The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-10-01 00:00:00

ATATtgMAN

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rendered ensvailing the exertions which they were
/milling to have made, this Carmine, collectively and
individually, as Proprietors, presume and expect
that those who have treated the difficulties will now
(without subjecting the property to greater responsi-
bility than that which this Committee proposed) pro-
vide the means of removing the embarrassments and
restoring the Theatre to. it state of comparative valor;
at the period when they first disobeyed the Resolve,
tions of the Proprietors.
' 66 This Committee having personally commits'.
cited with Mr. Colman, have no reason to doubt his
MOW to have undertaken the management, sub,- I
ject to such limitations as the Legislature have pro.,
ticribed. The Proprietors will, however, leerni
with surprise, that although the General Commit-
tee in their Report, on the 28th of July last, ad-
mitted the peculiar qualifications of Mr. Colman,
,and stated that they had entered into or commenced
.t emaciation with him, :end although by the last
Repoli of the Sub-Committee they may be les)Aw
blieve that such negociatien had since been p ec r eed.ll
in, bet which, for the tuition therein suggested, had
not been satisfactorily corn:Wed, this Committee
have Mr. Coletan's authority in writing, for declaring
thet nricommenication whatever has taken pleas be-
tween the Sub-Committee and him since the 234 of
Jtily last, .when a reply was sent to the only appli-
cation which bad been made on behalf of the Sub-,
Committee to him.
" This Committee are informed, that neither Col.
Patrick Douglas, whose appoisittnent as Trustee was
at the last General Assembly declared by the Pro-
prietors to be injurious to their interests, or Mr.
Richard Wilson, who then asserted that he was will-
ing to relinquish his office as a Member of the Sub.
Committee if such resignation was wished by the
Peopeleints, have yet acted in conforinity to their
declared .opielons.
" Thii•Committee now terminate their labours by
recoinnteliding the vigilant attention and co-operation
'of the Proprietors to prevent the attainment of any
further legislative measure, by which additional
powers, inconsistent with the Proprietors' few re-
maining rights, may be attempted to be gained by the
General or Sub-Committee,or the shares become sob.
jected to any pecuniary payment, or any part of the
theatrical property, except certain private boxes, the
fruit offices, and detached premises, made responsi-
ble for any further loan."
Mr. Laos moved that the Report should be ap-
proved by the Meeting.
The CUAIRMAN declared the decision to be in fa-
vour of the motion on the show of hands.
Mr. P. MooRE demanded a ballot, observing at the
same time, that all the Sub-Committee bad done, was
with a view to place themselves in a situation to let
for the interest of the Theatre. Their reason for
going to Parliament, which was one of the topics of
complaint, was to comply with the standing orders
of the House. They did not mean to proceed any
further in that business, or to take any step that did
not seem desirable to the general proprietory.
Mr. CALCSArr rose to order, and said that as a
'ballot was called for, no discussion could take place
seta that ballot was determined.
Mrs. DOTLEn. said, she had one question to pet
-before they proceeded to the ballot. She wished to
.know the reason why Mr. Jack Johnstone, one of the
best props of that House, was discharged from the
-Theatre without any explanation as to the cause of
•msch an extraordinary proceeding 2
Sir Teomas Tuvrom regretted thet the reenter
course of business prevented him from complying
with her request at that moment ; but after the bal.
lot was disposed of, he would take care to pot the
question to the Gentlemen of the Sub-Committee.
The ballot then commenced.
Upon the termination of the ballot, Mr. Catcam
stated that two Ladies had offered to vote after the
ballot had closed, and when their votes were not re•
gularly admissible, bot that both expressed their dis-
position to vote in favour of the Report of the Special
Committee.
The numbers were then announced— •
For the Approval of the Report 66.—Apiost It 63.—Majority 3.
The Report was received, and approved accord-
ingly.
The CHAIRMAN was then about to proceed with
the ballot for the six Members of the General Coin•
mittee, when
Mr. COCKER begged to offer a few remarks before
it commenced, on the subject of some papers which
had been circulated by the Sub-Committee purport-
ing to be Reports from them and the General Com.
mittee, bet containing what he must term many
things the very reverse of troth. In some part of
these the conduct of the Special Committee seemed
to be particularly alluded to, and their proceedings
(rested with contempt.—Mr. Cocker was about to
read some parts of those papers, when
Alderman Cox rose to order ; he conceived it
would be irregular to have any of them read. There
was no motion before the Meeting, and in order to
go on with the regular titaness of tlve day, he should
move that the ballot be forthwith proceeded in.
The GRUMMAN said, that if Mr. Cocker meant to
conclude with a motion, he was in order.
Mr. Cocas* said that it was his intention, and
continued his speech. The Sub-Committee had, he
observed, objected to the Report of the Special
Committee as being only their opinion—hot this was
en error : the opinions of the Select Committee had
been approved by a General Committee, which they
were bound to obey. In one part of the Report it
was said, that steps had been taken to engage
Mr. Colman—that the Sob-Committee had seat to
know the terms on which he would accept it ; bet
that Mr. Colman's answer which was, that he
would state his terms as soon as the pecuniary em-
barrassments of the Theatre had been got rid of, had
of course concluded the negociation. This part of
the Report he (Mr. Cocker) contended was incor-
rect, and went on to show from the former declara-
tion of the Sub-Committee, as to the arrangement of
the pecuniary embarrassments, and from their letter
to Mr. Coleman, and hie answers, that his having
required the settlement of those pecuniary difficul-
ties, before be stated his terms, ought not to have
put an end to the negotiation, if they were really
disposed to go on with it. He next adverted to the
placard published by Mr. Rubies, which be main•
tabled that Gentleman bad a right to do as a Pro-
prietor. He then called the attention of the. Medt-
log to the statement of the Committee respecting
___ . . _ _

w
the Misfit's: This statement, which well for two
years, showed Mat—
te the seastie 0,161647 the income was Z 15.926 0 0
Renewers in same time 41,9iS 14 0
Rent and charges 6,554 17 3
This last item •wclald, to en ordinary observer,
appear as having been part of the expences, and
forming part of the gross sum of 49,2231.; but the
fact was not so, for it was a separate charge, and
should have been added to the rest. ' From this cal-
culation it appeared that there was a loss to the The-
atre in the *woe 1816-17 exceeding 10,0001. ; and
from the account of the sums received and expended
in the season 1817-18, it appeared that the total
loss of that period was 99661. 61. Id., making a
grand total of loss in the two seasons of!
I W,8171. 16s. lid. and no interest whatever paid.
From this the Meeting might form • general idea of
the nature of the management. With respect to
the reducing of the prices of admission, he was
of opinion that nothing could more ruinous to
the concern. Taking the showing of the Sub. Com.
mitres., it was certain to be unproductive, unless, in-
deed, there was, whet, as yet, there was DO prospect I
of, such an eatraordinary accession of talent to the
Company as would ensure constantly crowded
houses. The Committee themselves had shown that,
upon a comparison of the receipts, when the prices
were at Cis. to the period of their being at Is., the dif-
fecence was near 301. i night in foveae- of the lattertl
price ; and yet, with this comparison, they thought I
fit, without at all consulting the general body, to re-
duce the price not to six, bet to five shillings at once.
Mr. Cocker went on at considerable length to com-
ment ou the several parts of the Report of the Spe-1
ciat Committee, and to show that those of the other
Committees were grossly erroneous in their allusions
to it. in conclusion he begged the Meeting to keep
a watchful eye on the proceedings of the Sub-Com-
mittee; if not, they would in time find themselves
called upon, perhaps, for additional sums on their
shares, which would be more than their shares might
be worth. Ile then moved, apparently pro forma,
that certain documents do lie on the table.
Mr. WILSON baring observed, that if the Sub
Committee were to blame for their management, it
was a blame which ought to be borne with them by
his (Mr. Cocker's) colleague, Mr. Lamb.
Mr. LAMB rose, and in a speech of nearly an hoer,
defended himself from the imputations which, he
said, had been attempted to be cast upon him, not by
the Gentleman opposite (Mr. Wilson), for lie was
the only one who had the manliness to come forward
with any thing like a charge, but by anonymous
writers; by publications which, if not coming di-
rectly from the Sub-Committee, were, he had no
doubt, under its sanction. In some of these were in•
serted letters, some of them private, and conversa-
tions often confidential, which the Members of the
Committee alone could know, and which therefore
could ant have reached the public eye without their
knowledge and consent. Ile was free to admit that
he had a right to take his share of the blame attendant
upon any mismanagement of the Sub-Committee op*,
a certain time, but then it did not follow that he
croold sit tamely under charges and Insineatioest
of being the coup of the disasters which had oc-
curred since. The Honourable Gentleman then
went into • long statement of his principal trans-
actions with the Committee to the period of his re-
signetion It would he impossible, consistently
with the insertion of ether matter, to follow
him through such a variety of detail. Ills object
seemed to be, not so much to cast imputations
on any of those who acted with him, as to de-
fend himself from those who throw the blame of
every thing on him alone. lie strongly denied his
having ever agreed with Mr. Kinnsird to refuse a
seat in the Sub-Committee, unless he were also
named, end reed a letter of Mr. Douglas Kin-
naird's to that effect. After Mr. Kinuaird had left
the Committee, he (Mr. Lamb) offered to resign,
`but. at the earnest request of several Members, he
continued to give them his services. He took upon
himself, by their desire, nearly the whole weight of
business, which he endeavoured to discharge as well
as his abilities permitted. When, however, he could
not afterwards approve of the proceedings which were
adopted, he resigned ; and a long time after he was
accused not merely of every thing which was not suc-
cessful in his own lime,but also of every failure which
had taken place since then. In reply to this be u -
served, that there was scarcely one piece which failed
since he resigned, that he had not either refused or
sent back for revision. Indeed, so great was this rage
for novelty, and so rooted was the notion that,
novelty and variety alone would fill the Tres•
Bury, that it was by this Sub-Committee, or by its
sole director, suggested that the Manager should be
instructed to produce two new pieces every w. k.--
(hear! and a laugh.)—After he had reelined, he
was anxious to let some of the Proprietors know his
reasons; and with this view be told ahem to Mr.
Robing. Mr. Robins asked him, es he ditatiproved
of what was going on in the Sub-Committee, to
coalesce with those who oppoorattores whielehe con.
ceived it would be cowardice in him to have refused,
and be did therefore join. Mr. Lamb then alluded
to the cowduct of the present sale Director, sod en.
deavoured to show, that with hii system the Theatre
could not benefited. Its conclusion, he thanked he
Meeting for the kind indulgence they had always
shown to Wren and assured them, that though the
present would be his last appearance on that stage, he
should be at all times ready to forward their best in.
terests.—(Greal applause.)
Mr. Witsox said, he. had only went, in alluding
to Mr. Lamb, to say, that if the Sub-Committee de
served blame, be ought to have his share. lie meant
not to detract from his media, when in saying es 14
now did, that he would rather consult him as a Hwy.+
than a stage manager. With respect to the appoint.
ment of Mr. Kemble, it was such as met his warm
concurrence, as he conceived that under the directiOn•
of such amen there was the only chance of the Pro-
prietors receiving one shilling.
The. CuerastAtt defended the Geheral Committee
from a charge of neglect. They were accused of being
led by a small body : it was true, and he was always
against it ; for be was of opinion that • little oligarchy
of five could not govern any 'thing, much less •
concern of such importance; and in assenting to
their appointment, it was that they should bale the
controul of the expenditare until the Theatre should
be let ; and until I wes let, he thooght the concerti
*NO bevoiongworse and worse every year. He