The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-09 00:00:00

ItAims 6.

STOCK Excu•NGE..—The are—Northsalcs British, Quarters, 85s.—
Ditto, Thirds, 725. Gd.— Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, is. Gd.
dis.—Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding, 6s. p.—Newcastle and
Berwick, 35—Northern Counties Union. 255.
SILEFFIELD. MAacit 6.

STOVZ ExcitAmot.—ihe sales are—Ambergate, Nottingham, and
Boston. lit dls.—Leeds and Thirsk, tyY dis.— Manchester, St,fflem,
and Lincolnshire (Grimsby and Sheffield), 201. sh..ms, mis dis•—
Ditto (late Sheffield and Lincoln). I die.—ziorth British, Quarter
hares (late Carlisle), 24 c. p.
NEIVCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, Meacit 6.

STOCK EXCIIANGE.—The SSICB are—East Lancashire, New Scrip,
1;2 p.—llartlepool Dock and Railway, 176—Newcastle and Berwick
North Shields), 13 p.—North Briti‘b, 10!i p.—Ditto, Quarters, 2 p.
EDINBURGH, MARCH 5.

STOCK EXCHANGE. -The sales are-Aberdeen, 241.-Alrdrle and
itatligate, 31. 18s.-Arbroath and Forfar, 281.-Ditto, Halt Shares, 151.
-Ayr and Galloway,2l. 65.-Caledonian, 281. 10s.-Ditto, New, 21.
145. -Caledonian and Dumbarton, 21. 9r.--Clydesdale Junction, 39/.
59.-Deeside, 31. 55.-Direct Northern, 21. 18s. 6d.-Dunblane,
Doune, and Callender, 11. 125. 6d.-Dundee and Arbroath, 431. 55.-
Ditto, New, No. 1, 301.-Ditto, New, No. 2, 311.-- Ditto, New,
No. 3, 51.-Dundee and Perth, 351. 12s. 6d.-Ditte, New Shares,
221. 125. 6d. -East of Fife, 31. 35.-East Lothian Central, 21. Bs.
Gd.-Edinburgh and Bathgate, 51. 12s. 6d.- -Edinburgh and Glallow,
801.-Ditto, Half Shares, 221. -Ditto, Quarter Shares, 20:.-Edin-
burgh, Leith, and Granton. 20/. 24. 6d.- Ditto, Preference, 211.-
Ditto, New, 3/. 55.-Ditto, Quarters, 16s. 9d.-Edinburgh and S ortli -
ern, 171.-Ditto, New Shares, 41. 55.-Ditto, Newport, 51. 17s. 6d.-
Ditto, ditto, New, 21. 15a.-Edinburgh and Perth (Old), it. 18s.-
Ditto (New), 31. 45.-Ditto, Halves. 11. 3s. W.-Glasgow and Ayr-
shire, 651. IN.-Ditto, New StocO, 341.- Ditto, Halves, No. 1,
61. 10s.-Ditto, No. 2, 81. 155.-Ditto, Quarter Shares, 16/. 10s.-
Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, 61. 10. W.-Glasgow and Garn-
kirk, 391.-Glasgow General Terminus, 121. 10s.-Glasgow and
Greenock, 191.-Ditto, halves, 91.-Ditto, Preference, 81. 55.-
Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan, 61. 65.-Great North of
England, 233/. 10s.-Great North of Scotland, 21. 155.-London
and York, 31. 12s. 6d.-Ditto, Extensions (scrip), 21. N.-Manches-
ter and Leeds, 1101. 10s.-Ditto, Sixteenths, 8/. 55.-Newcastle and
Berwick, 331. 55.-North British, 361.-Ditto, Halves, 171. 5a.-
Ditto, Quarters, 4!. 95.-Ditto, New Quarters (scrip), 11. Bs.-Ditto,
Thirds, 3!. 155.-Ditto, Fifths, 71.-Scottish Central, 221. 10s.-
Scottish Grand Junction, 11. 7s. 6d.- Scottish Midland, 241. 17s.
6d. -- Shrewsbury and Hereford, 11. 12s. 6d.-Shrewsbury, Oswestry,
a..d Chester, Si. 45.-Ditto, New, 11. 2g. 6d -Stirling and Dunferm-
line, 31. IN.-Stirling and Midland, 2/. 95.-Wishaw and Coltness,
481. 15s. ex div.-York and Newcastle, 361. 10s. ex new-Ditto,
New, 111. 15s.- Ditto, Preference, 81.175. 6d.-Direct Bombay and
Madras, 3s. 9d.-East Indian, 7s. 6d.-Great North of India, 35.-
Great Southern of Madras, 35.-Madras, Nellore, and Arcot, 2s.
GLASGOW, MARCH 5.
STOCK Excumeox.-The sales are-Aberdeen, 241.-Ayr and Gal-
loway, 445.-Dundee and Perth, 351.-East Indian, Bs. 9d.-Edin-
burgh and Glasgow, Halves, 21 -Edinburgh, Leith, and Granton,
Quarters, 175.-Edinburgh and Perth (New Co.), 615.-Ditto, New,
245. 6d.-Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr, 641.-Ditto, 38,A-Ditto,
Halves, No. 2, 81. 145.-Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, 61. Is. 6d.
-Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan, 6 4 -Manchester and South-
ampton, 245.-Newcastle and Berwick, 34 -North British, Thirds,
765.-Scottish Central, 22X, -Wilsontown, Morningside, and Colt-
ness, 661.

(From the Opera-glass.)
COVENT-GARDEN CLOSED AGAINST ITALIAN
OPERA.—MUTUAL ,20NVENTION OF THE
PATENT THEATRES.
If the good faith of treaties have any weight in the moral
estimation of the community—if repudiation of engagement
have not ceased to incur atilt'; us an honest English dis
gust—if deeds are to preserve their legal value, and a plain
commercial transaction to maintain its probity through the
lapse of time—then, through the authentic statement If
have now to make—and tee verified legal documents uy
which we shall support that statement-0e public will arrive
at conclusion that Covent-garden is, by every code of
justice, closed against the endertaking which it is seeking
to enforce ; and that, of public right, there can be no second
Italian Opera in this metropolis—no legal Italian drama but
that which is performed at her Majesty's Theatre.
The story of the circumstances out of which arose, and
upon which were founded, the patents granted respectively
to the three great theatres, in the Haymarket, Covent-
garden, and Drury-lane. must now be, for the fir: le
time, made known to the community; and it will be
seen that what is now her Majesty's, - and was, of old,
the King's Theatre, secured to its own, and shut out
from the other patents, the exclusive right to the per-
forma.oce of Italian opera in London, by an immense pecuniary
sacrifice—a large amount of money paid in compensation, and
a vast transfer of vested interests—the consequences of which
have all descended, with the deed by which they were exe-
cuted, to the present proprietor, and, through the changes of
property, brought with then incumbrances which he has de-
frayed. That deed, embodying a mutual convention between
the three theatres, and reciting the vela stipulations upon
which they obtained their patents in concert, is morally as
binding now as it was thee, and must hold its good faith in
public estimation, in spite of the flagrant and daring violation
of it which is being attempted now.
The deed was framed "for the purpose of regulating the
conduct and management of the King's Theatre in the Hay-
market, and for the purpose of paying the debts of the late
Pantheon Theatre, and for. other_ ;purposes therein men-
tioned." It refers to a Most interesting period in our
dramatic history, when Richard Brinsley Sheridan was one
of the ruling spirits ; when Thomas Harris (the
theatrical veteran, so long proprietor of Covent-garden, who
ended his days in rural retirement and rheumatic gout in that
elegant ground-floor villa called " Kensal Manor," now in
the possession of Harrison Ainsworth); when George
Prince of Wales and the high nobility took warm and per-
sonal interest in the prosperity of the drama; when the
Duke of Bedford was proud of having a national theatre
on his domain, and the Marquis of Salisbury performed the
office of Lord Chamberlain with con amore spirit and a hearty
good will.
The condition of affairs called into action the energies of
all these royal, noble, and distinguished personages. An at-
tempt had been made to establish a second Italian Opera at
the Pantheon, in Oxford•street, which had ended in signal
failure and ruin ; debt having overwhelmed the project, and
fire consumed the premises. Harris was one of the parties
interested in settling the enormous responsibilities which had
accrued ; and Druly-lane, only itself a skeleton theatre,
new building from the wreck of another conflagration,
wanted houseroom for its company, and leave and license
to perform on the Italian Opera stage. Harris had a dor-
mant patent to assign and legalise this performance, and
for such assignment he sought compensation in sterling
moneys.
The King's Theatre in the Haymarket was selected to
meet the difficulty and to bear the onus of all these emer-
gencies. It was to settle the debts of the Pantheon—to
award Harris a compensation—to give the Drury-lane coin
pany a place of performance, and to actually disemburse or
encumber its exchequer with a responsibility of about
68,000/. ; the condition being a right in perpetuity to the ex-
clusive production of Italian opera, and a bar in perpetuity to
either of the other theatres attempting the same. And the
value of this condition has been always taken by other pro-
prietors, and was taken by Mr. Lumley, into the estimate
of the value of the property when he purchased her Majesty's
Theatre.
Now here are the incontrovertible facts—facts which, if
they do not startle the Court of Chancery, force conviction
upon the Sovereign and the Lord Chamberlain, assume the
form of injunction, and crush an attempting treason in its
plot, will yet speak trumpet tongued to the British public,
and proclaim the truth through the land.
The proceedings commenced August 24th, 1 i 92, as:
" Between William Taylor, John Andrew Gallini, William
Sheldon, Robert Burton, John Needham, William Witham,
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Thomas Harris, Robert Bray
O'Reilly."
These parties having drawn up a preliminary outline of
arrangements to be submitted to the arbitration and ap-
proval of the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Bedford, and the
Marquis of Salisbury, preparatory to a deed of convention
between the three theatres being founded upon it, this out-
line has been preserved, and is before us ; and we make
from it the following extract from the seventh clause:—
" It is to be understood as a part of the settlement bond
fide between the three theatres, that the patents of Drury-
lane end Covent-garden shall never be exercised for the
purpose of Italian operas ; and that the Haymarket Theatre
and patent shall be fur Italian operas only, with such occa-
sional aid as has been usual from balls and masquerades."
The entire outline of these arrangements was laid before
the royal and noble arbitrators in the following form by the
parties interested in their fulfilment :
" We recommend the above outline as a just and honour-
able settlement for all parties.
"R. B. SHERIDAN.
THOS. HOLLOWAY.
WM. SHELDON."

To winch the arbitrators responaPa -
" We approve .1- the same.

" GEORGE P.
BEDFORD.
SALISBURY."
And upon the good faith of the Prince nearest the throne, the
authority of the Lord Chamberlain, and the participation of
the landed proprietor of the Covent-garden domain, the deed
in 1793 was duly executed, is now in the proprietor's posses-
sion, and recites as follows:
" It is agreed, with the consent and approbation of all the
said parties to these presents, that the said theatre or opera-
house, in the Haymarket, shall be again exclusively used for
the performing Italian operas, and for exhibiting balls, mas-
querades, musical and other entertainments according to the
original institution thereof."
The deed goes on—
" And this indenture further witnesseth, that in further
pursuance of the said outline, and for effectually carrying the
same into execution, they, the said R. B. Sheridan and T. S.
llolloway, for themselves respectively, and for their respec-
tive heirs, executors, and administrators, do, and each of
them for himself doth covenant, promise, and agree to and
with the said W. Taylor, his executors, administrators, and
assigns, that from Lod immediately after the execution of
these presents, the said two Theatres Royal, Drury-lane and
Covent-garden, shall be used only for exhibiting English
plays, tragedies, and comedies, farces and other entertain-
ments such as have usually beet given in the name theatres
respectively. lend that no Italian operas shall ever in future
be given there."
There can be no mistake about such a document as this
deed, framed for a perpetuity, and by the Act of theialliiraene
great theatres in concert excluding one of them—the
Italian
Opera Opera—for all time from the performance of the
drama; and the •ther two—Drury-lane and Covent•
•ard
equally for all time from the performance of Italianogen—
pera.
patents
Upon this mutual convention were obtained the
p
which have been from time to time renewed to ther
of eat
at
English theatres—which have formed the strong to dare
h9ld Great
English theatres—which have formed the 510gh0ld of th
very exclusiveness which one of them is now seekingo
many
and to defy—which have been the subjects e I
popular murmurs, so many dramatic execrations,
and radical debates in the Commons, and such
rietf
sturdy'a chf
i edrcee.
fences by the Peers;—these patents, which the Prop ors o
Drury-lane and Covent-garden have claimed as permanent
and inalienable, exercising towards all minrohr
cestablishments
• ovent-garden
the most tyrannous rights of property—
was loudest to proclaim when its oum iwnhteirests were in jeo-
pardy, and is loudest to abjure now that it is
e from itself
about to per-
petrate on another the injury it once scouted
these patents, which, in the case of her Majesty's Theatre
only, secured the aristocracy, when in the
these( were only
he other
theatres they robbed the people ;----we 11,
hich, in return for an
granted in virtue of a convention
outlay of 68,000!., secured to the Italian Opera its solitary
privilege and its exclusive right.
The matter does not seem to be one for the Sovereign or
her Chamberlain, but for the Lord Chancellorof lion of
esr
England
but even if the deed were by some slaughteorody- to
faith of her
be struck dead—if the respect due to the g
Majesty's august uncle King George IV were to be violated,
to the detriment of regal authority and
word—if the compact made through the value of a royal
the instrumentality of
the house of Bedford were to be broken upon its own ground
of promise—if a succeeding Lord Chamberlain were asked to
abrogate a property which the arrange.ment of a former one
secured—if, in a word, all ties of probity are to be shattered
0 a Coma what would have been
for the purpose of givianngd t
floundering a Mario over the ruins
refused to a Kemble,
among which a Macready failedwe belkve that equity will
gladly step in to stay the robbery and the desecration, and
that the law will ratity the natural integrity of the English
lc
peop ,
and vindicate the national fairness of the land.
Nous gardenverronsl— ,believ we shall witness also the
closing of Covent-gTheatre against the performance of
.tian opera.

A MAN AND A HORSE DROWNED IN TIIE SURREY
CANAL.—On Saturday forenoon a distressing accident took
api ce at the Grand Surrey Canal Docks, Rotherhithe, by
whicl• a man and a horse lost their lives. Between ten and
eleven o'clock a man of the name of John Smith, about forty
years of age, went with a timber carriage and three horses
to the dock for the purpose of getting a load of timber deals.
In order to get the carriage to the edge of the dock, the man
unhitched two of the horses, and was backing with the one
in the shafts, when the animal backed farther than it ought,
and the carriage fell over the bank into twenty feet of water.
The deceased, who had hold of the reins, was pulled in with
the horse. The animal, as the carriage drifted about. kicked
and plunged most frightfully, and having struck Smith a
violent blow with its feet, the unfortunate man became stun-
ned, and immediately sank. Mr. Mackinnon, the super-
intendent of the dock, gave orders to have the waters
searched, but upwards of an hour and a half elapsed before
the poor fellow was found, life of course being extinct. The
body was removed to Rotherhithe parish dead-house to await
a coroner's inquest. The carriage and horse were got out of
the water at a late hour of the day, with the aid of floating
cranes belonging to the Dock Company. Smith was in the
employ of a timber-merchant at Paddington, and has left a
wits and two children totally unprovided for.
HEALTH OF 'MR. O'CONNELL.—There is no doubt
but that the health of Mr. O'Connell has been much affected
since his arrival in town. For a few days the Hon. and
Learned Gentleman was exceedingly ill, but at no time did
his illness assume a dangerous character. He is, however, in
an extremely weak state, but his medical advisers have
every confidence that a cessation from all political excite-
ment, and a change of air, will ensure a perfect restoration of
his health. In accordance with previous arrangements made
on the subject, Mr. O'Connell left the British Hotel, Jermyn-
street, at eleven o'clock on Sunday morning, accompanied by
his son, Mr. J. O'Connell, en route for Hastings, where be
intends to remain for some time. The Hon. and Learned
Gentleman will, it is understood, pay a visit to the south of
France previous to his return to Ireland. It is to be hoped
that by a suspension of all excitement, and a change of
scene, the result so confidently anticipated 11 the Hon. and
Learned Gentleman's medical advistra will be iusureti.—
Sunday Tinos,