The Sun.
London, England, 1836-08-16 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

Yesthrday a meeting of the proprietors of Drury-Lane
Theatre was held in the saloon, for the purpose of receiving
the report of the General Committee as to the affairs of
the Theatre, &c.

Earl GLENGALL in the Chair.
The report was read by Mr. DuNN, the secretary. It
stated that, at the close of another year, the Committee
had the satisfaction to state that, amid so many rival es-
tablishments as were annually permitted to spring up in
the metropolis, and when all theatrical property was on
the decline, in consequence of the extraordinary efforts of
the lessee and the attractive nature of his performances,
Drury-Lane had maintained its character, station, and re-
spectability as one of the patent houses up to the close of
one of the longest seasons on record ; but the annual
charges and outgoings bad rendered it difficult in dispos-
ing of the theatre to make any satisfactory arrange-
ment with a new lessee, and they feared that those out-
goings would counterbalance to a considerable extent any
annual rent the theatre might at a future time command in
the market, unless some definite plan were carried into effect
for the immediate reduction of those outgoings ; otherwise
further debts would be thrown upon the proprietors before
they were able to discharge the old ones. The Duke of
Bedford had, in addition to 3001. last year, this year remit-
ted 2001. of the ground rent ; and a majority of the bond-
holders had relinquished half of the amount of the annual
interest due on their respective debts, and it was hoped
that the others would soon follow their example. The lease
of the theatre expired on the 25th of July last, and it had
been in the usual way submitted to competition, and the
Committee had for the ensuing three years confided it to
Mr. Bunn. The new renters' annuity of is. 3d. for each
night of performance had been duly paid for 238 nights
that the theatre was open, amounting to 4,4621. 10s., and
the rent to the Duke of Bedford and other outgoings,
amounting to 4,0581. 18s. 9d., had been also duly paid. The
expenditure last season exceeded the receipts by 5931.
3s. 9d., and the balance now in the bankers' hands, was
4191. 1 ls. sd.\ The Report concluded by stating that
the Committee had done everything in their power to re-
duce the dead weight, and called upon the Proprietors to
support them in their endeavours to effect so desirable an
object.

The CHAIRMAN then said that they had, under allj the
circumstances, a fair prospect of future success. Although
the receipts of the last season had been unprecedented, yet
the expenses were so enormous that no profits had been
realised. He hoped next meeting to be able to report a
further reduction of the nightly rent--the new renters
having already relinquished threepence out of the fifteen-
pence due to them. An erroneous opinion had prevailed,
which he wished to contradict, that the Committee had
shown a preference towards Mr. Bunn. They opened the
market to all, and the other offers they received bore no
comparison to that of Mr. Bunn, and consequently his was
accepted. Unless the new renters consented to make a
reduction in the amount of their claims, it would become
necessary to make an application to Parliament upon the
subject, the expense...of which, he believed, would be about
3001.

On the motion of Mr. WALLIS, the report was then
ordered to be received.

Captain SPENCER said lie hoped the Committee would
abandon the timid line of policy they had hitherto adopted
with reference to the charges of the renters, and take the
affairs of the theatre into their own hands. Although the
renters said they had given up fifty per cent., they had not
in fact given up anything, as their rent was not charged on
the property but on the proceeds. Their claim depended on
the success of the enterprise, and had no claim beyond it.
There was no remedy, however, but an application to Par-
liament, which he hoped would immediately be made.
Mr. GREGORY hoped that the statement made by the last
speaker would not go forth as that of the Committee.
Mr. G. ROBINS expressed a similar wish, and differed
altogether from the opinions expressed by Captain Spencer
as to the new renters. They were entitled to 2s. 6d. a
night, which was the sum originally paid. They had since
reduced it to one shilling, and they were as much entitled
to receive that, as he was entitled to receive his dividends
at the Bank of England.
The Committee, Auditor, &c., for the ensuing year were
then appointed.

Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, after which
:he meeting adjourned.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

OLD COURT.
(Continued from The Sun of yesterday.)
Charles Pistor, Walter Martin, Joseph Carmichael,
Robert Kendall, Elliott, and Whitehead, were indicted for
a conspiracy, with intent to defraud Charles Templar. In
this case, which was not concluded yesterday when we went
to press, the RECORDER summed up the evidence, and the
Jury, after a short consultation, acquitted all the prisoners.
The RECORDER obrer:od that, the conduct of Martin was
not free from suspicion.
The trial lasted from half-past twelve until near nine
o'clock.