The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-05-11 00:00:00

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certainly never boasted of having' made any such
advances. It had beets mentioned iucidently as a rea-
son of prudence in lo .king for a Commitee. Bat
this, he would now say, that he never had called
on any banker to edvance a shilling for the Theatre.
'The simple matter for the Meeting was to express
their sentiments on the single point of whether it
ould be advisable, If a good offer from a competent
party should be made, for the Committee to accept
of it, or whether it would be advisable to,appoint
another Committee. His determination was taken.
The tack he undertook he had fulfilled. He had
devoted much time to it. He had had many diffi-
culties to etwoouter—testly obstacles to surmount.
The Theatre and its jarring concerns had met him in
every company ; he had a thousand plans offered ,
with advice of every kind. Some he had fol-
lowed—many more he had rejected ; and on the
whole he had the feeling of having acted fur the best.
The lion. Gentleman had alluded to the recovery of
.1000 and odd pounds-from the Opera House for a
• shame of the dormant patent. He certainly took
.credit to himself for having obtained that sum, since
.every one thoug,lmt it was even too desperate to at-
tempt. But the two Hon. Gentlemen said that a
Sub-Committee might he found. Lord Byrom had
been named, and a name dearer to literature could
not be found. Ifere was one—the Honourable Mr.
Kinnaird, he presumed, would be another—and from
what hell fallen frOni Mr. Moore, he supposed they
- might reckon on him for a third.—,Could they name
two more ? There must be five ; •and it would be
necessary that they should be speedily named, be-
cause as the Committee, by the Act, remained, in
(Ace three. mouths after the close of the Theatre, the

new season would be begun before they could enter
on .office, if room were not made for them by the
resignation of some of the present Committee, which
be was authorised to say would be done, to accommo-
date the Company.
Sir T. Tuntort recalled the Meeting to the ques-
tion before them. Was it their opinion, that the
concern should be let or not ?—For his own part, he
freely confessed, that with the highest sense of the
great services of the Committeet he did not think
such a plan of management the most likely one to
make the most of a theatrical concern. Much was
said of the prospects of their interest ; but how
could they reckon on this increase, when in point of
fact, with the powerful aid of Mr. Kean, the re-
septa of the present 'mop, were 30001. less than
the last, up to the present period ?—As to the foie
support of a legitimate drama, he yielded to no man
in its value; but standing as the Director of a 'rhea.
tre, he admitted that if the bad taste of the Public
celled for quadruped exhibitions, he would not feel
himself justified in resisting this mania at the ex-
pence of the treasory of the concern. One profes.
sional man, without meaning disrespect; would he
worth three of any other sort of Managers, and
would be better calculated to conduct the necessary
arrangements of such au establishment. lie was
therefore decidedly in favour of letting the concern.
MP. Panay strongly objected to the observations
of the last speaker. They went to destroy the very
principle which formed the object of those who had
originally subscribed, namely, the establishment
of a legitimate drama. The expulsion from Drury.
lane 'Theatre of those abominable buffooneries,
which vitiated taste produced, was creditable to
that concern, and salutary in its influence over the
other directors of the drama in the country. He
would, therefore, object to the revival of a system
which went to demoralize the public taste, and to I
countenance the introduction of such exhibitions as
were calculated to vitiate the community. It was
to prevent this, that the Subscribers entered upon
the business • it was not for the paltry consideration
of a little. individual profit of a pecuniary character,
but by a tontine effort to do that by a number,which
if it succeeded was a national object, and if it failed,
could hardly be said to impose any particolar hard-
ship. The former intention, before the fire, was
quite inapplicable to the present system ; then it was,
in the hands of an individual, on whom it would
hue been hard to impose so great a risk—now it.
was divided among a number. He also objected to
such a practice, from the bad consequences it would
create among the artists of the Theatre—it would, in
fact, destroy the elements of their existence. Men
of mind and talent would not engage in an arduous
profession like the stage, if they were not secure in
the idea that their labours would be continued and
appreciated—if they had not a prospect of enjoying
the wealth which their labours accumulated. At

Drury-lane Theatre there were, he believed, almost
five Gentlemen who had realised properties of from
30 to 100,0001. each. The chance of having suc..
cecsors fer such men would be hopeless, if the true
drama was discouraged. Mr. Perry concluded -by
expresiing his opinion in favour of the Sub-Cem.
mittee of Management. .. •
Mr. Roams said, that's Mr. Kinnaird had point-
cd to him as to one who was likely to be s. Candi-
datelot the Theatre, he begged leave to set him right
on that point. le certainty.had no such Intention ;H
but he thought that it 'would he the most 'advisable.,
way for all parties; that it should be let, if a desirable
ob'er were mode. •It was adsisable to let it

when in a flourishing condition. The Hon.-Gentle-
man had said, that perhaps 'the present season might
be 30001. short of the two former—the next might
be 30001. short•of this—and we tnight wish to lei it
when it was tea late to meet with an advantageous'
offer. .

Mr. SitAxittireAlla Rein expressed himself also as
friendly to the idea-of letting it. . •' • • •
Captain Goocu said, that he should be happy to
have the opinion of the Hots. Chairman ott the -point-
--for the opinion of the person whenvall joined in
raking, and who had &tiers° much foe tie Theatre,.
would regulate his vote: I-- •
51r. WiIiTuREAD said, that when thus called upon,
he had no hesitation in saying, that if e • good +offer
should be made from a vespcinsible auti• every way
propel patty, he should be disposed, with the con:
cirtimee orthat meeting, to let it for a term.
"'The Question, whether all, tie present ComMittee
litho to retire?• being pit to a show of hands.
'TliiAYes for letting the Theitre were Counted;
iird lei*. IS; the Noes were so numerous; that
IVldtbreed declared it was carried' in the negative ;
that is, the sense of the Meetihg was against the
litting.—Thanks were then- voted to Mr. Whithresdi
for his impartial conduct in the Chair.