The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-03 00:00:00

This.afternonn a general meeting of the shareholders
in this undertaking was held at the Surrey Music Hall ;
Sir W. Da Barth, Bart., in the chair.
The SECRETARY (11r. Ellis) read the directors' report,
from which it appeared :
" The balance sheet of receipts and paymen'es now pre-
sented shows all cash transactions up to the end of the
year 1856. The extraordinary general meeting of October
last having directed that all future dividends should be
paid in January and July, the accounts of the company
will, in future, be made up in December and June of each
year, an arrangement which will enable the directors to
make a more equal division of profits than if the accounts
were made up in April and October, as originally con-
templated. By the experience acquired during the
last year, in the short season, which only lasted
ten weeks, the directors have been enabled to
make arrangements which will, they believe, give
large returns-for the outlay that a first opening of such an
establishment necessarily entailed. They have felt them-
selves called upon to give additional accommodation to the
public in the refreshment department, and these rooms,
when completed, will be found well adapted to their in-
tended purpose. With this additional accommodation
they have arranged for the proper supply of refreshments
at moderate prices, and of superior quality, and for an,
annual revenue of 1,5001. to the company. From the sup-
ply of cigars and champagne a further sum of at least 300/.
will be realised, and the certainty of profit to these extents
is secured 'for the year 1857. The regular season is in-
tended to commence on the 11th cf May, when a grand
performance of "the Oratorio of " Elijah' will be given.
The directors resolve that on no occasion whatever shall
the admission to the gardens be more than one shilling in
the evening ; and although it• is intended during the season
to give morning concerts and opera rehearsals, they will
form the only exception to the constant price of one shil-
ling. The directors have made engagements with one
of
.the lirat continental bands to visit this country, and
to perform at these Gardens ; and, during the
season, they have arranged for the appearance
of the very first Foreign -and English singers.
The band, conducted by Mons. Jullien' will be larger than
last year, and more complete ; and at their regular even-
ing performances madrigals and other pieces will, in addi-
tion, be given by the Surrey Gardens Choral -Society, con-
ducted by Mr. Land. The fireworks will be on the best
scale, and Mr. Southby will, as before, manage that depart-
ment. The gigantic panoramas, for which these Gardens
have been always noted, will be produced, with entirely
new effects, by Mr. Denson ; and the picture for 1857 will
give evidence of the powers of the artists employed thereon.
The directors have daring the last two months added to
their body Henry Boddington Webster, Esq., of -Upper
Brook-street, from whose taste and judgment they hope to
derive great assistance. They have no further power of
appointment, nor do they seek any, except by resolution
of the shareholders. They ask confirmation and approval'
of their acts, in full confidence that they have exercised the
greatest care to promote the wellbeing of the company.
Two of their number, Mr. Bain and Mr. Chappell, go out
of office, but being eligible the directors recommend them
for re-election."
" The balance-sheet made up to Dec. 31, 1856, showed,
amongst other things, that 30,4931. capital had been paid
up, and that, 13,615/. had been received for, admission to
gardens, rent of Music-hall, &c. Out of those same 14,000/.
had been paid for the gardens, making, with the construc-
tion account, 33,6781. 16s. After deducting the necessary
expenses for vocalists, fireworks, do., a balance remained
of 1,160/. Bs. 7d."
- - -

The CEIAIRMAN having addressed the shareholders on

the satisfactory state of the property,
Mr., COPPOCK moved the reception and adoption of
the report and accounts, and, in doing so, said that the
meeting was called iu accordance with the terms of the
deed, but at an extraordinary meeting held last year the
mode of paying the dividend was altered from April
and October to January and July, so as to prevent a
large dividend one half year and a small one
the other, and that accounted for no allusion to
a dividend on this occasion. There was every rea-
son to believe that the diFeption had been successful
during the past year, zrid he had no doubt
if the shareholders approved a it, it would continue to
be so. The directors were fully impressed with the ne-
cessity of engaging first-rate talent, and not second or
third-rate, and they would be actuated by that feeling in
catering for the public, so as to increase the dividends.
Dr. LEVER, seconded the motion.
After a short ditaussion on the balance-sheet, which
was satisfactorily answered by Mr. Coppock and the
Auditor, the motion was agreed to.
Mr. Bain and' Mr. Chappel, the retiring directors,
were re-elected.
A resolution.approving and confirming the acts of the
board of directhrs up to this time, and thanking them
for their past services, was agreed to.
Mr. COPPOOK explained that there were no outstand-
ing liabilities,except the construction accounts, and that
the dividend was paid out of the earnings, not a farthing
of the capital being touched for the purpose.
A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the pro-
ceedings.

SURREY THEATRE.

----..,,,..-

It can never be said of Mr. Buckstone as of the moody
Prince Giovanni, in Leigh Hunt's "Story of Rimini,"
that _ _

"He lost the sight of conduct's only worth
The scattering smiles on this uneasy earth." .
The remembrance of Buckstone is a smile. He diffuses
merriment all around him, and, go where he will, joy
follows in his train. Last night, after playing Mon-
tague Spicer in "A Life's Trial,"and making some hun-
dreds of people laugh in his own theatre till their sides
ached he crossed the water, and, assuming the
character of Stanley Jones in Mr. Oxenford's admirable
farce of " On!y a Halfpenny," did the same friendly
office for as many more of his fellow-creatures a,sern-
bled in the Surrey. He was received with delight
by his transpot.tine audience, and peals of laughter
resmended through the house. There is, no doubt, a
tinge of romance-9 touch of tender sentimeni in the
story of the poor harlequin who is said to have wept
behind his mask while leaping through clock-dials, or
dancing with elegant agility at the footlights ; and
as much may be said of that other anecdote about the
heart-broken comedian, who, being ordered by his phy-
sician to try whether it would not raise his spirits to see
Liston act, replied, " Alas l lam Liston." But these
tales have been told of so many actors that we may be
pardoned for doubting whether they are true of any.
The life of a comedian has, no doubt, its drawbacks,
as what life is there that has: not ? And a comedian is
not without his sorrows any more than other men ; but
surely his profession has great privileges, pure excite.
ments, and delightful memories. To feel that you have
a powei vouchsafed only to a few—a magic gift fur mak-
ing your fellow-creatures happier ; to know that a thou-
sand eyes look brighter when you come—that in your
radiant presence the poor forget their poverty, the
wretched their misery—that your slightest accent, your
minutea gesture, can awaken in the hearts of men a
delicious sense of enjoyment—that it is yours to unknit
the ravelled brow of care, and "to make a sunshine in
the shady place"—surely these are refl ctions which give
salt and savour to human life, and awaken joy and satis-
faction in the. mind of the man who is permitted to in-
dulge in them. There is no comedian of our day who
may do so more legitimately than Mr. Buckstone. Tha
life of pleasure and the soul of whim, no one can excel
him in grotesque humour and fantastical extravagance.
The effluent spirit of drollery pervades his whole being;
mirth mantles in every look, and he seems to have an
elasticity of soul that casts off all taint of sorrow. It is
no more possible to be sad in his presence than to be
cold beneath the tropics. The very sound of his voice
provokes merriment, and his movements are so ludicrous
that, even though he were not to open his lips, he could
scarcely walk across the stage without making somebody
laugh. A great merit in his performance is its spon-
taneity—its swiftness. His acting has no "antecedents,"
to use the favourite phrase of the day—it is all on the
instant. His genius is essentially comic. To look at
him is too much for human gravity. He is funny, simply
because

" He is one
Who cannot help it, for it is his nature
To blossom into fun, as 'Us a tree's
To leaf itself in April."
lle is, to our thinking, an admirable actor. Floreat in
cetermtm.

It is now estimated that the shipments of specie by
the Peninsular and Oriental steamer Colombo, with the
India and China mails of the 4th, will amount to at least
700,0001., principally silver. An impression seems to
be gaining ground that from this date the shipnients are
likely to become less heavy. At all vents, the arrival
by La Plata yesterday will partially meet the
for the next fortnightly steamer, after which the sum to
be expected from Mexico will be calculated to lessen the
activity of purchasers on the Continent.
How MR. MACAULAY WRITES HISTORY.—The best
portraits are perhaps those in which there is a slight mix-
ture of caricature, and we are not certain that the best
histories are not those in which a little of the exaggera-
tion of fictitious narrative is judiciously employed. Some-
thing is lost in accuracy, but much is gained in effect.
The fainter lines are neglected, but the great character-
istic features are imprinted on the mind for ever.—
Mucaulay's Essay on "
b 1 tc-cleiuielle."
VALUE OF WATERSIDE PROPERTY.—On Tuesday the
lease of a small thy dock and yard, the Gun Dock,
Wapplog, was brought to the hammer, at Garraway's,
by Mr. Murrell, the auctioneer, having six years to
run, at the high rate of 2101. per annum, and for
which, when granted not long since, no premium was
paid. After a very spirited competition, in a crowded
room, it realised 1,090/., the purchaser having, in
addition, to pay the value of the whole of the fixtures,
uteesils, alid stock in trade on the premises.
SACRILEGE AT DEPTPORD.—The church of St. Paul,
Deptford, was forcibly entered on Wednesday night,
and the whole of the sacramental plate, valued at up-
wards of 1501., stolen. The church is surrounded by
iron railings, and stands a great distance from the public
roadway. The rectory-house, however, is adjoining,
and the robbery was therefore of a very daring cha-
racter, an entrance by the outer door being effected by
means of skeleton keys, an inner door being afterwards
forced open. The thieves then succeeded in reaching
a heavy, iron chest, in which the plate and parchment
writings of the church were deposited. The chest was
firmly imbedded in masonry, notwithstanding which
the thieves contrived to remove it, and to get clear
off with their booty.