Star.
London, England, 1830-06-16 00:00:00

THEATRICAL INTELLIGENCE.

COVENT.GARDEN THEATRE.—The following Add Yen was
delivered by 1111% BARTLEY, at the closing of this theatre for the
season, last night :
Ladies and Gentlemen,—ln appearing before you, to offer the
acknowledgments of the proprietors of this theatre for the patronage
with which they have been honoured during the present season,
a more than customary responsibility devolves upon me. It
is due to many persons, deeply Interested In the welfare of this
large property, that, upon the present occasion, some informs.
Lion should be afforded of the immediate state of its finances
and resources—of what, aided by the kind forbearance of its
creditors, it has this season achieved, and what, under similar
forbearance, it may fairly be expected to achieve hereafter.
The difficulties in which this theatre was involved previously to the
commencement of the season must be fresh in the recollection of my
auditors. The first hope of relief from those difficulties emanated
from a numerous meeting of the friends and patrons of the Drama,
when liberal subscriptions were entered into, loans advanced, and
recommendations proposed to the shareholders, and other cre-
ditors, to grant such time and indulgence as would enable the theatre
once more to open, and struggle to retrieve itself. Those recom-
mendations were attended to—the struggle has been made, and the
result has been prosperous. On the first night of performance we
had the good fortune to introduce a eanditant for public favour,who,
animated by the purest motives, preferred a claim to your patronage,
which was at once accorded; and, under the cheering auspices of
your fostering encouragement, Miss Fanny Kemble has sustained a
reputation in a range of the higher characters of' the Drama which has
kept alive the interest of the public throughout the season ; and to
her extraordinary and uninterrupted attraction, assisted by the
production of some successful novelties, we arc indebted for the
results which I will take the liberty of briefly enumerating.—
The current expenditure of the present season having been first
provided for, the surplus has been so applied in the discharge of the
debts of the theatre as that (in the event of continued success) a
reasonable hope may be entertained by the shareholders of seeing
the commencement of the liquidation of their claims next season.
The liberal contributors, who gays sums to raise a fund for the re.
opening and support of the theatre, will be pleased to learn that that
fund has not been broken in upon beyond what the most urgent
circumstances rendered necessary; and that the balance remains
lodged in the hands of the trustees, to answer future emergencies.
To those friends who advanced loans, Mr. Kemble declared that
" the proudest day of his life would be that on which, with
the grateful thanks of the numerous persons whom they were
then assisting, he should be enabled to return their subacrip.
Lions;' and, although the embarrassments of the theatre are
far from being removed, Mr. Kemble considers that the pe-
riod has arrived when he is called upon to redeem his pledge ;
and a notice has accordingly been sent to the subscribers of
loans that the sums so advanced are ready to be returned.
Such, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the brief outline of the present
state of the theatre ; and It is, therefore, almost superfluous to add,
that, during the recess, every possible exertion shall be made to
merit a continuation of your patronage next season. In taking leave
of you now, it is difficult for me to find words that will duly
express the thanks of the proprietors for the kindness they have
experienced ; but they request you to believe it is indelibly im-
pressed upon their minds. On the let of October, Ladies and Oen-
tlemen, we propose to meet you again—until then, in the names of
the proprietors and the performers, I again offer you our general and
grateful thanks, and most respectfully bid you farewell.