The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-30 00:00:00

DEJEUNER TO MR. G. V. BROOKE.

A large number of the friends of this gentlemen met
yesterday for the purpose of congratulating him on the
eminent success that has crowned his representations at
Drury-lane Theatre. The place of meeting was emi•
nently appropriate, being the Coal-hole Tavern, in the
Strand, the oldest theatrical house in London—a
hostlerie where the great Edmund Kean was wont to
mingle with the choicest spirits of the age.
At the early hour of two o'clock p.m., an elegant and
substantial dejeuner was provided, the chair being occu-
pied by E. T. Smith, Esq., the enterprising lessee of
Drury-lane Theatre. After justice had been done to the
repast, and the accustomed national toasts given, the
Chairman, in a neat and appropriate speech, proposed
"The health of Mr. Brooke," which was received with
rapture. That gentleman returned thanks in a short
harangue, fraught with a calm and dignified eloquence.
Nothing could exceed the, enthusiasm with which his
speech was hailed. In the course of the afternoon, Mr.
Nicholson, in an eloquent speech, proposed "The
memory of Edmund Kean," which was drunk in solemn
silence. The toast was followed by observations of a very
pathetic and feeling character by Mr. John Lee, the in-
timate friend and secretary to that great tragedian.
After the Chairman's health had been proposed, that
gentleman presented Mr. Brooke with a costly dagger
for the part of " Macbeth," and an elegant diamond
ring, which were warmly acknowledged. About six
o'clock Mr. Brooke withdrew to assume his professional
duties at Drury-lane. It was publicly announced that
Mr. Smith had secured the valuable services of Mr.
Brooke for the next fortnight.
The entire arrangements reflected the greatest credit
on the well-known host, Mr. Nicholson.

IXATIGITRATION OF THE NEW SHERIFFS.— (THIS DAY.)
—The ancient ceremony of presenting the Sheriffs to the
Cursitor Baron in the Court of Exchequer, for the ap-
probation of the Crown, took place at Westminster Hall
this day. The Recorder introduced the new Sheriffs .o
the Cursitor Baron, giving the history of those gentle-
men. The several writs were read, and the Sheriffs and
the senior under Sheriffs took the usual oaths. The com-
pany again embarked in their barges to Blackfriars-
bridge, when an entertainment will be given by the new
Sheriffs.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT MESSRS. SAVILL, PRINTERS.
—This morning, between four and five o'clock, a most
destructive fire broke out on the premises of Messrs.
Savill, printers, Chandos-street. The fire was first
discovered by Sergeant Bush, of the F division of police,
who immediately raised an alarm, when the engines from
Chandos-street, Watling-street, and Crown-street, were
quickly on the spot, and a good supply of water being
obtained, the engines got to work, under the immediate
superintendence of Mr. Braidwood, but the fire was
not subdued until the machines, steam-engines and
warehouse was destroyed. The origin of the fire is
unknown. Premises insured ; the loss will amount to
several thousand pounds
NEW MONEY ORDER OFFICES.—GENERAL POST-OFFICE,
SEPT., 1853.—Minor money order offices will be opened
at the undermentioned places on the Ist of October .
Dalton-in-Furness, Lancaster ; Ilkley, York ; Kilkelly,
Mayo. On the same day a major money order office
will be opened at the receiving office, High-street, Wap-
ping ; and the post-office at Redcar (now a head office)
will be raised from a minor to a major money order office.
On the same day the major money order office at Aros,
N. 8., will be reduced to a minor office, and the office at
Portaskaig, N. 8., will cease to be a money order office.
MAILS FOR AUSTRALIA.—GENERAL POST-OFFICE.--
The Neleus, appointed to convey the next mails to Aus-
tralia, will not leave Liverpool until the morning of the
sth October (in consequence of the state of the tide), so
that letters arriving in Liverpool by the night mail from
London of the 4th of October will be in time to be for-
warded.

THE NEW HACKNEY CARRIAGE ACT.—Yesterday,
the regulations of the new Hackney Carriage Act were
carried into effect throughout the metropolis, Work-
men were sent round to the various cab stands, and at
each one was fixed, in a most conspicuous place, the
lamp-post being used in most instances, a large board,
measuring about 3 feet by 4 feet, on which, in promi-
nent characters, were painted the rates of fares from
the station at which the respective boards were affixed,
within a circus of four miles radius from Charing-cross,
to the whole of the various public institutions, viz., the
churches, railway stations, newspaper-offices, hospitals,
exhibitions, and all the leading thoroughfares in the
metropolis,