The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-14 00:00:00

THEA.TRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE

Sir Bulwer Lytton's Comedy of "Money."

The morning performance yesterday at Drury
Lane, in aid of the Royal General Theatrical Fund,
went off as brilliantly as any one couldhave reason-
ably desired. It consisted, according to the an-
nouncement which had been appearing for
some time previously in the advertisements, of
Sir Bulwer Lytton's radiant and witty five
act Comedy—a comedy already one quarter of a
century old—the comedy of Money. The following
being the powerful cast of the characters :—Alfred
Evelyn, Mr. Creswick (in lieu of Mr. Alfred Wigan,
who was announced to be suffering from severe indis-
position) ; Captain Dudley Smooth, Mr. Walter Lacy;
Lord Glossmore, Mr. Parselle ; Benjamin Stout, Esq. ,
Mr. Buckstone; Graves (his original character),Mr.B.
Webster ; Sir Frederick Blunt, Mr. W. Farren ;
Sir John Vesey, Mr. Chippendale ; Sharp, Mr.
Braid; Old Member, Mr. Rogers; M'Finch, Mr.
Maclean ; Frantz, Mr. Stephenson ; Tabouret, Mr.
P. White ; Sir John's Servant, Mr. Weathersby ;
Lady Franklin, Mrs. Alfred Wigan ; Clara
Douglas, Mrs. Charles Mathews ; and Georgina
Vesey, Miss Nelly Moore. Mr. Creswick's
Evelyn was as creditable an impersonation as
the circumstances would allow of—Nature not
having cast him for the part. Mr. Buckstone's
Benjamin Stout was as comical, in its droll way,
as ever Keeley's could have been. Mr. -Walter
Lacy was a perfectly deliberate and perfectly
gentlemanly Captain Dudley Smooth—Deadly
Smooth, according to the club-room sobriquet. Mr.
Wm. Farren's Sir Frederick Blunt elicited many a
hearty burst of laughter from a good, but not over-
crowded house. The Old Member as pourtrayed
by Mr. Rogers was as delightfully ridiculous as
could be wished—with his laconic irrascibility about
the abstraction of the snuffbox. The Lady
Franklin of Mrs. Alfred Wigan was clever
enough in its way : but—for all that—it needs
hardly to be said, it was not Mrs. Glover.
Mrs. Charles Mathews, we have seldom seen to so
much advantage as in Clara Douglas, in her repre-
sentation of which character she was throughout
subdued and ladylike, occasionally evidencing
much pathetic and emotional tenderness. The
choicest impersonation of all, however, in the whole
of this particularly powerful cast of Money was Mr.
B. Webster's delightful pourtrayal of Graves, his own
original character. Always the consummate artist
whatever he does, Mr. Webster was perfectly
" in the vein" yesterday, and held (as he always can
do, whenever he lists) an absolute mastery over his
audience by the every glance of his eye, by
the every tone of his voice, by his every
seemingly careless and casual gesticulation. The
brilliant dialogue told with admirable effect
throughout. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince
and Princess of Wales occupied the Royal box
during the whole performance, entering the
theatre, before the green curtain first rose,
amidst a round of loyal applause, and leaving it in
like manner only after the same green curtain had
fallen for the last time when the performers had
been summoned to appear before the footlights.
The Prince and Princess seemed to enjoy quite as
thoroughly as any one else in the house this new and
perfectly exceptional histrionic entertainment.

Address to Mr. Charles Kean.

(From the Vancouver Times)

The following address to Mr. Charles Kean will
have some interest for our readers, and we therefore
give it in full, and connect with it Mr. Bean's speech
to the audience on his last appearance in public in
Vancouver Island, which may in some sense be
considered as his reply to the address :

To Mr. Charles Kean,—
We, the undersigned colonists of Vancouver Island, de-
sire to offer our congratulations on the extraordinary suc-
cess which has attended your professional labours here,
and to express our wish that they should be prolonged for
a few days that we may have an opportunity by compli-
mentary benefits to yourself and Mrs. Kean of showing our
deep sense of your unequalled genius, and our hearty
thanks for the high intellectual and social enjoyments
which you have conferred upon us by this visit.
While laying upon a small scale on the western shore
of the American continent the foundation of a nation which
we hope will grow to be a second England, wo are con-
scious that it is not alone by the freedom of our commerce,
nor by planting on this island the religion and laws under
which we were reared that we can succeed, we must amidst
our practical labours in developing our gold fields and our
coal and copper mines, in utilising our unequalled forests of
timber and spars, and in exploring the fishing banks on
our coast, and the unknown valleys in the interior, not
forget that, whatever further discoveries we may make or
whatever our mineral wealth may be, if we neglect to cul-
tivate the literature and arts of our race we shall fail to
reproduce in the West a fac-simile of the civilisation of the
East.

We cannot refrain from noticing on this occasion that
yourself and Mrs. Kean arc the only two celebrities of the
world who have visited our young colony, and if from this
time the taste for intellectual pursuits is encouraged and
strengthened among all classes, neither ourselves nor our
children will forget how much we are indebted to the les-
sons which you have taught us from the stage.
We shall follow your future movements in public life
with interest, and retain an affectionate regard for your
happiness when you finally leaVe the stage for the ease and
retirement which your years of devotion to the cause of
literature, art, and morality, have so nobly earned.
R. Finlayson, M.L.C., J. S. nelmcken, Speaker of the
House of Assembly, J. J. Southgate, M.L.A., C. B. Young,
J. Wessenburger, B. W. Pearce, James Carswell
M.L.A., W. F. Tolmie, ,M.L.A., G. E. Dennes, M.L.A.,
ei M. W. T. Drake, Allen
Lumley Franklin, Robt. Burnaby, M.L.A., Thos. Harris,
M
Frances,
s,
Sel m
U.S. Franklin,
in
G, M.L.A., M.
Cary, Thomas Lowe,
T. C. Nuttall, James Jackson, David Leneveu, Godfrey
Brown, W. Sebright Green, J. W. Powell, M.L.A., and
many others.

Ladies and Gentlemen,—This being the last night. that
Mrs. Kean and I will ever perform in Vancouver Island,
I take the opportunity of expressing our grateful acknow-
ledgments for the warmth of our reception and the gener-
ous hospitality that has been offered to us during our brief
stay. . _

It is gratifying to know that while you are occupied
developing the mineral wealth and the other re-
s urces of the Island, poetry and art are not overlooked,
a d that Shakspere finds a response in the heart
of the infant colony. Our agreeable visit will
lons remain impressed upon the tablet of our memory, and
be assured that we shall never cease to take a lively interest
in the future welfare of this country. And now, ladies and
gentlemen, I respectfully take my leave and once more beg
you to accept the most cordial thanks of my wife and
myself.

MUNICIPAL DEPUTATION TO MR. AND MRS.
CHAS. KEAN.

Our worthy Mayor (Thos. Harris, Esq.), accompanied by
the members of the Council, waited upon Mr. and Mrs.
Kean at tho St. George's Hotel this afternoon. The
Mayor in a few eloquent remarks presented the following
address :

City Council Chambers, Dec. 21, 1864.
To Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean—
We, the Mayor and Council of the city of Victoria, Van-
couver Island, on the eve of our departure, in presenting
to you this address, desire to express the gratification you
have afforded us in common with our fellow citizens,
during the period of your short stay amongst us, and sin-
cerely trust the same high and dignified position yourself
and highly gifted lady have always sustained will have a
happy effect upon the members of the profession you
adorn.

Wishing you every
happiness, and with the highest
sentiments of esteem, we have the honour to remain yours,
very truly.

Signed by THOMAS HARRIS, the. Mayor, and all the
Corporation.

Mr. CHAS. KEAN, in thanking the Corporation on behalf
of himself and wife, for the honour bestowed on them, said
that during their pilgrimage round the world they had re-
ceived similar flattering tokens of regard, which were much
appreciated. It was a matter of great surprise to him that
taking into consideration the limited population of Victoria
to see the theatre crowded night after night during an en-
gagement extending over a week. After a few minutes
conversation, in which Mrs. Kean and Miss Chapman took
part, the deputation withdrew.

SALMON FISHING.—For several days after :the
opening of the salmon fishing on Loch Tay the sport
was but indifferent, owing to the dull and hazy weather.
During the past week, however, the fishing has been ey_
cellent, and a large number of salmon in fine condition have
been landed. Tho net fishers have seldom been so success-
ful at tho beginning of the season as this year. Anglers
generally have also been more or less successful. The Earl
of Breadalbane, who is an expert rod-fisher, has succeeded
every day he was out in killing a number of salmon, some
which weighed nearly 301 b. each. The loch, owing to the
low state of the water, is still swarming with kelts ; but
there is also a large stock of clean salmon, and with more
mild and settled weather a good fishing season may be
anticipated.—Scotenan.