From the Glasgow News, Feb. 22, 1877.

HE project of establishing a

"NATIONAL

When

THEATRE in the metropolis is again attracting earnest attention in circles best likely to give substantial support and found vitality to the movement. Mr. Chatterton's leafe of Drury Lane expires, it is not likely, with the increased rental required, and the extra expenditure that would be demanded to lay down a new stage and provide an entirely new roof, that he would feel inclined to extend his refponfibilities. It is impoffible that any fpeculator will venture to occupy his pofition, as in about twenty years more the whole building will fall into the hands of the Duke of Bedford, and by that time the space will manifeftly be wanted for the enlargement of Covent Garden Market. "Old Drury" may be, therefore, unless fome quite unforeseen event changes the conditions, regarded as blotted out, in a comparatively short period, from the lift of our metropolitan establishments. This is, therefore, looked upon as the proper time for erecting an edifice, duly provided with all modern improvements, which fhall be worthy to perpetuate on fome more convenient fpot the hiftrionic traditions of the older "National" Theatre. It is It is propofed to give the new building the name of "The Shakespeare," and to identify it exclufively with the

higher form of theatrical representations It is, however, rather a revival than a new idea. The late Lord Lytton, and more recently Mr. Tom Taylor and Mr. George Godwin, have actively beftirred themselves in the effort to fecurely fix on a firm bafis the project for raising a theatre worthy the dramatic poet whofe works would be there illuftrated; but the credit of the original notion is undeniably due to Mr. Effingham William Wilfon, of the Royal Exchange, who, as long ago as 1848, propounded a noble scheme for paying the best tribute to the memory of England's great dramatist at the time when Shakespeare's house was bought, chiefly by the aid of the funds derived from the memorable benefit at Covent Garden Theatre. Mr. Effingham William Wilson then proposed that the committee formed for the purpose of preferving to the nation the house in which our "poet of all time" had birth, should not diffolve, having fatisfactorily effected that object, but confider the importance and expediency of purchafing by national fubfcription fome theatre, wherein the works of " the world's greatest moral teacher" might be constantly performed. Mr. Effingham William Wilfon recommended that the faid theatre fhould be open at fuch reasonable charges as fhould be within the reach of all, and that the most able manager and best working company fhould be engaged and conftantly retained, and that only one five-act drama fhould be performed in the courfe of one evening. He further proposed 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, and that the faid National

U

Theatre fhould be made to act as a great and true dramatic school, at which alike the poet and the performer -the creator and the embodier in the higher walks of the drama and the hiftrionic arts-fhould receive their diplomas, living genius and talent being fo fostered and fuftained. It is pleasant to believe that the idea entertained nearly thirty years ago by the worthy inheritor of a name identified with the earliest publisher of highclafs periodical literature at a moderate price is closely within reach of fulfilment, and that already substantial support has been offered in high quarters. At the banquet to be given at Willis's Rooms, by the dramatic profeffion to ex-Lord Mayor Cotton, about the middle of next month, there will be probably special reference made to the new enterprise, and it is not unlikely that a "Dramatic School," of which Mr. Phelps is faid to have undertaken the direction, will be connected with the great work foon to be taken vigorously in hand.

E. L. BLANCHARD.

Shakespeare Memorial,

STRATFORD-ON-AVON.

HE accompanying Prospectus sets forth briefly the objects of the Affociation, and gives a lift of subscribers up to the end of 1876, from which it will be feen that a fufficient fum is fufcribed or guaranteed to enable the Council to commence the first portion of their intended work.

A defign for the Memorial Building was felected from twenty-five fent in for competition. The architects, Meffrs. Dodgfhun and Unfworth, are now engaged in preparing the detailed designs. In the meantime, the foundations and basement of the theatre are being proceeded with, and the first stone will be laid on the 23rd of April next, by the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, the Rt. Hon. Lord Leigh, Provincial Grand Master of the County of Warwick, &c., and the ceremony will be conducted with full Mafonic Honours.

The fum at present guaranteed will only fuffice for completing the theatre fo far as to be available for use, but without any of the ornamantal details, and a further fum of £4000 is required to enable the Council to

proceed with the library and picture gallery; if this amount could be raised at once the whole building could be proceeded with, and by April 23, 1878, would be ready for the inauguration with special performances of Shakespeare's Plays, and a Loan Exhibition of Pictures of Shakesperian interest.

The ultimate object of the Affociation is not to have a theatre open throughout the year, but to have a building available for occafional performances, and which may hereafter form the nucleus of a School or Schools of Acting, under experienced and qualified teachers. The accounts published in The Times of what has been done. in Meiningen, in Germany, a town about the fame fize as Stratford, may ferve to indicate what this Affociation aims at; but while there the work has been carried out by the liberality of one accomplished Grand Duke, it is proposed here to effect it through the aid of the many who have derived profit and pleasure from the works of Shakespeare, and who are defirous of contributing fomething to commemorate his memory, and to elevate the profeffion whofe highest aim must be to reprefent his works in an adequate and efficient manner.

Various projects for this purpose have been mooted, but none ever attempted. This one may not be the best, but at any rate it is in progrefs. It has been commenced from a fincere and ardent defire on the part of its promoters to do fomething in our own time to honour the memory of the world's greatest poet, and to leave a foundation upon which future generations can amplify and improve.