The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-17 00:00:00

LIAMBURGH MAIL.

BERLIN, AUG. 9.—lt has caused some surprise here
that Baron Von 8u10v,,, almost immediately after his
arrival from London, when he had scarcely recovered
from the fatigues of his voyage in the stormy weather of
the 18th and 19th of July, has gone to his new destina-
tion at Frankfurt, to enter on his functions as represen-
tative of Prussia in the German Diet. Two things, it is
said, are the chief motives ; viz., the discussion on the
erection of the federal fortresses, and an agreement with
the States of the Confederation for extending the liberty
of the Press, which, as is well known, is chiefly restricted
by the resolution of the Diet. As for the first point,
it is high time that the fortresses, which for these 25
years, have existed on paper, should at length be really
built, especially as some French Journals, e. g. the
National, still continue to prate about the frontiers of
the Rhine, and it cannot be foreseen what effect the
daily repetition may have on sensitive neighbours.
Prussia is really entitled to require that the stipula-
tion of the treaties of peace on this point shall be at
length carried into effect. Prussia, for its own inte-
rest, and that of all Germany, has protected the
Middle and Lower Rhine by a chain of fortresses,
and thus performed more than its duty as a
member of the Confederation. But these costly works
lose a great part of their value, if Germany is open on
the Upper Rhine to attacks from the West. The other
question, the liberty of the press, is of
equal
It is, well, however, that our King
has expressed himself very favourably on this subject,
(n;
importance. that of*
and it remains to be decided in what manner the object
is to be obtained.
9.—The bulletin of the King's
health
" Since last bulletin the cure of the
COPENHAGEN,
aN7sItG 0%.y, A,
King's leg has proceeded satisfactorily.
(117
uary
all othera Papers,
re-
spects his Majesty is perfectly well."—H bh Pp
Aug. 13.
107
Austrian .............
HAMBURG BORSENHALLE. A GB.e.
Money
R
5 per Cents. ..... ....................
arrios.
ihtmessi ...... .
Loa._ .. .............................
r).20
1135
414
Russian 5 per Cent. Ist series, Crati.ca" "" 102 ioN
Inscription, Ist Serius .............................
Russian 5 per Cent. Hope and Co.Co.:id and 4tll
Series
PS 97h
Ditto in Certificates ............... . .......... ..... 86, t..r
New 4 per Cent. (1840) ................................
Dutch Actual Debt, 2y4 per Cent. .................. *AIX
Ditto per Cent ...............
Polish 13ontis 147
- ................... .................... _
New ticket ................. )51
Anglo. Danish 1..0an, 3 pc7e.er; .............
4170 1.
5
Notwegian Loan, 1t34, 4 per
.......
Spanish, New 5 per Cents
EXCHANGES ON LONDON.
HAMBURG, AUG. 13.-23 5!4.-..Tsec, months, 13 3g•
RIGA. JULY 31.-Three Months, 39.
STOOK HOLM, Ace. 3.—Seventy-tive days. 11. 46.
PSTS4SftOttGy AUG .5.. T months, 39 pence.

FINE ARTS.

PORTRAIT OF LADY ADELIZA HOWARD.
• Collins, London, 1841.

A full-length portrait of the Lady Adeliza
Howard, grand-daughter of the Duke of Nor-
tblk, has just been engraved by Maclean, from
an original picture by Holmes. Her Ladyship
is represented in a blue riding-habit, having ap-
parently just returned from a ride. A shaggy
little black pony stands close beside her, and her
arm rests negligently on the animal's neck. The
lady's attitude is one of singular ease and negli-
gence, and the folds of her drapery are managed
with a skill worthy of Lawrence. The back-
ground of the picture represents'a beautiful syt-
van landscape, the lights and shades of which are
cleverly handled. The pictdre, on the whole,
is one very creditable to the engraver's talent; it
is executed in lithograph, and would well suit a
frame.

THE OLD EQUESTRIAN „CIRCUS

OF THE SURREY THEATRE. 1782-1805:

I By its present revival of equestrian games, and the
re-construction of a new Circus upon the site of the old,
the Surrey has returned to precisely the same plan of
entertainment with which it originally began and opened
in 1782. But as sixty years have transpired since then,
and a lapse of some years has taken place since the dis-
continuance of its favourite equestrian games, our readers
may find pleasure in recurring to their revival at the
present moment
Charles Hughes, a clever equestrian, and who had an
exhibition near Stangate-street, Blackfriars, called the
British Horse Academy, became acquainted with Mr.
Charles Dibdin the elder, best known as the song-writer
and musical composer; and they two having taken a lease
of a vacant plot of ground, the site of the present Thea-
tre, in St. George's-fields, conjointly, determined to
erect a new building, which they began in the February
of that year. and subsequently opened on the 4th of No-
vember following, in great style, under the appellation of
the " Royal Circus and Equestrian Philharmonic So-
ciety." The stage management was conferred on Mr.
Dibdin, and that of the equestrian performances on
Hughes both of whom were to enjoy these situations for
life. Dibdin, in his " Professional Life," himself gives
the outline of this plan, which appears to have been ori-
ginally his Horsemanship," he observes, " was at
that time very much admired, and I conceived that if I
could divest it of its blackguardism, it might be made
an object of public consequence. I proposed, therefore,
that it should embrace all the dexterity and reputation of
ancient chivalry ; that tournaments, running in the ring,
and other feats of equestrian celebrity, should be per-
formed, and that a classical and elegant turn should be
given to exercises of this description. I, therefore, pro-
posed to have a stage, on which might be presented
spectacles, each to terminate with a joust or tilting
match, or some other grand object, so managed as to
form a novel and striking coup-de-theatre, and that the
business of the stage and the ring might be united."
But the chief attraction of these entertainments was,
that they were all performed by children, agreeably to a
proposition made by one of the fellow-managers, Cap-
tain West, whose philanthropical design was to render
the Circus a kind of nursery for actors. His adopted
brood, who were chiefly to be the offspring of theatrical
parents, were to be instructed in " religious, moral, and
useful learning," during the intervals of professional
practice. The pieces first represented in the Circus
were—" An appropriate Prelude ; a Grand Entree of
Horses; a Grand Ballet, called Admetus and Alceste, with
various feats of horsemanship." Miss de Camp, after-
wards Mrs. C. Kemble, and Miss Wilkinson, the late Mrs.
Mountain, were among the sixty little children who were
engaged.
Mr. Dibdin, in speaking further of this plan, originated
by himself, says—" The Circus was the child of my own
fancy, and I contemplated its extraordinary success with
great exultation. I projected it, I fabricated it, I sup-
plied it with materials, I watched the growth of its im-
provement, superintended it, and gave it every advantage,
perfection, and consequence."
Indeed, under Mr. I)ibdin's management, the Circus
succeeded admirably, for during five months the receipts
amounted to 9,5001. Litigations, however, ensued be-
tween himself and Hughes, and the season of 1784 being
an unproductive one, Hughes at its close claimed a balance
of 2,8001. as due to him for " the purchase and keep of
horses, &c." This led to an action in the King's Bench,
and in the wreck of the property which was expected to
ensue, Sir John Lade, the famous horse-racer and gam-
bler, got a share of the Theatre into his hands, and
during his co-management with others, a real stag-hunt
was exhibited on the stage. Hughes died on the 7th
December, 1797, and was buried in St. George's church,
Southwark. _ _ _

The equestrian performances were still continued from
time to time, till the burning down in August, 1805.
The present Theatre was commenced in the November
of the same year, and on its being finished, it was let to
Mr. Elliston, for five years, at a rent of 2,200/. It was at
this period that the equestrian performances ceased., Mr.
Elliston covered in the ride, the Circus was entirely abo-
lished, and the space thus obtained was annexed to the
pit. This vivacious speculator also changed the name of
Circus into Surrey Theatre, by which it has since been
distinguished.
The present spirited proprietors, Messrs. Davidge and
Jones, it will be seen from the above account, have, by
restoring the Circus and renewing the equestrian per-
formances, brought it back to the original state devised
by Mr. Dibdin, and which, enhanced by the brilliancy of
equestrian spectacles, caused him to reap, in former days,
a very golden harvest. May their own enterprise meet
with the same success.

MY LITTLE FLOCK RE-VISITED.
(From the signature and the quarter whence they
come, the following lines will be recognised as the
production of a well-known Professor in the College
of St. Andrew's, and refer to his quitting the parish
of Cults, in Fileshire, of which Sir David Wilkie's
father was many years minister, and whom the Learned
Professor succeeded. He should not have been ashamed
to put his name to lines expressive of such kindly
feeling :—)
'Tis thirty years, 'tis thirty years,
(Alas how short that space appears),
Since first a Pastor's crook I bore,
And preached to many now no more.
Kind and more kind, from day to day
My people cheered me on my way—
The recollection still endears—
Oh these were truly happy years !
Now half these years I've numbered o'er
Since from the Manse my steps I bore,
My heaving bosom still beats high,
The starting tear still dims mine eye—
Yes ! 'twas indeed a saddening day
As from the Manse we bent our way ;
And some there were that wept that hour
Who ne'er shall weep nor sorrow more !
That Manse, the mansion of my bliss,
My sweet retreat of happiness,
What time my spirit free and strong
Some kindred spirits dwelt among ;
And " Ministers of Peace " were then
Gcod, easy, social, peaceful men ;
Ere blasphemy had walked abroad
And boldly called rebellion " God!"
That Manse where Wilkie, Nature's child,
First oped his lustrous eye and smiled,
First plumed his wing for future flight,
His pencil drew, and all was light—
Pitlessie started into fame,
And Cults became a household name.
Alas ! nor worth nor fame can save!
Nor does his Britain yield a grave !
Yes, there are some remember still
What in old happy times befell—
The playful jest, the stern rebuke,
What text on such a thy I took ;
Nor did I need assume a part
I did not sanction in my heart—
To calumny you scorned resort,
" Nor e'er took up an ill report."
And in your eyes I read your heart—
. The better, ah ! far better part,
And saw you track my fervid way
As half-inspired I burst away,
Fearless proclaiming with all might
What conscience told me to be right—
Scorning to truckle or to flatter,
To modify or mince the matter !
My Sabbath evening's Christian play
At questions in our homely way—
The anxious look, the listening air,
The Scripture lessons conned with care,
The breast yet free from every guile,
The rosy cheek, the sunny smile,
The all of YOUTH ere vice betrays—
Oh, these were happy, happy days.
The aged now no more remain,
I ne'er shall hear their voice again ;
And rarely men of middle years,
A sprinkling scarce of such appears ;
My boys and girls to parents grown,
Remain to greet my steps alone.
'Tis Winter all, where once 'twas May—
" This world's fashion fleets away."
" My little flock," I love ye still,
God guard ye safe from every ill—
Kind and indulgent were ye ever •
To him who can forget ye never,
My many faults you scorned to scan,
But in the Preacher loved the MAN ;
And in return my heart is true,
As e'er was needle point, to you.
Beloved friends, who still remain,
(Whom late I visited again),
Accept my thanks in fitful lay
In my own random off-liand way,
For friendship, undiminished, glowing,
More bliss than I can name bestowing ;
And now whilst tears begin to swell
I write my heartfelt " Fare you well."
G. St. Andrew's, 7th August, 1841.

The Sayan's at the Carlton are speculating on
the cause which gave rise to Peel's journey to Portsmouth,
and to the removal of his son from the navy. The
youngster, it is said, has no predilection for the " dan-
gers of the sea," while some think, under existing cir-
cumstances, he might be better provided for on shore.
Jupiter and a countryman were walking together
conversing with great freedom and familiarity, upon the
subject of heaven and earth. The countryman listened
with attention and acquiescence, while Jupiter strove
only to convince him ; but happening to hint a doubt,
Jupiter turned hastily round, and threatened him with
his thunder. " Ab, ha !" says the countryman, " now,
Jupiter, I know that you are wrong ; , you're always
wrong when you, appeal to your thunder.'