The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-13 00:00:00

would be ' more honoured in the breach than the obsery

ante,' but as I believe, in this theatre at least, the manager's
address on the occasion of his benefit is not only expected,
but forms part of the evening's entertainment, it is therefore
with great pleasure that I do my best to prepare it, with
the consolation of knowing that, should it be a failure, it is
—in the language of the playbills—' positively but for one
night only.'
" Since I last had the honour of addressing you, twelve
months ago, there has been an unusual competition in the
dramatic world. At Christmas a cheap opera and panto-
mime over the way. Every theatre in London that could
be open was open. Music halls sprung up in every direc-
tion, where everybody, every night, was wishing he was
with Nancy.' We had also one of the severest winters
known for years ; thousands were on the ice at night in the
parks, indulging in skating, fireworks, and fun, yet in the
face of everything that could operate against theatrical suc-
cess, we have never at ' The Haymarket' closed our doors,
except by order of the Lord Chamberlain, or when the com-
pany has received the honour of a request to appear at
Windsor Castle ; while to prove how constantly we are at
work here, I have only to inform you that this is the eight
hundred and sixty-second night of our present season. We
have submitted many novelties for your approval, and some
with great success. ' The Overland Route' has been taken
163 times ; The Babes in the Wood' wandered for 32
nights before they were buried; ' A. Duke in Difficulties'
did not leave the manager in any ; Black Sheep' produced
amongst us many good legs of mutton; 'The Miller and
his Men' brought an excellent supply of grist to our mill;
our pantomime, Queen Ladybird,' flew away home,' for
70 nights; 'Fitzsmythe of Fitzsmythe Hall,' was intruded
upon on 45 occasions; and therefore, as regards our
success, and when I think of the competition already men-
tioned, I may fairly quote the second title of to-night's new
comedy, and say, It Might have been Worse.'
"With respect to the future, ladies and gentlemen, I
shall continue to do my utmost to sustain the ancient charac-
ter of this house—the character bequeathed to it by Foote
and Colman—as the theatre for English comedy and farce.

Tragedy, as in times past, is rarely to be seen here ; it some-
how does not seem to belong to the building, nor shall I
attempt to introduce it, unless some great tragic genius were
to appear who might give a little tearful variety to our pre.
gramme ; till then, Laughter holding both his sides' will
continue to be the nightly presiding genius of this estab-
lishment.

I have several new comedies and other novelties ac-
cepted, and which will be produced when required. We all
look forward to next year, 1862, to be rewarded for much toil
aLLCL Influx au my Lao 1-La-aras. TKa,. ;a

which will attract its tens of thousands to London; there is
next year's Derby, too, where one of the favourites is
christened after your humble servant; and as another old
Haymarket manager has given a name to another good
horse—Ben Webster—l trust you will wish success to both
horses and both managers, and that the bipeds—Buckstone
and Ben Webster—as well as their namesakes, the quadru-
peds, may all in 1862 come in at the winning post.
" In case any of our friends may suppose from this ad-
dress that to-night is the termination of the season, I beg
to assure them that we mean to ' keep the even tenor of our
way' through the present summer and the next ; and we
shall be repeating the new comedy of My Lord and My
Lady' to-morrow night and every night till further notice
Still I must tell you in confidence, whatever may be the
success of our novelties, that, during the hot weather, the
most attractive star a manager can secure is one Mr. Wet
day ; so, whenever you see the umbrellas up at this time of
the year, you may always conclude there is a good house at
the theatre ; consequently, if Wet-day is such an attractive
gentleman in the warm season, you may fancy the service
he did to the managers last summer, and though we are not
so selfish as to wish for an entire repetition of thac pluvial
performance, yet we naturally feel our spirits rise when the
glass is going down.
" And now, ladies and gentlemen, in the name of the
company, and every one employed in this theatre, I thank
you for your constant patronage, and only ask you during
the fine weather, when you may not feel disposed to visit
gardens and other open-air amusements, you will not for-
get there is an old summer-house here in the Haymarket,
the doors of which will be always open to welcome you, and
where I trust you will continue to find good entertainment.
" Ladies and gentlemen, till to-morrow evening, fare-
well."

On the conclusion of this address, which elicited
in the delivery continual marks of approval from
the audience, Mr. Buckstone was honourei with as
brilliant and abundant a shower of nosegays as ever
gladdened the heart of a first-rate prima donna in
the zenith of her fame. He carefully collected his
fragrant trophies, and among them a garland which
he placed upon his head, and retired amid peals of
applause.