The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-02 00:00:00

G. MERINGTON, 154, NEW BOND-STREET.

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Semper nocuit differre paratis."—L C A N.
THERE is perhaps no situation in life so full
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sible of the anguish thus protracted, we haveadopt' s system which
long practical experience has proved to be highly sin cessful, and which
preclude, the als,olute necessity of personal communication with
these who recoil from such mode of consultation. A full and minute
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treat the patient with delicate secrecy ; and such has been the pecu.
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Twenty-five years of practice, exclusively devoted to diseases
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Messrs. GOSSand Co. are to be consulted, as usual,
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GOSS sad CO., M.R.C. Surgeons,
No. 7, Laneester-place, Strand, London.
wenty.third Edition)-Ist. The lEGIS of
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cntary on the above Diseases.-2d. The sy.
ip 14°F; E,
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.Y.
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Just published, price Is. Gd.
t SERMON preached in the Parish Church
of Sanderstead, Surrey, in aid of the Incorporated So-
iiety for Promoting the Enlargement and Building of Churches,
on Sunday, Dec. 22, 1839.
,• ltv the gm JOHN COURTNEY, A.II,
London : ; -Croydon : ,L .M. Langford.

•
HE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE for
MARCH contains, among others, the following Arti-
cles :—Lord Brougham's Historical Sketches—Herne's Oak,
\\incisor Little Park (with a Plate)—The Arrangements of the
State Paper Office—J. IL on Hallam's Literary History, and
Mr. Hallam's Reply—Mr. T. llcdd on the Early Editions of
Shakspeare—Sir F. Madden and Mr. Burgon on the Ortho-
graphy of Shakspeare's name—lllustrations of Shakspeare, by
A. J. K., &c. &c. With a Review of :lief• Publications, Li-
terary and Antiquarian Intelligence—Obituary, &c. &c. &c
Price 2s. 6d.

-lane.

UNEXPECTED CLOSING OF

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

SATURDAY NIGHT, FEB: 29, TEN O'CLOCK.—This
morning it was announced to the ccmpany that a docket of
bankruptcy had been filed against the lessee, Mr. W. J.
Hammond, by Mr. Kemp, a merchant of the City. They
met, at the request of Mr. Copeland, the acting manager,
in the saloon of the theatre, at three o'clock, to hear an
explanation of the facts. That gentleman (Mr. C.)in-
formed them that he came there for the express purpose
of answering any question that might be put to him by
the members of the establishment. On being asked what
had been done with the money received on the Queen's
marriage, the Queen's visit, &c., in all, as we understood,
1,400/. or more, the last six nights, Mr. C. informed
them that it had beer, impounded by the Sheriff, there-
fore no salaries could he paid. Mr. W. J. Hammond ceased
to be lessee. The Sub-Committee of Proprietors met
at four o'clock to take into consideration the best
means of re-opening the theatre on Monday next.
At five o'clock the company again met, and deputed Mr.
F. Vining, M. Wilmott, Mr. G. Bennett, Mr. William
Bennett, and Mr. Alexander Lee, to wait on the Sub-
Committee, Lord Gleneall, Abinger, Esq., W. Du-
tan% Esq., and Sir William Curtis, to bear their de-
cision. At half-past five they returned with a proposal
from the Sub. Committee, offering the company the use of
he theatre on very reasonable terms, and a handsome
promiso of their future support and cordial assistance.
I he
.acting Committee waited on Mr,•Macready, who.
promised in the most liberal manner to play on Monday
gratuitously. Since then Mr. Wilmott received a letter
from that gentleman offering his valuable services for four
nights next week. This was read to the company at nine
in the evening in the green-room. A letter of thanks was
instantly sent to that gentleman; and the following per-
formers were elected to make a Committee of Manage-
ment :—Mr. F. Vining, Mr. G. Bentsen, Mr. William
Bennett, Mr. Alexander Lee, and Elton (Mr. Wil-
Mott elected pr.) tern. •to act for him). A vote of thanks
was then passed to Mr. Wilmott for his exertions. Oa
Monday Macbeth and the Mountain Sylph.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sic—l feel that I owe to the public the fullest explg-
ration of the cause that has led to the abrupt termination
of the Drury-lane season. That explanation permit me,
through the medium of your columns, with all possible
brevity, to give. I entered as lessee of Drury-lane, in
partnership with Mr. Frederick Fisher, late Town Clerk of
Doncaster. Animated by the fullest confidence in the
honour and means of that gentleman (for I had known him
for eight years) I embarked the vt bole of my property in
the speculation ; warmly incited to the act by Mr. Fisher,
I consented to venture on an enterprise to which my own
resources were ridiculously inadequate, and which it would
have been madness, or the grossest dishonesty in me, un-
supported, to have undertaken.

From the time of my signing the agreement until the
fourth week of the season—a period of eighteen weeks--
I conducted the theatre conjointly with Mr. Fisher as
partner. He was to have prepared a deed of partner-
ship (his name, at his own request, was not in the
lease), but the document was never forthcoming. The
receipts were far below the expenditure, and up to the
end of the fourth week Mr. Fisher had in all advanced
the sum of 1,2801. At the end of the fourth week I re-
ceived, in answer to my request for further supplies, a
letter from Mr. Fisher, stating that 2001. more was at my
service conditionally, on my signing certain documents ;
but in his own words, he thought he had advanced sufficient
" fur a disinterested person " Mr. Fisher had, doubtless,
taken fright at the weekly loss, and therefore referred me
to his attorney, on whom I instantly attended. I found
many skins of parchment prepared for my signature; the
gentle demand set up by Mr. Fisher being, viz., an as-
signment of the lease of the New Strand Theatre (for
which he had previously advanced certain sums) with all
its theatrical properties; an assignment of the lease of
Drury-lane; the auditing the accounts of the theatre; a
right to engage or discharge any person not an actor in the
establishment; insurances on my life for the whole of the
money advanced; to give a deed of covenant and a war-
rant of attorney ; to pay five per cent, on the amount of Mr.
Fisher's claim, and to liquidate the debt (since debt he
made it), by handing to him weekly a fifth of the gross
receipts of Drury-lane and the Strand Theatres. On
tie-fling these securities I was to receive the last 2001. ;
and failing to sign, an action was immediately com-
menced by Mr. Fisher, which, by the advice of my solici-
tor, was allowed to obtain judgment.
It is possible that, legally, I might have failed to prove
a partnership with Mr. Fisher ; but I make solemn attesta-
tion to the truth of every syllable above written. More—
-1 appeal to the Committee if the manner of Mr. Fisher
in his interview with that body, was not that of a man with
a deep personal interest in the speculation to be entered
upon—a long acquaintance with, and the fullest reliance
upon the honour of Mr. Fisher, induced me to take his
word for his bond.

Thus fettered by the large claim of Mr. Fisher and the
want of the necessary and promised supplies for carrying
on the theatre, it was every hour becoming less possible for
urn honourably to continue the mana; -vent; but ►he whole
was at once brought to a conclusion by the threat of in-
stant execution, unless I assigned the only property I was
possessed oi, and even in the case of my having as.
signed such property to Mr. Fisher, I was not to
receive any guarantee that such extreme measures
would not be still pursued; with a view, therefore,
to protect himself and my other creditors from the undue
preference which Mr. Fisher would have required, a
creditor of mine threatened and has issued a fiat of bank.
ruptcy against me on Friday last, Thereby enabling
aose persons to whom I am justly indebted to participate
in all the property I am possessed of, without sacrificing
it to the claims of the man, who was in all truth and
honour my partner, when every week of the season, with
scarcely an exception, had been a week of considerable loss.
It has been asserted that I have received, on the recent
occasion of the Royal visit, the sum of about 1,200/. This
is totally unfounded. The proceeds of that night were
little more than COOL, the whole of which has been antici-
pated by the payments to the performers and others on the
preceding Saturday.
It is upwards of ten years since I embarked as theatri-
cal manager. In that time up to my unfortunate connec-
tion with Drury-lane Theatre, neither actor nor tradesman
ever lost by me one shilling of his salary—one farthing of
his bill. And, however much I may deplore the circum-
stances that have produced the present crisis, I boldly avow
—and the proof of this will be speedy and most public—
that there is nothing in them to fix upon me the taint of
cti,,honesty or the blush of shame.

I remain, your obedient Servant,
W. J. HA NINIOND.
No. 23, Essex-street, Strand, Feb. 29, 1840.

NOBLE CONDUCT OF MR. MACREADY.
(From the Sunday Times.)
This theatre was closed last night, under most distress-
ing circumstances ; but it gives us great pleasure to state,
that in consequence of the generous offer of Mr. Macready
to play gratuitously four nights next week, for the benefit
of the company, the doors will be re-opened to-morrow
evening. The embarrassments of Mr. Hammond, which
have been well known in the theatrical world, were on
Friday night brought to a climax by a fiat of bankruptcy.
Mans' of the company, to whom a large sum is due for
arrears of salary, but for the kind interference of Mr. Mac-
ready, would have been left totally destitute.
A meeting was held. yesterday, on the stage, by the
whole establishment. Mr. George Bennet delivered a
message from the proprietors, offering to let the theatre
to them at a nominal rent of 251. per night, provided the
company would make themselves answerable for all cur-
rent nightly expenses, such as lighting, printing, ser-
vants. and band. This proposition, though very liberal,
was first rejected on the grounds of the great responsibi-
lity : but, on a communication being made to fur. Mac-
re,,tly to that effect, he at once came forward on behalf of
his less fortunate brothers, and offered his gratuitous ser-
vices for four nights—n.-nday, Tuesday, Thursday, and
Friday next.

(From the Observer.)
We were sorry to are, from a notice affixed to the doors
of this theatre, that it would be closed last night. The
notice stated, that in consequence of unavoidable circum-
stances," the theatre would be closed for that night. The
signature was. " W. R. Copeland, acting manager."
Rumours have been rife as to the " unavoidable circum-
stalices" which have produced this lamentable result. We
say lamentable, for, Irons reports which have reached us,
we have no doubt that the lesseeship of Mr. Hammond
is terminated, and that there is out a slender chance
of this theatre continuing open. What the result may
be on the corns dramatique of Drury-l!ine, of course we can-
not pretend to say ; but in order to satisfy the public anxiety
or, the subject we arc induced to mention the followinz
rumours that have reached us. N% e have been informed
that a docket was struck by a gentleman of the name of
Kemp against Mr. Hammond, and that subsequently
exe-
cutions were put by Mr. Fisher into the Liver theatre,
Liverpool, the Doncaster Theatre, the Strand theatre, and
Drury lane (all of which Mr. Hammond has an interest in),
in the hope of having the bankruptcy superseded. This,
opens a question of law, which we cannot take'
upon ourselves to decide. An execution was also put in
at the same time in Mr. Hammond's house in Essex-
street. Mr. Macready, we understand, offered to play for
the actors, and a deputation, we believe, consisting of Mr.
George Bennett, Mr. William Bennett, Mr. .1.- Vining'
and Mr. Wilmot, waited on that gentleman last even-
ing for the purpose of ascertaining whether Mr. Macready
would fulfil the remainder of his engagement, the actors
undertaking to be responsible for his remuneration. We
have also heard that the Committee have offered the theatre
to the Company on very reasonable terms. Of course we
cannot vouch for the truth of these rumours, but we have
thouffht it right to mention them, in order that they may
be contradicted if contrary to the fact.
Since writing the above we have learned that Mr. Mac-
ready, with that generosity which distinguishes his dia.
meter, 11(,s offered to play gratuitously for four nights in
the ensuing week, and that a Committee of the Company,.
consisting of Mr. Wilmot, Mr A. Lee, Mr. .1. Vining,
Mr. G. Bennett, and Mr. Elton, have determined to keep'
open the theatre. Whether or not a republic of actors
may be suited to Drury-lane we cannot, of course, un-
dertake to say, but we cannot on this occasion refrain from
expressing our hope that their exertions in this extremity
of their ill may be attended with success,

The Duke of Newcastle has displayed much
!Jame amongst his tenants at Newark during the last week, by
presenting them with a hare each, said to be to the number of
150 four-legged animals. Those who have not received the
compliment ti:e very stigry.—Lincoln, ,ittreury.