The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-24 00:00:00

THE CHRISTY'S MINSTRELS.

These extraordinary children of the west are performing
nightly to crowded houses at the Polygraphic Hall, King
William-street, Strand, and fully sustain the reputation
which they have obtained in London and the provinces.
This harmonious band was organised by Mr. E. P. Christy
in the year 1842, and then performed without intermission
in Broadway, New York, from that time until 1856,
when Mr. Christy seceded from the direction, with,
it is said, a fortune of £lOO,OOO upon his retirement ; the
company came to this country (where this class of enter-
tainment was, as the Times expressed it, "in the gutter"),
and made as great a hit as they have done in New York.
They have now been in England nearly five years, and
during that time they have not played to a thin or indifferent
house. The music performance by the company is peculiar,
and abounds in pleasing melodies, and the talent which they
display in its execution has rendered it universally popular.
Mr. D. S. Wambold, the tenor par excellence of the troupe,
has a rare and beautiful voice ; it is full, sonorous, and of
even quality from the lowest to The lAN:,-hest of its register.
The refined expression which he , gives in singing,
" Oh, happy boyhood," " Rock me to sleep, mother,"
and " I'm leaving thee in sorrow, Annie," as well as the
arduous part he takes in many parts of the pro‘-
gramme, draws down the rapturous applause of
the audience. Mr. Burton, baritone, is a highly talented
performer, and renders the ballads, " Silver Moonlight-
Winds," "Beneath the Weeping Willow," with great taste
and feeling. Mr. Basquin, basso, has also a beautiful voice,
and is heard to very great effect in the concerted music, as
also his song of "Beautiful Sea." Great praise is due
to Mr. Isaac Spitler, as leader and director, for the
admirable way in which the harmonies are arranged.
The versatility of talent displayed by Mr. Collins, "who is
now sole proprietor of this talented troupe ;" the alto
singer (who is also the funny man, plays the bones, and
prima donna in the burlesque opera) excites the liveliest
interest, as does also Mr. Burbank, with his übiquitous
tamborine. The drollery of this gentleman is inimitable,
and divested of all vulgarity. Mr. Roberts performs
a solo on the contra bass in admirable!style; his harmoniques
use clear, pure, and in admirable time. Mr. Lewis, as the
lady dancer of the troupe, is, without exception,
the finest make-up we ever saw, and goes through
the evolutions of the dances allotted to him with
all the grace and ease equal to Taglioni or
Cerito. Mr. Mert Sexton executes a quaint old Virginian
dance in a very clever manner, and Mr. Burbank displayed
wonderful agility in his American jig. We have not space
or time to notice the remainder of the performances or per-
formers, suffice it to say that they all appear at home and
equally talented in their various departments, and the lavish
applause bestowed upon them must fully satisfy them that
their efforts are duly appreciated.

A horrible crime was committed a few nights
back at Lundun (Gard) ; a maiden lady, named Astier,
being found murdered in her bed. No traces of the mur-
derer were discovered, but the disorder in which the
drawers were found, and the search which it was evident
had been made in the mattress of the bed, showed that rob-
bery was the motive of the murderer. A sum of 7,000 fr.
has since been discovered concealed, which had escaped the
notice of the murderer. Mlle. Astier passed for being pos-
sessed of considerable property.

Advices from Nancy state that a deputation of
the manufacturers of embroidery of that town have been re-
ceived by the Empress,to whom they pointed out the depressed
state of that branch of business, in which a considerable
number of workmen were lately employed. The
Empress promised to make such modifications in
her toilette as would allow the use of embroidery. This
summer, therefore, ladies will very probably wear open cor-
sages, similar to the toilettes admitted by the Court.

AN UNEXPECTED RETURN.—A eireumfitance of a
somewhat romantic character has been relatbd to us as hav-
ing occurred to a person formerly resident in this neigh-
bourhood, who filled the situation of schoolmistress in one of
the church schools in this locality some few years back and
was very highly respected. The individual in question had
been married, and had some three or four children, but
whether she had a husband living, or ought to don the
weeds of widowhood, it was difficult to say, though time and
the circumstances might somewhat have justified the latter.
Her husband had sailed about thirteen years since for the
gold diggings ; but the vessel in which he sailed was said to
be wrecked, and all hands were supposed to have been lost.
A few days since, however, the husband visited this
neighbourhood, and called at the house in which his wife
with her family had formerly resided, with the view of
ascertaining some particulars of them and their present
abode. He had been successful, it would seem, in amassing
considerable wealth in Australia, and he had returned wish-
ing to spend the remainder of his days with his family.
Alas I his wife, supposing herself a widow, had (after see-
ing her children well educated and piovided for) married
again some two years since. The second marriage will, of
course, be invalid, and though it will be difficult to attach
any positive blame to the wife, it may well be feared it will
rather embitter the joy that should arise from the restora-
tion of a long-lost husband.—Dover Chronicle.
PRETENDED CONFESSION OF THE ROAD MURDER.
—On Friday evening a person of respectable appearance is
reported to have committed suicide by jumping from Water-
loo-bridge. Shortly before 9 o'clock the man passed from
the Middlesex side through the turnstile. On reaching
the recess he jumped hastily on the parapet, and leaped into
the water. Three persons, who were at the time near the
spot, raised an alarm, but the man had disappeared. In the
recess was found a common cloth cap, and in it a letter, of
which the following is a copy, verbatim et literatim :—" To
the Govenor of Nuget.—Dear Sir,—l beg you to read my
reched life which I aye this nite, Friday, put a end to. Peraps
your onner will reember of the Road murder wich took place
about Al 3 months Back. So I rite to you Sir to informe you
that I was one wo don this awful murder wich I hope to be
forgivin. About 4 years ago I took to gambling and got in
det and ad to go away in the country where I done the fear-
ful deed, and then cum to London wich I ave lived in misery.
I ave nothing to say for wot I don this awful deed for, for 1
was quite a stranger to the ole family. I ave nothing fur-
ther to say, as my feelings will not allow me to say any
moor only that the way I ave put a end to my life is I ave
fling myself of the Waterloo Bridge. Yours reapectfully,
Moon. I have no friends. But a, uncul who is in
Frenee who this I would fano ceap from him." On the out-
side was the following superscription :—" To the Governor
of Nuget. The proofo of the Road Murder. To be given to
a Pleace Man. I have thrown myself of thebridge." The
body has not yet been recovered. Tho police attach noim-
portanee to the alleged confession of the deceased) aUcl
believe it to he the act oft; nutdman,-04servort