The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-10 00:00:00

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PRINCESS'S THEATRE. )
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• Mr. Charles Kean
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_,:14 t . : ~.,. ,_____, 2 , scendant triumph. The representation 'of
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,1 ,: 1 / rival play of King John on the boards of the Prit:cess's
-,4A, 1 Theatre affords, we make bold to say, the most magnificent
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combination of splendour, correctness, and artistic skull that
the theatrical public have ever yet had the opportunity of
. baholding. It is' really difficult, after witnessing such a
masterpiece, histrionic and managerial, to avoid the use of
terms which might appear extravagantly eulogistic, however
just ; suffice it to say, that the fruits of evident enormous
pairs and outlay have been—perfection and commensurate
. success. As regards the mise en scene we have never seen it
equalled. The kingly chivalry of France and England 'six
centuries ago lives and moves before our eyes in vivid reality,
a resurrection of the contemporaries of the Great Charter. Where
such authorities have been scrupulously consulted for the selec-
tion of the costumes, arms, banners, and decorations, as Mey-
rick's " Ancient Armour," C. H. Slnith's " Ancient Costume
of Great Britain," Planche's " Costume of King John,"
Strutt'e " Dresses and Habits of the People of England,"
Fairholt's "Costume in' England," Fosbroke's " Encyclo-
;media of Antiquities," Dngdale's " Monasticon Anglicanuni,"
eustemset, and Decorations," Stothard's " Monu-
tmluheeninewttsal'anBCEdiffili'‘iDgCleiorSese:( Pligineli
" Glossary of Ecclesiastical Orna-
mthiraeirelleraldioffice, LecomtFer'san;aCeise,. s;
Franeaise," Willemin's ;de a Monarchic Montfancon's "Monarchic
~
mernannnicaeinsea,"FHranerbe.'s
„"aConnisetumideaes
may be formed of the interesting and
.picturCeasicsine nature of
the effect produced. The scenery is likewise so beautifully
executed as to render the illusion complete. But it is
not merely as anw
extraordinaryith spectacle that
King John was received ' such unbounded and
most merited enthusiasm; the
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throughout. Mr. Bean's was aactlng was first-rate
thoroughly noble
y, and the
death-scene in the moonlit orchard of Swinatead Abbey;stehine
pent
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promptsnl ito rf
rinemanhisce.hisadphaerlthne,
he believes that self-abasement Arthur has
andthe rdeenifiearnicee
poefurtrPaaypeadl , twyhraentm
been murdered, he was the very embodiment of the fitful and
unscrupulous King, as drawn by the mighty dramatist.
There was exquisite beauty in the Constance of Mrs. Bean.
Grief, rage, pathos, thrillingly depicted, with not a vestige
of the viragoisni displayld by ordinary personators of the
character. In the final gony of heart-broken despair, Wm
Kean was so - 0-.,
surplesin"treat, that the house literally shook
with the outburst of' arklause evoked by such a rare effort
of genius.. •Filconbridge was pourtrayed by Mr. Alfred
Wigan in a Manner most• creditable to that clever actor.
Considering his usuahaine-oT buitess, it could not be ex-
pected that he could make the part what we remember it in
the hands of Charles Kemble cr James Wallac,k ; but he
played it with admirable spirit and appropriate humour. As
a good sound actor, Mr. Ryder has long held a favourable
position, but his • Hubert last night was a gem. In the af-
fecting scene with Arthur in the prison, and the subsequent
passion of grief over the dead body of the young prince, he
took the audience by storm. Miss Kate Terry, as Prince
Arthur, exhibited much cleverness and excellent training.
All the subordinate parts were most satisfactorily filled;
Queen Eleanor by Miss Phillips, Blanche by Miss Murray,
Prince Henry by Miss Robertson, the French King by sir.
' Fisher, the Duke of Austria by Mr. Cooke, the Cardieal by
Mr. Graham, not forgetting Mr. Addison as the Governor of
Angiers, and Mr. Cathcart as the Yiscomte de Melun.
At the conclusion of the performance Mr. and Mrs. Kean
were vehemently_ called for, and saluted with fervent accla-
mations. Mr. Wigan had to appear, and was most warmly
greeted. Mr. Ryder then came in for a similar mark of
approval most deservedly bestowed; and finally Miss Kate
Terry was promoted by the audience to a place in• this
honourable ovation, Mr. Kean himself leading the clever
little girl before the curtain. Of the long and sustained
success of such a tremendous hit as the production of last
evening there cannot be a shadow of doubt. There is not
a metropolitan inhabitant or visitor of the smallest taste
but ought to take an opportunity of visiting this theatre on
some one at least of the King John nights. So superb a
treat has never before been offered to the playgoer.

The grandees of Spain had demanded that the
holy Sacrament should rensain exposed in the church of
Our Lady of A.tocha, until the entire recovery of the
QUEEN, in order that all the inhabitants of Madrid might
repair to that church to implore GOD in favour of the
precious health of their SOVEREIGN.
The Marquis of Vim:ma, President of the Senate,
handed to the President of the Council a respectful ad-
dreas of that body to the QUEEN.
The assassin MARTIN MERINO was executed by
garote vil—stre.ngulation—on Saturday, at one o'clock,
outside the gate of Toledo, the usual place of ext cution
in Madrid, and, it is more than probable, in the presence
of an immense multitude, not one of whom could have
felt sympathy or compassion for his fate. He had been
previously degraded from the priesthood—as a felon
knight has his spurs struck from his heels before he
handed over to the headsman.

ROYAL MARIONETTE THEATRE.
Upon the opening of this theatre, intimations were thrown
out by various portions of the press that the puppet stage
might serve readily as a place for the production of brochures
emanating from the bright wits of the day, but not easily ad-
missible in other theatres. Already we find the hint adopted,
and a new farce produced, styled The United Services, which
is called an infinitesimal operatta, in one homoeopathic act,
and professes to be written by Hugo Vamp, Esq., the perma-
nent author to the establishment. In reality this little
piece is the production of one of the bright spirits referred to,
who, without caring much for plot, has employed the cha-
racters as mouthpieces for some clever bits at some
of the events, social and political, of the day. Mr.
Bantam is the name of an elderly gentleman who,
like many others of his genus, is considerably troubled
by the followers who come after his cook and housemaid,
Diipping and Sally; and who for the present assume the
forms of an Irish lifeguardsman and policeman, who is the
model man of all the force. The piece opens with a kitchen
scene, in which Dripping and Sally await the departure of
their master for the introduction of their sweethearts. The
latter enter, and some very clever dialogue ensues, intro-
ducing some admirable " points" upon the Whigs, France
and the French, national defences, preserved meats, Bloomer-
ism, &c., &c. In the midst of their merry-making the gover-
nor returns, the " followers" secrete themselves, are afterwards
found out, and after the usual display of bluster, the affair
winds up with a double marriage, very much to the satisfac-
tion of the parties concerned and of the audience, who testi-
fied their gratification by hearty and unanimous calls for the
performers, author, and manager, all of whom appeared and
made their bows of acknowledgment before the curtain.

ACCIDENT THIS MORNING AT THE

BRICK-LANE GAS WORKS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

- -• •
SIR,—To prevent much apprehension that exists about the
accident that occurred here this morning, I beg to state that,
soon after nine o'clock, a vessel, connected with the 'puri-
fiers, suddenly gave way with a 1, ud report, alarmed the
neighbourhood, and the gas escaping caught fire, which was
shortly extinguished without any serious damage except to
the vessel in which the accident happened.
One man was injured, and immediately removed to the
hospital, butinobody else was hurt; and the operations of the
works are not interrupted.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
ALFRED lIENRY STILL, Superintendent.
Gas Works, Brick-lane, Feb. 10, 1832.

SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.
Gross traffic receipts for passengers
and goods, week ending Feb. 7,
1852 ...
Ditto, Feb. 8, 1851