The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-05 00:00:00

ROYAL GALLERY OF ILLUSTRATION.

An unusually crowded audience assembled at the
Gallery of Illustration on Saturday afternoon, to
witness the last performance of Mr. and. Mrs. Ger-
man Reed this season. The audience was chiefly
somposed of ladies, and the effect produced as they
all rose en masse when Mr. and Mrs. Reed came
forward to address them was extremely brilliant,
and it must have been gratifying to these favourite
entertainers to meet with so much enthusiasm at
this late period of the season.
The following address was given by Mr. Reed in
his usual comic style :
Ladies and Gentlenren,—This day brings to a close the
Fifth London Season of " Popular Illustrations from Real
Life," and guided by precedent, I avail myself of the op-
portunity to thank you in the name of Mrs. Reed and myself
for the patronage you have so liberally bestowed on our
efforts. It has been a short season, but with your cheering
approval it has been a short and merry one. This, our
fifth season, has been marked by—firstly, a more extended
elaboration in the mechanical change of dress ; secondly,
additional scenic effects; thirdly and lastly, the production
of one piece of music from my opera ; and as it has taken
me nearly six years to compose and produce one piece of
music, I will leave it to you to imagine, ladies and gentlemen,
how long it will take me to finish my opera. Some sey,
" Oh, Mr. Reed, I hope you will never finish that opera of ,
yours ;" others say, "Why don't you complete that opera
of yours ?" But the latter suggestion would be a realisa-
sation of cutting open the goose with the golden eggs.
By the bye, ladies and gentlemen, it will not be perhaps
out of place to correct now an erroneous impression, spread
with mischievous alacrity abroad, that a third
party is introduced in some of the changes to heighten
the illusion. I assure you that Mr. and Mrs. Reed are the
only people that appear on this platform. I hope you will
nut consider our introduction—l say " our," for I always in-
elude my better half—of the scenic effects by my talented
friends, Messrs. Grieve and Telbin, as all moonshine. But
it's getting late. I'll not detain you longer than merely to
say, that although I admire the amiabl precept in Mrs.
Reed's ballad of Think before you speak," I equally ad-
mire that spirited declaration of Mrs. Naggitt's when she
says, " I will speak my mind if I:die for it ;" and therefore,
though fully aware of the rashness of making promises for
the future, allow me to assure you, ladies and gentlemen, DA
expense, no exertion, no energy on our parts shall be spared
to render this mimic arena of real life always worthy of the
continuance of the patronage you have so bountifully be •
stowed upon our efforts to please ; and till we meet again in
November, accept our best wishes and our respectful adieus.
At the conclusion of the address the audience de-
manded the re-appearance of Mr. and Mrs. Reed,
who finally retired amidst the enthusiastic plaudits
of one of the most elegant assemblages of the
season.

Mr. and Mrs. Barney Williams, after a very long
and very prosperous visit, have gone back to America.
SrRAND THEATRE.-Mr. G. W. Swanborough,
the energetic stage manager of this house, will take his
benefit this evening, when, in addition to the usuctl attrac-
tions, Mr. Leigh Murray will appear.
Melodrama, farce, and pantomime are to be the
staple attractions under the new regime at the Princess's.
The theatre opens on the 24th instant, with a four-act
drama by Mr. Oxenford, and an extravaganza by Mr.
Planch4. Among the company are Mrs. Charles Young,
Mrs. Montagu Williams (Miss Louise Keeley), Miss Car-
lotta Leclercq, Mr. Frank Matthews, Mr. I G. Shore, Mr.
H. Widdicomb (from the Surrey), Mr: Harcourt Bland,
and several gentlemen of provincial reputation.
The Sunay Times says that the difference be-
tween Mr. E. r. Smith and the committee of renters at
Drury-lane has at length been settled by Mr. Smith agree
ing to an advance of £5OO a year on his rent, which will
now be £4,500 per annum, instead of £4,000. In considera-
tion of the increased rent, Mr. Smith has now the right to
play throughout the entire year if he thinks proper.
Hitherto his season was limited to 200 nights, and when
he exceeded that number he was obliged to pay £5 a night
extra.