The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-14 00:00:00

rin SIUN, LONDON, FRIDAY gVENING, AIAROFT 14, 1862.

other candidate, of course, generally steps
into the field, either for a real contest or to be on
the cards for the following election. The struggles
which take place here on measures and Ministers in
our House of Commons are aggravated then by
a constant struggle for the throne. Hitherto no
instance has occurred in which all pretenders did
not bow to the decision of the ballot-box; this is
the first time in which any party has thought it
worth while to dispute the subject at the point of
the bayonet, and to shed blood over the question,
who shall be President for the next four years. The
alterations made by the South, in nitaring the
term of office six years instead of four, also
in declaring the President not eligible for re-
election, are unquestionably both of them improve-
ments,wors they
otefnedantvoassdi causessuhjeetinogf the
diminish
ttohfe
supreme authority of the State to the caprice kof
the millions who have elected him—while they
also save the excitement of one election out of
three.

Somi

It is astonishing what a short flush of success
can effect with a people so exciteable as the Yan-
kees. We have ourselves explained the great im-
portance, in every respect, of the -victory at Fort
Donnelson ; but unless the Northerns have infor-
mation not in our hands (though it may be in Lord
JOHN RUSSELL'S), we can see no necessary con-
nexion between the late successes and a thirty or
ninety days' termination of the war. All must de-
pend on the spirit of the South. They know each
other better in America than we can pretend to do.
Yet the North was as mistaken as we were,
in England in supposing that the South would not
go to war rather than continue in the Union with
LINCOLN as President; they may, therefore, be
quite mistaken now, in supposing that the South
will " cave in " after a few defeats. We think
little of JEFFERSON DAVIS' language in his mes-
sage. His position explains it. But it is quite
certain that no army from the North could garrison
and keep in order, and no Federal Government
administer a really hostile South. At the same
time we should not be the least surprised if an
early mail should bring us the information that all
was over, either by a compromise, or by the pre.
dieted " caving in" of the South.

Baron James Rothschild has gone to Frankfort,
to be present at the wedding of his fourth son Solomon,
who marries a granddaughter of Meyer Anselme Roths-
child. This is the seventh or eighth marriage between near
cousins in the great Israelitisb.
ELECTION OF AN ALDERMAN FOR THE WARD OF
CASTLE BA.Ylid.RD.—Yesterday afternoon a wardmote of
the electors of Castle Baynard was held at Johnson's
Rooms, 4, Sermon-lane, for the purpose of electing an al-
derman in the place of Sir H. Muggeridge, who had recently
resigned. The room was crowded, but the advertisement
which Mr. Sheriff Cockerell had issued, announcing his
withdrawal from the contest, divested the proceedings of
that excitement which would otherwise have been mani
fested. The Lord Mayor presided. Mr. White nominated
Mr. Sills John Gibbons, citizen and salter ; Mr. Proctor
seconded the motion, and there being no other candidate,
Mr. Gibbons was declared duly elected, and briefly returned
thanks.

The Telegraph to India Company has just re- ,
ceived a message from Mr. Latimer Clark at Suez, dated
Tuesday, announcing the opening of a station at Jubal
Island, in the Red Sea, so that messages can now be sent
to that point, to catch the mail steamers for India, China,
and Australia (which, by the sanction of the Postmaster-
General, are to call there), instead of being sent by tele-
graph to Alexandria only. A saving of two or three days
will thus be effected in communication with the East, The
company have issued a tariff of charges.
At the meeting yesterday of the Universal Marine
Insurance Company, which had been looked forward to
with great interest, the director a' report was adopted. It
was agreed that a call of £1 per share shall be made, but
the time for doing so was left at the discretion of the board.
No information was given with regard to the precise con-
dition of the premium account since the 31st December.
SIR R. PEEL'S NEW IRISH POOR-LAW BILL.—
The parish priests of the diocese of Ossory have petitioned
Parliament against Sir R. Peel's new Poor-law Bill, as
being inadequate in its provisions and oppressive in its
tendency. A similar movement is being carried out in the
diocese of Cloyne, and the lord bishop has addressed a long
letter on the subject to his clergy.
THE AFFAIR OF HONOUR ARISING OUT OP THE
Duatax COURT-MARTIAL,—A paragrah lately appeared in
our columns, extracted from the Freeman's Journal, from
which erroneous inferences have been drawn respecting
the conduct of Colonel Dickson. We are in a position to
state that the difference between that gantlonaan. and Capt.
Henry was arranged in a manner thoroughly honourable
to both parties and mutually satisfactory.
FUNERAL OF MR. JAMES ROBINSON.—The
funeral of this distinguished dentist, whose melancholy
death, caused by an accidental puncture of the thigh with
a pruning knife, we lately recorded, took place on Tues-
day, at Highgate Cemetery.t, .Some thirty of his profes-
sional brethren, including the council of the College of
Dentists of England, and the dental surgeons of the Na-
tional Dental Hospital in Great Portland-street, attended
the funeral. Mr. Robinson was vice-president and trea-
surer to the College of Dentists. He was likewise consult-
ing dental surgeon to the National Dental Hospital.
BROMPTON-ROAD IMPROVEMENT.—A circular let-
ter has been addressed to the inhabitants of Brompton and
South Kensington, stating that the Turnpike road Com-
missioners propose, at their own expense, to widen the
Brompton-road, from Knightsbridge-green (close to Sloane-
street) to the Bell and Horns (near the South Kensington
Museum). The Kensington vestry undertake to widen
the footpaths abutting on the improved road. The Turn-
pike Commissioners attach to their proposal the condition
that the land required for the widening of the road should
be delivered to them free of cost, The greater part of the
land required consists of small plots of waste ground,
abutting on the road ; but the value of this, it is conceived,
will be more than compensated by the great additional
value to be given to all the adjoining property by the im-
provement of the foot and carriage way. To complete the
work, however, some buildings must be removed, and to
the owners of those buildings compensation must be made.
The committee therefore appeal for a subscription by the
inhabitants of Brompton and South Kensington, to make
up the sum required to put the commissioners in a position
to carry out the improvements.
I THE EMBROIDERED MUSLIN TRADE.—It appears

that, in 1856, there were employed in this branch of indus,

try no fewer than 200,000 females in Ireland and 25,000
in Scotland, affording wages to those employed in em-
broidery alone to the extent of £180,300 annually; whereas
in 1861, the annual wages had dwindled down
to about £100,000; the whole labour employed in the veal

ous details of this manufacture having afforded annual

wages to the extent of £700,000 in 185 G, and only about
£200,000 in 1861. Some time ago it was resolved to me-
morialise the Queen, who, it was hoped, might bestow her
patronage on a failing trade, and thereby show an example
to the nobility, gentry, and middle classes, likely to be ge-
nerally followed. Her Majesty, on receiving the me-
morial, not only gave an order for various articles of
embroidered muslin work, but also sent to Paris for the
newest designs, with a view to improve the ma-
nufacture. The articles ordered, which were for her own
use and that of the Princesses, consisted of dresses,
robes, petticoats, mantlets, chemisettes, collars and sleeves,
sprigged muslin, muslin trimmings, cambric hand-
kerchiefs, and caps. This instance of the Queen's
benevolence would have been publiahed anme time ago,
but for the lamented death of the Prince Consort, and the
consequent general mourning. It is now felt that the act
and intention of her Majesty should be made known ; and
it is hoped that the example se nobly set may be generally
followed by the ladies, and the fruits speedily realised by
many thousands of poor embroiderers. Indeed, such is
the position of the trade at this moment, that should en-
couragement to the extent looked for be bestowed, the bene-
ficial effect would be immediately experienced by the
workers. The vast stocks of goods accumulated prior to
1857 are now disposed of ; and should a general demand
come for the style of articles patronised by the Queen, im-
mediate, and probably permanent, employment would be
given to great numbers, and many an hutale home would
be again made happy.
A CONFEDERATE STEAMER IN THE MERSEY.—
The Confederate steamer Annie Childs, Captain Uanmer,
from Wilmington, North Carolina, arrived in the Mersey
on Tuesday afternoon, and went into the Wellington Dock
at evening tide. She left Wilmington on the sth of
February (having run the blockade on a clear moonlight,
night), and arrived at Fayal on the 23d, whence she sailed
for Queenstown and Liverpool on the 3d of March. Her
cargo comprises 684 bales of upland cotton, 878 barrels of
resin, and 225 cases of tobacco. She brings as passengers
from Wilmington five gentlemen, and from Fay al the cap-
tain, first officer, and three seamen belonging to the
British ship Kitty Cordes, abandoned at sea. The Annie
Childs is a vessel of 600 tons burden, with a crew number-
ing 27 ; she is owned by Messrs. Fraser, Trenholme, and
Co., of Charleston and Liverpool, and prior to the secession
of the Southern States was plying between Wilmington and
New York. When this vessel left Wilmington the inha-
bitants of that place were still determined to a man to resist
the' encroachments of the Northerners, and felt convinced
that their enemy could never force them into submission.

DRVBI-LANE THEATRE.

The performance of " Othello" last night, for the benefit
of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean, was interesting for two
especial ieasons. First, Mr. Charles Kean had not sus-
tained the character of the Moor in London for fourteen
years; Pecondly, curiosity was naturally excited to see how
the most acorn ,'shed of living Shakespearian actors
Wald treat the part in thew i:QTpewhat backsliding times.
Fourteen years must needs make a vast difference in the
performance of a character by an actor who is given to
studithig contemplation, and whose desire is to attain the
remote and fleeting kcal of perfection. The simplicity of
so necessary :t9 excite our sympathies at the j
om
ncement of the play, is evidenced in a manner not
ttonhebel\mineolorisi.47l e inthe opening scenes, especially in the see %;
before the Senate, which for frankness and unsophisticated
energy could not possibly be surpassed. Mr. Kean never
loses sight of the dignity and loftiness of the Moor's cha-
racter. If he is simple and free to a fault, he is also proud
anti of a noble nature, and so appears in the actor's imper-
sonation. So much has been written about Othello's
jealousy that ono who interprets it on the stage may or may
not take fire at lago's earliest words in tho great scene in
the third act, without having his judgment impugned.
We are of opinion that Mr. Charles Kean hero takes the
correct view of the character, and that Shakespeare inten-
ded to make Othello jealous to a degree, although his own
expression—

" Of one not easily jealous,"

would lead to a contrary supposition, if a man's own opi-
nions of himself are to be received as conclusive. At all
events, Mr. Kean follows the example of his illustrious
father—a shining precedent—in making the Mocr highly
susceptible to jealousy, which we cannot help thinking is
in strict accordance with his enthusiastic temperament, the
circumstances of his marriage, the ineffaceable marks of his
race, and the burning clime to which he owed his birth.
Whether, however, jealousy be or bo not easily excited in
Othello's breast, it cannot be denied that he is moved to
madness lay lago's insinuations, and that the actor who
fails to embody this frenzy is incapable of representing the
character with any degree of truth. Mr. Charles Kean's
passion is fearfully real, and the effect he produced last
night throughout this trying and ever-changing scene,
which involves such a complication of emotions and so much
physical force, was immense. It was perhaps the greatest
and most legitimate triumph of tragic acting witnessed for
years upon the stage, and no doubt recalled vividly to the
minds of many the transcendant " hits" of former days.
The applause was incessant throughout, and the aetor was
summoned at the fall of the curtain, and received with
tumultuous acclamations from every part of the theatre.
Indeed the effect was so great as to astonish the majority of
the audience, who in all probability had seen nothing of the
kind in their experience of British acting. It was imme-
diately acknowledged that Mr. C. Kean had created a new
sensation, and that henceforward Othello would take rank
with Hamlet in his Shakesperian impersonations.
The fourth act of Mr. Kean's Othello abounds with
innumerable touches of art and genius, exhibiting the pro.
found conception of the actor, and the ease with which he
accommodates himself to the most adverse circumstances
and the most varied feelings.
The final scene was worthy of all that preceded, and Mr.
Kean indeed seemed only to have reached the culminating
point of his performance with Othello's last speech previous
to his stabbing himself with his dagger. The death was
powerfully impressive from the artistic manner in which it
was managed, and the audience were moved to a degree
they certainly had not anticipated.
In short, Mr. Charles Kean's Othello now is a great, a
highly -finished, and a powerfully-sustained performance ;
and, even perhaps more than his Hamlet, will tend to vin-
dicate legitimacy and tradition, and rescue them from the
ruthless hands of modern innovators.

No living actress can give the same reality and force to
Emilia as Mrs. Charles Kean. The part is brief and a mere
name in the earlier portions of the play. In the last two
acts, however, Emilia figures as prominently as any cha-
racter hi the tragedy, and the great actress is afforded full
scope for the exhibition of her capabilities. The life and
power infused into the scene in the bed-room by Mrs. Kean
last night was quite startling, and made the theatre ring
with applause. Hardly less effective was the speech in the
fourth act—

"I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain,
Some busy and insinuating rogue," &c.,
which was also cheered to the echo.
So much is to be said about the performance of" Othello"
that we are aware we are omitting many things worthy of
mention. We must not forget to call attention, however,
to Mr. Charles Kean's dress as the Moor, which was the
most becoming we have ever seen, and what is much better,
the most appropriate. If any one doubts this we refer him
to the illustrations to Knight's " Shakespeare," which we
take to be good authority.

ROY AL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-

GARDEN.

MR. W. HARRISON'S BENEFIT.

The benefit of the talented director and manager of the
Royal English Opera—Mr. W. Harrison, will take place on
Saturday evening, on which occasion we are to have Balfe's
ever-pleasing opera " The Rose of Castille," and a new
operetta entitled " Court and Cottage," the music by M. F.
Clay, and the words by Mr. Tom Taylor. The selection of
the " Rose of Castilla" will, doubtless prove of itself a great
attraction, because it affords Mr. Harrison, in the part of
Manuel, the muleteer, and Miss Louisa Pyne, as the Queen,
such excellent opportunities of displaying the great talent
each artiste possesses in rendering the ever-pleasing music of
Balfe. Of the novelty, the " Court and Cottage" reports
speak in very high terms of praise. Sotting aidasid9 the en-
tertainments provided for his benefit by Mr. Harrison,
there cannot be a doubt about the strong claim he has upon
the music-loving part of the community ; for, had it not
been for him, the metropolis would doubtless have been
without one theatre in which native music, sung by native
artistes could bo heard. Through the untiring exertions
of Mr. Harrison, the English opera season is now as regu.
larly looked for as the Italian; and, such being the ease,
the manager's benefit must undoubtedly be the great night
of the:season, as "a bumper at parting" is most eminently
due to " the founder of the feast."

LATEST NEWS.

AMERICA.

FEDERAL OCCUPATION OF NASHVILLE
-REPORTED ADVANCE OF THE ARMY
OF THE POTOMAC.

(PER KANGAROO, VIA QUEENSTOWN.)

NEW YORK, MARCH 1 (Moruiug).
The Federal occupation of Naahyille is officially
confirmed.

General Buell is reported to have surrounded the
Confederates ut Mursfreesborough, and to have
allowed them two days to surrender uncon-
ditionally.
General Banks's division of the Federal force has
crossed the Potomac from Sandy Hook to Harper's
Ferry, has occupied Bolivia and Charleston, and
the surrounding country on both sides of the
Shenandoah.

No opposition to the Federal advance has yet
been offered.

It is believed that a general forward movement of
the army of the Potomac is in the course of taking
place, as the transmission of all military news from
Washington is forbidden.

The Memphis journals say that General Polk has
ordered the track of the Memphis and Ohio Rail-
way to be torn up, previous to the Confederate
evacuation of Columbus. The Confederates are to
fall back from Columbus to an island on the
Mississippi 44 miles below, This island is said
completely to command the river.

Lord Lyons's correspondence upon the Trent
affair is favourably criticised by the New York

papers.

A meeting of cotton and tobacco planters was
held at Richmond to consider the question of the
voluntary destruction of the cotton and tobacco
crops, and a committee has been appointed to pre-.
pare the business for an adjourned meeting.
A resolution has been introduced in the Confe-
derate Congress to the effect that the South will
pledge the last man and the last dollar to prosecute
the war and to maintain the right of self.govern-
ment. The resolution has been referred to the
Military Committee.
Another resolution was t►ffered, providing a cora-
pansatiot for cotton arid tobacco burnt.
The .2?alelgh _Register considers it would be cri-
minal to deny that the present is the most gloomy
period the South has witnessed since the commence-
ment of the war, and urges the people to fight to
the last,
The Southern journals state that the Federals
oocupied Nashville on the 23d of February.
The Federal Post-office at Nashville will shortly

he reopened.
The Savannah Republican says
"The Federals have effectually closed communi-
cation between Pulaski and Savannah, and have
erected three batteries for heavy guns at the com-
manding points."
Two Federal Commissioners have been appointed
to examine into cases of political prisoners, and to
determine if they shall be discharged, or remitted
to military or civil tribunals.
The Federal General Curtis has occupied Fay-
etville, Arkansas. The Confederates have burnt
the town.

General Price's army has retreated into the

Indian territory.
General Scott's nomination as Ambassador to
Mexico has been withdrawn.
The British prize steamer Labuan, which was
captured off Texas, has arrived at Now York.
The Hibernian has arrived out.