The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-09 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

G'ENERAL MEETING OF THE NEW RENTERS.
A General Meeting of the New Renters o 7 Drury-
lane Theatre was held at Mr. George Robins's Rooms,
Covent-garden, yesterday, at ten o'clock.
On the motion of Mr. Ctrs, Mr. George Robins was
called to eke Chair amidst acclamation.
Mr. GEO. ROBINS, after thanking the meeting for the
honour conferred upon him by calling him to the Chair,
said he was rejoiced to see the gentlemen of the press in at-
tendance, as the object of the meeting was one to which
publicity should be given. Some time since Captain
Carpenter and he (Mr. Robins), with some other gentle-
men, had been appointed trustees, and he hoped he
shouldbeable to show that they had not been idle nor inac-
tive in their uphill struggle They had availed themselves of
the abilities of their respected solicitor, Mr. Ford, a gen-
tleman who was the very first to become a shareholder,
4nd paid his money down for twelve sharer:, and without
whose assistance they could not have arrived at the re-
sult to which they have now. He (Mr. Robins) had
been obliged to attend in the Bankruptcy Court yester-
day, at much trouble and expense ; however he was
happy •to be able to offer his humble services
to the renters this day. On the 3d of February, 1840,
a meeting of the renters was held, at which he and Cap-
tain Carpenter were appointed trustees, and that ap-
pointment had been subsequently approved of • by the
Master in Chancery. Finding it impossible by either
persuasion or courtesy to make any satisfactory
arrangements respecting the large arrears that were
due to the renters, the opinions of two eminent Counsel
were obtained, and being favourable, they were compelled
to adopt the Bernier and most painful resort of 'putting
a distress into the theatre, for the sum of 14,9411. ss.
After considerable trouble and delay, the following
document was signed :--
" Agreement entered into between the Committee of
Proprietors of Drury Lane Theatre, and the Trustees of
the new Renters of the said theatre.
" The sum of 1021. 10s. 9d. balance remaining in the
hands of the Committee on account of last season, is to
be paid to the Trustees within fourteen days, on account
of the sum of 14,9411. ss. arrears of the rent-charges due
the 16th December last.
" A sum 0f,51. nightly for every night performance
in October last to this day, to be paid to the trustees
on account of the said rent-charges, one-third of such
payment to be made within 21 days. Upon the above
payment being made, the present distress in Drury Lane
for 14,9411. ss. shall be withdrawn, the Committe pay-
ing Mr. Stevens, the broker, his expenses relative to such
distress.
A like payment of Si. per night of every performance,
to be made to the trustees in future on each quarter-
day, or within three days thereof, any balance
on the receipts and payment in . favour of the
theatre, after deducting the ground rent and such-
other outgoings (authorised by Act of Parliament)
at the end of the present and all future seasons (which
season shall be from Michaelmas day to Michaelmas day
in each year) shall be paid to the Trustees on account of
the said rent-charges (such payments respectively not
to exceed the amount due on the said rent-charges, but
such balance not to be accounted for and paid over
until the end of the then next season after such
balance shall have accrued, so that the season ending
March, 1841, shall be accounted for and paid in March,
1842, or within twenty-one days afterwards, and so on for
every subsequent year.
" The trustees of the new renters, or their solicitor,
autheriseil in writing,_ shall _be at liherty to examine the
Recut:ilea:l;f. the commiteeesof the. :said theatre; and the
ananig accounts shall be nade. out and. adjustedbetween
the peinrkitteaand truetees..qiiartekly.....
"If the ,ebove terms „he, eolupliedevith by the. com-
mittee the presentetruetege epee:that no preceedings
shall-be taken for the.:.rectieery of tleesrent-charge now
or hereafter to become dab; bet in the event of the above
terms not being complied with, the trustees are em-
powered to re-enter and distrain fur such arrears of the
said rent-charge as may be due.
" Nothing herein contained tes be considered to effect
their rights, or the rights of any other persons, under
the several statutes or otherwise, relating to the said
theatre.
" Dated April 6, 1841, signed Joseph Arden, on be-
half of.the Earl of Glengal, Chairman of the Committee,
and Charles Ford, solicitor to the trustees of the new
renters."
lle (Meßobins) acting, upon the old adage, that half a loaf
was better than no bread, consented to this arrangement, al-
though he was fully aware of its being an enormous sacrifice.
At that time Mr. Macready was in treaty for the thea-
tre, and lie (Mr. Robins) need not inform the meeting
how disgraced the boards of " Old Drury" had been by
the exhibition of horses, . asses, and elephants ; and,
therefore, when he .. heard that a man who had
dono so much to . revive the classic drama as
Mr., Macready—(Hear, hear, and cheers)—he, in
common with his co trustees did all that lay in his power
to farther his views ;: and although a distress was in
the theatre at the time, it was done in the most honest
manner. . Mr. Macready being about to leave for the
Provinces at the time, it became necessary to
eome quickly to some arrangement,, as he would
have nothing to do with the theatre as matters then
stood, and to prevent its being shut up fin. ever the
trustees consented to the arrangement.—(Hear, hear.)
He had spoken of the enormous debt of 14,9411. 55.,
and it now behoved him •to allude to what
fie got in his capacity of trustee.—(Hear.)
He had received altogether the sum of 1,407/. 10s. 9d.,
from which was to be deducted the cost fur printing
and incidental expenses, leaving a balance of 1,3021., •
which had been lodged in the hands of Messrs. Ransom
and Co., his bankers. What was proposed to be done
now was, to return to every one the sovereign which had
been subscribed, and to give to - every share-
holder the sum of 31. on each share.—(Loud
cheers.) This, it was true, w but a small
dividend on 14,0001.. but still he thought it was 31. more
than. the shareholders ever expected.—(Hear, hear.)
He considered that the new renters owed the Drury-
lane Committee but little in the way of civility or cour-
tesy received ; and in doing so, in allusion to the Rep; rt
which had emanated from them, he felt bound to ex-
press the highest respect for their Noble Chairman.
On the first clay of January, • the dividends of 51. would
be payable at Ransom's, to those holding shares • and
any time the subscribers called at his (Mr. Robins's)
offices, they would be returned the sovereigns which
they had subscribed. Considering the position in which
they stood two years ago, when they made the engage-
ment- with Mr. .:sracready, he trusted the gentlemen
present would feel satisfied with the result of the trus-
tees' exertions.—(Cheers.)
Mr. GREGORY said, although he was not a large sub-
scriber, yet he was a largo shareholder ; and in with-
holding-his subscriptions lie only followed the example
of Sir William Curtis.
Ronms f every -one adopted. your precaution
we should be is ithout a penny nos'.
. .
MrtiGne.nonv-The sooner the dividend is made pay-
ab!e the better, as even trilling as it is it would be an
object tie-. a''grent m.my of the shareholders just now.
He thought Oe • money ought to be fetid to them during
the ceurse of the, preientemonth, as it would then lee
like a Christmas-box.

Mr: itont.Ns, iii answer to Mr. Haverleld, stated that
the agreement they ha l entered ,into he had no doubt
would enable them to ol,Hn :-!d. Bs. Gd. per share.-
C-Iptaia CARPZNTER wished to take the earliest oppor-
tunity of :Miaplying some of the delicacies o hiS-worthy
colleague, Mr. Robins, as well ae to make a few ob-
servations concerning him as oue of the three-trustees.
With refereswe to the observation; that had been. made
relk.eting on the Committee of Drury-lane Theatre.he held
a report in hit hand which. was in one of the Sunday
w
co papers, in whikdi an acunt as given of the proceedings
of the.pr,pcietors of the goneral body which took place
on the 29th of o:tober, and having read that over, and
duly considered it, he mill not say that he found any-
thing in it that would justify him in making- the strong
observations that his friend made, namely, that it
.con-
tai tied. mat tens that ‘Vin'e false. The report presented a more
favourable view than circumstances led him to expect,
although he should have been more satisfied with it if
the renters trustees had been mentioned in it in a more
candid manner. That paper alSo contained the observe-
tiome; made by a gen,leinan WI!o wan reported to have
addressed the me' uteri, and %vhich observaticns showed
that they „ere not altogether• in the position in which
they were asserted
.to. anl that they were
reflection that
_had been attempted not dtverving the
to - passed anon them ;- namely, that of usurping
tlke prtheet,
of the theatre, to which they were
-
new entitled. One gentle:min at that meeting was re
_rep,'eno.hevo said that the renters had slipped by Chance
the Act of Parliament, and another had asserted
that the router; had diddled :he late Mr. Whitbread in
tipt insertion of their in into the Act of Parlia
meet.. Now, what was • the • colts of the Act of
Parliain ent —w hy, it contained provisos empowering
and such
Amin to raise a., s large a stun as 300„OCCL ;
Lein the ease, he would put it to the meeting. whether
such a sum could ever have been ei setspeet outedto with
been raised if the proprietors hatwas,fla breach of faith? Ile thought it
there-
fore, hilo to make such an assertion. II()
claim
thought there could be no doubt of the strong
the renters possessed en the property ; they had
relin-
quished part of their claim at the time the theatre
was
rebuilt; and they had given up the sums of 16,337/.,
and 14,800/ , and to which was to be added the.
amount of the rent• charge now due, which amounted
to the sum of 1.1,147/., so that altogether there was
a sum of about 45,20(1. Now he was anxious to
put that in juxtaposition with what had been, told
then, by a gentle-Ban who had attended some of the.
meetings, which was that the renters had received be-
tween 60,00 a and 70,00C1 since 1810. Now, if they put
in juxtaposition wi:11 that the sums they had failed
toreccive, he thought there would be but little difference.
116-'felehottati upon that occasion to acknowledge the
oourtesy they had received from the two gentlemen
who waited-01)mi them from the general body ; that led
him to ok-ierve that after having recourse to strong
meagureg, the Trurtees waited on their oars, and after
that the first communication was a requisi-
tion that the new renters would allow the distress
to hand over for some time, which was agreed to.
Severat meetings afterwards took 'place, and ultimately
an arrangement was come to, by which those .boards,
which had been trod by a Kemble, a Cooke, a Sid-
dons, a, Kean, and their own Macready, had been
thrown open again to the public. To those gentlemen
who were not acquainted with the history of the claims
Othe new renters, he wished to say that their rights
had been strongly and powerfully protected by the
different Acts of Parliament, anti the strongest
powers were given by them to the renters. He
• trusted- under all the etreumstanees, that the renters
would be satisfied with what the trustees had done.—
(Cheers.) It was not commensurate with their wishes,
but it was the only chance they had of enabling the
renters-to receive a portion of their dividends.
On the motion of Colonel JOUNSTONE, the best thanks
of the meeting were unanimously voted to the trustees,
for the great exertions they had made on behalf of the
renters.

Mr. ROBINS, on returning thanks- for the trustees
said that he expected some of these fine days they should
have the pleasure of doing a great deal more for the
renters, and that instead of giving them 51. a are, they
would be enabled to give them 12/. 10s.—(Che.rs.)
A vote of thanks was also carried unanimously to Mr.
Ford, the solicitor of the trustees, for his gre :t and gra •
tuitous exertions in behalf of the renters.
A vote of thanks was also carried to Mr. err for his
exertions in their behalf.
Mr. G. ROBINS felt highly delighted at the unanimity
which had prevailed in the meeting. For his brother
trustees and himself he would say that they should now
proceed with infinitely more satisfaction than they did
before, because they now knew that whatever they did,
being for the best, would meet with the approbation of
the renters.—(Cheers) He would now Wish them good
day, expressing a hope that next year they would pre-
sent them with a good dividend.
A vote of thanks having been unanimously carried to
Mr. Robins, the meeting broke up.

STATE OF TRADE.
(From the Manchester Guardian.)

The depression in this market continues without the
slightest relief, and prices of goods and yarn gene-
rally continue gradually to decline. There is some
demand for very low counts of water twist for the
Levant, and perhaps a little more inquiry for good
27-inch printing cloth for the United States ; but
generally the market is exceedingly flat, and sales
are effected with difficulty, even at lower prices. We
regret to hear, by the last advices from New South
Wales, announcing a number of serious failures at Syd-
ney, that business is represented as being in a most
wretched condition. There has also been a failure of
a Brazilian house at Rio, the engagements of which are
from 30,000/. to 40,0001. ; and we regret to learn, that a
portion of the loss will fall upon houses in this town.
ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET, MONDAY, DEC. 6.—
There has been a better demand for Flannels to-day,
but no improvement in prices. The Wool Market still
remains dull, and prices stationary.
HUDDERSFELD MARKET, DEC. 7.—This was a more
animated market day than for some weeks past, there
being more buyers than usual. The demand was very
varied ; but orders were exceedingly small, and prices
drooping, or, at any rate, not improved. In fancy goods,
a few favoured articles are doing well ; but the great
mass of tradesmen have to struggle hard against the al-
most unparalleled long depression in the staple articles.
Wools are firm in price ; and warehouse business is a
fair average for the season.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

MANCHESTER BETTING.-TUESDAY EVENING.

For a December morning the attendance was good.
We did not hear an offer made against Attila. There
was a desire to back both him and Chatham ; but none
of the capitalists liked to come out. 20 to 1 was offered
v. Robert de Gorham ; 200 to 6 was taken once or
twice over on Auckland, but was afterwards offered ;
400 to 10 against William de Fortikus ; 16 to 1 freely
offered v. the two ; 1,000 to 30 was offered v. Meteor—
some money might have been wasted at 40 to 1 ; 400
to 6 was asked for, but quite in vain, on the Dirce colt ;
30 to 1 could have been laid v. the Lord of Holder-
ness, but afterwards 450 to 5 was booked, and the
influential taker would probably have gone on ; 40 to 1,
to a little sum, was ventured against the Artful
Dodger ; a few 50's to 1 laid against Passion, and layers
en ; the figure was offered against Merle ; 200 to 4 was
twice laid against Seahorse. The above appeared to be
the oteater and certainly the most important part of the
business: 'Several parties have left to attend the great
boursitiffileeting at Altcar.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.
GLOBE.—Mr. Edward Gibbon Wakefield has
published a very long letter in the columns of the
Siamese twins devoted to Wakefield-principle—we
mean, of course, the Colonial Gazette and the
Spectator. In this imposing proclamation of
"principle" Mr. Edward Gibbon Wakefield de-
clares that he shall not admit that his "principle"
has been . fairly tried, till Government shall
resort to a system of borrowing money to
carry it into effect! Now, then, the murder is
out; and we know what this school means by
National Emigration. It has been curious to
trace the progress of the " 'Wakefield principle."
Ten or eleven years ago it was announced as super-
seding all action on the part of Government beyond
the merely allowing free play to the " principle."
It was to work its speciosa miracula, if the Colonial-
office would but laisser faire. The Wakefield
principle was to be all-sufficient to open Paradise
in every wild. But now it appears this princi-
ple cannot work, if Government won't borrow
money for it. _ Oh, most lame and impotent
conclusion! Government, then, is to borrow
money on " the Wakefield principle," for
colonization by wholesale. What is the object
commensurate to such a stride beyond its right
functions? Forsooth, the giving a fair trial" to
" the Wakefield principle !" What is the secu-
rity? The scientific accuracy of " the Wake-
field principle." But how if " the Wakefield prin-
ciple" has no pretension to scientific accuracy ?
Government surely can't entertain a doubt so in-
jurious ! It would be little short of imputing
fallibility to Mr. Edward Gibbon Wakefield,
the Spectator, and the Colonial Gazette, and
drawing down on Coe Government the same dis-
interested hostility which every previous one has
incurred which failed to espouse implickly their
sanguine schemes! We are utter unbelievers in
the boasted sufficiency of this " Wakefield prin-
ciple." It has some trite enough truth in it, and
a prodigious deal more of delusive assumption.
STANDARD.—It is said that Sir Robert Peel
employs, the present Parliamentary recess in
making inquiries as to the prices, the rates of
wages, the condition of the labouring classes, and
generally the resources of the several corn coun-
ties in Europe and Asia. It is acknowledged that
these inquiries, if properly made, are likely to
prove useful, which is au admission that they
are not unnecessary to a perfect knowledge
of the subject, and,_ as such, they sufficiently
justify the Premier's refusal to improvise a re-
peal or modification of the Corn-laws, when
strongly urged to do so, absut two months ago;
the necessity for these inquiries, too, even up to
the present time, reflects an unfavourable light
upon the rash enterprise of the late Cabinet,
made so long ago- -as the risSnth of April,
and if we believe its authors—which, how-
ever, in candour, we own not to be the case
—determined upon twelve Months ago. The
infpiiry ascribed to Sir Robert Peel is per-
Esstly in accordance with the conscientious and
prudent character "of the statesman to whose
care the destinies of the empire are happily
committed. Nearly twenty years ago the late
Mr. Cithbett, no complimentary critic, acknow-
ledged that " Mr. Peel was distinguished froin
every other politician of the time by the care
which lie took always to make himself
thoroughlyacquainted with facts." And whoever
has watched the Right Von. Baronet's course
can scarcely have failed to observe that, excelling
as lie does excel, all competitors in the qualities
of a public speaker, he excels them still more
in a perfect. knowledge of the facts connected
with every great question that conies before
Parliament. This is the characteristic which
distinguishes Sir Robert from the great states-
men of the past ages, as well as from the
greatest among his Contemporaries. Ile has
never in 30 years been caught tripping, never
fbund in a mis-statement, or even a mistake, as
to the matter of fact, this must be the fruit of
smind judgment, and Ml-
ex traordinary sagacity,
mense labour, stimulated by conscientious zeal--
attributes of a statesman scarcely enhanced in
value by even Sir Robert Peel's eloquence.

1-1 0 R
me . TIC U L T URA I. SOCIETY. A very full
`err SUperai:rhehi
'Tuesday nftcrnooa at the Society's
roo'ati'sng►te
or_
chair. The
George Loddiges, Esq. V.l'., in
. ' The show, both of flowers and fruit, was
athe . , considering the late and inclement season
. - year. There was an unusually good show of
pines, all:Muo•-•
Jamaica pine, t which was an. Enville piue, weighing
7-ilbs., from some'Nvc gardens.i at Cobham,, Surrey ; a black
Sondes, at Swaffl‘aparge size. From the gardens of Lord
and Queen's of ve;i:-lling 4lbs. 1 loz., with Montsekrats
tha., In Norfolk, was a (fish of rare but
fine fruit, called
;het purple guava. There was a large
collection of apples
oranges,
gardens of Viscount May-
nard, of Dunmow, innLtsi"'
; and of pears, from the
m—e-olx'rom Mr. Wiglesworth, of
gardens of the Society.
Amongst the flowers the chiet
and a shaddock.
species of orchidaceous plants,
Clitheroe, there were
grown out of doors.
nthemums from the
novelties were some now
for
rwiayded were a and a very large collection of ephr ri7), -e 3
nft‘:rilileler pine ;
gardens of the Society. The
gardenert to
sil-
ver Knightian medal to Mr. Bisset,
silver Banksian medals to Mrs. Lawrenutes,e,F,j
col-
lection of plants ; Mr. Green, gardener Sir Edmund
Antrobus, for specimen plants ; Mr. Hate,hro,
Mr. M:les, M.P., for two pines; Mr. Ross
and Mr. BA te Ulan, for orchidaceous plants. two pines
.13:Lnksian certificates of merit were also awarded. .Terha.l
extract from the Meteorological register kept at the crar:
dens, from November 2 to December 7, gave :--Ifaj,,,_
meter, highest, November 7, 30.391 inches ; lowest, No.
vember 30, 25.8-15. Thermometer, highest, November
12, 63' deg. F. ; lowest, November 16, 15 deg. F. ; and
quantity of rain, 4.31 inches.
The Droit states that a gentleman- of property
arrived iti the capital a few days since from the country,
and immediately sent for his nephew, Who had been for
some time resident here. The young man came, but, in-
stead of embracing his uncle, drew a pair of pistols from
his pockets, and swore he would first shoot his uncle, and
then kill himself, if he did not instantly receive a written
engagement for 5,000 fr. The uncle attempted to remon-
strate, but the young man . was so determined that
nothing was left but to sign the paper. While this was
doing some one knocked at the. door, and the uncle hoped
ror a moment that his,. nephew would be deterred from
his crime ; he, however, persisted, and would not suffer
the door to be opened till he had the obligation, and then
passed out as the other person came in. - The uncle has
laid a complaint before the police, with great distress of
mind, as his nephew, up to this criminal act, uniforMly
conducted himself with propriety.