The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-28 00:00:00

PRESIDENT GRANT AND SAN DOMINGO.

The proposed annexation of San Domingo to the
United States has excited a strong opposition, but
President Grant seems fully resolved on it. The
Philadelphia correspondent of the 'Times says that the
pertinacity with which he pushes this unpopular project
is amazing. He seems willing to break up his party,
and probably seal his own fate, as the next Presi-
dential candidate, merely for the purpose of
forcing San Domingo on a reluctant Con-
gress. By great exertion he and his frien
is
have succeeded in forcing through the resolu-
tion providing for sending a Commission to
an Domingo to examine the territory, though it was
expressly said that Congress should not be pledged to
annexation by the Act. The amendment was opposed
by the Administration in vain, and in the Senate
some strong speeches were made against the project.
The two commissioners appointed are known to be in
favour of annexation, and the third has yet to be
chosen. There is little doubt that he will also favour
the scheme, for the President would not appoint a
commiQsion that oppOsed his views. The explorers
era not to be long over their task, as the report is
to be in Washington before the close of the session,
on March 4th. The Government will then use
every endeavour to force an Annexation Act through
both Houses—as difficult a task as any American
politician ever attempted.

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, JANUARY 27.

The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, accompanied
by the Dowager Duchess of Athole and Miss Macgregor ;
and her Majesty walked in the grounds this morning with
Princess Louise.
Prince Arthur, Prince Leopold, and Princess Beatrice
also went out.
Colonel the Hon. Charles Lindsay arrived at Osborne
yesterday, and had the honour of dining with the Queen
and the Royal Family.
The Hon. Harriet Phipps has succeeded the Hon. Emily
Cathcart as Maid of Honour in Waiting.

THE COURT THEATRE.
On Wednesday this theatre, situate in Sloane-spuare,
was opened to the public, and certainly a more elegant
place of amusement is not to be found in the Me-
tropolis. It has the advantage of being close
to the station of the Metropolitan District Railway.
so that it possesses facilities of access that will enable the
thousands residing in the suburbs to enjoy amusements
that have to a great extent hitherto been denied them.
The opening performances consisted of the well-known
farce "Turn Him Out," which was very creditably per-
formed. This was followed by a comedy by W. S. Gilbert,
entitled " Randall's Thumb," which must be recorded as a
decided success, and as such we will not outline the
plot, but advise our readers that if they wish to enjoy a
really genuine comedy, to go and see " Randall's Thumb."
The concluding piece was a comedietta, by Mr. F. A
Marshall, entitled " Q.E.D.," which was extremely well
I received. Some well-known actors and actresses are
members of the company—notably Mrs. Hermann Vezin,
Mr. Frank Matthews, Mr. Belford, Mr. E. Righton,
Mrs. Stephens, Miss Maggie Brennan, Miss Eleanor
Bufton, and Miss Kate Bishop. It is to be hoped that,
from the enterprise displayed in the conduct of the new
Theatre.both as regards the excellent programme and the
company engaged, it will meet with the success which it
deserves.
The opening address, which was spoken by Mrs. Vezin,
was as follows :
Another play-house,—scarce two months have past,
Since we beheld the op'ning of the last ;
Then one had started up six months before,
And now, oh, marvellous ! we whew one more.
The muses of the drcma—so folks say—
Will ne'er again enjoy a "palmy" day.
Of genius, talent, wit, they are bereft ;
Loss follows upon loss, till naught is left.
Stay—let us pause—yes, something they have got,
Which in the palmy ages they had not.
Many fair acres, whereon proudly stand
Their temples, scattered broadcast o'er the land.
Houseless, at any rate, they cannot roam ;
Where'er they turn they're sure to find a home.
One district more to night they call their own,
And bring fresh lustre to the name of Slone.
Though limited for space, Thalia plans
Some goodly work in honour of Sir Hans :
Some goodly work? "But of what kind?" you ask.
The question sets me no perplexing task.
Look at your bills ; you'll find the muse and we
Propose to give you Modern Comedy ;
The passing manners of our day to shew,
Reflected Veluti in Speculo.
Manners and feelings—'tis not our desire
To mock the horrors of a house on fire ;
To make the accidents of road or rail
Point with "sensation" a domestic tale.
Expect not, or else you will expect in vain,
The rolling steamboat, or the shrieking train ;
We are not—what's the phrase? 'Tis rather mystic—
I have it now—we are not "realistic."
I'll add besides, that we are nothing loath,
To bring out plays of truly British growth.
To be original we have a chance,
Now we can get no more supplies from France.
Oncoming in you cast your glances round,
And all quite satisfactory you found ;
The house, you will admit, is very neat,
Bright, smart, and handsome—in a word complete.
But though 'tis new, with pleasure you will true
Among our artists many a well-known face ;
Hail some, who oft with mirth your hearts could cheer,
Some who have drawn the not unwilling tear.
Enough—l've bid you hope for something good,
But yet I would not be misunderstood
Our worth you'll test with your own ears and eyes :
Proof of the pudding in the eating lies.
We trust that with this proof content you'll be.
And say, with Mr. Marshall, " Q. E. D."

The organ at the Royal Albert Hall (as large as a
Belgravian mansion) will be the most powerful in the
world, having 9,000 pipes and 120 stops, inflated by two
steam-engines.
The Victoria (Philosophical) Institute holds the
second meeting of the session on Monday, at 8 o'clock, at
its rooms, 8, Adelphi-terrace, when the Rev. I. H, Tit-
comb, M.A., will read a paper on " Archwology, with
some of its parallels and contrasts." The subject will be
illustrated by diagrams.
PRISONERS' PHOTOGRAPHS.—The Liverpool magis-
trates have decided to represent to the Home Secretary
the advisability of a regulation being adopted to compel
prisoners to submit to their photographs being taken, and
to secure punishment for them in the event of their non-
compliance.
THE SPRING CIRCUITS OF THE JUDGES.—The
following circuits have been fixed, viz :—Home (the Lord
Chief Justice of England and Mr. Justice Hannen) ;
Hertford, February 28; Chelmsford, March 6 ; Maid-
stone, March 13 ; Lewes, March 20 ; Kingston, March 27.
Oxford (Lord Chief Justice Bovill and Mr. Justice
Montague Smith) : Reading, February 27 ; Oxford, March
2 ; Worcester, March 6 ; Stafford, March 10 ; Shrews-
bury, March 20 ; Hereford, March 23 ; Monmouth,
March 27 ; Gloucester, March 31. Norfolk (the Lord
Chief Baron and Mr. Justice Blackburn) : Oakham,
February 28 ; Leicester, March 2 • Northampton, March
6 ; Aylesbury, March 9 • Bedford, March 13 ; Hunting-
don, March 16 ; Cambridge, March 18 ; Norwich, March
23 ;Ipswich, March 29.
PHILANTHROPY AND THE SEWING MACHINE.—
A Yorkshire journal relates that a meeting of ladies,
resident in the chief towns of the West Riding, was
recently held for the purpose of considering a beneficial
mode of assisting females in obtaining employment.
Several humane suggestions were patiently discussed,
amongst which was one for supplying a certain number of
women with the best sawing machines, affording them not
only remunerative employment, but one which could be con-
ducted at their own dwellings, and so, by obviating the
necessity of their going out to work, materially promote
and preserve domestic morals. Eventually it was decided
almost unanimously by the Ladies' Committee, pre-
sided over by Lady Foley, that an order should
be given forthwith for a number of the " Little
Wanzer" sewing machines, those being most eligible, as
combining economy with, simplicity of manipulation,
which are expected at their destination in a few days ;
and thus, by placing an easy means of livelihood in the
hands of industrious females, a mitigation of the local
distress may soon be happily observable. The journal
concludes by advising lathes in other districts to imitate
this Christian example.—MiNand Herald.