The Express.
London, England, 1858-03-11 00:00:00

LYCEUM.

Mr. J. L. Toole's benefit took place here last night,
when the antertainmente comprised four pieces, in each of
which he sustained a prominent part. We have from time
to time recorded the progress of this clever and painstaking
actor since ha' comparatively recent deidt on the London
stage, and are glad to god that his merits have so speedily
secured him the position of an " established favourite." If
any doubts had existed on this point, they must have been
dispelled by the manner in which Mr. Toole was greeted last
night, on his first entrance, by an audience which crowded
every portion of the house immediately after the opening of
the doors. No one of our most favourite comedians could
have met a warmer welcome.

The evening commenced with a drama called The Artist
of Ploresoo, founded on the same French original which
tarnished the materials for a piece under a similar title pro-
duced some years since. In the version of last night Cler-
mont, an artist (Mr. Chem Dillon), in reliance on his in-
oreasing fame, has been exceeding his 1:111161B, in order to live
In a style befitting his young and well-born wife (Mrs.
Mellon), whose beauty attracts the visite of a sai-dieaysl
friend and patron of the artist, the Viscount de Soreuil (Mr.
J .G. Shore). A discovery of them motives rouses the hus-
band's jealousy, but theViaoount retaliates nobly by canoe ling
a bond for a large amount in which Clermont is indebted to
him. Commissions crowd on the artist, and wealth appears
. . .

to be within hie reach, whin be Is eaddenly struck with
blindness. In this state his wife's society becomes his only
consolation, but very soon she begins to absent herself on
various pretexts ; and the discovery through a foolish servsnt,
Augustus (Mr. Toole), of a renewal of the Viscount's visits,
drives the unfortunate husband to frenzy. When in the act
at committing suicide Clermont is saved by his servitor, who
rushes in frantioally to announce that, having been to the Opera,
he has nude the discovery that the new prima donna, who
has achieved a triumphant smells, is no other than the
blind artist's wife, who has devoted her musiosl talents, by
the disinterested aid of the friendly Viscount, to the nears-
Man of her husband's fortunes. Nothing is now wanting but
the recovery of the artist's sight, and this being acoom-
plished by the aid of a celebrated oculist, all ends couleur de
tea.

Mr. Dillon as the enthusiastic artist, and Mrs. Mellow se the
devoted win!, played with great force end fasliag; while Mr•
Toole's Impersonation of the servitor afforded an agreeable
relief to the serious ioterest of the drama. His grotesque
humour while standing as • mustachioed and holosetted
insight for owe of his master's pictures, was azosedingly
amusing; nor lees so was his frantic description of the scene
at the Opera, where his public recognition of his mistress
leads him into a series of encounters. Mr. J. G. Shore
must Wad, be noticed as an exceedingly gentlemanlike
Viscount, and Miss Elias Webb as • capital chattering watt-
Mg maid.

Atter the drama a new three or (as It yea called) a
domestic sketch," was produced, under the title ot The
Birthplace of Podgers. Tom Crankey (Mr. Tools) is a
working man, whose lodging is Weeded during his dinner-
hour by various visitors who have learned, through a news-
paper, that his habitation was the birthplace of the immortal
Podgers, a poet of renown. The nephew of Tom's employer
Edmund Earlybird (Mr. J G. Shore), is secretly enamoured
ale young lady whose papa, Mr. Entanua Mamma (Mr.
Benoit), is one of the moat sostatic smokers after else poet's birth-

pleas. Tom is pressed into a plot by which the lover to made
to appear to the young lady'• father as a descendant of the
admired post, and thus gains a cosaent which would other-
wise have been sithhald. Of course, when too late, it is
dioovered that Tom's lodging has no literary association
connected with it—the name of his landlord, an illiterate sot,
being identical with that of the celebrity. The materials,
alight se they are, are well adapted to bring out the peculiar
hawse dYr. Tools, whose make-up and action as the
Wad heavy labourer, were admirably studied. The piece
arms sumesueed bar repetition amidst considerable (but not
animal) applause; and its success would doub,leas have
bass sere decided had it been more condensed, especially
towards the close, where the principal actor is placed too
much in the background by superfluous talk on the part of
subordinates. The remainder of the evening was occupied
by the farce of Double Donny and the comic drama of
Our Clerks.

DISTRICT or TIIE TOWER.—Tn consequence of
the resignation of William John Han,victorom-
house Quay), Mr. FIIMICIS Budd Penny, noensW ller,
of Postern-row, Little Tower-hill, has been unanimously
elsoled by the load vestry u their representative member at
the Whitechapal District Board of Works for the district or
pmeinot of the Tower of London. Mr. Henry Animas
Wieland as clerk to the vestry on the occasion A oordial
vete of thanks was and ordered to be transmitted to
Mr. Mall for his wlhl services to the district.