The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-30 00:00:00

ST JAMES'S THEATRE,

The Marionettes are at present engaged nightly in a
performance, the best worth seeing of any of their most
amusing representations—AU Baba, or, a Night with
the Forty Thieves, by Mr. O'Neill, who, as Hugo Vamp,
Esq., has supplied the ligneous wonder-workers with
many successful pieces. The dialogue teems with puns,
and good ones ; the songs are capital ; and the scenery
astonishingly beautiful. The apparition of the Fairy in
the illuminated cave, could it be effected on a large scale,
would make the fortune of a regular theatre, and the
" revolving star" in the final tableau, is one of the most
exquisite coups de spectacle we have ever seen. But the
grand hit is a dance, a pas de quatre, the execution of
which is the most marvellous and delicious achievement
in which the Marionettes have yet figured. It com-
mands a tempestuous encore from the convulsed specta-
tors, of whom not the juvenile portion alone are worked
up to an uncontrollable state of delight. As a Christ-
mas entertainment for families, we strenuously recom-
mend a visit to the St. James's Theatre while it con-
tinues to be the tabernacle of the Marionettes. They
are utterly irresistible.

FURTHER DETENTION OF THE AUSTRALIAN MAILS.—
Notice was issued yesterday at the General Post-office,
St. Martin's-le-Grand, that in consequence of the neces-
sary repairs to the royal mail screw steam-packet, the
Adelaide, now lying at Plymouth, not being completed,
she will not ifail until Saturday next, the Ist of January.
Letters and newspapers for the Cape of Good Hope,
Southern ant Western Australia, Victoria, Sydney,
New South Wales, and Van Diemen's Land, will be in
time to-morrow evening, the 31st inst., to be forwarded
by her. The postage on both must be pre-paid. Much
disappointment has been expressed by the merchants in
the city at these delays, in forwarding the Australian
mails, which ought to have been sent off on the 3d inst.
LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY.—The United States mail
steam-ship Baltic, Comstock commander, sailed from the
Mersey shortly before noon to-day, with the usual mails,
upwards of 1,000 tons of cargo (a large portion of which
was French manufactured goods), and 47 passengers.
The British and North American Company's new steamer
Arabia, made a trial trip with the Government Inspector
and a select party of gentlemen on board yesterday.
The trial gave every satisfaction to the owners of the
vessel and to all parties on board.
DEATH OF A MILITARY KNIGHT.—Died, on Monday,
at Windsor Castle, John Powell, Esq., military knight,
aged 84. This gallant veteran officer, formerly quarter-
master of the 77th or Middlesex Regiment of Foot, was
nearly twenty years in India, and was present in the
campaigns against Tippoo and Doondia Waugh, and in
that of Wynaad, where he was severely wounded. He
served also against the enemies of his country at Cochin,
Colombo, Sadasseer, Seringapatain, Jamalabad, Panga-
lamcourchy, and Anakenny. Subsequently he was
twelve years in the West Indies, and four in the Penin-
sula, and had the war medal with one clasp for Badajos.
Mr. Powell was universally esteemed for kindness of
heart, high integrity, and the faithful discharge of his
duty. He closed his lengthened and honourable career
with a, painful illness, but died in peace and charity,
trusting only in the merits of his Divine Saviour.
THE NEW MILITARY KNIGHT.—Major J. W. Hen-
derson, K.H., jsst appointed Military Knight of
Windsor, served with the Bth West India Regiment at
the capture of the Danish West India Islands in 1801,
and was present at the suppression of the mutiny in that
corps, Prince Rupert's, in Dominica ; was with the 3d
West India Regiment at the storming and capture of
Morne Fortunee, in St. Lucia, and at the capture of
Tobago. He joined the 50th after the storming of Al-
maraz, and was with that gallant corps until the close
of the Peninsular war. He was severely wounded at
the capture of Aire, and has the war medal with two
clasps for the Pyrenees and Orthes.
EMBEZZLEMENT BY A COMMERCIAL CLERK.—At the
Manchester Borough Court on Wednesday, James Uns-
worth, townsman, and collecting clerk in Manchester
for Messrs. Thomas Hardcastle and Son, of Firwood,
near Bolton, bleachers, dyers, and finishers, was charged
with having embezzled the moneys of his employers to
the extent of between 4001. and 5001. The defendant
was committed for trial at the next sessions, reserving
his defence until his trial.
MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—The following is an extract
of a letter dated " Lisbon, Dec. 20," received vid France:
—" Mr. Heald (Lola Montes' husband) went out in one
of the vessels of the Royal Yacht Club, having in his
company a beautiful young lady. The yacht foundered
in sight of her Majesty's steamer Inflexible, which in-
stantly manned a boat with 14 hands to
prriesnccuiepltehem;
not only were they unsuccessful, but the.l4 hands were
also drowned."
THE WOMERSLEY POACHING CASE. The final ex-
amination of the prisoners in this case took place at the
wit-
ness Tow
Town-hall,
implicated, and who minutely described the particulars
of the affray in the preserve, near Womersley, on the
producedl, Pontefract, on
was tefract,
George yesterday.xemp Theone of the parties
night of the 24th ult. His testimony was corroborated,
by a great number of witnesses ; and after a lengthened
hearing, Robert Drew, William Andrews, and George
Kemp (the approver), were fully committed to York
Castle for trial. Lord Hawke and his brother, the Hon.
S. Hawke, were present during the inquiry.
THE RAILWAYS AND THE RAlN.—Owing to the floods
for some weeks past, the trains by the different lines of
railway, especially the main line of the London and
North-Western Railway, in several of the midland coun-
ties, have been very much delayed by the waters being
out in the low lands. To this circumstance, and the in-
convenience and delay thereby caused, the mail trains
between London and Manchester have been on many
recent occasions from one to two hours after due time ;
and the company have issued an official notice explain-
ing the cause.
LAND SLIP ON THE SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY.—
During the night of Tuesday, owing to the recent floods
which have so saturated the earth as to make it very
rotten, an extensive land slip took place on the South
Devon line, between Teignmouth and Dawlish, which
has completely stopped the traffic over the line, and no
trains have since arrived at Bristol during the whole
of to-day (Wednesday). A few passengers having been
conveyed by coach over that portion of the country in
which the slip has taken place, arrived in Bristol by the
afternoon up express train ; but, beyond this, all com-
munication has been stopped. A large number of men
have been employed in clearing the line, in order that it
may be re-opened as speedily as possible,