Star.
London, England, 1830-07-05 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

Saturday, a meeting was held in the Saloon of the Proprietors of
Drury-lane Theatre, foe the purpose of receiving the annual state-
ment of accounts, the election of six members of the Committee in
the zoom of those annually retiring, and other business.

Mr. CALCRAFT in the Chair.

From the Annual Report, read by Mr. Dunn, it appeared that,
during the last year, the Lessee had failed in the payment of his rent
to the extent of 1.8001. and that, from that and other causes,
the deficiency of the income of the Theatre amounted, in the
last year, to 8,9271. 13s. Id. That when the late Lessee retired,
the Sub-Committee had, with the assistance of Mr. Wallack. ear.
vied on the business of the theatre to the end of the season. That
in the month of May they advertised foe tenders from perms pro.
posing to become Lessees for a period of seven or fourteen years;
but finding, upon consideration, that circumstances rather fa.
voured their letting for a shorter period, they received biddings
for three years ; and that of Mr. A. Lee appearing most de.
suable, they agreed with that gentleman at a rent of 9,0001.
a-year t he made a deposit of 2,0001. and gave approved se-
curity for a further payment of 3,0001. The building would be
delivered up to him in good order, and requiring but very little to
be laid out in ornamental work or otherwise. The payment to the
renters of Is. 3d. had been made in the last year to the extent
3,8431. The only debt due was that to the band-holders, amoun,
principal and interest, to 10,5771. The balance of each In band
was only 8161. and the committee regretted that out of so small a
sum no dividend could be made. It was hoped that, shortly after
the opening of the theatre, they would be enabled to pay the amount
of interest due.

The Chairman expressed his regret that the report was not
more flattering, but It was their duty to report things as they were.
He had the satisfaction of being able to state, that all the actors and
tradespeople had been paid. After adverting to the liberal manner
in which the performers had agreed, under the peculiar dr-
cumstances of the theatre, to relinquish 25 per cent. of their
respective salaries, he proceeded to say that the Proprietary owed
a deep debt of gratitude to Mr. Wall;ck, for his unceasing and
meritorious exertions ou their behalf. He wished the circum.
stances of the Theatre were such as would enable them to re.
ward his integrity and zeal by a present equal to his deserts. The
rent which Mr. Prim agreed to pay for the theatre was 10,6001;
they were this year under the necessity of letting it at a reduction of
16001: but that was not a pmponionally greater reduction than all
property in the kingdom had undergone. It was important to ob-
serve that one of the reasons which induced them to fix a period of
three years to the lease was, that boxes of the value of between two
and three thousand per annum would fall into the hands of
the proprietary at the end of that time, and whatever they
might happen to be then worth, would be a clear addition to
the rent they should be entitled to demand from their lessee.
From the time when he was first called upon to fill the office
of Chairman, he had necessarily given much attention to the &Wain
of the Theatre, and, without instituting any invidious comparison
between that and any other, he might be allowed to say, that within
the last eleven vests there was not any Theatre conducted with
greater general success. The average amounts drawn during
those years were 9,3001. independently of the fruit offices and the
houses belonging to the proprietors; the latter two producing
1,1001. a year above the average sum of 9.3001.—and that,
notwithstanding the losses they had sustained by the failure of
two lessees, and notwithstanding the dimmers which had befallen
theatrical property generally. lie had also much satisfactimi in
being able to state that all claims upon them they had liquidated,
except the sums due to the bondholder,, which, principal and in.
Wrest, amounted to somewhat upwards of 10.0001. They began with
a debt of 90.0001. which might now be considered as reduced to
ten thousand pounds. He estimated that they might look forward
to a surplus income of front 3,1001. to 3,2001. a-year, applicable
to the reduction of the remaining debt, and which, accordingly,
would enable them to clear it 'Win about four years. He did not
envy the other house its great auctess ; but he could not shut his
eyes to the fact, that that success had diminished the receipts if
Drury-lane below their ordinary amount, by a sum of 8.0001.
at the least. He would not take up their time Magee than In
state that that was the last time he should have Cie honour et ad-
dressing them front the Chair. He had always taken the
interest in their proceedings, and done his utmost to aerv4el=
with diligence for twelve years, and he much regretted that dr.
cumstances should new make his retirement unavoidable. He
had great pleasure in knowing that he was to be succeeded by a
-utternan, Lamb,

OF PARLIAMRN P.

It is understood thee the House of Commons will get through
its portion of the public business by Friday nest, a d Oust they
will, on that day, adjourn until Wednesday, the lith. If the
Howe of Leeds is able to dispose of the business before it by the•
day, the dissolution will then take place forthwith ; but it' any un-
foreseen didlculties arise in the meantime, the dissolution will pro-
bably be postponed till Tuesday the 19th, beynpd which day the
session will not be prolonged. As the late King's funeral takes
place on the 15th, it Is probable that the Houses, if the dissolu-
don cannot be effected on the 11th, will adjourn over till the Mon-
day following.