The Sun.
London, England, 1819-06-22 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE TI-TEATRE.

A Aleetin of the Zie,v venters of this Theatre

was yesterday held in the Grand SAnon of the
Theatre, for the ptirpose of receiving a communi-
cation' from the Select Committee appointed to
take into consideration i!s present situation, etc.
Mr. liostEtt having. !teen Ballet! to the Chair,
he read the regnisHon rhea) together.
Mr. CALcaAFT,-in rising In communicate to Ilie
;Nleeting a lent-r Inc had received, felt confident
that it would he lic:ird with the same satisfaction
with which he comnotnicated it. It tats 11'01(1

Sir Bet,j4eoio Bloomfield, and to the foliowiag
effect :

" Sir B. Bloomfield is honoured with the commands of the
Prince legettt, to convey to dr. Calcraft the expression
iii. Royal FLOtnes's regret at tile etalmrrassed state ot• the
Finances ot Dune. Lane Theatre, and to sidise:il,e. hi Ins
Royal Highness's name, One !rooms, in aid of I!),
Fund for its relirt. wiqt the assurance of his Royal nig-hoz-as%
noxious feelinz for toe prosperity of so,ancienl, ti,ful, and
distinguished an E.stablishment.
" Carlton House, 19th Jane, ts!n "
The eomilionicattou was received with npich
applause.
Sir. Sir. CAecrtArr than proceeded. From the 'ex-
ertions that had been made. and from the unani-
mity that seemed to prevail, be telt the greatest
hopes of success. lie felt himself hound to say
Otos mulch ; -tor at no previous pet not had their
situation warranted them in indulging in such a
feeling to so great an extent as at present. The
first proposition he had to make was respecting
the large arrears due to the New Renters. In the
list of these were some items of a very large
amount, arid which folioed most dismal parts of
the catalogiie of arrears. The Meeting, how-
ever, knew what the Committee were about; they
were endeavouring to raise a sum of 25,6001. to
pay off the incumbrances ot the Theatre, and then
to put it into the hands of some professional
Gentleman, by which they might obtain a return
for the sacrifices they had and were making. In
the next place it would he for the Meeting to con-
sider wiie, her or not, it would be advisable to make
the sacrifice now mentioned, and to forego their
claims on the rents and profits of the Theatre
until the 25,000/. were repaid. The Committee
did not entertain the ~slightest doubt that the re-
paymeot would be accomplished in five years ; and
if the Theatre were attended with success, the
renters W011!ll it be placed in a bona fide situa-
tion of obtaining a return for what they had ex-
pended. The sacrifice they were called on to
make was certainly very large, but unless this
was done, unless the renters would follow up the
exertions of the Committee, all they bad_ done,
and were doing, would prove abortive. If he did
not think thF coutse he note recommended 'would
Prove successful, he would be the last man to re-
commend such a proposition ; but feeling as lie
did, that thine was no other alternative, he must
recommend it as the only means of obtaining any
return for the advances that had been male. He
concluded by recommending that a resolution
shook'. be conic to that the new renters would
forego their claims for five years, in order to raise
It som of 25,0001. for the purpose of liquidating
the claims of the creditors, it ho,. he trusted, would
he induced to take 10,. in •ti)* pOnllii on the
amoutit of their respective debts.
Mr. Hasten read the follawing letter from Mr.
Robins, who, he said, had been apprised of the
ptoposition that was to be made this day:—
Srottlann.plon, Sunday, June 20, 1819.
" Or.xTt.t:atits:•--1 lament very-much that business of some
importance sent compel no to be ahsent from the meeting to-
morrow, .sellen the new renters are to he called together. I
was very axiom to he present, because I feel that they have
Aways cheerfully submitted to every arrangement that ap-
peared to be to to the rieW proprietors; and, in two
or three cases, ;titer having liberally conceded their opinion
to the stoptiosed hen, fit of this devoted property, new diff:all-
- prey-oiled which rendered Ili eir previous consent a nullity.
" The present state of the Theatre is, however, such, that
if the collective body do not, at this interesting moment,
waive all feelings of irritation, and join with the present Com-
mittee, who have laudably stepped forward to save it from
impending ruin, the property must inevitably fall a sacrifice
to this want of cooperation. I speak, at all eveilts, disin-
terestedly, since I am so unfortunate as to possess more shares
than any one individual. i, am disposed, like every other
man, to have every advantage that the security attached to
this property affords, hut I hope I am not so short-sighted as
to believe that, without a considerable pecuniary sacrifice., the
Theatre can be saved from the stressing demands of rent,
taxes, and executions. With this feeling, and a sincere desire
to see this ill-fated property puce !Dore placed on a par with
its contemporary, I am anxious to itnpress' on the meeting
how imperative it will lie to make the sacr;fice that has been
suggested by the Special Committee; they will not fail to re-
member that at last the happy day is arrived when the Theatre
is no longer under the trammels of anis-uutuaging Commit-
tees, and that, under a legitimate form of Government, the
bright prospect of a regular payment of the annuity presents
With
itself. 'V ems view, heartily concur in the proposed
meas ore, And, though humbly, yet vet y earnestly recommend
tr brother sufferers ks adopt tire same course ; assuring them,
that if this particular moment is iteg,leeted, they may losethe
valuable aid of those disinterested persons, who are sacrificing
so much valuable time, in tbe fond hope, that by a general
letting of forbearance in every class of Proprietors, as welFas
every description of Creditors, they may obtain the only re-
ward they are anxious about—the gratification of once More
rescuing this property frotwru;n.
" I ant, yuur very obedient sertant,
" G. H. ROBINS."
" To the Trustees of the New Renters, &c. &c."
Mr. FALLOWFIELD, on the part of the Trustees,
expressed his and their opioions.to be,,that great
sacrifices were required to enable the Theatre to
proceed, though they did not go to the full extent
of the Committee. Circumstances had arisen
which had induced the Gentleman who had offer-
ed to pay the debts to Withdraw his offer, and
therefore the motley -must he raised in souse way
or other, or the Theatre roust be shut up, disposed
of, or mired into i mannfactory. Lie was ot
as were the Trustees, that no better course
could be putsued than to appoint a Committee,
and come to resolutions among themselves. If
the Theatre were let, the renters would certainly
be placed in a notch better situation than before,
for if they sacrificed acir anuoity for the last four
Vicars, their Trustees would have the power of
taking the amount of the annuity (18/. 15s )
every night at the doors ot the Theatre. He was