The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-23 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE

Yesterday the annual meeting of the Proprietors of
this theatre was held in the saloon. A large number of
Proprietors were present, and the Earl of Glengall•Was
voted to the Chair. The Noble Earl was supported.V.
Major Naylor, Captain Spencer, Captain Grover, Mr.
Ramsbottom, M.P. ; Mr. Benjamin Bond Cabbell, Mr.
Gregory, Mr. George Robins, Mr. Grenfell, and other
gentlemen.
The CHAIRMAN, after some introductory remarks,
called on the Secretary, Mr. Dunn, to read the report.
It was as follows :
" After the failure of the last lesseeship, and the heavy
losses which thereby immediately fell, not only on Mr.
Macready, as stated by himself, but through him also
on the Company of Proprietors during the two years
when the theatre was managed by that gentleman (a
failure which necessarily deprived the Committee of the
means of meeting engagements which they would will-
ingly have kept with the various parties connected with
this property), it is cheering to turn to the success which
has attended the efforts of the present management
during the past season.
" The Committee have, therefore, the satisfaction to
announce to the assembly, that almost all the difficulties
under which the property laboured last year have dis-
appeared, and that the debts owing at that period, if not
altogether discharged, are, at least, placed in such a
train of liquidation, as that no doubt is entertained by
the Committee of their being shortly extinguished, as
far, at least, as the annual current expenses are concerned.
" It has, however, been no ordinary task to bring
about this favourable result under the present state of
public taste, and at a period when every species of
theatrical property and enterprise have declined so much
in value and public estimation. Nevertheless the lessee
has, throughout the season, so managed, as effectually to
meet the supposed alteration in the theatrical taste of 1
the times.
" Mr. Bunn has, therefore, of necessity directed his
main efforts so as to render music and native talent, as
far as possible, subservient to the purpose of securing
the applause of the public. This he has ultimately
achieved, but in order fully to accomplish his object he
has been also obliged to resort to the costly assistance of
some celebrated artistes which the Continent could supply.
" The Committee have to state that the conditions sti-
pulated to be performed by the lessee under the agree-
ment with Nee Committee have been strictly fulfilled, and
the reports from the several departments throughout the
theatre represent the value of the stock as having been
kept up to a corresponding amount with the period at
which Mr. Bunn commenced his undertaking. An in-
ventory of the furniture, fixtures, and scenery, of the
theatre has been made by Mr. Beazley, the architect ;
the advantage of which is so obvious, and the document
on reference to it will, upon that point, speak for itself.
At the same time, the larger sum of money which was
allowed Mr. Macready from the funds of the proprietory
during the last lesseeship, in addition to his own outlay
upon his stage management, ought, the Committee
thinks, to have left the theatre in a much better working
condition than it was found to be by Mr. Bunn, when he
entered upon the theatre at the close of Mr. Macready's
management.
" The Committee have now to call the attention of
the assembly to the annual statement of the accounts,
which have been regularly audited by Major Naylor.
The favourable result of the last season has induced
the Committee to conclude an agreement fur a fur-
ther term of three years with Mr. Bunn, determinable,
at the option of either party, at the end of the first; and
they trust that, with the renewed exertions of the les-
see, a still more favourable season may be anticipated
in that which is to come."
The financial statement appended to the report gives
the gross amount of the receipts of the year at 4,960/.
4s. ; the expenditure less by 5961. It was further
stated that the Proprietors had paid the Renters' trus-
tees the sum of 1,2851. at the rate of 5/. per night (243
nights) in conformity with the agreement made in 1841.
The report having been confirmed,
Mr. GEORGE ROBINS moved a vote of thanks to the
Snb-Committee of the last year. To their exertions
were the Proprietors indebted that the house had been
opened at all. When they saw that Covent garden
Theatre could not get a tenant at any price, and re-
flected that Drury-lane bad been fortunate in obtaining
a tenant who had paid every penny of his rent, he (Mr.
Robins) thought the thanks of the Proprietory were
eminently due to the gentlemen of the Sub-Committee.
,Ir. Bunn had been secured for a term of three years
longer—a circumstance which added to the obligations
already incurred on the part of the Proprietors to the
Sab-Committee. So bright a prospect had not presented
itself for many years.—(Hear, hear.)
Captain GROVER had much pleasure in seconding the
resolution, which was carried by acclamation.
The Earl of GLENGALL, in returning thanks, was
desirous of making one or two remarks on the present
position of affairs. The report had doubtless been in a
very high degree satisfactory to the Proprietory, and
he thought Mr. Bunn deserved all the eulogium tha

could be on him.—(Cheers.) It would be remem-
bered that last year they were in a most perilous position.
The theatre had been given up to them in a most un-
expected manner, and had placed the Proprietors in a

. .
most serious predicament. The arrange.ments made
with the late lessee rendered the fulfilment of it

on his part a matter of honour. All the facts,
however, connected with the sudden termination

of his

connexion with the

theatre

had been

placed before the public, who would judge of the merits
of the case in a fair and impartial manner. When that
circumstance occurred, London had to be searched from

imne end to the other for a tenant, and, after the lapse of
some time, Mr. Bunn undertook the lesseeship. At that
time not an actor was engaged, nor had one single ar-
rangement been made for the commencement of the

season:
...Difficulties were, eventually, surmounted, and

the public at once showed their appreciation of Mr.
Bunn's management, for, during the last season, a larger
number of persons had visited the theatre than during
any season since the palmy days of Kean.—(Cheers.)
Considerable sums of money had, consequently, been re-
ceived by the lessee ; but as his arrangements at the
outset had to be rapidly formed, his expenses had been
greater than in all probability they would be during the
next year. With all his success, therefore, only the
minimum amount of 'rent agreed upon bad been paid.
The Noble Earl, in conclusion, expressed a hope that the
Proprietors and Renters would be placed on a more equit-
able footing. Under the present arrangement, a great
disproportion existed, but it was to be hoped that, by the
exertions of Mr. Robins and other gentlemen, some other
arrangement might be effected.—(Hear, hear.)
On this subject a long discussion took place, after which
Mr. SAMUEL WELLS, the Common Councilman, re-
quested permission to propose a resolution. They had
met that day under somewhat more joyous circum-
stances than usual, attributable, he believed, to Mr.
Bunn's admirable management of the theatre. With the
permission of the assembly he (Mr. Wells) would move
the following resolution :—" That the cordial thanks of

the Proprietors be given to Alfred Bunn, Esq., for the
great judgment, unwearied perseverance, and disinte-
rested zeal he has displayed in the management of the
theatre."

Mr. RAMSBOTTOM, M.P., fully concurred in the ob-
servations which had fallen from Mr. Wells, and in the

resolution he had proposed. He would second it heartily.
A Sub-Committee having been chosen, thanks were

voted to the Noble Chairmtin, who briefly acknowledged
the compliment. Thanks were also voted to Major
Naylor for auditing the accounts. The name of the
Duke of Leinster was added to the general Committee,
and the meeting then dispersed.

FURIOUS DRlVlNG.—Yesterday, about one o'clock,
the neighbourhood of Blackfriars'-road was a scene of
great confusion and alarm to those who were out at the
time. A cabman, of the name of John Cole, got stu-
pidly drunk, and so excited his horse, that he ran off at
a most frightful rate. Cole very soon lost his balance,
and was thrown with dreadful violence to the ground,
where he lay until some policemen removed him, in a
state of unconsciousness, to the surgery of Messrs.
Brady, where he remained for nearly an hour before
he was considered fit to be removed. The horse, find-
ing himself free from restraint, dashed on at an in-
creased speed, until he came in collision with a lamp-
post, which shattered the cab into pieces, and very
nauch injured the animal, It was very fortunate the
road was clear at the time, otherwise an accident must
necessarily have taken place. Should not this man be
punished otherwise than by the mere taking away of
his badge, for thus endangering the lives of others?
EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE.—On Thursday morning,
the 11th instant, at daybreak, one of the pilots of St. Ives
went to the head to look out for vessels, and on arriving
there, he was surprised by the sound of distress from some
person near him. He looked around, and shortly saw in-
distinctly a figure in the water, which he took to be a naked
body of a man. He ran instantly to call his comrades, who
were in bed, but came immediately, and they launched their
boat, and rowed in the direction where the object had been
seen. It had drifted a considerable distance from the spot
where it was first observed, but, after a short time they found
a young woman floating on her back in the water, and alive.
They, of course brought her speedily to land, and after some
time, by the treatment of Mr. Samuel Hocking, surgeon, she
was sufficiently restored to give an account of herself. She
was a servant at one of the shops in the town, and had become
pregnant by some one whose name she would not disclose.
Her pregnancy had lately been suspected by the persons with
whom she lived, and to avoid the disgrace of its confirmation,
she unhappily attempted to drown herself. She went into
the water at the breakwater point, and drifted around the
head, a distance of more than a quarter of a mile, and could
not have been in the water less than an hour. She is fully
recovered, and removed to the home of her friends at Redruth.
West Briton.

A CURIOUS RELIC.—The Prussian Gazette states
that a young woman of Keine, who was travelling with her
master's family, found on the road to Bautzen a ring set in
rubies, which had on one side a representation in relief of
Christ on the Cross, and on the other the instruments of pu-
nishment. The ring bears this inscription—" Martino Lu-
ther, Catherine V. Boren, die 31 October, 152.5." The ring,
which is well preeeried, is a perfect model of art.

SION BILL.
The Duke of RICHMOND moved the order of the
day for the further consideration of this Bill, and
James Thomas Russell was called to the bar, in pur-
suance of their Lordships' order of Friday last.
The LORD CHANCELLOR asked, was the witness
at the bar, and being answered in the affirmative, his
Lordship informed the witness that a part of the ques-
tions and answers of the previous examinations would
be read to him ; and if Mr. Russell desired the whole
would be read to him.
Mr. Russell wished to hear the whole read, which
was accordingly done by the clerk.
The reading of the evidence being concluded,
Lord BROUGHAM asked the witness did he not on
the former day say that he had never seen the person
whose name he refused to give, except in the presence of
his brother ?
The Earl of RADNOR rose to order. He had on the
former occasion objected to this question being pressed.
The witness and counsel were ordered to withdraw.
Lord RADNOR proceeded—He was of opinion that
neither in law or justice should the witness be compelled
to answer the question, or to be committed to prison if
he did not, as was threatened the other day. He re-
minded their Lordships that when the Bill was sent up
from the House of Commons, a petition was presented
from the plaintiff, Charles Henry Russell, praying to
be heard by counsel against the Bill, and the counsel
were heard. Well, after that, a Noble Duke moved that
evidence should be required to show that the petitioner
was the bona fide plaintiff. It seemed to him that it was
rather late in the day to call for evidence that he was the
plaintiff after he had been named by his counsel as
plaintiff upon his petition. But. passing that over, let
them come to the nosition tne matter now stood
in.—(Hear, near.') The witness on Friday refused
to give the name e a person whose name was commu-
nicated to him in professional confidence, and
stated that he had laid a case before Mr. Erle, the
Queen's Counsel, that he was not bound to divulge the
name to the House. The House then adjourned in order
to examine the witness's evidence before the Committee,
and to compare it with what he had given before the
House. He (Lord Radnor) had compared the evi-
dence, and he could not find that there was any
discrepancy. Whether the person whose name it
was sought to get at was a gentleman or no gentleman,
it was quite consistent with the most respectable cha-
racter that a man should be desirous of puttiag an end
to gambling of this kind, and yet might not wish
to be held up as a common informer in a qui
tam action. In such a case it was not improper
or unreasonable that a man, gentleman or no gentle-
man, should go to an attorney, and ask him to find
some one to bring the action, he, himself being liable for
the costs. The object of fishing out the name was to
enable the Earl of Eglintoun and the other defendants to
know against whom they might proceed hereafter, if the
action went in their favour or was stopped. He did not
think that the answer would be of any use to the House.
He could not see what they wanted with it, or what
right they had to exercise their power of committing the
witnesses.
Lord BROUGHAM thought that that was not the
time when the Noble Lord should hoe made his
speech. The time would be when the motion should
be put for committing the witness. Then it
would be for his Noble Friend to make his speech
to show cause why the witness should not be committed.
—(A laugh.) But he (Lord Brougham) never heard so
marvellously erroneous an argument in his life, as
that the witness was not bound to answer because a
Queen's Counsel, very learned in the law, gave an
opinion that he was not bound to answer the question.
What ! was it to be said to their Lordships that they
should be governed in their acts, whenever a point of
law arose, by the opinion of a counsel learned
in the law? He (Lord Brougham) was sorry that his
Noble and Learned Friend on the Woolsack was dis-
turbed by other Noble Lords.—(Hear, hear, and
laughter.) He wished to have the attention of his
Noble and Learned Friend, because this point was
very material—more material in respect to the forms and
privileges of the House than to the case in question.
His Noble Friend (Lord Radnor) did not understand the
case—(A laugh)—the question was one of very material
consequence to the case. The object of the
examination was to ascertain who was the per-
son interested in these qui tarn actions. The pe-
titioner was heard by counsel on his representation
that he was plaintiff, and that he would be
injured by the passing of The Bill. Now, the object of
the question was to ascertain whether he was the plain-
tiff, and liable to be injured by the Bill. It was with a
view to the privileges of the House that he troubled
their Lordships with those observations.
The Duke of RICHMOND said that his Noble
Friend (the Earl of Radnor) had taken up this case with
great warmth and but little consideration. The
Noble Earl had accused the Committee of striving to fish
out the name of an individual to serve the purposes of
Lord Eglintoun. If that had been said out of the House
he (the Duke of R.) would have given it a very short
answer. He thought they were perfectly right in getting
at the name of the inaividual who brought the action
in another person's name, and might be, for aught they
could know, the foreman of the jury, although he-was
interested in the amount of all the costs and one-half of
the damages.
Lord EGLINTOUN was certain that his Noble
Friends on the Committee would not condescend to act
as they had been accused of acting, for the purpose of
serving his interests. He would by no means wish that
on his account any friends of his would be so influenced.
—(Hear, hear.)
The Earl of RADNOR explained.
The LORD CHANCELLOR directed the short-
hand writer to read his notes of the question.
Lord BROUGHAM said that he was giving the
House his assistance as a professional Peer, but he would
cease to do so if the House did not protect him from
interruption.—(Hear, and a laugh.)
The witness was then called in and examined by Lord
BROUGHAM, as to whether he knew the name of the
unknown, otherwise than through his brother, and in
connection with these actions ?
Witness—Never.----("Hear, hear," from Lord Radnor.)
Lord BROUGHAM said he never knew such great
indecency before—(" Hear, hear," and " Order")—in a
court of law as to call out "hear, hear" at the answer of a
witness. But, it was now clear, from the answers of the
witness, that the name was a privileged communication,
and the witness could not be compelled to answer the
question.
The LORD CHANCELLOR concurred with his
Noble and Learned Friend, as the doubt had arisen
from the ambiguity of the witness's former answer.
Lord CAMPBELL and Lord COTTENHAM were of the
same opinion ; but they thought that the question was
by no means an unnecessary or unimportant one.
Lord RADNOR begged leave, in his own justifica-
tion, to read what had been said. The Noble Lord then
read an extract from the witness's evidence.
The LORD CHANCELLOR—The question was
this, and it had been decided by Mr. Baron Parke—Was
the solicitor bound to disclose his client ? He said no,
and so also decided Mr. Baron Parke.
Lord CAMPBELL thought that further time ought
e allowed for consideration.