The Sun.
London, England, 1823-09-10 00:00:00

INTELLIGENCE FROM BAYONNE.

. BAYONNE, A [TO. 31.--The letter from Madrid of the 26t1
contain, first, an answer from the Regency relative to the va-
rious applicatiotet.which have been made to it by the owners of
estates sold by order of the Cortes: These proprietors claimed,
besides the estatai themselves, the standing eropo : it has been
decided that these belong to the new possessors, but that, when,
they are got off the ground, the old proprietors resume all their
rights. &comily, a long Royal Decree, the object of which is
the re-establishment oft all Seigneriale Jurisdictions. This
tai
ua.setctulst
Decree is, dated 1814, with some additions made bays --the,
Regency to adapt it to thwpresent circumstances. It not
Roue.
yet prcelrtced any elf*ect.
sub-
mitted,te.lansdwenntedata. t;roripiesyoserilehnbaltectouantb! belles I
for their political opinions.
There is a report that ell the (lenevflo of the
401111
desoult have been discharged. •
4.11. the troops thot cats be spitted from Madrid have reteixed
ordera to proceed by forced.tuacelies to Audelusie• et eiml,Penle
of Ilulans of the 7th is ordered to Cirliz in ten days. , Oeneral,
Quessobt. with his treepsi, eniong 09113/4c that go to A ntlartitiit4,
The re-captured 'teasel, which we Mentioned hi fie, enterol:
cur port yesterday. ',lt is !laid to have on board Sever:4 ortho
officers who were at the
.passage of the Ilidansoa. We have
teen one whose right 11711:111 amputated.. , Sixty thousand sacks,
to be tilled with earth, were rent yesterday and this morning to
be employed in the siege of Pampeluoa.
MttPRID, AUG, 25, .1x TecE,F,vrtmeo.s—We have been
fur these three days in. a state of much anxiety, nothwithstand-
big the; efforts of the Authorities. A; one time we were told
ttf the approaching congiusionol the negociations—of the capi.
titration of Corunna—of the defeat of Milans and Lloberas—all
which excite the ardour of the partisans of the Faith, while the
Liberals, on their tide., do not.fail,to publish bulletins and re-
ports of 'en alerminviature—ssometimee that ;the Prince
tiring withohis ermy-eseuetintes, that :.Japes Banos, with five
or set thousand men, is approaching the capital.; then again,
that the Army in Catalonia has gained great advantages over
the French, iVe fear the Prinee hays •beeo disappointed at the
Cortes refuting to trot, ithaving.been.very generally reported
that they would consent to negemateas boon as his Royal High-
ness waspri,the apt. .Spine people talk of his having expressed
some-displeasure at not tindingaitepreparations to attack Cadiz
in amore forward state, it is certain that the blockade has
been much more strict since the !18th, and that no vessel, no
matter pf what natipn, suffered to enter under any pretext
whatever. . To Referee the blockade
thetasll more effectually, from
ships of war were expeeted fronts Valiterranean avid
Corunna.
General Molitor had not quitted fns positions-in the kingdom
of liraneda on the 20th, though his presence before Cadiz •would
be sodesirable; and this, perhaps, has given rise to a reixat that th e
submission of Itallasteros was only a suspension of arms, and
that it is possible beauty recommence hostilities. Zayas still oc-
eup:ed Malaga:, and the positions of .Ronda and Marhella ; his
guerillas sometimes shewthemselvee near Ecija. The right of
the Gulidalqnivir is infested by Constitutional guerillas, whose
paint . d-appu; is theajoz. That place also sends out parties
into the province of Madrid, and which keep up a communi-
cation with Ciudad Rodrigo. The uneasiness excited by these
circumstances is heightened by rayons that Lopez Banos is at
Talavera with 6,000 men, and threatens the capital. Castel
doS Rio: and Amor have shown themselves at Arenjuez and
the Pardo. These alarms have been relieved by the junction
of Morino with the French, and the taking of Corunna. The
Doke of Reggio has sent order* to General Bourek to detach
immediately 3,000 men to Estrernadttra, by way of Alm:tree.
The warfare in Catalonia is excessively harassing to our
troops; and it may be long before we are masters of that pro-
vince, where the enemy nut only has a considerable force in
the field, but is in • possession of some very strong fortresses;
for besides Barcelona, Tarragona is in a formidable state of
defence, and ..Montblane is now also very well fortified. 'Lie
three
4iscayan provinces and Navarre, or rather the whole sett
bank of the Ebro, from Santander to Saragosa, is the part of
the kingdom where the French have the firmest footing. The
inhabitants remain quiet spectators of the contest, in which
theyfind their advantage.
St. Sebastian has vrovisione for the month of September
only; &intone is befter Paropeluna,' which is furi-
ously bombarded, defends itself well. There are 7,000 men
before that place.
The sick and wounded are sent to Tolosa
and Ernan, to be forwarded to France.
,he three provinces and Navarre have protested against
every arrangement with the Cortes which might overthrow their
privileges.
There is a report that the Duke of Reggio is going to make
a sortie with part of our garrison, but as he has here only about
3,000 men at his disposal, he cannot go far. The Regency
has given orders narrowly to watch all foreigners residing in
this capittd; especially the English. ,
The total amount of the Agee the r'renen army in
Spin, including the fourth corps, was on the 15th of this
mouth—

Infantry
Cavalry

. , I 61)
- ,:?,00

:Total . , 75,30
The sick and wounded.are said to be U,140

PILUtSIAN ARMY.—jt appears by an official
account, published in Berlin
early this year, that
a greater military force in that
there is actually
country than there was in 1806, when the French
hind possession. We were not quite prepared
for that fact, In 1806, the number of Battalions
of Infantry was t 33 : the number hi 1822., wa56246. The Cava Iry
Li 1816, consisted in 67
companies (troops) : ill 182 e, the number was
135 companies, or troops. The Engineers et the
former period amounted to 6
there Were 18 companies. companies : in 182'2,
The number of Ar.
tillery in 1806, was 167 companies; In 1822,
there were 350 companies.

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Piee'ea Cotent Gerdes, Scpt .6, 1823
Sin--1 am relitctantly eompelled to make a few observations
by reason of a letter !without a eigneturet, which I found in
the publicp i eints, on lly return to town, on the subject of Mr.
Brandon's disiniesal. This document, I take it for granted, is
geniiinee althtnigh it would be better if it were sanctioned by
the signature of the lessees. In this statement they have intro-
duced my name, and, as I think, with as little gtexl taste as
marks their progress througleeit this dispute. " The lessees
have ventured to assert, that the whole course of proceeding was
adopted by .my advice : That I acted for him ; that every thing
was done by my advice ; that I would support him ; that 1 wes
his friend, and that he should not want money, &c. &c." The
lessees are certainly entitled to the faculty of guessing tolerably
well; for althpugh these sentiments are generally in unison
with my intentions, yet all that-I ventured to state to their
newly elected Treasurer, when he deigned to allow twenty-four
hours to. remove himself, his wife, and- five children, with their
fUrniture, wearing ware, &c. I did say, " that he should
find he bad a. friend who avoid see that justice was done, to
him ; that it might be expensive to dispute their right to
turn him into the. streets, . which I would cheerfully sus-
tain ; and that I would be, his friend so long as I was
persuaded of his entire innocence." Thus far and no
flirther I plead guilty ; but, by way of rendering my inter-
ference itomewhat questionable, 1 am represented as a Proprie-
tot. and Member of the Sub-Committee of Drury-lane Theatre.
Now, in the-name common sense, I would ask, what has
this to do with my humble attempt at defending him from per-
secution,
.as unprovoked as it is without parallel towerds a
velmible servant?' These Gentlemen appear to have a great
predilection to publish all letters that have passed on this sub- I
sobjett--perhaps they will indulge the public with the corre-
spondence that took plece with myself, in which it will appear
(in answer tO an insinuation that in good set terms means, I
have no right to defend the weak-against the noefeeful),. that
edrnitted their right, but questioned the paicy of exercising
it by such arbitrary means as would discharge a man unheard.
—There Maybe a small portion of the public who will inquire
and be desirous to know why I have. become a party to this
dispute. I will atate it without hesitation..- On learning three
Or four weeke since that Mr:Brandon' was dismissal, and
without any 'pretext, at a moment's notice, I wrote to Mr.
Kemble, with whom: I have. been intimately acquainted for
more "than 20 years :. He immediately came to me, and after
some pause admitted the factor his dismissal. I intrtated him
to give me some reason for this unexpected measure, assuring
him that if it arose out of dishonesty or dissaffection to the
Lessees, I had not one word to offer in his favour; but that if
it was merely the effect of caprice arising out of a desire to get
rid of all the servants who had been so long attached to Mr.
Harris, then, in such a case, I intreatcd him to pause before
he became a party to an act of cruelty, in which I assured
him the public would take a lively. interest. This meeting ended
by a promise that he would use his best efforts to procure an in-
terview, at which Capt. Forbes, as well as Mr. Brandon,
would be present; he did so, and, the veteran, and I pre-
sented ourselves to them in ComMittee. The find observation
'was nut of a very encouraging nature : it was to desire Brandon
to retire, as they preferred seeing me alone. Now this en-
tirely defeated the purpose I had in view, as from a slight
knowledge of Lavater, I could have more readily discovered
Brandon's guilt or innocence by the off.hand manner in which
he would have been required to defend himself against the
pared list of charges the Lessees had to bring forward (or it
must always be remembered he was kept in the dark as to the
nature or extent of them, until heboldly ,liallenged them to the
proof) ; nor could Iget private communication of the nature or
extent of theM. Upon which I said to Capt. Forbes—let me
conjure you to (jive to this invaluable servant the 2001. a year
for his life, for if it is refused, be assured you will find it more
difficult to treat with the public when their minds may be irri.
and after
thetatedco,
ntiti,ainentteiethrn.,*yasitelf*t.o, e
:house, I told him that could only lie accomplished by his giv-
,hsemmton.thdoiCannkpmotf.tiFiottOrgbuiesthia4vis.
would take. especial:. care 'that old _veteran should tight with a
the Lessees declared war 1
nuu gt
r house :.:hint previously
e over 1 -.2 0,
4°oe
wb/ 5.
ear:
few days a step was taken to dispossess him of his house and
aY:ellaertri;el arefpnrfri°llFeitnilrfill'edour conference, In a very
home. which '1 visit for the- lake of humanity, the Lessees
can, ebew their. took 'lto 'part in ; for to thrust a man at 70,
diet years hard and faithful services, out of his house,
and 'to possess themselves of' his few chairs and tables,
.
.4,411111.11, Ilke,hirnielf, had grown old in serviee.beuitys **much
cruelty and oppression, that I am bound to suppose them
innocent of this outrage, and conclude it to be the act of
their servant, ltobertmon; who took the lead, and headed
the„ gang who entered his dwelling. It is suggested by the
Conirnitte`e, in somewhat equivocal terms, that I have under-
taken a great deal for Mr. Brandon. I am nut aware that
I owe to them any explanation on this point; but as it has be-
wipe muter of public discussion, I will most willingly state
tuy,motiVeS, and I trust, that on a fair comparison with those
which have induced the committee to thrust from them in his
latter days, a, faithful and:ittiehed servant—my motives will
yeryemucle et variance with theirs. It is within the
knowledge of niany persons who move in..the theatrical he-
inisphare, that for the last tWentY-tive years I was honoured
by' slut regard and friendship; of the late Proprietor of the
Theaere, and subsequently with the late Director of this
PrOperty.(Mr. IlenryHarres) I have been in the closest terms
efintm ' iacy • from each of than I have leaned, that during a
progress of fifty-five years, the attachment and integrity—the
complete
.devotedness of the veteran Brandon, were without
parallel: I have:had; during thet period, opportunities most
frequent to corroborate this favourable report, and going back
to tile days of Sheridan, I can well remember his assuring me
that half the advantage, and much of the ascendancy that Co-
vent Garden Theatre then possessed, might be traced to the une
compton activity and solicitude of Itrandon. At the rival The-
atre his exertions have been always duly felt and apprecieted.
tusk then if such as man, with a character unsullied for fifty-
five long years, and the highest testimonials of regard and
esteem of his employers dunng the whole of that period, does
not entitle him, when on the verge of the grave, to the sym-
pathy of those who have felt, and are now willing to acknowe
ledge., his services ! And if a stronger proof could be required
by those who may be sceptical overmuch, I would urge his
poverty proof as strong as Holy Writ"— this honest
fellow, with a salary quite inadequate to support himself
and family (601. a year), could not leave lived, or even vege-
tated, without the aid of those friends who knew how to
appreciate his proverbial civility and attention. But re-
mauling honest to the back bone, he finds himself, at the age
of seventy, without a' guinea, dismissed without the least
pretence, anti turned into the streets to seek a new mode of
procuring for his few remaining years the bare means of subsist.
ance. I ask again, could I refuse my humble means to assist
In such a dilemma a man so erielly treated ; and I leave the pro-
priety of my conduct to the decision of those who can feel for
distress arid poverty, brought on without a stain being able to
be fixed on his character. It has been Mr. Brandon's duty
to correct the mis-statement of the Lessees in respect to the
confining his•civility to those only who paid him for it. lam
sure he has accomplished this to the satisfaction of' every
one, and to the complete discomfiture of his- enemies; and
this brings me to a subject I had not intended to touch
upon, viz. that Mr. Brandon elways has been the servant
of the public much more than 'his more immediate em-
ployer. And if I prove this, I shall not fail' to shew the
great propriety of the extraordinary solicitude which marks
the public feeling in this dieptite. Mr. Brandon's salary of
601. a-year, with a small house to reside in for the convenience
of being constantly on the spot, will appear to every one
attendeeB t., from
f 0 esolevgt
oeartesi
otiiieenn
remuneration equal to the full expectations of a ticket porter,
certain
but not ar all adequate to the situation of Box Book and House
Keeper for one of the Patent Theatres ; in the former capacity.
htieonhnamevther the latter
bent-ethyl: thoTisepal:
tmillfeolynenofetthweopor'ocplocetkty,
dinomonoireervtehradtidhlete
mreitgirhet
from ail apprehension arising from fire ; but this is not all—
it' an Actor or Actress was ill (a me of every day's oc-
currence), Brandon, and not the Manager, was sought, and
the Play changed, or a substitute for the Performer who
was ill, has a thousand and a thousand times been effected by
his earnestness and activity ; this, it will be admitted, is a ser-
vitude of no common order, and vet he received for it 1101. a
year. The public, however, it has been urged, always Pa-
tronised his benefit—be it so ; but did the proprietors assist
him on thin occasion ! No ; they charged 200 guineas for his
night, tit so advanced a period that they could not hope for
hatfthis sum on a slack right, and this is precisely as much as
Mr. Kemble pays for a benefit in the best part of the season :
it is, therefore, ridiculous to suppose he owes any gratitude to
the leases on this score. To his late employers he owes the
acknowledgments of a the/mend acts of kindness, and for their
constant expression of their high opinion of his iii sty
and disinterested services ; but the lessees have said, " 14rhat
have we to do with this ?" Having made en arrangement
for managing this property for a short period of eight years,
they unhesitatingly proclaim that fifty-five years of ser-
vitude, and with health and capacity that render him in
his peculiar Uric of duty far above any competitor that could
be procured, and' without it fault, unless it be of attach-
ment, extending even to the very walls of the Theatre, is
to he turned adrift, with an insincere offer of 2001. a year (of
Which they themselves intended to pay only 60/.,) and no semi-
rlty whatever proposed for any part of' it; I trust and verily
believe the bare recital of' these (acts will Ise quite sufficient to
enlist the public in his active service. Such disinterested and.
faithful attachment for more than half a century is no when