The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-06 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

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After five years of patience in waiting for 1 heir annual
interest, the trustees are at length about to declare a di-
vidend to the new renters of Drury-lane Theatre, upon
the 5001. debentures, or new renters' shares, of which
300 are in existence. Difficulties of a, very complicated
character had caused it to be necessary for a friendly
application to be made to the Vice-Chancellor, by which
three new trustees were appointed. These gentlemen,
acting with much more fairness than their predecessors
(who were timid and lukewarm in their operations, in
consequence of its being generally believed that they
were illegally elected, and that-all their'. acts would be
frustrated), have been able to save something from
the impending ruin of this noble theatre. Several of
the steps they were compelled to take were adopted
after mature deliberation, and after taking various
counsels' opinion, more particularly that of levying a
distraint upon the theatre, they felt that they were con-
strained to act with much determination, and events have
proved that they were correct. Brighter prospects,
however, appear upon the horizon, and it is now gene-
rally hoped and believed that a regular, although a
much reduced dividend, will be annually paid to the new
renters. The amount of the dividend, we understand,
will be 34.65. Bd. per annum. That " half a loaf is bet-
ter than no bread" is a very old and very true saying,
and the constituted body of shareholders will doubtless
take this homely saying to their hearts and adopt some
signal mode of thanking the new trustees for saving half
the loaf. The whole has long since been considered in
jeopardy, and we really believe that two-thirds (if not the
whole) of the shareholders will consider the dividend
they are about to receive as so much saved from a
" shocking bad debt," which years ago they had "writ-
ten off," and had very nearly forgotten.
A general meeting of the new renters is advertised to
be held next Wednesday, at Mr. George Robins's, in
Covent-garden, when the whole of the trust delegated
to those gentlemen now in office will be minutely can-
fully understand the relative position of the two bodies
re , or holders of
ov
fa st e d and
Shareholders, explained.thatis Pftohboa bnley few of our readers
new
renters,
500/. shares, and 100/. Shareholders, or Joint-stock Pro-
prietors." The former were the Proprietors of' the old
theatre, and in receipt of 251. per season, or 2s. 6d. each
night of *performance, for each share of 5001., with a
transferable annual admission ; both originally granted
for 100 years. When the theatre was destroyed by
fire, nothing remained to them of their proud build-
ing but a quantity of rubbish and the ground whereon
it stood. In this emergency Mr. Whitbread came
forward and accomplished the Herculean labour of raising
fnnds sufficient to rebuild the theatre. The latter of the
two bodies described were those who built the present
theatre. The new renters agreed to accept 121. los. per
annum, instead of 251., and the Proprietors agreed that
all the new renters should receive their 121. 10s. before
they (the Proprietors) took anything; with this arrange-
ment the theatre was rebuilt, and the Proprietors re-
ceived about two or three dividends,, when they ceased,
and from that time to the present nothing whatever has
been paid to them. The annual dividends of 121. 10s.
were paid with punctuality for a long series of years,
when five years ago they also closed, in consequence of
the ill success of the various lessees, but are now about
.to be renewed by ghost of a dividend ;as for the arrears,


let ndt' the new renters " lay that flattering unction to
their souls," that they will ever see one Penny' of it ; in-
deeplithey know they never will. What then is the posi-
tion_ of Proprietors ? The question will be best an-
svirered by saying, that their shares of 10.01. each will
not now sell for 11. each in the market. The new renters
are_. represented by three trustees (those gentlemen re-
ferrcd.to at the commencement of this article), the pro-
-1),..ie •f•iry by a general Committee, from which is chosen
a sub. Committee of five, of which Lord Gleugall is
Chairman. This Committee transacts the general busi-
ness of the theatre, and annually submits its affairs to
the trustees. It must be borne in mind that the theatre
in Mr. Whitbread's time—" the high and palmy days of
the drama," used to let for considerably more than double
the rent which it is supposed Mr. Macready is to pay for
the current season,

MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS

FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF SATURDAY.

announcement to the effect that
'Messrs. Aguirre Solarte and .Muneta have been
charged with the office of finance agents to the
Spanish Regency, seems to have excited the
jealousy of the old loan-contradting houses in
the City. Exception is taken to the arrange-
ments made by Senor Surra y Rull, on the
ground that be has not put the business of the.
Three per Cent. Conversion into the hands of
One or the other of the three well-known firms
in question. Had Mr. Thornton been selected
for the purpose there would have been no dispo-
sition, and as little right, on the part of the
bondholders to find fault, f Mr.Tl ()ratan has
done them all the service in his power. Not a
public meeting has 'been held to take into
consideration the 'claims of the suffering par-
ties, but Mr. Thornton was present prepared
to take the chair, or to conduce, in any other
way, to the great object in view, that of
obtaining for them the relief so long withheld.
By his great activity upon such occasions
the claimants of all classes, both Portuguese and
Spanish, whether holders of the Active or Pas-
sive, the Treasury or Indemnity Bonds of the
two Peninsular Governments; have been placed
by him under obligations of no ordinary kind.
It is to be recollected that Mr. Thornton was
never a,participator in the premiums, commis-
' sions, brokerages, and other advantages of va-
rious kinds, arising- out of the Spanish and Por-
tuguese. contracts. He has, indeed, been at much
expense in furtherance of the common cause, in
money as well as in.time ; but- the individuals
who are thrust forward as more deserving of the
confidence placed in Messrs. Solarte and Murieta,
having pocketed their handsome bonuses, ceased
to trouble themselves, and are, for this and other
'reasons, notto be named in comparison with Mr.
Thornton or those gentlemen. Mr: Solarte has
from all accounts, been over and over again
offered the office of Finance Minister of Spain, and
his non-acceptance of the post, the emoluments
derivable from which are notoriously large,
sufficiently answers, we think, for the correct-
ness of the motive which induced him and his
partner to assume the humbler trust of agents
to the Government in London. It is quite
enough for the bondholders that, however exact-
ing the old contracting houses showed them-
selves to be when instalments of loans bad to be
paid up, and however ready to attend public
meetings when the object was to promote fresh
undertakings, out of which enormous gains were
to be made, their presence at a time when the
non-performance of engagements was a question,
is a thing unknown. This fact speaks volumes,
and is the only reply that need be given to those
who would attempt to put their pretensions into
competition with those of Messrs. Solarte and
Murieta, or of Messrs. liullett, Brothers, and
Co., whose disinterested conduct, in connection
with the Claim loan, has giren so much satisfac-
tion, and, we may add, produced results so
important.

THE DISTRESS IN PAISLEY.—DONATION
FROM THE DUCHESS OF KENT.—The following letter
has been received by the Rev. Mr. Baird, from the Hon.
Charles Augustus Murray, Master of the HoUsehold:—
" Buckingham Palace.
" Sir,—l beg to inform you, that since you did me the
honour to call on me, with Mr. J. Henderson, I have ob-
tained from her Royal llighness the Duchess of Kent a
donation of 251. towards the relief of your distressed
wearers ; and have also collected 501. among the ladies
and gentlemen on duty at the Palace, for the same ob-
ject. Both sums I have transmitted to Mr. Rogers, the
Sheriff of London. With my best wishes that these con-
tributions may be of some avail in diminishing the suf-
ferings of your poor,
"I remain, Rev. Sir, your faithful, servant,
" Rev. A. Baird. " C. A. MURRAY."

EXTRAORDINARY LONGEVITY. A black
Woman, named Phillis Ash Ward, was buried recently at
St. Mary's Chapel, who had reached the advanced age of
120 ! And another woman, named Nancy Jane, died at
the Belle estate, who had reached 110 yaars.—Burbadiau.
VENTNOR, ISLE OF WIGHT, Nov. 30.
THE WEATHER.—These heavy gales are making sad
havoc with us poor creatures under cliff—to have our
windows blown in is a common occurrence ; and on
Monday night the wind and the rain brought down three
houses none of your lath and-plaster things; but what
appeared to be of the substantial order; with stout stone
walls and slate roofs. In go the windows, and off the
roofs: Pray God the wind would shift. From frost,
snow, and keen north-easters we are protected, but these
southwesters are terrible things.
TIIE HIGH TIDES.-011 Friday morning. at
high water the tide rose again in the river Thames, inun-
dating the warehouses and houses on the banks of the
river to a considerable depth. The dam on the north
side of Hungerford-market, for the erection of the sus-
pension bridge, was overflowed, as also that at Westmin-
ster-bridge, which will cause considerable delay in the
works.

DEATH OF THE COUNTESS OF NORMAN-
TON.—We have the melancholy task of announcing the
death, which took place on Thursday, the 2d December,
at the family seat, Somerley, Hants, of Diana, Countess
of Normanton, after a protracted illness of four years.
Her Ladyship was the eldest daughter of George Augus-
tus, Earl of Pembroke, and was married on the 17th of
May, 1816, to \Velbore Ellis, Earl of Normanton. Her
Ladyship leaves issue, James, Viscount Somerton ; the
Hon. Herbert, the Hon. Charles, and the Lady Mary
Agar. Lady Normanton united to a person of rare
beauty, and to accomplishments of the highest order, a
more than feminine understanding. Solid in judgment and
quick in perception, she has left her family and friends
the sad recollection of still more amiable qualities which
never can be forgotten.
HATTING TRADE.—The batting business at
Denton, Oldham, Ashton, and Stockport, is dull ; and
the hands are only partially employed, at very low
wages.—Leeds Mercury.
THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THREADNEEDLE-
STREET.—The building, which is now in the course of
erection on the site of the old French Protestant church,
in Threadneedle-street, has, for some time past, at-
tracted the attention of all passers-by, although it is not
yet completed, nor likely to be so for some months
to come, on account of the nature of the
ornamental designs, which require the strictest
attention on the part of the artists employed.
The basso-relievo is intended to occupy the
whole extent of the front of the building. The
skill and taste displayed in the erection of this
new edifice are well worthy of the attention of all lovers
of the fine arts, who will do well to take an opportunity
of visiting it. The proprietor, who bought the ground
from the City authorities, after it had been determined
to pull down the old French Church, very handsomely
conceded
.to the latter, without receiving any considera-
tion whatever, ten feet of the entire frontage, for the
express purpose of giving that additional width to
the street, the narrowness of which has always been
found so excessively inconvenient.. This disinterested
conduct on the part of an individual should, and doubt-
less will, call forth a corresponding feeling on the part of
the City authorities, who with this example before them,
are, as it were, bound to proceed with the improvements, and
to continue the additional width throughout the whole
extent of Threadneedle-street. If the whole of the
northern side of the street, from Old Broad-street to the
Old South Sea House, were taken down, and thrown
back a space of ten feet, in order to correspond with the
building in question, a noble street would be formed,
well calculated to make a fine approach to the new
Royal Exchange. In fact, we know of no part of London
where a greater display of elegant architecture will be
found, than that which will be exhibited in the course of
next year in the
_immediate vicinity of Cornhill and Old
Broad-street, &c.
We have heard upon good authority thar Sir R.
Peel is about to adopt the recommendation of the Com-
mittee upon Excise Duties, and in consequence, permits
will be dispensed with in the purchase of wines and
spirits.—British Queen.
THE GIANT WHITE CARROT.—From a crop
of these vegetables, grown at Fairfield, in Illogan, there
were taken up as many as grew in 6 feet by 3 feet, I.lBth
of a lace of ground, which weighed with the tops 36Vbs.
Sinking the for any dirt that might have remained
about the roots, there would be 46 tons 5 cwt. per acre.
'Vest Briton.
LONGEVITY OF SLAVES.—Outof 14,189,108
free white inhabitants of the United States, as shown by
the last census, there are 791 of 100 years of age and
upwards. Of 2,487,213 slaves, there are no less than
1,333 of the same age.—New York Paper.
ILLNESS OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.
--We have been informed that his Grace the Duke of
Wellington has been seriously ill during the last few
days. We hope and trust that the report is false, and
that, although his Grace has arrived at an advanced ave,
he will live long to bless the country with his patriotic
advice. We disagree with him in politics, but we be-
lieve that her Majessy has no better subject, nor the
country a more sincere friend.
Captain Morgan, Royal Artillery, has bad the
honour of submitting to Prince Albert a beautiful and
picturesque model of the ancient castle of Limerick, so
celebrated in Irish history, of unique construction, in
cork, with which his Royal highness was graciously
pleased to express his admiration.
The Duke of Rutland, in consideration of the
advanced price of provisions, has raised the wages of
his agricultural labourers from 12s. to 13s. 6d. per week.
Part of his Grace's tenantry have followed ths good
example.--Nottingham Journal.

THE LATE DREADFUL CASE OF

MURDER AND SUICIDE.

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LUIGI:, LANCASHIRE, THURSDAY.—The adjourned
inquest on the bodies of Betty Thompson and Elizabeth
Thompson, her infant child, was resumed this morning.
before W. S. Rutter, Esq., at the Royal Oak public-
house.
Samuel Part deposed as follows; —I am the only re-
lieving officer for the Leigh union. I attended the Board
of Guardians every Monday. The Guardians are
eighteen in number. There are two Guardians for the
township of Pennington. They are Mr. James Lunn
and Mr. Robert Lee. They both reside in Pennington.
The Board meets every Monday at half-past ten o'clock,
at the Town-ball, in Pennington, in the town of Leigh.
I have never been absent from any Board Meeting since
the Board was formed. I never remember a person
named Betty Thompson applying for relief ; certainly
not within the last six months. I always take down the
names of the applicants as they apply, whether their
application be rejected or not. We do not, in all cases,
visit before we relieve ; but we generally do in cases of
persons belonging to other townships. We usually
write to the relieving officer of the township to which
they belong. In case no notice is taken by that officer,
I report to the board, and remove the pauper by a re-
moval order. I mostly relieve when they first apply. It
is not the practice of our board to direct the party ap-
plying for relief to go to the board to which they belong.
We never have done so. I am informed that the de-
ceased belonged to Ilindley in the Wigan Union. The
board of that union meet in a room in the Eagle-yard in
the town of Wigan. Wigan is about seven miles from
the town of Leigh. I know nothing of the practice of
....,..

that board. In our union we refuse to affiliale bastard
children on account of the expense, and our not getting
the money. There is great difficulty in obtaining the
money after affiliation. In cases where there are wages to
attach there is generally a collusion between the master
and men, and when the parties have no goods we are
without any remedy to recover the amount of the order.
I know cases in which wages have been attached.
The master invariably turns the man away, and he im-
mediately takes work under one of the other workmen,
and so they shift from one to the other, and we can And
no.wages to attach. There is no means under the Mt
of Parliament of punishing the father by imprisonment.
I never knew an instance of a master being imprisoned
for non-performance of an order for attachment of wages.
The Coroner, in order to set this part of the witness's
evidence right, read the 77th, the 62d, and 99th sec-
tions of the Poor-law Act, the 4th and sth William
IV., which gives to Magistrates the power to seize the
goods of the master ; and in case he has none, and re-
fuses to pay the amount of the order for the attachment
of wages in his hands, then the power to commit to the
county prison for the space of three months.
The Foreman wished to know whether masters were
compelled to keep servants after an order was made upon
them ?

The Coroner said no ; there was no such power in
the Act.
Jane O'Connor was recalled—l remember the time
Betty Thompson applied to the Board of Guardians at
Wigan. It was about four months ago.
Betty Horrocks sworn—l live at Hindley-green, about
two miles from here. I knew the deceased, Betty
Thompson. She called on me as she came back from
applying to the Wigan guardians. It was just about the
time when new potatoes were coming in. Deceased told
me that she had seen some new potatoes in Wigan, and
that they were 4d. a-pound. Deceased said she had
been to the union board, and had lighted on the Pay-
master or some other person at the door, and he told
her that if she went before the board, they would put her
in Kirkdale. I then said, " Well, thee did not go." She
said " No." She was terrified so at the idea of being
sent to Kirkdale that she did not go to the board for re-
lief. Deceased's mother was dead at that time. Deceased
said how much she had been distressed to bury her
mother. Witness gave her and her baby some victuals.
She said she was very badly off, and could not get a
meal for her children. It was about one o'clock when
she called upon me, and somewhere about the beginning
of July. She had walked to Wigan and back, and was
very ill and tired.

Mary Marsdall sworn—l knew the deceased. She
used to come to our house, and we have given her bits
many times. She was short of food and had nothing at
all to give to her children. There was not a more
hard-working woman in Leigh, or one who strove harder
for a living. Witness saw her on Monday morning and
gave her bit of bread. She did not ask for anything. I
followed her with the bread into her cellar, in order to
give it to the children. I did not know that she had any
money, but I understand 2d. was found in the house
after her death. I saw no meat in the house except
what I took. I knew that she had sent the elder boy on
Monday to the father of the other children to try to get
some money from him. She told me when the boy
came back that the father would not come near her.
She said she would go herself. She had been crying two
or three times that morning. Her spirits were very low
during the last week or two. She was very fond of her
children, I never knew her to abuse them.
Edward Birchall sworn—l live at Ashton, in Macker-
field, and ain one of the relieving-officers of the Leigh
union. There are two others. It is a large union, and
comprises twenty townships. The township. of Hindley
is one. That is in my district, and it is about six miles
from one extreme point to the other. The population of
the seven townships is about 20,000. The board sits at
Wigan every Thursday. I attended every Thursday,
and have left it to come here. I know the deceased by •
sight. 1 knew that her mother belonged to Hindley, and
now believe that she did also. Her eldest boy was born
at West Leigh, and being 'illegitimate followed his
mother's settlement. Deceased's mother received first
Is. and then 2s. a week relief. The deceased received
it. Since her mother's death deceased had made no ap-
plication to the board for relief. I knew she had three
children, but was not aware she had a fourth. In case
of a person applying for relief I have to make a report
of the case to the board before it comes under considera-
tion. I attend at different places to give relief every
week. The deceased never made any application to me
to affiliate the children upon Wood. That is the only
reason I can assign for their not being affiliated ; but
there is a general unwillingness on the part of unions to
affiliate, on account of the expense and difficulty of get-
ting the money from the fathers. They laugh at our
attaching their wages. The order for the attachment of
wages is of no use. lam not aware of any person hav-
ing threatened to send the deceased to Kirkdale in case
of her applying for relief, nor of her having been threat-
ened to have her children taken from her. In case ,she
applied to the doorkeeper, he would ask her business,
and then call me as relieving officer of the district. No
person would have a right to give the deceased an an-
swer except myself. On her stating that she belonged
to Hindley, she would be referred to me. No relieving
officer would be allowed to threaten to send the deceased
to Kirkdale, or to take her children from her. I never
used such terms, and have not seen her since her mo-
ther's death.

William Wood was next called. He said he was a
weaver. He earned seven shillings and sixpence per
week. Was a single man, and the father of three of
the deceased's children. He was a silk-weaver, and
worked for Mr. Walker. He could not tell what he had
given. He had pawned his coat on August 4th, for 45.,
and he gave her part of it; that satisfied her. On
Monday he saw the deceased's son, but did not tell him
he would neither come nor send. He told him that he
had no money, and could not send any. He gave her
two shillings last Friday.
The Foreman commented in strong terms upon the
conduct of Wood in continuing to be connected so long
with the deceased without marrying her, or at least lend-
ing her assistance in maintaining the children.
The Jury, after consulting together for about three
quarters of an hour, found " That the deceased being
reduced to a state oiextreme want and mental suffering
came to the determination of destroying herself, and
being unwilling to leave her infant child behind, de-
stroyed her likewise." This in effect amounts to a ver-
dict of wilful murder as concerns the child, and felo de se
as regards the mother.

---
THE JOURNALS AND LETTERS OF THE
AUTHOR OF "EVELINA."—The announcement of the
above publication, as may be imagined, has excited no
slight degree of attention and curiosity. Our readers
may form some idea of the probable interest and
amusement of the work from the subjoined extracts
from the Prospectus, just issued :—" The following is
the opening passage of Miss Burney's Diary, which was
commenced in 1768, and continued, with but few inter-
ruptions, during the entire period of the writer's long
and eventful . life .:'--;-!•To ' have' some. account of my
thoughts, actions, and acquaintance, when •the hour
arrives when time is more nimble than memory, is the
reason which induces me to keep a Journal—a Journal
in which I shall coVess eiiery thought.7-shall open my
whole heart.' When we call to mind that the person.g who
formed this resolution, and adhered to it du
whole of her long life, was one of the most remarkablenuth the
o era,
in-
tercourse and justly celebrated women, not merely of her own, but
of any time or country—that her familyr an intimate Position, no less
than her celebrity, commanded for he
with all that was illustrious •n
sra, and
Englishthat litera-
ture and art during their most illustrious
theyesults of such resolution are no
world precisely as they left the hand
personal to
and family considerations
excite,the
announcement must excite curiocuriosity • wottothbe writer (the
omissions required by eir given to the
and interest such an
abneinnogunacloenmeent excepted),muste scarcely be increased by
anything that could be added
But though it is well known that descriptivel Madame
corfAtrhbei
ay worku.
was.
the intimate associate of al•l. who were intellectually
during the greater part society,
lety,
dis-
tinguished. in London both native and foreign,
second work,' Cecilia,' she of her life, yet it is not so gene-
rally known that, shortly
Queen Charlotte a sit'uasthioenvols
after the publication of her
confidencespontaneously.
ab Ou offered ffheerre d3fla)3.-
jesty's person, which she retained for more than six
years, and which brought her into daily intercourse with
every' individual forming the Court of George the Third.
During this remarkable period of her life, Miss Burney
never omitted, before she retired to rest, recording in her
Journal the events and conversations of the past day.
And this private history of the Court of George 'the
Third during the important period in question—namely,
from 1786 to 1791, inclusive—will form part of the
work now announced for publication, which is to appear
in monthly volumes, uniform with ' The Life of Sir
Walter Scott.' "
GREAT LIVERPOOL STEAMER.—ThiS Ves-
sel left Southampton on the Ist instant at ten A.M. ; ar-
rived at Falmouth the 2d, and would start on the weather
moderating. The following are some of the passengers :
—For Malta, Mrs. Gurdon and family ; Mrs. Hoseason
and child • Mr. and Mrs. Tapstill ; Mrs. Harvey ; Rev.
Mr. Beresford ; Maj•or Harvey ; Captain and Mrs. Pear-
son ; Dr. Collins ; L. D. Halket, Captain Hope, Sc.c. &c.
For Alexandria—Captain Carr and servant ; Captain
Walker ; Lieut. Collien, Dr. Mater ; Rev. G. Cook ,
Lieut.-Colonel Abdy ; Lieut. Minster ; Major Chisholm;.
Mr. and Mrs. Norton and family ; Mr. and Mrs, Lamb
Captain Pearson and servant; Captain and Mrs. Graham,
&c. &e. In x 1197 passengers. - •

.-IVIOR'NII\TG SUN