The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-02 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

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HER MAJESTY.

OSB 0 RNE, Wednesday.
The Queen went out yesterday afternoon with
Princess Louise, and again this morning With her
Royal Highness, attended by Lady Augusta
Stanley.

Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice went out
also.

The Hon. Lady Biddulph had the honour of
dining with the Queen and Royal family yesterdaY•

Haymarket Theatre.

The season closed last night with a performance
for the benefit of Mr. Buckstone, who delivered
the following address in the presence of an audi-
ence that filled the house from the floor to the
ceiling :--
" Ladies and Gentlemen,—When I concluded to end the
season here this evening, it occurred to me that I would
not trouble you with any address on the occasion, as I
could but remind you of what had been done, and tell you
1 what we intend to do; but this idea was only met by re-
marks that its omission would cause disappointment—that
it was looked for—that some might construe its absence
to signify that the season had been unprofitable, with
other observations of a like nature ; therefore I at length
determined to say a few words before making my bow for
a short time. lam happy to inform you, ladies and gen-
tlemen, that the season has been a most prosperous one,
and which you may easily believe, when I assure y 014
upon my honour, that from our opening on the 9th of
last October, 1865, to this evening,the Ist of August,lB66,
we have never known one week's receipts to be under the
expenditure ; indeed, nearly all of them have
given a very
large profit; but although the Haymarket is certainly car-
ried on by a company, it is not a company of shareholders,
nor have you, ladies and gentlemen, any shares in it ;
consequently these profits will not give you any dividends,
though I know you will all resolve to adopt my report
with a vote of thanks to the chair—that is, myself. How
long any theatre can boast of such prosperity the future
only can decide ; the great privileges proposed to be given
to the music halls may change all this, for we well know that
a dramatic performance without edible and fluids must
stand at a considerable disadvantage compared with those
establishments where a similar entertainment can bo en-
joyed in conjunction with tobacco, alcohol, and devill'd
kidneys. Still, ladies and gentlemen, we will not despair;
we will continuo to present the drama, pure and simple,
without such 'aids to reflection.' Then, should we fail, we
must see whether the ladies visiting the boxes of the liar
market will object to a mild cigar during the performance,
and ascertain if the pit and galleries will set their faces
against bitter beer, or something stronger ; but should this
dramatic millennium over arrive, the company of this theatre
only hope that the audience will hand them something to
drink on the stage during their arduous exertions— whee
we may possibly see Sir Peter Teazle, after his soliloquy
beginning' When an old bachelor marries a young wife,'
accept at the end of it a tumbler of liquid from some friend
near him, and hear Sir Peter say, Thank you, Sir, your
very good health—just what I wanted ;' or we may
live to
notice my Lord Dundreary blowing a friendly cloud in the
stalls with another of his own order—and intellect. Now,
ladies and gentlemen, I will leave this theme, refer to the
past, glance at the present, and go on to the future. In the
past, I am proud to say, we have presented one of the most
legitimate comedies which has been represented for some
years. I allude to Westland Marston's Favourite of For-
tune.' We have also given you Mr. Planche's4Orpheue
in the Haymarket,' where the smoothness of the couplets
was only surpassed by the refined wit and point contained
in them. You have seen Mr. Charles Mathews, on his
triumphant return from Paris, play his admirable Sir
Charles Coldstream; and, in addition, Mr. Sothern has
shown you his most original representations of character
in Dundreary, Brother Sam, and David Garrick. As to
the present, ladies and gentlemen, the brilliant andcrowded
house of this evening speaks for itself, and assures me that
the Haymarket Theatre need never despair while its per-
formances can attract not only on these occasions, but
throughout a season, so many admirers of the true drama's
so much rank and fashion, and on looking round the house
this moment, from the pit to the upper regions, I must add,
so much beauty. With regard to the future, we shall
commence our next season on Monday, the 28th Sep-
tember, when I know you will be glad again to welcome
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mathews—the gentleman still in full
vigour of constitution and talent, who, to quote Ban Jou-
son's lino on Shakspere, I like to The applause, de-
light, the wonder of our stage ;' the lady, with her many
admirers, and yearly gaining more by her heartiness and
good looks. We shall have now comedies by Mr. Oxonford,
Mr. Leicester Buckingham, Mr. Stirling Coyne, and a pecu-
liar extravaganza by Mr. Burnand. Mr. Sothern will again
put in an appearance at Christmas, and in a novelty so ex-
traordinary that I do not feel it prudent to toll you what it
is ; but I may announce the acceptance of a play in which
he will appear, written by Mr. Tom Taylor. This, ladies
and gentlemen, is the 14th year of my lesseeship and ma-
nagement of this house ; that I shall survive another term

. _
as long:is one of those hopes we may pronounce to be
impossible of fulfilment ; but whether my future career
may be long or short, I shall ever gratefully remember
how highly I have always stood in your favour, how well
you have always patronised me, and with a fervent hope
that, as long as I may be able to appear before you, I shall
never in any way forfeit that esteem which you have at all
times made me feel that you entertain for me—whether I
have deserved it or not. During our visit to Manchester
for five weeks, lam happy to inform you that Miss Amy
Sedgwick will preside over the fortunes of this establish-
ment, appearing on Monday next in her own admirable
character in Tom Taylor's Haymarket comedy of "An
Unequal Match." And now, ladies and gentlemen, for my-
self, and in the name of the popular, and, I will say, still
unequalled comedy company of the Haymarket Theatre, I
thank you for all past favours, and, until the end of next
month, respectfully bid you farewell."

The speech was interrupted by frequent acclama-
tions, and when it was over the manager was fairly
pelted off the stage by a shower of bouquets.