Star.
London, England, 1817-03-21 00:00:00

DRURrz Ah B THEATRE.

A Meeting of Proprietors was yesterday convened
in the Saloon of this Theatre, for the purpose of con-
sidering the expediency of letting it, at the termina-
tion of the present season, for a certain number of
years. At about one o'clock Lord Esincrwas called
to the Chair, and having stated the object of the
Meeting,
Mr. Roam rose to propose a series of Resolutions,
and called the attention of the Meeting to the present
dilapidated state of the affairs of the Theatre. It was
fresh in the recollection of all present in what man-
ner the late Mr. Whitbread had acted a few years
back, when the concerns wore an appearance much
more satisfactory than they did at present. An ad-'
vantageous offer mule by a Gentleman present, by
which a gain of about 6 or 7 per cent. might have
been obtained, was then rejected ; and the plan of
adopting a Managing Committee was preferred, by
which it was then hoped to reap 11 or 12 per cent.
profit. These expectations, however, proved ground-
less ; and Mr. Whitbread himself, afire the expira-
tion of three years, recommended the letting of the
Theatre. He-(Mr. Robins) had himself predicted,
that under the management of the Committee the
affai4 of the Theatre would go to ruin ; and he
wousd read to the Meeting an extract he had made
out of the Reports, which would prove the correct-
ness of his prediction. In the first year the total pro-
fits arising out of the concern were 479,925. 14s. in
the second they were £68,329. 3s. in the third year
1131,581 Ss. sd. the same year, in which Mv. Whit-
bread had recommended that the Theatre should be
let ; and in the fourth year the profits were only
449,586. 17s. making a total deficit of profit, in corn
prison with the first years gain, of A 50,338. 171.
The last year's receipts, it would bi seen, were defi-
cient in the sum of 411,998. I ls. Sd. in comparison
with the preceding year. An Hon. Gentleman (Mr.
Peter !dowel had stated. two years ago, that this
concern was in as bealthy a state as any he had seen
in his life. What portion of truth there had been in
this assertion the assembly was able to judge as well
as himself. He was much surprised bow this healthy
patient so soon unfortunately fell into such a gallop-
ing consumption. With respect to the receipts of
the present year, no accounts bad been delivered, but
it would be most satisfactory to all parties if they
were disclosed. He complained that the Committee
appointed for the management of the concerns of the
Theatre had not regularly attended ; although it
might have been hoped that, where property to the
amount of between 2 and 4300,090 was at stake,
Gentlemen would not have been guilty of this gross
dereliction of their duties. The quarrel which had
lately so unfortunately occurred between the two
Theatres was a striking proof of the bad manage-
mist of the Committee. The opinion of Mr. Sheri-
dan upon this subject was, that unless cordiality sub•
slued between the two rival Theatres, the affairs of
both would equally suffer. He had been accused of
deteriorating the property, but the absurdity of this
charge would be evident, when it was known that he
had, unfortunately, a share of between S and :84000
in the property. After expressing his opinion that
the present unsatisfactory state of affairs arose, in a
great measure. out of the mii-management, of the
Committer. lice sigh inconspeteracy. and asserting that
be had little doubt that the shares which now were
only worth inthe market £lO or 420, world, if the
Theatre was let, fetch ASO or 460, he moved his
Resolutions, proposing to let the Theatre, ifte.
Mr. IROMAIONGILI4 after complimenting the Sub.
Committee for their exertions in the management of
the Theatre, moved an amendment, that applicatiqn
be made to Parliament to :ell the property. By this
method of proceeding the Proprietors would be able
to obtain 15t. iu the pound of their money.
Mr.Cocust opposed the amendment. What ground
was there to suppose that any man would buy this
property at the rate of fifteen ahillings in the pound,
when even now shares might be obtained at four slid-
lings in the pound.
The amendment was withdrawn.

Mr. Taxa. did not wish that the Committee should
be judged unheard. He maintained that the manage-
ment of the Theatre was well conducted in thtir
hands, and most extraordinary exertions had been
made to support this tottering concern, which had
arisen out ut the ashes of the last Theatre. It IT-,
pealed to him a matter of surprise that, in loch times
of distress, either of the rival Theatres were able to
exist. If any gentleman could state any sound ob-
jection to the Committee, and it was discovered that
(they were doing wrong, he should be the first person
to propose their di.missaL He contended that the
anonymous letters which bad appeared in the Public
Prints had done more mischief to the concern than
could be imagined, by persons unacquainted with the
affairs of the Theatre. The person who had written
them, whoever he might be, like an assassin, had sta-
ted tacts as malignant as they were unfounded, and
dared not prove them before the public. He com-
plained that the Meeting had not been properly called
together r the requisition purported to contain the
signatures of several gentlemen, but the Danes were
all written in one hand.

Mr. Roams said, that he had the authority of those
gentle:nets to sign it. He held in his hand a list of
gentlemen boldintg shares to the amount of £50,000
who wished the lheatre to be let. These were all
their own signatures. With respect to the Sub-Com-
mittee, he wished the Meeting to understand, that
although he had a most favourable opinion of their
intentions, yet that they were not competent to nsa-
nage the 'Theatre.
Lord Uses observed, that the Soh-Committee
wets willing to retire, if others could be /mewed as
competent as themselves to conduct the affairs of the
Theatre.
Mr. Roams did not allude to any particular Com-
mittee ; he objected to the principle generally.
Mr. HOLLAND was most unwilliug that the private
affairs of :lie Theatre should be unnecessarily exposed.
The Mover of the Resolutions had stated the defalca-
tion is the receipts at first to be upwards of £31,000,
and subsequently it tell to £ll,OOO, which was rather
nearer the mask. The difficulty, be eoneeived, was
to find a tenant.
Mr. GRENFELL was persuaded, that if a proper of-
fer were made. the Committee would be unanimous
in letting the 'Theatre ; but he thought that before
such au important change in the property
,was actu-
ally wade, another big*. should be Wild, to give

the GOmmittee an opportunity to state their opinions
*poll the subject.
Mr. ROSINS was anxious that no time should be
lost ; as, if the•business were delayed, the lessee, who.
I ever be might be, would have lesi time to form his
I arrangements for the ensuing season.
It having been agreed that the question should be
decided at the present Meeting,
Mr. GREAIFELL again rose, and moved three Res..
lutinns, the substance of which was as follows:
t. That the Theatre Royal, Drury-lane, be let upon a Lean,
provided that an adequate Rent and a valid Security us be ob-
tained.

S. That a General Meeting take steps accordingly at the end
of the present. Season ; and that it be empowered to give publi-
city to such Reports as, in their opinion, may be for the intewat
of the Proprietors..
e. That further proteeeings be reported at the nest Anneal
Meeting of Proprietors in May.
The Hon. Mr. LAMB, after having stated his ob.
jections to a part of the former Resolutions moved by
Mr. Robins, on the ground that they imputed ito.
proper motives is the Committee, referred to the ano-
nymous letters which had been published in the news•
papers; which, he stated, had not only been grossly
personal th himself, but to other gentlemen. He put
it to the judgment of Gentlemen present, whether
such scandalous proceedings were not calculated to
do mischief to the cause they pretended to support ?
The requisition by which this Meeting had been con-
vened, which was signed by one person, who preten-
ded to have the authority of many, was of the same
stamp. The fact was, that the name of one Gentle-
man had been fixed to that requisition who had never
desired it; and of another who was not a shareholder.
The Gentleman who had taken upon himself to do
this had done much mischief to the concern. What-
ever profits might accrue to him by the dilapidation
of this property, he (Mr. Lamb) knew not; but of
this he was persuaded, that, as a proprietor, he had
either neglected his duty, or he had most malignantly
intended to injure the concern. With respect to the
charge at incompetency against the Committee, it
was enough for hint to say that no proof had been
given : and with respect to the wilortunate quarrel
between the two rival "Lheatres, as to Mr. Booth, he
need say nothing, but he believed die town was with
the Theatre of Drury-lane. The fact was, not that
Covent Garden Theatre was ,rising and that this
Theatre was declining, but bush were in the same
falling state, arising from the distresses of the coun-
try. Both were declining, with this advantage only
on the part of Covent Garden, that their private con-
cerns had not yet become public. As to the gross
arid unfounded imputation, that he (Mr. Lamb) only
wanted to take the management of the Theatre into
(his own hands, he could only say, that he must be
I freed from all anonymous letters—he Must be sec ui
from all impertinent attacks, and must have the full
(confidence of all the Proprietors, before he could at-
I tempt it. He concluded by seconding the Resolutions.
Mr. Teel. proposed, that at the next annual Meet-
ing the Sub-Committee should be thanked by the
Proprietors for their exertions.
Mr. PERRY thought that this was the fittest occa-
sion for suck a motion. It was a very full meeting,
and he conceived that no men so justly deserved the
thanks of the Proprietors. It was his decided opi-
nion, that the publication of the anonymous letters
alluded to was most injurious to the property. The
Resolutions which had been proposed met with his
most hearty concurrence, as one great advantage
gained by letting the Theatre would be the putting
A stop to the publication of the private concerns of
the Theatre.

Mr. P. Moose expressed himself very warmly with
respect to the conduct pursued by the mover of the
first series of Resolutions ; who, he said, had endea-
voured, by all means in his power, to deteriorate the
property. The name of une Gentleman had been
put to the requisition who had expressed a decided
opinion that the Theatre ought not to be let on lease
at All. With respect to the assertion that only one,
Gentleman of the Committee had attended during
three or Liu months, he declared that the accusation

was false and calumnious. He contended, that the

exertions of the Committee were most exemplary _
and that, with regard to himself, he had attended for
two or three hours every day, Sundays hardly ex-
cepted. As to their incompetency to perform the
functions of their office, that had already been an-
swered. He next alluded to some anonymous letters,
and read particular passages from each, in order to
shew that they contained assertions unfounded and
malignant. The accusation which one of them
broadly made, that the Committee had incurred a
debt of £40,000, was too absurd to require any an-
swer; but still it was to be observed, that it had its
weight with those who were unacquainted with the
affairs of the Theatre. The letter also stated, that
the Coromittie had, by its gross conduct, reduced the
value of the shares from £lOO to AID. This, he
supposed, fur he could believe nothing else, was done
for the purpose of buying cheap and selling dear. It
was not to the Committee that the fall in the price of
shares was to be emaated, but to those gross and
scandalous reports which had been spread abroad.
Mr. ROBINS explained, that he had not used one
name in the requisition which he was not authorised
to use. The question before the assembly was simply
as to lettin3 the Theatre.
Lord HOLLAND was of opinion, that this public
discussion and disclosure of private concerns was
highly injurious to the interests of the Theatre. If
Drury-lane Theatre stood without a rival, the same
observations would apply; but as another Theatre ex-
isted, it made it the more imperious on the Commit-
tee to keep their private concerns as secret as possi-
ble. With fegard to the question of letting the
Theatre, lie agreed in the expediency of that me. 4.
sute ; but what he particularly wished to avoid was,
It.t.teorg the powers of the Committee granted them
by Act of Parliatuent, as well as the deterioration of
the property, by the spreading of scandalous reports.
He thought the Committee was too large. The Act
of Parliament, however, had made a certaip number
necessary ; and he conceived that at least, while they.
contiuued so constituted, the Proprietors should give
them their run confidence. He was persuaded, that
those little bickering' and cakillings between the Pro-
prietors and the Committee were most injurious to
the interests of all parties engaged in it. His Lord-
ship concluded with moving a resolution. " That the
Committee are entitled to our tell confidence ; and
that their poetess, given to them by Act of Parlia-
, Meat, should remain unfettered clu4ing their present
, management of the concerns of the Theatre."
,The Resolutions moved by Mr. Robins were then

withdrawn, and those proposed by Mr. GrenfeU una-
nimously substituted in their stead. The ResolGtioa
proposed by Lord Holland was also nivel to, ac-
companied by .1 Vote of Thanks to the Sub• Co-
mmittee for their'attention to the concerns of the The-
atre, and their exertions tar its support.
There was no difference of opinion with respect to
the project for letting die Theatre. Almost the whole
discussion which, during one part of it, was carried
on with considerable warmth, turned on the subject
of the abusive paragraphs which had been liubliii:cd
.against the Committee.
It is understood, that Mr. Routes, Mr. RAYMOND,
and Mr. KEAN, are the leading members of one of
the firms, which will bid for a lease of the Theatre:

Wedoesday evening the Duke of Sussex honoured
Drury. Lane Oratorio with his presence. His Royal
Highness was conducted to the Princess COARLOTTZ
and Prince LEOPOUYE box, which is the first time it
has been occupied since it was fitted up teethe Prince
and Princess. It is on the first circle on the King's
side. It has an anti-room attached to it, for the uw
of the Royal Visiturs.
COLLEY CIBISER'S Comedy of The Double Calla* ;
sr, the Sick Lady's Cure, is in rehearsal at Dr 11 plum
Theatre. Mrs. At.soo is to play Lady Dainty, the
sick lady, and Mrs. Davison, Lady Sad. fa.
• The Opera of Don Giovanni, AuzAitr's g. stest
work, is now rehearsing at the King's Thritre It is
to be brought out in a mast splelioid m. es.
-During the issue of the new silver coinage in Dun..
dee, an old man, apparently in the last stage of po.
verty, came into town with a bag contait ing half.
crowns to the amount of one hundred and ten pounds,
and which nem all exchanged except a few krei.ca
coins.

lursday, while some men were employed blowing
stones at a quarry in the neighbourhood of Glasgow,
A stone struck one of the labourers (a poor Irishman)
on the head, which caused his imna.:cliate death. Ile
has left a wife and family.

On the evening of Sunday- the 24 inqant, Mr. Clement Le
Geyt was 'topped on the road led:ng front St Hiker** mit.
Jeisen, by a number of soldiers, who -ndeavourwi
rob hut► of his watch. from which, in the struggle, they tore aw•.y
the chant. Two of me robbers have been ayprethoded, and are
to be tried by a Coort-Martial.

Ciao +stela 1NV17151..--An Inquisition yes taken yesterday at
the Sun and -purtsman. High-street, Mary-la• Boone, on the
body of George :Teat, an old torn, nearly eighty years of age.--
ar. Turner, of Harley fii lds, Regent's Park, steed, that nn
Wednesday morning, about nine o'cleek, he was informed by
some boys that an old man lay with his tace downwards in a
ditch, winch was covered with water about three or four anelt.l
deep. He went to the place, and :mind the it..ccated quite es al.
tie supposed tha• he might have lain there the wtole eat the ere-
cednig night, for he was quite wig and cold. He had Mtn cots.
v..yed to the shove public house. Mr. Cuthbert, mathematical
els-tument soaker, Windmill-street, Haymarket. deposed, that
the deceased had Itwyed in his hause nine years ; he had formerly
been a PeTVltlt in the family of Earl Fuzwilliam and another
Nobleman ; they allowed hint a small income. He went on
Tueeday evening to Lady Fitzwillianes, in Comberhus.l-street,
to retitle, his money, and did not return. On the fullowing
ottling he heard of. the deceased being found in the Regent's
, Park, and he went and owned the body.. The Coroner and Jure
were ut opinion that they could not determine by what amens
the deceased came into the ditch; they supposed it wa* by acci-
dent. and returned the following verdict.—Found sur...tatt.J.
Quzes-seonste...-Yesterday W. ikeis„ a Chels.3 pensioner,
was charged by 1. Steel, another veteran, with !reality a beside
of clothes. It appeared that Steel's wife, in his absence on fu.
reign service, had married Boyle, who being tired of his bargaio,
on Steel's return cheerfully gave 'her op to him The-Lady,
however, did not ',prow *creche, of the tawnier, and, atter
conducting herself with great imprudence. left her first husband's
roof, carrying with her the bundle in question and two pounds
in money, to place herself once More under the proteaion of
Boyle. Much laughter was excited by the concurrent testiratey
of both husban is to the bad qualities of the female, and the Net
detention of both, that tbey would not liSe With her.any icsoisr.
There being no feioniona intention on the part of Boyle, be was
discharged, and Steel took home his clothes, but not his rib/
Bow sr& a rr.—Yeeforday a nu mberof Gem &emu attended at
the Other In expectation of hearing the investigation of a ease of
two men charged with haying sold a horse to a Gentleman fur
sixty guineas, as wand, knowing it to be the contrary. Itie de-
ception was Called shams:tin: Arran; It is frequently practised by
one person representing the horse adveetised for sale as his pre.
Petty. and a second person u his groom to chew the horse. Ike
Gentleman who purchased the horse in question, was, so macs
silken with the appearance of the horse, that he agreed to give to
guinea., the price asked. Mr. BAIR"' attended for the MO
charged to contend that k was a civil transaction and not a crimi-
nal. That Wing the ease, the prosecutor app.iesi far it to be po.s.
paned fora future day, when he would be provided with Cued;
which was agreed to by the Magistrate.