The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-09 00:00:00

VIESSItS. POOLE AND ELLISTON.

',TO TUE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
December Bth, 1824.
Sta—Various opinions having gone abroad as
:to the object of my visit to Drury Lane Theatre,
on Saturday last, allow me to state, through the
medium of your columns, that it was for no other
purpose than toenquire of Mr. FLLISTON whether
he had received a letter of mine, dated 20th.
No vember, (a fortnight before), and, if he had,
what answer he intended to make to it.
The subject of that letter being a question of
right, important to the whole body of Dramatic
Writers for the Theatres Royal, and this being

I believe,. the first instance of long-continued op.
position to that right on the part of a Theatrical
Manager, I beg you will assist me by the pub.
lication of the letter alluded to) together with
the correspondence which led to it. I will
then boldly throw myself upon the opinion of the
public, and leave it to their decision whether or
..trot I have conducted the dispute with becoming
temper and patience.

TO -DuMN. Ese., TTIEATItE JtOYAL, iinuitir LANE.
Matte sin—Last night, on applying at the Free Office of
Ttury. Lane Theatre,. for a pass-cheek, I was told, by Mr.
Xstatingham, that my name did not appear on the Free List :
consequently, I was refused admission. Requesting that, at
.your very earliest convenience, you .will do me the favour to
direct that the omission be supplied,
remain, dear Sir, very truly your's,
JOHN POOLE,

• Author of " Who's Who"—" Simpson and
(.'o." and other Dramatic Works, successfully
• -acted at Drury Lime Theatre, under the prs-
.
" • sent and former Managements.
(No. 2.)
• Theatreitoyal,Drury Lane, Wednesday, 27th Oct. 1112.1.
Daaa am directed to .acquaint you, that it is not
Ellistort's intention to make any alteration 'aids Free List,
.as regards yourself. .
I remain, dear Sir, very truly your's,
11. DUNN.
•
To. John Poole, Esq.

(No. 3.)
‘ro ir. DUNN, ESQ. TREASURER, &C.
Friday, 211th Oct. 1824.
Aram Stu—l have received the favour of yours of the 27th
instant, by which you acquaint me," that it is not Mr. Ellist-
" ton's intention to make any alteration in his free-list as re-
girds" me.
In reply thereto, I beg leave to etato, that I make no claim
upon. Mr. Elliston'e Free List, if thereby be Meant a Free List
. formed by Mr. E. himself, independent of the Free List of the
Theatre : but that, in right, as an author having produced se.
veral 'Successful pieces at the Theatre Iloyal Drury-lane, ut
various periods, and under vavinee temporary managements,
sine* the year 11112 I claim free ;Omission to the performances
at that Theatre acting under its patent.
I do not presurhe that it is ,Mr. Elliston's intention to ques-
Sion this right, as I have in my possession a note of your's ( writ.
ten to me at the beginning of last, season, in consequence of the
• accidental omission Only name in the Free List*) in which you
state, explicitly, that it never was Mr. E.'s intention to deprive
author's of the privilege of admission ; neither do I think it
necessary now to argue the grounds upon which I conceive the
right to be founded : it will, I am sure, be sufficient to my
*sent purpose to call i'rh. E.'s attention to the following
points :-
Ist, That •the freedom of admission has always been so clearly
understood as belonging, as a thintr qf course, to a dramatic
success at the Theatres Royal, thde it is not made a point of sit-
inflation between 'Authors and anagere ; and it has, of itself,
sometimes first induced airshors to write for the Theatres ;-
2nd, That had it not been so clearly 'understoodt it would,
undoubtedly, have been distinctly refused on one side, or dis-
tinctly stipulated for on the other ;-
3rd, That had It been refused, or made to depend upon the
mere will of any Manager for the time being, who might one
week overthrow a right acquired the week before, an equivalent
in the remuneration for a dramatic success would, undoubtedly,
have been required; am'd
Tiett the existence of the custom, beyond the memory
of the oldest living Dramatist., (upon the full faith in which
.. custom pieces have been conceded by Authors to Managers) is
••of ltseit suilicient to constitute a right in equity.
Requesting your very earliest attention to my claim, and
• trusting thatiii will not he contested,
'I remain, dear sir,
Very truly, your's,
JOHN POOLE.
(No. 4, (Private) endoang. No. 3.)
TO U. DUNN, ESQ.
Friday, Oct. 29, 11124.
• Mr onset. SIII—On your account, as well as my own,
am really sorry to :be obliged to trouble you with another
letter olheially, for I believe we have neither of us much
time, and no inclination at all, for correspondence. You
tvonit be aware that so much as I. um out of England, and
.from the little.use I make of my freedom, it is a matter of no
weal- moment to me; besides, that whenever I might choose
to, visit the Theatre, I conld very easily procure admission
through a variety of channels. But I consider it to he n right
over which Mr. "ii. bus 'no controul ; and even were I inclined

to abandon it—which . I am determined I Will not tamely do—
:, I dare not, because., by so doing, I should most unwarrantably
comprontise the rights of others. From'all the opinions I have
yet toliectCd, •it is quite cleat that Mr. E. would not be justi-
. in p.Wsisting in his'refusal to admit me. With his mollvar
for destritOto,d6 So have nothing to do.. Now, between our-
"Oyes —for heaven's sake, and to spare the effusion of Ink,
.I..epleuxour to induce him.quietly to re-insert my name. I would
nary and con 1. now, accept the freedom as a favour. The
only way, therefore, to iirei.,ent further trouble in the business,
would be to reinsert my name without remark or observation.
Selieve me, Vito most sincerely hate'controversy, and would
Ali,' any honourable means to avoid it; but IF I am compelled
to it, lam not the first to hrth.'e out. should he persist, T. shall
Vie every means la my power to establiilt my claim—but I
jointrely hope there will bu no nest for such an exertion.
• Ever very truly your's,
JOIMPOOLE.
P. 13, I mean this literally and strictly as betweemourselves.
• After- waititt six days, triad receiving no answer
to the henry i addressed the following :

-(No. 5.)
• TO U. DOWN', ESQ..
Thursday, Nov. 4,1924.,
PEAR ATII-1- am still waiting .the fitvour of your reply to
and shall be obliged, by your
mine of 'Friday, 29, Oclober ;
Informing me of Mr. Eiiiitton's determination respecting my
' • claim, in richt, of free admission to the perfonnunces at the
.1- !Theatre RoyalVDrury Lane, acting under its Patent.
I an3,_deur

Very truityourN
JOHN:POOLE.
I now waited eight days, and still receiving no
answer, wroth