned, and Kemble, compelled at last to come forward, only gave double fury to the storm, by asking "what they wanted," and, on being told, by replying that such demand was not reasonable, and they would think better of it! Lawyers addressed the house from the boxes, encouraging the rioters, and, in allusion to the expensive engagements of Catalani and others, declared that "the British stage should not be contaminated by Italian depravity and French duplicity"--at which declaration the modest and candid public flung some highly-seasoned aspersions at the immoral private-boxes, and retired, cheering. Watchmen's rattles and "artillery whistles" next added to the storm which tore the public ear. Placards increased. Cheers were given for the British Mrs. Dickons, and groans for Madame Catalani. The very name seemed to give birth to cat-calls. The actors in no way interrupted the uproar. The _Times_ remarked that this was kind, as the public had so often sat without interrupting them. Kemble made stiff-necked speeches, and the house called him "fellow" and "vagrant," said his head was "full of _a-ches_," declared they would obey King George and not King John, and protested that they would be sung to by "native nightingales, not foreign screech-owls." The boxes looked like booths, so hung were they with placards and banners--the most loudly cheered of which former was one which announced that the salaries of the Kembles and Madame Catalani amounted, for the season, to £25,575. "Mountain and Dickons, no Cats, no Kittens!" Such is a sample of the O. P. row--the first series of which ended by Kemble announcing, on the sixth night, that Catalani's engagement had been cancelled, and that the house would be closed until the accounts of the proprietors had been examined by competent gentlemen. "Britons who have humbled a prince will not be conquered by a manager!"--in that form was reply made by huge placard; and, next day, the _Times_ told the public that they would not be bound by the report of the examiners of the accounts, as the people had no voice in the choice of arbitrators. The report appeared in a fortnight. In few words, it amounted to this:--If the present prices were reduced, the proprietors would lose three-fourths per cent. on their capital; but as the reporters could not even guess at the possible profits, the award was null. Meanwhile, the _Times_ suggested that it would be better to reduce the exorbitant salaries. There was Mrs. Siddons with £50 per night! Why, the Lord Chief Justice sat every day in Westminster Hall, from 9 to 4, for half the sum.