The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-07 00:00:00

ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.--FRENCH PLA YS.

Five different pieces in four nights is a succession of
novelty rapid enough for any audience, and Mr. Mitchell
may well say of his theatre lcs soirs se slaved et 2,e se
ressemblent pas. L'Etourneau, which was produced on
Saturday night for the first time since 1848, is of a more
serious character than the usual run of French vaude-
villes, and gave M. Ravel an opportunity of displaying
those dramatic powers which he possesses in equal ex-
cellence with the vis comica on which his reputation
more immediately rests. In point of construction and
plot L'Etourneau is most satisfactory, and to an English
audience in many parts unintelligble—full of situations
which lead to nothing, and ever trembling on the brink
of a discovery which is averted by an obtuseness on the
part of the deceived, improbable even beyond that dra-
matically assigned to husbands under such circumstances.
The endeavours of Felix (M. Ravel) to recover a letter
designed as an avowal of his passion for Madame
Dunois, and which he fancies has by some mistake been
enclosed in an envelope directed to her husband, form
the action of the piece, and give rise to a series of situa-
tions ludicrous and perplexing enough at times, but in-
vested with a sustained interest throughout by the
able acting of M. Ravel, who never, even in his most comic
moments, suffers the audience to lose sight of the really
tragic importance of his efforts, and of the tragic conse-
quences which may follow if he is unsuccessful. In the
fifth act, when after travels on horseback, by railway,
diligence, and every mode of conveyance known, lie is
as far off his object as ever. M. Ravel acted with a
force and energy which reminded us greatly of Frederick
Lemaitre. Wayworn, haggard, despairing, yet still
persevering, his mental agony is so great, that the for-
tunate discovery of the letter, which has cost him so
much trouble and anxiety, safe in his pocket-book, and
which has never left it, is too much for him, and he
sinks faint and exbausten into the arms of a byestander.
M. Ravel was loudly applauded, and called before the
curtain at the conclusion of each act. To-night he
appears in the Chevaler des Dames.

WELSH REFORM MEETING.—On Friday evening a
large and important meeting of Welshmen took place in
the Concert Hall, Liverpool, in order to take into con-
sideration the principles of a society proposed to be es-
tablished under the title of the Welsh Political Reform
Association. The object aimed at is the election of
members for Wales, favourable to extension of the
suf-
frage, unsectarian education, vote by ballot, and
against
all religious endowments. Among the gentlemen on
the platform and who addressed the meeting, were John
Williams, Esq., late M.P. for Macclesfield ; R. Davies,
Esq. late candidate for the Carnarvon boroughs ; E. G.
Salisbury and H. Richards, Esqs., London ; Dr. 0. 0.
Roberts, Bangor, &c.
DEATH FROM STARVATION.—On Friday evening Mr.
W. Baker, the coroner, held an inquest at the William.
the Fourth public-house, Shadwell, on view of the ema-
ciated body of Mary Sandry, aged 43 years, who died from
starvation, in an empty room, situate at No. 1, Cow-lane,
Shadwell. It appeared from the evidence that the de-
ceased was the wife of a labouring man, who, with five
young children came from Ireland two months since, with
a few shillings, which the man expended in purchasing a
small stock of braces. The family, seven in number,
took the room in Cow-lane, for which they were to pay
Is. 9d. per week. The man hawked the braces about
the streets and public-houses since his arrival in Lon-
don, and although his wife and children were without
food and money he never applied for relief. On Monday
morning last a female lodger asked the eldest child how
the deceased was, as she had heard her coughing all the
night. The child said her mother was dying, and re-
quested the lodger to come and see her. The female did
so, and was astonished to find that the deceased was
lying on a small heap of straw without the slightest
covering. The room was completely destitute of furni-
ture, firing, or food. The lodger asked her why she
and her children had remained in such a fearful state
so long, when the deceased replied, "Oh pray do
not look at my poverty, but try and get me a doctor."
The female ran to the house of Mr. Sergeant, the
relieving-officer of Shadwell, who. was from home.
In the meanwhile the deceased grew worse, and before
any medical assistance could be obtained the unfortu-
nate woman expired. Mr. Sergeant attended at six
o'clock in the evening, and when he found the deceased
dead he expressed his regret that his aid had not been
called sooner. The officer immediately gave an order
for the children and father to be supplied with bread,
meat, oatmeal, a blanket, and a bed, as the children
were sitting on the bare flooring, crying from hunger
and cold, by the side of the mother's dead body. The
coroner and the whole of the jury said they never heard
of such a dreadful case of destitution, and it was most
distressing that a poor woman should perish in such a
way, when there were so many means of getting relief.
The husband said, in answer to the coroner, that he did
not apply for assistance because he thought they would
send him and his family back to Ireland. The whole
of them had subsi
sted steh
of b for tworaces monthms or. n the profit they
Thomas Peete,
made on the 55..
the surgeon, said the deceased died from starvation and
exposure to the cold. He never met with such a dread-
ful case of poverty. The coroner and jury were of
opinion that the father and five children ought to be im-
mediately removed to the workhouseuntil something
could be done for them. Verdict, "Natural death, acce-
lerated by extreme want and destitution."