Surrey Theatre.
The Times, 1824-09-24T00:00:00

l re faflowing arcount is from a corresponldent who is an acquaint- Xn 'r of l" illliams, and riust be read With great cautin Those of our readers who take asi interest in the rise and fall of "etre an d their ranagets, ant their heroes, probably know that Mr. Williams, thenianager of the Stirrey Theatre, has for some P aSpt, til conmequence of this extensiye expediture for the public Kra'fiCtifo, bee n a resident within the rules of the KiCag's Bench. As Mr. WillitamS whilc in this situation, was uinable to superintend 1he tf-ormances-b-,mng prohibited frorn entering thc theatre by the act which excludes all places efpublic amusement fronm the rules, bn le, the theatre f1r nine weeks to one of the iterormners, and a friend who was one of his sureties to the Marshal of the King s Bench, in the expectation that, at the expiration of that time, hc richt be in a situation that would enable him to -esame thc manage. mcnt. ForTome time everv tlliag went on to thie mutual satisfac- oion of all parties. Mr. Williams wai gratificd at seeing the attention paid by his tenants to the public entertainment, nnd at seeing the public liberally reward their exertions_ ttz iezaiatt, on their parts,. were *punctual in their weekly -riav,cntq of rent to the lessor, according to their agreement ith Mr. Williams. On the expiration of the nine wveeks fbr ,h:ch tbe theatre was let, Mr. Wtlliams, tlhouigh not yet removed .r-rn the rules ot the Kiubg's Bench. was flesiroiis of re-assuming she possession: bat rise new occupants, having given great satisfac- :zsn to the I.ssor I.y the punctvality of their pavments, and ex- p rrenced great satisfraction the,nsel :es from the liberality of the rplbli. positively refusedl to surrender the possession. M1lr. Wil- in.s. not vtrlap4s unreasonablv, expressed considerable dissatisfac- tlin at thi d tcrsisnation aad the occupants, beinr apprhliensive of a-t attempt at a forcible ejectment, Mr. WVilliams'sfricnd, who was El s-urety to.the Marshal, Tenderedl himn in discharge of his liability, ia. hc wes, in consequc.ce, brought within the wsalls. lhiis vas on .rdar last_ Mr. Williams lost no time in oibtaining another surety, on th; .same evening becanre again entitled to the privilege of t!e rulte, but too lateto smake a2y elfecturl attempt at regaining , cion of the theatre that night. On Siturday, however, !llr. Wl;;lhais, 'rcompanic by his Irientls, who mustered in great force on the occasion, proceeded to the theatre, which was at that time I t weakly za risoned, and, on tise appearance of the enemy, suir renderel at discretion; ,nod Mr. Williams had the satisfaction ot see- h-is friends enter itito possession on his behalf, without a coti- f . The triumph, howseer, was of short duration. As soon as sv!e ti3ings reached the chiefs of the oppoRitc party, they uscd everv evenoin to collect their partis:ans, and snon assensbleiL a force, with wlich it was detertmined to try the fortune of war. A .')rcil was held to decide on the bes.t mode of attack, antd as Irr. Willitms, withi a chosen handl, protected the tliferent en- trances to ite theatre, it was deemedl expedient, rather than risk an ,litack on th, manager. to have recourse to stratagem. The party, vs e in%eqsenCre. availed themselves of thc friendship of the occupant v; an atljoining house, who allowvedl them to ascend his roof, from rhich thev easily reached the roof of the theatre, where they soon s -cecded in makinz a practicable breach, through which a consider- ablc force entered, beforc they w ere perceived bv ttQe garrison. A shxr? c.-nflict immediately took place: victory fir some time re- T-ained doubtful; anti were it mot for the excluding law, whicth pre. ver-ed the manager appearing amongst his troops, and encouraging 'hemn bv his presence, it is thought the assailants would1 have been repulsed with loss. At letigthl. however, they succeeled :csrbiisl.isg themselves in possessieln, anti the manager's friendts v.rre expeled, havir,g lost all but their honour. The Mlanager, how- es-c, still hoveredf roundl the scene of his hopes and fears, and en. dcc::onred, by *,n sspa.ssioned statemen t of his rights and his injulries, ir interest the companri, coming to the theatre in his cause, and to 's:t-ct the ingress of the nartisays of the successful belligerent. Fnr this purpose he plaeeA himself at the stagec-door, and opposed the eitrance or Daniel Itlucklethlwait. an active partisan of the c'ien:y. A scuffle crxouedl in wlhieh both went dowin. In thejtidg- -irnt of a Borwstrse.t oficer, who was present, Daniel was the as. saLulter, and he w'js in consequenee transferred to thie watch-house. A aithfui ally of the inaLager's, tiamed Flower, was engaged in the detence of ano.tqer entrance, when lie was assailed and dislodg^d by .,n. ther oppxtsest named 13en 30hnson. The partv in posscssion, however, es ,ret1ed in resisting every attempt to defeat their enter- rr s- s Oct hlontlay an investigation of tibe afliir took place before the Ms.gsstrates of Union-h311l. at the Kiig's 13enchl Prison. The 3fagia5ares refused to interfere in the qtuestion of righit; but lheld I uekht tszoalt ani .Johnson to hail, to answer thei assault." SURRAEY THEATrR E.