The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-03 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 3, 1859.

LAW LIFE ASSURANCE OFFICE,
FLEET-STREET, LONDON, Ist January, 1859.

NOTICE IS lIIVREBY GIVEN, That a GENERAL
MEETING of the PROPRIETORS of the LAW LIFE.AS-
SURANCE SOCIETY will be held, at the Society's Office,
ir Fleet-street, London, on W I,' ' SDAY, the 2d day of Feb-
ruary next, at 12 o'clock a precisely, pursuant'. to the'
d
provisions of the Society's • settlement, for the purpose
of receiving the Auditor's Annual Report of the Accounts of
the Society, up to the 31st December, 1858; to el-ct two direc-
tors in the room of Richard Harrison. Esquire, and James
Valiance, Esquire, both deceased, and one auditor in the room
of William Frederick Higgins, Esquire, resigned ; and for
general purposes.
The Director to be chosen in the room of Richard Harrison,
Esq., deceased, will remain in office until the 24th of June,
186.2, and the Director to be chosen In the roc m of James Val-
iance, Esq., deceased, will remain in office until the 24th of
June, 1860 ; and the Auditor to be chosen in the room of Wil-
liam Frederick Higgins, Esq., will remain in office until the
24th of June, 1839. 1 .. _ _

By Order of the Directors.
WILLIAM SAMUEL DOWNES, Actuary.

NORWICH UNION LIFE .ASSURANCE
SOCIETY.

Instituted 1808.—Invested Capital exceeding £2,000,000
Sterling.
This Society is one of the very few purely Mutual Insur-
ance Offices, the whole of the profits being divided among the
Policy-holders.
The rates are considerably below those usually charged.
Thus, at the age of 40, the sum of £32 19s. 2d., which at the
ordinary premium will insure £l,OOO, with the

NORWICH UNION WILL INSURE ONE THOUSAND
AND NINETY-FIVE POUNDS FOUR SHILLINGS,
giving an immediate Bonus in addition to subsequent accu-
mulatiohs. _ _ _

Annuities and Special Risks undertaken on favourable
terms.

For Forms of Proposal and Prospectuses apply at the
Society's Offices, 6; Crescent, New Briftv-street, Blackfriars,
E.C., and Surrey-street, Norwich.

THE ECONOMIC LIFE ASSURANCE
SOCIETY, 6, New Bridge-street, London.

kstablishectlB23.
DIRECTORS.
• ROBERT BIDDULPH, Esq., Chairman.
WILLIAM ROUTH, Esq., Deputy Chairman.
Rear-Admiral Robert Gor-
don.
Charles Morris, Esq.
George Kettilby Rickards,
Es
Augustus
Keppel Stephen •
son, Esq.

Alfred Kingsford Barber, Esq.
Henry Barnett, Esq.
The Bight Hon. E. Pleydell
_ .

Bouverie, 31. P.
Edward Charrington, Esq.
Thomas Edgar, Esq.
Sir Alexander Duff Gordon,
Bart.

AUD:

John Howell, Esq.
Henry Roberts, Esq.
Emanue'
street, I 1
SURGEON—Benjamin Travers,
street, P

ITORS.
John Gilliam Stilwell, Esq.
I Richard Taylor, Esq.
4 Page, M.D., Oxon, 11, Queen-
, Esq., F.R.C.S., N 0.49, Dover-
'iccadilly.

SOLICITOR—Henry Young, Esq., 12, Essex-street, Strand.
AcruattY—James John Downes, Esq., F.R.A.S.
ADVANTAGES.

Mutual Assurance..
The lowest rates of Premium on the Mutual System.
The whole of the profits divided every Fifth Year.
An accumulated Capital of £1,C95,00)
During its existence the Society has paid in
Claims
Reversionary Bonuses have been added to Po-
licies to the extent of
The last Bonus, declared in 1854, averaged £67
per Cent, on the Premiums paid, and amounted
to

Policies in force
The Annual Income exceeds

890,000

397,000
7,621
210,030

In pursuance of the invariable practice of this Society, in
the event of the Death of the Life Assured within the 1.5 days
of grace, the Renewal Premium remaining unpaid, the Claim
will be admitted, subject to the payment of such Premium.
The next Division of Profits will be made in 1859.

Assurances effected prior to 31st Decembar, 1859, will par-
ticipate in the Division of Mi.
Prospectuses and full particulars may be obtained on appli-
cation to ALEXANDER MACDONALD, Secretary.

GUARDIAN FIRE AT
COMP.
No. 11, Lombard-st
DIREC
HENRY HULSE BER
JOHN G. HUBBARD,
John Dixon, Esq.
Francis Hart Dyke, Esq.
Sir W. M. T. Farquhar, Bart.,

ND LIFE ASSURANCE
'ANY,
treet, London, E.C.
;TORS.
LENS, Esq., Chairman.
Esq., Deputy-Chairman.
John Martin, Esq., M.P.
Rowland Mitchell, Esq.
James Morris, Esq.
Henry Norman, Esq.
Henry R. Reynolds, Esq.
Sir Godfrey J. Thomas, Bart.
John Thornton, Esq.
James Tulloch, Esq.
Henry Vigne, Esq,

M. P.
Sir Walter R. Farquhar, Bart.
Thomson Hankey, Esq., M.P.
John Harvey, Esq.
John Labouchere, Esq. •
John Loch, Esq.
Stewart Marjoobanks, Esq.

'ORS.
Lewis Loyd, Esq. I Henry Sykes Thornton, Esq.
John Henry Smith, Esq.
Thomas Tallemach, Esq., Secretary.—Samuel Brown, Esq.,

AUDI

ROYAL DRAMATIC COLLEGE.

A meeting of the Itovisional Committee of the
Dramatic College was. held on Saturday, at the
office of the Charity, 15, Bedford-street, Covent-
garden. It vas convened by the following circular,
which 1 ufficiently explain the object of the
me.2thig, it :

"15, Bedford-street, Covent.garden,

Dee. 27, 1858.

" SIR,—I beg to inform you that Mr. Dodd has
refused to make the conveyance of land promised
by him, and has left unanswered the inquiry as to
his engagement to build a central hall. Under the
circumstances, the Provisional Committee, at the
special meeting held on Saturday the 18th. inst.,
resolved that all communication with Mr. Dodd
should cease, and that steps should be taken to
enable them to accept other land in lieu of his.
Fortunately, other parties were only waiting Mr.
Dodd's determination. Immediately on its being
known, two offers of larger pis than that belong-
ing to Mr. Dodd were made:-g have now to re-
quest your attendance at the meeting of the Provi-
sional Committee, to be held on Saturday next, the
Ist of January, at two o'clock precisely, when
further important communications will be made.
" I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
" WILLIAM CULLENFORD, Hon. Sec."
There was a numerous attendance of members of
the committee, among whom we noticed/0
Mr. Creswick, Dr. Roe, Mr. Rgtins,. Mr. Bil-
lings, Mr. Reddish, Sir W. De Bath*Mr. Jerwood,
Mr. Cullenford (hon. secretary), Mr. Nelson Lee,
Mr. Staunton, Mr. Sams, Mr. Leger, Mr. Emden,
Professor Spooner, Dr. Shorthouse, Mr. Barney
Williams, r. G. Borlaisse Child, Mr. Theodore
Martin, r. J. Bowring, Mr. W. Willett, Mr. J.
C. Deane, Mr. L. Watkins, Mr. Thos. Waring, &e.
Mr. Benjamin Webster occupied the chair.
Mr. CULLENFORD, the honorary secretary, read
the minutes of the proceedings at the different
meetings of the executive and sub-committees
which had been appointed, showing the progress of
the charity and the course of the negotiations be-
tween the committee and Mr. Henry Dodd respect-
ing the conveyance of the land. Our readers will
remember that a meeting was held on the 21st of
July last, at the Princess's Theatre, when a provi-
sional committee presented a report, stating—
" The Dramatic College you are this day called
upon to establish,. and which the provisional com-
mittee feel assured will soon take its place amongst
the permanent charitable institutions for which
England is remarkable, will owe its formation
chiefly to a gentleman who has placed at your dis-
posal five acres of land, beautifully situated, with
no other condition than that you shall this day give
evidence of your desire to proviCe homes for those
actors and actresses who are no longer able to pro-
vide homes for themselves, and whose aching limbs
and wearied minds have earned the reward now
proposed for them. The name of that gentleman
is withheld, in conformity with his own request ;
but the committee are assured by his solicitor, Mr.
Macphail, that he only waits your appointment of
trustees to make an unconditional conveyance of
the land."

The report of the committee was received, and
the public meeting then held adopted the recom-
mendations:—

" That the acceptance by the committee of the
five acres of land from the grantor be confirmed by
this meeting.
" That four trustees be appointed to. receive a
conveyance.
" That the title of the institution be ' The Dra-
matic College.'
• " That bankers be appointed.
" That a subscription for carrying into effect the
objects contemplated be now commenced, and that
gentlemen be appointed to act as stewards, in
making a collection.
" That the proceedings of the provisional com-
mittee be approved, and that the said committee,
with power to add to its number, be continued in
office till the next annual general meeting.
" That when, in the opinion of the committee,
sufficient funds have been obtained, plans and esti-
mates for the proposed buildings be procured.
" That at a special general meeting the provi-
sional committee do present a report of their opinion
as to the regulations necessary for the future

management of the college."
In the minutes now read was a report of the com-
mittee, setting forth the fact that the offer of the
land on the part of Mr. Dodd, the eminent dust
contractor, was an unqualified and unconditional
one, and at the public meeting in July, Messrs.
Charles Kean, Benjamin Webster, Chas. Dickens,
and Mr. Thackeray, were appointed the trustees
for receiving the conveyance of the land. The first
difficulty raised by Mr. Dodd was founded on the
absence from England of Mr. Thackeray at the
time the committee required the conveyance of the
land, and the probability that that gentleman
might not consent to act as a trustee. Upon being
communicated with, Mr. Thackeray expressed his
willingness to act in that capacity, and this was
communicated to Mr. Dodd, still no step was taken
to complete the conveyance. Ultimately the com-
mittee received from the solicitor of Mr. Dodd a
most voluminous legal document, containing a code
of laws for the future government of the college,
leaving little or nothing to be left hereafter to the
judgment of the council ; it dealt with the institu-
tion, in fact, as though Mr. Dodd was the sole
founder of the college, and the only person who
subscribed to its funds. It was stated that this
lengthy and verbose document was necessary in
order to prevent litigation or alienation of the land
in future ; but the committee stated that such a
document would, in their opinion, be much more
calculated to produce than to prevent litigation, and
called upon Mr. Dodd for the gift of the land to be
immediate and unconditional. The committee re-
-,irded the objections which had been urged as
frivolous, and the statement that the com-
mittee was a self-nominated one as absurd. The
_ _ _

next point of difficulty arose from Mr. Dodd
refusing to erect the central hall of the college at
his own expense, as he had originally ex-
pressed his intention of doing, and, finally,
the committee came to a decision that all
attempts to make Mr. Dodd keep his promise
with respect to the unconditional grant of the land,
and the erection of the central hall, would- be
futile. The report of the sub-committee, embody-
ing these facts and opinions, was adopted, with the
sole exception of Mr. Macphail, the solicitor to
Mr. Dodd, by the provisional committee. At the
same meeting a resolution was passed, and ordered
to be communicated to Mr. Dodd, to the effect that
unless he should, within ten days, deliver an un-
qualified conveyance to the trustees of the land
promised by him, the provisional committee would
forthwith call a public meeting and lay the facts
before it, with a view of proceeding to the estab-
lishment of the Dramatic College without any
assistance from him. It was then contended that
the appointment of trustees had not been legally
made, inasmuch as at the meeting at which they
were appointed at the Princess's Theatre there were
many persons present who were not actual sub-
scribers to the charity ; but it was stated, in reply,
that the presence of non-subscribers did not vitiate
the appointment then made ; that both Mr. Dodd
and Mr. Macphail were themselves present at the
meeting, and sanctioned and approved of the pro-
ceedings, and were not now justified in coming
forward to repudiate the appointments then made.
In reply to the resolution of the committee of the
4th of December, Mr. Dodd addressed the following
letter to the committee, which was read from
the minutes by Mr. Cullenford :
" City Wharf, New North-road, Holton,
14th Dec., 1858.
" beg to acknowledge the receipt of yours
of the 4th inst., with resolutions agreed to by the

provisional committee. In reply, I beg to slate I
am, and always have been, ready to make an un-
conditional conveyance of the land near Langley,
as prepared and" approved by conveyancers of
eminence, so soon as the executive of the college is
properly constituted and in a position to receive the
same. As to the threat contained in the resolution
to call a public meeting, and lay the facts before
it, with a view to the establishment of the college
without assistance from me, it is not for me
to object to the committee doing so. I can
have no other wish but that the subscribers
should be made aware of the filets, and it will he
for them to form their judgment,
" From their position and presumed experience
as men of the world, it would have been expected,
looking at the motives and object contemplated,
that the members of the committee would have
aPPFoachca the 11100 V In ft Virit ill 4POAPCIance
with the times, and not have allowed feelings quite
foreign to the subject of the charity to actuate, yet
the mastery of, and hurry them into a policy which
I feel sure the subscribers, as a body, will not en-
dorse. Ifewevpr, I am PTPParo4 to übillo the result,
resolved us I um not, to be made the scapegoat for
the committee's wilful avoidance of tho duties in-
cumbent upon them. If you, as their secretary,
could not, surely some one ought to have informed

them that they are not in a position to receive the
land. Let them place themselves in such, and I
amain state that I am prepared, and hereby under-
take, to make the conveyance alluded to, but will
not be stirred from that determination by all the
resolutions the committee may pass. As to their
insinuations, I score them. (Laughter.) The
meanness of soul (renewed laughter)— already
exhibited by some of the committee, in imputing
the like sordid conduct that I presume influences
their minds, to me cannot be surpassed. They may
impugn and twist my motives as they please, but
will not stir nie front the determination expressed._
I must again repeat to you that the delay now
taking place arises solely from the committee
neglecting to perform their el.e it and manifest duty
to properly constitute the institution—it being, at
present, for all real and business purposes, a nonen-
tity. I regret that the committee, by the course
they have adopted, should necessitate my writing
to you in the strain I have; but they will bear in
mind that they commenced the correspondence. If
they expected I should calmly succumb to their
uncalled for remarks they are deceived. I may not
express myself in a way flattering to their ideas.
One thing I strive to do is to tell them plainly what -
I mean, so that they may. not be misled ; and fur-
ther, I am equally as anxious as they profess to be
to hav he matter finally settled.
" tad hoped and anticipated to join those whose
sol object I considered to be to build up an insti-
t on free, as far as possible, from any germ of
jo beryzand corruption ; but, judging from the op-
position shown to clauses in the conveyance pre-
pared by your own legal adviser, and approved bye
mine, this would not appear to be what is wished. •
I decidedly objeet to any chance of -misappropria•
tion, however remote, and am ready to execute the
deed so prepared as hat any:presumed connection
or tie between myself and the institution may at
once end. I gave the land to benefit the aged of
your profession against the expostulation of certain
of my friends, who foretold me the treatment I
have experienced. (A laugh.)—l am, sir, yours
respectfully, " HENRY EiODD..
• "W. Cullenford, Esq."

At the meeting of the 14th, when this letter was
read, a resolution was passed by the committee,
that all communication between the committee and
Mr. Dodd should now cease, and in accordance
with the resolution of the 4th ult.' it was decided
to call a public meeting on Wednesday, the 12th of
January, to consider the further steps to be adopted
for the establishment of the college •, Mr. Webster
having placed his new theatre, the Adelphi, at the
disposal of the committee, for the purpose of hold-
ing the public meeting. The following statement
to be laid before the public was read and adopted
by the committee :

" This meeting has been rendered necessary by
circumstances which have arisen unexpectedly since
the provisional committee were appointed by the
resolution of the public meeting held at the Royal
Princess's Theatre, on the 21st of July last. The
proposal to establish the college, as the subscribers
will remember, originated in an offer made by Mr.
Henry Dodd, irough his solicitor, Air. Macphail,
to hand over five acres of land suitable for the
purpose, with no other condition' (as stated in the
report, which was prepared with Mr. Mac-
phail's approval, and laid before that meeting),
than this, that the public should on that occa-
sion give evidence of their desire to provide
homes for those actors and actresses who are no
longer able to provide for themselves.' In the same
report the committee of which Mr. Macphail was
an active member, stated they were assured by that
gentleman, that his client, Mr. Dodd, only waited
the appointment of the trustees by the meeting, to
make an unconditional conveyance of the land.'
" The meeting confirmed the acceptance by the
committee of Mr. Dodd's gift, and appointed Messrs.
Charles Kean, Benjamin Webster, Charles Dickens,
and W. M. Thackeray, trustees to receive the con-
veyance,
'r They also instructed the provisional committee
to present, at a special general meeting of the sub-
scribers, ' a report of their opinion as to the regu-
lations necessary for the future management of the
college ;"and a scheme for the constitution of the
college, prepared by Mr. Macphail for future con-
sideration by the committee,' was read to the meet-
ing.
"It is unnecessary to inform you with what
generosity the public responded to the appeal made
by the committee for its support—a generosity
which leaves no doubt as to the establishment of
the Dramatic College upon abroad and satisfactory
basis. Her Majesty, besides a donation of one
hundred pounds, has graciously permitted her name
to be placed at the head of the institution as its
patroness, and the list of its subscribers is sufficient
evidence of the cordial sympathy excited by its
objects. Mr. Dodd, through Mr. Macphail,
acknowledged, as he could not fail to do, that the
only condition for which, as above explained, he
had stipulated as preliminary to his conveyance of
the land, had been amply fulfilled, and the com-
mittee hoped that an unconditional conveyance
Would, in accordance with his promise, have been
forthwith delivered to the trustees. Until this was
done, they have felt their exertions in a great mea-
sure paralysed, and they have therefore urgently
pressed the matter upon the attention of Mr. Dodd
and his solicitor, but unfortunately without suc-
cess. The draft deeds submitted to them from

time to time on the part of Mr. Dodd, instead of
being unconditional, were clogged with qualifica-
tions and restrictions which entirely deprived
the conveyance of this character. Even if un-
objectionable in themselves, which the committee
conceived they were not, the committee had no
power to accede to them—the matters with which
they dealt being matters essential to the constitu-
tion and future management of thd college, which,
as shown above, can only be disposed of by a gene-
ral meeting upon a report from the provisional
committee. Latterly, moreover, Mr. Dodd's adviser
has declined to recognise as legal the appointment
either of the committee, of which he is himself a
member, or of the trustees ; and he has insisted on
the appointment by the subscribers of a council,
who, he alleges, will be legally qualified to make
terms with the grantor, and settle the details with
him of the conveyance.'

" After repeated fruitless appeals to Mr. Dodd to
fulfil his pledge to deliver an unconditional con•
veyance to. the trustees, in which nearly five months
have been consumed, the committee have, much to
their regret, felt themselves compelled to break off
further communication with that gentleman, and
to consider the propriety of proceeding to establish
the college, independently altogether of Mr. Dodd's
assistance. They conceive they would have failed
in their duty to the subscribers if they had, under
the circumstances, allowed Mr. Dodd to dictate
new terms. _

" Several of the subscribers have already offered,
by increasing their subscriptions, to meet any addi•
tional demands on the funds of the college, which
may be occasioned by the failure of Mr. Dodd to
fulfil his promise ; and the committee have every
reason to believe that any loss from this cause,
should any arise, would be more than compensated
by the generosity of other friends of the institution.
But they are already relieved from all anxiety on
this subject, the committee having already received
offers to place at their disposal for the purposes of
the college more than one site, of greater extent
and equally eligible in all other respects."
Mr. CULLENFORD stated that he had received a
letter from Mr. Macphail respecting the offer of
Mr. Dodd.
The committee, however, in the face of the reso-
lution passed on the 14th December, that all corres-
pondence between them and Mr. Dodd should cease,
felt that they could not, consistently with the reso-
lution, receive any further communication on the
subject. The letter was accordingly not read,
although it was suggested by one or two members
that it should be read and afterwards dealt with by
being
.ordered to lie upon or under the table, as the
committee might direct.
Mr. WEBSTER stated that as the offer of Mr.
Dodd might be considered as at an end, the coin-
initi.ve had received several offers of suitable sites.
The Necropolis Company had offered the charity
five acres of their land near Woking, and had pro-
mised to reserve five more acres at a moderate price,
should they be required in future. Mr. Meredith
had offered five acres of excellent land, near the
:lore, including a small
Virginia -Water, at £35 per
cottage and some other buildings upon the land.
(Hear, hear,) The Rev. Edward Moore had ex-
pressed his readiness to offer five or seven acres of
land at Gerrard's.cross, a short distance from Stoke
Yogis, the birthplace of the poet Gray, (Hear,
hear.) He thought that it would be advisable for
a sub-cominittec to he appointed, to go down and
inspect the land which had been thus 90 generously
offered to the college, so as to be enabled to report
to the general meeting of the 12th inst.
The resolution was unanimously agreed to, and
it was stated that the oftbrs of those different gen-
tlemen:bad been acknowledged with thanks by the
exeentive committee,
Mr. CULLENFORD read the following letter from
Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick, the lessees of the
Surrey Theatre, enclosing a cheque for £0 15s. 6d.,