The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-20 00:00:00

MARYLEBONE THEATRE.

For the leading idea of the Witch Wif'e Mr. Spicer
has been indebted to Mr. Ainsworth's "The Lancashire
Witches," and has, moreover, adopted the localities and
some of the characters introduced in that popular ro-
mance. The play is, however, by no means a mere
dramatised version of the novel. Its plot is altogether
new, and manifests considerable skill in construction,
while its another point the drama differs materially from
the romance, inasmuch as it does not include the diabolic
machinery of which Mr. Ainsworth made such effective
use. M. Spicer's witchcraft is nothing but a " delusion
and a snare;" and his " Witch finder" an ordinary
villain who employs, for purposes of private vengeance,
the blindness of popular superstition and the forms
of perverted justice. The Witch Wife has the
the singular merit of possessing a simple and
yet efficient plot. Mathew Hopkins, the witch-
finder, loves the heroine of the drama, who bears the
somewhat masculine name of Cecil Howard. The lady
spurns the suit, and Hopkins vows to take a bitter
revenge upon her disdain. Meantime, a student, who
has been for some months a guest of her uncle, Sir
Gerard Mole, passing under the assumed name of
Marchmont Needham, leaves Pendle Manor House for
London, and in the shock of a sudden departure, dis-
covers and reveals a mutual love in, and to, Cecil
Howard. While Marchmont is away the young lady
perpetrates an unlucky frolic, in masquerading, together
with a few hoyden friends, in a sort of witches' sabbath,
upon Malkin Tower, a favourite resort, it was supposed,
of the sisterhood of the broomstick. Their revels are
interrupted by Hopkins, who arrests Cecil, and has her
thrown into prison end arraigned on a charge which
the existing state of the laws made almost equivalent to
condemnation without trial. The forms of trial are
❑evertheless gone through; but just before sentence is pro-
nounced, Marcbtnont not only returns, but comes armed
with a parchment nominating him Lord Chief Justice
of England. He takes his seat upon the bench, rebukes
the judges, pardons the accused, and proclaims that the
cruelties practised under the name of " witch finding"
are for ever at an end. Some difficulty yet exists to the
usual happy termination of dramatic wooings, in the
stigma of witchcraft that still hangs over Cecil; but this
is at last removed by the late repentance of Hopkins,
who is brought back dying from the injuries inflicted by
the mob, and recants all the accusations he had laid to
ber charge. Therefrom is written in blank ♦erse, and
contains many passages of a high order of poetry, which
received full justice by the delivery and acting of Mrs.
Mowatt and Mr. Davenport in the characters of Cecil
and Marchmont Needham. Mr. Wray also depicted
with much truth and forcefulness the mixture of grief
and imbecility in the octogenarian uncle, Sir Gerard
Mule. The play was admirably mounted, and the scenery
in the last act, which represented a court of justice,
generally excellent.

ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.—MR. MITCIIELL'S BENE-
FIT.—The benefit of Mr. Mitchell, the spirited lessee of
this theatre, to whose exertions we are indebted for
having naturalised among us the most refined drama in
Europe, that of the French stage, and who during the
last season has delighted every lover of music and of
the drama, by establishing the most delightful of all
amusements, the French Opera Comique in London,
takes place this evening, on which occasicn Rossini's
opera, Le Comte Ory, composed expressly far the
French opera by the Maestro, in 1828, will be produced
for the first time in this country in its original
form; Mademoiselle Charton, and MM. Octave and
Zelger, support the principal characters. After the opera
Madame Cinti Damoreau will appear for the only
time in public this season, and will sing a scene com-
posed expressly for her by her son, and a romance in
which she will accompany herself on the pianoforte. M.
Tetarct the most humourous of French comedians, will
appear in the Vendetta, and:Lafont, who has come over
from Paris expressly for this occasion, will appear for
the first and only time this season as Le Chevalier
Jullien, in Les Extremes se touchant, in which delightful
vaudeville Madame Doche will sustain the character of
La Comtesse Rosine. :Such a programme is quite unique,
and proves the anxiety of Mr. Mitchell to provide for the
amusements of those numerous patrons whom his own
merits have gained for him.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN THE OLD KENT-ROAD.—
Last night, at a few minutes before nine o'clock, a fire
broke out in the extensive range of premises belonging
to Messrs. E. Clarke and Co., japanners and patent
table cover manufacturers, in Neat-street, Coburg-road,
near the Lord Nelson Tavern, Old Kent-road. The
property was of considerable extent, occupying an area
of several acres. The flames originated in the printing.
shops, a range of buildings about 50 feet long, in which
a vast quantity of valuable property was deposited.
The whole of the workmen bad left the premises in
charge of the private watchman, who perceived a dense
mass of black smoke pouring forth from the lower floor
of the printing- houses. The watchman raised an alarm,
but before any assistance could arrive flames shot
through the windows and the roof, and ascended so
high into the air as to threaten with destruction
the whole of the house in Neat-street, Barnham-place,
&c., the numerous occupants of which commenced
throwing their furniture out of the window. A mounted
police-officer was instantly sent to town to call the en-
gines, and as soon as possible several of the Brigade,
%Vest of England, parish and private engines reached the
scene, when the firemen found the whole of the printing-
houses in a blaze, and that the destructive element bad
extended to a small factory belonging to Mr. Barnham,
a rug-factor, and to the stables. The engines were im-
mediately set to work from the canal and other com-
manding positions, by which means the firemen were
enabled to prevent the flames from extending to the
stores, frames, drying-houses, and trimming-shops, but
although the firemen laboured incessantly it was nearly
eleven o'clock before the fire could be extinguished.
The premises and their contents were insured in the
West of England Fire-office, but the neighbours, who
are serious losers, were not insured for a single penny.
ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY.—WOOLIVICH, JUNE
19.—An examination of the Gentleman Cadets forming
the practical class of the Royal Military Academy took
place this morning in the Hall of that institution, in the
Royal Arsenal. Shortly atter ten o'clock, the Board of
Examiners, consisting of Major-General Sir John F.
Burgoyne' K.C.8.; Major-General Sir Hew _Ross,
K.C.8.; Colonel F. Campbell, R.A.; Colonel H. W.
Gordon, Col. W. D. Jones, Colonel W. B. Duadae, CB.;
Major-General R. J. J. Lacey, Lieut.-Colonel R. Har-
dinge, K.H.; and Major Walpole, assembled in the Hall.
The.examination in practical artillery was conducted by
Captain W. M. Dixon, and that in fortifications by
Captain Stotherd, R.E.; and the answers to the various
questions were given in a very satisfactory manner.
Shortly after twelve o'clock, Field Marshal the Marquis
of Anglesea entered the Hall, attended by his Aide-de-
camp, and took his seat with the Board of Examiners.
The examination baying concluded, the Master-General
rose and said—that he was present to -day with far diffe-
rent feelings than those he had hitherto felt; for from the
moment he was placed in the high position he at present
held, he had heard nothing but the most distressing re-
ports of the tyranny of the seniors and the idleness of
the juniors. It made him feel like FaLtatr, who said that
he could not march through Coventry at the head of his
company; but new he was ready to march at their head
at any time and at every time. The Noble Marquis con-
cluded by saying that he felt justified in adding another
week to the duration of their vacation. The Master-
General then proceeded to present the :prizes to the suc-
cessful students, accompanying each presentation with a
few suitable words. His Lordship then retired.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO COLONEL HUTCHINsoN.....
On Monday forenoon, about 10 o'clock, a very serious
accident occurred to Colonel Hutchinson, of No. 1,
Upper Brook-street, Grosvenor-square, by which he re-
ceived a compound fracture of the left leg, and which
took place under the following circumstances:—He was
in Hyde-park, near Cumberland-gate, Oxford-street, on
a spirited young horse, and was in the act of riding to-
wards one of the regiments of the Guards, which was then
going through the usual evolutions, when, on the report
of the guns, the animal shied and then ran away. Every
effort was made by Colonel Hutchinson to stop his
horse, but without success, and the animal fell, with the
gallant Colonel undermost. He was assisted up, when
his left leg was found to be broken, upon which be wag
immediately conveyed home, and was promptly attended
by Sir B. Brodie and other medical gentlemen, by whom
the leg was set, and who have every expectation that
amputation of the limb will not be necessary. It was
stated at his residence last night that he was going on as
favourably as could be expected.