The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-28 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS.

The fall of the house of the Union Carrying Company
at Manchester has destroyed the lives of 15 men ' •
103 men were at work when the accident occurred, and
had the wall come down an unbroken mass, all of them
would, have been killed. Property to the amount of
30,000/. has been destroyed.
Miss Fitzgerald, on Sunday last, opened a fancy fair
at her villa, near Pau, for the benefit of the Spanish
Refugees. All the fashion and beauty of the neighbour-
hood attended, and the produce amounted to 1,700 francs.
Yesterday was the Jewish festival of lighting the lamps,
or the dedication of the second temple by the Maccabees.
During this festival, the Jews return thanks for the vic-
tories obtained by their ancestors over the Greeks that
invaded the Holy Land.
The Prince of Wales will be christened on Tuesday,
the 25th of January.
The Duke of Northumberland has subscribed 1001.
for the relief of the distressed operatives at Paisley. In
Scotland liberal collections have been made for the same
purpose in many of the churches and Dissenting meet-
ing-houses. Dr. Wardlaw's congregation, belonging to
the Secession Church, contributed last Sunday the splen-
did sum of 1201.
New instructions have been issued to the officers of
the Coast Guard by their Comptroller-General, in which
they are designated, according to their naval rank, "Lieu-
tenants of Stations," the title of " Chief Officer" being
applied to the mates and civilians.
The workmen employed in digging the well on South-
ampton Common, have reached the great depth of 550
feet, including 88 feet in the chalk, and but for an acci-
dent to the machinery last week, the entire depth of 560
feet would have been completed.
Two lions and an ostrich, sent by the Bey of Tunis,
have arrived at the Garden of Plants, Paris.
Gwydyr House, recently occupied by the Reform Club,
has been disposed of by the Countess of Clare to the
Government, forthwith to be converted into a public office.
Last week a labourer's wife at Illogan, Cornwall, was
crossing her kitchen, when the ground gave way, and
she was suspended over a shaft, and very narrowly saved.
The country in fact is so undermined that churches,
churchyards, and mansions, are suspended, as it were,
over vast gulphs.
- A Bill is proposed to be brought into Parliament to
authorise the Governors of Heriot's Hospital to grant an
annuity to Miss Heriot, the only lineal descendant of the
founder's brother.

MONEY and COMMERCIAL, NEWS.
CITY, MONDAY EVENING.

The transactions to-day in British Secnrities were
limited, and prices varied but little, though rather tend-
ing downwards. Consols for the opening ranged from
89k to ; closing at the intermediate value ; Exche-
quer Bills were stead' at 11s. to 13s. premium ; Bank
Stock was at 1651 ; and the Reduced Three-and-a-
Half per Cents. were worth 99.t0 98k.
Spanish Bonds opened rather heavily, but 'rallied be-
fore the close of business to 24 and 244. ,The other
foreis:n Stocks generally supported their value.
Portuguese New, Were 33 ; and the Three per Cents.
194. Colombian Bonds were firmer at an improve—
ment to 20:1 and 2
,(.4; Mexican were at . 26f ; and Pe-
ruvian at 141, Aiglgian Old Five per Cents. maintained
the price 'of -101 ; and Dutch Two-and-a-Half per
Cents. were at Mi.
For Railway Shares the inquiry did not diminish, and
prices were generally well supported. So far, indeed, the
market seems in firm hands. London and Birmingham
Shares were at 77 ; New, ditto, at 26 ; York and North
Midland, at 40/ ; Great Western, at 19k to 20k ; and
South Western, at 19i to 20j prem. ; Brighton were
11} to 111 ; Blackwall, 14i ; Midland Counties, 14i ;
and Eastern Counties, 141 dis.
(From The Sun of Last Night.)
Her Majesty's packet Pandora has arrived at Fal-
mouth with a mail from the West Indies ; the dates are
from Trinidad the sth, Demerara the Bth, Barbadoes the
10th, and Jamaica the 19th of November. The papers
do not contain any news of interest. The proceedings
of the House of Assembly at Jamaica do not afford much
interest. The Pandora has brought in freight.sl2o,ooo.
Papers from Port Philip to, the Bth August nave been
received; they are a few days later than the former ac-
counts, but contain nothing of interest.
There has been but little business transacted in the
Stock Exchange. Consols opened at 89*1 for the Ac-
count, Exchequer Bills are 10 12; Spanish Active Stock
231 i 24* ; Portuguese Five per Cents. 32k; ditto Threes
191 20.
PRICES OF IRISH STOCKS, DUBLIN, DEC. 24.
3 per Cent. Consols
Three and Half Stock 9B Grand Canal Stock ...
Ditto Reduced ...... Ditto Debs. 6 per cent... 84h
Ditto New 1830......... 981 Ditto 4 per cent ...
3i. per Cent. Debs. QI h Royal Canal 5t0ck.........
Consols have receded since the opening to 88i 89;
Three per Cents. Reduced, are 89; Three-and-a. Half per
Cents. Reduced, 98 ; Exchequer Bills are firm, at
11 13 prem.
Spanish Active Stock is now quoted at 24k 1 ; Portu-
guese Five per Cents., 32i; Ditto Threes, 194 ; Colom-
bian Bonds, 204 ; Dutch Five per Cents. are 99i ;
There has been a fair business dour, in the Share
Market, and a further advance in some of the lines has
taken place. London and Brighton are 38k; London
and South Western, 59k; York and North Midland, 89i.
Consls, 88k 89 ; Colombian, 201 21 ; Mexican, 26i ;
Spanish, 241 3.
The City is very quiet to-day ; but some anxiety pre-
vails to learn what allusions the President's Mes-
sage will contain to the Boundary question, as
well as to the new source of American
' dissatis-
faction, the " right of search," about which it has
been asserted rather a serious misunderstanding exists
between the Government of this country and that of the
United States. There is, apparently, every expectation
that matters will be amicably adjusted:

CLOSING PRICES. 't 'iw bi.
BRITISH FUNDS. ,N . ~,
India Stock. _
Ditto Bonds
,Ditto Old Annuities
Ditto New Annuities —
,Ex. Bills, 1,000/...-21d -pm
Ditto 5001.... — pia
Ditto Small. —pm
Bank Stock for Acct —
India Stock for Acct — ,
Consuls for Open
I FUNDS.
IPortuguese, 5 per cent 33
Ditto, New Ditto —
Prussian, 5 per cent.
Russian, 5 per cent ll4l
itto, Metallic
Spanish, 5 per cent 24i
Ditto, Deferred ... 124
French, 5 per cent. —f. —c.
Exchange —f. —c.
French, 3 per cent —f. —c
Dutch, 2i per cent. sli
Ditto, 5 per cent.

Rsnk Stock —
3 per Cent Red
3 per Cent Cons B9
3i per Cent Red —
New 3i per Cent

New sVer Cent
Loll; Annuitiestoexpire

Jiik 1860
Oct 1859

Jan. 1860.
FOREIGI
Austrian, 5 per cent
Belgian, 5 per cent lOl
Brazilian Bonds 65
Buenos Ayres, 6 per en 21
Chinon, 6 per cent 73
Colombian, 6 per.cent..
Ditto, 1824. 204
Danish, 3 per cent Bl
Greek, 1825, 5 per cent —
Mexican, 5 per cent —
Ditto, 6 per cent, 1837 26i
Peruvian, 1825, 6 per ct. 14

GOSPORT PlER.—Application is intended to
be made in the next Session of Parliament for a Bill for
making; and maintaining a pier on the Gosport" or
Western side of the harbour of Portsmouth, to enable
steam-packets and other vessels to lay alongside and
embark and disembark passengers and goods to and
from the Isle of Wight and other places. The usual
notices have been given, and. no doubt is entertained of
the success of the projected improvement. The proposed
entrance to the pier is through the upper part of the
Hampshire independent.
floating bridge. approach.—
CHARACTERISTICS OF WELLINGTON.—An
Israelite of Dover wrote ;the other day to the Duke of
Wellington, requesting his Grace to discharge a debt of
14s. due from the Marquis of Douro, as he would be
glad of the monish. The Noble Duke's answer was
written on the other side of the note, in the following
strain F. M. the Duke of Wellington is not the
Marquis of Douro, neither does he collect Mr; R's
debts." The answer was so truly characteristic of this
extraordinary man,
that Mr. B. has ref ed a
c able sum of money for the autograph.—Kent paper.
usonsider-
GOSPORT RAILWAY.—We ate pleased to state
that the late obstruction to the rail, occasioned by the
slipping of a large quantity of earth, has been sufficiently
removed for the partial running of the goods trains be-
tween this port and London, and which trains accord-
ingly commenced running daily on Tuesday last,—Harnp-
shire Independent.

THE THEATRES.

DRUR-LIANE.

Old Drury is itself again—is: once more what it ought I
never to have ceased to be—a national theatre. The
legitimate drama has resumed its reign on these boards
under the auspices of 11.1 r. Macready, who has added
immensely to the heavy debt of gratitude which is
already owing to him from every lover of our national
drama. Our readers are already aware that Mr.
Macready has taken Drury-Lane theatre, that he has
engaged a powerful tragic and operatic company, and in
our impression of yesterday, we gave a detailed account
of the alterations and improvements in the fittings up,
&c , of the theatre. The house opened for the
dramatic season last evening, with Shakespeare's
play of The Merchant of Venice, and " the
New Grand Epicurean and Gastronomical Comic
Christmas Pantomine, called Harlequin and Duke Hum-
phrey's Dinner; or, Jack Cade, Lord of London Stone."
Long before the rising of the curtain, boxes, pit, and gni -
leries, were all crowded; not even standing room could
be obtained in any part of the house, and the audience
was most noisy and unruly even for Boxine•-night. At
seven o'clock the curtain rose, and " God Save the
Queen" was sung by the whole operatic corps. During
the performance of the National Anthem the gods were
comparatively quiet, but on the rising of the curtain fur
the commencement of the play, they kept " such dreadful
pother o'er our heads," that not a syllable that was
uttered on the stage could be heard, and before the first
scene was concluded the curtain fell. This was the signal
for increased uproar, mingled with loud cries for Macready
Again the curtain rose, and again did Salarino and So-
lanio go through their parts in dumb show. Anderson,
the stage manager, came forward, and attempted to address
the audience : in vain ; they were determined to have
Macready ; and, after a short time, he made his appear=
ante. Never before did actor or manager meet with such
a reception. Pit, boxes, and gallery, as by a simultaneous
movement, rose to greet him ; bouquets were thrown on
the stage ; and, amidst a general waving of huts and
handkerchiefs, he bowed his acknowledgments; ,at his
exit the audience gave him three distinct rounds of
cheering. We had hoped that the play would have then
been suffered to proceed quietly ; but the gods willed it
otherwise ; the clamour continued until the entrance of
Shylock and Bassanio. After waiting a few minutes for
the uproar to subside, Macready addressed the audience;
we could not catch even the purport of what
he said, but it had the effect of lulling the storm for a
time. The uproar, however, was frequently renewed, so
that very little of the play was audible; until the scene
between Shylock and Tubal in the third act. In this
scene Macready achieved one of the greatest triumphs
ever achieved by any artist. By the force and energy of
his acting he so rivetted the attention of the house that
all uproar ceased; every eye was fixed on the actor; every
mind was intent on the business of the stage ; and the
most noisy of audiences was, as if by magic, at once con-
verted into the most attentive—as if by magic, did we
say? It was by magic—
The magic of the mind."
The manner in which, when informed of Antonio's
losses, he gave the words " I thank God," was perfectly
sublime. It was the thanksgiving of a fiend, and yet
proceeding from " the heart of hearts." The audience
continued quiet and attentive to the end of the play, so
that the magnificent trial scene was given in all its
grandeur. We had seen Macready some years since in
Shylock, and from what we saw of him we went to-
night anticipating a failure. We were agreeably sur-
prised—instead of a failure it was a triumph. A most
marked-and decided improvement has taken place in his
acting this 'character within the last two years.
He has evidently studied Shylock attentively, and
Completely understands him. His conception of
the character is that of a scholar and a man of
genius, and he develops it With all the tact of the ac-
complished artist. With the exception of Richelieu, we
know no character in which he exhibits less mannerism
than in Shylock. Mrs. Warner, as Portia, gave the
celebrated mercy speech with great pathos and beauty ;
and Mrs. Keeley, in her old character of Nerissa, proved
that the Jack Sheppards and Mephistopheleses of the
minor theatres have not spoiled the clever and espiegle
soubrette of bygone times. Mr. Hudson, from the Dublin
Theatre, made his first appearance in London as Gra-
tiano. He is a lively, bustling actor, and will
no doubt prove an acquisition. We cannot, in
justice, omit noticing the tasteful manner in which
the beautiful duet, " Tell me where is fancy
bred," was executed by Miss Poole and Miss Gould ;
it was one of the few passages, during the earlier scenes
of the play, to which the gods vouchsafed attentive au-
dience. We are glad to see our old friend Compton has
joined the Drury corps ; his Launcelot Gobbo last even-
ing was exceedingly unctuous—in parts approaching to
Listonian. The play was given from the uninterpolated
text of Shakspeare ; and the adjuncts of scenery, costume,
&c., were all most classically correct. At the conclusion
Anderson announced the play for repetition on Wednes-
day amidst loud applause. The pantomime followed ;
and an excellent pantomime it is, albeit it bath neither
diorama nor panorama to recommend it. It is what a
pantomime ought to be—a running commentary on the
follies of the preceding year—and accordingly here we
have the more prominent of them. First of all we have
the promenade concerts; a band of fiddles entering bodily,
each playing npon,itself, a Mons. Jullien (excellently
.liituff9 directing, and ultimately the whole squad ejected
by Gubiltheeri a merry Christmas sprite, who tells the
fiddles:

" To cut their sticks,
As much more proper-a, -
And be Off at once to the English Opera."
Then there were sundry useless wooden blocks, removed
from Parliament-street, transformed into most sapient
and block-looking heads; a photographic drawing appa-
ratus, from which came out a little harlequin, columbine,
:pantaloon, and clown, who capered about in emulation of
their larger prototypes ; and a ruinous inn haunted by
tho ghosts of innumerable ostlers who had ceased to be,
in consequence of the march of railroads. These and
many other hits were all received with shouts of laughter
and applause. The harlequinada was well supported
by Mr. C. J. Smith, as Harlequin, Miss Froode, as
Columbine, and Mr. Montgomery as Clown. Our old
friend Howell has 'resigned the Harlequin's wand, and
appeared last night as Pantaloon, and good as he is as
Harlequin, his Pantaloon is better; be reminded us not
unfrequently of poor old Parnes. Mr.k Stilt also took a
most active part in the Pantomime as Jack .a-Dandy, a
sort of tiger to Harlequin; and by his marvellous pos-
turing contributed essentially to the success of the Pan-
tomime. This gentleman's joints must be made of India
rubber, no mere ligament could ever stand the wear and
tear. Since the days of Parsloe his equal has not been
seen. The Pantomime was announced for repetition
every evening by Montgomery, amidst loud applause.
We hear of divers revivals of good old sterling dramas
and operas at this theatre, and never, of late years, have
the prospects of Old Drury been so promising. Cordially
thanking Mr. Macready for the chivalrous manner in
which he has again stepped forward to save another of
our national theatres from degradation, we heartily wish
him success in his arduous undertaking, and warmly
congratulate him on his triumph of last evening.