The Sun.
London, England, 1815-05-11 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

Yesterday a Meeting of the Subscribers to
Drury-lane Theatre was held at the Ct•oWn and
Anchor Tavern, to take into consideration a pro-
posal to let-the whole of. that ittittieta'se concern.
The Chair was taken by Mr WHITBREAD, who
stated the object of the meeting, namely, that the
sense of the subscribers was to be taken on the
following resolution It is expedient that ate
Theatre he let to a proper person at the concht-
sion of the present season."
Mr. Kmatnn deprecatedr any letting of the Theatre as a
sordid undertaking, at variance with the public spirit and li-
berality nit those who had so strenuously supported the con-
cern. Though highly sensible of the great exertions of their
Chairman," who hail been the Hercules of the Theatre, he was
willing to change the management, by supplying the places
of those Gentlemen who wished to resign in the Committer,
. and -he was authorised, he said, to otkr the services of a Noble
Lord, whose name would long be remembered in the concerns
of Drury-lane Th,atre. The splendid genius and talents of
Lori Byron, add his great regard for the Theatre, could not
fail to prove highly ireueficiel to tba„cbucern. He could not
account for a dispasiti,aa on the part of some Proprietors to
in terms,of depression respecting the affairs of the
Theatre. He conceived there was no-pretence fur letting it.
Mr. WiirraerAD was glad to hear -Lord Byron named, as
that Noble 1_ d was well able to exercise the power; but it
! would not do, he said, unless four otlicrs were named with
him to succeed thia preient Committee. Mr. Whitbreaatf•dis-
claimed all gloomy views of the affairs of .the Theatre ; he
had merely stated the view which duty prompted him to take.
Mr. P. Mnoeu, said, if he had thought the Theatre could
ever come to the decradition of being let, he should never
hare subscribed to it; he would rather ace it burnt down
again, he said, than see it let on sordid principles. The plait
of letting it originated before the Theatre was burnt down..
A proposition was made by Mr. Jones, the Dublin Manager,
to give .5n,0001. for it : the proposal was, however, rejected,-
and surely there could be no pretence now for letting it. Mr.
Moore coirtended, that the affairs of the Theatre might go
on, and intimated that be should not shrink from the duty if
appointed one of the Snl.,-ceurnitteet, •
Mr. Wl:FrsittAn said, he had certainly heard that Mr.
Sheridan was in treaty with Mr. Janus, the Dublin Manager,
to let the Theatre ; however, that circumstance had no influ-
enee with respect to the condu6t he had pursued since he had
been-a Member of the Committee. From what had fallen, it
was clear Lord Ilyron bad consented to put his name down
with Mr. Kinnaird and Mr. Wore for the Sub committee,
arid he sincer, ly hoped two other names would be furnished.
There was no reluctance on the part of the present Celt inittee
to resign.

Sir T. To RTON stated, that even with the powerful aid of Mr.
Kean, the present management of the Theatre bad sustained
a considerable diminution in the annual receipts. • He did not
conceive that any management under the present regulation,
could benefit the concern. The public taste should at all
times be attended to. If the public preferred quadrupeds on
the stage, the Hon. Baronet said, he would not oppose that
preference. at the expence of the treasury. He was inclined,
under all the circinustances, to let the Theatre.
Mr. PERRY said, he gave his entire dissent to the plan of
management recommended by the Hon. Baronet, who had
considered it necessary, to introduce quadrupeds to degrade
Ole British Stage. It was clear that suarspecies of entertain-
ment would demoralise the people. The Theatre had been
well conducted. The Hon. Chairman had supported the true
spirit of the British Drama. His attention to public pro-
priety and morality had given Drury-lane Theatre a power -
ful influence, and lie hoped lie should never hear it said again
in a public meeting, that the Proprietors should introduce
quadrupeds in support of bad taste. He did not agree with
the proposition for letting the concern.
• Mr. Boit iNs was of opinion, the better sliy.woulti be to let
the Theatre.

Mr. KINNAI go intimated, that be would not decline acting
in the Ctlmmittee.

Captain •Gocctt said, if the non. Chairman would give his
candid Opinion on the question of letting the Theatre, it would
have great weight with the Meeting.
Mr . WHITBREAD said, if a responsible lessee could be
.found, his opinion (if he bad the sole conduct and direction
of the"concern, promising as it may appear) would be to let it.
He did not say they ought to let it to any adventurer; he was
far from that proposition, but if he had a pod offer from a
good person, be said he would certainly let it.

The question was then put on the Resolution,
which,was negatived by a considerable majority.
The. Meeting then proceeded to take wones to
form a new Committee, when the present shall
Cease ; after which they Adjourned.

Yesterday, at Ilighgatee a Gentleman, whose
name we understand ;is WILLIAM WHEELER, by
some misfortnne sras thrown from his horse, and
killed-on the spot. The hod was removed to
the house of Mr. Micklewaith, at' Highgate, for
the Coroner's Inquest,' which will be held this
day.

Tuesday evening as Mr. LILLYWHITE, the pro-
prietor of the Windsor coach, wa's driving his
coach hetwuen coliihrook knd Langley Broom,
he discovered a man lying in the road, who proved
to be the driver of a loaded cart, wbo, being
intoxicated, fell down, the cart went ever his.
body, and killed him on the spot. Every assist-
ance was given by Mr. Litlawarrz and the pas•

scagerse

LA.W iNtk LLlOtNtlil,

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ZiEtr'PF 111 S tiohotllt t 111". MASTPIt ok THE itol.Li

NE(LECt OF PUBLIC

TH7 AttORNE-GE:CERAL, VAIRLIE I.&D.trttiFit.
• Sir ltotnt(AJ, supported 'by other Learned
Counsel; stated this ease on behalf of the' plain-
-66, :who are a great number of very poor per-
sons, maimed or wotinded in the army (old 119vy,
claiming by their bill to be decreed their distri
butive shares of a very liberal (foliation that was
devised and bequeathed to the executors of the
testator's will ; to be invested in the British
finds, as his real and personal estates in India,
should be sold for the relief of such poor perstins
as should lose .their legs, arms, or eyes, in the
army or navy, in defence of their country. The
fund was' to be instrusted, finally, to the Trus-
tees and Committee of the Scotch Hospital, in
London, which was confirmed by an Act of
Charles 11. vesting 'the Governors or Managers
with power to make bye-laws, Z4fe._ under which
the Institution has been ever since conducted.
The present.Trnstees and Committee were charg-
ed with a neglect and refusal to execute this trust,
after having received a part of the donation i and
the Executors %etre charged with not having re-
turned . the real estates of the Testator, nor ac-
counted for his heir-at law, who would, if found,
take the .same; inst(:ad of the King, a circum-
stance that further rendered the name of the At-
torney-General necessary, in addition to the con-
sideration of this" being a case of public charity.
- Various other considerations were suggested to
induce his Honour to grant the decree or order
prayed for, on further directions in this important
and interesting case, where it appeared that the
testator was opulent, and the -,donatiou veil ex-
tensive. References to the Master were prayed
for, .to find out the real estates and -the heir at
law,. if any, of the deceased, a Mr. ."John Tullock,
who died in India several years ago, leaving Mr.
Fairlie, the defendant, and another, executor of
his will.

Mi% LEACH, supported by other Learned Coun-
sel, argued in vindication of the acting Executor,
Mr. Ffiirlie, who had already paid int. 6 .Court,
from the remittances a sum of thirty-six thousand
pounds, after other disbursements and payments,
to a-considerable extent, and was still proceeding
tee bring in more of the Metz ; but in his answer
denied his knowledge of real estates, or the exist-
ence of an heir-at law.'

It was further stated, that the difficulty of the
case, and the peculiar constitution-of the Scotch
Hospital, were the motives of that bmly in refus-
ing to admit the trusts, and not contempt,.without
the7iid of the Court,. ,by whose directions ther
were ready to act and be guided. The siugnlarity
of the frame of the-Institution of the Scotch Hos-
pital, all the contributors and subscribers to which
were trustees tinder the bye-laws, and each trustee
at liberty to becoine one of the Committee ; the
whole number composing that charteredinstitn-
thm, now amounting to the. number of 1,500
tuembers, which would b very difficult to call co-'
gether or take their titlited voice- on the present,
or any other new and important question. The
aid of this Court was, in such a difficulty, wished
for by ail parties as their guide.
His Hozszoott granted the references and direc—
tions prayed for. =•