THINGS THEATRICAL. 327 



upon a much more solid foundation. But such intimations as the 

 following are not calculated to obtain the respect of the multitude, or 

 to disabuse many of the belief they have formed of the rapacity of the 

 church. 



" The leasehold tenants of the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Dur- 

 ham, and those from whom ecclesiastical pensions and other payments are 

 due, are hereby informed that his lordship's audit will be held by Mr. 

 Forster, the acting receiver in the Exchequer, Durham, on Saturday the 

 4th, Saturday the llth, and Saturday the 18th days of January, 1834- 



" Such Rents, Pensions, and Payments, as are not paid on one of these 

 days, will forthwith be levied by distress and sale." 



"Durham, December 26th, 1833." 



As though this was not sufficient in itself, some mischievous chance 

 commences the very next advertisement as follows: 



" National Society for promoting the Education of the Poor in the Prin- 

 ciples of the Established Church. In consequence of the grant of 20,OOOJ. 

 recently voted by parliament in aid of private subscriptions, &c. &c." 



If the poor are to be brought up in such principles as those pro- 

 posed by one of the fathers of the established church God help 

 them ! " Such Rents, Pensions, and Payments, as are not paid on one 

 of these days, will forthwith be levied by distress and sale !" And 

 these are the very words published by the richest prelate in England 

 one might almost say of the world !" One who enjoys such an 

 excess of the good things of this life, that he cannot but feel acutely 

 the force of the divine saying, which declares it to be so difficult for 

 a rich man to inherit those of the next. 



THINGS THEATRICAL. 



THE prospects of the theatres and the managers were some short 

 time since in no very flourishing state ; at present, if we may so 

 credit the newspapers, their financial condition at least is improved ; 

 guineas tumble by hundreds into the treasuries of Mr. Bunn, into the 

 ready lap of Madame Vestris, and the willing pockets of Mr. Yates 

 the theatres under the management of the two latter persons turn 

 away people from the doors every night ; and the two great houses 

 are filled to hearts' content by a public never tired of witnessing the 

 revels of Gustavus, or the glories of Ducrow the dragon- slayer. 



If the theatres be only a reflection of the age, the times in which 

 we live do not offer any particular subject for Christian congratula- 

 tion. The old methods of exciting dramatic interest seem entirely 

 to have failed ; before Christmas what is called the regular drama 

 was played at Drury-lane by a tolerable company of comedians, and 

 Shakspeare's tragedies were performed with Mr. Macready in the 

 chief parts ; a noble actor with a high poetic feeling. Of course, the 

 benches and the treasury were empty, the house was deserted even 

 by the ladies of the saloons, the city clerks, the press, and the other 

 deserving individuals who are complimented with orders. Mr 

 Jerrold's excellent comedy of the " Wedding Gown obtained but 



