The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-16 00:00:00

Share Railways.

8 86

8i St
84 E 6
121 121 j

4 7&

37 39
16 17
94 96
106 108
49 50
47 49
71 8i

491 i

128. ¶291
1351 136}
134 136
95 97
C4l 65

641 5

110; 111
70 72
103 iO4
40 42
10 109}
100 lul
52 53

103 1 2!
41}
109 e
1001
62!

106 107
1201 1301
It lid
98 100

521 621
25 t 6
1021 103;

68 69
91/ 811

125 130
14 24 p
79 80
11 11i
123 120
43 45
98 100

63 64
23 84
941 esi

99 101
gi 101
.38 39
9i 10i r,
7' 8
165 170
i 6
3i P

87 90
167 172

23 25

le6l 6
1301

911 1

95f a

MISCELLANEOUS—Continued.
Egyptian Commercial and Trading, lim., if 4
Electric Telegraph, 105 7 54
Gen. Credit and Finance of London, lira., q- 7
Hudson's Bay, 174
International Financial Society, 123
Italian Irrigation (Canal Cavoun.
Ditto, 6 per cent. Bonds, redem. 1670, issued 90, 82 803
Joint•stock Discount, lim., 63 3 4
London and Caledonian Marine, Um., 33
London District,Telegraph (Urn.), 14 3
London Financial Association, lim., 243 I ; 5
London General Omnibus Company,
3lauritius Land, Credit, and Agency, hm.
National Discount Company, lim., ;24 113 121 12
National Steam Navigation, Urn., 53
Ocean Marine (Insurance). 183 4
Peel River Land and Mineral, 444
Peninsula and Oriental Steam. 784
Rio de Janeiro City Improvements, 263 7
Ditto, new, 43
Royal Mail steam, 85 6
South dean Mortgage and Investment. 61
Thames and Mersey Marine (Insurance), Rm., 73
Universal Marine (insurance), lim., 53
West India and Pacific Steam, Um., 4

PRINCESS'S THEATRE,

PAUL'S RETURN.

Last night a new three-act drama, by Watts
Phillips, Eq., entitled " Paul's Return," was suc-
cessfully produced at this theatre. The main inci-
dent of the piece, although by no means a novel one
(it having been well worked up in "Payable on
Demand," and similar plays), has been so well
treated in the present instance, that a freshness has
been given to an old subject. However good the
piece, to persons unacquainted with managerial
secrets, it must seem somewhat strange that West-
land Marston's admirable play of "Donna Diana"
should have been stopped in its lull tide of
success for the production of "Paul's Return," for
without in the least wishing to detract from the
sterling abilities of Mr. Phillips as a dramatist, it
cannot be said that the new piece is equal, either
in point of elegance of writing or dramatic interest,
to the one it has displaced. It is certainly good
policy on the part of a manager to keep up a suc-
cession of novelties, yet there may sometimes b 3 a
precipitation which, instead of answering the object
intended, may lead to a totally different result. In
the present days of sensation dramas it was a relief
to find one manager making a bold stand for
pure and elegant comedy, yet through no lack of
patronage, the effort lusts for about a month, and
then he falls back on old the conventional three
act domestic drama. However, Mr. Vining is a
very clever manager, and we have no wish to dis-
cover any of his secrets. The plot of " Paul's Re-
turn" may be very briefly stated. A certain Mr.
Richard Goldsworthy, the head of a mercantile firm
of the highest repute, is entrusted with the fortune
of his niece, Blanche Wilton, by her father, and
news having arrived of Wilton's death by shipwreck,
Goldsworthy isind aced, owing to severe pressure, to
make use of the fortune of Blanche in the prosecution
of his own business. The money is lost in speculation,
and for ever afterwards Goldsworthy becomes a
victim to remorse, although to outward appearance
he is a wealthy and influential man. Blanche,
knowing nothing of her lost fortune, is an inmate of
Goldsworthy House, where she is looked upon by
the other members of " the family" as a dependant
and an incumbrance. Paul Goldsworthy, a nephew
of the merchant's, after an absence of six years in
California, returns, and is the bearer of papers from
Blanche's dying father, whom he has met in foreign
lands, which will expose the fraud of Goldsworthy.
Owing to Paul's love for the merchant's
daughter, Beatrice, he grants him a month to
make good the money he has lost. In his
extreme need Goldsworthy applies to a friend,
one Abel Honeydew, to assist him ; but imme-
diately this friend finds that Goldsworthy is
in urgent want of assistance, he throws off the
mask and shows himself a thorough rascal. He is
willing to advance the money provided he re-
ceives the hand of Goldsworthy's daughter. This
proposal is scornfully rejected by the father; but
Beatrice, although betrothed to Paul, to save her
father determines to sacrifice herself. Paul, who
previous to his arrival in England, has been robbed
of an immense fortune by his companion at the
gold diggings, one Brassington, determines to
see Mr. Honeydew, and to endeavour to make
other arrangements than the proposed marriage;
but the merchant, Goldsworthy, makes a full con-
fession of his crime before " the family," and deter-
mines to brave the worst. Mr. Honeydew calls at
nine o'clock for a final answer, end on that occasion
he is seen by Paul, who immediately recognises in
him the thief who robbed him in America. Honey-
dew is compelled to disgorge his wealth to Paul.
He at once places the whole of it at Goldsworthy's
disposal, whose first act is to restore to Blanche
her fortune, and his next to make his daughter
happy by giving her a husband in the person of
her cousin Paul.

The acting of the drama was unexceptionable.
Mr. Vining sustained the part of the merchant,
Richard Goldsworthy, with dramatic effect, and in
many of the scenes he threw into it the utmost in-
tensity—the avowal of his crime to Paul was a fine
specimen of artistic excellence. Mr. Nelson, who
made his first appearance in London as Paul, did
not have much of a part to show the extent of hie
abilities. All he had to do was to repeat a few
set and claptrap phrases, which, of course, went
well with the audience. Before expressing our
opinion of him as an actor, we must see him in
something better than a walking gentleman's part.
Mr. David Fisher secured high honours. His Abel
Honeydew was a remarkably well sustained cha-
racter, and it is only to be regretted that more
opportunities are not effirded him of displaying the
great abilities he undoubtedly possesess. Miss Kate
Saville gave a pretty embodiment of the merchant's
daughter, and Miss Powell was excellent as Blanche
Wilton. There are a number of other characters in
the piece, but they have nothing to do with the
development of the plot. For instance, Mrs. Mars-
ton represents " a member of the family," who is
given to embroidering velvet smoking caps, and
making fine baby clothes for emancipated negroes.
Mr. Mellon appears as a " Humanitarian," whose
charity, born in the heart, dies before it reaches the
breeches' pocket, and Mr. Forrester, a poor lieu-
tenant, dying in love for Blanche Wilton.
The scenery is remarkably beautiful, and the
dresses and appointments in the best taste.
All the principal actors were summoned before
the curtain to acknowledge the applause their efforts
had evoked, and Mr. Vining announced the piece
for repetition every evening until further notice.