The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-20 00:00:00

IIAYMARKET THEATBE.

A great mistake was committed on Saturday night by
the production of a piece called the Sentinel of the Alma.
To compose this work a few incidents of the present
war, recorded and unrecorded, had been strung together
and the result was a sort of Astley's drama, without
the equestrian illustrations. One might have foreseen
that this sort of thing would not do for the Haymarket,
but the manager was, doubtless, dazzled by the glories
of the Battle of the Alma, and thought that a theme so
popular would infuse a portion of its popularity into
everything coiosiecteel with it. Events tieinoustrated his
error. The audience at first laughed at the burlesque
Russian names of Mendaciokoff, •Braggodeciokoff and
the like, but soon even this kind of humour ceased to
produce an effect, and the piece had not proceeded half-
way in its course before a very decided sibillation began
and continued at intervals till the end. When the
curtain fell an attempt was made to produce a
reaction, but the dissentients, though they had seen a
grotesque representative of Prince Menschikoff deliver
up his sword to a British captain, would not allow their
patriotism to interfere with their judgment, and hissed
so steadily that the applauders desisted from their plaudits,
and left their adversaries masters of the field. Where a
failure is so manifest expatiation is not required.

THE PATRIOTIC FUND MEETINGS IN

IRELAND.

On Thursday a numerous and influential meeting o
the county of Down was held at Downpatrick to for-
ward the Patriotic Fund. The High Sheriff presided•
After explaining the object of the meeting, the chair'
man proceeded to say that he had received letters of
apology from the following :—The Marquis of London-
derry, enclosing a draft for 250/. ; the Marquis of
Downshire, enclosing 1001. ; Sir Robert Bateson, en-
closing 50/. ; Roger Hall, Esq. ; R.. B. B. Houston•
Esq. ; Henry Waring, Esq. ; and Rev. James Gordon•
The following affecting and !most liberal letter covered
the subscription of the jllarquis of Londonderry:—

Mountstewart, Nov. 12, 1851.
" Sir —I regret that I cannot attend the public meeting
in aid Of the Patriotic Fund, which, in obedience to her
Majesty's commands, and in accordance with the wishes of
all classes of her Majesty's subjects in the county of Down,
you, as high sheriff, have most properly convened. Two
domestic afflictions in the course of the present year will
supply the reason for my absence on this occasion. The
warm hearts and loyal breasts of the men of Down require
no appeals but those of patriotism and charity, which
you, sir, and those who will surround you on Thursday,
are so well entitled to proclaim. As the son of a county
Down soldier, I cannot bnt feel a more than ordinary in-
terest in the success of this meeting. Will you be pleased
to acknowledge the receipt of the draft enclosed for 2501.,
which I will thank you to place, in my name, on your
list ?—I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
"LONDONDERRY, Lieutenant, County Down.
"The High hilieriff of the County of Down."

Lord Bangor moved the first resolution, and in doing
so observed that we were involved in the horrors of a
fearful war—a war which would require great energy
and determination t• lead it to a successful issue. The
British soldier, when he left his home, left it the more
cheerfully from the knowledge that he carries with him the
sympathy of his native country. An appeal had been
Blade by her Majesty, which had been most liberally re-
sponded to all over the country, and he was sure would
he responded to nowhere more heartily than by the men
of Down. The resolution, with ethers suitable to the
object in view, were unanimously adopted.