The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-25 00:00:00

OLYMPIC THEATRE.

Last night Mr. Wigan formally took leave of the
public which had assembled i❑ great force to cele-
brate his benefit with appropriate honour. At the
end of the second piece he came forward, amid loud
and encouraging cheers, the expression of his coun-
tenance bearing witness to the depth of his feelings
on this really solemn occasion. After a short pause,
during which he collected himself with some diffi-
culty, he spoke as follows :

"Ladies and Gentlemen,—l appear before you
this evening under the influence of strong feelings
—feelings of mingled pride, gratitude, and regret.
This has been announced as a farewell benefit, but
it is not the familiir farewell of the outworn vete-
ran, retiring in the natural decay of his powers to
the leisure fairly earned by long service. It is the
leave-taking of one stopped short in mid-course—
in the most vigorous time of life—compelled to
retire from management when most successful,
and from acting when in the full enjoyment of
your favour and approbation, by strange and un-
foreseen illness. But with pain at this unlooked
for close (for the present, at least) of my manage-
rial and professional career are blended pride and
gratitude for the favours so liberally bestowed upon
me for years pist, and so nobly crowned this even-
' ing. I have had the honour of managing the
Olympic Theatre for four years, or, more strictly
speaking, for three years, fur during the whole of
the present season the active business of manage-
ment in every department has devolved upon my
wife. During that period ten pieces have been got
up and pro.luced under her sole superintendence,
and I trust you will not attribute it to a husband's
partiality if I say she has performed her task well
and bravely uncler circumstances of peculiar diffi-
culty and depression. That the public has been
satisfied with her exertions is best proved by that
most satisfactory of all tests—the balance-sheet.
The result of the season has been prosperity and
profit, where disaster and loss must have been
looked for had I not possessed so able and in-
defttigable a substitute. She can no longer sup-
port the fatigue, excitement, and anxiety of such
exertion without risk, and I am therefore com-
pelled to retire until I may again be able to
take my share of labour. The course I have
adopted during my management has, I am proud to
think., raised the Olympic Theatre to a high posi-
tion in public favour, and I can look back and fear-
lessly say that its success has been honestly and
fairly won by hard and well-directed work. When
retrospect leaves.this feeling, no wonder that part-
ing from the theatre and from you, its indulgent
patrons, should be very painful. But on painful
feelings I will not dwell. After surmounting the
many difficulties in the way of firmly establishing
this theatre as a place of rational and harmless
amusement, I shall, on the 7th of next month, re-
linquish all connection with it; but I shall always
feel a warm interest in its fortune=, and a sincere
wish that it may long enjoy the success that has
liith,Tto attended it. I have now a large debt of
thanks to pay to the gentlemen of the newspaper
press, for the fairness and the good-nature of their
criticisms upon the performances at this theatre,
and also for the warm and cordial sympathy
which they have expressed with my present
position; to the committee of friends who have
done me the great honour to associate their
illustrious names with mine ; to Vie authors
who have written for me ; and to my company
generally, not only to my brother actors for their
'zealous and lo7al co-operation (more especially
during this last season, under the direction of my
wife), but to every one employed in the theatre,
down to the humblest artisan ; and above all, my
warm thanks are due to the public, whose support
has so generously rewarded my exertions. For
myself, should the blessing of health be restored to
me—and I will look forward hopefully—l may
again be able to contribute to your amusement,
when 1 trust that, by keeping to the same course,
the same result will follow—that success will be
won by a sincere desire and an earnest effort to
deserve it. But should my hopes be doomed to
disappointment—should this be my last appearance
before you, I will carry with me to the end the
memory of the great kindness I have always re
ceived at your hands—kindness so warm, so sym-
pathetic, and so unvarying, that it leaves me
scarcely able to pronounce that word which for me
blends so much sweetness with so much sadness.
But, linger as I may, it must be spoken ; and so,
ladies and gentlemen, good friends and patrons, I
most respectfully and gratefully bid you all fare-
well."

At the meoting of the Scottish Australian Investment
Company yesterday, the dividend of 104, per share pro.
posed by the directors was declared.