A

3

National Theatre.

From the Morning Advertifer, Dec. 18, 1874. "HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE.

We recently affigned the chief credit of propofing a National Theatre to the late Lord Lytton. Doubtless it was a matter in which he took much interest. Many others have taken the fubject up, and notably amongst them Mr. Tom Taylor. We do not fomehow much fancy the idea of a National Theatre under his fupervifion and guidance, any more than we should under the special patronage of Mr. Boucicault. But Mr. Tom Taylor did take up the subject very vehemently fome ten years ago, and his advocacy drew forth the following statement, which was then, we remember, fent round to various journals, many of which published it, from Mr. Effingham W. Wilfon, the well-known publisher of the Royal Exchange. It is worthy of reproduction, now that the fubject has cropped up again, as showing how many years it has occupied the attention of men of mark in literature. To Mr. Wilfon certainly belongs the credit

of being first in the field, and the letters addressed to him by the late Lord Lytton, Charles Dickens, Charles Kemble, and others, are extremely interesting :

STATEMENT SENT TO THE DIFFERENT JOURNALS. To the Editor.

SIR,-The document read by Mr. Tom Taylor, at the last meeting of the Shakespeare Committee, figned by himself, Mr. Theodore Martin, and Mr. Shirley Brooks, appears to me to be but a reiteration of a plan proposed by me years since, when a very young man. I cannot, therefore, refift again placing before the public the plan in queftion.

The propofition was originally made in 1848, and difcuffed in two pamphlets, written by me, entitled "A House for Shakefpere a Propofition for the Confideration of the Nation." The first pamphlet (a reprint from an article in "Hood's Magazine") was published by Mr. Hurst, of King William Street, Strand; and the fecond, fix months afterwards, by Mr. Mitchell, of Red Lion Court, Fleet Street.

The plan was warmly and cordially approved by many of those most eminent in Literature and Art, from fome of whose communications I extract the following opinions :

THE RIGHT HON. LORD LYTTON.-"I thank you much for your able and interesting pamphlet. I think it would indeed be a most desirable object to obtain a theatre strictly appropriated to the Higher Drama. Your exertions cannot but do good."

CHARLES DICKENS.-"That fuch a theatre as you describe would be but worthy of this nation, and would not stand low upon the lift of its inftructors, I have no kind of doubt. I wish I could cherish a stronger faith than I have in the probability of its establishment on a rational footing within fifty years.”

WILLIAM HOWITT.-"I think yours is a grand plan for a House for Shakespeare,' and what ought to be carried out." DR. WESTLAND MARSTON.-"I cordially fympathize with its fpirit and its purpose, and trust that an object so desirable, and

at the fame time fo feafible, will be retained in the minds of those who have the power to realize it."

DR. CHARLES MACKAY.-"I cordially approve of your fuggeftion, and entirely concur in the reafoning by which you fupport it."

SHERIDAN KNOWLES.--" I have perufed your paper. I admire the argument, and wish that it may be turned to account."

CHARLES KEMBLE." I read it with great pleasure; and, at the conclufion, heaved a figh that fo much enthusiasm should be doomed to difappointment."

R. H. HORNE.—" Such a propofition ought to come to fomething, and will."”

JOHN A. HERAUD." I do feel an intereft in your 'propofi"I tion,' and should be glad to be a labourer in fuch a work."

WM. B. MAC CABE.-"I have read, with much intereft, your Effay, A House for Shakespeare.' I think the propofition contained in it excellent."

MARY COWDEN CLARKE.-" Allow me to offer you my best wishes for the fuccefs of your propofal."

ELIZA COOKE." I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your most interesting and nobly directed papers, and be fure I am too ardent a worshipper of our Immortal Bard' not to thoroughly appreciate your effort. May it tend to awaken a just and elevated fenfe of our true glory in many an English heart, and may all honour be given to you for helping the cause."

My pamphlets were favourably reviewed, and notices appeared in the following publications, as well as many others: "The Westminster and Foreign Quarterly Review," "The Literary Gazette," "Douglas Jerrold's Weekly News," "The Morning Herald," "The Sunday Times," "The Court Journal," "The Advertifer," "The Sun," "The Atlas," and "The New York Literary World." They were iffued at the time when means were being taken to fecure to the nation, by

purchase, the house in which Shakespeare was born. The times were then, however, fo thoroughly "out of joint," that the plan was neceffarily temporarily abandoned.

PROPOSITION FOR A NATIONAL THEATRE
MADE IN 1848.

1. That the Committee formed for the purpose of preferving to the nation the house in which our "Poet of all time" had birth, having fatisfactorily effected that object, should not diffolve.

2. That, it being generally acknowledged that the human mind receives moft quickly, and retains moft durably, impreffions made by dramatic reprefentations, the importance and expediency are fuggested of purchasing by national subscription,* on the part of and for the people, fome theatre wherein the works of Shakespeare, the "world's greatest moral teacher," may be constantly performed.

3. That the faid theatre should be open at fuch reasonable charges as fhall be within the reach of all.

4. That the most able manager and beft working company fhould be engaged, and conftantly retained; and that only one five-act drama fhould be performed in the courfe of one evening.

5. That the Government for the time being, or any other body of men agreed upon, fhould hold the faid theatre in truft for the nation, appointing a committee for the management of the fame.

6. That the faid National Theatre fhould be made to act as a great and true dramatic fchool, at which alike the poet and the performer, the creator and the embodier (in the highest walks of the dramatic and hiftrionic arts), should receive their diplomas, living genius and talent being fo foftered and fuftained.

* A quarter of a century ago, the poffibility of obtaining a State fubfidy for any Art purpose was not even to be thought of.

My idea arofe thus:-The then "Shakespeare Committee," in 1848, having completed the good work of purchasing for the nation Shakespeare's Houfe, my hope was that they might be induced not to ftop there, but to continue their endeavours to fecure to us "A House for Shakespeare," as the beft and trueft, as the only adequate and appropriate monument. As Byron has it