The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-10 00:00:00

PRESENTATION OP PLATE TO Mit. E. T. SIIITII.—On
Saturday evening a number of the friends of Mr. E. T.
Smith, lessee of Drury-lane Theatre, entertained that
gentleman at dinner at the Coal Hole Tavern, in the
Strand, for the purpose of presenting him a very hand-
some silver tureen and ladle, as a token of esteem for
his industry and integrity, also in acknowledgment of
the advantages derived by the increased trade to the
neighbourhood during his management. The subscrip-
tions for this very flattering testimonial were chiefly the
spontaneous offerings of the respectable inhabitants and
tradesmen in the vicinity of the theatre, who were de-
sirous of conferring upon Mr. Smith this substantial mark
of their respect anti esteem. Mr. Renton Nicholson, who
occupied the chair, presented the plate to Mr. Smith,'
and complimented him upon his successful management
during the past 18 months, and eulogised the spirit of
active benevolence which had marked his regime in
the national theatre. Mr. Smith returned thanks, in a
modest and appropriate speech, in which ho attributed
his success, in a great degree, to the determination with
which he had started to regulate his expenses upon a
strict system of economy, and to leave none of his com-
pany or servants unpaid, while he had a shilling with
which to pay them. He said his intention was to make
Drury-lane a profitable managerial speculation, by any
species of entertainment which the public would
patronise, from a Surrey drama to an Italian Opera, and
he bad found this the true secret of management. mr.
Smith, after some further observations, again thanked
his friends for the splendid gift they had that evening
bestowed upon him. At a later hour in the evening Mr.
Smith presented to Mr. George Wild, his acting mana-
ger, a beautiful gold watch and chain, in acknowledgment
of his long services, and the strict friendship that had
subsisted between them for a long series of years. Other
toasts were proposed and duly honoured, and a most
agreeable evening
was spent by those present.
FIRE • NEAR REGENT'S-PARK
-p enryn Lodge, the
private mansion of Dr. Woolf, Park-village, Gloucester-
gate, Regents-park, was almost totally destroyed by
fire on Saturday last.

ANOTHER SERIOUS FIRE IN THE CITY.—The exten-
sive and well-known range of premises belonging to
Messrs. Waterlow and Sons, wholesale stationers,
printers, &c., in London-wall, had a narrow escape of
being totally destroyed on Saturday last. As it was,
property valued at a few thousand pounds was either
consumed or extensively damaged by the devastating
element. After the lapse of two or three hours the con-
flagration was extinguished, but not until a serious
amount of damage was done, but not so great it is be-
lieved as to put an entire stop to the business. As to
the origin of the misfortune nothing positive could be
learned. Fortunately the firm was fully insured in
several fire-offices. The arrangements of the police were
most excellent, and a great crowd of idlers was kept out
of danger.
INDIA.—The Commissioners for the affairs of India
have appointed the Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay, M.P.,
the Right Hon. Lord Ashburton, John Shaw Lefevre,
Esq., C. 8., the Rev. Henry Melvill, 8.D., Principal of
Haileybury-College, and the Rev. Benjamin Jowett,
Fellow and Tutor of Balliol College, Oxford, to be a
committee for the purpose of considering the best means
of carrying out the clauses of the Government of India
Act of last session, under which admission to the college
of Haileybury will hereafter be open to competition.
Sir Alexander Spearman had an interview with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer on Saturday at his official
residence in Downing-street.