The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-12 00:00:00

IRISH COUNTY COURTS.

Mr. O'HAGAN moved for leave to bring in a bill to
amend the procedure of the County Courts in Ireland. The
chief object of the measure, he said, was to correct the evils
attending the execution of the process of those courts,
which had been productive of great extortion, oppression,
and public inconvenience—by confiding to the sub-sheriff
the execution of the decrees, under effectual responsibility.
Mr. GEORGE made a few remarks upon the 'proposed
alteration, and leave was then given to bring in the bill.
BOARD OF CHARITY COMMISSIONERS.

Mr. FERRAND moved for returns of the names of the
Chief Commissioners, Commissioners, Secretaries, and all
other officials appointed under the Charitable Estates and
Trusts Acts of 1853 and 1855; the dates of their appoint.
ments, the amount of salary and travelling expenses each
has received annually, and the profession, trade, or calling
in which he was engaged when appointed ; and of the total
annual expense of the board to the public exchequer and
charitable trusts. In a speech of some length, embodying
strong allegations, he stated the grounds upon which he
called for these returns, to which he understood the Go.
vernment meant to object.

Mr, LOWE said that, on the contrary, the Government
were quite willing to give the returns, and would make
them as perfect as they could. In remarking upon what
he termed the charges and insinuations of Mr. Ferrand,
he suggested the omission from the motion of the words
" the profession, trade, or calling in which he was ap..
pointed," as unnecessary. _ _ _

After observation by Mr. MALIN& and Mr. F. POWELL,
Mr. FERRAND consented to the amendment of thq
motion, and the returns were ordered.
BANK ACTS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER brought
up this bill, which was read a first time.
The house then adjourned.

SECOND► EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, HALF-PAST 4 O'CLOCK.

THE POLISH INSURRECTION.

BRESLAU, Feb. 11.—The Gazette says—'6 A
rumour is current at Warsaw that an order has
been received to stay the execution of Jankowski,
one of the oldest chiefs of the insurrection, and who
was recently taken prisoner.

MR. AND MRS. CHARLES KEAN.

(From the Sydney Morning Herald of Dec. 21.)

The above celebrated artists arrived in Sydney from Mel-
bourne on Thursday, the 26th ult. Mr. and Mrs. Kean's
arrival here was looked forward to with very much interest,
not only by those who are familiar with their performances,
but by the far greater portion of the community who knew
them only by reputation. A few years ago the prospect of
a visit from the Keens was regarded, if not altogether as an
improbability, certainly as an exceedingly remote contin-
gency, and few of our native-born youth anticipated the
gratification of witnessing the cultivated and highly-
wrought impersonations of these gifted artists, unless they
had determined on a voyage to Europe. Mr. and Mrs.
Kean's arrival in Australia is, therefore, another proof of
the progress of the country, not alone in material wealth,
but also in an elevated taste. They are accompanied by
Miss Chapman, Mr. Everett, Mr. Cathcart, and their agent,
Mr. George Coppin.
On Monday evening, the 30th ult., Mr. and Mrs. Kean
and Miss Chapman dined at Government House, where
they meta large number of ladies and gentlemen holding
high positions in the colony. His Excellency Sir John
Young (who, with Lady Young, frequently patronise the
performances of Mr. Kean), in his address to the Grammar
School pupils, referred to the visit of the Keane in the
following eulogistic terms :—" At this moment two of the
most accomplished examples of the powers of eloquence
are on a visit to our city. I allude to those distin-
guished artists, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean, who may be
taken as models in the graces of oratory and action, and
who having attained to the very highest rank in their pro-
fession may well be looked upon as the most perfect speci-
mens of modern elocution extant. I would advise all my
young hearers to go and witness the performances of Mr.
and Mrs. Kean, when they will be much profited. I hope
their parents will bring them during the vacation to the
theatre for that purpose."
Mr. William Lyster, the present lessee of the Prince of
Wales Theatre, secured the services of Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Kean for a period of six weeks, and on Monday, Nov. 30,
the company assembled for the first rehearsal, when a con-
gratulatory address from the members of the operatic and,
dramatic profession was read by the stage manager of that
theatre, Mr. W. Barry, to which Mr. Kean replied in the
following terms :
" It is with feelings of profound satisfaction that Mrs. Kean
and I accept the kind expressions of welcome conveyed in
the address with which you have hollowed us. To receive
such a mark of esteem and appreciation from members of
our own profession on arriving in this colony, demands our
most grateful thanks. When we entered the beautiful and
romantic harbour of Sydney and my eyes first caught a
glimpse of the British flag floating over the towers of Go-
vernment House, I could not feel that though divided by
thousands of miles from friends, home, and child, we were
about to land amongst kindred people, speaking the same
language, possessing the same literature, acknowledging
the same sovereign, and having a claim upon, the won-
drous legacy bequeathed to England by the world sgreatest
dramatic poet. I felt indeed that we were coming, not
amongst strangers, but amongst countrymen. I cannot but
remark that to every lover of art, to every one who has a
soul to appreciate the charms of music and the delights of
poetry, the establishment of opera and drama in these
youthful colonies must be a subject of heartfelt congratula-
tion. We all know that recreation to the human mind is
as necessary as food to the human body, and where can a
more rational and intellectual banquet be offered to the
public than within the walls of a well regulated theatre,
where instruction may be blended with ailinsement, spread-
ing around a beneficial influence, and assisting to soften and
subdue the cares and trials of life. The fulfilment of our
earnest desire to visit Australia before our final retirement
from the stage, has afforded Mrs. Kean and myself the
greatest possible satisfaction, and the enjoyment we have
derived from seeing this new world will live amongst the
treasures of memory till our latest days. Accept, ladies
and gentlemen, once again our most sincere and grateful
acknowledgments for your great courtesy and kindness;"
The first appearance of the Keane in Sydney tookp -
on Wednesday, the 2d inst., when Levell's fine play,lab"'
oWpeinfee'ds Saelcarregte,'e'
rwowasdphroadducaeeds.enitloedngibnetfhoreevtihoit3.
doorsvicinity o fe
the
wore
oa ran
ni
arrived,
edi: Preciselyaand Lady
Young,the abt
ael dgkitisos'
theatre, and when admitted the house was soon filled
his Excellency Sir
in
o'clock his
and Lord John
played the National Anthem.
When his Excellency entered the Vice-regal
audi-
ence cheered him heartily. The
en-
thusiastic in the extreme—they
everyna
hy n 1
olfr
box the
mreception Mr.
Kean met with as each appeared f and
wa sor the first time .
n and
again—and during the play
where applause could beded in those places
they were cheered again
were applauded
also called before the curtain five times, and on the con-
clusion of theplay judiciously. introduced; they were
Miss Chapman, Miss Young, and
elicited
Messrs. Cathcart and Everett receiveda like honour.
The genuine success achieved on the first night of perform..
since has followed Mr, and Mrs. Kean all through their
numerous representatio.tu3 The "Merchant of Venice"
was the second piece in Which they appeared, when their
impersonations of the characters of Shylock and Portia
in which Mr. Kean seems to be the most liked is Hamlet—
Unqualified admiration. The character, however,
on the evenings of the performance of which the theatre has
been crammed to suffocation. Another very great per-
formance of Mr. Kean is "Louis AL' In this character
all the acquirements of the Thespian art are brought into
requisition. The play in which we believe these gifte4
artistes have no rivals is Henry The " Wolsey" of
Mr. Kean is a fine study, all the points and general repre-
sentation of the character of. Wolsey being correctly his-
torical and in keeping with his high position and cultivated
mind ; and the Queen Catherine of Mrs. Kean is no less
true and forcible. " Much Ado About Nothing," and.
" Othello," have also been produced. On Friday last, Mr.
Kean appeared for the second time as Wolsey, being the
occasion of his benefit, when the theatre was thronged with
the beauty and fashion of our community.
Mr. and Mrs. Kean's visit to Australia will, we think,
prove beneficial to the residents of this country, end pro-
prove
to themselves ; and it is not too much to
the example they have set will be followed
by
nte reesults of
of acknowledged reputation, and by so doing t have been
those superior natural abilities with which they
fined to wee por-
endowed by Providence, will not be con
lion of the globe. ? hhorp° tists

ANOTHER LONDON MUSICAL ASSOCIATION...-.
The ‘, New philharmonic Society" is described as
all " Association of Professional and Amateur Musicians
for the Cultivation of the Musical Art, by means of Private
Music meetings for the practice of Vocal and Instrumental
Works." It is under the presidency of Herr uo,
among its 12 directors are Herr Jartsa, Mr. F. Labla.che
and Dr. Wylde,