The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-12 00:00:00

TEE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 12, 1864.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

Death of Mr, Robson, the Comedian.

With a regret, which we are sure will be shared
in by most of our readers, we have to annlunce the
death of Mr. Rohm), the popular comedian, and
joint lessee of the Olympic Theatre. For some
considerable time Mr. Robson had been in a de•
clining state of health, but latterly he had appa-
rently so much improved that his re-appearance on
the stage was confidently expected at no very dis-
tant date. Death, however, has put as end to
Chase anticipations, as at twelve o'clock last night
he expired at his residence, 19, Anopthill-square,
near Mornington-crescent. Mr. Robson's success
as an actor commenced from the period of his
quitting the Grecian Saloon to fulfil an engagement
in Ireland, at the termination of which he was
engaged, in 1853, by the late Mr. Williem Farren,
then lessee of the Olympic Theatre. Th? character
which first stamped Mr. Robson at an actor
of no ordinary ability was his embodiment of the
principal part in the burlesque of Macbeth. Such
was the impression made by hie peculiar abilities
that for meths crowds were nightly attracted to
the Olympic Theatre, but the popularity he had
already achieved was greatly extended by the
force and in tensity he threw into the next burlesque
attempted—viz., Shylock. At the termination of
Mr. Farren,s management Mr. Alfred Wigan
became lessee of the theatre, and Mr. Robson
was at once engaged by the new lessee. From
that period he achieved a series of successes which
placed him at the head of burlesque actors, whilst
his peculiarly humorous powers also made him a
very eminent low comedian. Who can forget his
Jem Baggs, the Wandering Minstrel, or his Jacob
Earwig, or, in the more intense drama, his Daddy
Hardacre? In August, 1857, Mr. Robson, in
conjunction with Mr. Emden, became lessees
of the Olympic, and for a considerable period his
great talents wero- found quite sufficient
to draw crowded audiences despite the
attractions held out at the other metropolitan
theatres. But his abilities were overwrought, and
in obedience to his medical adviser, Mr. Robson,
temporarily retired from the stage in order that he
might recover that strength which his great exer-
tions hadlexhausted. So far had he recovered, that,
in consequence of the great success of the play of
The Ticket of Leave" that he took a provincial
tour, and appeared in some of our principal towns in
many of those parts which had so greatly
delighted the London playgoers. Some short time
ago he returned to London, and it was thought
much improved in health, but really it was
not so; his painful malady again attacked
him, and last night, as we have before mentioned,
he expired. Mr. Robson was a genial, kind-
hearted gentleman, and ever foremost in lending
his aid to benefit his less fortunate fellow artists.

The Holy Alliance,

The Invalide Busse publishes the following
article :—" During the sitting of the 22d of July,
when Lord Stratford de Radcliffe directed the atten-
tion of the House of Lords to the rumours concern•
ing the restoration of the Holy Alliance, and de-
nounced it as dangerous for the liberties of Europe,
Earl Russell very judiciously replied that present
circumstances rendered the renewal of such an Alli-
ance very doubtful_ In this case we perfectly agree
with the Secretary of the Foreign-office. We have
never ceased to repeat that, although the ques-
tions which occupy Europe hay.e been de-
bated at the meetings of the Sovereigns,
yet that no treaty had been concluded; and we
added that a treaty which would engage our
liberty of action would only be a misfortune for
Russia, who has two much to do at home to be able
to interfere in the complications which might arise
abroad. Events have justified us, and Lord Russell
has confirmed, if not our esplanations, at least our
conclusions. But why did his lordship add that Ce,
Russia, in Prussia, and in Austria it was generally
admitted that these Powers constantly express the
wish that the Sovereigns of Europe should unite to
resist democratic movements This unfortunate
phrase denotes that the noble lord has but an imper-
fect knowledge of the state of things in Russia, and
once more proves the influence of prejudice even on a
great mind. We will profit by the occasion to express
oar opinion on a subject which is generally very ill
understood abroad. In Russia the words aristocracy
and democracy cannot have the same meaning as in
the other parts of Europe ; our history, our Govern-
ment, our institutions,establish between us and other
nations very great differences. If we were to give a
State occupied with the welfare of the masses the
denomination of democrats we can boldly affirm that
the Russian nation is democratic. As the Govern-
ment is more demccratic than the people, as we have
neither political nor dynastic parties, it follows from
that, although we are democratic, we are in no wise
revolutionary. History does not present to us an ex-
ample of a more complete harmony existing between
a Sovereign and his nation, and our Government
knows it so well that, instead of guarding itself
against revolution, instead of uniting in a league with
other sovereigns against an evil it has not to fear at
home, it anticipates public opinion and grants greater
Liberties than those demanded by the masses. We see
very well all that our Government has done for our
welfare. The abuses disappear one by one; the forces
which until now remained without use have been
called into activity ; justice has taken a more regular
course, and authority itself represses all arbitrary
tendencies on the part of its servants. The attitude
of the population during the late Polish insurrec-
tion has, besides, sufficiently proved the harmony
existing between the Sovereign and his people.
Let Lord Russell, therefore, explain to us the rea-
son why he thinks the Emperor of Russia could be
induced to join the other Sovereigns in resisting the
encroachments of democracy."