The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-04 00:00:00

ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.

At this theatre, where Mr. Lafont's small but excel-
lent Parisian company is attracting very numerous and
fashionable audiences, there was played last night the
clever little piece of Odeon, entitled Livre 111., by way
of introducing that charming and talented actress Mdlle.
Luther, who first appeared here in 1853, and made
a most favourable impression. The vaudeville in ques-
tion, the original of the Haymarket drama, A Novel
Expedient, is well suited to indicate her best spe-
cialties—which belong to refined and elegant comedy,
The young wife, who is so devoted to her husband that
she would monopolise his attentions altogether, and
feigns a predilection for a visitor so that he may with-
draw himself from the house, requires personation of the
nicest delicacy. Mdlle. Luther's acting in this amusing
little piece, it is scarcely necessary to observe, is just
what it should be ; the address with which she depicts
the alternations of tenderness, petulance, and alarm, be-
traying the most finished style and that subtle grace of
deportment which it is rare indeed to find upon the
English stage. Mdlle. Luther was received with general
applause. She is an appendage of great worth to the
troupe, and M. Lafont has done well to secure her ser-
vices. The entertainments concluded with a repetition
of the Reveil du Lion.

THE RAILWAY RILL-ANOTHER

GOVERNMENT DEFEAT.

Mr. Cardwell has had the discretion so to modify the
Railway Traffic Bill as almost to annihilate it. No part
of it remains except a clause setting forth the duty of
railroads to make arrangements for receiving and for-
warding traffic, which is needless, and a clause, which
seems quite as unnecessary, to enable parties to apply to
superior courts for redress against companies contraven-
ing an Act, of which nothing of importance remains.
The bill in its original state was a vast usurpation ; iu its
altered form it is little better than a mockery of legisla-
tion. As Mr. Cardwell has given up all the essential
parts of it, he would act more gracefully by withdraw-
ing it altogether. His defeat could not be greater ;
though, we trust, it will be the forerunner of still more
important defeats which the usurping Civil service is
destined to suffer. Under the pretence of promoting
the public welfare the Civil Service, of which Mr. Card-
well is one of the ornaments, is realty seeking to throw
its own chains round the whole business of society. It
must be taught that there is sufficient sagacity in the
public to see through its pretensions, and sufficient
spirit, as in this case, to resist and defeat them.—Daily
News.

The Right Hon. Sidney Herbert gave a dinner to the
Cabinet Ministers last evening at his residence in Bel-
grave•square.
The Lord Chamberlain (the Marquis of Bredalbane)
by command of her Majesty, has issued cards of invita-
tion to the Ministers (foreign and domestic) and a select
circle of the aristocracy to a grand concert of vocal and
instrumental music, at Buckingham Palace, on Monday
next.

Sir Robert Peel, Bart., arrived at Lady Peel's in
Whitehall-gardens, la.st evening, from Italy. The hon.
baronet, we understa ad, was warmly congratulated by
the members of his f tmily on his narrow escape from a
watery grave in the Italian steamer Ercolano, in which
Mr. Halsey, M.P and family, and a Sicilian Princess
and suite unfortun ',My perished.
SAILING OF T 1.151 ATLANTIC —Yesterday afternoon
the United States mail steamship, Atlantic, Captain
West, sailed from .111 e Mersey for Ne.v York, with the
usual mails, about 8 0 passengers, and a large cargo of
merchandise on freig ht.
WESTMINSTER JEV is' FREE SCHOOL—The anniversary
dinner in aid of the : 'unds of the above school was cele-
brated at Willis's Ro oms, St. James's-street, on Tuesday
last, Alderman Salon ions, president, in the chair, sup-
ported by Alderman and Sheriff Wire, Mr. Charles
Pearson, and
many I if the elite of the Jewish nation.
Since the last anniversary meeting freehold premises
have been purchased i n Greek-street, Soho, and to assist
which donations were
given for that and the general pur-
poses of the school to ,the amount of 7001.
PORT PRILIP.—TI lt, Lochnagar has arrived from
Port Philip (Geelong) , whence she sailed on the 4th of
January, but has not, it appears, brought any gold.