The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-03 00:00:00

NEW OLYMPIC THEATRE.

Had Mr Horace Wigan been possessed of an en•
chanter's wand he could not, in the short space of
time that has elapsed since the closing and re-open.
ing of the doors of the Olympic Theatre, have
worked a more remarkable change in the appear-
ance of the interior of the theatre than that which
it now presents, compared with that it bore but a
very few weeks ago. Then all was dark, dingy,
unpleasant, and inconvenient; now, precisely the
reverse is the case. The front of the house is bright
and cheerful, the accommodation in boxes, pit, and
gallery elegant, tasteful, and commodious—in fact,
everything that could tend to increase the comfort
of the audience has been studied and thoroughly
carried into execution. To give the new manager
courage, a brilliant and highly fashionable audience
assembled last evening to inaugurate the commence.
ment of his first season ; whilst ho, on his part, pre-
pared no less than three new pieces for acceptation
and approval. The first was a farce, entitled "The
Girl I Left Behind Me," and served excellently welt
as an introductory piece, although it was by no
means up to the mark of high merit. It was
sufficient to introduce the new members of the
company, viz., Mr. Andrews and Miss Hartland,
and therefore suited the purpose for which it was
intended. Before, however, passing an opinion on
the capabilities of either, we shall wait for a better
opportunity of testing their merits, but at present
we can say that both lady and gentleman will prove
a welcome addition to the company. The great
piece of the evening was a four act drama, entitled
" The Hidden Hand," a translation and condensa-
tion of a play by MM. D'Ennery and Charles
Edmond, called "L'Aieule," produced las,: year
at the Ambigu Comique. It is a piece of the
most startling description, but the impression it
produces is anything but pleasurable, and we can-
didly confess it was a great relief to us when the
climax came and the curtain descended. Not that
we mean to imply the performance was below the
standard of excellence, or that the " mounting"
was incomplete. Quite the reverse, because
nothing could be more satisfactory as far as
the acting was concerned, or more exquisitely beau-
tiful as regards dresses and scenery, but the piece
itself had such a melancholy, repulsive, and unlove
able tendency. However, it was a great success—
a success the liberality of the new management
highly deserved. The plot, briefly told, is as fol.
lows :—Lord Penarvon is a %Velsh nobleman of
ancient family and reduced property, who has been
married twice. His first wife has died,ieaving him
with a daughter, Enid, and a motherein-law, Lady
Gryffydd. Lord Penarvcn's second wife, Lady
Penarvon, is living—hated by Lady Liu ffpld,
and neglected by her husband. She has one
daughter, Muriel, who has been sent away
to school, and she has no friend or con-
fident in the castle. Lady Gryffydd hates
everybody. She sees, as she imagines, her petted
and beloved grandchild put aside for the offspring
of a second marriage, and
.in order to avoid it she
feigns to be paralysed, and secretly endeavours to
slowly poison the second child of her son-in-law,
and at the same time, from the imprudence of the
second wife, contrives to fix the suspicion upon her.
The step-daughter has indeed loved the same man
as her daughter is about to be married to, during
a ten years' neglect by her profligate husband,
a nobleman of Charles the Second's court ;
but her love for her child overcomes this
illicit passion, and she is restored to her
husband's love and her own purity. Still the
knowledge of this temporary guilty passion is
enough for the poisoner, who contrives to place her
in the horrible situation of being the slow poisoner
of her own child. She is at last detected by the
very grandchild for whom she has committed the
crime, who refuses to betray her. She alone has
caught a glimpse of " the hidden hand" which has
infused the poison nightly into the sinking invalid's
draught. The secret cannot be wrung from her, and
the old woman, on its being otherwise brought home
to her, poisons herself.

Miss Kate Terry as Lady Penarvon rose supe-
rior to her part. Her acting was exceedingly
beautiful, and of itself would have 26curcd the
success of any drama of less merit than the " Hidden
Hand." Mr H. Neville as Lord Penarvon had a part
exactly suited to his ability ; and Mr. Coghlen, es
Sir Caradoc, acted with gentlemanly ease and effict.
Miss Lydia Foote sustained the character of Enid
with the utmost grace, and Miss Louisa Moore
made a very charming Muriel. The part of Lady
Grjifydd—a very unthankful one—was well and
vividly pourtrayed by Miss Bowring ; indeed, every
person concerned deserved the highest praise for
the excellent manner in which they acquitted
themselves.

All the principal performers were cau..a
the curtain, and everything went off as satisfac-
torily as the most sanguine manager could desire.
After the National Anthem had been played, Mr
Horace Wigan, who was greeted with a tempest of
acclamations, came forward and delivered the fol-
lowing address, frequently interrupted by outbursts
of applause:—
_ .

"Ladies and Gentlemen,—' Good wine needs no bush,'
and if I did not feel in the position of a landlord whose tap
is as yet untried I should think it an impertinence to in-
trude upon you to-night. Promises, you may tell me, are
rash, regrets disagreeable, reminiscences tedious ; and I am
folly aware that the credit and capacity of a manager, even
mor3 than that of most speculators on public support, will
assuredly be tested by performance and not by profession.
But when everything except the walls is new in front of the
curtain, and a good many things and people behind it, in-
cluding your humble servant in his managerial character
at least, I thought our house-warming would be hardly
complete if I did not offer you first and foremost my hearty
thanks for your acceptance ct my invitation this evening,
and then bespeak that indulgence for myself as a manager
which you have often extended to me as as actor. Coming
after predecessors so deservedly popular in the double cha-
racter of actor managers as Mr Alfred Wigan and the admi-
rable favourite who so lately adorned these boards, and
whose premature loss all England deplores, I should feel
despondent were your kindness less certain or my determi-
nation to deserve it less strenuous. In these days of dramatic
free trade all managers are at liberty to cater for all tastes ;
patents so-called, I suppose, from their closing all but certain
theatres to all but certain entertainments, are no more. In
theatrical matters I own myself a Benthamite, and my ma-
nagerial motto shall be Jeremy's principle—the greatest
happiness to the greatest number. But actor-managers
have sometimes be3n accused of considering the greatest
number is number one, and so long as they secured good
parts for themselves the public were bound to be pleased.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, I disclaim this view of the sub-
ject altogether. It is your pleasure I shall consult, and if
I can but secure this by carrying a banner or a message I
shall have no objection. As for the style of entertainment
in store for you, I think the word mixed would be the best
general description. I shall not exclude any dish from our
Olympic spread, provided it be wholesome, pleasant and
well dressed, from the whipped cream of burlesque—very
good in its proper time and place—to the pi&ce de resistance
in the shape of drama, with removes of comedy, vaudeville,
farce, and comedietta. I shall not even be frightened by the
name of sensation, so long as it means strong interest, ex-
citing incident, and powerfully conceived situation. But I
never intend to put the cart of Thespis before the horse, or
in other words, to consider the scenery, dresses, and decora-
tions as of more importance than the actors and the piece.
In short, if an English manager may be allowed to adapt a
maxim from the Roman dramatist, I would say, Manager
sum et Boni nil ame alienum puto ; or, translating for the
benefit of the ladies—" I am a manager, and whatever
brings me a bonus I shall make a point of producing." I
hope that the changes before the curtain have enhanced
the comfort of our kind visitors, and though I should be
the last to complain of your feeling overcrowded, still, I
trust that however numerous you will prove, you have
elbow loom by the vigorous use you make of your hands;
and if I have given you the appliances for sitting at ease in
front of the curtain, I trust I may not fail in setting before
you something worth looking at behind it. I ask your in-
dulgence for the little rubs and roaghnesses inherent to a
first night, and to the first working of a new undertaking
and a new company, though largely leavened, I am glad to
say, with old favourites, and in conclusion, after earnestly
recommending to your attention that golden rule of criticism
for a new management in particular—

' Be to our faults a little blind,
And to our merits very kind.'

I thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your attention, and
bid you heartily welcome to what I hope I may call without
exaggeration the New Olympic Theatre."

REPRESENTATION OF WEST SUFFOLK.—Lord
A. Hervey, brother of the retiring member, and Sir B. C.
Kerrison, of Brome- hall, aro mentioned as probable candi-
dates for the vacanc' in the representation of West Suffolk,
consequent on the lamented death of the late Marquis of
Bristol, and the elevation cf Earl Jermyn to the House of
Lords. A rumour is also prevalent that Mr F. M, Wilson,
of Langham, will be invited to contest the county on Libe-
ral principles.

HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Nov. 2.

Her Majesty received, by telegraph yeeterdal,
the gratifying intelligence of the confinement of
her Royal Highness Princess Louis of Hesse and
the birth of a princess.

Both her royal highness and the infant prince/
are doing well.

The Queen, attended by Lidy Augusta Stanley
walked and drove in the grounds this morning.
Her Royal Highness Princess Louise went cu/
driving, attended by Lady Caroline Barrington. -4
His Royal Highness Prince Arthur left the Castle
for Greenwich.park, attended by Major Elphir
stone.

Her Royal Highness Princess Helena rode ili
the riding-school.

Lord Charles Fitzroy and Colonel the Hon, A;
Haidinge have succeeded Lord Alfred Paget 805
Colonel the Hon. D. de Itos as equerries in waiting'

The Hon. Flora Macdonald and the Hon. CO(/'
line Cavendish are the maids of honour in wailia
to her Majesty.

The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland WI
arrived at Tarbet House, the duchess's seat in Ross-shir°l
from Dunrobin Castle. Next week tho noble duke 09
duchess remove south.
The Duchess of Somerset, accompanied by Lora
Edward St Maur and Lady Geraldine St Maur, will aril°
at the First Lord's residence at the Admiralty to-day troo
Paris.
The Duchess (Dowager) of Sutherland has arrivei
in Edinburgh from Dunrobin Castle, Sutherlandshire, art
a short visit to the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland. TO
duchess dowager will leave early in the ensuing week fl
Castle Howard, to pay a visit to her brother, the Earl 0
Carlisle.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury are
about to entertain a succession of visitors at Hatfield Prig',.
Herts. Some of the visitors will arrive on Saturday ilOt
The funeral of the late Marquis of Bristol is to
take place on Saturday next, when his mortal remains vii'
be deposited in the small family church in the park, abc'tis
,
a quarter of a mile from the hall. The 'sacred edifice Wad
built and consecrated for the burial-place of the lier/el
family some 30 years ago.
The Earl and Countess of Derby will entertain
large party at Knowsley next week. The company will 10
on Monday next.
The Earl and Countess of Carnarvon arrived
town yesterday from Highclere Castle, near Newbury, 0,
the intention of passing a few days in London before tio"7
departure for Italy for the winter.
MR. AND MRS. CHARLES KEAN have arrived -
San. Francisco from Australia.

The Minister of Public Instruction has applied to
the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres to give ir
opinion on the utility of introducing the modern prondlr,
ciation of Greek into the colleges of France. The acadeto)
has nominated a committee to examine the question.
THE ALLEGED DREADFUL SUFFERINGS OF
Surp's CREW.—Last night, Mr Humphreys, coroner io
Middlesex, concluded
,an inquiry at the Golden BA,
Tavern, Shadwell, respecting the death of George IT
ham, aged 68 years, one of the crew of the Indian'
Galloway, Captain Sinclair commander. On the Dice
occasion very serious allegations were made with refereso
to the sufferings which the crew were stated to orvA
,
endured on board the Galloway, That vessel left t •
Hooghly on the 23d June last, laden with cotton a
is
general cargo. On the voyage nine of the crew fell
of scurvy, and by the time the ship arrived in
chops of the Channel, flour, water, fresh meat, So.'
short, and there were neither lime juice, vinegar, nor O°PB4
to be had. It was said that the salt meat had to be 00°/c
for six consecutive days in the same water. Upon '&11%6;
rival of the ship in port on the 18th ult., five men ha
be carried to the Dreadnought hospital ship, and deceblie
died in two days. The evidence called yesterday did oc°
tirely bear out this statement. The first and second 1331111,
of the ship swore that the provisions were good and 1),Ieljoe
ful until the ship entered the chops of the Channel. P(10
of the men who had suffered from scurvy contradico
theca statements. Dr. Ross said he had examined 0,
water on board the Galloway, and it was good, 80,
amined the biscuits and tea and sugar, and found thelos/
There was no vinegar, no juice, no coffee; and the fiCTIJA
in a kind of paste. The deceased would have r t`v,.,o
stimulants. The Dover powders were the proper meo to
for him. The coroner, in summing up, said that it 0100
be regrett.d that there was not on board the ship .last
nourishments and stimulants, which, though not agree' re
in the articles, were necessaries for the sick. The jurf,,d
turned a verdict that death resulted from bronchitis' 'lO,
was accelerated by want of stimulants and nourish ell
The proceedings then terminated.
DUTCH SCHOONER FOUNDERED NEAR ri,
FINISTEREE.—The Swedish schooner Itoseribet li
0
q,
Capt. C. G. Cederberg, put into Plymouth on ...11 p;
afternoon on her voyage from Seville, to Hamburgh, Poet
on board Capt. J. Puister and crew of the hutch echo
Maria, which vessel foundered near Cape Finisterreito'
sprung a leak in a heavy WNW gale on the 25th of
tsait
ber. The crew, Six in nnmhar all told, took to their
and were in her 20 hours before they were picked 11,1:00
tho Rosenburg. The Maria was from Amsterdam' `.OlO
with sugar for the Mediterranean. Captain Ilt/cloi
reports to have received much kindness since hi° i 9
§/
have bees on board the Swede. Shortly after Oro
they were disembarked and placed in the Sailors' O° olf
undo the ,directions of W. Luscombe, Esq Netherl'A

consul.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL.—At a inee'dd
of the Hospital Committee yesterday notice was receiTedo)
the following legacies, viz. :—XSO by the late Pd,i
Aaron Jesse!, Esq. ; £lOO by the late Henry Lloyd,
and £5,000 by the late Jacob Steibel, Esq. Mr. Slefier
received his early education in the Junior School, and
wards distinguished himself highly, both in classic°

mathematics, as a student of the college.
"HE LAMBERT I"—The origin of the cr;
variously accounted for. One version is, 031100
countrywoman who had missed her husband
railway station kept firing off cries of ,4 Lambert:,
Lambert I As to vu Lambert ?" at short /11°r10!
until the whole of the crowd who were waiting
the station took up the cry and repeated it. Ti1,r8044
origin of the cry, however, was in this wise. '4
was an evening inspection of troops at Vincennes, !roll
great number cf persons had assembled to witness it. 44
waiting for the operations to begin a portion of the e
whose minds were as unoccupied as men's minds what'l)
when they are waiting in imminent expectation of an sap)
in which they are interested, heard one of the woodlteeoll
who was employed in keeping the people back call 4:4/
a friend he caught sight of among the spectators, et
Lambert I est-ce vous Lambert ?" Directly a felloorAq
peated the inquiry with affected interest ; it was tofrot,
by others, and in less than half an hour had been rePtelo
by thousands of persons, and before midnight every P
Paris had rung with it. Such was the origin of the
"He Lambert r —Once a Week. 10°1

AN AWKWARD MISUNDERSTANDING.—'A
crous and awkward incident has, we are inforto)
occurred recently in Belfast. A gentleman resident °lit/
us, of considerable academic attainments and P°l)lsr,
undertook an extensive Continental tour this sun:Oeff
found himself, in the course of it, in a Siberian town °1101:,
the Ural Mountains, where he became the guest of ° f
sian trader. The host exhibited, to the admiration Cof
visitor, a boulder of niphrite—a stone very extensivel9
for ornamental purposes_weighing about 4001bs. e°l) es'
pois. In tho course of the conversation the travelle-1)104
pressed an opinion that it was worth at least 6,000 00,0
or between £BOO and £9OO sterling. The trader, iloPerr,o
understanding his guest, whether through the litteo P"
complete command of the Russian tongue, or throllre,
effects upon himself of his own hospitality, seems, freratelf;
followed, to have mistaken for a bid what was I:Peiie
valuation. The traveller bent his steps homeward ° sr/
afterwards, thinking no more of the matter. To bitioi
surprise, a few days after his return, the porters 00
Belfast Custom House deposited at his door an en 1,101,
and carefully packed mass, shaped something a° fjelav
cheep of liquor, which they pushed through the stray
rollers. The astonished recipient, on peering ben° 1,0
outer wrapping of the package, found that the inner Vilo
lopes were sealed with the imperial arms of Russia;e(3,
a salutary dread of " Greek presents," he deterteV,
have nothing to do with it, and sent it back to thePle4
house, there to remain until he should obtain 800004
nation of the extraordinary arrival. He had not Pi'
wait. A day or two after' a letter was delivered 'bell',
from Ru,sia, informing him that the niphrite whieb,
purchased was on its way to Ireland ; and request,ille
through English agents, who were named, to send'' 01°09,
for it at the reduced price of 5,000 roubles—rathe'too
than £7oo—at the ordinary rates of exchange. On.filie/)
man—in comparison with whose embarrassmellberi 101
the gentleman who won an elephant in the let'roelf iU
slight and easily borne—declines to consider hil°oo Fre
purchaser, to receive the niphrite, or to pay the Pric4f
The package still remains, we believe, in tbeitee:o,
house, and it is to be opened in the presence a " roo
in order to be identified previously to its being °et° 0,01
to the somewhat precipitate trader, whose anxietlot
a bargain has led him too hastily to assume todep 1f pi
the assumption that ono had been made.—Nel the'
sidr
LISTZ has been in Paris, and it to °I. 0r
the Gazate Musicale, that he will return thithrejoetlolo
spring of 1865, for the purpose of conducting °coil;
which it is his intention to produce hie own 01331)