The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-27 00:00:00

S N, FEBRUARY 27, 1849.

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

Mr. Charles Kean appeared last evening in the cha-
' racter of lago, the first time he has appeared in that
character in London since the memorable evening when
the Keans—father and son—appeared together for the
first and only time. The character of lago is perhaps
the most difficult to delineate in the whole course of the-
drama, because it is pre eminently a character of intel-
lect, refined by malice, but unalloyed by violent passion.
lago is as nearly a complete incarnation of the evil
principle as it is possible to imagine. As it
is a character of pure intellect, none but a person
of the very highest intellectual powers can adequately
represent it; and the perfection of the representation
will be in exact proportion to the amount of intellectual
power, and to the extent of intellectual cultivation of
the representative. Hence it is that the lago of Mr.
Charles Kean is so infinitely superior to that of any of
his contemporaries; he enters into the very inmost re-
cesses of the character, and pourtrays faithfully the very
lago that Shakspere imagined. There is an appearance
of reckless bonhommie about the lago of Mr. Charles
Kean in the scenes with Cassie, and an appearance of
blunt honesty in those with Othello, which is the very
perfection of hypocrisy; and in his closing scene wh er
his true character is discovered he looked as though ho
were the very spirit of evil himself. Mrs, Charles Kean
sustained the character of Emilia, and it is much to be
desired that ladies of Mrs. C. Kean's talent and genius
would more frequently condescend to appear in Shak-
sperian characters of this calibre, in order to let the
world see of what Shakspere is capable. The great-
ness of Shakspere is not yet half appreciated, and will
not be until we have a few more such accomplished
artistes as Mrs. Charles Kean to interpret even his ap-
parently minor characters. Miss Laura Addison acted
Desdemona with infinite grace and feeling, and the
audience were enthusiastic in their applause. The house
was crowded. Mr. James Wallack acted Othello with
Lis usual taste and judgment.
(From the Chronicle.)
The series of " Windsor Entertainments " having
been brought to a close, a now attraction was afforded
at this theatre last night, by the production of Othello,
with a cast which served to develope the present
strength of the establishment, and which, as regarded
the juxta-position of the performers, at least, was also
new. We have before had occasion to observe that Mr.
and Mrs. Kean have shown a laudable desire to abandon
some of the inconvenient habits of modern actors, and to
perform characters in which they can please the public,
or add to the strength of a cast, regardless of that
very natural jealousy in artists which seeks to monopo-
lise the leading parts only, and to condemn all others as
beneath their professional rank. That the performer
makes the character has seldom been more signally proved
than by Mrs. Kean is her rendering of Emilia. It is not
too much to say that it was an original conception—
at least by comparison with living artists, and our tra-
ditions of others—and it certainly approached more
nearly to the palpable design of Shakspere in creating
the character than that of any actress we have seen. The
Emilia of Mrs. Kean is a gentlewoman, as the wife of a
man in lago's position, and the chosen companion of
Desdemona, must be supposed to be. In dress, in man-
ner, and bearing, this characteristic is never lost sight of
throughout Mrs. Kean's performance. She is spirited,
uncontrollable in the assertion of the rights of her sex,
violent even in her denunciation of the villany of her
husband, and the short-sighted precipitancy of Othello;
but in the most telling parts of her performance she
never oversteps that dignity and modesty of car-
riage and conduct which become the lady of
an officer and the friend of his general's wife. From
first to last Mrs. Kean's performance last night was full
of fine, natural, and artistic touches; and she met her
reward in the ready applause and sympathy of the
audience. To Mr. Kean's lago must also be accorded
the merit of originality of conception. It is in character
depending more on the mental grasp than the mere
physical development that this gentleman excels. It is
comparatively easy to play a conventional Hamlet, or a
conventional Iago; Mr. Kean's merit in each character is
that he strikes out a path of his own. To speak more
correctly, ho avoids the beaten track of stage tradition,
and seeks that marked out by the author. The merit of
Mr. Kean's lago lies in its being neither conventional
nor over-acted. In the earlier scenes there is a geniality
and a bonhommie necessary as a foundation for the confi-
dence he inspires, in all but his wife, who alone sees him
from time to time as he really is. In the first soliloquy
he gives the cue to the audience, but without all that by-
play of transparent villany which in most actors of
lago renders Othello's weakness unaccountable, and
by so much destroys the interest of the piece. In
the scenes in which the Moor is gradually impreg-
nated with the poison which is to be his ruin
Mr. Kean maintained the same abstinence from mere
stage effect, and the action of the piece was thereby ren-
dered natural. The quiet, cool, hypocritical indifference
of the latter scenes was also admirably given, only at
intervals the mocking devil being apparent in an occa-
sional flash or glance of the eye, or curl of the lip, as
silently he gloats over his victim. The final expression
of intense hatred and gratified revenge as he quits the
stage was given by Mr. Kean with concentrated power.
Miss Laura Addison was the Desdemona. Her concep-
tion, as is usual with her, was excellent. If this
young lady would trust more to her own impulses
she would produce a more powerful impression, and
her natural taste would prove a safe guide. As it is,
she fails in the attempt at artistic elaboration. Above
all, she should strive to conquer her habit of
delivery—a drawling monotony, and an artificial in-
inflection of the voice. Whenever she allows herself to
be carried away by her feelings she produces a powerful
impression. This was the case in her Juliet; and her
sudden burst of energy when protesting her innocence to
Othello, in the fourth act, was electrical in its influence
on the audience. Of the Othello of Mr. Wallack we
need say no more than that it was a very respectable
performance, exhibiting much taste and feeling. Mr.
Creswick, as Cassio, quite sustained the average merit
of the performances. The principal performers were
called before the curtain—Mr. and Mrs. Kean especially
being greeted with enthusiastic applause. The house
was crowded. It may not be generally known that Mr.
Charles Kean's first performance of lago was on the oc-
casion of the last appearance of his father as Othello,
when the father and son played together. Mr. Charles
Kean has not, we believe, since repeated the character
of lago in London, until last evening.
(From the Times.)
On the occasion of Mr. Ransford's benefit last night,
the tragedy of Othello was performed with a remarkable
cast, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean taking the two cha-
racters which are usually deemed secondary to those of
the Moor and Desdemona. Both the lago of Mr. Kean
and the Emilia of Mrs. Kean have peculiarities which
distinguish them from the versions of any other per-
formers. It is common for lago to obtrude his villany
so conspicuously that the Moor, without being very acute,
would naturally see through the artifice at once. Mr.
Kean lays more emphasis on the dissimulation
of the man, and does not seek to keep his
villanous intention constantly in sight. There
is less of the fiend than is usually exhibited, but
more of the "honest lago," who might easily be made a
confidant. This appearance is skilfully and sedulously
maintained till towards the end of the piece, and it is
not until his villany is unmasked that the full malignity
of lago is brought into his countenance. Emilia is
usually represented as a virago, a character in which
an actress may put forth all her loudness, certain that
the loudness will fall on popular passages—for it is the
great luck of Emilia that her's is a popular part. The
version of Mrs. Charles Kean may be expressed in a
sentence—she made Emilia a woman less of violent dis-
plays, than of deep convictions. lago and Othello
were not rated half so furiously as usual, but you felt
that every speech was uttered in earnest ; and Emilia,
by being more than commonly feminine, gained addi-
tional interest, even though she sacrificed a few of the
old clap-traps. The Othello of Mr. Wallack is a clever
conventional performance, with a tendency to over-ges-
ticulation, but with a genuine burst of passion here and
there, which deserved the applause it obtained. Miss
Laura Addison, as Desdemona, showed a great deal of
feeling and intelligence, evidently entering in the sim-
plicity and trusting nature of the part, but failing to do
justice to her own conceptions, through the want of flu-
ency in her declamation. The sudden and earnest
asseveration of her innocence in the fourth act was one
of those decided " points" that startle a whole audience
into applause. The fopperies of Roderigo were rendered
more than usually substantial by Mr. Wigan heightening
the indignant side of the character. The principal actors
were called before the curtain by an audience crammed
to the utmost possible density.

[PRICE SD.

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS.

(From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of C047217}0,18.j
MONDAY, FEB. 26.
SUPPLY.

Order for Committee read ; Motion made, and Question
proposed, " That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair :"
Amendment proposed, to leave out from the word " That"
to the end of the Question, in order to add the words " the
net expenditure of the Government for the year 1835 (Par-
liamentary Paper, No. 260, 1847), amounted to 44,422,0001.;
that the net expenditure for the year ended sth January,
1849 (Parliamentary Paper, No. 1, 1849). amounted to
54,185,000/. ; the increase of nearly ten millions having been
caused principally by successive augmentations of our war-
like establishments, and outlays fcr defensive armaments:
" That no foreign danger, nor necessary cost of the Civil
Government, nor indispensable disbursements for the ser-
vices in our dependencies:abroad, warrant the continuance of
this increase of expenditure :
" That the Taxes required to meet the present expendi-
ture, impede the operations of agriculture and manufactures,
and diminish the funds for the employment of labour in all
branches of productive industry, thereby increasing pau-
perism and crime, and adding grievously to the local and
general burdens of the people :
" That, to diminish these evils, it, is expedient that this
House take steps to reduce the annual expenditure, with all
practicable speed, to an amount not exceeding the sum
which, within the last fourteen years, has been proved to be
sufficient for the maintenance of the security, honour, and
dignity of the nation," instead thereof:—Question put, "That i
the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Ques-
tion." The House divided:—
MAJORITY—AYES, 275.
Abdy, Thomas N. Fox, Richard M. Ogle, S. C.
Acland, Sir T. D. Fox, S. L. Ossuiston, Lord
Adair, R. Shafto Fuller, A. E. Owen, Sir J.
Anson, Colonel Glyn, G. C. Paget, Lord C.
Anson, Viscount Gooch, E. S. Paget, Lord George
Anstey, Thomas C. Gordon, Admiral Palmer, Robert
Arbuthaott, Hugh Goulburn, Henry Palmer, Roundel
Archdall, Captain Grace, 0. D. Palmerston, Viscount
Armstrong, Sir A. Graham, Sir James Parker, John
Arundel, Earl of Granby, Marquis of Patten, J. W.
Ashley, Lord Greene, Thomas Peel, Sir Robert
Bagshaw, John Grenfell, C. Pascoe Peel, Colonel
Bailey, Joseph, jun. Grey, Sir George Peel, Frederick
Baillie, H. J. Grey, R. W. Pennant, Colonel
Baines, M. T.: Guest, Sir J. Pigot, Sir:Robert
Bankes, George Haggitt, F. R. Pinney, William
Baring, Sir F. T. Raiford, Sir:ll. Plowden, W. 11.
Baring, Thomas Harcourt, G. Plumptre, J. P.
Baring, Francis Harris, Captain Power, Nicholas
Barrington, Viscount Hawes, B. Price, Sir Robert
Bellew, It. M. Hay, Lord J. Primeaßichard
Bennet, P. Hayter, W. G. Pryse,:Pryse
Beresford, William Heald, James Pugh, David
Berkeley, Captain Heathcoat, John Reid, Colonel
Berkeley, C. L. Heatheote, G. J. Repton, G. W. J.
Bernal, Ralph Heneage, Edward Ricardo, Osman
Birch, Sir Thomas Heneage, G. H.W.: Rice, E. R.
Blackall, S. W. Henley, J. W. Rich, Henry
Boldero, Henry Herbert, Henry A. Richards, Richard
Bourke, It. S. Herbert, Sidney Robartes, T. J. A.
Bowles, Admiral Berries, John C. Roche, E. B.
Bramston, T. W. Hervey, Lord I. RomWy, Sir John
Brand, Thomas Hlldyard, It. C. Rumbold, C. E.
Idroadwood, H. Hobhouse, SirJJ. Rushout, Captain
Brockman, E. D. Hobhouse, T. B. Russell, Lord J.
Brooke, Lord Hodges, T. L. Russell, F. C. H.
Brooke, Sir A. B. Holland, Robert Rutherford. A.
Bruce, C. L. Hood, Sir A. Sandars, George
Bunbury, Edward Hope, Sir J. Sandars, Joseph
Buxton, Sir E. Ilope, A. Berner, H. K.
Callaghan, D. - Hornby John Seymour, Lord
Campbell, W. F. Hotham, Lord Shalt., It. D.
Cardwell, Edward Howard, Lord E. Shell, It. L.
Carew, W. H. Pole Howard, E. G. Shelburne, Earl of
Carter, J. B. Jervis, Sir John Sheridan, R. B.
Cavendish, C. C. Johnstone, Sir J. Simeon, John
Cavendish, G. H. Jelliffe, Sir W. G. Slaney, Robert_A.
Cavendish, W. G. Jones, Captain Smith, J. A.I
Chichester, Lord J. Keppel, G. T. Smith, M. Tucker
Christy, Samuel Kildare, Marquis Smyth, John G.
Clements, Charles Labouchere, Henry Smythe, George
Clerk, Sirfet. Langston, J. H. Somerville, Sir W.
Clive, Henry B. Lascelles, W. S. Spearman, H. J.
Cocks, T. S. Legh, G. C. Stafford, Augustus
Colebrooke, Sir T. Lennard, T. B. Stansfleld, W. R. C.
Coles, lienry B. Lewis, Sir T. : Staunton, Sir G.
Compton, H. C. Lewis, George C. Stuart,.Lord J.
Conolly, Thomas Lincoln, Earl of Stuart, J.
Cowper, W. F. Lindsay, Colonel Sutton, H. M.
Craig, W. G. Locke,/Joseph Talbot, C. R.
Crowder, It. B. Lockhart, A. E. Talbot, J. H.
Cubitt, William Lockhart, W. Talfourd, Sergeant
Currie, Henry Lowther, Henry Taylor, Thomas E.
Davie, Sir H. 31`Naghten, Sir E. Tenison, E. K.
Davies, D. A. Macnamara, .Major Torment, R. J.
Deedes,tW. Mahon, O'Gorman Thesiger, Sir F.
Dick,:Quintin Mahon, Viscount Tollemache, John
Disraeli, B. Maitland, Thomas Towneley, John
Dod, J. W. Mandeville, Viscount Townley, R. G.
Douglas, Sir C. Manners, Lora G. Townshend, Captain
Duckworth, Sir J. Marshall, W. , Trevor, G. R.
Duff, George S. Martin, C. W. Turner, George
Duucuft, John Masterman, John Tyrrell, Sir J.
Dundas, Admiral Matheson, Alex. Vane, Lord H.
Dundas, Sir David Matheson, Colonel Verner, Sir W.
Dundas, G. Maule, Fox Verney, Sir 11.
Dunne, Francis P. Maxwell, J. P. Villiers, Viscount
Dn Pre, C. 0, Melgund, Viscount Vyse, R. H.
Edwards, H. Miles, P. W. S. Waddington H. S.
Egerton, W. T. Miles, W. Wall, C. 11.;
Ellice, Edward Mitchell, T. A. Walsh, Sir J.
Elliot, J. E. Monsell, William Ward, H. G.
Enfield, Lord Moody, C. A. Watkins, Colonel
Farnham, E. Morison, Sir W. Williamson, Sir 11.
Farrer, James Mostyn, E. M. L. Willoughby, Sir R.
Ferguson, Col. Mulgrave, Earl Wilson, James
Ferguson, Sir R. Napier, Joseph Wodehouse, E.
Fitzpatrick, J. W. Newdegate,':C. N. Wood, Sir Charles
Floyer, John Newport, Visct. Wortley, S.
Foley, John H. Norreys, Lord
Forester, G. C. Norreys, Sir D. TELLERS.
Forster, Matthew Nugent, Sir Percy Tufhell, Henry
Fortescue, Chichester O'brien, Sir Lucius Rill, Lord Marcus

lIIINORITy—NOES, 78.
Adair, HughlE. Gibson, T. M. Perfect, B.
Aglion by, Henry Greene, John Pigott, Francis
Anderson, Arthur Hardc.tie, J. A. Piikington, James
Bass, M. T. Harris, Richard Rendlesham, Lord
Blewitt, Reginald Made, Archibald Reynolds, John
Bouverie, E. P. Ileadlam, T. E. Ricardo, J. L.
Bright, Jolut Henry, Alexander Salwey, Colonel
Brocklehurst, J. Ileyworth, Lawrence Scholefield, William
Brotherton, J. 'Lindley, C. Sidney,7Alderman
Brown, H. Borman, E. Smith, John B.
Brown, W. Ilumphery, Ald. Strickland, Sir G.
Clay,'James Jackson, William Stuart, Lord D.
Cowan, Charles Kershaw, James Tancred, H. W.
Crawford, W. S. Lushington, Charles Thicknesse, Ralph
Dashwood, G. H. M'Gregor, John Thompson, Colonel
Devereux, J. T. Meagher, Thomas Thompson, George
Drummond, Henry • Mangles, R. D. Thornely, T.
Duke, Sir James Marshall, J. G. Trelawny, J. S.
Duncan, George Moore, G. H. Walmsley, Sir J.
Ellis, John Morris, David Wawn, J. T.
E wart, William Mowatt, Francis Willcox, Brodie
Fagan, William O'Connell, John Williams, John
Fergus, John O'Connor, Feargus Wilson, Matthew
Fitswilliam, G. W O'Flaherty, Anthony Wood, W. P.
Fordyce, A. D. Osborne. Ralph TELLERS.
Fox, W. J. Pattison, J. Cobden, R.
Frewen, C. H. Pearson, Charles Hume, Joseph

VICE-GUARDIANS OF UNIONS (IRELAND) BILL.
(IN THE COMMITTEE.)
First Clause, p. 2, 1. 26:—Motion made, and Question
put, "That the blank be filled up with the words' twenty-
fifth day of March, 1850." The Committee divided:—

MAJORITY-AYES, 51.
Baines, M. T. Grey, Ralph W. Ricardo, J. L.
Bouverie,:E. P. Hawes, Benjamin Rich, Henry
Brand, Thomas Headlam, Thomas Romilly, Sir John
Brotherton, Joseph Heald, James Rutherfurd, A.
Brown, W. Henley, J. W. Seymer, H. K.
Campbell, W. F. llobliouse, Sir John Sheil, R. L.
Cavendish, C. C. Hobhouse, T. B. smith, M. Tucker
Cavendish, W. G. Jackson, William Somerville, Sir W.
Craig, W. G. Jervis, Sir John Tenison, .K.
Deedes, W. Lascelles, W. S. Thornely, T.
Douglas, Sir C. Lewis, G. C. Tanen, H.
Duckworth, Sir J. Lincoln, Earl of Wawn, J T.
Duncuft, John Mahon, O'Gorman Wilson, James
Dundas, Sir D. Maitland, Thomas Wood, Sir Charles
Elliot, John E. Mostyn, E. Wyld, James
Fortescue, Chichester Norreys, Sir D. TELLERS.
Graham, Sir J. Parker. John Bellew, K. M.
Grey, Sir G. Pigott, Francis Howard, Lord E.

MINORITY—NOES, 31.
Anstey, Thomas Herbert, 11. A. Taylor, T. E.
Archdall, Captaia Hodgson, W. N. Thompson, Colonel
Arundel, Earl of Kershaw, James Thompson, George
Blackall, S. W. Lennard, T. B. Walsh, Sir J. B.
Bourke, Richard S. 11l'Cullagh, W. T. Walmsley, Sir J.
Chichester, Lord J. Napier, Joseph Williams, John
Clements, Charles Nugent, Sill Percy Willoughby, Sir H.
Cobden, Richard O'Flaberty, Anthony
Ferguson, Sir R. Pilkington, James TELLERS.
Fitzpatrick, J. W. Plumptre, J. P. Monsell, William
Grace, 0. D. Salwey,:Colonel 1 Dtuane,X. P.
Greene, John Stafford, Augustus

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Feb. 26.

(Sittings at Nisi Prius after Term, at the Guildhall, be
fore the LORD CHIEF BARON and Special Juries.)
BARKER V. RICRARDS AND ANOTKER.

Mr. Martin, Q.C., Mr. Ilumfrey, Q.C., and Mr.
Willis appeared for the plaintiff; Mr. Crowder, Q.C.,
and Mr. Lush for the defendant Richards ; Mr. Bovill
appeared for the other defendant, Mr. Shadbolt.
The plaintiff in this case is the advertising agent
in Birchin-lane, and the action was brought to recover
the sum of 2,500/. from the defendants as
the acting directors of the Southern Counties
Railway Company for advertising that scheme
in the various morning papers from October to
December, 1845. It appeared that when it turned out
that this undertaking could not be carried out, the
plaintiff's claim amounted to upwards of 3,351/., and an
action was commenced by him against the two de-
fendants in the present action, as well as Aldertnini.
llughes and Dr. Alinut, to recover the amount,
stay
agreement was signed by these parties in oritileier
plaintiffi
that action, by which it was stipulated
t thatou Id allow the
should reduce his claim to 3,000/.,
and; 'connected with
parties to sue in his name other
the company, who had refused.
to persons, connected
towards
the expenses. It was further
tiff should allow twelvecapitathithis
agreement.hefore l ie
called upon the parties pally the
plaintiff being unable
months
si'luPn dteor
That time having elapsed, " present action, founded
the original liability
to obtain payment, brought the
atshe
upon this agreement, as
arn.destabli hd . •
of the defendants. A gr.eat uponaple Were put upon
the record, but all the
plaintiff;
c b e iu evi-
on the absence, o t Mr. Crowder and Mr.
dence on the part of the . i
Mr. Lush
Bovill) raised several points of law upon the effect of the
agreement, which the Lord Chief Baron reserved for the
b • of the full Court, subject to which the jury
opinion
found their verdict for the plaintiff, for 2,9831. Ss. 11d.

G.ENERAL POST. OFFICE.--NOTICE TO THE PUSLI(I.
—On and after the fat of March lit tt the postage two"
all late letters posted at the provincial Aire; as will
the late letter fee must be pail by attaching the requi •
site number of postage stamps. As any latL letter not
bearing the requisite stamps, as determined by the office
scales, must be detained until the next dispatch, the pub-
lic are advised in every ease in which such detenti,n
would be inconvenient carefully to avoid all doubt as to
the sufficiency of the stamps. As this arrangement will
facilitate the receipt of late letters, the hours of closing
the late letter boxes have seen revised throughout the
kingdom, and they will, whenever practicable, be kept
open later than heretofore.