The Sun.
London, England, 1836-04-26 00:00:00

ST. JAMES'S-FRENCH PLAYS.

A uew vaudeville, entitled Les Duels, from the pen of M.
Carmouche, was last night brought out at this theatre with
complete success. The situations are remarkably laughable,
and afford scope for some excellent acting by M. Vizentini
and M. Robert, the latter of whom added considerably to the
reputation he has acquired by his performance of Le Gamin.
Lion d'Harcourt (M. Robert), having obtained leave of ab-
sence from his regiment, for the purpose of offering his hand
to Agathe de Bracy, arrives at the house of her mother just at
the moment when she is (against her own'n consent) about to
become the wife of Polydore Beauchamp (Mons. Vizentini), a
gentleman more celebrated for conceit than courage. In order
to delay, and if possible to prevent, the union, Lion D'Har-
court, with the assistance of his friend Dumesnil (M. Lautb-
man), contrives to involve Beauchamp in a duel, and by pre-
tending to meet his cießth from his adversary's fire, to in-
duce him to quit the country. In spite, however, of Beau-
champ's horror at the crime he supposes himself to have
committed, he refuses to quit his intended bride, and the
ceremony is ',lxed for the following day. D'Harcourt is
now compel:Jed to have recourse to some other expedient to
prevent ':he dreaded nuptials. He accordingly disguises
himself as a notary, and is introduced, for the purpose of pre-
Paring-- the marriage contract. Beauchamp detects a strong
resemblance to his victim, and a most ludicrous scene ensues.
Fearing detection, the notary acknowledges he is a brother of
Lion d'Harcourt. A quarrel ensues between the notary and
Beauchamp, in consequence of some misunderstanding rela-
tive to the marriage contract, and another duel takes place.
By the contrivance of Dumesnil, who extinguishes the light,
Beauchamp is led to believe tbat he has caused the death of a
second victim. Lion d'Harcourt, hearing of the arrival of his
Colonel, and to escape detection, equips himself in female
a'ctire, and introduces himself under the pretext of searching
for a relative. Beauchamp again recognizes the features of his
two sacrifices. Despairing of preventing the marriage, Du-
inesnil, in his capacity of Magistrate, denounces Beauchamp
as the murderer of the two unfortunate brothers, the Captain
and the Notary, and calls upon him to deliver himself up to
the hands of justice. Beauchamp is at last compelled to re-
linquish Agathe, and the appearance of Lion d'Harcourt, who
:acknowledges himself also to be the notary, completely recon-
ciles him to the loss. The acting of Vizentini kept the audi-
ence in continual laughter, and M. Robert, as the cavalry
officer, the lawyer and the lady, fully entitled himself to the
applause he received. The entertainments commenced with
Le Gamin de Paris, and finished with Le Chatee Metamor-
phosee en Femme.

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

FIFTH CONCERT.

The fifth meeting of this society took place yesterday eve-
ning at the Hanover-square Rooms.
The appearance of that promising pianist, Mr. W. S. Ben-
nett, for the first time this season, delighted everybody. His
concerto and performance were the theme of admiration. In
the cantabile of pianoforte performance he appears almost to
have arrived at the summit of perfection ; and he has also con-
siderable increase :n tone. 'I be first movement of the con-
certo we cannot pass by without terms of high commendation.
It is the work of a profound musician. Cherubini's delightful
overture will ever prove fresh and attractive. It is an ex-
tremely elegant and imaginative composition, teeming with
the subtleties of orchestral effects. It was also charmingly
performed. It true that the overture of Ali Baba, the last
work of this great composer, was rehearsed, and then laid
aside ? If so, to whom is to he attributed the blame ? Che-
rubini never wrote a bar of bad music. Mozart opened
the second act, and the performance of his symphony No.
2 was a great treat. Dragonetti and his companions, the
contra bassi, had no idle task throughout the finale. Mrs.
Bishop's detcrminution to bring forward classical composi-
tions demands unqualified praise. We have already, on se-
veral occasions, expressed our opinion of our merits in the
execution of one of Beethoven's most charming songs. Of
Mr. Lipinski's composition we can say but little—of his per-
formance words cannot sufficiently describe his extraordinary
merit. There was a crowded room, and we noticed among
the company Madame Maiibran, and M. Thalbcrg, the cele-
brated pianist.
ANCIENT CoNemers.—A rehearsal of to-morrow's perform.
anee took place yesterday, in the presence of Lord Cawdor
(Director of the evening), Lord Burghersh, and a number of
the subscribers. The selection is a very excellent one, and by
no means a common one ; for, independently of Handel, seve-
ral fine compositions by Hasse, Leo, Bononcini, Paesiello,
Sarti, Righini, Mozart, Avison, Weelkes, &c., are included ;
so that it may be justly called a performance of classical
music, which has not been hackneyed to satiety, as too many-
of the modern compositions are.
SPOIIR.—It is trot the intention of this celebrated composer
to visit England this season, as was once expected; but it is
reported that he will do so next spring.

Mr. Mont,omery is lecturing at Sheffield on th.
British Poets. °

The Prussians appear to excel even the Irish in
their fondness for potatoes, as well as in the various mode of
preparing them for use. A recent traveller states that he has
frequently on one occasion seen them served in six different
forms—the bread made from them—the soup thickened with
them—fried potatoes—potato salad, and potato dumplings;
anti lastly, potato cheese, which, besides being extremely pala-
able, will keep some years.

LONDON,
TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 26, 1836.

Lord MORPETH'S speech last night on introducing
to the House of Commons the plan which his Ma-
jesty's Ministers have adopted for settling the Irish
Tithe question, will be read with the deepest interest.
The subject itself is pre-eminent in .importance, in-
volving, as it does, the peace and prosperity not merely
of Ireland, but of the British Empire. And the
Noble Lord, though sensible of the difficulties with
which it is embarrassed, has shown that he is fully
able to grapple with it. That he has succeeded in
rendering the Jrish Tithe Bill palatable to those who
are always dissatisfied with a measure in proportion as
it promises to promote the public welfare, we will not
assert. Ifidced we should think it but a sorry com-
pliment to the MELBOURNE Administration could it
be predicated of any of their measures that they
gave satisfaction to such a selfish and factious crew as
those who now occupy the Opposition benches. But
this we need not hesitate to say, that the framers of the
present Bill have obviated many of the objections
brought forward last year, against a similar measure, by
the leaders of the Tory party in both Houses of Parlia-
ment. The Noble Lord, after demonstrating the impos-
sibility of collecting tithes in Ireland, from the inveterate
and unconquerable antipathy of the people to the pay-
ment of this obnoxious impost, and the danger lest
by delaying an adjustment of the question, even a little
longer, there might be found nothing to adjust, pro-
ceeded to explain the details of his plan in so far as
they differed from those of last year. These we shall
lay before our readers as briefly as possible.
The same principles for commuting Tithes into a
rent-charge are adopted as in the former Bills, a de-
duction of 30 per cent. being made from the gross value
of the Tith.e.There is to be no repayment of the 637,0001.
paid to the Irish Clergy out of the million granted by
Parlicment, nor-is the remainder of the million to be
(le voted to the payment of the Tithe-arrears due
to the Clergy, who must now make up their minds
co forego their arrears as a penalty for the
protection afforded them by their friends in the
upper House. The collection of the rent-charge is
to be entrusted to the Commissioners of Woods and
Forests, but their functions are limited to the term of
seven years, at the end of which period a new arrange-
ment, if found desirable, may be made.
In carrying into effect the appropriation principle,
from which the Government have not flinched an inch,
some important alterations in the provisions of the
former measure occur. All the benefices in Ireland are
divided into three classes—the first class, amounting
to 670, and containing from 50 to 500 Protestants,°
are :to have each a stipend of 200/
second, amounting to 209, and containin. gafroymeasr-00t1;oe
1,000, are to have 3004 a year—and the third, in