The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-04 00:00:00

COUNT ORLOFFS

The Charivari h%4 the following jeu•d'esprit on the
mission of Count Orloff :

" Orloff?'—' Sire. '— Are your boots greased ?'—' Al-
ways, your Majesty. Put them on then, awl hold your-
self ready to leave in an hoer —` For where, sire ?'—' For
Vienna, Berlin, London, and Paris ; or for Paris, London,
Berlin, and Vienna, as you please ; the essential thing is
that you shall kave.'—' What am I to do in those towns?'
--‘ Nothing.'—' And when am I to return ?'—' When I
I shall recall yon. Your mission is quite political; do not
lose sight of it. I have exhausted notes, protocols, and
circulars ; I have nothing else to amuse people with !
The moment has, then, come to let you loose in the
Thstern question. I have numerous partisans in the
European press ; these partisans take pleasure in keep-
ing alive hopes of peace amongst the populations :
I must necessarily, from time to time, aid them a
little. Suppose, for example, that I think right to recall
my ambassador from London, and to order my ambassador
at Paris to demand his passports—and that may happen
from one moment to another—what will become of the
friends of peace, to what branch will they cling? To the
mission of Count Orloff. " The Czar," they *ill say, "will
recall his ambassadors, bat ha gives a private mission to
his Chamberlain, Count Orloff, to the Cabineti of Schcen-
brim, Potsdam, 'Windsor, and the Tuileries"—to speak in
the diplomatic style of friend Capefigue, the newspaper
writer. "Now, what will be the use," they will continue
"of such mission in the situation in which we are, if the
Czar did not still entertain some idea of negotiating?
There is a question of laying down," they will pro-
ceed, " the basis of a new conference, perhaps of a
Congress, and Count Orloff has undertaken to come
to an understanding on the subject with the Four
Great Continental Powers. We salute, then, in Count
Orloff," the journals which are my friends will not fail to
add, '• an emissary of an approaching pacification.", That
will suit me perfectly, for it is well that our adversaries
should believe in peace whilst wo prepare for war. You
now understand all the importance of your mission:—
Marvellously well, Sire ! It will, as one might say, faire
Sauter 1i coupe.'—`Just so. Do you know Orloff, that
you do not want cleverness ? You are a Knight of Saint
Wladimir.'—' Of all classes, Sire.'—' A Knight of Saint
George?'—' Also, your Majesty;'—' A Knight of Saint
Anne.'—' Also, your Holiness. That is unfortunate,
for not having lost any battle, I cannot double
your salary. Content yourself, therefore, with the
high satisfaction which I express to you. Now,
listen to my instructions :—On reflection, I believe that
the best thing is for you to commence your rounds by
Vienna. There is in that city a centre of telegraphic lines;
from which you can profit. You will then leave Berlin.'—
Yes, Sire.'--' Arrived in that city, you will present my
complimen!zs to the young Emperor, and you must cun-
ningly m Ake the public believe that you. are at Berlin:—
: Yes, S.ire.'—The essential thing in a mission like yours is
that tile public shall always believe you in a different place
frora that in which yon really are. At Vienna, people
mast suppose that you are at Berlin—at Berlin that you
rare at London—at London that you aro expected at• Paris,
and at Paris they must be certain that you have
just arrived at London. This uncertainty must neces-
sarily give rise to a host of telegraphic despatches, all
more or less useful to my partisans, who are at the same
time—a strange thing--the partisans of peace. Between
ourselves, I think it will be necessary for yon to go to
London and to Paris ; but it will not productea bad effect
to announce that you go also to those two capitals. Your
mission will also appear more plausible and more pacific.
Your mission terminated, we must give up tricks, and play
our cards seriously'—`ln the meantime, Sire, I am your
last card?'—' As you say very wittily—my tramp card, in
fact. But, Orloff, as your friend, though I congratulate
you on the wit you display before your master, yet, as
your master, I feel alarmed at the wit you display before
your friend. Witty people are dangerous, Let this be a
lesson to you—be less witty for the future, and put on your
boots."

KEAN AT WOOLWICH.—During the season Kean
played his most popular and effective characters,)and on
those occasions the house was always crowded."' His
acting of Shylock, Richard, Sir Giles Overreach, and
Othello was seen to perfection in a small theatre ; 'out
they only who have played watt him can comprelygnd to
the full the terrific lightenirg-like flash of 1-,',51 eye: Ed.
round Keaa personally superintended the business ar-
rangements of the W'Jolwich theatre, and was particu-
larly anxious that 42ney should be efficiently carried out.
To the'gettin,g of the various pieces he paid sedulous
attention. A;n instance of his scrupulosity in this respect
came und'a my observation during the performance of
Romeo and Juliet. The " Dirge Scene," now generally
omitted, was very attractive in the country. During it,
and while Juliet is being conveyed to the tomb of all the
Capulets, a bell is solemnly tolled. This bell should
sound at proper intervals, in accordance with the music
and so anxious was Kean, who was playing Romeo, for
precision on this point, that he himself undertook the
task of striking it. Accordingly Kean stationed him-
self at the wing for that purpose, and at due intervals
sent forth a solemn sound by striking forcibly with a
stick a piece of hollow metal which he held in his left
hand. The audience was very attentive and quiet, and
the scene proceeded with strict decorum until the last
stanza of the " Dirge," when Kean, striking with in-
creased force upon the metal, his stick broke in half,
and, bounding across the stage, struck heavily the
head of the first singing lady, who shrieked aloud from
fear and pain. All was instantly confusion, and the
curtain drooped without poor Juliet's funeral obsequies
being concluded. One evening a venerable, enthusiastic
old gentleman was present in the stage box during
Kean's performance of Othello. His demonstrations of
delight were irrestrainable, and attracted the attention
of the whole audience. But Othello's great scene with
lago so violently excited him, that he suddenly started
up, and, striking his hand on the front of the box, em-
phatically exclaimed, " Garrick never did anything like
that."—The Era._

SOCIETY FOR IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF THE
INSANE.--At the last meeting of this society, which
took place at the residence of the treasurer, Sir Alex-
ander Morison, 26, Cavendish-square, the following
awards were determined upon :—To Ellen Hopper, of
Bethlem Hospital, who had been an attendant upon the
insane for 18 years, three guineas ; to Melicent Smith,
of Duddeston Hall Asylum, nehr Birmingham, for a
similar period, an award of two guineas ; and to Ann
Hudson, a special award of two guineas. To William
Huntridge, of Duddeston Hall Asylum, the first award
for males of three guineas,
having been an attendant
upon the insane for 26 years ; and to John Be'l, of
Ozbaldick Asylum, near York, the second award for
meritorious conduct, two guineas. There were 16 can-
didates, all of whom possessed excellent credential; and
wreraging from la years' service upon the Wane.