The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-15 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE,

The interior of this famed lyric temple was yesterday
crowded by an audience of a very differont character
from those who are wont to assemble within its wails.
The occasion was an attempt ow the par!. of a go., tleman,
to whom the valuable properties and ti;:t: res of the
thow.tro were mortgaged zaoo.S....toUr-- yeSITS, 46 JaikiNiv-4410-4b—
suns amounting with: int,rest, to 12,000/., to forvoh)se
and realise. The announcement of the int.iilded s:4e has
been some time k;fore the public, but few. persons be-
lieved that the parties chiefly interested in the preserva-
tion of the property would allow matters to proceed to
so desperate an extremity. This impress'on v-as
strengthened by the fact of a distress levied 5o: parochial
rates a short time ago, upon which a sale had ken ad-
vertised by Messrs. Oxenham, having been raid out at
the last moment. No withdrawal of the advertisement
announcing the second sale took place, however; and
yesterday, at two o'clock, the portals of her Majesty's
Theatre admitted all who presented themselves, on
payment of one shilling, in consideration of which, each
person was presented with a goodly octavo of five sheets,
containing a detailed catalogue of the property to be sold
in 1,500 lots, varying from "half-a-dozen devils' tunics"
to the " superb fittings of her Majesty's box," and thus
briefly enumerated in the title-page :—" All the tenants'
fixtures, fixed and moveable machinery, scenery, the
organ (built by Flight), two piano-fortes, three drums,
the monstre bass violin, the chandeliers, the furniture of
the various boxes, dressing roomF, committee rooms,
offices, and other apartments, the valuable library of
ancient and modern music, the wardrobe of ladies' and
gentlemen's apparel, the stage properties, the fittings of
the national concerts, and all other properties belong-lag
to her Majesty's Theatre." There were between 200 and
300 persons present when the auctioner, Mr. James
Scott, of Broad-street,, ascended the rostrum, which
was somewhat thcatrigally arrayed upon the stage.
The parties in attendance consisted chiefly of gen-
tlemen connected with theatrical property, and some f..tw
lawyers. A great deal of whispering had been going on
previously, and rumours were rife that the, sale would be
prevented at the last moment. Some surprise was
therefore felt when Mr. Scott proceeded to read, with-
out preface, the conditions on which the property was
Offered for sale. These conditions explained that the
whole would be put up at 12,000/. ; that each bidding
afterwards must be at least 501.; that a deposit of 201.
per cent. should be paid down ; that immediate posses-
sion would be given ; and that the property must be re-
moved within a certain number of days. In introduc-
ing the property, Mr. Scott remarked that the library of
music was, he believed, by general acknowledgment, the
,finest collection extant. It consisted of 130 modern
operas, 150 old operas, and the music for 100 ballets.
The wardrobe included nearly 8,000 dremes. lie was
quite sure it would be unnecessary for him
oofmotlot.he dilnaltoertrgionge
the valuable property he had the honour to offer, and
he would therefore at once ask any gentlemantphreesseanmte
mortgage for a
Mr.n advancestrutz a° on otl he
cei
tor, upsetaos pricekpe rprior
offeredotrho
f date
2 for
sale.
on
unmder. r wshtruichttt—helsprthopte:etyn
was
Mr. Scott replied " 1849."
property ?
Mr. Scott said—Certainly not. It had been
to offer the property in one lot, in the ho arranged
arranged
gentleman would. come forward and ope that some
thus enable the theatre to be kept purchase it, and
sent season. If it were not sold inpen during the pre-
disposed of -piecemeal on Thurs(l one lot, it would be
days, and then it would be may next and following
this year. Ile hoed me possible to open the theatre
to add 50/. to the upset - gentleman would allow him
price
A long pause er sued, .
Mr. Scott repeated t and, no offer having been made,
bidding, the property hat, if he failed in obtaining a
Thursday next y Would inevitably be sold in lots on
next. Mr. Maddox, lateofPrincess's Theatre, com-
plained thatnobody the •
could know what he was going to
buy. The public had only beadmitted to the theatre
an hour previously, and there been admitted
been no time to exa-
mine the property There was not even a catalogue of
he
the music, which .considered was more valuable than
all the rest.
Mr. Scott said he had a catalogue of the music before
all
who desired
him, which was open to the inspection of
to see it.
formally offered three several.
The property was now
bidding increased being made, the
times, and no
' auc-
tioneer announced
that it
wtonld be offered once again at
at the same uset price,
12 o'clock on Thursday ?E
d eit'would be sold in lots as de-
i and if not then purchase ,
scribed in the eatalt
ogee•
p
no
.
--rice was too high.
Mr. Maddox said th i
000/. for it.
t mind giving i,
reduction would be made in the up-
Mr. Scott said no
set price.
As the crowd retired
d from the theatre, some wag
seated himself and
pealed forth the solemn
l
at the organ
tones 0f a funeral dirge.

He would

1 R RAILWAY.—The adjourned inquest on the
bodies Y.°R
•ItssollfthEe unfortunate persons killed at Dixon Fold,
ocolni it
o beforen
ThMeMr .
jy
lu Vr:
THE FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE LANCASHIRE AND
on the Manchester and Bolton line, on Friday evening
aflntenrn,
found " That the deceased, Thomas Croston, was guilty
ar et s
theum resumed
Sevenyesterday
Stars
of manslaughter, through driving at excessive speed ;
that the engine was not a proper one ; that the perma-
ws.eek,
Rutter,was
i nent way was defective and unsafe ; that the general
arrangements of the company are not conducive to pub-
lic Safety ; and that the management of the Bolton and
Preston district of the line merits strong condowial.
tion."

THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI.
Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste.
THIS EVENING, Maacrt 15,
Will be presented GOOD NIGHT, SIGNOR PANTALON. Sup-
ported by Messrs. Paul Bedford and G. Honey; Muses Woolgar,
Laura Honey, Collins, &c.
After which, A LUCKY FRIDAY.
To conclude with (only time at second price) the Drama of THE
BEEN BUSHES' ; or, a Hundred Years Ago.
Doors open at half-past cis o'clock.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. C. Kean.
THIS EVENING, Maa.ca 15,
Will be performed Shakspere's Play of KING JOHN. Principal
characters by Messrs. C. Kean, W. Lacy, Ryder, Addison, Saker, J.
Vining, Terry, Graham, F. Cooke, Everett, Vezin, and Cathcart;
Misses Desborough, Murray, K. Terry, Mrs. Winstanley, Mrs. Daly,
and Mrs. C. Kean.
To conclude with A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER.

ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. Farren.
THIS EVENING, Msacn 15,

von be presented THE FARMER'S STORY. Supported I;
Mess,-s. Compton, W. Farren, jun., Hoskins, Cooke, Shalders, Edgar,
Bender, and Clifton ; Misses Anderton and H. Gordon.
After which, THE LOAN OF A LOVER.
To conclude with THE SERGEANT'S WIFE.
Box-office open from Eleven till Five, under the superintendence
of Mr. E. Chatterton.