The Sun.
London, England, 1832-08-06 00:00:00

THE DRAMA.

REPORT OF THE DRAMATIC
COMMITTEE.

The Report of the Committee on Dramatic Literature
was agreed to on Wednesday last, and was presented to the
House of Commons on Thursday. tt was ordered to be
pointed, but it has not yet come from the press. The
following are among the principal points to which it
refers :

I. It recommends that the jurisdiction of the Lord
Chamberlain, now confined to the city and liberties of
Westminster and the Royal residences, shall be extended
over the whole metropolis, and a district of twenty miles
round it. Those who understand the subject are aware
that the authority of magistrates to license theatrical per.
formances commences twenty miles from London.
2. It proposes that the Lord Chamberlain shall give his
license to all the existing Minor Theatres, with the excep-
tion of such as are now open in defiance of all law.
3. It suggests that all new pieces to be performed at any
theatre within twenty miles of London shah first receive
the sanction of the Lord Chamberlain, through the medium
of the Examiner of Plays.
4. It more than hints that the fee now taken by law of
two guineas for a single song ought to he reduced ; but
that that sum should be allowed for any complete dramatic
production, whether of one or of five acts.—[lt is but fair
to Mr. Colman to state that he never has required the fee
of two guineas for a song.]
5. It recommends that the penalty of 501. upon every
actor or person engaged in performances at an illegal
theatre should remain, and that it should be made more
easily recoverable.

6. It proposes to give the Lord Chamberlain summary
power, by means of the interference of the police, to put a
stop at once to the representation of plays, &c., in un-
licensed theatres.

7. It enforces the necessity of enabling the Lord Cham-
berlain instantly to recal his license, and enforce its recal,
in case of disobedience to his orders respecting the per-
formance of any dramatic entertainment that has not pre-
viously received the proper sanction.
8. It suggests that the grant of a license by the
Lord
Chamberlain for any new theatre, not now open, should
be made to depend upon the representation of the majority
of the respectable inhabitants of the district that such a
place of amust.ment is wanted.

9. It urges especially the fitness of giving dramatic
authors a general and permanent interest in their works,
by imposing a penalty upon any man iger in London or in
the country who acts a play without leave of the writer,
the penalty to be recovered in the usual manner, by action.
—Observer.

The KING takes great interest in the Por-
tuguese news, and desires that the earliest information
may be brought to him. His MAJESTY, when the last
accounts came, examined the map of Portugal with great
i
attention, and was particular n his inquiries of those about
his person, who had
,served in Portugal, as to the pro-
bability of DON PEDRO s success.—Court Journal.

The Duke de REICHSTADT, upon feeling
his end approach, sent his will to young Louis NAPp•
LEON, with whom lie had kept up a secret correspondence
since the insurrection in the States of the POPE. He has
bequeathed to him the sword of the EMPEROR his father.