The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-03 00:00:00

DRURY LANE THEAME.

The annual meeting of the proprietors was held
in the saloon of the theatre yesterday, Mr. Arden
in the chair. From the retort it appeared that the
balance in the hands of the treasurer, after paying
up the year's charges, amounted to £1,500. The
committee, congratulated the proprietors upon the
improved state of the theatre, and felt it to be their
pleasing duty to testify to the ability which the
theatre was conducted, and concluded their report
by expresssing their great satisfaction at the con-
tinued success of Mr. Chatterton, the lessee, and
their best wishes for his future prosperity as re-
ward for the energy and honour that had so dis-
tinguished his lesseeship.
The report was adopted unanimously.

Mr. THOMPSON understood that there was once a
valuable Italian, German, French, and English
musical library attached to the house, and he should
be glad to know if it remained intact.

The CHAIRMAN replied in the affirmative, and
said it was kept in admirable order by their own
salaried librarian, who knew at a moment where
to lay his hand upon any work that might be
required. At the recent revival of " Manfred"
the lessee was on the point of seeking elsewhere for
the music, when the librarian brought to his notice
the fact that the repertoire of the theatre contained
the manuscript of Sir Henry Bishop's original
music. The score of any music almost could be
had in the library for the mere asking.
The proceedings were brought to a close with
the usual acknowledgments to the auditors and
chairman.

CONSERVATIVE BANQUET AT SHREWSBURY.—A
Conservative banquet was held at Shrewsbury last night
to celebrate the return for the seventh time of Sir Wstkin
Wynne, as member for Denbighshire. Newly 500 were
present. Mr. Laird, the member for Birkenhead; Mr.
Raikes, the member for Chester ; and Mr. Wynne, the
member for Montgomery borough, addressed the meeting.
THE REPRESENTATION OF NORWICH.—Mr. Milner
Gibson has definitively declined to contest Norwich. No
Liberal candidate has been yet selected. Mr. Sergeant
Parry is named as a possible candidate.
The death of Miss Annie Collinson, a young
actress attached to the New Royalty Theatre, took place
on Monday.
TRIAL FOR MURDER IN EDINBURGH.—At the
High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, on Monday,
Francis Ward, Michael Ward, and John M'Cabe were
charged with having murdered a policeman, named Thos.
Mutch, in the Grass-market, Edinburgh, in November
last. After evidence of a somewhat contradictory nature
had been led, the jury returned a verdict finding Francis
Ward "Not guilty," and the charge against Michael
Ward "Not proven." The oharge against M'Calae was

withdrawn.
RACING LOTTERIES.—At the Liverpool Pollee-
court, yesterday, Samuel Johnson, a keeper of a public-
house in Clayton-square, Liverpool, and John Sidebotham,
a shopkeeper, were charged with getting up racing sweeps,
selling tickets, and giving prizes, the whole forming a
lottery contrary to law, and thereby subjecting themselves
to penalties of £5OO. The magistrates held that a prima
fade case was established, but adjourned the case for a
month to see whether the defendants would put a stop to
the system.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.--An entertainment,
in aid of the Widows', Orphans', and Superannuation
Funds originated by the officers of tho company, was
givon last evening at Willis's-rooms, and brought together
a large number of ladies and gentlemen. Efforts of this
character deserve support. The salaries of railway officers
are necessarily small in relation to their laborious and
often very arduous duties, and the self-helpful disposition
evinced by provident organisations such as that here no-
ticed needs and legitimately expects sympathetic encou-
ragement from those whose comfort and even safety are
dependent upon careful and assiduous service.
VALUE OF SILENCE.—There are are three kinds
of silence. Silence from words is good, because inordi-
nate speaking tends to evil. Silence, or rest from desires
and passions, is still better, because it promotes quietness
of spirit. But the best of all is silence from unnecessary
and wandering thoughts, because that is essential to inter-
nal recollection, and because it lays a foundation for a
proper regulation and silence in other respects.—Madame
Guyon.

Messrs. A. Stephen and Sons, of Kelvinhaugh,
have contracted to build for Messrs. Haudysido and Hen-
derson a first-class screw of 2,200 tons, as an addition to
the "Anchor line" of Transat'antic steamers.