270 THE DRAMATIC PATENTS EXAMINED. 



13,500/. per annum exclusive of interest on capital, &c., during the 

 twelve first seasons of the new house. In eleven of these seasons 

 there were pantomimes, and the produce of these when divided by 

 twelve is more than 13,500/., which Mr. Harris calls profit; and thus 

 it is proved that the regular drama did not produce money sufficient 

 to pay its own expenses. 



In one of Mr. Harris's depositions in Chancery is an account 

 of the proceeds of the pantomimes during the leven seasons 

 1810-11 to 1820-21. The account is set forth year by year, 

 and the total income amounts to 184,242 



The sum received above current expenses exclusive of interest ) , ,, nnn 

 amounts to I 162 ' 



Leaving to cover the expenses of the pantomimes 22,242 



which is 2,0221. a season for the pantomimes, and is a larger sum 

 than they cost. 



Thus it is proved that, notwithstanding the matchless company of 

 performers, the house, from its size and consequent heavy expenses, 

 could not be made to pay its current expenses, exclusive of interest, 

 &c., even with the aid of pantomimes then'so productive, but which at 

 length have ceased to produce money to the same amount, and, in 

 some instances, little, if any, more than the immediate expenses and 

 the cost of getting them up. 



If, then, during the twelve seasons when Mr. Harris had the con- 

 trol of the theatre, and when circumstances were so much more 

 favourable to the proprietors than they have since been or are ever 

 more likely to be, a heavy loss was incurred, it would be utterly un- 

 reasonable to expect that any thing but what has happened will con- 

 tinue to happen ; namely, loss to speculators, loss to proprietors, loss to 

 tradesmen and others, deterioration of authors and actors, and changes 

 in the taste of the public for the theatrical entertainments of tragedy 

 and comedy as they must necessarily be performed, if performed at 

 all, in the two large houses. 



During the few first seasons from the opening of the theatre, the 

 largest sum received in one season was rather more than 166,000/., 

 and during the few last seasons the smallest sum received in one season 

 was rather less than 56,000/. as stated by Mr. Harris ; but from these 

 gross sums very considerable deductions must be made, on account of 

 money which did not regularly make part of the income of the 

 theatre, as shown by Mr. Robertson's statement. 



The falling-off in the attendance of the public was gradual, though 

 somewhat fluctuating. There was a large play-going audience who 

 could not readily give up their amusements at the theatre persons 

 to whom this kind of entertainment had become almost a necessary of 

 life, which they relinquished very slowly and with great reluctance, 

 even when they could no longer see nor hear as they wished to see 

 and hear. Some did, however, give up their enjoyments ; some died ; 

 some fell off from other causes, and their places were not supplied 

 by others ; many found new modes of being entertained ; and 

 thus the play ing-going audience was gradually reduced, and the 



