Star.
London, England, 1811-05-10 00:00:00

were arrth4ee to four to those of the Established
Church i and that if Bcotland and Ireland were to be
included, the proportion between the Dissenters and
the Egtablished Church would be found as two to
one. The tide was running that way, and who could
stop it ? It has been observed, that we had an Esta-
blished Church and a sectarian people ; the observa-
tion would soon be confirmed, if the members of tl:e
Established Church- were not more active in their at-
tention to the duties of their calling, and to the reli-
gions wants of the people.
The Bill was then read a first time, and ordered to
be printed.
After some conversation between Lords Sid mouth,
Holland, and Stanhope,
Lord SIDMOUTH said, that he expected the Bill
would be printed and ready for delivery on Monday
next ; and that on that day he should move that it
be read a second time on the following Friday.
VEXATIOUS ARSYSTS.
The House was for some time in a Committee on
this Bill ; and a conversation took place 00 its clauses
between Lord ELLENBOROUGIip the Lord COANCELLOIts
and Lords REPESDALE, MOIRA. HOLLAND, and STAN..
MOPS.
LordELLENBOROV6I4 thought the bill would
be rather injurious to the honest creditor, without
affording any real relief to the debtor.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said, that he had
observed with pleasure that in this country men rose
generally from small beginnings ; and he feared that
`if the present bill passed, those who new obtained
credit for it 10, with the terror of an arrest hanging
over their heads, would not after the passing of this
bill obtain credit to that amount. The more indus-
trious class might therefore lose by it, and so far the
`bill might be founded on a mistaken humanity. It
was, however, with reluctance that he should oppose
lit ; he might, however, be induced to withdraw that
opposition, if the bill were made a temporary, instead
of a perpetual bill.
Lord REDESDALE explained the groundsupon
which lie had introduced the bill, and professed his
readiness to acquiesce in the suggestion of his Noble
and Learned Friend, the Lord Chancellor.
Lrrd ELLENBOROUGH was also ready to
withdraw his objection, if the sum of £l5, instead of
£2O, were made the amount of the sum under which '
an arrest could not take place. 11
I
This suggestion was adopted.
Earl STANFIOPE, however, when the clause
was read for excepting bills of exchange and promis-
sory notes, opposed this exception, and moved, that.
the clause be left out of the bill; on which a division
took place—
For the original clause
For the Amendment -
Adjourned at nine o'clock.

• •

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The Loan BM was read a second time, and ordered to be cow
initted tomorrow.
The Innkeepers' Bill was read a third time and passed.
The Report on the Bristol Port Bill was received,and the
biU
ordered to be read a second time to-morrow.
The Report of the Committee of Supply was brought up, and
the Resolutions agreed to.
Mr. Secretary ;LYDICK intimated, that on Monday next he
would submit a motion to the House for permitting the inter-
change of the English and Irish Militia.
The Portugal Treaty Bill passed through a Committee, and the
Report was ordered to be received to-morrow.
The Irish Embezzlement Bill passed through a Committee,
and the Report ordered to be received to-morrow.
LONBON TKILATRB BILL.
Yr. MELLISH 'mond the second reading of the
London Theatre BBL
Mr. WHITBREAD said he was not surprised at
the motjon of the Hon. Gentleman, notwithstanding
what had passed on that day six weeks ; but he was
sure that when he heard the reasons upon which an
application for further delay was grounded, he would
have no objection to agree to its postponement to
another Session of Parliament. The object with
which it was postponed on that day six weeks was,
that the Committee engaged in investigating its affairs
might be enabled to stare to the House whether there
was a probability that Drury-lane Theatre would be
reconstructed. That Committee had proceeded in
its inquiries, and had come to a Resolution, that all
obstructions to its reconstruction were removed; nay,
they had proceeded so far towards the completion of
the object, that a plan had been drawn out which was
likely to meet with numerous subscribers, and every
thing was going forward in regular progress to its
success. He hoped by the beginning of next session
to be able to state positively that a new theatre would
be erected by the Patentees of Drury-lane.—As to
the other questions involved in this subject, he should
offer no opinion. It might be for the consideration of
the House at a future day, whether a third Theatre
was necessary or not ; but at present he should abstain
altogether from that topic, confining himself to the
fact he had already stated as a reason for the post-
ponement of the bill to the next session. He hoped
that the Hon. Gentleman himself ( Mr. Mellish) would
accede to the proposition on such a ground.
Mr. BROWN ,said, it was with great reluctance
he felt himself bound to oppose the suggestion of the
Hon. Gentleman. He agreed, that one of the ob-
jects of the late postponement was to ascertain whe-
ther there was a probability that the Theatre would
be rebuilt ; but there was another question in which
he could not agree with the Hon. Gentleman (Mr.
Whitbread) in overlooking, and that was, whether a
third Theatre was necessary ? He gave full credit
to the statement of the Hon. Gentleman, but, strong,
as it might appear, it fell far short of that degree of
certainty which the House had a tight to expect. It
was true, the Committee had reported that all ob-
structions to the rebuilding were removed ; but they
had given no assurance, that, all obstructions being
removed, they would be able to go on with the
-Theatre.
Mr. WHITBREAD said, that on or before the
Ist of October next, a statement would be given of
the fact, whether Drury-lane theatre could be built
or not; and if it could be built, as he had every reason
to expect, it would be built immediately.
Mr. W. POLE thought the statement of the Ho-
nourable Gentleman perfectly satisfactory, and thought ,
it would be a harsh, if not an unjust proceeding, to
refuse the postponement of the bill under such cir-
cumstances.
Mr. PETER MOORE said that the Committee
(of which he had the honour to be Chairman) had
two points to consider ; the first was the amount
and nature of the claims upon the theatre ; the 2d,
the probability of its being rebuilt. He complimen-

-

ted the various claimants for the parts they had act.
ed under the calamity, and described them as mt.
ning a race to see who should make the greatest sa.
crifice. The conduct of his Hon. Friend (Mr. She.
ridan) was also a subject for admiration, with the
same disinterestedness and liberality which had al-
ways distinguished Isis political life ; he too was era.
ling to make a sacrifice to an extent which the Com-
mittee thought it necessary to check. Upon she
whole, he could assure the House that the obstacles
to the rebuilding were entirely removed ; and as ter
the undertaking of it, he hoped they would give ate.
[ ther year for the commencement of the splendid
structure, which it was in contemplation to erect. He'
I moved that the second reading should be postponed
till that day three months.
• General TA RLETON expressed a hope that the
,House would accede to the proposal of delay, if
not upon the statements they had heard, a haw
through respect. to the Hon. Gentleman concren.
ed, and to the stoicism with which he had sustained
his loss. (Hear, hear.) As to the necessity for a
third theatre, he must confess, that he was not aware
of it. There was now but one Theatre, at the heat
of which was an accomplished scholar and able ma-
nager, and yet he was a.V.iged to bring quadrupeds
on the stage, for the purpose of assisting his attrac-
tions. ( A laugh.) This was not very like an over.
demand for the legitimate drama. The Houle
should recollect, that the present was an age peculi.
arly fruitful in speculations. This spirit pervaded all
departments down to the theatre itself ; and they
should be cautious how, in c. mpliance with its wishes,
they interfered wi.h the sight of one who, would justly
be considered by any age, its brightest and most dis-
tinguished ornament.
Mr. MARRIOTT said, that the greatest inco nve.
nience was experienced by the town, for the want of
another theatre. If any one now sent to engage a
box, he was told that he could not have it fur three
weeks to come ; at the end of which time he was ad-
mitted to a comedy or a tragedy, just as the chance
presented. If he wanted €o laugh, he was perhaps
made to weep ; or if he wished to indulge in tears, it
was perhaps his fate to be excited by humotir ;—the
effect of it was, that instead of the Managers being
competitors for public favour, the public were com-
petitors for the favour of the Managers. If Drury.
lane Theatre was to be rebuilt (and that, it would, he
loped as much as any man) it would be formed upon
the same principle with that of Covent Garden, with
a view rather to the profits of the Managers than to
the convenience of the public ; the consequence would
be, that horses would be brought on, they being a
class of performers more easily paid and fed, and
men and women of talent would be neglected as at
present. Mr. John Kemble, he understood from the
newspapers, had said at the dinner of the 0. P con•
federacy, that they must have two Theatres if they
would have one good Theatre. The principle was
undoubtedly true ; and it was true in all cases, as
well political as dramatic. If they had but one
Theatre they would be presented with sound and
spew, instead of sense ; and if but one Bank, they
would be overrun with depreciated paper.
Mr. MORRIS said; that the circumstance of itlany
able performers being out of employment, was one
likely to be applicable to all times and situations. In
France, where Theatres were so numerous, and where
taste was supposed to exist to such a deg-tee, this
complaint was always made, and always made with
reason. As to the introduction of pageanuy Nee
the stage, that also was a general practice to which
Managers most resort. It was a weli known tact
that the Misanthrope of Molier was held up for many
I nights by the aid of a farce, or some chewy exhibi-
tion, which kept the audience in good humour. The
1 public taste was not to be considered degraded mere-
ly because it could admire talents of u different de-
scription, or performances of a distinct species. There
was always a security in the good sense of the people
for their coming back again to the legitimate drama.
As to the question of expense, though the food and
pay of the quadruped performers were less, the v:hoie
expense of the pageant was considerably greater. Bat
*hen the drama was mentioned, and its excellence
referred, they should recollect how much the drama
was indebted to him whose interest was concerned ;a
the motion. They should recollect, that if we were
.now in a condition to contend with the Theatre of
France, it was to him they were indebted for that dis.
tinction. They should also recollect, that the names
of Siddons, Kemble, and Jordan, appeared amoeg
the creditors of the late Theatre of Drury lane ; and
decided upon the propriety of postponing their claims
to the claims of speculators.
Mr. SHERIDAN said, be was grateful for the ci-
• vility and attention he had experienced from both sides
of the House, and felt it a flatteritrg testimony, that
'though he had been for many years a decided pan'/
man, he had so conducted himself as to leave no angry
impression. His Honourable Friend on his rigbt
hand (Mr.Whitbread) hid pressed for the indulgence
of the House; and his Hon. Friend behind him (lir.
P. Moore) had solicited its favour, under the circuit.
stances of the case before them—but, with all the gra-
titude he felt for the personal civility of indirida.o,
he must be still proud enough to say, that he ap-
pealed not to their indulgence, but strictly and solely
to their justice. It had been said that boxes coul4
. not be had, and that the taste of the town was
Per.
" verted. The first he hoped to remedy if they svoehl
give him time ; and as fur the second he could sap
that if the taste of the town waserverted, it was not
by the Managers. He could say for a fact, that Mr.
Kemble would rather act on his own two legs than
' bring the horses to perform on four. The taste of the
town was dissipated by luxury, and by the disincl
nation of the people in high life from taking that rule
in the Theatre which they were accustomed to take,
and not by any misconduct on the part of the I,l.tna.
gers themselves. It had been said that there was but.
onthoeseTthwoeatrwea;s bexuatcidnyfaocftththeeresizwe elrvehkt
veiny, and enabled every one to hear and sec, yet tar,
Theatre was deserted. He recollected that when n :
play of De Montford, by Miss Bailey,
le
out, the most admirable acting of Mr. Kea.b
the most splendid decorations of scenery, were ir-'4"
ficient to suppost it, and it failed, he thought, to t.
was brougll
disgrace of the public taste. What lie swot! upon w,ts
who e=auandd
el ec'; t•
that if a third Theatre should be thought rccessr.
be, and those for whose interests he cogended,
.. 4,
tthe power to erect it ; and he was confident no re•
'Would be taken by that House from any indiriduas
without propel compensation being made. Aprio