The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-28 00:00:00

THAMES.

A DETESTABLE SCOUNDREL.—Edward Johnson,
aged 30, and described as a lighterman, was
brought before Mr. Paget, charged with uttering
counterfeit shillings, at the Royal Sovereign public-
house, in Bluegate-fields, Shadwell.
The prisoner uttered two base shillings at the
house through the means of two young girls named
Mary Miller and Mary Ann Quick. He gave each of
them a counterfeit shilling, and directed each to fetch
a half-quartern of gin from the Royal Sovereign.
The base coin was received by Ann Jones and
Jane Jones, daughters of the landlady, without
suspicion, and each child received Sid. change,
which was given to the prisoner. He gave a half-
penny to each child, and netted a profit of is. W-
and a quartern of gin. He sent a third girl with
another spurious shilling to the same house, and
with the same bottle, for another half quartern
of gin. In this instance the piece was examined,
and the imposition discovered. The child was
followed to where the prisoner was waiting for
her, and ho was given into custody. The two
young women named Jones said the only two
shillings in the till were those received by them of
the girls Miller and Quick.
Mr. Paget said this was a proper case to report
to the Mint Solicitor, and remanded the prisoner
till Tuesday next, when Mr. Pollard, clerk to the
Solicitor to the Treasury, will attend to prosecute
the prisoner.

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.—A general
meeting of the renters or debenture holders was held on
Wednesday in the saloon of the theatre for the purpose of
receiving the usual official reports and statement of se"
counts for the past year. Dr. Beaman presided. The
financial statement submitted by the trustees showed 0
balance brought forward from former account of £63
9s. 2d. ; interest on deposit ac:ount, £l4 3s. 10d. ; cash
received from the committee of proprietors, £2,250: tot
£2,327 13s. From that a dividend has been declared of
.£7 ss. per debenture, or £2,175 ; and deducting secretary'
salary and disbursements for the year —£62 10s. 6c1.-4'
balance of £9O 2s. 6d. is carried to next account. The re-
port stated that proposals have been made for sub-letting
the theatre for the purposes of au Italian opera, and the
negotiations aro still proceeding. Additional precautions/
measures are about to be taken against fire, including it
telegraphic communication with the fire stations•
was explained that the additional cost would be maiell,
for another fireman. A proprietor having referre.'-'
to the public statement that Mr. Mapleson
about to join Mr. Gyo at the Royal Italian Op,o
asked what wore the actual prospects of her blajeetY
Theatre company coming to this house ? The chairman
said the negotiations were still pending, but the quest°,
had not been finally settled. A certain sum had bed
paid by way of deposit, and he thought there were go°,
prospects of the opera coming to Drury-lane. Some eacra
riment was caused by the reading of the prospectus 00
share list of a proposed company to establish an Wag
elsewhere, and the chairman repeated that there to
every probability that Mr. Mapleson would Comm th
Drury-lane. The committee was re-elected with
addition of Mr. James Bowyer, and the usual corupliravi

tary votes were passed. 111
ECCLESIASTICAL TITLES BILL.—Mr. WEvoy'S
consists of one short claitse. After a brief preamble ne"
Glaring it to be expedient to repeal certain laws, it Pr;
poses to enact as follows :—"From end after the pass 117,
of this Act the Act of 14 and 15 Victoria, cap, 8011n'a
section 24 of the Act of 10th George IV., cap. 71 s.°
and are hereby repealed." The former of these two A%
is the Ecclesiastical Titles Assumption Act, Passed 10
consequence of what was termed the Papal aggression 2,
1850; and section 24 of the Emancipation Act of 18 a
imposes a penalty of £lOO on any person not authoriasiley
by law assuming the title of archbishop or bishop of ad.
province or bishopric, or dean of any deanery in .135.16
or Ireland.