The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-10 00:00:00

ness.

DRURY-LANE; - •
The engagement of Mr. G. V. Brooke having termi-
nated, he last evening took his benefit. The c4araeter
chosen was Macbeth. Immediately on the opening of
the doors there was a rush that forcibly remipsjegl us of
time-past—the time of: Kean, Kemble, and -Youngs.
The theatre was filled immediatelyi_ and even ,:the most
out-of-the-way corners of the house, where-a glimpse of
the stage could be obtained, were eagerly sought after.
Of the performance itself we can only say that which all
London know, therefore we content ourselves by saying
it was magnificent. At the close, Mr. Brooke, who had
been vociferously celled, ca free f .yr ward-and addreesed the
audience nearly as p‘lfows ' .
" Ladies and Gentlemen,—lt is now fourteen months
since my first appearance in this "theatre, on My return
from the United States, and since that time I have given
375 impersonations at diff,rent towns thrbtighont Great
Britain and Ireland. But, notwithstanding the great
fatigue, both bodily and mental, attendant upon such
labours, I am happy and grateful to say I have still pre-
served my health. Ido not say this in any spirit of vain
boasting, but to show that I have done all that lay in my
power to meet the wishes of an indulgent public, and I
have been buoyed up through all these arduous labours by
the cheers and smiles of an approving public, and felt my-
self repaid in the emotion of a moment. Perhaps I might
be excused for saying this much, but on the eve of my de-
parture for a far distant land, and when it may be years
before I again have the pleasure of appearing before- yon,
I cannot refrain from giving utterance to my feelings."
Mr. Brooke then in a very feeling manner bade the
audience farewell, and, having returned thanks, retired.
During the delivery of his short address Mr. Brooke evi-
dently laboured under the ereatest emotion, and at times
he became so overpowered by his feelings as to be•scarcely
able to proceed.

HAYMARKET.
The spirited lessee of the little theatre in the Hay-
market seems determined to keep up an uninterrupted
stream of attraction for his patrons. The Spanish
Dancers havindconcluded a most successful engagement
both foi :themselves and the management, novelty,
even during that engagement, was sought after, add
found in the. person of Mr. Hudson. Last even-
ing again gave evidence of the determination of the
lessee. Mr. Wright, the great Adelphi favourite, made
his bow as Paul Pry. It is needless to say his recap•
tion was of the most cordial description. A. Miss Schott
made a most promising debut as Marion.

PRINCESS'S THRA.TRE.
' This theatre opened for the season last night with
a new drama in three acts, by Mr. Douglas Jerrold,
called "A heart of Gold." An original play by so emi-
nent an author is an occurrence of no common interest ;
the house, consequently, was crowded, and the piece
met with a reception which showed that the audience
did not feel themselves disappointed.
The plot of the piece is simple. The heroine, Maude
Nutbrown, is a country girl, the daughter of a substan-
tial farmer. She arida], young man named Pierce are
lovers, but her father has rafused his consent to their
union because the lover is poor. Maude has another
lover—John Dymond, a country gentleman superior to
her in station, but so deeply attached to her that he is
reduced by her coldness to the verge of the grave. When
the piece opens, the young girl and her fatherare on a
visit to London and staying at an inn. Both her lovers
are also there ; Dymond having followed her, prompted,
it would appear, only by despair. The two lovers are
friends ; Dymond having an affection for his younger
rival as being the son of a friend of his father. Worn
out by the agonies of his passion, Dymond sinks, into
a state of exhaustion : believing himself dying, he
sends for his young friend, and before the people
of the house assembled for the purpose, bestows upon hint
a box containing a thousand guineas, desiring them to
bear witness that it is his free gift : and he couples the
gift with a lecture to the young man upon the all-powerful
nature ofg,old, describinr, it as the most valuable of earthly
po ,sessions, and counselling him, under every circum-
stance, to hold it fast. Having made this donation in a
way which makes it very like the ill-omened gift of some
malignant fairy in a nursery tale, Dymond, to all ap-
pearance, expires upon the stage. But it is not so. 14
the next act we find him alive. He has recovered from
a long illness, and is at an inn near his residence in the
country. Meanwhile Pierce's possession of the thousand
guineas has removed old Nutbrown's objections to him
as a son-in-law. The marriage is fixed ; and the bells
are actually ringing for church when Dymond, like
one returned from the dead, stands among them.
The true-hearted Maude, who, if she could not love
him, has always regarded him with friendship and pity,
is transported with joy ; hut Pierce stands like a statue,
gloomy and silent. An eclaircissement takes place :
Pierce, called upon to return the money which Dymond
had given him as a dying man, doggedly refaces to do
so in spite of Maude's taurs and supplications. Indig-
nant at this display of his sordid nature, Maude ex-
claims she would not marry him if he were a king, and,
in the enthusiasm of the !nutrient, gives her hand to his
rival. So ends the second a,3t. Dymond is now happy,
his union with Maude being about to take place. But
she has deceived herself as to the state of her heart
she loves Pierce as much as ever, and is wretched, while
he, repenting of his previous conduct, resolves to return
the money which lies so heavily on his mind. He does
so ; bitterly reproaching Dymond for having entrapped
hire by a temptation which has proved his ruin, Maude,
who overhears the conversation, rushes into her lover's
arms ; and their union forms the denouement of the piece.
Miss Heath, as Maude, sustained the part with great
effect ; indeed, she made it the part of the play. Miss
Murray, as the maid servant, acquitted herself with her
usual ability. This young lady is a good actress, and
would be a better if she would rely upon her own con-
ception of a part, without imitating, as was palpably
the case last evening, Mum, Ksoley. The other parts in
the piece were all creditably supported. The play was
decidedly successful, and was given out for repetition
every evening amid the applause of a house crowded to
the ceiling.