The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-30 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT-(THIS DAY.)

The February sessions of the Central Criminal Court
were opened this morning before the Right Hon. the
Lord Mayor, the Recorder, Aldermen, Sir Chapman
Marshall, anp the sheriffs of London and Middlesex.

The first edition of the calendar contains the names
of 125 prisoners.
The grand jury having been sworn and empannelled,

The RECORDER delivered a very brief address to them,
remarking that there was only one circumstance which
he thought it necessary to touch upon, and that was the
extraordinary increase which had latterly taken place in
the robberies committed by clerks and servants. He
was afraid the Court would in future have to mark its
sense of these offences by visiting them with the severest
punishment which the law allowed.
The grand jury then retired.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge returned
to town on Saturday from a visit to her Majesty at
Windsor Castle.
The Earl of Derby will give a grand dinner this even-
ing, at his mansion, in St. James's-square, to a distin-
guished party of the Opposition.
Lord John Russell arrived in town on Saturday
morning, from Windsor.

Mr. Disraeli will receive at dinner to-day, at Gros-
venor-gate, some of the principal members of the Oppo-
sition in the House of Commons.

The Countess Frances Waldegrave and Mr. Har-
court, M.P., have arrived at their-residence, in Carlton-
gardens, from Nuneham-park, for the season.
The Earl and Countess Grey have arrived in town
from Howick Hall.

The Marquis of Breadalbane, Lord Chamberlain, has
arrived in Park•lane from Taymouth Castle.
The Marquis Oldoini, Secretary to the Sardinian
Legation in Paris, arrived in that city on Thursday, from
Turin.

The Earl of Stamford and Warrington has arrived in
Hill street, from Readergate Hall, Lancashire, where his
Lordship has been entertaining a large party with the
sports of the field.

The Earl Spencer, Lord Steward, arrived at Spencer
House, St. James's; on Saturday, front Althorp Park,
Northamptonshire, to attend her Majesty, in his official
capacity, to the House of Lords to-morrow, and to dine
with the Lord President on the occasion of the Sheriff's
dinner.

FESTIVITIES AT WYNYARD.—During the past fort-
night the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry
have been entertaining, as is their wonted habit at
this season, a large and distinguished company at their
princely mansion at Wynyard. Her Ladyship's birth-
day, on the 17th January, was celebrated with the usual
splendour by a magnificent banquet, to which upwards
of 50 of the guests sat down. There was, however, no
ball in the evening, nor is it believed that these brilliant
reunions will be repeated during the lifetime of the pre-
sent noble marquis —" He has been so much cast down
by late domestic affliction." There has been some ex-
cellent shooting in the preserves, under the direction of
Lords Seaham and Adolphus Vane, and between 200
and 300 head have been daily bagged by the sportsmen.
Great exertions have lately been made in regard to the
increase and extension of the covers, and when the
whole of the arrangements on this head are completed,
we can have no hesitation in saying that the Wynyard
preserves will afford better occupation to the sportsman
than can be found at any other place in our northern
district. The fox-hounds, under Mr. Williamson, as
master, were at hand, but the extreme inclemency of
the weather precluded the guests from participating in
the pleasures of "a run." The house itself has been so
often described, as to render any further detail unneces-
sary. It is confessedly one a the most comfortable and
commodious, if not the most splendid mansion in Eng-
land. The park, we hear, is being largely, extended, and
his Lordship is surrounding it, at considerable expense,
by a substantially-built stone wall. As far as we have
been able to ascertain, the following is a list of the prin-
cipal guests present on the 17th, although many invita-
tions from Durham and other places are not included :
The Marchioness of Blandford, Viscount and Viscountess
Seaham, Lord Robert Clinton, Lord Adolphus Vane,
Lord and Lady Olivia Ossulston, Mr. and Lady A.
Milbank, Miss Milbank, Lady Ann Beckett, Lord and
Lady De Lisle, Sir W. Eden, Mr. Eden, Hou. Thomas
Liddell, Mr. and Mrs. Dykes, Mr. Thompson, Mr.
Montgomery, Mr. R. De la Cherois, Mr. Crommelin,
Rev. W. Cassidi, Mr. C. Cassidi, Mr. Stewart, Mr.
Swift, Mr. and Miss Park, Mr. and Mrs. Bramwell,
Mr. Skinner, Dr. Trotter, Mr. Williamson, Mr. Strong,
&c., &c.—Durham Advertiser.

PRESENTATION OF PLATE TO MR. DUNN, OF THE
THEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE.—At a meeting of several
members of the company and persons attached to the
Theatre Royal Drury-lane, on Friday last, at which the
Earl of Glengall presided, his lordship, on the part of
E. T. Smith, Esq., the lessee, presented a splendid
silver chased tankard and cover to Mr. William Dunn,
the old and respected treasurer of that establishment.
In performing this agreeable duty, his lordship took oc-
casion to compliment Mr. Smith for the energy and per-
severance he had displayed, as well as for his honourable
conduct towards authors, actors, and tradesmen, since
he had been connected with the theatre. Of Mr. Dunn,
who had been nearly 00 years in the theatre, he could
say that a more honourable man did not exist, and it gave
him (Lord Glengall) great pleasure that he had been se-
lected to present to him a very handsome testimonial from
Mr. Smith, in grateful recognition of his constant kind
advice and the assistance he had on all occasions given
him in the performance of his arduous duties, and
which, he believed, contributed in no trifling degree to
a success unparalleled in dramatic history. The noble
chairman then presented the tankard to Mr. Dunn, who
appeared much affected, and could scarcely find words
to express his thanks for the costly gift which came
upon him completely by surprise. He spoke of Mr.
Smith having entered a theatre reduced to the lowest
ebb to which theatrical property could be brought, and,
by his energy and determination, making it not only a
paying, but a profitable speculation—a feat Unit had not
been performed in that house for many years. He had
paid his rent in full, and he was happy to say that he
had every prospect of a lucrative season now before him.
The Nestor of Old Drury, after reiterating his thanks,
sat down amidst the applause and congratulations of
those present. The tankard bore the following inscrip-
tion :—.‘ Presented to William Dunn, Esq., by E. T.
Smith, lessee of the Theatre Royal Drury-lane, as a
token of friendship for kindness received durinp; his suc-
cessful management, 1853 and 1854."
LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY LITERARY
A SSOCIATION.—The first annual general meeting of the
members was held at the Euston Station last week—
Capt. finish in the chair. The report stated that the
number of members on the books, including life mem-
bers, is 280, 119 of whom are resident at the country
stations of the railway. The commitee, however, regret
that there are still many who have not availed themselves
of the advantages of the association. On the Ist day of
Jan., 1553, the library contained 572 volumes, and the
number has since been increased to 1,090 volumes. Of
these, 200 volumes have been presented. The total num-
ber of volumes circulated since the commencement of the
association is 6,400, which wouldgive an average of about
25 vols, to each member. The members have also access
to the reading room of the association, which is regular-
ly supplied with the periodicals, newspapers, &c. The
committee have the pleasure of reporting that the funds
are in a healthy condition. After expending 2731. 11s.
sd. in the purchase of books, periodicals, &c., there is
still a balance of 801. 15s. lid. The report was unani-
mously adopted, and, after a vote of thanks to the chair-
man, the business was brought to a close,