The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-30 00:00:00

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

Mr. Morris Barnett's admirable comedy of The
Serious Family continues to draw crowded houses
on the off nights at the little theatre in the Hay-
market ; and it would be a matter of surprise were
it otherwise, for not only is the comedy excellent in
itself, hitting, and hitting most effectively, one of the
most disgusting of the follies of the day, but it is
acted after a manner as nearly approaching to per-
fection as possible, containing in the same cast
Webster, Wallack, Buckstone, Mrs. W. Clifford, Miss
Reynolds, and Mrs. Fitzwilliam. It went off ad-
mirably last night, eliciting shouts of laughter and
applause. At the conclusion all the principal artistes
were called before the curtain. The comedy was fol-
lowed by the farce of the Laughing Ilycena, in which
Webster was admirable. The performance concluded
with the Guardian Angel.

COURT CIRCULAR.
OSBORNE, THURSDAY.
The Queen and Prince took their usual early walk
this morning in the grounds of Osborne.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wale:l, the
Princess Royal, and the younger members of the
Royal Family, walked and rode in the Park.
Captain the Hon Dudley and Mrs. Pelham are ex
pected to dine at Osborne this day.

Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge and the Princess Mary, attended by
Baron Knesebeck, returned to their residence at Kew,
on Wednesday, from Brighton.
Mr. J. H. de Castro, Mr. Robert Smith, and Mr.
J. Atherton, a deputation from the Manchester Com-
mercial Association, had an interview with the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official resi-
dence in Downing-street.
Sir James Duke, Bart., had an interview with Sir
George Grey yesterday, at the Home-office.
The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had
a general meeting yesterday, at their office in White-
hall-place.
Mr. R. Birley (Manchester) and Mr. Morley had
an interview yesterday with Sir George Grey.
Dispatches from the Governor of Canada, and from
the Governors of the other North American colonies,
were received yesterday at the Colonial-office. Dis-
patches were also received yesterday at the Colonial-
office, from the Governer of West Australia.

Mr. Hodges, M.P., had an interview yesterday
with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

HEALTH of the QUEEN DOWAGER.
(From the Court Circular.)
" The Priory, Nov. 29.
"The Queen Dowager slept for several hours
during the night.
" Her Majesty's symptoms remain without any
improvement.

" DAVID DAVIES, M.D."

FRANCE and the SANDWICH ISLANDS.

The arrival of the Empire City fromCh7greshad
brought to New York the extraordinary and startling
news of the capture of the Sandwich Islands by the
French. This event, if officially confirmed, is likely
to lead to wry embarrassing relations between France
and more nations than one. The California corre-
spondent of the New York Tribune says—
" An arrival from the Sandwich Islands has brought
the startling intelligence of the islands having been taken
by the French. It is the same old quarrel broken out
again. The story, as I have heard it, is this: —The
Island Government placed a heavy duty on various arti-
cles, such as wines and liquors, which constitute the
principal exportations from France to the Pacific. The
commander of the French fleet at Honolulu demanded
that it should be revoked, and on refusal opened his guns
on the fort, which finally yielded. He then occupied it,
and took possession of the island. An express came
here in sixteen hours from San Francisco, 130 miles,
with the nows. What the course of our authorities will
be everybody conjectures, but nobody knows."
The intelligence has created considerable sensation
in the Unit4States, and the common inquiry is—
" What will the French do next?" The subjoined
extract from the Pacific News, of Sept. 29, some-
what modifies the above :
" In our paper of Saturday last we announced that a
rumour was in circulation that a difficulty had arisen
at the Sandwich Islands, between the French
Consul-General and the Hawaiian Government.
Since that time the French frigate the Poursu-
viante, under the command of Admiral Trcm-
melin, has arrived at this port from the Sandsvi.h
Islands, which place she left early in the present month,
bringing, as wo learn, Mr. Dillon, the French consul,
and his family as passengers. It is said that Mr. Dillon
has finally closed his mission at the island, and that he
proceeds to France through the United States, taking
passage in the steamer about leaving for Panama.
" The Poursuviante brings dispatches, we believe
for Commodore Jones, and for the State Department
at Washington. The contents of these are, of course,
not yet made public ; but we learn from the re-
ports in circulation about town, and which, so far
ss we know, are not disputed, that the transactions
which took place at the island before the
French frigate left were, in general, as follows :—The
demands of the French Consul—the most important of
which related to the importation of French brandies
into the islands, at reduced rates of duty, and to the sale
of ardent spirits by French whalers visiting the ports of
the islands for refreshments—were refused by the
Hawaiian Government, on the ground that its existing
regulations on those subjects were in conformity
to the text and spirit of the treaty con-
cluded between the French Government and
that of the islands. There were, however,
several other matters in issue, and the Hawaiian Go-
vernment, we understand, was desirous to submit the
whole case for decision to the Cabinet of Paris. This
mode of adjusting the matter Mr. Dillon and the Ad-
iniral did not see fit to accept. It is also understood
that the Hawaiian authorities were willing to avail them-
selves of the offered mediation of the British Consul-
General in the premises—and that this also was de-
clined by the French Consul and Admiral, who insisted
upon a definite compliance with their demands by the
Hawaiian Government, within a brief specified time.
" Such compliance being refused on the part of the
islands, the French Admiral, against the protest, as we
understand, of; the American Consul (the diplomatic

. _
intercourse between the Islands' Government and Mr.
Ten Eyck, the American Commissioner, not having been
resumed, we believe, since its suspension some months
ago), proceeded to forcible measures. The Ha-
waiian fort was seized, disarmed, its ammunition
destroyed, and the Hawaiian filig lowered for
about three days, 'when the French occupa-
tion of the fort ceased, and the Hawaiian flag was again,
raised. One of the public vessels of the Hawaiian Govern-
ment was also seized by the French, and sent off, under
French control, to Tahiti or Valparaiso. The French
authorities then left the islands.

"It appears to us difficult to understand upon what
grounds this course of action on the part of the French au-
thorities can be justified, and equally difficult to see what
good or useful result of any kind has been accomplished
by it. If the Hawaiian authorities were in the right in the
controversy, under the treaty stipulations, then the
course of the French was plainly an unjustifiable aggres-
sion upon the weak and defenceless. If, on the other
hand, the Hawaiian Government was in the wrong, why,
even supposing the British Consul's mediation unsuit-
able, could not tho case have been submitted to the
French Cabinet for decision, as the Hawaiian Govern-
ment is understood to have desired and proposed?"

:SENN'S BlND.—Letters from New York state that
Mr. Bennett has offered Jenny Lind 1,000 dollars per
night for 200 nights, and made a further offer to place a
carriage at her disposal, and to pay every description of
expenses attending the concerts or operas. He has also
proposed to place 10,000/. in the hands of her bankers in
London to secure the fulfilment of his proposal.
GRAY'S INN.—The election of a preacher to the
Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, is fixed for Wednes-
day, the 16th of January next; already nearly thirty
candidates are in the field, amongst whom may be men-
tioned, Dr. Homey, head-master of Merchant Tailors'
School; Dr. Kynaston, high master of St. Paul's School;
the Hon. and Rev. S. Best, Dr. Wilson, Rev. W. Gleig,
Rev. Mr. Jackson, president of Battersea College; Rev.
W. Brogden, rector of Deddington ; Rev. Mr. Cowie,
principal, Putney College, together with many other very
eminent divines.

Experience has taught us little, if it has not in-
structed us to pity the errors of others, and to amend
our own.—Eliza Cook's Journal.
SYMPATHY WITH THE FAMILIES OF THE DECEASED
CHARTIsTS, WILLIAMS AND SHARPE.---On Wednesday
evening a-public meeting was held at the City School-
rooms, Cowper-street, City-road, for the purpose of
making a provision for the widows and families of Wil-
liams and Sharpe, who a short time since died at the
Westminster House of Correction while undergoing
their sentence of imprisonment for sedition. Luke
James Hansard, Esq., in the chair. It was stated that
a number of subscriptions had been already received.
Amongst the contributors were the Chairman, 51.;
Baron Rothschild, 51 55.; Sir Joshua Walmaley, 21. 25.;
Messrs. Harmer and Bell, 31. 35.; Lord Dudley Stuart,
21. 25.; Mr. Williams, late M.P., and Mr. Prout. Reso-
lutions in accordance with the proposed object having
been adopted, tho meeting, after subscribing liberally,
separated.
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.—An Englishman told
me that he was travelling with his younger brother, who
was deaf, through Massachusetts; after staying all night
at an inn, in the murning the " help" who had cleaned
their boots, went to the younger brother and asked him
for something: he directed him to his elder brother, who
carried the purse: the " boot-clean" went to him and
stood before him. " What do you want?" was asked,
" I'm the gentleman who cleaned your boots, and the
deaf man there told mo to go to you."—Sir J. Alexander's
"Acadie."