The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-18 00:00:00

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.

A new drama was produced last night at this theatre,
called Dreams of the Heart, an adaptation from the French ;
but unless we are much mistaken, it is a re-translation ;
the story from which the chief incidents are taken having
appeared in Blackwood's Magazine some fourteen or fifteen
years since, from the pen of the late Rev. Mr. Barham, under
the title of The Trance. It is a story of love and mesmerism.
There are two acts, between which an interval of a year
is supposed to have elapsed. The first scene is laid in the
tavern of the " Croix d'Or," at Toulon, where the Marquis
de Brienne (Mr. Ryder ), a distinguished admiral, has arrived
to take command of the French fleet, accompanied by his
daughter, Hermine, (Mrs. Stirling), the heroine. Ile re-
ceives several letters,one of which is an order from the Minister
of Marine for his immediate embarkation and departure;
the other, also from high authority, stating an application
by the Viscount Henri de Clermont (Mr. H. Hughes) wbo
bad retired from the service a year before, to be again em-
ployed, whiCh he is informed, cannot be granted. He inter-
rogates his daughter on the state of her heart, and expresses
his regret that she would not marry before his departure.
She denies any attachment; but exhibits emotions on hear-
ing the name of Henri de Clermont, that proves she is not in-
different to him, although she expresses contempt for him. Im-
mediately after Henri enters, and is shortly followed by new ar-
rivals, the Count Annibal de Boattev tile (Mr. J. Vining) and the
Chevalier de Montaran (Mr. A. Harris), the Count is a roué,
who having succeeded to, and expended, three fortunes, had
married a rich Italian merchant's daughter for a fourth,
which he had also spent, and she had drowned herself at the
end of six months, just as she would have succeeded to a
fresh inheritance. Henri informs them that he has acquired
the mesmeric power. Shortly after the Baroness de St.
Sevin enters, to whom Henri had paid some attention, but he
had deserted her, his heart being devoted to ,Hermine,
whom he resolves to see once again by means of his extra-
ordinary powers. Hemline is then brought across a gallery,
and to the front of the stage in a state of mesmerism; lie
interrogates her, and finds that she is devotedly attached to
him, and that he may gain her by joining in the contest for
freedom with the noble hearts in America, and vows herself
his till death if he should do so, and gives him a pledge of
her affection. The Baroness then enters, and sees her in the
state of somnambulism, but hearing voices, leaves the room,
having extinguished the light. The Marquis enters, and
sees Henri leading his daughter to her bed-room, and the
act closes on the father's despair, who is at the moment
summoned to embark. The second act finds Count Annibal,
who has succeeded to a barren Marquisate in the interval,
the plighted husband of Hermine, who has at length yielded
to her father's commands to marry him. The Chevalier
has been married to the Baroness a week after the scene at the
"Croix d'Or," is now heartily tired of her, and desires that
her application to sag with him to the United States may
not be granted. The Marquis, who is under the conviction
that his daughter had been dishonoured by Henri, had com-
pelled her to consent to marry Count Annibal in order to
save the honour of his house; but first writes him a letter,
informing him of what he believes to be her guilt;
this letter he intrusts to a creditor of the Count's,
who does not deliver it, fearing that it would
break the marriage, by which alone he can obtain
payment of his debt. The marriage takes place, and llenri
enters—having highly distinguished himself in America—
with dispatches. He meets Hermine, the bride of the Count,
and is left alone with her. lie describes the mesmeric scene
as a dream, and awakens the greatest astonishment by de-
scribing what she thinks she had seen in a similar dream.
The Marquis entering, discovers Henri kneeling to his
daughter, but is appeased by a letter from his son,
in America, that explains the fatal error into which he had
lento. Count Annibal enters, who has just received the
letter which should have been given to him before marriage.
A duel is fixed for that night between him ay.d Henri.
There is then a repetition of the mesmeric scene, in which
Hermine again acknowledges her love, and says that she will
be happy as the wife of Henri. The Baroness then turns
out to be the first wife of the Count, who
is contented, as she has succeeded to an immense
inheritance, and the lovers are made happy. There were some
slight marks of disapprobation during the mesmeric scenes,
but the applause decidedly predominated. There are some
highly interesting scenes, and Mrs. Stirling performed the
part of Hermine most admirably. The piece is decidedly too
long,:and will require considerable curtailment. If the pruning
knife should be judiciously applied, it will probably become
popular and have a considerable run.

To-morrow's tide in the Mersey will be the highes'
in the year.—Liverpool Mercury of Wednesday.
DEATH OF HERVEY LEACH.—The mortal career
of this remarkable individual, who earned for himself con-
siderable reputation both in this country and abroad, for his
clever personifications of the habits and eccentricities of the
monkey race, under the assumed name of Signor Hervio
Nano, terminated, after a short illness, on Tuesday evening,
the 16th inst., at his residence, George-street, Shoreditch.
A short time ago deceased exhibited himself at the Egyptian
Hall, disguised as an extraordinary animal captured at the
Cape of Good Hope, "supposed to be the link between the
human race and the ourang-outang," and called " What is
it ?" The last place deceased performed at was the Standard
Theatre, in December last, where, notwithstanding the
deception having been discovered and made public, he
continued to represent "What is it ?" lie was about to
start for Lisbon when taken ill. Ile was a native of America,
and in his forty-sixth year. The last request of the de-
ceased was, this, his body should be presented to Mr. Liston,
the eminent surgeon, not to be buried, but embalmed and
kept in a glass case, as the doctor had been a particular
friend to him.
DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM CURTIS, BART.—This
gentleman, whose name fur so many years has been familiar
in commercial circles, died suddenly at his residence in Port-
land-place, on Tuesday evening. lie was son of Sir William
Curtis, first baronet, who for thirty six years, viz. from 1790
to 1826, represented the city of London in Parliament,
and filled the office of Lord Mayor in 1796. The deceased
is succeeded in the title and estates by his son William,
born in 1802. The baronetcy was conferred by George 111.,
in 1820, Viscount Sidmouth being at the time premier.
BIRMINGHAM AND OXFORD JUNCTION RAILWAY.—
A crowded meeting of shareholders took place at Dee's Royal
Hotel, Birmingham, which lasted from two o'clock till half-
past six last Saturday evening. A report, to the extent of
nearly two of the Observer folio columns, appeared in that
journal, in London, on Sunday morning. Thus were the
proceedings of this important meeting, although not con-
cluded at Birmingham till half-past six o'clock on Saturday
evening, within twelve hours conveyed to London, written
ont, composed, printed, and published in the Observer at six
o'clock on Sunday morning.
BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF ST. PATRICK.—The
annual dinner of this society took place yesterday evening
at the Freemasons' Tavern. At half-past six o'clock the
Es2:l of St. Germans took the chair, supported by the Earl
of Lincoln, Mr. Labouthere, Mr. M. J. O'Connell, and
several other noblemen and gentlemen. The' chairman
entered into a detail of the good which had been effected
in giving education to a large body of Irish children, and
tpprenticing them to useful trades. The report stated
that the total of the year's subscriptions amounted to
8151. 'The absence of the majority of the Irish Members of
Parliament was the subject of general observation among
the company.
MERCHANT SEAMEN'S ORPHAN ASYLUM.—A fes-
tival to celebrate the anniversary of this institution, took
place at the London tavern last evening, when the Earl of
Auckland presided. The design of the institution is to
afford relief to the orphans of seamen in the merchant
service, by providing them with clothing, maintenance,
and education. The children, consisting of about GO boys,
in nautical costume, and 30 girls, were introduced, and
subsequently addressed, in an appropriate lecture, by the
Rev. I'. Fraser, one of the vice-presidents of the institu-
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IRISH LAW.—Every poor landlord has a right to
keep a pia of bounds to run.through his property,—Anch,