The Sun.
London, England, 1825-01-05 00:00:00

EDINBURGH THEATRE.

Last night Der Fre'schute was produced to a most fashion-
able audience; and, in good truth, " The Srrenth Bullet"
was fired with great effect. We heartily desire that the spirited
proprietors of our dramatic establishment may ultimately reap
the full benefit of their arduous and praiseworthy paese-
verance.—j Here follows an account of the plot, with which our
readers are by this time pretty well acquainted.l—Making due
allowance for the almost insurmountable difficulties that this
popular opera presents, we were surprised by the excellent
manner with which a great part of the music was given.—
The overture, in its performance, may safely claim the largest
share of unqualified praise. Indeed, when we say it was
encored—though a very elaborate production, and contain-
ing but small portions of melody or motive, it may be con-
sidered a very surprising circumstance, and certainly forms
an era in the history of music in Edinburgh. Even the
" Gods " themselves were awed into most unusual silence !
We were delighted by the successful appearance of Illiss Noel,
the vocal heroine. Her voice is of a very rich and tine qua-
lity, tolerably extensive, hut what is of greater importance, her
style is pure, free from vulgar ornament, or abortive attempts
to give effect by an introduction of note splitting, so utterly re-
pugnant to good feeling and common sense. We may, there-
fore, congratulate our musical friends upon the accession of this
most promising young lady to our Theatre. We trust her stay
will not be a short one. With the exception of Miss Noel and
Mr. Thorne, we cannot say very much that is laudatory for the
remainder of the vocal department, if we except the. Chorus,"
who, whether as Villagers, Huntsmen, Fiends, or Spirits, ac-
quitted themselves exceedingly well, considering every circum-
stance. We were informed yesterday that it is to the efforts of
our Professional Society of Musicians we are indebted for their
proficiency, as well as the improvement of our instrumentalists, I
so indisputably evinced by the performance of this evening._
No small praise we think is due to our worthy leader, Dewar,
whose talents, it is now very evident, will be more highly ap_
preciatetl the more frequently he has an opportunity of spewing
them. It is impossible to make mention of the several beauties
of the composition, but we think the music throughout of the
incantation scene was the most incomparable. It opens with a
chorus of spirits, part of whom merely imitate the screeching
of owls and other ominous birds of night, and though (as a
musical critic justly remarks) " the effect be not strictly mu-
sical, it is highly dramatic," and magically effective. The
" Jager chorus," we have been told, is not original, but is
merely worked up, and very cleverly, by Weber. We could
have wished our chorus friends to have given it us with a
little more fire and animation. The words too " more trip-
pingly from the tongue," it draws too much at present to •be
duly effective. We would respectfully recommend Miss Dyer
not to attempt the beautiful Polonaise in the first act—a murder
which, even in a female, and that a pretty one, and ono too who
ought to be a favourite, will not be tolerated. Let it be given
to some one else ; why not to Miss Noel ? instead of one of
the heavy songs she sings at present. Any arrangement to
this end will be for the better. The most charming little air in
the whole opera is that of RodoZph—" Thro' the Forest, thro'
the Meadow ;" and it was very sweetly sung by Mr. Thorne.
The succeeding portion is very elaborate, and was also given
with very considerable energy and effect by this gentleman.—
We know -not if what we are about to mention be natural to
Mr. T., but there is a tremulousness at times in his sustained
notes that is far from pleasant, and which we fear is an ac-
quired habit. Mr. Brahain assumes it, we know; and, gene-
rally speaking, it is one of his greatest defects. We trust Mr.
Thorne has too much pride and good sense to become an imi-
tator of so impure a model in many particulars.—Murray,
Pritchard, and Mackay, acquitted themselves in the most able
manner; but we have now neithet time nor space to be more
particular. We must therefore conclude this hurried notice,
by strongly recommending every person fond of dramatic en-
tertainments to witness the representation of this splendid
opera. If they go once they will go again, for it requires time
and the exercise of intellect to comprehend the full meaning of
its music, and an intimate acquaintance with its various parts.
fully to develope its almost innumerable beauties.—(Edinburgh
Evening. Cont-ant, Dec. SO.)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

EXTRAORDINARY CPIARGE OF FELONY.

MarratoN-Housit.—Mr. John Britten appeared before the
Loan MAYoit to answer a charge of felony made against him
in the following manner, by his near relation, Mr. Daniel
Britten :

Mr. PULLEY, the Solicitor for the complainant, said he re-
gretted that the matter in question was between two Gentlemen
very nearly related to each other. It arose out of a transaction
of business. The complainant was a packer, and the defendant
had served him in the capacity of clerk. Many transactions had
passed between them, and the complainant owed the defendant
-100/. for which adequate security was given. He (Mr. Pullen)
had no copy of the security ; but it was, he believed, something
in the shape of a lien for 1001. upon some goods belonging to
the Captain of a vessel. These goods had been lying on the
premises of the complainant, to whom a sum of money, about
1701. was due by the Captain, and who held the goods in conse-
quence of the debt. The money which the complainant had
been indebted to the defendant was discharged; but whether that
was the case or not, the defendant proceeded in a manner which
was wholly unwarrantable. Without giving any notice he went
to the complainant's warehouse, and induced the servants to
assist him in taking away the whole of the Captain's goods, the
Value of which was 5001. This he (Mr. Pullen) contended was
a felony, inasmuch as there was no other lien upon the goods
than that which the defendant had received from the complain-
ant,snd the former had no interest in the goods themselves. An
attachment had also been instituted by the Captain's creditors-
upon the goods in the hands of the packer, and thus an act had

been emitted of the most indefensible nature, and involving
the most serious, consequences. But the defendant had not
stopped here. Fia had also clandestinely taken away the book,
which referred to the transactions between him and the com-
plainant. This -was a felonious taking too. He, (Mr. Pullen)
regretted that it was so; but whatever motive the defendant
might have had, the act he had committed was chargeable as a
felony. It was to be lamented that this charge was forced be-
fore the public; which would not lidxF been the case had, the
defendant consented to a proposition amide to him by the Gen-
tleman who had sermuch reason to complain.
The Loan MaYou asked in whose custody the defendant
was ? It was replied that he was Mr. Cope's prisoner. It ap-
peared, however, that he wax not exactly in custody : that Mr.
Cope having heard the circumstances of the charge, thought lie
should not exceed his duty by taking the word of the defendant
to appear before his Lordship, and that the confidence was not
mis? Placed.
Mr. Bor./.Am) for the defendant contended, that there was
not the slightest ground for a charge of felony. Instead of join-
ing Mr. Pullen in the wish that the subject had been disposed
of elsewhere, after the imputation of a felony was once made, he
rejoiced that it came on in the Justice Room before the Lord
Mayor, and that the publicity which the newspapers would
probably give to it would place the conduct of the defendant in
wpoint of view very different from that in which it was the ob-
ject of the other party to hold it. This was one of the great ad-
vantages arising from fair statements of what occurred before
Magistrates. It appeared that the Captain alluded to bad
placed his goods on the premises of the packer, and was in-
debted to him the sum of 170/., that the complainant had a lien
on the goods, and consequently a right to detain them. Now
the complainant wanted the loan of 100/. and applied to the de-
fendant, who was ready to advance it upon security. The se..
cury was given, and was as follows :
" Mr. John Britten—ln consequence of discounting my ac-
ceptance for 1001. at two months from this date, 12th Decem-
ber, 1823, I hereby place in your hands my lien on the goods
of Captain --- (detained until my account of 1701. is dis-
charged), and I authorise you to receive 1001. of the said debt,
in discharge of the same, should my demand he discharged by
Captain before the bill tbr 1001. becomes due.
" D. BRITTEN, jun.

" Basinghall-street, Dec. 13, 1823."
The Captain, Mr. HOLLAND continued, was not able to
make good the payment of the 1701. and the goods remained in
the hands of the complainant. The defendant remained with-
out his money, and upon leaving his employer, which he did a
short time ago, applied to a respectable Attorney for advice as
to the recovery of his hundred pounds. The Attorney told him
that if he let-the property on which the lien was made out of
his hands, thelien itself would be inoperative. Upon-this ad-
vice he went to the complainant's premises, and, with the assist-
ance of a porter, publicly took away the goods, for which the
complainant's foreman was presented by bins with a receipt.—
Here Mr. Holland read the acknowledgment, and argued, that
whether his client could or could not retain the goods, or whe-
ther he had taken them mistakenly or not, was not the question.
It was palpable that a charge of felony was ridiculous, instead
of being maintainable upon the showing of the accuser ; but he
(Mr. Holland) was sorry to see from the reports in the News-
, papers, that charges of this kind were got up for the purpose of
forcing to a settlement, according to the wish of the accuser,
from the dread of exposure. A case of the kind occurred at
the Mansion House but the other day, and was-soon detected.
The present charge was as destitute of foundation.
Mr. PULLEN said, Mr. Rolland had admitted the outline of
what he had stated. But he had to assure the Lord Mayor that
the security for the 1001. had bean satisfied, as the honks would
shew ; but these books were detained by the defendant. He
submitted that going into the premises and taking away goods
belonging to a third person was illegal and felonious, whether
the taking was clandestinely or by force. The defendant had
induced the complainant's servant to take the receipt, which
shewed the intention to deceive more strongly. In fact if such
conduct could be supported, a man might go in the dead of the
night upon pretence of having a lien upon property and take
possession of it. It could not be endured that because a person
had an equitable lien upon goods he should take them away
either by cajoling or by violence.
The Attorney for the defendant declared that the complain-
ant's book said not a word about the payment of the 1001.
The Loan MAYon said he knew both parties to be respect-
able, and was sorry that the charge had been made at all.
There was, he observed, no ground fora charge of felony.
What was the -defendant to have done ? He had lent his

money, and received an acknowledgmjnt•tiotn—the--"C!o:
plainant that he had a lien upon the property. Whether
the taking possession of that property was correct or not he
(the Lord _Mayor) could not say, but certainly no charge of
improper motive could be sustained ti•om the facts stated. The
conduct of the defendant seemed to be a mere continuation of
the lien. ~ ,

Mr. PtILIEN then applied,for the books.
The Solicitor for the defendant refused to deliver them up,
but consented that they should be copied.
r. PULLEY—Who is to take the goods which are now in
the hands of Mr. Cope ?
The LORD MAYOR desired Mr. Cope to return the goods to
the place from which he had taken them.

The Attorney for the defendant—Well take the goods ; and
do you.(to the complainant) take what course you please.
CREDULITY OF SHOPKEEPERS.—A fellow, who some-
times signs the name of C. Henry, and sometimes that of Miles,
to cheques upon banking-houses in the City, and who has not
a farthing at any place of the kind, has succeeded, it is appre-
hended, to a very great extent in defrauding shopkeepers in the
City. No less than three shopkeepers presented cheques of
Mr. C. Henry, within a few days at Messrs. Williams and
Co.'s banking-house, in urchin-lane. Upon being told that
no such person was known there, they were greatly surprised,
for the blanks were quite like what were in general use. One
of these mock cheques was yesterday brought to the :Mansion
House. It was for 211.—The LonD MAYou expressed his
surprise that after the exposure of such an amazing variety of
impostures as daily took place, there were to he found people
who were so credulous as to give their goods for a piece of
paper, without knowing any thing of the party who presented
them with it. The only thing he could do upon the subject was to
state the nature of the fraud publicly, and that would have the
effect of showing the villany of the one party, and the folly of
the other at the same time.

ALLEGED ACT or CRUELT r.—Joseph Atkins, a Ward
Officer, was charged by a Mr. John Starling under the fol-
lowing circumstances :—Mr. Starling, who resides next door
to the defendant, stated, that an elderly woman who lodged in
Atkins's house requested one morning that he would permit
one of his boys to get into her room by means of a ladder, in
order to let her in at the hall door, as she believed Adkins
was drunk according to custom. The witness consented, and
at three o'clock his boy went up the ladder, but the moment
the poor fellow reached the window, Atkins suddenly ap-
peared, and seizing him in his arms, dashed him to the
ground. The boy received much inward injury from the fall.
The defendant said he was master of the house, and had been
attending his duty as Ward officer in the night, and thought to
find the woman, who was his housekeeper, at home. He was
however disappointed, and finding that somebody was at his
window, he was determined that nobody should.enter his house
that way. The LORD MAYOR expressed his abhorrence of
such cruelty in the most indignant terms. The complainant
said he believed the fellow was drunk. Atkins denied that be
was drunk at the time, and spoke of his moral character. The
LORD AIATort observed that the defendant had denied that,
which, though a bad one, was the best excuse that could be
given—drunkenness. The case is, however, said his Lordship,
a trespass, and I must dismiss it, notwithstanding what I feel.

AIATITLETIONE OFFICE.—GAME Laws.—Yesterday Mr.
Geo. illarchant,A cockney aspirant to the pleasures of sparrow
shooting, appeared on a summons charging him with having
shot a hare in the fields of Mr. Essex, a farmer, of Hammer-
smitb.—Tbe defendant admitted the fact, and in extenuation
said, that it being Christmas time he had taken a day's diver-
sion at sparrow shooting, and the hare happening unexpectedly
to cross the path, he certainly had, following the impulse of the
moment, fired at and killed it, for which act he was extremely
sorry. The worthy Magistrate Mr. GitIFFITH, said, that the
evidence was certainly of that conclusive kind, which, if an in-
formation were laid, would insure a conviction, but until an in-
formation was laid before him he had no ower to convict. Mr.
Essex expressed his determination of making the case the sub-
ject of an information, and thus it rests for the present.

MARLBOUOUGII-STREET.—Yesterday being the day to
which the further examination of Mr. Ventura, of Shenly Hill,
Hertfordshire, who is in custody upon a charge of bigamy, was
adjourned, to give time for the production of sufficient proof
of the marriage of Lady Colburn, who is alleged to be the first
lady with whom Mr. Ventura "was married--with Sir James
Colburn, and who is still living—Mr. Ventura was, about two
o'clock, brought to the office, from, the House of Correction ;
but Mr. A DOLPHIIs not being able to attend, the case was fur-
ther adjourned to Friday next.

SuictnE.---An Inquest was held last evening
at the house of _Miss Morgan, 37, St. James's-place, on the
body of Phcebe Halliday.—Deceased was a cook, in the service
of Miss Alorgan, and had been frequently admonished by her
mistress when found in a very drunken state ; she had at
length received notice to leave the house. On Saturday she
appeared unusually cheerful, and wits quite sober ; but on the
following; morning she was found hanging in the back kitchen.
Evidence was given to prove that the deceased, when in liquor,
laboured under temporary delirium, and Use Jury returned a
verdict of " Insanity."