The Sun.
London, England, 1831-12-26 00:00:00

MINOR THEATRES.

On Saturday a meeting took place at
Tavern, Russell-street, of gentlemen b
the theatrical profession, and connect
drama, for the purpose of taking into c
the steps proper to be adopted to defe
fession generally from the oppressions
be practised in the form of legal prosecu
Mr. WEBSTER was called to the chai
Mr. RAYNER addressed the meeting,
following notice :
" We are directed by the Committee of
the Theatre-Royal, Drury-lane, and by t
prietors of the Theatre-Royal, Covent garde
you, that by the decision of the Court of K
on the trial of the cause of Parsons v. Cha
person who shall act, represent, or perform
be acted, represented, or performed, for hire
ward, any interlude, tragedy, comedy, opera,
or ether entertainment of the stage, or an
therein, without the authority of licence me
Act of Parliament of the 10th George 11. Ck
every such offence, decided to be subject to
501. ; and that Mr. Chapman, the defendan
trial before the Lord Chief Justice of
King's Bench and a special Jury, had a
against him for seven penalties of 50,
performing himself, and also, as a manager
others to perform, in entertainments
the Tottenham-street Theatre, situate i
stree', in the county of Middlesex, n
the said theatre was licensed by the Magistra
dancing, music, or ether public entertainmen,
kind, pursuant to the Act of Parliament o
George 11., c. 36. And we are further direc
you notice, that if you either act, represent, or pe
as a manager, proprietor, or otherwise, cause oth
represent, or perform, for hire, gain, or reward,
lade, tragedy, comedy, opera, play, farce, or o
tainment of the stage, or any part or parts the
certain intended new theatre, or place of public entr;
meat now either erecting, or lately erected, and btPlt'
tuate and being in the Strand, within the liberueliti
Westminster, in the county of Middlesex, contrary te4
provisions of the said Act of Parliament of the'
George 11., cap. 28, we are directed by the CommitTe
Proprietors of Drury-lane Theatre, and the acting_)
prietors of Covent-garden Theatre, to commence prv-00(
ings against you for the recovery of any penalties you
incur by reason of your infringement of the last.ment
tatute, as in the case of the Tottenham-street theatre'
" Yours, &c.
" LOWDHAM, PARKE, and FRO
63, Lincoln's-Inn-fields.
" Dated this 19th day of December, 1831.
" To the Proprietor, Lessee, or Manager, of a certsi.o.l,t!il
tended new Theatre, now either erecting, or,r,
erected and built, situate and being in the Strand.
re
After expatiating upon the hardship and oPP 01'
sion of this awful denouncement, he moved the
'owing resolutions : of°
" 1. That it is the common and indefeasible right kpd
- • •--1 tO

men honestly to exercise their natural and acquired ,
5
to their own best advantage, and that no rational at
tion exempts the theatrical profession from a claim tberp
ilia' of which would be considered absurd in the eOlO
of any other art, and that any attempt on the part °viol
patent theatres to prevent those members of the tbOirt6
profession whom they cannot, or will not, emplollo/
procuring their subsistence by such exertion of their t' re
would be an act of injustice which they are bound t°V
sist, and which this meeting is satisfied the British r
would not tolerate.
" 2. That the present monopoly claimed by the
theatres is injurious to the profession generally, to it!ij,
vidual members, to the amusements which the public, 01
a right to derive from it, and is essentially incoo9ll
with the improved state of society.
O P'
,r,sJ
"3. That the improved style of entertainments 1,,t1
at the minor theatres, which is the subject of COolot;
now urged against them by the patent ones, tg
ctrlon the ulic favour"
he resolutions werep seconded
.by Mr. P°lllsti
and Mr. HAINES, and agreed to. •/
Mr. SERLE moved the following resolutions :of
A

" 4. That a notice has been served upon various
establishments, stretching to the utmost the ob°:itt
privileges claimed, and putting in peril the very e%l°,,
of persons, who, from authentic reports, which nis,'ol4
verified on affidavit, are solely dependent on these td 70)
"5. That it is the bounden duty of the indt' of
here assembled, not having courted the discussioer tM
meditated, to protect by every means in their pod
small profits which enable them to live, and to actor
lihood and protection to their relatives. 11#f
"6. That the two great theatres are situate °et',
each other, and a toast inconvenient distance frolitY
populous parts of the metropolis, and that the effect:"
present notice will be to prevent speaking in any' ;,e,r°
except in those in which the attention necessary ti
painful to three-fourths of the audience. soot
" 7. That at the time of granting the patents rsloo
the question of an arbitrary exercise of power untell ,f)
the population around the theatres bore no prorri.'eA
its present numbers ; and that even with a less pellu":e
in the time of Shakepeare, when the English drlV
established, 13 theatres prospered, and afforded live'fro
and occasionally fortunes, to both actors and author.. :11f,
The resolutions, which were seconded bi
VINING, were agreed to. E 0
Mr. HarsEs and Mr. RAYMOND moved t..
and 9th resolutions, which were as follow
" 8. That this meeting, fully convinced of the
influence enjoyed by the public Press, and incornled °ibe,‘,
means which have been taken to excite it aga42sti tbe
cause, now publicly solicit its assistance in behalf °,
claims, as far as it may consider them compatible
truth and justice. $ °I.J(
" 9. That a Committee be appointed to draw 01/
morial to his 51ajesty, and petitions to Parliament,
on these resolutions, praying for the abolition of lil olt4
strictive laws against the minor theatres; to wet'
and support the interests of the proprietors 10A%,"
connected with them ; and that the Committee (I,„°
of the following gentlemen—Mr. Rayner, Mr. °dr
Mr. Raymond, and Mr. Haines, with liberty 0 $
their numbers."—Agreed to. d °b'
Mr.DAvIDGE moved the tenth resolution, liteti
Pli;'
1
served, that he had been persecuted, and pt°9ctr
and tried, and convicted, and compelled to olir,
penalties. He stated that at the time he hadaP'bo"
to the other managers of the minor theatre,:'olof,
they would Rot make common cause, and e°'010:"
ward with a subscription to meet the expensedsl' i
legal proceedings, although they were all
,;',,titc;
implicated with himself. He regretted this fee.'
unanimity, and trusted that a better and wi9ed
ing would henceforth prevail. He contends otui;
these proceedings of the monopolists were poi 0A
rected against the minor theatres alone, but 6effc,`:(
the theatrical profession. Notices had bee" ipot
upon the performers at the greater theatrestwful,
they performed at the minors, even during °idol s
mer season, they would be prosecuted, and finteoleef
for each performance. The object of the plitoedce
was to take the minor theatres back to the icto
barbarism in which they were in the year IS ;11°-
remembered having visited the Royal Circusetr!"
he was a boy, and this was the style of the f°
" The tide was in, so in went we;
4. God bless your daylights, pretty dear.
ePf
" Fol di riddle 10l die 10l di dec." II ft 0
If they did not wish to go back to this, o'tit
should be taken to repeal the Act, and the 6rP
was to raise money. to
He then moved the resolution—.
10. That a voluntary subscription be entere' br,
defray the necessary expence; that Mr. Davidge renew
pointed treasurer, and that books be opened to theel;
subscriptions from all persons who may considerAit
selves interested in the success of the drama."
Mr. DAvIDGE was next appointed treasure"be
proposed an immediate subscription, and set t 100
ample himself by laying down a guinea. A nit o'+
of other persons present also subscribed, efid
agreed to make collections at each of the
, theatres.
After several other speeches the meeting 801°

.5.41)",1
MORE BISHOFs.—Good Mr. 1-0 -h* e6l
has moved, at the India House, for three more ni';eet
$
India, at the salary of 5,0001. a year. There are e s;„
to spare in Ireland, but we apprehend that 6' ,
more wanted in India than there, for Mr. PoYNngl'ty
e'llot
as the ground of his motion, that four Bisbopg
in India within a few successive years, and _as 09:4,
periods after their arrivals, and that, in co"
India has been left, for six years out of the last tefi'ite,,
outfes t the
n. spirituallhßtaiile,mecbpalel3reiensahor
:of
opaoscuß
out
for so long a period unmitred ? These circuinstali:e
doubtless, providential. The motion was, of 0'1;
wouldg
ati v e d they
ibr rairsodilremdbsepieon:orSe. uq_arnuei,Elisyi
tt3eh,taeloiiinrc'i
on:etirl,giffig

dear.

this, oil
tot
Lui e?
d the firs

ti
'ol°
„Mere'
DaYidge
poled to
Consider j tC
nit." Agrre'°l
treasure' e es
and set °opt'
ea. A. :1)4
)ed, av
i of the

eting sePe'r°

r. FO,,
b,,
more 13'' le('?s
There 004, A,
that theY
PoYNO`'4' ft
110 °
13isbops
d
rs, an e 0
iu coo': epi,
he last te.',!iior
ly this
isite or
d the G'" eel e.
r
Is, 0f cou
Examioet.