The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-22 00:00:00

The National ShaksPere Movement,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sin,—The document read by Mr. Tom Taylor, at the
last meeting of the Shakspere Committee, signed by him-
self, Mr. Theodore Martin, and Mr. Shirley Brooks, appears
to me to be but a modified reiteration of a plan proposed by
me years since, when a very young man ; I cannot, there-
fore resist again placing before the public the plan in ques-
tion. _ . .

The proposition was originally made in IS-18 ; and dis-
cussed in two pamphlets, written by me, entitled " A House
for Shakspere. A proposition for the consideration of the
nation." The first pamphlet (a reprint from au article in
" Hood's Magazine ") was published by Mr. llurst, of King
William-street, Strand, and the second, six months after-
wards, by Mr. Mitchell. of Red Lion-court, Fleet-street.
The plan was warmly and cordially approved by many
eminent literary men, from some of whose communications
I extract the following opinions :

SIR EDWARD BIIIWEII. LYTTON, BART., M.P.—" I
thank you much for your able and interesting pamphlet, I
think it would indeed be a most desirable object to obtain a
theatre strictly appropriated to the Higher Drama, Your
exertions cannot bet do good."
CHARLES DICKENS—" That such a theatre as you de-
scribe would be but worthy of this nation, and wr,uld not
stand low upon the list of its instructors, I have no kind of
doubt. I wish I could cherish a stronger faith than I have,
in the probability of its establishment on a rational footing
within fifty years."
WILLIAM HoWITT—" I thing yours is a grand plan for
a House for Shakspere,' and what ought to be carried
out."
WESTLAND MARSTON—" I cordially syropathiso with

its spirit and its purpose, and trust that an object so desir-
able and at the same time so feasible will be retained in the
minds of those who have the power to realise it."
CHARLES MACKAY—" I cordially approve of your sug-
gestion, and entirely concur in the reasoning by which you
support it."
SHERIDAN KNOWLES—" I hare perused your paper.
I admire the argument, and wish that it may be turned to
account."

CHARLES KEMBLE—" I read it with great pleasure ; and
at the conclusion heaved a sigh, that so much enthusiasms
should be doomed to disappointment."
R. H. HORNE—" Such a proposition ought to come to
something, and will."
JOHN A, HERAITD—" Ido feel at. interest in your pro-
position,' and should be glad to be a labourer in such a
work,"
Wm. B. MAcCABE—" I have read with much interest
your essay—' A House for Shakspere.' I think the pro-
position contained in it excellent, bat inopportune."
The pamphlets were favourably reviewed at the time, and
notices appeared in the following publications, as well as
in many others :—" The Westminster and Foreign Quar•
terly Review," "The Literary Gahette," "Douglas Jer-
rold's Weekly News," "The Mocning Herald," " The
Sunday Times," " The Court Journal," " The Advertiser,"
" The Sun," "The Atlas," and " The New York Literary
World." They were issued at the time that means were
being taken to secure to the nation, by purchase, the house
in which Shakspere was born. The times were then, how-
ever, so thoroughly " out of joint," that the plait was neces-
sarily temporarily abandoned.

PROPOSITION.
1. That the committee formed for the purpose of pre-
serving to the nation the house in which our " poet of all
time" had birth, having satisfactorily effected that object,
should not dissolve.
2. That it being generally acknowledged that the human
mind receives most quickly, and mains most durabl), im-
pressions made by dramatic representation, the importance
and expediency is suggested of purchasing by national sub-
scription on the part of and for the people some theatre
where the works of Shakspore, the " world's greatest moral
teacher," may be constantly performed.
3. That the said theatre should be open at such reason-
able charges as shall be within the reach of all. •
4. That the most able manager and best working com-
pany be engaged, and constantly retained; and that only
one five-act drama shall be performed in the course of one
evening.
5. That the Government for the timoboing, or any other
body of men agreed upon, shall hold the said theatre in
trust for the nation, appointing a committee for the manage-
ment of the same.
6. That the said theatre shall be made to act as a great
and true dramatic school ; at which, alike, the poet and the
performer, the creator and embodier
(in the highest walks
of the dramatic and histrionic arts), shall receive their
diplomas, thus fostering and sustaining living talent.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM WILSON.
11, Royal Exchange, Jan. 19, 1864.

COLNEY-HATCH CHRISTMAS PARTY.—Yester-
day evening the managers of the Colney-hatch
Asylum gave their annual treat to the inmates of this ex-
cellent institution, On former occasions we have described
so fully the incidents of these entertainments that it iahardly
necessary to say more now than that this Christmas party
was, as usual, a great success. Of the 1,900 inmates of
the asylum, about 600, male and female, were permitted
to take part in the festivities, and to them were added at
least 300 visitors, who mingled freely in the crowd, and
helped to promote the fictitious solemnity of the occasion.
The amusements provided by the visiting committee were
numerous, but though the Nigger Minstrels were loudly
applauded, the troupe of Chinese
jugglers and contor-
tionists were by far the greatest favourites. Tho great
dining hall of the Asylum was the chief scene of the sports.
At one end was erected a temporary stage on which the
various troupes engaged kept up a constant succession of
amusements. In the remainder there was ample space for
dancing, and, to tell the truth, if the committee had engaged
two or three quadrille bands, one to succeed the other, so
as to keep up a continual succession of dance music, per-
baps they would best have consulted the general taste.
With or without partners the patients never seemed tired of
whirling round the room either to the polka or waltz mea-
sures. It was gratifying to remark how all present seemed
to enjoy themselves, the patients quite as much as the visi-
tors, and in the complete success of the party the officials
who thus endeavour to enliven the dreary life of theft' un-
fortunate charges have their chief reward.
CIVIL SERVICE RIFLE VOLUNTEERS. —The
distribution of the numerous prizes s hot for by the mem-
bers of this corps will be distributed this evening at five
O'clnck in Westminster lisllt