The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-22 00:00:00

A N AMATEUR DRAMATIC IHEA 2 RE.

40. -

Notwithstanding what has been previously stated
in a former article on the advantages to be obtained
in having " A Special Theatre for Amateurs," we
are induced, in consequence of the subsequent cor-
respondence we have received upon the subject, to
again revert to the matter, the more especially as we
have fully considered the possibility of carrying out
what seems to be, and unquestionably is, the greatest
possible desire of the Dramatic Amateur. One cor-
respondent in particular suggested, and we cordially
thank him for his good offices, the renting of a
theatre instead of building or purchasing one, and
upon this suggestion we have built up, what we
conceive to be, a very easy plan for obtaining a
theatre devoted exclusively to amateurs, and we
have great pleasure in placing the same before our
readers. Let all the clubs, or so many as can be
got together for the purpose, form themselves into
" A National Amateur Dramatic Fund Associa-
tion," each club to be represented by its manager or
secretary. The annual subscription to be five
guineas, and assuming for a moment that fifty clubs
start the association, there would. at once be
a fund of upwards of £260 upon which
to commence business, each club so subscribing to
be entitled to one performance annually, and for
every other performance to pay a like sum of
£5 53. By this means the Association would be in
possession of sufficient fonds to enable them to rent
a really good theatre. And if the Association
should be thoroughly well supported, and there is
no reason why it should not, we fully anticipate,
before any lengthened period has elapsed, seeing it
in possession of sufficient capital to enable it to
build its own theatre.

It will, of course, be understood, that we do not
mean to convey the idea that £5 ss. should com-
pletely liquidate the whole expense of an evening's
perfcrmance. Of course, stage carpenters, the
band, doorkeepers, dressers, and all the other
minutia attending a dramatic representation, would
have to be provided for ; still all this might be
left in the hands of the association, and by co-ope-
ration and judicious management everything might
be as near perfection in these details as possible.

All the officers of the association would be chosen

frotn the representatives of the clubs—a thoroughly
efficient stage manager would be permlnently en-
gaged, and also an acting manager, who would be
assisted by the members of the respective clubs, and

thus the amateurs themselves would be enabled to
make their arrangements complete and their whole
organization perfect.
In making the foregoing remarks, we sincerely
hope they will be met in the spirit in which they
are given, our object being to benefit the whole
class to whom they are addressed. And iu con-
clusion, we can only add our entire willingness to
assist in every possible way compatible with our
position in promoting an association such as we
have promulgated, and to lend our assistance in
publicly making known, through the medium of
our columns, any meeting which it may be proposed
should be held for considering, and, if possible, i n
carrying out the subject of these remarks. —Racing
Times.

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

--a►-

CFrom the Anglo-American Times.)
The Rev. Newman Hall, in a lecture on Wednesday
night, in Mr. Spurgeon's Tabernacle, on his recent visit to
America, gave his audience an account of a conversation
he bad with Mr. Robert Lincoln, son of the late President.
Mr. Hall asked about the Queen's letter to Mrs. Lincoln.
‘‘ Yes," said he, "we have been asked often about that
letter—we have been asked to publish it. But it is a long
letter of three pages—the outgushing of a generous
woman's heart, and my mother and myself thought it
would not be right to publish it."
It is stated that Lennon, the Fenian now in cus-
tody in Dublin, headed a procession lately in New York,
wearing the uniform in which he deserted from the 9th
Lancers. He is branded with the letter " D," and his in-
genuity in assuming various disguises is declared by the
Dublin police to have been surprisingly fertile.
Mr. George W. Savage, late President of the
Star Fire Insurance Company, has been elected president
of the International Insurance Company ; Hamilton Bruce,
vice-president; and W. J. Hughes, secretary. The com-
ploy discontinues marine risks, and will confine itself to
firo and inland insurance business.

William Henry Gardner, convicted in Jersey of
forgery, falsification of books, and embezzlement, has been
sentenced to seven years' penal servitude. He was major
of militia, and secretary to the Governor.
The widow of General Miramon has, with her
children, taken up her residence at Vienna. She is to re-
ceive a pension from the Austrian Government.
Henry Ward Beecher has given $l,OOO to the
fund for the benefit of Washington College, Virginia, and
Messrs. Greeley and Horatio Seymour unite in an appeal
to Northern men of wealth to support an institution sup-
ported by Washington. General Lee is at the head of
this college.
Governor Bullock sent a full and able message
to the Legislature of Massachusetts. Among the subjects
he advocated was the nomination of Grant to the Presi-
dency, irrespective of party.
Mr. Davis and wife have arrived at New Orleans.
A. J. Fergusson Blair, son of the late Admiral
Adam Fergusson, has just died. He was a Canadian
statesman of great repute, a barrister at law of Upper
Canada, and had been Receiver-General, Provincial Sec-
retary, and President of the Privy Council of the Domi-
nion in turn. In 1863 he succeeded to the Balthayock
estates, and assumed the 'name of Blair.
A gentleman passing through North Union-
street in Cork, being mistaken for a detective, had his
head made a target for Greek fire. The casing was proof
against the missile, which bounded off, and breaking on
the pavement, burst into a brilliant light.
M. La Rientire succeeds Mr. Savage as American
Consul at lla,vannah.
Minister Rose, of Canada, reports the Dominion
to be financially well off.
Commodore James T. Watkins died on board the
Costa Rica, between Yokohama and Shanghai, from inju-
ries received in falling down a hatchway.
General Van Valkenburg, American Minister to
Japan, was married to Mrs. Schayer, of New York, on the
loth November,
The American papers poke fun at Mr. Dolby,
Charles Dickens's manager. They lay the blame of all
shortcomings on his shoulders. "I wonder," one asks,
"if Dolby is his real name, or if he adopted it from
'David Copperfield,' who recalls young David's adven-
ture when he sold his wardrobe piece by piece, and the
buyer of the little vesket' was a Mr. Doloby." We can
assure the wonderer that his real name is Mr. Dolby, well
known in Regent-street, and brother of Madame-Sainton
Dolby, a celebrated English singer.

The United States Consul at Amoy has niade a
treaty with the Formosa savages, by which wrecked sea.
men will be protected.
Mr. Vallandigham advocates war with England
or any other nation that will not admit American claims
as to naturalized citizens. It is impossible for poor Eng-
land or any other nation to admit claims as yet undefined.
The first thing to be done is for America to state what a
naturalized citizen is, and what rights it claims for the
animal when defined. Mr. Ashley spoke before the Con-
vention to the same effect as Mr. Vallandigham wrote.
One would suppose that the "Republican fool," as the
Springfield Republican terms this man of impeachment
celebrity, had lately been before the public sufficiently to
satisfy even his craving for notoriety.
The Rev. Thomas Baker and six native mission-
aries have been eaten by the Foejee Islanders.
When Richard Pierce, printer, of Boston, worked
off upon his hand press, on the 25th of September, 1690,
the first newspaper ever published in America, the General
Court took the sheet into custody, held solemn debate over
the daring disturber of the public quiet, and voted that it
"contained reflections of a very high nature," and its pub-
lication was contrary to law. It was not allowed to ap-

pear again.
James Brooks, of New York, has been appointed
a Government director of the Union Pacific Railroad Com-
pany in place of C. T. Sherman.
The Massachusetts Legislature met at Boston on
the Ist of Jan., and elected Harvey Jewell over Charles A.
Train, by 151 votes, out of the 216 east. George R. Bra-
stow was elected President of the Senate by a majority of
one, in the entire vote of the 40 Senators. The Maine
and Maryland Legislatures met on the same day ; that of
Ohio was to assemble on the 6th, and of New York on the
7th. The Maine Legislature elected Josiah Crosby of
Penobscot President of the Senate, Theodore C. Wood-
man of Bucksport Speaker of the House, and Thomas
P. Cleaves and Sumner J. Chadbourne, respectively,
clerks of the branches. The various state offices have been
filled as follows: —Secretary of State, Franklin M. Drew
of. Brunswick ; Attorney-General, William P. Frye of
Lewiston ; Adjutant-General, Gen. John C. Caldwell of
Ellsworth ; Land Agent, Parker P. Burleigh of Lineus ;
Executive CJuncillors, Henry 0. Reed, of Norway, Geo.
W. R. Randall of Portland, Daniel Holland of Lewiston,
Joseph A. Sanborn of Readfield, Elias Milliken of Burt-
ham, Ephraim Flint of Dover, and Daniel K. Hobart of
Dennysville. Both Maine and Maryland Legislatures
have questions of the Senatorial succession to settle, and
Messrs. Morrill and Reverdy Johnson are both candidates