The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-21 00:00:00

The Renters of Drury-lane Theatre.

Yesterday the annual meeting of the renters or
debenture-holders of Drury-lane Theatre was held
in the saloon of that building ; Bowman in
the chair.
The report, already presented to the general
assembly of the proprietors, stated that the sub-com-
mittee having found it advisable to put a period to
the last lease availed themselves of the re-entry
clause on the 2Gth of March last, and then by public
advertisement sought for a new tenant. Several
applications were received in reply to that advertise-
ment, and the committee accepted that of Mr. F.
B. Chatterton, a gentleman already favourably
known to them from his connexion with Mr. Fal-
coner, and to him they granted a lease for seven
years, from July 1 last, at a rent of £5,000 per
annum, confident that his experience and good taste
would advance the character of the house and up-
hold the national drama. The report of air. Marsh
Nelson, the architect of the establishment, stated
that the theatre had been thoroughly renovated and

partially redecorated, at the coat of £l,OOO, in addi-

tion to which the new lessee expended £6OO in the
pm-chase of new furniture, so that at present it, and
the rest of their property,was in a satisfactory state.
There was another report from the renters' com-
mittee, read by Mr. Pyefinch, congratulating them
on the fact that the lease had been made to age -
tleman of Mr. Chatterton's elevated judgment an
great enterprise ; that they had during the past
year received a higher dividend (E 7 Gs. BJ.) th in
had been paid since 1836, and that there existed a
most friendly feeling between themselves and the
proprietors. It regretted, however, that the na-
tional theatre did not receive any of that Royal
patronage which was so liberally bestowed upon
the other theatres in London. It also mentioned
with n•gret the demise of the late Mr. Edward
Robins, one of the three trustees. The receipts
for the past year amounted to £8,323 193. 3d.,
_ _ _

making, with the balance (11,121 Bs. 61.) in hand,
a total of £9,455 7s. 9d. The expenditure for the
same period, including the outlay on renovation
and the rent paid to the Duke of Bedford,
amounted to £8,494, leaving in baud a balance of
£951 7s. 9d.

The CHAIRMAN said the trustees had not any in-
formation to add to that contained in the foregoing
reports. They had no other duty to perform be-
yond that of receiving the money and dispensing
it among the renters. They had not anyzhing to
do with the expenditure or with the letting or
leasing of the theatre.
The report was then adopted.

Mr. SnARP inquired if any steps had been Ltken
to appoint a trustee in the room of the Lae Mr.
Robins.

The CHAIRMAN replied in the negative.
Mr. ROBINS, the secretary, explained, that in or-
der to save expense, the course hitherto pursued had
been to wait until there were two vacancies, and
they to apply to the Court of Chancery to have the
new trustees appointed—the cost for the appoint-
ment of two not being more than that for the ap-
pointment of one.

Several renters expressed themselves dissatisfied
with the arrangement, especially as under a late act
of Parliament the cost of an application to the
Court of Chancery was much less than it used to be.
Mr. SIIARP said it was indeed much to be re-
gretted that the national theatre was never visited
by the Prince of Wales or any other member of the
Royal family. (Hear, hear.) lie wished to know
if something could not be done to secure for it some
portion of the patronage which was bestowed upon
the minor theatres. With regard to the vacancy in

the trusteeship, it was, he considered, an anomalous
state of things which ought not to be allowed to
continue ; for should the other trustees die in the
course of the year, the whole of their affairs might
get into a state of confusion. He would therefore
more a resolution to the effect that the surviving
trustees should at once take steps to have a renter
appointed as their co-trustee in succession to the
late Mr. Robins.

The motion, having been seconded, was carried
by a small majority.
Mr. PYEFINCU then moved that Mr. Sharp be ap-
pointed a trustee.
The CirArnmAN said the meeting, having been
convened for the transaction of ordinary business,
could not entertain a special resolution. As there
might be. other renters who would wish some one
else to be appointed to the office, it would be neces-
sary to convene a special meeting for the election of
a new trustee.

Mr. PYEFINCII then inquired if he could not move
his resolution in the shape of a recommendation to
the other trustees to collate Mr. Sharp with them-
selves in the trust if it could be legally done.
The CuarnmAx explained that the legal course
was the one which he had pointed out.
The resolution was then withdrawn, and the pro-
ceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the
chairman.

THE AZTECS.—The curious children who about 14
years ago so much excited the curiosity not only
of the multitude but also of some members of the scientific
world, who laboured rather to show what they were not
than demonstrate what they were, have returned to London,
children no longer, but rejoicing in a state of maturity that
has endowed them with seemly stature, so that they mea-
sure 4ft. or so from the ground. This height is not groat,
but the young persons repel the appellation of dwarf, since
although they retain that bird-like expression of face which
is mere marked in the gentleman than in the lady, and
which, after a lapse of 14 years, still render them perfectly
recognisable, they are otherwise perfectly formed, without
anything squat in their appearance, while they aro pro-
tected by the well-turned throat from the application
of the word "Cretin," unless, indeed, that be loosely
extended so as to comprehend all persons of intelli-
gence below the average. The odd dresses which the
Aztecs wore in their childhood are now cast aside, and the
strange pair are dressed in the adult costume proper to
modern European civilization, the gentleman who is alto-
gether of a grave, sedate appearance, wearing an intensely
respectable suit of black that would do great creditoftothea
missionary tea party. The lady is far the livelier
like
two, and is most demonstrative in her joy if
anything
more
a cake is presented to her, but her mannersialicieh
• mach
Aztecs
child-like than idiotic. The only
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specimens
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of Mexico,
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readers Reed scarcer
that this hypothesis 'aieadbi btyanttlsie
is indicated by the name " Aztec,"
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o of aboutt
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begins into which
se-called " Aztecs" are degenerate typos of an ancient race,
3a.ipsblsrion toldagcuhl
or whether they are the result of some lulus naturre that
is without ethnological importance, they form a curious
spectacle likely to produce discussion.

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