The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-27 00:00:00

THE SIJN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 27, 1863.

LAW INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.

(Sittings in Banco before the Lord Chief J ustice and Barons

_
Martin, Channel], and Wilde.)
The Court was occupied the whole morning in hearing
an information on the part of the Attorney-General on the
revenue side of the court, relative to legacy duty payable by
legatees under the will of Harriet Brackenbury, deceased,
and whether the duty payable was at the rate of 3 or 5 per
cent.

COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE
(Before Sir Cresswell Cresswell.)
RIDGWAY V. ABINGDON AND OTHERS.

Dr. Spinks moved in this case, which is a suit to try the
validity of the will of Joseph Myres, Esq., deceased, late of
Hanley, Staffordshire, that the trial of the issues, which
are of a very important character, should take place before
the learned judge and a special ju!y in London. The suit
is one for calling in a probate granted two years ago, when
the property was sworn under £160,000. The will was dis-
puted by the plaintiff, who had at first claimed as next of
kin, but it turned out he was not one of the next of kin,
and he afterwards claimed as executor of an uncle who was
the cousin of the deceased.

Dr. Spinks asked that the matter might stand over for
three days, to know whether the plaintiff would accept the
terms proposed.
The Court directed the matter to stand over.
CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS AND WHINYATES.

This was a suit to establish certain documents in the
handwriting of Letitia Whinyates, formerly of Weston-
super-Mare and Cheltenham, deceased, as her will
and codicil. The first will had been witnessed by three
witnesses, but the deceased had after its execution mutila-
ted it by cutting off pc rtions of the bequest with her signa-
ture, leaving witnesses' names on the other side. The
Court granted probate of the residue of the will.

THEATRE ROYAL, WESTMINSTER.

THE TRIAL OF EFFIE DEANS.

Last night Mr. Boucicault's version of Scott's magnifi-
cent romance, " The Heart of Mid-Lothian," in this in-
stance called "The Trial of Effie Deans," was produced
with the greatest success. The novelty of the piece, it
must be confessed, consisted in the alterations of Mr.
Boucicault, because a previous dramatic version of the
work has long held its place amongst the stock dramas
of the metropolitan and provincial theatres. All Mr. Bouci-
cault has retained are the main incidents in the novel, and
these he has formed into a series of exciting scenes,
that make up a drama that will for a considerable time
attract vast audiences to this theatre.

It is needless, therefore, to compare the present with the
old version, so we prefer rather giving the following brief
outline of" The Trial of Effie Deans." The curtain rises,
and the cottage of David Deans is discovered, Geordie
Robertson, who has just effected his escape from the Tol-
booth, enters closely pursued by the officers, whom he
eludes by concealing himself in an unfrequented part of the
farm. Robertson afterwards obtains an interview with
Effie, and persuades her to fly with him to France, and
thus both would escape the perils that surround them
from the disappearance of Vieir child. This she consented
to do, and in the next scene we find Effie nearly heart-
broken at the thought of secretly leaving her father and
sister. Having obtained her parent's blessing, she is on the eve
of departure, when the officers enter and apprehend
her on a charge of concealing the birth of her child, which
in those times amounted to murder. David Deans, shocked
by the charge, curses his darling Effie, and with this ter-
minates the first act. In the next we have the first, we
presume, of the " sensation " scenes, viz., the trial of Effie.
The stage represents the interior of the High Court of
Justiciary, and the whole of the harrowing incidents of a
trial of one so young and beautiful are wrought out with
painful minuteness. There is the speech for the prosecu-
tion, the defence for the prisoner, the examination of wit-
nesses, and the verdict of the jury that consigns the Lily
of St. Leonards to death. Then follows the heroic determi-
nation of Jeanie Deans to walk to London, to beg the life
of her sister from the Queen, through the intercession of
the Duke of Argyll, and the perils she encounters on the
road from the deadly hate of Meg Niurdochson, who
murders her own child, Madge Wildfire, by mistaking her for
Jeanie Deans. Jeanie obtains the pardon, and then we are,
in the next scene, transferred to Edinburgh, where we find
the old town all excitement consequent upon the approach-
ing execution of Effie. In the streets we have an infuri-
ated mob, led on by Geordie Robertson and Meg, bent on
rescuing Effie, when an unsuccessful encounter takes place
with the military. The concluding scene represents the
court-yard of the l'olbooth, which is being burned by the
rioters without. Suddenly the gates are blown open with
gunpowder, a conflict ensues, and, just as the military are
about to put the sentence of the law into hasty execution on
Effie, her sister enters with the pardon, and the curtain de-
scends amidst the most enthusiastic applause.
The three scenes which particularly claim attention are
the hut of Meg, in whichthe murder of Jeanie is planned, the
court of justice, and the attack on the Tolbooth. All of them
are exceedingly well managed, although there is no decided
novelty in either, becausa we have in the first a scene
similar to that in a drama produced by Madame Celeste
some time ago at the Lyceum, and, in the great scene, we
presume, of the drama a reproduction of the trial in " Janet
Pride." The concluding one, with the attack on the Tol-
booth, was to our thinking the most exciting and effective,
and quite sufficient of itself to secure the success of any
drama.

Of the acting of all the artistes engaged we have the gra-
tification of speaking in the highest terms of praise. Mrs.
Boucecault's Jeanie Deans was quite equil to her My
O'Connor for pathos and sweetness ; and Miss Edith
Stuart as Effie was the perfection of trusting and forsaken
innocence. Miss Atkinson gave a very clever embodiment
of Meg Murdochson, while Miss Leclerq made as much as
possible of the part of Madge Wildfire. Mr. Ryder's David
Deans was a fine rendering of the old Scottish father, and Mr.
Swinburn as Geordie Robertson acted with great spirit and
effeet. The humorous part of the Laird o' Dumbdiekyes was
confided to Mr. Leeson, and into more effective hands it could
not have been placed. Mr. Boucicault only appears in one
scene, viz., the trial, and then as counsel for the defence,
but he made his part stand out with the most artistic pro-
minence. Mr. Dewar deserves especial praise for his re-
presentation of Ratcliff, the gaoler, and Mr. Henry Vanden-
hoff made a very stately Duke of Argyll.
All the principal actors were called for at the termination
of :the play, and from the enthusiasm and incessant ap-
plause that was bestowed by a large and brilliant audience,
a long and successful "run" may be confidently predicted.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALL'S-LAST EVENING.

Although a large attendance was met with, the majority
appeared but little in the humour for speculation. Many
of those who had commenced books on the Chester Cup re.
frained from proeccding until the publication of the accep-
tances, whiph are expected to be made known this day, and
in consequence li tle or noth'ng was transacted upon that
once all-e, grossing event, Stradella, who had been backed
in the city in the morning at 20 to 1, did not appear so good
a favourite here at the commencement of business, as much
as 25 to 1 being laid; but towards the close her opponents
cooled down, and she left off at her opening price. Black
Deer was supported at 25 to 1 to a small amount, and Plover
at 40 to 1; Welcome and Anfield also were inquired for,
and 50 to 1 booked about each; Caller Ou was backed at
1,000 to 20, and Donnybrook and Valentine at 1,000 to 15
each. The Two Thousand Guineas was scarcely touched
upon ; 100 to 30 was taken about Hospodar, and anything
over 4 to 1 would have been accepted about Saccharometer.
For the Liverpool Steeplechase a few animals were men •
tioned and backed for small amounts, as will be gathered
from our return. 20 to 1 was booked that Hospodar wins
this and Lord Clifden the Derby, and 25 to 1 about Sac-
charometer winning the Guineas and Lord Clifden the
Derby.
For the Derby, although our quotations may appear
somewhat extensive, there was really no demonstration
made; in fact, the greatest apathy marked the afternoon's
roceedings with reference to this event. With the excep-
tion of tour animals the business done was scarcely worthy
of recording. Lord Clifden, despite a rumour from the east
of his having receded to 8 to 1, was remarkably firm, any-
thing over his opening price, 5 to 1, being readily accepted,
and later in the day 525 to 100 was noted down to oblige a
customer. 9to 1 was offered agst Saccharometer, who ap-
peared friendless, and 100 to 8 agst Hospodar, but who to-
wards the close recovered his position, and 12 to 1 met with
eager takers. Automaton and Tom. Fool were in request,
hut their highest price, 22 to 1, did not meet with a reply,
and at three points more Captain Lane's colt Blue Mantle
was supported. The others enumerate'- in our "price
current," if we except Tambour Major, who was backed to
win some thousands at his quoted price, were occasionally
"put in" to obtain their legitimate price,and must be taken
as neutrals.

The London-Bridge and Charing-Cross
Railway.

The construction of a second metropolitan line of rail-
way—that from Charing-cross to London-bridge—is now
so far advanced as to enable the engineer to promise with
confidence that all will be ready for the opening by the
month of July. Seventeen years since the directors of the
South-Eastern Railway brought before the proprietors the
subject of a west-end extension, and pointed out the great
advantages which would result from a west-end terminus
for the continental traffic, and at that time they supported
their proposition by arguments drawn from the fact that
" Paris would shortly be brought within a day's journey of
London," and that great saving of time in traversing the
crowded streets of London would be effected by the exten-
sion of their line from London-bridge westward. At that
time they proposed to adopt the Waterloo-•read as their ter-
minus, and did not venture so far as to suggest a t erminal sta-
tion at Charing-cross. Since then Paris has been brought
within 10 hours of London, the traffic of our public thorough-
fares has vastly increased, and from Waterloo-road we now
find that the line has been pushed across the river to one of
the most central and best adapted places for a railway-
station which could probably be found. From the Houses
of Parliament the distance is 1,000 yards, from the Horse
Guards 415, from Pall-mall and the Haymarket 360, from
Regent-circus, Piccadill c, 825, from Berkeley- square, 1
mile 5 yards, from Buckingham Palace, 1,665 yards, from
Oxford-street, Tottenham-court•-road, 1,165 yards, from
Somerset House, 665 yards. It h near to both the opera
houses, to the theatres, and the various public offices, and
within a radius of one mile there is a population of nearly
350,000. A very large number of persons beyond this
circle will also find it much more convenient to get to
Charing-cross than to London-bridge through the City.
It will serve to convey some idea of the extent to which
the leading thoroughfares of the City will be relieved by
this line if we state that about 13,000,000 passengers pass
annually through the nest of stations at London-bridge,
and of all this immense mass a very large proportion has
to find its way west of Temple-bar. The time consumed
in making this journey may be taken, owing to the re-
peated blocks in the streets and at London-bridge, at little
less than would be required to run the whole distance to
Tunbridge or Brighton. There is thus an enormous
aggregate of annoyance and waste of time endured by
hundreds of thousands who travel, and at least as
many who remain at home, who are interested in
the speedy transaction of their daily business or official
duties. Divert this tide of traffic at Cannon-street, London-
bridge, and Charing-cross,and a great boon will be conferred
on the public. And it is by no means an unimportant part
of the arrangement that the great work will be effected
without any extra taxation from the Metropolitan Board of
Works, and that all the funds will be contributed by private
enterprise.

The heaviest portion of the work on the London-bridge
and Charing -cross line is the construction of the bridge
over the river on the site of the former suspension-bridge.
A few weeks will see this work so far completed as to ad •
mit of a locomotive passing from one side of the river to the
other. From the Surrey side to the first tower the longi-
tudinal and transverse girders are all fixed. Thence to the
second tower, which formed the centre and widest span of the
old bridge the large girders are all in their places, and for a
portion of the distance is ready for the permanent way and
rails. After passing the second tower the bridge spreads
out in a fan shape, widening till at the abutments it is 170
feet wide, or the same width as the stat on at Charing-
cress. The supports of the bridge consist of immense iron
columns filled with concrete and brickwork, which have
their foundations low down in the bed of the river. There
is a pair of these monster columns between the abutments
on the Surrey side of the first tower carrying the chains of
the old bridge. Between this and the next tower there are
three pairs of columns. Between the second tower and the
abutments there are two rows of columns; one consists of
seven and the other of nine. They are not quite so large in
diameter as the others ; they are, however, of the same
height. The towers are of red brick. The upper portion
will in a few days be taken down, the lower part of each
will remain, as they form two of the piers for the bridge.
The abutments are of red brick, corresponding with the
towers, and on the Middlesex side the wall is of immense
thickness, having eight arches facing the river, and com-
municating with the series of arches upon which the station
will be built. The iron chains that have supported the old
bridge are to be removed in a few days, and will be taken
to Clifton, where they will be used in the construction of a
bridge across the Avon. The designs for the bridge, of
which the chains now alone remain in position, were ori-
ginally made for Clifton by the late Mr. Brunel. -When
the Hungerford•bridge is removed the chains will be
used for building the bridge for which 'they were at
first designed. The structure of the Hungerford-bridge
was purchased by the Charing-cross Railway for
£40,000, and a further sum of £120,000 was paid for the
tc lls from passengers and the discs from the steam-boat pier.
Both these sources of revenue, however, will still be con-
tinued, as there will be a footpath for passengers on the
railway bridge, and greatly improved accommodation will
be given at a steam-boat pier. The chains of the old bridge
have been sold for £5,000 to the Clifton-bridge Comp iny,
so that the purchase of the old bridge has not involved an
outlay of more than £35,000. The c at of the railway bridge
over the Thames will be about £lBO,OOO.
The station at Charing-cross, to which this bridge will
conduct, will be very conveniently arranged, and will pre-
sent a finer appearance than any metropolitan station. If
will occupy rather more than the whole of the area of the
late Hungerford-market. From the termination of the
bridge to the frontage of the station will be about 450 feet
in length, and the width will be 170 feat. Nearly 400 feet
of the distance will be covered by an arched roof of glass
and iron. A series of 13 arches of 30 feet span, extending
from the back of the abutment of the bridge, will carry
the station and permanent way, which will be as near as
possible on a level with the Strand. The booking-offices
will extend along the front of the station, and will have
distinct entrances for the Cannon-street, North Kent, and
Dover lines of railway. The frontage of the station will be
set back 100 feet from the Strand, thus giving ample room
for carriages to drive up to the doors of the booking-offices
without interfering with the traffic in the street. The front-
age taken by the railway company is 230 feet long, and ex-
tends from the corner of Villiers-street to Brewer's-lane,
taking down the whole of Charles-court, which lies between
them. On the side of the station adjoining Villiers-street
there will be alcoves, beneath which refreshments will be
supplied.
In connection with the station there will 'oe erected a
large and most commodious hotel, designed by Mr. E. M.
Barry, and containg 200 rooms. Tt will have a frontage of
234 feet looking on to the Strand, and another of 190 feet
in Villiers-street.

The principal entrance will be on the Villiers-street side
of the station, and the main portions of the hotel will con-
sist of three stories, an entresol, and a mezzanine over the
booking offices. The view from the back will overlook the
busy station, beneath the glass roof of which will be seen
the trains constantly arriving and starting, and beyond this
the bridge and the river. The style of the hotel will be
Italian, with decorations marked by good taste rather than
by a desire for show or effect. The Charing-cross Railway
Company will receive from this hotel company a large sum,
either by way of purchase of the site or annual rental, and
this added to the rent of the arches under the station will
pay a handsome dividend on the exit of the land and pro-
perty of Hungerford-market. Among other conveniences
which will be provided for visitors to the hotel will be an
ascending room, in which they can be raised or lowered to
or from any of the floors of the hotel. The contract for the
building of the hotel has been let to Mr. Lucas. With re-
spect to internal arrangements and management, Mr.
Breech, of the Palace Hotel, and Mr. Wheeler, of the Rus-
ton Hotel, have been consulted, and when completed the
hotel will be in every respect a model one, and worthy not
only of its locality, but of the great undertaking to which
it will prove a worthy adjunct. The foundations for the
front and middle wall are now being prepared by Mr.
Wythes, who is the contractor for the station, and also for
putting in the foundations for the hotel. The ground is
dug to a depth of 10ft. bin, below Trinity high.water mark,
and a mass of 9ft. of concrete will be put in, upon which
the walls, 106 ft. in height, will rest.
The construction of a short branch, starting from the
main line near the Southwark-bridge-road, and crossing
the river to a point in Cannon•street just opposite the end
of Wallbrook, has been commenced, and the first pile for
the bridge will be driven in a few days. Nearly the whole
of the property required has been purchased. Great delay
in the commencement of this short branch has been caused by
a difference of opinion between the conservators of the
Thames and the Admiralty with respect to the design and site
of the bridge. An act was obtained towards the close of last
session of Parliament giving to the Board of Trade power to
decide upon the points in dispute. Three alternative plans
were submitted to Mr. Hawkshaw, and ultimately one was
adopted, with some slight modifications. It is proposed
that the trains between Charing-cross and the Bank should
run from either end at intervals of five minutes, and one
line of rails will be devoted exclusively to this portion
of the traffic. There will be be stations upon the line
at the Waterloo, Blackfriars, and Southwark-bridge roads,
and, judging from the results already obtained on the Me-
tropolitan Railway, an immense amount of traffic will be
carried upon the railway between London-bridge, Cannon-
street, and Charing-cross, in addition to that furnished by
the North Kent, Greenwich, and general South. Easterneeieg
system. Arrangements have also been mader fore
running
the trains to and from the South-Western
theline f London-bridgerum
Lewishamand t
to Charing
Tunbridge,
-cross,
Dover, and the probable extensionto
pur-
pose of shortening the distance eyraiol
fbetthwaeteattLnoontdooEn
aasntd.,
travel to Sevenoaks and
bourne, wll enable passengers onTshtreuccrngpilneeotirotnheo f
of Eastbourne.—.Morning Pat.
through the centr.algdpislatroioctsof Kent, and to the thriving
and growing watering

It is stated that the sentence of 12 months' sus-
pension, passed upon Dr. Williams and the Rev. H. B.
Wilson—two of the writers of " Essays and Reviews"—
will be carried out, no notice having been served, on the
part of the rev, defendants, to carry an appeal before the
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.