The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-16 00:00:00

TO THE PROPRIETORS OF TR:

ADELPHI THEATRE.
A new drama, entitled Ten Tousand a Year, was pro-
duced at this theatre last evening. It is founded on the
celebrated story of the same name, which has recently
appeared in Blackwood's Magazine. The adapter has
followed his original very closely, both as regards inci-
dent and language. The drama is divided into four
epochs. In the first, Tittlebat Titmouse (Mr. Wright) ap-
pears as the haberdasher's shopman, inhabiting an attic,
when all at once he is discovered by Quirk (Wilkinson),
Gammon (Lyon), anti Snap (Wieland), the lawyers,
to be the real heir to the Yatton estates in York-
shire, and an action of ejectment is brought
against Mr. Aubrey (Mr. Maynard), who is in possession
of the estates. Wright, and Paul Bedford, who acted
Huckaback, a swell shopman, elicited roars of laughter,
at the commencement of their excellent acting, but
when they quitted the stage, the remainder of the act
went on rather heavily until the last scene, when the
children's ball at Yatton, and the tableau at the conclu-
film of the act, drew down thunders of well-merited
applause. The tableau was one of the most effective
ever exhibited. The second epoch represents the trial
at York, the result of which is to establish the claim of
Titmouse to the Yatton property. The opening scene
represents the barristers' robing-room, and two gentle-
men appear in wigs, gowns, and bands, but the
bands are tied over black stocks, and the gowns
are worn over coats with metal buttons. A visit
to Westminster-hall would show these gentlemen
that barristers, when robed, invariably appear in white
cravats, and coats with dark buttons. This is but a trifle,
hut still it materially affects the vraiseinblance of the
scene. In the third act we find Titmouse indulging in
all the purse-proud arrogance of a vulgar parvenu, and
Aubrey, the ruined gentleman, struggling hard with
fate, and tortured by Gammon, whose object is to com-
plete Aubrey's ruin, in order to force his sister into a
marriage with him (Gammon). In the fourth epoch
Gammon has brought his schemes to bear • he offers
his hand to Miss Aubrey (Mrs. Yates), and is
rejected. He tells her it is in his power to
restore Yatton to her brother, who is the
rightful heir, and to dispossess Titmouse, and offers to
do so, if she will, on the restoration of the property
taking place, become his wife, but is again rejected.
This scene is one of the most effective in the piece, and
was most powerfully acted by Mrs. Yates and Lyon. Foiled
in this attempt, Gammon proceeds to Titmouse, tells
him that be is not the real heir but a bastard, and ex-
torts a settlement of 2,000/. a year from him as the price
of his secret. In the mean time, Miss Aubrey has in-
formed her brother of Gammon's communication. Mr.
Runnington, his solicitor, is put to work, and discovers
the fraud. Aubrey is restored, mutual recriminations
take place among the lawyers, and Gammon commits
suicide ; quitting the world in an act of fraud,
for he dresses as for a party, takes prussic
acid, and drops the bottle into the fire, witha
view of having it believed that he died a natural.
death, in order to save his policy of life insurance.
Wright, as Titmouse, was vulgarity personified ; no-
thing could be better : he was the very Tittlebat Tit-
mouse of the author of the story, and during the whole
time he was on the stage the audience were in a con-
tinual roar. Lyon, as Gammon, was very effective ; his
last scene was a most powerful piece of acting, and was
was stro gly
much applauded. The piece
which it wentcast and well
and
well
performed ; notwithstanding
piece. At the fall of the
heavily. With judicious pr.uning, however, it may
cbuertaminadyeataesmanonsot evening,
announced it repetition every
and although there were a few dissentients, the voices
were soon drowned by the cheering with which the
announcement was greeted from all parts of the house.
We cannot conclude without noticing the admirable
dancing of the c,hildren inthelat scene of the first act.

BRITISH IRON COMPANY.

Castle Court, Budge Row, London, Oct. 23, • L 1341.
:The Trustees of the United Shareholders having ellen
the report of Robert Barnett, Esq., Gideon Colq.u-
hottn, Esq., Thomas Gibbes, Esq., John Middleton,
Esq., William Morrice, Esq., Moses Ricardo, Esq.,
Benjamin Harding, Esq., lately circulated among the
proprietors, their attentive consideration, are of opinion
that. it may be supposed that they approve of the con-
tents of that document, if they remain silent, and in
order to avoid such a misconception, they deem it their
thiV to review it.
The Proprietors will remember, that the nomination
of this Committee was effecteti in a manner which re-
fiectee no credit upon the Directors and their partisans,
ers4infraoimiatiesdh.om the proposition to appoint the Com-
mittee inflicted an act of injustice upon the United Share-
hold
The is‘sTrec.tors having no alternative left but to consent.
to the appentasent of a Committee of Inquiry, or to fall
under the chi_ which had been brought against them,
after giving six :months' opposition to an inquiry which
men possessing roputation and integrity ought not to
have opposed for six ,hours, consented to the appoint-
' ment of a Committee, which, leowever, they.took care to
nominate themselves; and the seven Proprietors elected
for this purpose were their avowed and constant sup-
porters, and known to be so linked with them by self-
interest, that a condemnation of the Directors amounted
to a sentence upon themselves:—the appointment was
discreditable—the acceptance anything but judicious.
The Proprietors could expect little from such a Com-
mittee; and the Report in no way disnapoints their
anticipations.
The duties of the Committee were declared by the fol-
lowing resolution :
That the Report be laid before the Committee to be
appointed by this Resolution, and that the unde_remen-
tioned Proprietors be appointed a Committee for con-
sidering the past proceedings of the Directors in.. the
management of the affairs of the Company • and also .the
best mode to be taken, either for closing the concerns- of
the Company or otherwise, and to report their opinion
thereon, together with such observations as they mar
have to offer upon the accounts submitted by the Di-
rectors, at a subsequent General. Meeting, to be espe-
cially convened for receiving the same ; and that in the.
meantime a circular letter be addressed to, every Pro-
prietor, with a copy of this resolution, urging the neces-
sity of prompt payment of the calls necessary for dis-
charging the liabilities in course of payment."
The Trustees of the United Shareholders having
weighed well the instructions contained in this resolu-
tion, have no hesitation in declaring that the seven
gentlemen have not fulfilled their duties ; in fact, the:
document which they have issued is evidence of their
having examined nothing more than the half-yearly.
Report, May 20th, 1841, instead of commencing their
investigation from the month of April, 1825; but to make
up for this neglect, these seven gentlemen declare,
in the same Report, that all the losses are to be attri-
buted to the errors of management made by the first
Directors in the origin of the Company, the very period
which they admit they have not investigated, and put
down this loss to the purchase of the Corngreaves Estate
which they state amounts to 850,000/. This Committee
make this declaration, with the Report of the Directors.
in May, 1841, before them, by which it appears that the
total cost, including law expellees, is 971,000/., and the
present value 586,279/., besides a profit of 195,786/. The .
object of this part of the Report is to shield Sir George
Larpent and Mr. Horsley Palmer, and give the appear-
ance of truth to the oft repeated assertion of these two
Directors—that all the losses of the Company arose
from the mal-administration of the Directors before they
entered the direction. Whilst the fact is, that the losses
of the British Iron Company are to be attributed to the
management of these identical gentlemen, Sir George
Larpent and Mr. Horsley Palmer, who have been con-
nected with the direction from its first establishment.
The aspersions which this Committee say " have been
thrown on the Directors," are the charges which have
been brought against them—before the assembled pro-
prietory—in the face of the world—and under the eye of
the press.
These charges have been supported and substantiated
by the evidence adduced from the report and balance
sheet issued by the Directors themselves in May last—
they have never been met, much less refuted ; and Sir
George Larpent and Mr. Horsley Palmer must even vet
answer to these charges or abide by the consequences?
The Committee have not in their Report informed the
Proprietors,—what is the amount of profit or loss which
has resulted to the Company in consequence of the deal-
ings with the firm of Mr. Horsley Palmer during the
last sixteen years ; neither have they said whether they
approve of the service of plate which Mr. Palmer's col-
leagues presented to him at the cost of the Company ;
or whether they consider the annuity adequate which
was granted to Mr. Sinason, the late Managing Director,
to induce him to retire, in order that Sir George Ltzr-
pent might provide for his brother-in-law, Mr. Wilson,
and his two friends Messrs. Barclay and Ravenshaw, by
appointing them to be Managing Directors at 2,0001. per
annum, in lieu of 500/. per annum paid to Mr. Simson.
Nor have they informed the Proprietors whether the
holders of the 1,161 shares forfeited were solvent ?
What are the numbers of the said shares ? and if any of
the said shares have by mistake ever been sold ?
The Committee have not recommended that the law
bills of the solicitors, amounting to 185,5991., shall be
taxed; they have, however, recommended that the Com-
pany shall be dissolved, in which recommendation the
Trustees of the United Shareholders most heartily join;
provided the Committee to carry out the dissolution are
well selected, and shall fairly represent the general body
1 of the Shareholders.
This Committee of seven has had but one object
throughout their labours, as their Report proves, and
that was—to place the Directors before the Proprietors
in. the most favourable light—to gloss over all their
mismanegemcnt—to make them appear honourable, just,
and wise ; and as the picture would not be perfect
without shade as well as light, they venture to asperse
the motives of the United Shareholders, by attempting
to prove that the illegal calls made upon the 50/.
shares are just and not fraudulent—that the Directors
are ill-treated and injured men, and have not wasted,
squandered, or lost one million seven hundred and
seventy-three thousand, three hundred and twenty-seven
pounds of capital and interest, as is proved by their own
accounts, contained in the Report of May, 1841 ! !
They next attempt a justification of all the injudicious
and illegal acts of the Directors during the past sixteen
years, by reminding the Shareholders that all which the
Directors have done has been sanctioned by the Pro-
prietors at general or special meetings No doubt the
chosen seven imagined that this statement would clear
the directors of all blame. But when the Shareholders
are informed that this sanction, given to the illegal acts
of the Directors, was obtained by deception; namely,
by the Reports produced to the General and Special Gene-
ral Meetings, from time to time by these Directors, the
contents of which are now proved to have been fallacious
in every respect (vide Report of 4th May, 1838, in which
the one-half only of the opinion given by five leading
Counsel is inserted, to satisfy the Proprietors that the
Company is under no liability to Mr. Attwood, beyond
that of returning him theCorngreavesEstate for 325,0001.;
ectlLerso,thßeerpoharltf, oto
prove to the Proprietors, that the Company can never
f
sameen oipnintlioenmisoninthseor
111thled
get rid of the payment of the interest upon the amount
tf edM iany e18D41;
owing to Mr. Attwood, and therefore they have not
returned the estate, but paid Mr.eAttwood 350,0001. !)
—a deception which has not only produced ruin, but
which it is now attempted to adduce as a justification to
throw the blame upon the deceived instead of the de-
ceivers.
The Trustees of the United Shareholders having now
refuted the statements contained in the Report of the
Committee, have only one duty more to fulfil, and that
is earnestly to request every Shareholder to refrain from
Meeting o
paving
further calls, and to attend the General
the Proprietors to beheld in November next,
and vote for the immediate dissolution of the Company ,•
and thus put an end to their losses and liabilities, and
avoid the only alternative left to the United Share•
holders,—namely, an appeal to the Court of Chancery.
By order of the Trustees,
JAMES BAILEY, Hon. Sec.

THE LATE FIRE AT TIRE TOWER or Lox'
statedn
this
thpaatr entrance
ttiileius eme over
ol the
eut sel
di grand
DON.—Yesterday the workmen employed in removing the
splendid piece of architecture which formed the pediment
ocpoNr.i
pa t oir
e,
et theeh 0e1.,.
sculptureA labours.r ou ry :
,Ihuta had
the
hasenearlyb n
pro-
duction of the celebrated Gibbons, but many doubts arose
as to the material of which it was composed, and much
surprise was manifested both at the time of the raging
and since the fire, that whilst everything around became
a victim to the flames that this should have escaped.
Surprise will terminate when the public are informed that
this magnificent work of art is composed of. hewn. stone,
in many parts considerably above two feat in thickness,
and put up in pieces varying from two feet to a
yard and a half in length and breadth. This circum-
stance rendered its removal a matter more easy than was
at first anticipated, as it was supposed to be one solid
mass of masoury, and which may be accounted for from
the fact that it has received several thick coats of paint,
and from below presented that appearance. The pieces
described are lowered from the scaffolding with the
greatest care, and are placed within a covered hoarding
erected for their reception on the north side of the White
Tower. It appears that the amount of loss supposed
of to
have been incurred by the country in the destruction .
the Armoury and its contents, has been much over-esti-
mated. From information obtained from a gentleman
Conn ected with the Ordnance department, it will not ex-
ceed 300,000/. Upwards of 5,000 percusion muskets,
valued at 10,000/., were saved. The infornaatio, however,
in the first instance could only
medium of the warders, to whom, it is
be derived thr.ough the
but Justice to
state, that by their kindness alone, the. Press have beim .
enabled to lay many interesting particulars regarding
the late fire before the public which ruins in some plaices
are still smouldering, but the m theworok orn, unddenancr the
e direc-
tions of Mr. Stacey, the keeper fstores,
aro nevertheless still pursuing- their avocations in remov-
ing some portions of them at the east and west angles.
very Towards the afternoon some ve ancient and interesting
relics were dug out, and immediately deposited
amongst
the ordnance stores beneath the White Tower. The
Court of Inquiry is still expected to last some days.
ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY'S GARDENS, RE'
GENTS PAltli.---At a meeting held on Saturday, the fol-
lowing persons were elected Fellows of the Society
The Hight Hon. Lord, Stanley, M.P., the lion. Henry
Manners Sutton, M.I ~ Mr. T. Hughes, Mr. R. Teas,
and Miss DolbDolbyA large portion of this delightful spot
of ground, .which was laid out during the summer months,
is now being. planted with trees and shrub:, and the
gardens containing the bulbous and other spring flower-
ing plant* are very nearly completed.