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

TIII•; SUEZ CANAL.

In reply to Mr. Itolmucx,
Mr. LAYARD said chat the correspondence which had
taken place with the Pusha of Egypt and other diplomatic
agents in reference to this undertaking could not with pro-

priety be produced when negotiations on the subject were
still going on.
EDUCATION IN SCOTLAND,

In reply to Mr. LESLIE,
The LORD-ADVOCATE said that in conformity with
the wishes of Scotch members, he made a proposal to her
Majesty's Government to issue a commission on this sub-
ject, but it had not been considered necessary to adopt that
formal procedure, as the necessary information could be
obtained by other means. The Government had not seen
any reason to induce them to alter their opinion,
THE ILLUMINATED CLOCK AT THE PALACE
OF WESTMINSTER.
In reply to Mr. PACKS,
Mr. COWPER said that the clock was lighted when the
illumination was considered most necessary, but if hon.
members desired it, he had no objection that the illumina-
tion be continued al night.
ALLEGED ARREST OF INHABITANTS OF
GRA VENSTEIN.
Ia reply to Mr. D. GRIFFITH,

Lord PALMERSTON, who was loudly cheered when he
entered the house, said the Government had received no
information as to the arrest of inhabitants of Gravenstein.

THE CASE OF THE TUSCALOOZA.

In reply to Mr. PEACOCKE,

Lord PALMERSTON said that it was in conformity
with the instructions received that the authorities at the
Cape of Good Hope had seized this vessel, but on represen-
tations that had been made to the Government, and on full
consideration of the case, it had been determined that there
had been no proper ground for the seizure of the vessel.
and its release had been ordered.
RUMOURED BLOCKADE BY DENMARK OF THE

Complimentary Dinner to Kr. Benjamin
Webster.

Last night a compiimentary dinner was given to
Mr. Benjamin Webs ter, 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. MARE 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 ao
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 thitt it was right I should do so. (Cheers
and laughter.)
The CmetßaLui, 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 increatied when they had nothing to say of
him but what was in his praise. (Hear, hear.) He
wished Mr. W abater 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 m any 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 w:as 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. Webater'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 Shakspere'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 his career, he
having taken it up at a moment's notice in conse-
quence of Mr. Harley's sudden 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 wire, 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 for 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 40 plays of contemporary writers,
amongst which were the writings of Sheridan
Knoles, Talfourd, and 'heir dear friend West/and
Marston—(cheers)—and others. This was in addi-
tion to the great number of those which always
eater into the programme of a manager. No man
had been more prolific in novelties than Mr. Webster
and no manager had his shelves more crowded with
the 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 connexiou 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 :