The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-25 00:00:00

ASTLEY'S.

The novelty provided at this theatre for the
holiday folk, was a grand equestrian magical sketch,
entitled The Golden Footed Steed; or, the Charmed
Horse of the Black Valley—magic and horseman-
ship. What theatre in Europe could do justice to
such a combination, save Astley's ? If asked as to the
plot, we reply in the words of Canning—
" Story, Lord ! bless you, I have none to tell, Sir."
but the incidents are many, and interesting.
The feats of the four-footed artistes are sur-
passingly wonderful—the scenery is magnificent,
and the attention is kept up well to the end. The
Golden footed Steed will, for many a night to come,
bring gold to the treasury. The scenes in the circle
followed, and the performances concluded with the
popular melodrama of the Bride of Abydos. The
house was crowded.

IC7 ORIA.
The holiday folk last night assembled in immense
numbers at this popular theatre, notwithstanding the
intense heat of the weather or the superior attractions
of more seasonable sports, and long before the rising
of the curtain the house from top to bottom presented
one living mass of human beings. The Lonely Man;
or, The Night before the Bridal, was the title of the
first piece put forward by the spirited proprietor for:the
amusement of his numerous latrons, and judging
from
the applause bestowed upon it, the drama must have
given universal satisfaction. It abounds in the usual
stirring incidents for which the nautical pieces of the
Victoria have so long been famed, and the
striking beauty of the marine and rural scenery
aided by the excitement produced by the hair-breadth
escapes of the hero and heroines (Mr. N. T. dicks and
Miss Vincent) insured its unequivocal success. The
drama which is in three acts, was admirably placed
upon the stage. The various charactqrs were sustained
with spirit and ability, and on the whole it bids fair to
have a lengthened run. Souse exceedingly pretty and
tasteful dissolving views followed, which were succeeded
by a farce, and the entertainments were wound up with
another original three act drama called Admiral .Sam
or, Deeds of Old London.

THE CROPS IN KENT.—Upon the whole, there is
a promise of an abundant, if not an early harvest. On
some lands, which are undrained, and in the wheat
fields, which were last year clover, the plant certainly
looks rather thin ; but the very warm and genial wea-
ther which we have experienced for the last week has
given it a luxuriant appearance, and the tillering out,
or extension, of the plant is taking place most satis-
factorily. The oats and barley are well up, and per-
hens in no previous year has tilt/p.*944 of abundance
ISeetc greater or more encouraging. '' 'lt is an old saying
ushers in a fruitful year ; and this year the two
that a late spring, pr.-ceced by a severe winter. gene-
rallypremises having been tulfilled, we must hope that the
same conclusion may occur. If the weather should
continue warm, it is not yet too late for us to have a
harvest not protacted beyond the average season.—
Dover Chronicle.
MURDER AT SHEPTON MALLET.—On the 12th
inst. a coroner's inquest was held at Stoke-lane, other-
wise Stoke St. Michael, near this town, before Mr.
Daniel Ashford, one of the coroners for this county, on
the body of James Boyce, of the parish of Stoke-lane,
labourer. It appeared the deceased had had some words
ea nnce d choppingith many
i:
swearing he would chop their --- necks off. Hall,
n
oaths swore in the tap-room of the White Hart beer-house with an-
other man (a thatcher), whom the landlord, Richard Hall,
got out of the tap-room into the bar, to avoid further
dispute; deceased being violent, he got possession of the
thatcher's hook, and followed him to the door of the bar,
where Hall, the landlord, ordered him away, and refused
him admittance;
h w ohuel,dhcooiLeevienr:
and commenced
d v
v
the door with the hook for the purpose of getting
being alarmed at his proceedings, told him to go away,
or he would shoot him; he accordinwly took a gun
which was in the room, and shot at him through the
panel of the door which Boyce had cut out. The
charge entering his forehead, he fell a life-
less corpse, and did not afterwards move. The
inquest was adjourned till the following day,
when the jury returned a verdict of " Wilful murder'
Hall, foroffence, against the and he was fully com-
mitted
under the coroner's warrant to await his trial at
the ensuing assizes. Additional Particulars.—Since
writing my letter, there bring so many different accounts
of the melancholy affair, I have been to Stoke to ascer-
tain further particulars; and I find II:11 loaded his piece
in the presence of the unfortunate men Boyce, whilst he
was chopping the bar door, in order, as they say, to in-
timidate him. Hall stated to the jury that he only
loaded the piece with Lowder; but alai. statement cannot
be true, or else the piece was before c tare-6ed, and he put
powder on the betore-containi d contents; for it appeared,
on a post-mortem examination which took place during
the adjournment of the inquest, that above 100 shots
were taken from the man's head. There was a wound
in the centre of the deceased's forehead, a little larger
than the bore of the piece, from which a quantity of his
brain was blow out, lodging on the wall and the door
which be at the time was cnopping.—Sherborne Journal.

" These boats are now generally constructed of ma-
hogany, which is found to answer perfectly, being both
light and durable.— W. A. B. Hamikon.

A letter from Koenigsberg (Prussia), of the 16th,
says that the proposition which has been. so often made
ito st,:e Jews, and as often refused, to celebrate the Sab-
bath on Sunday instead of Saturday, has at last been
accepted by 700 Jews of that town, who form the great
majority of the Israelite community. The measure is
considered one of great importance, especially in com-
mercial operations.
Major-General Sir Henry Watson, C. 8., has been
appointed to the Colonelcy of the 63d Foot, vice Dyott,
deceased. Sir Henry Watson is an old Peninsular officer.
He entered the service in May, 1795, and after going
through all the regimental grades with tolerable rapidity,
was made Major-General by the Coronation Brevet of
I.B3B.—United Service Gazette.
The Bishop of Exeter's friends will regret to see
that the Committee have not yet published his Lame
among the list of subscribers to the Poor Relief Fund
It ever there was a time when persons in distinguished
situations should do violence to their modest natures by
proclaiming their charitable dispositions—it is on such
an occasion as this.— Western Times.
SUITWRECIEED FISHERMEN AND MARINERS' BENE-
VOLENT SOCIETY.—The eight annual' meeting of this
society was held on. Friday in the London Tavern.
Major• General Sir James Cockburn in the chair. Mr.
Lean, R.N., secretary, read the report, which stated that
the society was successtully progressing, and that not
only had its number of subscribers and supporters in-
creased, but that the sphere of its benevolent operations
had also been enlarged. Since the formation of the
society, in 1839, it has relieved 14,834 persons, includinj
widows, orphans, aged parents, and shipwrecked mari-
ners. The residue of the funds of the " Yorkshire
Fishermen's Refuge," amounting to 6931., was added to
the funned property, and the late Andrew Macklew,
Esq., bequeathed 5001. to the charity. The receipts
figured 6,3641., and the expenditure left a balance of
792/. 16s. The funded property amounted to 11,5301.
The report was adopted, and the vacancies on the com-
mittee were filled up. After which, and a vote of
thanks to the gallant chairman, the meeting separated.
THE WEATHER.—Since our last the weather has
been variable. On Saturday the wind veered to the
northeast, and there was, consevently, several nippi-ig
cold days, with a good deal of snow on Monday. On
Wednesday a favourable change took place, laid, though
the weather is by no means settled, the last two days
have been favourable, while the weather has not been
very fostering for vegetation ; stillthe crops look
healthy and promise an abandant return. The farmers
are preparing the land for turnips, of which an unusual
breadth will be sown 'this season. All the accounts of
the potatoes are flattering,--,bass-shire Advertiser,