66 66 "aforesaid were scandalous and offensive, may by "such reformation be esteemed not onely harmless delight, but usefull and instructive representtions "of humane life, to such of our good subject as shall resort to the same; and theis our letters patent, or "the inrollment thereof shall be in all things firme, good, effectuall in the lawe, according to the true “intent and meaning of the same, any thing in theis present contained, or any law, statute, ordinance, 66 66 proclamacon, provision, or restricon, or any other "matter, cause, or thing whatsoever to the contrary "in anywise notwithstanding although express men"con of the true yearely value or certenity of the "premises, or of any of them, or of any other guift 66 or grant by us or by any of our progenitores or pre"decessors heretofore made to the said Thomas Killigrew, and the said Sir William Davenant in theis 66 66 present is not made, or any statute, ordinance, provi❝sion, proclamacon, or restricon heretofore had, made, "enacted, ordeyned or provided, or any other matter, "cause, or thing whatsoever to the contrary therof in 66 anywise notwithstanding. In witness whereof wee "have caused theis our letters to be made patent. "Witness our selfe at Westminster, the 25th day of "April, in the 14th yeare of our reigne." It is necessary to state, that the original document not being in the possession of the present proprietors of Drury Lane theatre, at the opening of their new building, it was deemed essential to procure what was called a running patent, renewable every twenty-one years, the fees upon which, paid at the Lord Chamberlain's office, amounted to the sum of 1851. 4s. As the main point of controversy is the extent of the powers given in that running document, it is proper to direct particular attention to it, whereby it is evident that the privileges granted to Killigrew were conveyed entire to his successors: 66 George the Third, by the Grace of God of the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. : To all to whom "these presents shall come, greeting: Whereas, by 66 an Act which passed in Parliament, in the 50th year of our reign, entitled' An Act for rebuilding "the late Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, upon the con"ditions, and under the regulations therein men❝tioned, our trusty and well-beloved Samuel Whit 66 bread, Peter Moore, and Harvey Christian Coombe, "Esqrs., are appointed trustees for the purpose "therein mentioned. And whereas by another Act, "which passed in Parliament in the fifty-second year "of our reign, entitled 'An Act for altering and en larging the powers of an Act of his present Majesty, "for rebuilding the late Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, "provision is made for the appointment of successors "to the said trustees respectively: Now know ye, "that we, for divers good causes and considerations, 66 66 66 66 us thereunto moving of our especial grace, certain knowledge and motion, have given and granted, and by these presents for us, our heirs and successors, "do give and grant unto the said Samuel Whitbread, "Peter Moore, and Harvey Christian Coombe, their 66. successors and assigns, in trust for the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane company of proprietors, for " and during the full end and term of twenty-one years, to commence from the second day of Sep"tember, in the year of our Lord Christ, one "thousand eight hundred and sixteen, full power, "license, and authority, to gather together, form, "entertain, govern, privilege, and keep a company of "comedians for our service, to exercise and act tragedies, plays, operas, and other performances 66 on the stage, within a house to be built in Drury “Lane, or within any other house built, or to be "built, where they can best be fitted for that pur"pose, within the City of Westminster, and within "the limits thereof, and within such place where we, our heirs and successors shall reside, and during "such residence only such house or houses, to be built "(if occasion shall require, to be assigned and "allotted out by the chief officer of our works,) for a "theatre or play-house, with necessary attiring, and "retiring-rooms, and other places convenient, of such "extent and dimensions as the said Samuel Whit"bread, Peter Moore, and Harvey Christian Coombe, "their successors and assigns, shall think fitting, "wherein tragedies, comedies, plays, operas, music, 66 66 scenes, and ALL OTHER entertainments of the stage, "whatsoever may be shown and presented, which said 66 company shall be our servants, and styled our royal company of comedians, and shall consist of such "numbers as the said Samuel Whitbread, Peter "Moore, and Harvey Christian Coombe, their successors and assigns, shall from time to time think "meet; and we do hereby, for us, our heirs and successors, grant unto the said Samuel Whitbread, "Peter Moore, and Harvey Christian Coombe, their "successors and assigns, full power, license, and 66 66 66 66 authority to permit such persons, at and during the "pleasure of the said Samuel Whitbread, Peter Moore, "and Harvey Christian Coombe, their successors and assigns, from time to time to act plays and enter"tainments of the stage of all sorts, peaceably and quietly, without the impeachment or impediment "of any person or persons WHATSOEVER, for the "honest recreation of such as shall desire to see the same, nevertheless under the regulations hereinafter ❝mentioned, and such others as the said Samuel 66 66 66 Whitbread, Peter Moore, and Harvey Christian "Coombe, their successors or assigns, from time to "time in their discretion, shall find reasonable and "necessary for our service; and we do hereby, for us, "our heirs and successors, further grant to them, the "said Samuel Whitbread, Peter Moore, and Harvey "Christian Coombe, their successors and assigns, as "aforesaid, that it shall, and may be lawful to and "for the said Samuel Whitbread, Peter Moore, and 66 Harvey Christian Coombe, their successors and 66 assigns, to take and receive of such of our subjects 66 as shall resort to see or hear any such tragedies, "plays,operas, or other entertainments WHATSOEVEr, "such sum or sums of money as either have accus 66 tomably been given and taken in the like kind, or "as shall be thought reasonable by them, in regard of "the great expenses of building, hiring, and fitting 66 up the said theatre: And further for us, our heirs, ❝ and successors, we do hereby give and grant unto "the said Samuel Whitbread, Peter Moore, and "Harvey Christian Coombe, their successors and assigns, full power to make such allowances out of "that which they shall so receive by the acting of tragedies, plays, operas, or other entertainments of "the stage as aforesaid, to the actors and other persons employed in acting, representing, or in any 66 66 66 66 quality whatsoever, in and about the said theatre, as "the said Samuel Whitbread, Peter Moore, Harvey "Christian Coombe, their successors and assigns, "shall think fit; and that the said company shall be "under the sole government and authority of the said "Samuel Whitbread, Peter Moore, and Harvey "Christian Coombe, their successors and assigns, and "all scandalous and mutinous persons shall from time "to time by them be ejected and disabled from play"ing in the said theatre: And for the better attain❝ing our royal purposes in this behalf, we have "thought it fit hereby to declare that henceforth no "representation be admitted on the stage by virtue or |