The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-10-01 00:00:00

—that it was impossible with such a spit in to go.
tern a Theatre. The tenacity of Mr. Whitbread,
who, will, all his virtues, was strongly tinctured
With that quelity—saind the easiness of Mr. Sheri-
den, who did not interfere much in the hu.itiess—
terminated in producing that syttein, whirl, he
always said would be the ruin of this concern.
What he wished was, that a power shook' exist to
control the expenditure, until they could let the
Theatre—for he bad ever been of opinion, that it
never could succeed, unless it was held hi some
theatrical individual. That had fernier vitt'''.
tione done ? They had seen the drionalic ta-
lents of Mr. Limb—and lie bad great
talents—exercised iu the eidatilisiiiiicsit—ility Ito I
seen the activity of Mr. and his ucder
in dramatic , tuatters—allso exercised he.,.. Aiiit
yet with all this, they were, fiutu )ear to y-ar,
going on worse and worse. Ile was 11('11,t-t for
having, at a meeting of the General Committee,
called to take into consideration the pinpiieit op
lowering the priers, opposed that proposition. The
fact was, he thought, that, before the Lonintitue
determined, the plops/salon should he sultinitto d to
a General Meeting. He looked upon the (.;ei,i ral
Committee, as persons acting fur a great collet-m—
-end he felt, that, in every thing of n prcuitiary ii t-
une, they ought t. set by the advice of the great
body of Proprietor.—(Hear, hear.) —N ow, with
respect to his voting in the. Committee, he con-
ceived that to be useless, when he knew there wets
seven or eight gentlemen opposed to him. But,
though he felt that his voting would be nugatory,
Ins opinion was not sviihlielil—and he spoke against. •
lowering the prices, ou the ground, that, if they did
so, it would be a breach of faith towards tho.rwii,.
had purchased before the reduction took place. %V,th,
respect to the abstract question of loweiiiig the
prices, he gave Iris opiiiiim against it, not with it
reference to their receiving a sum more or a sum
less, bat with a view to the established character of
Ohl Drury.--(Hear, hear.)--lie looked upon a
reduction of price as a descent from their NO
station. Nor could he bow to the argument, thud,
to prevent the minor Theatres from doing them in-
jury, the Proprietors of Drury-lane should adopt
their prices. This lie had stated when it, the chair
or the Committee—for though hot tit mit low was
delicate, lie felt himself called on to deelsre I,l*
opinion. Before that measure was resorted to,
cosieeived it would have been more advisable to have
called them together. With respect to the Rcioos
of the Sub-Committee, which was drawn up by Mu.
Ellice, he highly approved of it--and he was cure tl
l-loit. Gentleman (34r. Lamb) would (1,) hint the
justice to believe, that, if it contained coy thing
which appeared to reflect personally no hint, lie
would he the first individual to move that it 010613
be expunged. For, amidst all their duff-fetters of
opinion, it could not he denied, that the Gei.i!emeia
whose services had been devoted to the concert:,
bad, to the utmost of their talents, dime what
appeared to them best for the geueral
of the Proprietors. flaying said thus much, lie
called on the Lady, who had expressed a desire in
receive information on some particular ',Quit, to
state her question.

Mrp. Ilt:Tutit—" I with to know w;ey Jack John-
atone has left the Theatre ? The loa, of such a
iarin ought not to he treated lightly."
Mr. L 111111" The Committee, on thou. occa-
sions, act from particular circurnstatieet., and Sae
not in the habit of answering que*tionsof thin k Ilia."
Mra. Bumss-44 Well, then, I'll ark Mr. Sic-
plieu Kemble." .

Mr. KEMBLE—" This is not the proper place to
pot such questions."
Mrs. BUTLER—" I have subscribed many half-
crowns to Mr. Kenihle's benefit. end he 'wed mit
he so nice as to the place where a (pennon is to be
unowered."

The CHAIRMAN...." Yon have heard the &hot-
-home you any motion to offer connected with it ?"

Mrs. BUTLIZR—" Jack Johnstone was a treasure
to the house. No man could equal him iii his line."
The CNAIRNIAN—" We all know his merits,
believe, and can do no more than lament his loss."

The CHAIRMAN then read a letter (rem Lint
Yarmouth. stating that his absence from tarn ta, and
his consequent inability to attend the (ietielA
Meeting, were unavoidable.
Eighteen names of the General Committee west."
then placed in the glass, and, on drawing. the tul•
losing six persons were declared out of office :
•
R. Wilson, Esq.
• The Earl of Essex.
Greffesle, ENV
• Ihvid Riefirdo,
• Sir T.Tortoo, Bart.
• Lord Yarmouth.
The Gentlemen, thus (*) distinguished, were re-
elected unanimously.
Mr. P. Moine, proposed Mr. Church in the
room of -- Greffeule, Erg.
On a division there appeased—.
For Mr. Church..
Against him .. . 32
Majority —
Mr. G. ROBINS was then proposed, and on a
chew of hands lie was declared elected to the vacant
place in the Committee.
Thanks were then voted to Sir T. Turton, for
his conduct in the Chair—and the Meeting sehx•
raced.