The Sun.
London, England, 1852-11-06 00:00:00

FUNERAL

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE ASSOCIATION.

TBE MINT REFORMED AND
UNREFORMED.

01 THE

Much attention has of late been excited in the social,
moneyed. and artistic world, by the appearance and ac-
tive progress of an association supported by distinguished
names, and undertaking to apply the vast power and
facilities of action, eccured by combined capital to an
object so gererally interesting in these days, as the
maintenance, on a sound, permanent, and remunerative
foundation, of; n great national opera. It is now gene-
rally known that the announcement of the project in
question has been followed by the practical result of a
rapid subscription of capital, and that the association
must therefore be considered to have taken its place
among the substantial existences of the world. The
public will therefore be doubtless anxious to learn on
what principles, and through what new and improved
regulations of system, it is proposed by the directors of
this enterprise at once to meet the groat existing de-
mands of the public taste and convenience, and to secure
for the capital invested a safe and permanent return.
The following are some of the principal data on which
the originators of the plan have relied, and of the ad-
vantages which they will offer to the shareholders and
to the public:—The investment of combined capital iu
theatrical cue rprises, though new (at least in an ex-
tended forte) to this country, has long been tried, and
found to answer in Paris. All the theatres of that capital
which do not depend on Government aid aro the pro-
perty of associated subscribers. As an instance of the
success with which the operation of the system has been
attended there, it may be mentioned that the shares of
the Palaie Royal Theatre, originally sold at 1,000 fa., are
now worth 11,000 fra , paying the original holders a
dividend of cent. per cent. Tnis extrordinary scale
of return must, of course, vary with local eircum-
!tepees ; but, as a general fact, the great advantages
in the command of capital secured by combination ere
evident, and will be found to increase in proportion
to the magnitude of the undertaking. Thus—there
is, of course, a vast saving of expenditure to be effected
by starting with a paid-up capital adequate to meet
all current demands at the moment, and to maintain a
good reserved fund—repeated experience has shown the
extent of loss and sacrifice to which individual projectors
have been exposed by the absence of this kind of security,
which can really only be supplied by combination. It is
also conceived that such increase of economy will be
obtained by the financial control of a vigilant working
committee, whose agency will, moreover, enable the
managing director to devote to his immediate duties of
management his whole time and energy, unencumbered
by the labour and responsibility of a business discharged
with so much more ease and efficiency by a board or
committee.
One of the most important considerations which it was
necessary to determine has been the nature and degree
of the privileges which should be enjoyed by share-
holders of her Mejesty's theatre, in virtue of their pro-
prietorship. These it is intended to arrange on the
following scale:—
" A Proprietor of 50 Shares will be entitled to a per-
sonal entrie for all representations; of 100 shares a re-
served seat in the pit for all representations; of 150
shares, at pit stall for two representations a-week, the
particular days being selected by the shareholder in
his preliminary notice; and of 200 shares, a pit stall
for all representations.
" 1. The pit will be divided into separate seats, each
seat to be numbered; but space will be retained for
general circulation.
"2. A proprietor of 50 shares and upwards, may,
before the Ist of February, preceding each season,
transfer his privilege of admission during that season to
a nominee; and a proprietor of shares constituting two
or more of the above qualifications, may, in like man-
ner, transfer each privilege to a nominee, who will bo
entitled to the privilege transferred in lieu of the pro-
prietor.
" 3. The right of admission to a stall or reserved seat
may be transferred nightly, by voucher from the pro-
prietor or his nominee ; the transferee paying for each
representation half the usual price of admission.
" 4. The actual holder on the Ist of February in each
year of the number of shares specified above, will be
the proprietor entitled to the proportionate privileges
during the ensuing season.
"5. The intention of the proprietor to avail himself
of the above privileges, must b© declared before the let of
February preceding each season.
" 6 In the event of a proprietor not desiring to avail
himself of the above privileges, it will be at his option
to have an allowance, equal in the whole to 4 per cent.
on his shares, in payment or diminution of any subscrip-
tion, for not less than 15 nights, which he may enter
into for a box or otherwise.

)ITKE OF TWELLINOTON.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SI. —Tho paragraph in your paper of the 28th inst.,
with regard to the mint and scarcity of silver coin,
having emanated from authority, I am not disposed to
dispute its substantial accuracy. The coinage in about
four months of 160,0001. of silver, or at the rate of
480,0001. a year, is certainly not an affair to boast of,
and quite inadequate to the necessities of the public.
The value of the gold is in figures withheld, and I pre-
sume, therefore, the amount was inconsiderable, say
500,000/.
Now such a lamentable statement as this naturally
provokes a comparison between the mint reformed, the
mint of Wood, Trevelyan, & Co. on the cheap and grind-
ing system, and the old respectable establishment which
never failed to adequately supply the public wants,
even in the most difficult times during a period of 35
years. In the Parliamentary report one million ster-
ling per annum is set down as the amount which the
mint could coin in silver, besides an extensive coinage of
gold, an amount, therefore, double what is now issued to
the public.
On whom the responsibility of this measure of reform
falls, I cannot say, but its cons( quences are too grave
and important not to extort some enquiry. The Bank
of England, and bankers generally, are much emblrassed
by the want of coin, and the supply is but a drop in com-
parison with the exigency of the ease. The gold
con is leaving the country with extraordinary ra-
pidity, at the rate of 400,000/ a week, and the mint is
is found wholly unable to meet the drain. Representa-
tions are made by the Bank almost daily, but the Mint
only make promises which have not yet been fulfilled.
The power of the Mint having been often proved in
former times, what reason can be assigned for the pre-
sent defalcation, but the inertness of the establishment ?
The reform seems to have proved a failure ; and Par-
liament should call them to account who thus, through
ignorance and incapacity, trifle with our public in-
stitutions, and, under the foolish plea of economy do
inconceivable mischief to the public service. For
the only notion of reform prevailing amongst the
sapient men who rule at the Treasury,
is an apparent
saving of money, regardless altogether of the superior
value of power and efficiency. I say an apparent saving,
for eventually nothing can be gained under a system
which underpays public officers, and often perpetrate
such acts of injustice as would entitle a man to the cold
shoulder in society. _

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE LYING IN STATE AND
PROGRAMME OP TEE PROCESSION.

The whole of the preparations for the fitting recep-
tion of the body of the deceased Duke, and its lying
in state at the hall of Chelsea College Hospital, will
be completed by Wednesday next, the 10th inst. On
that day the body will be privately removed, in a
hearse and four, from Walmer Castle to the Dover
station of the London and Dover Railway, and from
thence, accompanied by a guard of honour, brought
by special train to London. Immediately afterwards
it will be removed in a hearse, under an escort of
cavalry, to the hall of Chelsea College Hospital,
where it will remain until the night of the 17th.
The whole of the proceedings, up to the arrival of
the body at Chelsea will be conducted with the strict-
est privacy ; arid with this view it will be so arranged
that the special train conveying the remain,. wili
arrive at the terminus at the Bricklayers' Arms dur-
ing the night time. On the afternoon of Thursday,
the 11th, the veterans of ,Chelsea will be admitted to
gaze for the last time upon the remains of bin by
whom many of them were so often led to victory.
Upon the same occasion the representatives of the
press will also be present. On Friday, the 12th, the
lying in state will commence, but the admission on
this day will be restricted to those who are provided
with tickets from the Lord Chamberlain's office. The
following Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednes-
day, the public will be admitted without tickets. In
the evening of Wednesday, the 17th of November,
the body, escorted by cavalry as before, will be re-
moved to the audience chamber of the Horse Guards,
where it will remain for the night. On the following
morning, at seven o'clock, the procession will com-
mence forming in St. James's-park, and precisely at
half-past seven will proceed up Constitution-hill,
through Piccadilly, by St. James's• street, along Pall-
mall, Cockspur-street, Charing-cross, aad the Strand
to Temple-bar, and thence to the Cathedral.

If proof were needed of these principles of mere com-
mon sense, the present state of the Mint amply provides
one; and I am certain that many months cannot or ought
not pass over without a strict and rigid enquiry being
made into the reforms, and the unscrupulous way in
which they have been effected.
Any fool may destroy, but it needs a wise man to
build-up, and with that proverbial expression, I conclude
for the present.—l am, &c.,
October 29. OBSERVER.

ISLE OF WIGHT RAILWAY.- IS IT " TO
BE, OR ?'OT TO BE."

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

A railway from Cowes to
Newport could be con-
structed probably at a cheaper rate than between any
ue no cuttings or other two towns similarly distanced in the kingdom.
The coach road from Newport to Cowes measures five
miles, but a railway would not exceed four-and-a-half
as
and proposed,oon consequently qby the side of the river,
and the land through which it would be carried is almost
mileson a i
dead
carried,level,
v
em-
bankments
would he required. There are no gentlemen's
houses, parks, or pleasure-grounds on the line, and very
few houses of any description. There is not even a
public road requiring a bridge over it. The land on the
whole line is of very little value, and termini might
be carried to the business parts of Cowes and New-
port at a trifling expense. Almost the whole of
the land is in the hands of ono gentleman, and we
have reason to believe that he would rather pro-
mote than oppose the undertaking. The traffic would
be considerably more on this part than on any other
part of the proposed railway. Then why not try this
part first? The owners of the land between Newport
and Ventnor, and Newport and Ryde, are opposed to
the introduction of railways. The cost of cuttings be-
tween those towns is stated to be another great objec-
tion; but let there be a rail laid from Cowes to Newport,
and very little time would elapse before they would be
carried on to Ventnor and Ride. It is only wonderful
that the South-Western Railway Company have not
before this seen the immense advantage that a railway
from Newport to Cowes would be to them, and that the
trifle that it would cost to have one has not long since
induced them to promote its construction. As to its de-
stroying the beauties of the island, there is not a part of
the proposed railway from Cowes to Newport, after
leaving either terminus, that would be within half-a-
mile of any carriage road!!

" 7. To suit the convenience of individual sharehold-
ers, the committee will have a discretionary power, before
the commencement of each season, and by his arrange-
ment with the shareholder, to substitute for his right of
admission daring that season any equivalent rights.
" 8. A discretionary power will likewise be vested in
the committee to extend such further privileges to the
shareholders, in proportion to their shares, as circum-
stances may be found to allow; and generally to make
such regulations as may appear expedient for the general
interests of the proprietory body.
" 9. The above privileges are independent of the di-
vidend received by the proprietor in respect of his
shares."

CHATHAM.--A report is current at this port that
the Orion, 80, and Royal George, 120, will be very shortly
converted into screw-slips.--Portsmouth Times. [The sooner
the better. A man of war with the screw is worth two with-
out—as the first great naval action will prove.—ED. Sun.]
THE PRUSSIAN AUTHORITIES AND THE DUBLIN
EISHIBITION.—We understand that the example of the French
President, and the official heads of the industrial and artistic
departments of France and Belgium, in promising Mr.
Roney their utmost co-operation towards the Great Irish
Exhibition of next year, has been most generously followed
by the Prussian authorities, and that the contributions from
the Zollverein will hardly be inferior in mamitude, variety,
or costliness to the famous section under tae same head at
the World's Fair in 1851..

It will be noticed that reserved seats in the pit are
spoken of as among the privileges of shareholders, and
this involves ione of the great improvements and advan-
tages in the system of admission which it is intended to
offer to the public.
The pit will bo divided throughout into numbered
seats, any ono of which may be secured for the eveni:ug,
and reserved; no increase in the price of admission bei ug
made in consequence of the advance in comfort and con-
venience which will thus be effected. The stalls eki ill
retain their original position and character. There c can
be no doubt that such an arrangement will be of the
greatest advantage to the frequenters of the Opera—a ill
increase the numbers of the steady habitual audience
and will bring within the reach of many an enjoyment
which, between the dread of expense and the fear of
crowd and difficulty, they have hitherto denied them-
selves. Such is a brief account of the plan and intentiC ns
of Her Majesty's Theatre Association, as far as they
have been at present determined. Many details, of
course, remain to be settled, but enough has been d one
to show that the project will be carried out on a libtrral
and well-considered system, and that it is based o n a
foundation promising every degree of permaneace a s a
moneyed speculation, as well as extensive and improved
provision for the public demand in which it has origina-
ted—for a systematic, sure, and constant supply of tine
highest compositions of dramatic talent and musical met.

FRIGHTFUL MORTALITY IN IRELAND.—Mr. Dela•
hunt,coroner for the county of Waterford, stated at the last
meeting of the board of guardians, that be had held, during
the past year, thirty inquests on persons who died in the
fields from destitution.

CONVOCATION AT YORK.—The adjourned Convoca-
tion was held in the Chapter-house of York Cathedral
yesterday (Friday), at noon. Previous to its assembling,
two memorials had been forwarded to his Grace the
Archbishop of York, deprecating the meeting of Con-
vocation for the dispatch of business at the present time.
One was from the Archdeaconry of Craven, in the dio-
cese of Ripon, signed by 182 of the clergy; and the
other was from 181 of the clergy of the diocese of York.
After the close of the morning service, the Rev. C.
Hawkins, canon residentiary, the commissioner for his
Grace the Archbishop of York, the President of Convo-
cation (who was also represented by the Rev. Canon
Dixon, another commissioner). immediately proceeded
to the Chapter-house, attended by Mr. J. Buckle, the
registrar, and Mr. C. A. Thiselton, his Grace's secretary.
The Rev. Canon Hawkins presided. The business was
commenced by the registrar reading the Queen's writ
of summons, and afterwards the Archbishop's commis-
sion, appointing the Rev. Canon Hawkins his commis-
sioner. The Archbishop's apparitor then made the call
of parties summoned to assemble by the Archbishop's
mandate. The registrar then made the individual call
according to the mandate, and recorded the presence of
parties as they answered thereto. Protests from the
diocese of Durham, from the Dean and Chapter of Dur-
ham, from the archdeaconry and clergy of Lindisfarne,
and from the archdeaconry of Northumberland, were
presented, all of which were rejected by the Commis-
sioner in the following terms:—" I wholly reject these
protestations as frivolous and trifling. and in no way
pertinent to the present business." The Convocation
was then prorogued until the 17th of May next.
THE HAUNTED HOUSE OF HULL.—What the police
were unable to do, a number of scientific and reverend
gentlemen have accomplished. The ghost is laid. Up
to Saturday night its knockings were as vigorous as
ever; but, on that evening, a deputation of gentlemen
visited the house, and, ever since, all has been as quiet
as possible.
NEW QUEEN'S COUNSEL IX IRELAND,—It is generally
understood in the Hall of the Four Courts that the following
gentlemen are about to be called to the inner bar :—Hans
Henry Hamilton, home circuit; Edmond Hayes, LL.D.,
home circuit; William Westropp Brereton, Munster cir-
cuit; James Robinson, Connaught circuit; Ross S.
Moore, M.P., for Armagh, northeast circuit; Hamilton
Smythe, home circuit; Patrick J. Blake, Connaught
circuit;s. Robert Longfield, Munster circuit.
RECRUITING IN IRELAND.—The accounts from the
country show that very little cats be effected in the way
of obtaining recruits for the army, owing to the effects
of emigration and the improved state of employment.
BANE RETURNS.—The returns of the Bank of England
for the week ending the 30th ult., when compared with
that for the preceding week, exhibits the following
changes the liabilities, an increase of public deposits
of 215,5241.; a decrease of other deposits of 868,5011.; an
increase of rest of 1,9051.; and an increase of seven-day
and other bills of 29,0901. In the assets the return shows
an increase of other securities of 116,6351. ; a decrease
of reserve of notes of 621,8001.; a decrease of gold and
silver coin of 117,6871. ; in the Government securities
there is no alteration. The bullion in the issue and
banking department together amounted to 21,158,2684,
which, as compared with 21,244,3151., the amount of the
previous week's return, shows a decrease of 86,0471.
The notes in circulation amounted to 23,813,0551., which,
as compared with 23,160,2151., the amount of the previ-
ous week's return, shows an increase of 652,8501.
RIOT AT KEIGHLEY, YORKSHIRE. The manufac-
turing town of Keighley, in the West Riding of York-
shire, has been in a state of great commotion for some
days. It appears that on Sunday morning week Daniel
; Johnson, a gamekeeper in the service of Mr. W. Bus-
. feild Ferrand, of Harden Grange, encountered a gang of
poachers in Marlow Wood. He approached them; but
he had no sooner done so than a brutal attack was made
upon him by the poachers. A reward of 101. was offered
for them; and, on Saturday last, three of the men,
named Mark Noble, William Hudson, and William
Townend, were safely placed in durance. On Tuesday
last they were brought before Mr. E. Greenwood, and
Mr. J. Greenwood, and Mr. John Brigg, West Riding
magistrates, at Keighley, on a charge of aggravated as-
sault on Daniel Johnson at Marlow, on the morning of
Sandsy, the 17th ult.; and the result was, that the
defendants were held to bail to answer the charge at the
sessions. Thus far the law appears to have been su-
preme. But as Daniel Johnson was leaving the magis-
trees' court at Keighley he was surrounded by a motley
I crowd of persons some of whom are said to be notorious
' poachers, and abused, hooted, and pelted. The crowd
gathered as it proceeded. Some of the more active
among the crowd were armed with heavy bludgeons,
and were exceedingly violent in their demeanour. The
assemblage grew larger, instead of diminishing, and
some of the leaders became mere violent. The result
was, that ono of the magistrates came into the street to
read the Riot Act. Tho crowd refused to disperse. The
next step was to dispatch a telegraphic message for the
military at Bradford, and at half-past nine o'clock a de-
tachment
racks on Bradford Moor, left the Bradford railway sta-
, tion for Keighley. The appearance of the soldiers soon
restored order.

THE §UN, 'LONDON; SATURDAY EVI NING-1 'NOVRIVIWER 6, 1 8 g.

RAILWAY AM A LG AMATIOIV,

THE SHARE MARKETS.

BRITISH RAILWAYS.

Closing Prices.

Business done
this day.