The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-06 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—It is with sincere regret that the Stratford-on-Avon
Tercentenary Festival Committee are compelled to announce
to the public that Mr Fechter has broken faith with them
by declining to put the play of Hamlet upon the stage on
the 27th instant, and to take the part of Hamlet.
At this late period it is totally impracticable for the Com-
mittee to place any tragedy upon the stage, as forming part
of the Tercentenary Celebration, which they much deplore
both on account of the public and the occasion.
The Committee, however, deem it right that the pubPo
should be made acquainted with the circumstances attend •
ing Mr Fechter's breach of his engagement, entered into
with the Committee in December last.
The announcement in the preliminary programme was
drawn up by Mr. Fechter himself, and most extensive pro •
parations made, and the stage enlarged under his directionQ,
expressly to allow of the scenic effects which he required;
and up to the day of his unfortunate accident he was in most
friendly communisation with the Committee. _ _

Judge then of the consternation and surprise of the Com-
mittee, when, on the 26th March last, they received the
letter from Mr Barnett (No. 1), dated the 23d and posted
at Ventnor in the Isle of Wight, on the 24th. The vice-
chairman, Mr Flower, wrote at once in reply the letter
(No. 2).

On Monday morning (the 28th) a paragraph appeared
in one paper only, the Star, stating the withdrawal of Mr.
Fechter from Stratford, whereupon a meeting of the Com-
mittee was held, and the resolution (No. 3) was passed and
forwarded to Mr. Fechter, through Mr. Barnett.
This has produced no alteration in his determination, and
now, at the eleventh hour, we are placed in our present
difficulty, without any fault of our own; and are driven to
the necessity of offering to those who have already taken
tickets for the performance of Hamlet, a return of their
money or an exchange of tickets for other entertainments.
—I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,

HENRY KINGSLEY, M.D.
Hon. Sec., of the Stratford-on-Avon Tercentenary
Committee.

Committee Room, Town Hall,
Stratford-on-Avon, April 4, 1864.
[No. I.]

March 23, Mt
•

To the Tercentenary Committee, Stratford-upon-Avon.
GENTLEMEN,—Mr. Fechter, prevented by his accident
from writing himself, requests me to inform you of the pain-
ful necessity your late resolution has placed him under,
namely, declining the honour of appearing at the Stratford
Celebration.
The said resolution giving the force of truth to the false
and injurious statement spread about by one of your mem-
bers, and published by unfriendly papers, viz. that Mr.
Fechter, by " under-current and trickery ways," forced on
the choice of his " Hamlet."
Mr. Fechter would have felt proud to serve in his humble
way to the celebration of the Immortal Master, but he can-
not afford to lose his reputation as loyal artist and honest
man, through thoughtless resolutions or personal vanities
over which he cannot, nor will not, have any control.
I am desired by Mr. Fechter to add that the scenery is at
the disposal of the Committee, he having no wish to pre-
vent the carrying out certain proposals so honourably made
by the already mentioned member still sitting in your com-
mittee, and simply retires, forced to such decision by yoar
own will and resolution.—l am, gentlemen, your obedient
servant, _ H. BIENETT.

[No. 2.]
The Hill, Stratford-on-Avon,
March 26, 1864.
DEAR Siu,—A letter received from you this morning,
dated the 23d inst., addressed to the Committee, and opened
by me as vice-chairman, is meet incomprehensible to me.
Should Mr. Fechter break his engagement after his re■
peated pledges to the Committee, he would be doing us a
wrong which, at this late hour, would be irreparable, to
say nothing of the still greater wrong Mr. Fechter would
do to himself.
Your letter has not been shown to the Committee, but
to a few members of it privately, for I cannot imagine
that Mr. Fechter, after having in so straightforward
a manner acceded to the request of the Commit-
tee, will really break faith with them at the eleventh
hour; now that they have pledged themselves to
the public, and have, with great exertions, made their
difficult and expensive arrangements to suit his views, and
many of them under his own directions; besides which we
have in the country sold largely of tickets, with a prospect
of speedily selling the whole.
It is my opinion that the Committee cannot accept Mr.
Fechter's resignation, or in any way be a party to such a
breach of faith with the public, the consequences of which
must rest with him alone.
Mr. Fechter's engagement with us is not, and cannot be
affected by gossip and "unfriendly papers," and there is not
the slightest foundation for saying that the Committee have
by resolution, or in any other way, given any sanction to
the false reports to which you allude ; in fact, we are quite
at a loss to know to what resolution you refer, or who are
the members of the Committee meant in your letter. Do
lay this letter before Mr. Fechter at once, and let me have
a reply by return of post, as I hope that, upon reconsidera-
tion, he will prevent the matter going before the Com-
mittee.—Yours truly,
(Signed) E. F. FLOWER.
H. Barnett, Esq.

[No. 3.]
That the reasons assigned by Mr. Barnett for the with-
drawal of Mr. Fechter from the part of " Hamlet," are
wholly unintelligible to this Committee, who have hitherto
worked with cordiality• and in harmony with him. The
Committee, who cannot be parties to any breach of faith
with the public, are still prepared to co-operate with Mr.
Fechter in the same spirit, and under these circumstances
they trust that Mr. Barnett's letter may be withdrawn, and
Mr. Fechter's engagement for she performance of Hamlet
fulfilled.