The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-25 00:00:00

ABOUT THE ENGLISH OP IT.

From the Daily News of this morning we ex-
tract the following admirable comment on this
vaunted acceptance by Austria and Prussia of tho
proposition of a Conference in London. Another
exemplification of Lord Russell's delight in playing
his favourite part of "Moonshine."—

" When the Times of yesterday arrives at
Berlin and Vienna, the statesmen of Austria. and
Prussia will perceive how wise they were to reject
Lard Palmerston's proposal of an armistice. It is
plain now that they knew exactly the man with
whom they had to deal, end the event shows that
it would have been sheer waste of amiability to
grant that request vs hen, at the price of the most
airy of concessions, and without pausing in their
iniquitous career, they could obtain the full reward
of moderation and virtue. Their unjust invasion is
to be maintained, the butchery in Schleswig. is to
go on, and the mere consent of Austria and Prussia
to send two diplomatists to talk about the affairs of
Denmark is accepted by Loid. Palmerston as a proof
that, after all, those Powers are righteous and just.
And not only so, but this notable compliance, it ap.
pears, is held to be a great triumph of British influ-
ence, one which is to silence the Patric and confound
the Charivari. Let us hope so. Meanwhile, we sup-
posethat there was some seriousnessin the eloquence
with which Ministers have been denouncing the
violent outrage' of Austria and Prussia; and let
it be noted that the discovery that those Powers
recognise the principles that this country has up-
held,' and acknowledge themselves responsible to
English opinion in their acts, is made before they
have given the least sign that they are disposed to
desist from their flagitious course of action. The
case is a very simple one. The burglars are in pos-
session of every room in the house except the garret.
We have been lustily crying out Thieves ! Police !'
when suddenly it is announced with rapturous
delight as an immense gain and triumph, that at
our earnest request the robbers have consented to
detach one of the gang to talk over the little affair
with us—the burglary to go on in the meantime.
Such is the state of things for whioh we are now
told wo ought to be grateful; and no doubt it well
becomes Ministers to be thankful for small mercies;"

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE—TIiis Day.

HUNGERFORD RACES—THIS DAY.
(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
These races are postponed until to-morrow. The snow
two inches deep.

RACING FIXTURES FOR 1864.

MARCH.

Nottingham Spring 1
Derby Spring 3
Liverpool
Shrewsbury . lO
Doncaster Spring

Warwick .. 1G
Durham
Northampton 29
Catterick .. 30

AP:
Croxton-park
Edinburgh Spring 2
Abergavenny
Thirsk 5

Epsom Spring
Newmarket Craven
Newmarket First Spring 2,5

Cheater .. 3
York Spring
Salisbury l2
Bath

'anchester
Harpenden
Epsom .. 21

Ascot ..
Hampton l5
Newton
Odiham
Bibury
Stockbridge
Newmarket July
I
Carlisle
Abingdon
Liverpool July
Stamford
Pontefract

Chelmsford 23
New Forest Hunt 2B
Newcastle-on-Tyne 28
Worcester (Summer)
Ipswich

Nottingham ,
Winchester l9
Southampton .. 2O
Chesterfield
Goodwood

Complimentary Dinner to Mr. Benjamin
Webster.

Last night a complimentary dinner was given to
Mr. Benjamin Webster, at the Freemasons' Tavern,
Great Queen-street, on the occasion of the presenta-
tion to him of a testimonial in token of his valuable
services as Master of the Dramatic College, in recog-
nition of his private worth, and of his eminent
talents as a dramatic artist. The chair was taken by
Mr. Robert Bell, and there were about 120 or 130
gentlemen present connected with the drama, lite-
rature, and the arts.
After the removal of the cloth,

The CHAIRMAN proposed in very felicitous and
appropriate terms the usual and loyal and patriotic
toasts.

Mr. MARK LEMON, in responding to the toast of
the volunteers, said that they were all aware of the
pleasantries that could be perpetrated by one of the
best comic writers of our time, and he never perpe-
trated a greater one than when he selected me to
answer for the volunteers. I can only say that I was
a volunteer—a private in the fullest sense—(laugh-
ter)—but I was declared ineffective, (Cheers and
great laughter.) I cannot say that I retired from
the service from my own desire ; but it was so
broadly intimated to me that I was incompetent as
a volunteer by the company to which I was attached
that I was obliged to retire, I might have been more
effective as a volunteer then than I am now; but
all volunteers present will excuse me when I
say that the volunteers will do all that the army
and'navy ought to do. That is all I ought to say
beyond that I was not exactly drummed out of the
corps, but voluntarily retired upon a very broad
intimation that it was right I should do so. (Cheers
and laughter.)
The CEEAIRMA.N, in proposing the toast of the

evening, said it was always difficult to speak of any
man in his presence, but that difficulty was consi-
derably increased when they had nothing to say of
him but what was in his praise. (Hear, hear.) He
wished Mr. Webster could possibly have been absent
on that occasion; but as that was impossible, he
would beg of him not to listen to anything which
he was about to say. (Laughter.) Most of those in
that room remembered the days of the drama in
the time of the expiring glories of the Kemble

dynasty, when the stage was adorned by such men

as Liston, Kemble, Ward, Dowton, Fawcett, and
many others whose names must be familiar
to them, as well as the actresses Davenport, Miss
Tree, and many more. (Hear, hear, and cheers.)
They had watched with interest the progress of the
stage in our own times, and it must be a source of
pleasure to them to find amongst them the last of
that illustrious race now upon the stage in the per-
son of their friend Mr. Benjamin Webster. (Cheers.)

But he was happy to say that, although he was the
last living actor now upon the stage of that time,
they had yet amongst them another actor of that
period, who still survives, but who has retired to
repose on his laurels—one of the greatest comedians
that ever embellished the English stage at any
period—Robert Keeley. (Loud cheers.) With re.
spect to Mr. Webster's career, so far as he remem-
bered, his reputation was commenced at Drury-lane.
He was celebrated in his youthful days for the intel-
ligence he displayed in playing Shakapere's clowns,
which required considerable histrionic ability, and
an insight into character rarely to be met with. At
first he played the character of Pompey in " Mea-
sure for Measure," and the circumstance under
which he played it for the first time was interest-
ing, as giving a spring to the rest of hie career, he
having taken it up at a moment's notice in conse-
quence of Mr. Harley's sadden illness. It was so
great a success, that it was the first step in that
great career that had since followed, (Hear, hear.)
Then came the abolition of the patents of the great
winter theatres. It was not for them now to pro-
nounce any opinion upon that point. Some might
think it wise, others the reverse ; but it was not
necessary for him to say more than that that was a
period of transition, when the patents were abolished
and the stage was thrown open. He did not say
too much tor Mr. 'Webster, when he said that he
was the pilot that weathered the storm in that
crisis of the history of the stage. (Hear, hear.)
From Drury-lane Mr. Webster passed over to the
Haymarket Theatre, and for a period of fifteen or
sixteen years he conducted that house with a con-
stant attention to the highest interests of the drama.
He had watched his progress narrowly, and he was
able to say that Mr. Webster had produced at least
between 30 and 43 plays of contemporary writers,
amongst whir:h were the writings of Sheridan
Kuoles, Talfriurd, and their dear friend Westland
Marston--(cheers)—and others. This was in addi-
tion to ',he great number of those which always
enter into the programme of a manager. No man
had br:en more prolific in novelties than Mr. Webster
and no manager had his shelves more crowded with
ti".e dust covered manuscripts of modern authors,
whose productions, though paid for, he had never
been able to bring out. Mr. Bell then rapidly
and effectively reviewed the career of Mr.
Webster as manager of the Adelphi and other
theatres, and his connexion with the various
charities connected with the drama, in very elo-
quent terms, and .then presented to Mr. Webster
the testimonial, which was beautifully illuminated
on vellum and handsomely framed, with the follow_
ing inscription :