The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-17 00:00:00

LONDON, MO DAY EVENING MARCH 17, 1856.

TILE DESTRUCTION OF COVERT-GARDEN

TIIEATIig.

GUARDIAN FIRE AND LIFE
ASSURANCE C3MPA'Y,
No. 11, Lombard-street, London.

DIIIECTORS.
FRANCIS HART DYKE, Esq., Chairman.
HENRY lIULSE BERENS, Esq., Deputy-Chairman.
John Dixon, Esq. Stewart Marjoribanks, Esq.
Sir W. M. T. Farquhar, Bart] Bohn Martin, Esq., M.P.
Sir Walter R. Farquhar, B:e, Rowland Mitchell, Esq.
Thomson Hankey, Esq..
John Ilaryey, Esq. ' Henry Norman, Esq.
--4. P. James Morris, Esq.
Jchn G. Hubbe:ct, *Esq. Henry R. Reynolds, Esq.
George Job: ,stone, Req.
John Thornton, Esq.
Join L':couchere, Esq. James TMloch, Esq.
John Loch, Esq. Henry Vigne, Esq.

AVDITOPS.
A. W. Robarts, Esq. I Henry Sykes Thornton, Esq.
Lewis Lloyd, jun., Esq. John henry Smith, Esq.
George Keys, Esq., Secretary.
Samuel Brown, Esq., Actuary.
LIFE DEP A.RTMEN.T.—Under the provisions of an Act of Par-
liament, this Company now offers to future insurers Four-fifths of
the Profits, with Quinquennial Division, or a Low Rate of Premium
without participation of Profits.
The next division or Profits will he declared in June. 1860, when
all participating Policies which shall have subsisted at least one year
at Christmas, 1559, will he allowed to share in the Profits.
At the five divisions of Profits made by this Company, the total
,eversionary Bonuses added to the Policies have exceeded 911,000'.
At Christmas last the Assurawes in force amounted to upwards
of 4,240,0007. ; the Income from the Life Branch in 1854 was more
than 900,0011. ; and the Life ASQII,I4ICC Fund (independent of the
Guarantee ('apital) exceeded 1,700,0001,
FOREIGN RlSKs.—The Extra Premiums required for the East
and West Indies, the British Colonies, and the northern parts of the
United States of America, have been materially reduced.
INVALID LIVES.---Persons who are not in such sound health as
would enable them to insure their Lives at the Tabular Premiums,
may have their lives insured at Extra Premiums.
LOANS granted on Life Policies to the extent of their values, pro-
vided such Policies shall have been effected a sufficient time to have
dtained in each case a value not under 507.
ASSIGNMENTS OF POLICIES.—Written NoticOS of, recolved
and registered.
Medical fees paid by the Company, and no charge will be made for
Policy Stamps.
FIRE DEPART MENT. —lnsurances effected upon every descrip-
tion of propsrty, at moderate rates.
Losses caused by Expiesion of Gas are admitted by this Company.

111 E and PERRINS' WORCESTERSHIRE
.IIL4 SAUCE imparts the most exquisite relish to Steaks. Chops,
and all Roast Meat Gravies, Fish, Game. Soup. Curries, and Salad,
and by its tonic and invigorating properties enables the stomach to
perfectly digest the food.
nodally nse of this aromatic and delicious Sauce is the best safe-
ruard to health.
Sold by the proprietors, Lea and I'errins, 19, Fenchurch-street,
London, and GB, Broad-street, Worcester; also by Messrs. Barclay
and Sons, Messrs. Crosse and Blackwell, and otter oilmen and met,
chants, London ; and generally by the principal dealers in sauce.
/N.B.—To guard against imilations, see that the names of "LEA
and PERRINs" are upon the label and patent cap of the bottle.

ATTEMPT TO STAB LADY CHANTRY.—A young woman,
named Malian Daniel's, one of the chambermaids A the
Pier Hotel, was charged before the magistrates at Brigh-
ton, on Frilay, with attempting to stab Lady Chantry,
relict of Sir F. Chantry, the eminent sculptor. It ap-
peared that the prisoner had been some time in the
establishment, and was generany very well conducted.
Recently, however, it was observed that she had some-
% hat changed in her manner, but nothing serious was
apprehended. In the course of yesterday morning she
was in one of Lady Chan try's rooms cleaning it up, her
Ladyship being also in the apartment, when mother
domestic hearing screams went into the room and found
the prisoner in an excited state with a cheese knife is her
hand. After some struggling it was got from her, and
then it was ascertained that she had attempted to stab
her Ladyship, whose dress was cut in several places.
The Bench remanded her, in order that she might un-
dergo medical examination. The attack has had a seri-
ous effect upon Lady Chantry, who is upwards of 70
years of age.
[ADVERTISEMENT.J—HoIIoway's Ointment and Pills
cured. a fearfully Bad Knee.—Extract of a letter from
Mr. Joseph Rogerson, of the Pottery Fields, Hunslet,
near Leeds, dated Sept. 15, 1854 :—To Proessor Hol-
loway—Sir, I suffered for months with a very bad knee,
and tried every remedy likely to benefit me, without suc-
cess. The joint was quite stiff, and so swollen that I
became reriou:ly alarmed as to whether I should ever re-
gain the use of it. However, ley the use of your oint-
ment and pills the swelling was soon considerably re-
duced, and in two weeks was completely cared, which
enabled me to resume my work. Suld by all vendors of
medicines, and at Professor Holloway's establishments,
244, Strand, London, and 80, Maiden-lane, New York;
by A. Stampa, Constantinople ; A, Guidici, Smyrna ;
and E. Muir, Malta.

diately to say he di-'approvA of it, and was reiurning
home t i prevent it when the fire occurred. .
Mr. M. SHAP.P said he ries preeared to she‘v that the
fire might have occurieei from the ;use of a galvanic
battery, by which he understood Professor Anderson
did many of his tricks. He moved a committee of hi-
quiry to be appointed. •
The CHAIRMAN said the question to he cotTEidered wer.
what had better he done with the land ? He thought it
would be valuable for the enlargement of Covent-garden
market.
Mr. SURMAN said the Duke o 2 Bedford. h-r 1 been in-
foreied that the proprietors could not pay tberent nor
discharge the covenants ilk.. the lease. They were in ar-
rears a year's rent, and it had been suggested to the
noble duke to take possession of the land. Nothing was
said in the lease about rebeildiefe or insuring against-fire.
Dr. Rowe said the annuitants ought to take a share
in what the properly wal worth.
Mr, SURMAN said the proprietors,could not take upon
themselves any liability without the annuitaotS gave thew
a release. Thirty-eight years lease was a bad one. The
annuitants hart batter 'obtain a new lease from the Duke
of Bedford, and rebuild the premises. The proprietors
were ready to five up their title to the land. He under-
stood the noble duke would prefer the land being added
to Covent-garden Market than the theatre be rebuilt.
The question of what must be done with Mr. Gye must
stau'l over for consideration.
Mr. THOMPSON reminded the meeting that Mr. Gye
had recently received 4,000/. for concerts, 2,000/. from
Mr. Anderson, and would receive 8,000/. from the in-
surance offices.
The CHAIRMAN said no doubt the land would be worth
6,0001. a year for market purposeie The proprietors.
had only paid 1,500/. or 2,000/. a year for it.
Mr. SuRMAN said that the direct charge on the land,
after deductions, was 1,235/. He did not consider the
proprietors were personally responsible to the share-
holders or annuitants. It would be useless to carry that
question elsewhere. Kemble's• interest was in Chan-
cery, and Harris's affair', for which he (Mr. Sunman)
was trustee, were in a hopeless spa. The patents of
the theatre were now tAelees.
Ultimately a committee of 12 fel** was appointed
to inquire into the renters'- position A-. 4 report thereon..
The meeting shortly after separated.
The following distinguished individuals hold shares in
the theatre :—The Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of
Devonshire, the Earl of Dartmouth, Lady Henricb, Sir
John Dodson, Lady Bt.auchamp, the Duchess of St.
Albans (executor), the Marquis of Salisbury, and Sir R.
Smirke.
Mr. Gye's lease was for ten years, commencing in
1853, at a rent of 6,0001. per annum for the first three
' years, and 7,0001. per annum for the last seven.

[The following appeared in part of our impression of
Saturday.]
MEETING OF PROPRIETORS.
This afternoon a meeting of the proprietor; of this
unfortunate building was held at Mr. Robins' rooms,
Piazza, Covent-garden, to answer any inquiry relating
to the property.
The chair was taken by Dr. Strethwiek.
Mr. Surman, in addressing the meetiea, said—l at-
tend, gentlemen, on the part of the proprietor.; of the
late Covent garden Theatre, to give you a short state-
ment of the position of that theatre, in order that, by a
knowledge 0! its p ieai )0, you may have some guidance
far your future conduct. The proprietors are anxious
that you shoull anow exactly what arc your charges on
the property, and to what liability that property is sub-
ject. The theatre is held upon six leases from the Duke
of Bedford. There are 3S years unexpired of the term,
and the rent payable to the duke is 2,0851. per annum.
In the year 1803 the theatre was burnt down, and woe
rebuilt in 1809. Upon that occasion 150 shares of 5001.
each were issued, which realised a sum of 75,0001. Of
these 150 -.ban; of 500/. the gentlemen who new attend
represent the original holders, who were entitled to an
annuity of 251. on each share for the whole term of the
lease, which h is 38 years to run, and also to a free trans•
ferable admission. In the year 1832 the theatre WAS in
difficulties. The shareholders had received no annuity
for the last seven years, and the nroprietore had incurred
a loss of from 70,0001. to 80,000/. ; the rent was in
arrear, executions were, in the house, and the property
appeared to be ruined. Various meetings took (dace in
that year, eipeciatly among the shareholders, who had
so large an interest in the property. Ultimately, in the
month of March, 1832, the shareholders came to a rest:,
lotion—and I hold in my hand their original document
—to give up entirely the arrears of the annuity for the
last three years, and to accept 10'. in the pound for the
four years prior to these ; and they also agreed that, in-
stead of having 25/. a year in the future, they would take
half that stun, or 121. 10e. until the theatre was free from
debt. That arrangement, as hon. gentlemen present know,
has been carried act successfully from 1832 to the present
time. I believe there has only been one year in which
gentlemen have not received their annuity with almost
as great reeularity as bank dividends. In that year, 1843
—though I am not quite clear about it—the theatre had
ao tenant. For 22 out of the 23 years the annuity was paid
with extreme regularity. I believe, too, that all the ar-
rears which were due in 1832, upon which 10e. in the
pound were payable, have been paid off. At the time
when the shareholders agreed to assist the proprietors by
the reduction of their annuities, a saving was effected of
1,8751., the total amount of the full annuity of 251.
upon 15Q shares being equal to 3,750/., and the half of
that, or 10s. in the pound, was 1,8751. The charge of
1,8751. formed a second charge upon the property, the
first charere being the Duke of Bedford's rent, amount_
ing to 2,085/. The Duke of Bedford, in 1832, with equal
liberality, consented to reduce his rent by 500/. a-vear.
By that means the rout became reduced to 1,5851.
There is also let with the theatre the Piazza Coffee-house,
which produces a rental of 3151., and a small house in
Princes-place, which is let at 401. If, therefore, from
the 1,5351. of rent we deduct the sums of 3151. and 40/ ,
derived from the other property, it will leave the total
rent chargeable upon the theatre 1,2301. In addition to
this, in ail our dealings with the property, we have
found it necessary to pay the rates and taxes ourselves,
and to let the theatre fur an annual sum, we paying these
rates and taxes. ,Last year these items of expense
amounted to 1,0201.; it has been as high as 1,2001., and
as low as 800/. These constitute a third charge on the
property. The next items of expenses are salaries. We was
Wm. Harrison, 8, Exeter-street, machinist, who stated
have been bound to pay thelour firemen whom we have
that he was employed by Mr. Anderson at the theatre
kept upon the property, a; the theatre was not insurede•
in the capacity of machinist and general manager of his
in feet, the premiums of insuraece amounting to a sum'
which it would be impossible to pay. Ttie salaries of the business. By machinist he meant the making and
pairi
nng o magil of r. .
re-
firemen were 375/. The next charge is fur the salary of
had o ref guthelar dutyca ina th pparatus
e theatreM butA tond erson He
look after a
M. Robertson, a gentleman who has been connected
carpenter and cabinet-maker named banning, who was
with the theatre for, I think, not less than 36 years, and
employed in making a proscenium for a portable stage
who has given eaaisfaction in the discharge of his duties,
for Mr. Anderson in the carpenters' shop, who was
not only to the proprietere, but to every gentleman with
who he tax; been eennected. The salary of Mr. Robert- employed up to the evening of the fire. He (winees)
t
m
visited that room on the day before rho fire, and fouud
son was 250/. 5 -year, and for that turn he has been a con-
banning planing some wood. There were two other
stant resident on the property, and has been constantly
persons employed there named Finlason and Deulton.
in and out of the theatre during the time of the different
tenants, and throughout all the difficulties which the There was not a very great quantity of " shavings," but
a large quantity of wood and old " properties
theatre has lied to pass through. There are further
items of expense. We are bound by our covenants to about the carpenters' shop. At about a quarter
before five on the evening of the fire he met
keep the cuter walls in repair, and to paint it outside.
There is a charge for stationery, and for insurances of Leonia.. leaving the theatre, and he spoke to him, when
he said' he was merely going to see if all was right.
the Piazza Coffee-house and the small house in Princes-
The carpenters' shop was generally very hot, from the
place. These, which may be classed under the head of
heat arising from the body of the theatre; Indeed, banning
" miscellaneous," comprise altogether about 250/.
a year. These are six items of the charge upon the pro-
perty, and, if added together, the will be found to frequently opened the window to let in a little air. There
was no fire-place in the shop. The painting-room was
y
amount to a total of about 5,000/. a-ye
ears we were ear. Gentlemen a portion of the carpenters' shop. It was partly parti-
resent will remember twat for three
tioned off, although the floor of the painting-room was
unable to get any tenant at all except the Anti-Corn-law pye
twenty feet below the shop. There was a
League, hut still we managed to pay our debts. Then ventilator in the shop, but nothing more. The
we gut M. Persiani as a tenant, who converted the room was a very hot one for men to work , in.
theatre into an opera house. Our agreement with him- _The heat in the shop came from the body of the house
generally, as it covered the whale of the house, and had
was at a rent of 6,000/. per annum. After him we made
two entrances. One led from the flies, and the other
an arrangement with Mr. Gye for a terra of ten year's,
led to the Duke of Bedford's box. Re was not in the
the rent for the first three years to be 6,500!., and, for
house when the fire broke out ; he left it about a guar-
the remainder of the term, 7,000/. a-year. Assuming
ter before three, at which time he had not even
these figures of liabilities to he correctly stated at 5,000/.
smelt the gas. He never was in the carpenters' shop
a-year, there would be an annual profit of 1,0001. a-year
when the performances were going on, except on one
on a rental of 6,0001., and of 1,500/. on that of 6,500/.
we of
1832 to 1850, the average take the working
profit during the whole of that the theatre from the years occasion, and that was during a Saturday performance
But if
of the pantomime. Any one could get into the carpen-
ters' shop. banning was using glue in the shop that
term would not be more than 600/. a-year, and this upon
da,y, but the glue was melted a long way from
a property which, I am told, in 1809 cost 300,000/
the shop, a
With respect to the property, it i; held in twelfth-shares,
steam-apparin the property room. There was
atus to make the glue with in the shop,
and they are divided in the following manner :—the exe-
but it had not been used. He could only account for
caters of the late C. Ketnble hold two-twelfths. At the
the fire by the spirit with which the gas-men had satu-
death of Charles Ike,mble those shares were left to his
rated the flambeau having been repeatedly spilled, and
children, two daughtersand son ; and at the present time
all his affairs are in the Court of Chancery. lam informed had, on the evening in question, taken fire.
By the Vestry Clerk—The wires used by Professor
that it was necessary a short time since to come to some
calculation of the value of hie interest in the property, for Anderson's magic could not come in contac
wires. t with
the gas. There was no gas near the He
the purpose of probate, or some other cause, and the valua-
tion which, after most careful inquiry, was put open the
two-twelfths shares of Clate. Kemble, was 500/. (Laugh- knew of no combustible matter in the carpenters'
shop ' • but a month ago banning brought some spirit
ter.) Capt. Forbes and Mr. Willett represent three- to polish a box with, and he was told not to leave the
twelfths between them. Capt. Forbes is I am sorry to say
confined to his room by illness, but his son re polish about. He also used a lamp to keep the
presents ban glue warm, and he was told it was not allowed, as Mr.
Anderson said he would have nothing done by candle-
on this occasion, and Capt. Willett is also present. Tee
l
remaining seven-twelfths of the property belong to the light, and banning usel to leave off work before dark.
Harris family, and that is represented by myself as the After banning left lie h
erad not entered the shop, soou t.
he
executor and trustee of the family. My friend Mr. could not say whether had not shavings lying ab
Harris died in 1839, and lam sorry to say that he owed By one of the entrances of the carpenters' shop (the
at that time 50,000/. of private debts, which were se-
private box entrance) the place where banning was at
cured by mortgages on his shares in this theatre, not
work, could be reached. The middle of the shop was
one shilling of which has yet been paid, or is likely ever perfectly clear, there WAS no wood lying about.
to be paid. You see, therefore, the position in which By a Juror—He had not been in the carpenters' shop
the proprietors are placed—the representatives of the since three o'clock in the afternoon previous to the fire.
largest one of them owing debts to the amount of By the Coroner—The shavings at the side of the
50,000/., and the two shares of Charles Kemble in carpenters' shop could easily be thrown together in the
Chancery, and valued at 500/. But looking to the work- centre of the shop.
ing of the theatre dote 1332, at which period there was By a Juror—The wires used by
the Professor were
a general debt on the property of 70,0001., besides the of copper.
arrears of the annuities, for which 10s. in the pound By the Coroner—Dosing the Professor's tenantry
were agreed to be taken, which came to something like be employed all the hands. He never heard that there
4,000/., money was borrowed, the creditors behaved had been any threat of any description used by any of
with extreme liberality, and eventually the whole debt, the workmen employed in the theatre.
by the invaluable exerti ine Wf Mr. Moore and Captain Benedict Alletno, 22. King William-street., Strand,
Forbes, was reduced to about 24,000/. What we hare civil engineer, stated---He rebuilt the audience part of
been working fer ever since 1832, has been this average the theatre, from the floor to the ceiling ; or rather it
profit of 600/. a veer, which has gone to liquidate the was built under his personal superintendence. He had
general debt of 24,0001., which now stands at about I nothing to do with the canetruction or reconstruction
9,000/. The proprietore, looking et the property, having of the cerpcnters' shop. From what he knew of
these facts before them. and seeing that the profit is SO the general construction of the theatre there was
small a one, although the present figures appear to offer Nothing to fear as to fire. There could be no accumule-
a much larger profit—yet, taking them upon the whole, tion of bas in the shop, for two reasons—first, there
the proprietors feel that it is perfectly out of their power were plenty of wind ewe to let it out, and also the funnel
to do anything with tee property whatever. Were the which he had constructed, and from which there was a
theatre standing at this moment it would be eneam• great draft. The funnel was 30 ft. in height, and 8 ft. in
bered with 5,0001. a year, and were you to rebuild it diameter. He had been in the carpenters' shop whilst
to-morrow you wound put another 5,000/. a year upon the performance was going on to see how the funnel
it, and the property is not worth 10,000/., nor 8,0001., worked, and he had not found the room inconveniently
nor even 7,0001. a year. I have often ,aid to Captain heated.
Forbes, and others who have spoken to me on the sub- Sydney Smirk, 79, Grosvenor.street, architect—On
ject—and who base said that Covent-t arilea latest be searching his brothers drawing, he found that there was
very valuable—" I can only say thin, that if you would a wall originally so placed in the shop which would have
give me that theatre to-morrow I would not take it as prevented the fire travelling from one part to the other,
a gift." The Duke of Bedford's allowauce of 5001. He had been over the ruins and he found that that wal
a year is not likely to he deviated from, and the had been removed, which accounted for the fire extend!
renters' deduction of 1,875/. is also, perhaps, not ing so rapidly from one end of the shop to the other.
likely to he departed front. But as Bola as we have George Thos. Lanning, 43, Theobald'e-road, carpen-
paid off the remainder of the debt of 24,000/. now amount- ten was employed at the theatre by Mr.., ndersien. He
ing to 9,000/.—the renters will be entitled to their full bad been employed every day for five weeks previous
annuity, and when that takes place the theatre will be
to the fire making some frames for the new stage. He
unproductive fer any purpose at all. lam here on behalf was engaged in this occupation on the day of the fire,
of the proprietors to answer any questions which may
but had not had occasion to use any glue or spirit of any
be put, and to inform the shareholders that they feel per-
kind that day.
day He worked till five in the evening,
fectly incompetent, and have fully roads up their mindsduring the in question he was visited by several
and
that they will not be parties in any way to reinstating
workmen
that property. They have not the means of doing so, and No one could come into the shop without
they cannot see their way to obtaining the money requi- being seen by him when he was at work. The place was
'
very warm when he was last at work there,
sits for the purpose. I may, however, state to you, as and there was also a strong smell of gas, but
parties representing a sum of 75,000/. charged upon this
property, that if you can in any way cenvince yourselves he accounted for it by the men being at work
at the pipes underneath the shop. There was a
of the advantages of dealing with the Duke of Bedford little shavings about, but the shop had been cleaned up
for a renewal of the lease—for with the present unex-
on the Monday previous to the bul masque. There was
pired term of the lease you could do nothing —and can no cloth of any description in the room, and when he
see your way to raising 70,0003. or 100,000!. for the re-
left at 5 o'clock all was safe. The corners of the shop
building of the theatre, the proprietors will be happy to were filled with " old stuff," but there was nothing but
render you any assistance in their power. I may also his woodwork in the centre of the room, which
add, before concluding my explanations, that in our
consisted of 12 old and 12 new frames. It was 35 feet
agreement with Persiani we had to allow 1,000/. one from the funnel of the chandelier to the place where he
year for repairs, 2,000/. in another, and 1,000/. in a third was working. There was no wood nearer the chandelier
year. This will tend to explain why the annual profit than 12 feet. He had used nothing inflammable on that
has not been so large as it would otherwise appear. In day, and had no lucifers about him.
the year 1855 our profit was 1,5001., but Mr. Gye is in By a Juror—There was no oiled cloths or polishing
our debt 1,700/., which is 2001. more than our profit for
that year. rags lying about the shop.
By the Coroner—The doors of the carpenters' shop
An Annuitant said they were not shareholders, but were locked, and the public could not get into it.
annuitants. Under the deed they were to be paid 251 By a Juror—The whole of the wood of his work
per annum, and have a free admission. would not fill a cart.
Mr. M. SHAM' said that the proprietors in letting the Benjamin Dalliston, a carpenter, employed by Mr.
theatre had been very remiss in not calling the renters Presscote for Mr. Anderson, stated that he was em-
together before it was let to Mr. Anderson, especially ae ployed up to the day of the fire. On the morning of
two theatres had been burnt dowa whilst in the hands Tuesday he was employed carrying away the pantomime
of that gentleman. tricks, and during the day he had frequently to go to
Mr. Suttee/0T said that the theatre was let to Mr. the carpenters' shop. He was up there as late as ten
Anderson by Mr. Gye. It was impossible to let a thea- o'clock on Tuesday night. lie went to the shop tan-
tre as they would a private house, binding persons down ning was working in to fetch his clothes, which were
to certain things. Mr. Gyo bad been a good tenant. under his bench. His son lit him up as far as the step
Mr. Gyo was at Madrid when ho heard of the Bel ladder, and then he went on in the dark. There
Masque being announced, and he telegraphed inamedi- was plenty of light there to enable him to find

a•• , _
what he• wanted, seeing he knew the place so
well. He ha.d no lacifers about him ; ho. merely tvent
in for his clothes and returned to his son, who was Wult
ing for The only thin"g did: 'MIA to' thut the
dormer window, which hail ,been .left open. The.place
was dreadfully hot, and that was the reason no person
eared about stopping there. Mr. Anderson hal had the
key to the shop, bat. he had loiA i.t ; the door was always
oilen, and. anyholy froin'tlin bokes could tletto the ihop.
The carpenters of the theatre are so aCCOtt.OIIIO to the
smell of gas that they don't notice it. He could only
account for the fire by the batten lights bring turned
full on that day by order of Mr. Anderson, and
that the " borders" took fire in consequence. Ile did
not think that people when they were erj.iyin,g them-
, selves world think of looking up to set) if all was right

above.
13y the Vestry Cerk—The gas from the battens might
Lave ignited one of the ropes by which they were worked,
and be that means the flames might have been corn-
einnicated to the ceiling.
The witness here described the battens used in thea-
tres. They consisted of a gas
‘pipe, guarded by wire
work, and suspended across the stage by ropes, the gas
being conveyed to the pipe by leathern hose. Ropes
were used tq higher or lower as might be desired.
By the Coroner—He heard Mr. Anderson say to Mr.
Reiner, the gasman, " Let me have the gas on full to-
night."
By the Coroner—Mr. Anderson raised his hands,
and pointing to the batten lights, said, " Let sine have
the lights turned on full." He could mesa no other than
the battens. The gas was turned on full. The borders
and battens hang very thick and close together under
the floor of the carpenters' shop.
By a Juror—Was not aware the barrels of the battens
were hot on the night of the ball, but from the force of
gas turned rin they soon would be. If the gas escaped
from the battens and. got near the front of the house and
under that part of the carpenters' shop it might explode.
At the time he was last in the carpenters' shop there
was no appearance or smell of fly .
William Jones, carpenter, employed at Covent Gar-
den Theatre by 3lr. Sloman. He was at work from 6
in the morning till 5 in the evening on the day of the
fire. He was engaged in the flies underneath the car-
penters' shale ,hanging herders, and doing other
things for the evening's performance. Ile was'
in the flies at a quarter before four on the
morning of the fire. The top flies'' in which ho was
engaged in the early part of the day were about
ten feet below the carpenters' shopgand the distance of
the gas light in that place from the floor of the carpen-
-1 ters' shop was more than six feet. If the burners were
turned full on the flame would not rise more than two
inches and a-half. He saw several persons go to the
carpenters' shop during the day. He was on the stage
when the fire broke out, having left the flies aboute2o
minutes. He was standing on the stage when he saw a
spark fall, but it was about twenty feet from the spot
at which he had been working. If the fire had broken
out in the flies it would soon have spread, as the things
were very closely packed about.
At the request of the Coroner, the witness here
pointed out on the plan where he was standing on the
stage at the time he saw the spark fall.
By a Juror—At a quarter-past four, although he was
only ten feet from the spot at which the lire broke out,
he smelt nothing like fire, neither was there any unusual
smell of gas at that time. He was not aware that there
was any dispute between the workmen, Mr. Sloman,
and Mr. Anderson ; if there had been, he thought he
must have heard of it.
James Cooper had been employed in Covent-garden
Theatre ever since it had been an opera-house. lie was
employed by Mr. Palmer on the evening previous to the
fire. He lit part of the great chandelier. Ile lit the
lower part. The upper part bad been lit during the day,
but it was not all lit tilt he finished it. He lit the chan-
delier as usual with spirit supplied by Mr. Palmer ; he
took it up to the chandelier in a ginger-beer bottle.
The witness here produced a portion of a "lighting rod,"
arid explained how it was used. It was a piece of wire
about four feet long, with a cotton ball attached. After
ho had lit the chanuelier be took the spirit bottle back
to the prompt box. Mr. Castles was with him when he
Was at the chandelier.
By a Juror—Was sure it was spirits of wine. No
naphtha was used.
By the Coroner—He was not in the theatre when
the fire first occurred. After he hal received the
news that the theatre was on tire he rushed to the stage
door and met Mr. Palmer with the calve key, and they
both ran to the valve nearly opposite the station-house.
He then lifted the lid while Mr. Palmer turned the gas
off. The gas was off five minutes after the alarm was
raised. He had no idea how the fire had occurred.
Mr. J. H: Anderson, 16, Cecil-Street, Strand, an
artist in natural magic, stated that he rented the theatre
from Mr. Gye for a period of ten weeks from the 26th
of December, 1855, and had the appointment of every
person connected with the theatre except the firemen,
who were employed by the proprietors of the theatre.
The duties of the theatre are conducted by heads, such
as the painting-room, the wardrobe, the gas, and the
carpenters. Mr. Sloman was his master carpenter, and
was responsible for the whole of the men. He had bees
in the carpenters' shop on Tuesday morning at one p.m.
for the• purpose of inspecting the portable stage he
was having constructed- far the purpose of exhibiting
his pantomime in Glasgow and other places. He had
not the slightest idea how the fire occurred. Ho bad
had no notice of any dispute between himself and the
men. Mr. Palmer and Mr. Sloman certainly bad a dis-
pute, but be arranged the matter between them. There
was a summons from the police for one of them, and he
told them it was unseemly that men holding their situa-
tions in the theatre should have such disputes. His loss
by the tire was considerable; he could not say how much,
as he had not yet had an opportunity of making
up his loss. He was insured in the Sun Fire office
for 2,0001. He had beers called often by gentlemen in
the private boxes, who complained of the stench arising
from gas. He felt perfectly convinced, as fir as expe-
rience went, that the fire could not have been
occasioned by the gas. He had been connected for
years with theatres, and had had a theatre of his own
burnt down. He could not account for the accident.
He felt perfectly satisfied with the servants he had em-
ployed ; they were all of the most orderly and best de.
scription: He was standing near the orchestra with Mr.
Palmer, asking him what was the usual termination e
bal masques' when Palmer seemed as if he bad a fit, and
he said the house was on fire, and immediately rushed
to turn the gas off. It was not a beam that fell and was
the occasion of the discovery of the fire; it was a por-
tion of the scenery used in the opera of the " Favourite,"
and when ho looked up the whole of the upper part of
the theatre was one mass of flame. There was a great
quantity of light on the stage which accounted for the fire
not being seen before the piece of scenery fell. At dif-
ferent parts of the evening, almost every hour, ho had
been frequently through the house to see that no ac-
cident occurred, and to present smoking. He had saved
a portion of his property in consequence of its standing
near a window of the theatre looking into Princes-place,
other wise heshould have lost everything. He had changed
the gas company in consequence of its being; repreiented
to him that the London Gas Company could give a
better supply. The gas metree were outside the theatre.
He did not think cigars were sold in the theatre, but
Was not positive. Mr. Payne had no arrangement for
selling cigars.
By a Juror—His insurance expired a week after the
fire.
By the Coroner—His insurance was regulated by his
term of the theatre. The property insured consisted of
the scenery, properties, and dresses of the pantomime,
and other things.
By a Juror—There was a stringent order that no
person was on any pretence whatever to go about the
theatre with a candle. A fireman's lamp was always
ordered to be used.
Richard Jones, engineer of the London Gas Works
and a civil engineer by profession, said be had heard the
description of the carpenters' shop, and he thought
it would be highly improbable that gas could
accumulate there in any large quantity. If
it bad done so it would have exploded, and have blown
the roof off. A loud report must have accompanied the
explosion. It would have been impossible for the gas
to ignite without the application of white heat.
He was quite convinced from all he had heard that the
gas had nothing to de with the fire.
The inquiry was then adjourned till Wednesday next,
at three o'clock.

WORKS OF MODERN PAINTERS IN THE CRYSTAL
PALACE.—Mr. Mogford has been engaged by the Crys-
tal Palace Company to collect and superintend a gallery
of Modern pictures of all the schools of Europe, to open
in the month of May next, in the north wing of the
palace, which will be constructed properly for the dis-
plity of the works. Five per cent. will be charged on all
sales. Pictures previously exhibited are eligible, and
every picture (from the space disposable) mny be well
placed for viewing. Mr. Mogford will leave London
next week fer the Continent, to collect the foreign pic-
tures.—The Budder.
ROBBERY OF ROYAL PLATE.—On Saturday afternoon
a waggon belonging to Mr. Thumwood, who for many
years has been employed to convey plate to and from
London and Windsor Castle, left Buckingham Palace '
with about 12 chests of plate and other articles for the
Paddington station under the charge of five men. On
their way to the station they stopped at a publichouse
in the South-wharf•road, and all went in to drink, and
by their own statement had not left the waggon more
than five minutes. Oo their return they observed that
the rope was cat which had confined the waggon cloth
placed over the goods. This caused them to suspect that
something was wrong, and, on looking over the waggon,
they discovered that a chest of plate, which had Leen
packed in the middle of it, and fastened by was
grope
to the rail, had been stolen. The waggonftwards driven to the Paddington station and sent on the
trucks to Windsor, and arrived at the Castle at 7 o'clock,
when Mr. Thumwood, on being informed of the robbery,
returned to town with his man who had bad charge of
the goods to institute an inquiry into the affair. The
two helpers a,:d t'le driver were subsequently taken into
custody, but admitted to bail. The chest which was
stolen was considerably lighter than the others, and
consequently more easily removed. It contained a
quantity of the It9yal nursery plate used by the Princes
and Princesses. The value of the plate stolen is under
690/.