The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-15 00:00:00

STRAND THEATRE.

T_.r.s:t evening a dramatic version of Dickens's last
work, Hard Times, was produced at this pretty little
theatre with complete success. The adaptor has re-
tained all the points of the story, consequently it is
rather too long; but after the curtailment which usually
follows the representation of a new piece has taken place,
we have no doubt the compression will add materially to
that success. The part of Josiah Bounderby was sus-
tained by Mr. Barrett with much ability ; the same re-
mark will apply •to Mr. R. Romer's Gradgrind, Mr.
Belford's Harthouse, and Mr. Sidney's Bitzer. We have
reserved the part of Stephen Blackpool for special men-
tion ; it was represented by Mr. Herbert in a manner
Lich proved that gentleman to be a finished actor.
We now come to the female portion of the characters in
the drama. The part of Sissy Jupc in the first act was
beautifully sustained by little Eliza Edouin, and that of
Louisa Gradgrind equally well by her sister Rose. In
the second and following act Miss F. Beaumont and
Miss H. Gordon fini,h the parts with great ability. We
cannot help thinking that the adaptor has done an in-
justice to the character of Sissy. After the first act,
with the exception of one scene in the last, we see nothing
of her ; but what little there was to do Miss Beaumont
did very prettily. Miss Hammond sustained the part of
Melia with great pathos, and her delivery of the belu-
tiful sentiments with which the part abounds was loudly
applauded. The piece was very excellently put upon

the st tge, and was announced by Mr. Barrett for repeti-
tion every evening until further notice. The house was
very fully attended.

THE EARL OF RODEN .—The Earl of Roden arrived in
Dublin from London on Friday night, and received a
telegraphic message early on Saturday morning with the
s ' d intelligence of the death of Lord Jocelyn, when his
lordship immediately afterwards started for London.
THZ COURTS-11ARTI AL AT WINDSOR. —The final deci-
sion in the case of Lieutenant Greer is not yet known,
and there would appear to be some doubt entertained in
the matter, as we understand that the whole of the
members of the court-martial that sat upon his trial were
yesterday summoned to London, to meet the authorities
at the Horse Guards ; but what the object of the con-
-I,retice was, we ( Windsor Express) have not heard the.
slightest surmise.
NEW SURVEYOR OF MERCANTILE MARINE . —Lieut.
Robert Robertson, who has for several years past had
ti►e charge of the steam department afloat at Woolwich,
,tts been appointed, with the sanction of the Admiralty,
Surveyor of the Mercantile Marine of this country under
the Board of Trade.

Trtm Posr OFFICE.—A. Committee apppointed by the
Treasury, consisting of Lord Eloho, Sir S. Northeote,
Sir C. Trevelyan, and Mr. lioffay, have just completed
an inquiry into the establishment of the General Post-
(Met), and propose extensive alterations, or rather a
re-arrangement of the department ; and, with one or
two modifications, the Treasury have authorised the

Pot:+tma,ter-General to talie steps to give effect to the

recommendations of the Committee. In dealing with
the Money Order-office, the report mentions that it
originated so long ago as 1792, but that, though it was
then sanctioned by the Postmaster-General, it was a
private enterprise of three officers of the Inland-office,
who hired premises near the post-office, and found the
necessary capital, and were allowed to carry on the
correspondence free of postage. They charged a per-
centage of Bd. in the pound, and made a profit of about
2401. a year each. It was not till 1838 that the Money
Order-office was made an official establishment, and its
produce appropriated to the revenue. Such has been
its growth and progress, that the orders issued in 1853
were for 9,916,195/. The amount of revenue held by
the Money Order-office has hitherto been considerable ;
last Michaelmas it was 127,0001., but in March it had
been gradually reduced to 55,0001. The average
amount of outstanding orders is 95,0001., but the
available cash is reduced by the remittances from the
country being in bills, and the orders supplied to the
Committee of Education (about 12,0001. every six
weeks) are only paid for periodically. The amount of
forfeited orders, which, together with the unclaimed
property found in dead letters, may be about 1,2001. or
1,300/. a year, is appropriated to a fund for aiding
officers of the Post-office to insure their lives.

INQUEST AT STEPNET.—Yesterday Mr. Baker, the
deputy-coroner for East Middlesex, held an inquest on
the bodies of a young woman, apparently about 30 years
of age, and a female child, who were found drowned in
the Regent's-canal on Saturday last, near the Globe-
bridge, Mile-end-road. Mr. Rix, surgeon, deposed that
there were no marks of violence on the bodies, and death
had evidently been caused by drowning. A police-con-
stable stated that a full description of the mother and
chill's dress had been forwarded to all the metropolitan
police stations, but no clue had been discovered to the
deceased's relatives. Other evidence having been ad-
duced, the jury returned an open verdict of "Found
dead in the Regent's-canal, apparently drowned, without
marks of violence, but how or by what means the bodies
came into the water they had no legal evidence to
show.'

Mit. SMITH O'BniEN.—The Limerick Chronicle of Sa-
turday contains the following :—" The family of Mr. W.
Smith O'Brien received a letter this week from that gen-
tleman, dated the last week in May, from Van Diemen's
Land, when he was preparing to avail himself of her
Majesty's gracious pardon, and to leave the colony for
Europe. Mrs. Smith O'Brien and other relatives will
meet the liberated exile at Brussels, where it is probable
he will reside ; and we have the pleasure to inform his
countrymen that Mr. O'Brien accepted with the best
feelings hi, Sovereign's spontaneous clemency in remis-
sion of the penalty for a political offence."

MR. C. G. D [IFFY, M. P.— Th e Wexford People con-
thins the subjoined extract of a letter from Mr. Duffy,
p., addressed to the Rev. Thomas Doyle, of Arthurs-
town :—" I never spent any time with so much advan-
tage as in this experiment. It will, please God, enable
me to do my work better in future, instead of quarter
doing it. Since I came out of prison I have never had
a day's good health. But I confidently reckon, from the

imp;ovenent I have had already, upon going home as
sound as new.' The primary condition of this case was
rest—you cannot heal an over-worked brain more than
a strained arm without putting it in a sling.—Always
affectionately yours " C. G. D."
MR. GARDEN.—It is stated by the Limerick
.Chronicle
that "the supersedeas dismissing Mr. Carden from the
deputy-lieutenancy and magistracy of Tipperary will be
forthwith issued."
THE TAILORS' LABOUR AGENCY, NEWINGTON-CAUSE-
WAY.—This society affords a pleasing instance of the
salutary effects of that cordial and intelligent under-
standing between the employer and employed which is,
after all, the surest basis on which the welfare of the
working classes can rest. One of the peculiarities of the
establishment is, that by its means workmen are secured
the maximum rate of wages for their labour. The chief
object, however, of their uniting together was to main-
tain schools for their children, and to provide lectures,
classes, library, and reading-room for their own mutual
improvement. The popular lectures delivered in their
elegant hall have already attracted much notice. The
annual excursion of the members to the Rye House,
Hertfordshire, took place on the 9th instant. Mr. Dunn,
the principal of the establishment, his family, and various
assistants, and the entire body of the workmen, number-
ing 150 persons, joined in the festivities of the day.
Abundant provisions, combined with excellent arrange-
ments, contributed to the enjoyment of all. After the
usual loyal toasts, " Success to the Tailors' Labour
Agency" was drank in a bumper. Mr. Edwards, in
proposing the health of Mr. Dunn, presented him with a
valuable and elegant drawing-room time-piece, the spon-
taneous and honourable gift of his workmen, in appre-
ciation of the enlightened and persevering efforts he had
made to promote their interests and improve their social
condition. Mr. Dunn returned thanks for this unex-
pected testimony of their regard. The health of the
teachers, who were warmly eulogised for their talents
and energy, and other toasts, followed. The party re-
turned to town by special train.
DEPARTURES FROM THE PORT OF LONDON.—The de-
partures from the port of London for the Australian
col
toonies during the week have comprised eight vessels-
two
Sydney, etyo,withan Melbourne,with aggregate
an
aggregateburden o f l ,
burden
teonn so
f;
twot ; t
to Adelaide, with an aggregate burden of 1,249
970 tons ; and one to Swan River, of 384 tons. ' Their
total capacity was consequently 3,751 tons. The rates
of freight are IteadY at previous quotations.