Extracts From Mr. Oulton's " History Of The Theatres Of London,

¦ " And now for Wellclose Square theatre . I am a good deal concerned to perceive you are become a real Avarm partizan of it ; by this time I suppose you all confess ( for it must ahvays have been knoivn ) that nothing but an Act of Parliament could legalize its opening . Will you , one of the heads of a profession in itself as liberal as that of law , physic , or any other , degrade , vagabondize , and , as far as you are able , ruin all theatrical property , and , in most ' certain consequence , all its dependents ? Such must be our inevitable fate , AA'hen unprotected by legal monopoly and Royal and Parliamentary sanction .

" If Mr . Palmer can perform plays , & c . & c . ivhy not Mr . Hughes , Mr . Jones , Mr . Astley , and Sadler's Wells , and Freemasons' Hall , & c . Depend on it , your plan leads to the making an Actor and a Manager two of the most despicable characters in society . A physician is a most honourable employ , but AVIIO more infamous than a mountebank ? Your caution to me about being the single ostensible opposer of your scheme I take exceedingly kind ; but you yourself are an instance that I have hitherto not so acted ; and you knoAV I have not actively opposed younor any one of our Companyfrom agreeing tvith the proprietors of

, , that place ; at the same time I feel it Avould be disingenuous not to confess to you , that my absolute inactivity arises from conviction , that an attempt so palpably in the face of all legal authority cannot succeed . You say , ' it is talked of from Temple-bar to Woolwich , and is the prevailing topic . ' I do not doubt it ; but do not let that deceive you—Would not the famous * * * be as much celebrated , if he Avas boldly to announce to the public a scheme for erecting newrooms for E . 0 . and Faro ? In such cases there is no trusting to . the supineness of the most interestedAnd if

or timidity parties . even no one Magistrate should be enough actuated by duty to stand fortvard in support of the !? . AV , yet the Avhole scheme is ahvays at the mercy of any single individual Avho thinks himself illtreated by the property ; . —and pray tell me IIOAV long such a foundation will carry a . theatre ? I have Avritten so much to you , because I esteem you , and see you are falling in error—but of this I shall be happy to convince you wlien Ave meettill when , and always , I-am yours , " " THO . HARRIS . " Mr . Palmer's address liketvise produced the follotving from Mr . Harris :

' ' Mr . Harris thinks it Avould be an affront to the often experienced candour of the public , to offer any thing more in proof , that the insinuation of duplicity ou thepart of Mr . Harris has no foundation Avhatever . As to the complaint , that no notice Avas given during the building of the theatre , it may be asked , could it be considered as incumbent on the patentees to lay down the latv for Mr . Palmer ? In fact , the Acts of Parliament restraining the performances of plays , interludes , ice . & c . were notorious to Mr . Palmer and all concerned in theatrical representation ; but Mr . Palmeruniformland ivith the most solemn asseverationsinsisted

, y , , he possessed a complete , though concealed , legal right for theatrical performances . Inueed , Mr . Palmer himself acted inconsistentl y with his avowal , by actually engaging himself in the beginning of February , to Mr . Colman , for his regular performances during the whole of the season at the Haymarket theatre , " though at the same ., time he was by every means engaging others to perform for him in Wellclose Square . Still , however , this firm language ( of having legal authoritv ) he invariably held until Monday last , Avhen it appeared to Mr . Quick and others , tiat he had To such hidden

. none . pretended authority Mr . Harris could only oppose his disbelief of the fact ; and any notice of such his opinion , given formally M wmmg to Mr . Palmer , must have been ridiculous in the extreme . "Mr . Harris is much concerned to be compelled thus to obtrude himself on the Public notice , being conscious that the attacks of falsehood and disappointed malevolence are the most completely repelled by perfect silence and contempt ; and ») is method Avhich he conceives to be most consistent

, with the hi >» h resp ° ct -m-l auty 1 ) e owes the public , he will most determinate !) 'oppose to the calumny which nc must expect to incur upon this occasion . f Ji . ' , Han'iS ,, as t 0 ° , m , , dl regard for the Profusion by which he lives not to dram ¦ 1 I concern the distresses that must be endured by numbers of the m « u . i s dependents , who have relied on Mr , Palmer ' s assurances for a subsistence