The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 16, 1863

HAY:

:ATRE

Mr. Buckstone's annual benefit, always an event
of interest in the dramatic world, passed off with

its customary eclat last evening, when the manager's
second season of no, less than five years' duration
was brought to a close. The performances consisted
of a Spanish ballet, the comedy of " Charles X 11.,"
and the farces of "The Bengal Tiger" and "Deaf as a
Post." In the course of the evening Mr. Buckstono
came forward in front of the curtain, and was re-
ceived with enthusiastic acclamations. He delivered
the following address, which repeatedly elicited the
cheers of the audience;—
" Ladies and Gentlemen,—As this is the last night of a
season of five years, comprising one thousand four hundred
and seventy-three nights, being the second of the same
duration under my management, when this theatre has
never been closed on any one occasion, except by order of
the Lord Chamberlain, .I feel it a duty I owe to you to say
a few words relative to the past and concerning the future,
before I make my bow until next September.
"I have now, ladies and gentleman, been the sole lessee
and manager of this theatre for more than ten years ; I say
sole lessee and manager, because it has sometimes been re.
ported that others were connected with me ; but such is not
the case, for during the whole term of my lesseeship I have
stood alone, and whatever may have been the faults or
merits of the direction, they belong entirely to myself, as
also all the losses, risks, and, I am happy to say, the profits ;
while never at any time have I known what it is to have,
as it is termed, a backer,' that is to say, some one behind
me ; my only backer has been the public, before me, and
well has the public performed that friendly office.
"A little while ago, ladies and gentlemen, I began to
think that I had been too long your servant, and felt that
an occasional retirement would be a little relief for both
of us; but the expression of this thought gave rise to
many rumours—one, that I was about to take my farewell
of the stage altogether ; another, that I had transferred my
interest in the theatre to other hands—a proceeding I never
dreamt of. The truth is, I but fancied I might find some
one who would relieve me of a portion of the anxieties of
management, and occasionally act for me, so that I might
now and then enjoy a holiday; but I could not find that
some one. While as to retiring altogether, my doctor
would not permit it ;he e that I should miss an active
life ; that I should not know what to do with myself; that
I shculd go to sleep after dinner, and be always under his
hands— a very disinterested medical man you will say.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, as my lease was about expir-
ing, I. listened to my doctor, and the result has been, that
my excellent landlady has renewed that lease for a long
term of years, so that it is likely I shall still be coming to
work here every evening until I shall be made to feel that
you have had quite enough of me.
" You will be happy to hear that, with some fluctuations,
which belong to every enterprise, my ten years' manage-
ment has been most successful, the last half of that term
particularly so, while the great Exhibition year brought sue
an unparalleled tide of prosperity,although it is but right to
allow that much of that prosperity was due to my Lord
Dundreary ( Mr. Sothern), whose extraordinary performance
was the talk of all London for more than twelve months,
and filled this theatre nightly during that time, by the re-
presentation of that one character. lam happy to inform
you, ladies and gentlemen, that Mr. Sothern is meeting
with the same great success in the provinces, is in excellent
health and spirits, and that he will re-appear here on the
26th December next, and shortly after hopes to have the
pleasure of introducing you to 'Brother Them.' Mr. and
Mrs. Alfred Wigan will commence my next season in Sep-
tember, when the performance of Lady Gifford's successful
comedy of Finesse' will for a short time be resumed. You
will be pleased to know that Mr.. Charles Mathews, after a
long absence, will return to the Loudon stage; I have anew
comedy to introduce both himself and Mrs. Matthews, and
which, I have every reason to hope, willrun till Christmas.
" And now, ladies and genttemen, I must tell you what
lam about to do to make you comfortable. My patrons
in the stalls have long complained of being uneasy in
their seats, and of having a sensation that every moment
they should slide off them on the floor ; while persons of
only ordinary rotundity have felt pinched and confined for
want of space. I intend to make those seats wider,
and so constructed that you will be as snug as
on the seats of a first-class railway carriage, but
without the oscillation of those conveyances. An additional
row of stalls will be made, and there will be an entrance-
door on each side, so that the crinolines of the ladies will not
be so disturbed as hitherto they have been. In the dress
circle, the knife-boards will be abolished, the box partitions
removed, and 250 roomy velvet chairs placed for the conve-
nience of the visitors to that pert of the house. In the am-
phitheatre, the benches will be covered, backs will be added
to them, so that when the pit is overflowing, no one will
object to pass up aloft, where they will meet with every
comfort, and obtain one of the best points of sight in the
house. Of course, we shall clean up, and present a bright
appearance,and to which I hope full houses will give an ad-
ditional lustre.
" We shall still, ladies and gentlemen, adhere to those
performances which have been the speciality of this house
from the time of Foote—English comedy and farce, with
an occasional burlesque or pantomime at Christmas. Our
vocation here is to make you laugh; we do not pretend to
terrify, or to astonish, or to make you weep. Laughter,
holding both his sides,' is our motto, and a very good one,
too. I read the other day, in a little periodical called The
Key, that 4no exercise is equal to laughing. Ten hearty
laughs—real shouts—will do more to advance the general
health and vitality than an hour spent in the best attitudes,
if lone in a sober and solemn spirit.' Now, ladies and gen-.
tlemen, if you wish for health and long life, come to the
Haymarket as often as you can. If but ten hearty laughs
will do so much good, what will thirty or forty do? And
these I can safely promise you here, in the course of any
evening.
" And now, ladies and gentlemen/ for myself and com-
pany I return you many thanks for your kindness and
patronage on all occasions, and, until next September, re-
spectfully bid you farewell."
At the conclusion of this address Mr. Buckatone
had, as usual, to undergo a series of botanical
assaults in the shape of successive showers of nose-
gays, which came pouring upon him in radiant pro-
fusion from all parts of the house. lie endured the
visitation with Christian equanimity, and for a time
" stood like Hebe scattering smiles around." At
length he picked up his brilliant trophies, and, with
his fragrant honours thick upon him, retired amid
the enthusiastic plaudits of an exceedingly numerous
audience.
During Mr. Buckstone's sojourn on the Continent
the Haymarket company will repair to the country,
and give, under the skilful management of Mr. W.
J. Wilde, a series of performances at the principal
provincial towns, commencing at Birmingham on
Monday next.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

LONDON, BBIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST.
The directors of this company have decided upon recom-
mending the payment of a dividend for the half-year end-
ing the 30th ult. of £2 10s. per cent, on the consolidated
si;ock of the company.

i~laval a:

elligence.

• THE NAVY.
One hundred and fifty smiths and artificers em.
ployed for a considerable period on permanent work
at the Royal gun factories in Woolwich Arsenal,

having been served with notices of dismissal, were
yesterday discharged from the service. The manu-
facture of Armstrong guns having ceased at the

commencement of the present year, the only work

on hand, with the exception of repairs, is now some
300-pounder coast guns, a few specimens of experi-
mental muzzle-loading guns on a principle proposed
by the War Department, and the adjustment of
Mr.Broadwell's system of breech-loadin g as adopted
by the Russian Government. Many forges and other

branches of the department aro in consequence

totally closed, and it is believed they will remain so
until the new financial year. Mr. Anderson, the
Superintendent acting since the resignation of Sir
William Armstrong is still uninformed, it is stated,
as the probability of his succeeding to the post, or

whether he will be removed to head-quarters, as
rumoured. No official information has been given
to that effect, nor has the appointment been con-

firmed of Brigadier-Gen. St. George to the post of
Superintendent-General of Warlike Stores, notified
by the War Department as about to take place

some months ago.
Preparations were yesterday commenced in
Woolwich dockyard for laying down the ways and
erecting the cradle in preparation for the launch of
the 21-gun corvette Wolvererice, ordered to take
place about the 20th of August. Two gangs
of hired joiners and shipwrights were yesterday
engaged and placed on board for the purpose of
preparing the launch for the time proposed.
The operation of scraping down the sides and
bottom of her Majesty's iron screw steam store
ship Industry, in dock at Woolwich, was com-
menced yesterday on her return voyage from the
Island of Ascension. The Industry has been coated
on the port side with a composition produced in the
dockyard, on the starboard side with Peacock's corn-
p3sition, and in the hold with Day's marine cement
for resisting the influence of moisture and the effects
of bilge water on the rivets. Day's cement has
been pronounced superior to anything yet tested for
the purpose. It adheres so well that its removal
could only be accomplished by means of a hammer
and chisel. Peacock's composition is also reported
to be highly effective.
The Royal paddle yacht Osborne, Master-Com-
mander Geo. K. Bower, made an official trial of her
machinery at Portsmouth yesterday, under the
superintence of Capt. H. Broadhead, commanding
her Majesty's ship Asia and the Steam Reserve, on
the completion of her general repairs and her fit-
ment with new wheels on the feathering float prin-
ciple by Messrs. Mandalay, Field, and Son, Mr.
Field, jun., representing the firm on the trial. The
yacht was complete in coal and stores of every de-
scription for sea service, and her draught of water
was—forward, l4ft. 6in., and aft. 14ft. 12in. The
new wheels are 28ft. in diameter, with a breadth of
float of 3ft. 6in., and a length of 10ft. 7in., the im-
mersion of the upper edge of the lower float being 9in.
The diameter of the new wheel is thus about 18in.
less than the old wheels. Six runs were made at the
measured mile with full boiler power, giving the fol-
lowing results in knots-12.413, 12.203, 12.766,
11.841, 13.186, and 11.501. Four runs at half-boiler
power gave 12.456, 12.045, 12.406, and 9.207. The
revolutions of the engines at full power ranged
from 21i to 22k, and at half-power remained steady
nt 18k. The speed attained by the yacht with her
new wheels is nearly three-quarters of a knot in
excess of what she realised when a new vessel 20
years since, and the trial may therefore be consi-
dered in the highest degree satisfactory.
On Tuesday last, by the afternoon's tide, her Ma-
jesty's ship Majestic, Capt. E. A. Inglefield, left her
moorings in the Mersey, and proceeded to sea on
her summer cruise. She sailed for Holyhead, having
in tow her tender, the gunboat Goshawk, Lieute-
nant Cheek. It is expected that the Majestic will
be absent from Liverpool for about two months.
The Pheasant screw gunboat, 60-horse power,
with condensing engines, on Tuesday made a trial
of her machinery on the completion of her outfit.
The vessel drew 6ft. 6in. forward, and Ott. Bin. aft.
Six runs were made at the mile, and a speed ob-
tained, as a mean of the six, of 7.544 knots. The
screw of the vessel is of the common pattern, with
a diameter of 6ft. and a pitch of Bft., a length of
llin., and an immersion of the upper edge of 2in.
The following appointments were made at the Admiialii
yesterday :
Richard T. Bridgford, assistant surgeon, to the Cam-
bridge.
Charles L. Cunningham, assistant surgeon, to the Wye.
P. Hutchinson, of the Himalaya, W, H. Banbury, of the
Dart, J. Rice, of the Asia (supernumerary), H. Benbow,
of the Cornwallis, W. Inglis (a), of the Osprey,V. Jessop,
of the Black Prince, promoted to the rank of engineers.
Wm. Ross, of the Foxhound, promoted to acting engi-
neer.

Naval Cadet Nominated—Edward B. Tinling.

THE ARMY.

The 20th Regiment will embark at Portsmouth
for foreign service on the 22d and 25th inst.
The 64th Regiment will arrive in Portsmouth
garrison for permanent duty from Aidershott on the
Ist proximo.

Orders have been received at the head-quarters
of the Royal Engineer establishment from the
Horse Guards, directing a number of the most ex-
perienced telegraphists, who have completed their
course of instruction at the School of Telegraphy,
Brompton Barracks, to be selected from the compa-
nies at headquarters, to be despatched to Turkey to
assist in laying down a telegraph line through
that country and Persia to India. The non-com-
commissioned officers and men selected for this
duty will be absent from England for several
years, and in consequence of the arduous nature
of the undertaking on which they will be engaged,
they will receive a high rate of pay. It is ex-
pected that the expedition to be despatched from
Chatham will be occupied for about five years in the
undertaking.

PEAR-TREES.—On the subject of fruit trees,
botanists are divided into two parties ; one, which
may be called the Linnrean party, admits the variability of
species ; the other denies it. Hence, while the former con-
tents itself with few species, each comprising numerous
varieties, the other counts a large number of species, which
it declares to have existed ab initio, and not to have de-
scended by slow degrees from any of the other species. M.
Decaisne, in a paper communicated last week to the Aca-
demy of Sciences, endeavours to supply the positive proof of
the variability of species, the want of which has always been
triumphantly pointed out by the latter party. In the case
of the pear-tree for instance, if this proof be wanting, the
number of species will amount to upwards of 500,
all of which according to M. Jordan, of Lyons,
must be assumed to date from the ante-dilutvsiatno
period. The following are M. Decaisne's experiments
show the fallacy of these views. In 1853 he sowed 0
four
different varieties, viz., the old English pear; theo_nriarnis
on
pear, which is shaped like a calabash and of a
colour ; the Belle Alliance, which is roundish
d ,
ws t
ca k e d
yellow and red ; and, lastly, the Saugfeorupr trees grownalmost a wild species. Of the latter,td
each a different
from the seeds have borne fruit, uaite
green;
another,
variety, viz., one of an oval shape,usgan
apple ;
a third still
eaanr,
green and red, and nearly as round
yellow. The Belle
larger than the others, and
t varieties, none resembling
flatter, and a fourth having the
Alliance yielded nines ifferesne
one
is twice as large as the
canal shape of a pear, much
the original one;
one of which was so like
produced three di.ffesdre
buetrtth7eTmoso: shaped. The Bose variety
from the Sanger pear as to be easily
latter,on e
o f and
those anotherobta,is
naioakaa for it. Lastly, the
g
in lish pear yielded six differ-
ent varieties, one of which bore a marked resemblance to the
kind.Saint-Germain
The difference was not perceptible in
the fruit alone,
but also in the leaf, the general appearance
of the tree, and the period of ripening. Every one of the
trees looks different ; some are thorny, others not ; in some
the trunk has a small diameter, in others it is thick and
knotty. M. Decaisne enumerates various other differences
in the flowers, the sap, &c, He does not believe that graft-
ing modifies the nature of the pear, nor does he admit that
the pips of a good pear will produce the wild plant, as is
generally supposed. From all this 11, Decaisne concludes
that the theory of invariable species is unfounded,