The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-07 00:00:00

THE DESTRUCTION

MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

LATEST PARTICULARS.-(THIS DAY.)

i 1. to I o'clock this afternoon water was still
wz. thrown on the ruins of this once magnificent
• ;Aire, and in some parts fire was then percep-
: Throughout the morning the police
1:10ri t experienced some difficulty in

,intaining order among the thousandi who
~tcd the scene, and in preventing them
impeding the firemen and members of
. ,ige Corps in the discharge of their
Nothing but the bare walls of the theatre
-Avon. Mr. 31apleson is quite uninsured, and
the members of the orchestra have sus-
a severe loss in the destruction of valuable
,trlonents.

A, t the actual cause of the disaster, there ap-
, ,rz to doubt now that it originated under the
. 1% here furnaces are used fur heating the house.
half-past 3 yesterday there was a rehearsal
" for Fide/it', and a smell like that of a
:ire being lighted" was generally remarked upon
the various artists engaged to take part
the performance ; and a smoky atmo-

re was even noticed by one of the
firemen. Just before the tire became
to the public, the smell of burning became
nse ; and it is said that on proceeding to that
in ,% here the furnaces were situated the fireman
0, the flame. In vain, we are informed, did he
...leavour to stay the progress of the fire, and
ing almost suffocated by the density of the smoke
sin obliged to extricate himself-crawling out
a hands and knees. What followed is known.
In the course of this morning Lord Dudley's sacra_
:ark. was preeent ascertaining the particulars of the
alaniity ; and a telegram has been received by
Mr. Mapleson from his Royal Highness the Prince
.1 Wales, expressive of sympathy and conveying a
wish to know the extent of the tire. Mr. Mapleson
ii not, we are informed, insured for a single
farthing ; and the insurance effected by Lord
Dudley will only amount to 40,000/. The lease held
hr Lord Dudley will expire in less than 20 years,
after which the property descends to the crown.

tio was to have been performed this (Satur-
day) evening.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

This morning the extent of the calamity which
hal overtaken Her Majesty's Theatre could be more fully
realised than in the excitement and confusion of last night.
Of the theatre itself not a vestige is left standing
eecept the wall frontage and colonnade in the
ll.,yatarket ; every other portion is • heap of burn-
Jae reins, while the . rear portions of the houses
abutting on the theatre in Pall-mall, Waterloo-place, and
Opera Arcade are all much burned. The roadways in the
immediate vicinity of the fire are covered with the charred
pieces of wood and ornamentation vomited forth during
the exittence of the fire. It appears that the fire origi-
Eitel from the over-heating of one of the furnace flues
situated below the stage. During the whole of yesterday
loaning a strong smell of burning accompanied with smoke
pervoled the whole interior of the theatre ; once
fie fireman on duty haring made an examination, found
r to arise from one of the flues above-mentioned. He
took the necessary measures, and considered he had
efectually prevented all danger of fire. On going off duty
us the evening at 7 o'clock he repotted all safe to the
renstin who crime on duty at that hour. Some
-1 the smouldering embers in the Sue must have
tscaped his observation, for there appears no doubt
that the fire originated in the quarter mentioned, and the
mmonldeming embers once ignited, the draught of the open
tease drew the Haines rapidly up towards the wooden roof.
Mr. Mapleton, the lessee, was at the scene of destruc-
tion early this morning, and was occupied in making •
•triet inquiry into the Gault of the disaster.
!fat:lame Talons, Mademoiselle Kellogg, Mr. Santley,
and the whole of the principal artistes have lost
the whole of their extensive and costly ward-
robes, and the general wardrobe of the house
contracted for by Mr. S. May, of Bow-street, the
costumier, and valued at some thousands of pounds,
e also entirely destroyed. The music, librettos, and
scores of the various operas are all burned, together
with the valuable orchestral instruments. In fact
to rapid was the flames that nothing was saved.
Even the assistant hall-keeper, Mr. Sproule, lost
the whole of his furniture and clothes. In con-
nection with Mr. Sproule • singular incident occurred.
He kept a valuable little dog in a room under the stage
lose, and it being impossible to get at this room, on account
of the smoke, the dog was abandoned to its fate. This
morning, however, the firemen who were examining the
premises discovered the poor animal still alive, and com-
paratively uninjured, although saturated with water.

Upwards of .ate persons are thrown out of employment
by the calamity, the majority of whom have lost all the
property they had in the theatre. During the morning
groups of the musicians, chorus-singers, and others have
congregated in the Ifaymarket describing their loss.

The price of mutton now selling at Southamp-
ton is between Cd. and Bd. per lb. Shoulders of mutton
which a short time since cost 9Ad. per lb. can now be ob-
tained for 7N. per lb. The price of beef has also been
reduced.

BONSAI' (DEAVY)MAIL.—DIBRALTAR, DEC. 6.
The Syria left at 6 mm. to-day for Southampton, where
she may be expected early on the 11th Mat.
FOREIGN Orrzcz, DEC. s.—The Queen has been
pleased to approve of Don Mipidito de Uriarte as consul_
general for the British possessions in North America, to
reside at Quebec, for her Majesty the Queen of Spain.
The Queen has also been pleased to approve of Dam
Alfredo Pascual Colomer as vioe-consul at St. John's,
Newfoundland, for her Majesty the Queen of Spain.—
Gozet e.

DOWNING-STREET, DEC. 6.—The Queen ha. been
pleased to appoint James Robert Longden, Esq. (late
Lieutenant-Governor of the inland of Dominica) to be
Lieutenant-Governor of the colony of British Honduras.
Her blajesty has also been pleased to appoint John
McKinnon, Peter Smyth, William 0. Heffernan, Samuel
Creelman, Dsniel MeNiel Parker, and James Frayer,
EMI, to be members of the Legislative Connell of the
Pruvince of Nova Scotia, in the aominion of Canada.—
Gayite.

FOIINDER'S DAY AT ETON. —Yesterday the 426th
anniversary of the foundation of " the College of the
Elessed Mario of Eton beside Wyndesore," by King
Henry VI., who founded and endowed the establishment
in the nineteenth year of his reign, was kept with due
festivity by the heads of the college. It is usual for the
college authorities to give a banquet on " Founder's-day,"
so in the evening • grand dinner was served in the hall,
covers being laid for about 70 guests. The usual loyal
toasts and that in pions memory of the founder were duly
honoured. The examination for the Oppidan prizes has
commenced, and the result will be duly announced. The
school will close next Friday for the Christmas vacation,
when the scholars return to their homes.
CHRISTMAS AT THE THEATRES.—Every theatre in
London is now the scene of considerable activity, in conse-
quence of the extensive preparations which are being
made in every department for the Christmas holidays.
Covent-garden unites in an Extravaganza Pantomime the
two familiar stories of Robin Hood and Babes in Me Wood,
to be pmduced under the direction of Mr. A. Harris, and
to include Mr. J. Clarke, Miss Amy Sheridan,
and the Payne Family in the cast. Drury-lane
re supplied, as usual, by Mr. E. L. Blanchard
with its Christmas Annual, which is entitled
For, Fee. Fo, Fuss; or, Harlequin Jack the Giant
Killer. The Haymarket is furnished by Mr. Gilbert
a'Beckett with a burlesque on The Brigand. The Lyceum,
under Mr. E. T. Smith's management, opens on Box-
ing Night with • pantomime, by Mr. W. S. Gilbert,
called Coot Robin and Jenne Wren. The Prince of
Wales's will rely on Mr. Boucle:suit's new comedy
of Rom She Loves Hint. The Adelphi has an
adaptation of the Christmas number of All the Year
R"H'i. called No Thoroughfare, and in which Mr.
Feebter will appear. At the Strand will be produced
a new extravairanza, by Mr. William Brough, called The
Caliph of Bagdad. At the New Royalty Mr. W. S. Gil-
bert has a burlesque on the subject of The Bohemian Girl.
The Holborn has a pantomime, furnished by Mr. Burnand,
on the story of Valentine and Orson. The Victoria pan-
tomime will be Harlequin Merry Howard ; or, Nell
G.fr,inne and Long-heads and Ronnd-heade. Sedler's
It ells has a pantomime on the subject of Little Red Riding
: and Astley's will re-open at Christmas with a pan-
tomime in which a number of familiar nursery rhymes will
be illustrated by a very experienced conooctor of these
The
comiealities.—Era.
The Victorians intend illuminating the whole
hie of road from Ballarat to Buninyong, in honour of the
Luke of Kliiibitrgh's visit to the latter place to witness a
corroboree of the aborigines.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
(THIS DAY.)

EQUITY COURTS.
Before Vico-Chancellor Sir W. Page Wood.)
BIENDERSoN T. LACON, BARONET.
This was a bill filed by the Rev. Mr. Henderson against
Sir Edmund Lacon, Mr. Goodson, Mr. Parke, Mr. Tibbs,
and Captain Jesse, and. the Great Yarmouth Royal Hotel
Company (Limited), of which the first defendants were
directors, and which is now in liquidation, seeking to be
removed from the list of contributories, and to have his
deposit and allotment money repaid to him, on
the ground of misrepresentation in the prospectus
and through subsequent stages of the company's career.
The company wax registered on the Ist of February, 186.5,
and the prospectus was issued in the early part of the year,
stating the capital to be 25,0001., in 2,500 shares of 101.
each ; that the directors were the five gentlemen above
named ; that they had " concluded an agreement " for
the purchase of the most valuable properties on the
Esplanade, upon very advantageous terms, and that
the company would eater into full possession of the
Royal Hotel for many years, so well conducted
by Mrs. Sizeland, " early in the ensuing spring ;"
that the present house " prior to the ensuing, season "
would be remodelled and enlarged ; and that the di-
! rectors and their friends have subscribed a large portion of
the capital, and they now offer to the public the remain-
ing shares." The plaintiff applied for 50 shares on the ith
or rith of February on the faith of the above prospectus,
and, as he said in his evidence, in the belief that an hotel
at Yarmouth, backed by the influence of Sir E. Lacon.
must succeed. These were allotted to him on the 15th of
I March. From circumstances that came to his knowledge in
. .

May, 186.5, the plaintiff began to entertain doubts as to the
prospects of the company, and having found upon inqairy
that only 762 shares bad been allotted and about 430 more
agreed to be taken, that the directors were not duly qua-
lified, and that such shares as were taken had
not been subscribed by the directors and their friends,
he wrote In July for • return of his allotment
and deposit money (274 and 7514, which was refused,
whereupon this bill was filed on the 25th of July, 186...
It turned out that the document for purchase was not
completed till August ; and the business of the hotel did
not commence till July, 11465. The concern was not suc-
cessful, and on the 24th of February, 1866, a winding-up
order was made. From the evidence it appeared that the
company had been promoted by a Mr. Hawes, who
though served with notice to give evidence, was noeforth-
awning on this occasion. By the articles of association
Hawes was to receive 2,.5001. promotion money, out of
which by an airangement with the directors ho was to
pay the first director', qualification in the shape
of 10 fully paid up shares, the qualification of subsequent
directors being given by the articles at 30 shares. The
case was argued at length yesterday.
Mr. Dickenson, Q.C., and Mr. Joseph Chitty, appeared
for the plaintiff ; Mr. G. M. Giffard, Q.C., and Mr. A. S.
Miller for all the directors, except Tibbs ; Mr. T. A.
Roberts, for Tibbs ; and Mr. W. 51. James, Q.C.; and Mr.
Foots, for the company.
The Vice-Chancellor, after observing that relief was
prayed both against the company and the directors, said
he thought that the case against the directors was suf-
ficiently raised by the allegations in the bill, if they were
true. As to those allegations it appeared to his Honour
clear that there had been a misrepresentation in the
prospectus as to the "directors and their friends
having subscribed • large portion of the capital."
The facts were that at the time when the plaintiff made
his application no one of the directors had " subscribed"
for shares in any sense of the word, and the " friends" of
the directors, not treating the term in the sense of personal
Mends, but merely of business connexions, consisted of no
more than one firm at Norwich. His Honour said it sur-
prised him that gentlemen of position should consent to
authorise what in their private affairs they never would
have consented to permit, namely, that their names
should be used in this way to carry out • specula- !
tion of this kind. The defendants were entitled to
the observation that this was not a bubble com-
pany ; there was • bona fide existing business, and
he had no doubt, an honest intention to carry it on. But
the statement in the prospectus, unfounded as Awes in fact,
bad been authorised by all the directors, and it was their
plain duty, when they, on the 15th of ?iamb, beard of the
plaintiff's application, to have returned to him his proposal
which wan made upon a misrepresentation. His Honour
decided the case on no other ground than this ; and he
must make • declaration that the company was
bound to repay the plaintiff his 100/., with an
injunction to restrain proceedings on the judgment,
and an injunction to restrain further sales ; also a declara-
tion that the defendants, the directors, were also bound
in like manner to repay the plaintiff the 100/. (but without
interest) ; also that the plaintiff was entitled to have hia
name removed from the register of the company, and an
order accordingly ; the plaintiff to have his caste of the
suit and in the action.

COURT OF ARCHES.
(Before Sir Robert Phillimore.)

MARTIN V. TZZ RZV. A. H. MACKONOCIIIE.-THE FOURTH

DAY OP HEARING.

This great case on ritualism was advanced on its fourth
day, when Mr. Stephen, Q.C., opened on the subject of
incense. Re contended that when incense was intro-
duced in any of the services, of the church it was illegal,
and was connected with the superstitions and idolatries of
the church of Rome. It was was therefore an unlawful
addition in the Church of England. The learned counsel
then proceeded with the last charge in the Articles—that
of mixing water with the wine, which he also contended
was an illegal introduction, and brought forward by •
Pope.
An altercation took place between Mr. Stephen and Mr.
Pridesux as to • reference, and want of courtesy was corn-
rae°. upon.

His lordship interposed, and said he could put any
questions in future.
The case will occupy the day.

THE POLICE COURTS.
{THIS DAY.)

BOW-STREET.
THE ALLEGED FENIAN COLONEL.

The prisoners Burke and Casey were min brought
before Sir Thomas Henry,
Mr. Giffard and Mr. Poland, instructed by the Treasury
Solicitors, prosecuted, and Dr. Kenealy, instructed by Mr.
Norton. defended.

11r. Dillard suggested that it would be u well if at this
stage of the proceedings Dr. Kenealy would cross-
mamma the witnesses.

Dr. Kenesly was as yet in no position to cross-examine.
Certain letters had been written to which answers had
not yet been received.
Mr. Giffard said this wu rather embarrassing, as he
mold not tell what facts would be disputed.
Dr. lienealy had no desire to embarrass the crown, but
be was sure lus learned friend would not wish him to sa-
crifice the interests of Ms clients.

Mr. Poland read a further portion of the correspondence
between Burke and Mr. Kylock relating to the purchase
of anus, and ocntaining allusions to the war in America,
RA if the arms were for use there. One letter predicted •
" large sale of crape" in Germany.
John Joseph Corydon—l am going on for 26 yeah of
age. I was formerly. in the Federal army of the United I
States, first as a private ; I was afterwards an officer. I
knew this gentlen.an, first as Burke, afterwards as
Winslow. I knew him in the army in 1862. He was a
sergeant of engineers in the Federal army, 6th New York.
I afterwards knew him as a captain in the same regiment.
In 1562 I was concerned in the Fenian organisation, in
which I was at one time a centre. I joined it at • place
called Harrison's-landing, in the State of Virginia. I
first saw the prisoner in reference to the Fenian
organisation in July, 1865, in the city of New
York, first at a picnic, and afterwards at the head-
quarters of the organisation. The picnic was got up
with the object of raising money for the purposes
of the organisation. Nothing was said at the time
about the organisation. The head-quarters were at
Union-square. None but principals of the organisa-
tion would be allowed to go in there. John O'Malions,
who was the head of the Fenian organisation in America,
was there. At that time I was after coming from Ireland
with despatches to New York. They were from Colonel
Kalinin Ireland, to John O'Mahony in New York. While
in New York I was intimately acquainted with Stephens. He
was in gaol when I left. By Kelly, I mean Colonel Thomas
Kelly, the man who was rescued at Manchester. He was
bead of the military department of the organisation, and
afterwards deputy to Stephens. I read the despatch in
Dublin before I took it to Dublin, and heard it read
at the meeting. It stated that five or six days
after I left Dublin the steamers would be out.
Afterwards that news was confirmed. The despatch
was afterwards read at • Fenian meeting. I left Dublin
on the 19th Nov., 1865„ I was in Dublin in 1866. I maths
two trips to America, taking despatches to O'Mahony. One
of them was after Stephens got out of gaol and was in his
handwriting. I remember the habeas corpus act being
suspended. That was after I came from America the
second time. I went to Liverpool, being ordered by
the representative of Colonel Kelly to leave lest
we should all be arrested. I saw Colonel Burke
several times in Liverpool. Ho lived in Moon-
street, Seymour-street, and Lord Nelson-street. I saw
him at several Fenian meetings. They were meetings I
exclusively of American Fenian officers, with the exception
of one or two. All hands took a part in the discussions
as to the general workings of the orgardsation. We never
met for nothing. The number of meetings he was at
it would be impossible to tell at this time On one
occasion they spoke of having the shipping at Liverpool
destroyed at the rising. It was to be burned by Greek
fire. Also at all the principal shipping towns. Chester
Castle was to be seised, and the arms taken out of it.
That was in January, or the first or second day of February
this year. I rather think it was in January—l am
not positive. The mail train going from London to
Holyhead was to be seized and the arms put in it.
The railway. were to be tornnp after the train had started,
and the telegraph wires to be torn. The mail boat at Holy-
head was to be seized, the arms to be put on board that
boat, and landed at whatever place in Ireland might be
most convenient. Captain M'Caffert7 was to have the