The National Register.
London, England, 1811-08-11 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

PANTHEON THEATRE.

A meeting was' held on Thursday at the Pantheon, Oxford-
Street, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety
of entering into a project for converting the Pantheon into a
Theatre.
Dr. Hurst being called to the Chair,
A lung discussion took place between a gentleman named
Cocker and Colonel Greville, the proposer of the plan ; in the
course of which Mr. Cocker deprecated the scheme of Col. Gree
settle as chimerical and fallacious. The licence which was pos- I
sessed by Colonel Greville, he said, only authorised the perform..
ante of Burlettasolthisic, and Dancing, and the Drama by chit.
siren under the itee of seventeen years, and did not all allow the
performance of 'Ballets, of which circumstance the public were.
kept wholly in ignorance. or he was convinced no one individual
would have come forward in support of a proposition which
could promise no eltinotte benefit. In addition to this circum-
stance he observed, that the Pantheon was not in the possession
of C lonel Greville, but in that of Mr. Gedge, the foonder of
the Netionel lest itution, who n• ither had, nor was he inclined to
relingaish the possession. tinder all these circumstances he
rusted the meeting, limited as it was, would see the expediency
la evincing their indienation at a proposition at once sJ wild and
impracticable'.
Colonel Greville contended, that the licence he possessed was
as effective as thet el the Sets Pareil, the Euglish Opera at the
Lyceum, and other places, at all of whit h lieliets were perform-
ed. He also said, that he had submitted his ptaa to the euldic
far their approbation, and it was with them to dispose of it as
they thought proper. He next pointed out the necooity hav-
ing a Theatre in a part of the town poottlott; as that in which
the Pantheon was situated, and concluded by expressing his cen-
teiousness of the jealousy with which his exertions were viewed.
Atter which he left the rout.
The following Resolutions were then proposed by Colonel
Kelly
RESOLVED—That to convert the Pantheon into a Theatre for
Italian Operas and French Dunces, ought not to be countenanced
car encouraged, for the roilowieg reasons
First—Because there is already in this Metropolis one of the
lergest Theatres in Europe, exclusivel) devoted to establish-
er:rots of that description.
Secordly—Becuuse the soliciting subscriptions for such a wet k
might interfere with the crortr, that are now making to rebuild
the Theatre Royal, Drury-lane, which has received the sanc-
tin of Parliameet; is entitled to every all, and ought to be
pretected against so unnecessary and objectionable a rivalry.
Thirdly—Because the wishes of those who conceive that se
populous and so increasing a part of the town as that cif %V bide
the Pantheon is now become the c entre, ought not to be un-
ev peided with National Theetricel Effie re:Minutes, would be
far better promoted by centre into use those dernrant Patents
re:ready ha possession of the Props)'. tors of the other heatres
But, Fourthly and principall)—Because the converting the
Pantheon into a Theettie at ail, would be to render ineffectual
the efforts which have reteni ly been made, and which are un-
tier-stood to be now making, for :he complete establishment of
the National institution, which, however checked in its infant
progress by a want of seilicient fund.:, is eminentE entitled to
uueport, and ought not to be ehandoned so long as there re-
rneius the rennet-it proepeen cr proh„bility of its final LitVeetti.
Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, alter which the
eneetieg broke up.
Cub Greville len intlin•lied a letter, protesting, reeetinst these
proceedings, on the ,trotted of the eetice's consist itig of only
fifteen persons, chiefly cowlectee wizla alit Opeea

:.-,adomm-sr-mmaal.—% _
ley's Mato -the-Mint, beat Mr. Hyde's Miss Phillips, two
milts, for 100 gs.
Fridzly these races terminated with a sweepstakes, of 15gs.
each, won I,y Stcideaway against Arthur, and A match betwixt
Mr. Hughe,. s pony • Prince, and Mr. Chariot's bl. pony Fitch,
for 50gs. which was won by the latter.—Sixteen Gentlemen_
stibscribed 2;gs. each, for a sweepstakes in 1812, for hunters, but
none to start without having been in at the death of three
foxes.
The rares on South Down Meadow, near Eaton College, are
in a fair train to he reviv:d in all their former celeb.i'y. Ir is
near twenty years sir.. e taeir Majesties and the 'loyal Family
honoured the races with their presence, which were disconti-
nued in consequence of the introduction of illicit gambling.
The,race course is the property of the Etonians, by the grant of
Henry IV. and, from the invasion of their rights, they were
compelled to es!ablish their priviliges last summer, by pony
races, and gymnastic feats. The inhabitants have since en-
tered into spirited subscriptions to render the races permanent;
they coimm.nce on Thus slay, th:.: 15th inst. and soreral cups,
subscription purses, and sweepstakes for ponies, will be cosi-
tested fur. .Ninch sport is expected.