The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-09 00:00:00

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

Never do we remember to have seen a theatre
more crowded than was the Haymarket Theatre last
evening, and the occasion was one which called in
a most especial manner for an expression of sym-
pathy on the part of the British public with one who
has by his example done more to elevate and dignity
the histrionic profession than any other man now
living ; who has shown that it is possible to be at the

same time a leading actor, a ripe scholar, a finished
gentleman, and a good man; but who had been bru-
tally outraged by an ignorant and an excited mob,
halloo'd an to mischief by a man who was as inca-
pable of appreciating the high and gentlemanly
feeling of him he outraged as he was of
rivalling him as an actor or as a scholar.
It was the first appearance in the metropolis of Mr.
Macready since his return from America, and the
audience with which the Haymarket Theatre was
crammed last evening was gathered together
as much to express sympathy with the man
as admiration for the actor. Never had actor
such a reception as that which g: eeted Mr.
Macready last evening ; his reception wl en he made
his first appearance at the Princess's afro • his return

from America five years ago, grand is it was, was
tame in comparison with his receptie last evening.
The whole house, which was crowded, from the
orchestra stalls to the gallery ceiling, rose at him and
cheered:; the, ladies in the boxes were waiving their
handkerchiefs, and the men were waiving their hats,
cheering the whole time. This continued for several
minutes, and the cheering died away as it wouldlseem
from the sheer exhaustion of the cheerers ; they had,
however, only paused to, take breath, again was the
cheering renewed, and again and again, before the
play was suffered to proceed. That play was :Mac-
beth, and the play-going public are so well acquainted
with Mr. Macready's reading of the character, that
it woulcl;be work of supererogation to indulge in any
lengthened commentary. He has come back to us
the same Macready that he ever was, with energies
undiminished, and with mannerisms uncorrected. It
is announced that at the conclusion of the present
season it is his intention to retire from the stage ;
we hope, however, that he will be induced to recon-
sider his determination. There is no failing in either
his mental, or his physical powers; he owes a debt of
duty to the art which has made him what he is, and
he ought not to retire at the moment when the in-
terests of that art most require his presence. At the
conclusion of the tragedy he was again called for-
ward, and his reception was to the full as enthu-
siastic as it had been on his first appearance.
The play was strongly cast. Mrs. Warner was the
Lady Macbeth, and albeit her performance is by no
means faultless, yet taken as a whole, hers is by far
the best Lady Macbeth on the stage. That most
accomplished of artists, James Wallack, acted Mac-
duff beautifully; and Stuart, James Bland, and C.
Selby, were the best witches we have ever seen.
There was a fiend-like energy and hellish malignity
about the acting of Stuart that was admirably in
keeping with the character. Miss P. Horton was
the Hecate, and, with the exception of the introduc-
tion of some ornaments of rather doubtful
character into the air, Now I'm furnished
for my flight," she sang and acted admirably.
The music altogether was very well performed.
A slight incident occurred during the course of the
performance, which at one time threatened to mar
the harmony of the evening. The house, :as we
before stated, was crowded to suffocation at the
commencement of the evening, and when some per-
sons, who gained admission at half-price, sought
for accommodation, of course there was none to
be found; whereupon the new corners set up
a loud call for " Webster," and would not
be pacified. At length Wallack came forward, and
informed them that Mr. Webster was not in the
house, but that if they were at all incommoded
they should, if they would leave the theatre, have
tickets given them for another night, when the per-
formances would be repeated. This assurance
satisfied the dissentients, and the performances pro-
ceeded triumphantly to their close.

WESTERN LITERARY INSTITUTION.—Last evening
the first of a series of " Glee Concerts" was given at
this excellent institution. The programme was ex-
tremely attractive, containing, as it did, some of the best
compositions of our old English masters, which were
well executed by the professionals, both vocal and in-
strumental. We were glad to see the concert so highly
appreciated as it was by the numerous and respectable
audience cssembied within the theatre of the institution.
It would be au injustice did we omit to mention the
great ability with which Mrs. Fentum, Miss Melvin,
Mr. May (director of the concert), and Mr. Griesbach,
acquitted themselves.

LAMBETH CHORAL SOCIETY.— The members of the
Lambeth Choral Society held a public tea meeting and
gave a concert last night i❑ the large school room,
Chapel-place, Great Suffialk-street, Borough. The tea
meeting was most fully attended, and the performances
of the society were much applauded. The concert con-
sisted of selections of anthems, odes, &c., from the
Union Harrnonist, with a variety of new sacred music.
The Rev. W. Chalmers, A.M., officiated as chairman of
the tea meeting, while Mr. hawker, organist of All
Saints, St. John's Wood, presided at the pianoforte; and
Mr. W. Smith, the precentor of Marylebone Presbyterian
Church, conducted the concert.
THE EGYPTIAN LOCUST.—A specimen of this insect
was captured near Handsworth church on Saturday last.
Another specimen taken near Smethwick, a few days
since, is still alive, and feeds upon various kinds of
leaves and plants.—,Birmingham hiercuty.