The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-11 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES,

Sir,—Your esteemed and merry contemporary Puncl
yesterday published, under the above title, an excellent
article (intended at my expense, but never mind that) on
the subject of the "mischievous and much-abused sys-
tem of newspaper orders," suggesting that the " remedy
for such things is to abandon that system." He then
proceeds as follows :

" Managers are too great cowards to do it, though they
gr•an under it. The best part of the press can, and ought,
to break it down for the sake of their independence which
is incompatible with the order system as interpreted by
Mr. Charles Mathews and other managers who might be
mentioned. Let all the respectable journal, daily and
weekly, combine to renounce the privilege' of writing
orders, and let them signify as much to the managers.
When the respectable, journals have once done this mana-
gers will perhaps better appreciate the value of a privi-
lege' which only the strugglers, sharpers, and outsiders
the smallest of the small newspaper fry—will condescend
to accept."
Punch concludes a long article by complimenting Mr.
Albert Smith

" On having been the first public exhibitor bold enough
to avow this, in a letter in which he announces to news-
paper proprietors his intention of abolishing altogether the
privilege' of writing orders to his entertainment of Mont
Blanc. Managers, the public, newspaper proprietors, and
critics should be alike obliged to Mr. Albert Smith, for he
has done good service to all worthy members of these
classes, in thus making the first attack on a degrading,
misleading, much-abused, and in every way mischievous
system."
In all this I so fully concur, that I cannot resist asking
you, Sir, the favour of inserting the following circular,
issued simultaneously with that of Mr. Albert Smith (and
one of which was addresssed to Puneh, himself), showing
that, at any rate, I am not one of the "managers who
are too great cowards " to remonstrate, however long I
may have " groaned under" the infliction.
" Mr. Charles Mathews presents his compliments to the
editor of the , and will feel particularly
obliged by his abstaining from writing his orders for the
Lyceum during the first few weeks' run of the Christmas
entertainment.
Mr. Mattiewsris too happy at any time to offer him
and his reporters admission—or a private box, for himself
and family ; but when it is explained that press orders are
nightly presented to the amount in money of 251. (being a
paying public
is of 1501. per week to the theatre), while the paublic
i
is actually turned from the doors, and this duringn the only
eight or nine weeks of the season when, unfortunately,
now-a-days, anything like a profit is to he expected, he
hopes that the editor of the
object to follow the liberal example set by The Times, and
refrain from giving indiscriminate, and frequently undated,
orders, many of which are sold'at the doors, some of which
have even been presented at the boxes by privates in the
uniform of the Foot Guards, but the majority of which are
professedly passed into the hands of country friends and
persons wholly unconnected with the press,—persons who
would otherwise cheerfully pay their money during the
holyday period.
" One hundred thousand individuals with press orders
have been thus admitted.into the Lyceum Theatre during
the five seasons' tenancy of Mr. Charles Mathews, and their
money, had they paid 'for their admission, would have
amounted to no less a sum than 25,0001.

" Perhaps this simple fact will plead more eloquently in
favour of the presont appeal than anything further that
could be advanced upon the subject.
" Lyceum Theatre, Jan. 1."

This circular, lam happy to add, has been cour-
teously responded to by many of the leading journals,
and I hope may be considered as a first step in the right
direction.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
C. J. MATHEWS.

(From the Times.)
It will be seen from a letter in our impression of this
morning that we have at length been addressed publicly
on a subject which, though it immediately concerns our-
selves' is not without a more general interest and bear-
ing. Many persons—too many, indeed—will be aware
of the fact that a certain privilege is conceded to the edi-
tors of the metropolitan journals by the managers of the
several theatres and other places of popular amusement,
but the description of the system actually in operation
will probably take the majority of our readers by sur-
prise. As the character and proceedings of all public
exhibitions are necessarily reported in a newspaper for
the information of the country, and as the exhibitors
themselves are more interested than any others in the
effectual publication of this report, it is by no means
*unnatural that the reporter should be welcomed
to the spectacle, or that a person whose presence
is so eminently desirable should receive a gratui-
tous admission. The practice in its origin is intelli-
gible enough ; nor will it appear very remarkable that
other gentlemen connected, or supposed to be connected,
with the journal, should ultimately have come to be in-
cluded in the exemptions at first intended for the actual
critics of the performance. At present, however, the
custom is, that every newspaper, whether daily or
weekly, should be indulged in the privilege of issuing
"orders"—that is to say, tickets signed by the editors
or managers of the paper, which are to serve instead of
payment at the doors of the exhibition. As there is no
practical limit to the number of these orders, the conse-
quence is a species of universal " franking," and, exactly
as members o Parliament in past days used to employ
for the gratification of their friends, and to the detri-
ment of the Post-office, a privilege designed for the
facilitation of their professional business, so have jour-
. nalists extended the prerogatives of their craft, to
the woful damage of theatrical exchequers. For the
actual result of this system, as now described on
unimpeachable authority, we own we were scarcely
prepared. Mr. Albert Smith states that the " press
orders" take upwards of twenty pounds a-week from
his small exhibition-room, and Mr. Charles Mathews as-
sures us that 1501. a week is not an exaggerated estimate
of the tax thus imposed upon the Lyceum. The latter
gentleman adds indeed, as a general view of the case,
" that during his five years' tenancy of this theatre there
have been admitted by press orders 100,000 individuals,
whose money, had they paid for their tickets, would have
amounted to 25,0001." Nor is this method of reckoning
altogether unfair or pretentious. No doubt, on some
occasions the places engaged by the bearers of these
orders might, if not thus occupied, have been untenanted
entirely, but generally speaking, whatever attracts the
non-paying visitors would attract the paying visitors ;
and, in point of fact, it was the compulsion of turning
away solid money from the doors when these worthless
tickets had gained admission which at length induced the
complainants to make a move for redress.
In the substance of the views expressed by Mr. C.
Mathews and Mr. Albert Smith, we do not hesitate to
express our entire concurrence. For ourselves, indeed,
we should be perfectly willing to relinquish even those
reasonable privileges in which the present system took
its rise. If it be true that the reporter is acting in some
sense for the public, yet this is no less true of every func-
tion of a journal, and immunities might just as well be
claimed in one case as another. If the newspaper works
for the public, the public pays for the newspaper, and
there is no good reason that we can discover why we
should be franked to Mr. Charles Mathews's theatre in
the discharge of our own duties any more than we should
be franked by the South-Eastern Railway in procuring
cur
.. own information. That we should enjoy a preferen-
tial title to admission in case of pressure, and should be
ae_ eommodated, under all circumstances, with thefacilities
requisite for observation, is due, we think, to our cha-
racter as representatives of the public ; but beyond this
we should not be disposed to press our claims. If, how-
ever, it should be thought practically desirable to ex-
ript reporters from payment, we think the ivilee
Should be strictly confined to gentlemen thus engaged,
and that the discontinuance of the resent system
should be distinctly understood. The present system
Should be distinctly understood The reader will not
have much difficulty in comprehendin why we should
speak on this subject with some goodwgill. As long as
these orders are sent to us in blank from the theatres
for the purposes of circulation—as long as they are
known to be in our possession, and only our
signature to make them current_ wantingar, of course,
liable to incessant applications for a share of the favours
presurffed to be at our disposal ; nor is it always easy to
withstand the pertinacity of a candidate for attentions
which he assumes will cost us nothing
In point of fact, however, it is characterali. of the
press itself which is chiefly at stake in thtese
t transactions,
and which is concerned, we venture
abolition of a system no leas discreditable tohink, in the
joum
than unfairly onerous to theatrical
prietornalisrs. It stands to reason that privileges so extensiver as are thus
represented could not be granted Nvithoutatleast the
presumptive acceptance of an obligation in return,
do not mean to say that the operation of any,snh
that
theatrical as this is practically expeiieneed
theatrical critiques are influenced by the considerationt
of privileges which all critics enjoy iii common. Never-
theless, theless, the custom in question is obviously neither
more nor less than a species of favour, and it can hardly
be consistent with the dignity or independence of jour-
nalism to accept at the reluctant hands of dramatic ex-
hibitors concessions which could not be received from
other quarters without grave risk of suspicion. In our
crwn interests, therefore, no less than in justice to the
complainants, we desire to see the system abandoned,
,and the practice of exemptions either confined to re-
Porters actually on duty or discontinued altogether.
At the same time, we are of opinion that theatrical
pagers are to a great extent responsible for the hard-
.,il,Ps against which they have at length protested. For
the two
while, and especially during the predominance of
procure the attendance of as many visitors as possible,
and distributed their blank orders with the view of
the in-
tnoriug under all circumstances a well-filled house, to
thlto s
eon the general audience. It is obvious, indeed,
with system now found so burdensome to exhibitors
limited accommodation, could never have originated
except in the deliberate purpose of exhibitors of another
class, for the managers of newspapers have, after all,
done no more than accpt what was sent to them. There
are certain points,
roiattr, besides, in which if a re-adjust-
ment of these
satey matters is to be effected, we think
the theatrical
unison," as Parliarom may
be brought "more in
entary
the spirit of the age preformers say, " with
insist too strongly on erhaps we should not
mission, though
* the average prices of ad-
except cab-fares, theyare almost the only prices,
w
tion in these times of cheapness
. But there is another
athews has been address-
ed, we think, once before, andon which he failed to con-
admission his opponent or the public. He asks ss. for
achnission to his performance ; but, if an intending visitor
goes to take his lace at the box-office of the theatre,
Opened for this Pv
purpose, he is charged 65., or 20 per cent, extraery for the privilege of becoming a
BCustomer. This is surely neither, defensible nor wise. If
o . is a fit and proper price for admission to the theatre,
to person should be charged an
extrar shilling for asking
to be admitted. If a book
costs a bookseller does
not charge 6s. because it is ordered beforehand.
Should have imagined it in the interest of the
proprietors

t o encourage rather than otherwise the system of se-
curing seats, for it certainly must be advantageous to
ascertain as early as possible the probable state of the
house. With this, however, the public is not concerned;
but we think Mr. Mathews would have some diffic.qlty
in proving either the expedience or the propriety of hd-
vertising a seat for 55., and then levying a tax of ls.; on
every person who comes to buy it.
THE LAW AMENDMENT SOCIETY.

A general meeting of the Society for Promoting the
Amendment of the Law took place last evening at their
office in Regent-street. Mr. Frederick Hill presided.
After the transaction of the ordinary business, the fol-
lowing resolutions, passed by the Committee on Ecclesi-
astical Courts, were submitted for general consideration,
the subject having been discussed at the last meeting
" 1. That the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical and Pecu-
liar Courts in matters relating to tho grant of probate and
of letters of administration be transferred to the Court of
Chancery.
" 2. That, in transferring this jurisdiction to the CoUrt
of Chancery, it is proposed to give that court the additional
power necessary to enable it to adjudicate upon wills both
of real and personal estate, with or without the aid of a
jury, as the case may require; such court to be clothed
with all the power and jurisdiction which the Ecclesiastical
and Peculiar Courts at present have.
" 3. That, in connection with the administration of the
Central Court, subsidiary jurisdiction should be given, to
the County Courts."
Mr. J. STEWART moved the following amendment :
" That the present jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical
Courts, so far as testamentary matters are concerned,: is
universally admitted to be unsatisfactory, and requires ex-
tensive reform ; that this reform should consist of a trans-
fer of their present jurisdiction in testamentary matters'to
another court clothed with jurisdiction as well over wills
of real as of personal estate ; that to create a new court for
the purpose would be unadvisable, if any existing court
can be found to which such enlarged jurisdiction may be
properly intrusted, and to which complete powers can be
given ; that the existing courts of common law and Counlty
Courts have no equitable jurisdiction or power of dealing
with trustees, or with equitable matters arising on the
construction of wills ; that the existing courts of equity
have no power of empanelling a jury or of conclusively de-
ciding issues of fact ; that in order to do complete justice
in testamentary matters it is necessary that the court to
which they are entrusted should possess the full and con-
joined powers of a court of law and of a court of equity ;
that no thorough or satisfactory settlement of the questions
pending with respect to the testamentary jurisdiction of
the Ecclesiastical Courts can be come to except by the
establishment of a court of conjoined law and equity, hav-
ing jurisdiction over wills of real and personal estate : that
it is the bounden duty of the Government of this country
to provide such a court for the proper adjudication of all
testamentary matters • that, with the view of promoting
this object, it is desirable that the present Law and Equity
Commissions should be united, and that their attention
should accordingly be called to this important subject by
the society."
A fusion of jurisdiction between the courts of law and
equity was almost universally considered desirable, and
there was reason to believe that the law of this country
would, before long, be rendered in unison on this point,
on the one hand, with the law of Scotland, and, on the
other, with that of America. It was admitted by all
that the Ecclesiastical Courts, so far as the testamentary
jurisdiction was concerned, were in a defective state—
(hear)—and that some alteration must take place. A
new court had been proposed, but he did not think Par-
liament would consent to establish new courts while
there were old ones in existence which were capable of
dealing with the subject.
Mr. LE BRETON seconded the amendment.
Mr. COLLIER, M.P., proposed a further amendment,
as follows ;
"That the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Courts to
grant probate of wills and letters of administration should
be transferred to the County Courts, provided that in all
cases of disputed probate, where the property exceeds a
certain amount, either party shall be at liberty to remove
the will into one of the superior courts of common law."
The amendment he had moved proceeded upon the as-
sumption that it was not desirable to have a new court,
for the public would be likely to say there were too many
courts already. (Hear.) The points he suggested for
consideration were, first, should they give the jurisdic-
tion of the Ecclesiastical to the County Courts ; and, in
the second place, whether, if they gave that jurisdiction
to the County ourts, the appeal should be to the courts
of common law or to the Court of Chancery. The prin-
ciple of the local administration of justice had been over
and over again recognised by that society, and why
should not the County Courts be able to exercise the
jurisdiction in question as well as they had exercised
every other jurisdiction which had been intrusted to
them ? (Hear.) These County Courts would forni
also, in addition to the central registry, a system of
local registration of very great value. Ile thought the
appeal should be to the courts of common law, which
were better qualified to decide those questions than the
Court of Chancery. The former courts visited the pro-
vinces once or twice a-year, and he saw no reason why
they should not do so oftener, and why the cases involved
in testamentary jurisdiction should not be tried at the
assizes, either before a single judge, or before a judge
and jury, as the parties thought fit.
The proposition having been duly seconded,
Dr. WA.DDILOVE, LL.D., moved another amendment,
as follows :

" That it is desirable that one testamentary jurisdiction
should be formed in lieu of the various ecclesiastical and
peculiar courts at present exercising jurisdiction through-
out England and Wales, and that for such purpose a tri-
bunal be established, which shall have legal and equitable
jurisdiction in all matters relating to wills and intestacies,
whether of real or personal estate, which court shall be
styled `Her Majesty's Court of Probate and Succession for
England and Wales.' "
He believed it was impossible that the County Courts
should exercise testamentary jurisdiction in such a way
as to give satisfaction.
Mr. W. D. LEWIS seconded the amendment.
Dr. BAYFORD asked what was to be done with the
Ecclesiastical Courts in respect to the other jurisdictions
belonging to them—those of dealing with cases of divorce,
with offences committed by clerks, and those of the Ad-
miralty Court I Ho suggested that the whole matter
ought to be referred back to the committee who made
the report upon which the various amendments were
founded, to consider, supposing testamentary jurisdic-
tion were withdrawn from the Ecclesiastical Court, what
effect would be produced upon the jurisdictions he had
mentioned, and which must be carried on somewhere or
other. • _ _

After some remarks from Mr. WISE, in support of the
amendments proposed by Mr. J. Stewart,
The further consideration of the subject was, at the
suggestion of the Chairman, again adjourned until the
next meeting of the society.

EXTRAORDINARY MARRlAGE.—Yesterday morning a
most extraordinary scene was presented at the church of
St. Peter's Walworth. In Kings-row, Walworth, a
small building ordinarily used as a cooper's shop is occa-
sionally occupied as a sort of chapel by a congregation
akin to the followers of the late Johanna Southcote. The
leader of this band an elderly female named Vaughan,
deemed it advisable to become betrothed to a young man
named Peacock, said to be one of the priesthood of the
above sect. Accordingly, yesterday morning, about 11
o'clock, a procession was formed and set in motion to-
wards St. Peter's Church, some of the males wore jackets
of light material, others a species of coronet, and several
singular-looking caps, while around the waist and across
the shoulders of most were polished leather and other
bands and belts, inscribed with apparently cabalistic and
zodiacal characters. The females about 12 in number,
were attired in white, with various singular decorations,
and from the head of each depended long showy veils.
In this singular, procession were borne 16 various ban-
ners, comprising the standard of England, the union
jack, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel, one of
the sun, and one of the moon and stars. In the midst
of these was a sort of shepherd's crook, and tlie bride-
groom, who, together with his venerable companion,
headed the procession, bore on his shoulder a species of
mace, surmounted by a crimson velvet cap with gold
fringe. On reaching the church porch the bridal party
were compelled, by; order of theminister, to deposit their
flags, &c. The Rev. F. F. Statham, the incumbent
performed the marriage ceremony, and the entry in the
register at the vestry was John Clearlight Peacock Pea-
cock, aged thirty years, married to Elizabeth Fairlight
Vaughan, aged sixty years. At the conclusion the bride
conversed very freely with the rev. minister, whom she
urgently endeavoured to convert, declaring that it had
been revealed to her that she was to introduce the Shiloh
to the world. The procession then departed in the same
order as it arrived, amidst the hooting, laughter, and
Jeering of the assembled crowd.
MONMOUTHNG AND Ross RAILWAY.—IMPORTANT AR-
RAEBIENT.—We hear from a trustworthy source that
a very important compromise has been effected in refe-
reenneeiheat othe projected undertaking, by which a threat-
,Ty parliamentary contest and a renewal of the
terrible battle of the guages" will happily be avoided.
Our information has reference to certain overtures made
None.:e_p,ailway art of the " Dean Forest, Monmouth, Usk, and
e d
tha
13,4-G R
ICompany" to Mr. Brunel, and which
to
g of
joined bases the
company at Newport, where the sub-
Ross, and Gloweueeest definitely adopted. The Hereford,
Forest of Dean h
tor er Company agrees to abandon the
only for powers auch
uP to Lydbrook Valley, seeking
construct a line of railway from Ross
to Monmouth, in return for which concession, and in
further consideration of the South Wales Company un-
dertaking forthwith to coemrtplete their branch from Mon-
mouth tad Usk to Newp
the Dean Forest and Ponty-
pool promoters abandmononamlloputorions of their projected
line, excepting from
tO Coleford, which is
now to be constructed on the broad
rryi!groce,nt will doubtless be
of this highly important arral, guage- The effect
to ensure the successful ea
of all-the takings referred to, and fortunateluwithout the under-
singharas-
and costly alternative of ay protracted contest
through the ordeal of Parliament.—Cambria
of last,
AFFRAY WITH POACHERS.—On Sunday mon; •
between two and three o'clock, a gang
armed entered the preserves of Mr. J. Evans eight
tyren
of
Ferney-hall, near Ludlow, for the purpose of killing
game. They were shortly after encountered by theu
head keeper and three assistant keepers ; a scuffle ensued
between the parties, which, as might be expected, the
poachers being twice as numerous as the keepers, ended
in the discomfiture of the latter, they were all knocked
down by the poachers and most murderously assailed by
them with the butts of their guns, which they actually
broke upon them. When Mr. Lloyd ascertained what
had occurred, he immediately, at four o'clock a.m., set
off for Ludlow, and sent Mr. Hodgson, surgeon, and
his assistant to the keepers, and also set the police in
motion. The parties are known, and it is to be hoped
will soon be apprehended. A reward of 501. has been
offered for their apprehension. Fortunately, notwith-
standing the violence which was used, none of the
keepers have been mortally injured.

20
50
20
20

1.0.61

40
100
100
100

all'
all
all
3
100
100

100
all
33
100

100
100
100
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all
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all
15

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20 I a]

St. 10
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St.l II

St. 1101
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25

THE SHARE MARKETS.

BRITISH RAILWAYS.

RAILWAYS.

Closing Prices
this Day

BHS'ness done
this day.

31. I
6i 7

1084 74
684 8
23
17
42

133 i a

9 --

7571 --

76Ai 6 7 GA

76 -
28 -

29
63
81i
44
122

80i -
42 -
20 -

94
6§ -
88 -
11i

83. -
3
121 -.2-

9 - 94
108 - 109
1231 -123 i
3 -4 p
1 - 1911
2p
91 -

5 4d
4 —3 d
11 12
191 201
30 304
3
79 —79 i
46 48

51 -- 52
4 -- 36 (I
21 -- 28
81 --
55 --57
8 -- 86
2 -- 3
39 --2
40c16; -- 6i d

2i
d
4 • 3 d
gi p
51 52
95 97
67 - 65
66 68

75 - 80

19 - 20
9 - 10
14 - 15
n - 2i.

23 - 24
82 - 83
381 - 391
13 - 13
4 - 4

12 3
?!
9 -- 10
27 -- 28
9i -- 10

0.
71 -
6IT 344
2 -
58 -59 i

SHARE

1109 - 11.

Los

19 20
d

331 --

p
-- 1 p
14g -14 i

18 -• 18

1:

1/6 --: lig

114

81 - 9

- li

09 - 1.10

par p
152 154 I

3i - 4 p
8 - 84

134 -- 134,
9 -- 10
11 -- 111
r

1 - 13 p

150 -- 152
23!3a1)
6 -- 6A

2 - 21
101 - 102
25i - 26,

2 ,--! 2i pl
11 - 11.

11 17
1p
16 —17 i
par— i P

261 - 26

19 - 20

id par

103 - 105
-5;

- BPI

BANKS,

81~ ss

li - li
211 - 36

,„ - ..•

•••. .--

48 - 50
72 - 73
- 9A

St i 1

!DM 5i
93/ 4

83i i

104
123 4 38 4 3

91i 2 li i

30/
791 ii
48

x. d.