The Sun.
London, England, 1840-08-18 00:00:00

TO HORTICULTURISTS.

HORTICULTURISTS aro invited to inspect
at that most experienced and extensive Forcer's, Mr.
John Wilmot's, of Isleworth, RIPPON and BURTON'S
PATENT STOVES (70s. each). The purity of the heat
given by these Stoves, it will be seen, can only be equalled by
that of the sun. The expense for fuel does not exceed 2d. for
24 hours, during which timo the stoves do not require any at-
tention whatever. The vines to be seen at Mr. Wilmot'E are
more healthy than any ever were
.before by the old method of
heating. The stoves were placed in the house on the lath of
April, and the grapes :now are being gathered, and may be
seen as above any morning from
12, WELLS-STREET, OXI ORD-STREET.

INFIRMARY for the CURE of STRIC-
TURES of the URETHRA, SYPHILIS, GONOR-
RHtEA, GLEETS, and all DISEASES of the GENERA-
TIVE and URINARY ORGANS.
Notwithstanding the above Institution is closed, Patients may
continue to receive the GRATUITOUS ADVICE of the Sur-
geon (Mr. Courtenay, 42, Great 11Iarlborough-street,) by ap-
plying at his own house instead of the Charity.
Hours of Attendance, from Eight to Ten in the Mornings
and from Seven to Nine in the Evenings. Ou 6undays in the
Morning, but not in the Evening.

Just published, price 65.,
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS on the
PROSTATE GLAND aid its DISEASES; together
with Suggestions for an Improved Mode of Treatment,
By FRANCIS BURDETT COURTENAY,
_ _

Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, Loudon, &c.
CONTENTS.

Anatomy of the Prostate Gland Stone in the Prostate—Symp-
Acute Inflammation of the toms and Treatment
Prostate Symptoms and Scrofula of the Prostate
Treatment Enlargement of the Prostate
Retention of Urine from Acute from a Varicose State of its
Inflammation—Treatment Vessels
Abscess of the Prostate—Syrup- Cancer of the Prostate.
toms and Treatment.

CHRONIC ENLARGEMENT of the PROSTATE
GLAND in OLD AGE, the Symptoms that indicated its com-
men,:enaent, and the consequences that ultimately result there-
from. With concluding Suggestions for their Prevention or
Cure.
Sold by Onwhyn, Catherine-street, Strand; and all Book-
sellers, in Town or Country.

VAN BUTCHELL ON FISTULA, &c.
Fourth Editien.
Just published, in Bvo. cloth boards, price is. 6d. enlarged,
FACTS and OBSERVATIONS relative to
a successful MODE of TREATING PILES, FIS-
TULA, HEMORRHOIDAL EXCRESCENCES, TU-
MOURS, and STRICTURES, without CUTTING or
CONFINEMENT; illustrated with numerous cases. Being
a familiar exposition of the practice of S. J. VAN BUT-
CHELL, Surgeon Accoucheur.
Published by H. Renshaw, No. 356, Strand ; sold also by
the Author, at his residence, No. 16, Percy-street, Bedford-
square.
'.Few men connected with the complicated departments of
surgery are deserving of more grateful mention than Sir. Van
Bu.chell, whose unwearied dedication to the cure of those most
painful of all diseases, which this book treats of, has resulted in
a continued course of success in cases of the most hopeless and
forbidding nature * We find nearly every page re-
cording sonic astonishing cure in patients whose sufferings
had been of many years' duration, and most excruciating in
their nature. The warmth of expression with which the gra-
titude of some of the restored is couched must be truly gratify-
ing to the feelings, and highly creditable to the skill and judg-
ment, of Mr. Van Butchell."—Weekly True Sun.

Just published, in royal 18mo., cloth, price 3s. ; and sent in
Town or Country free, by post, 3s. 6d.,
MANHOOD: the CAUSES of its PRE-
MATURE DECLINE, with Plain Directions for
ITS PERFECT RESTORATION; addressed to those suf-
fering from the destructive effects of Excessive Indulgence,
Solitary Habits, •r Infection ; followed by Observations on the
TREATMENT of SYPHILIS, GONORRHEA, GLEET,
&c. Illustrated with Cases. &c.

By J. L. CURTIS and COMPANY,
Consulting Surgeons, London.
?Wished by the Authors, and sold by Balliere, Medical
Bookseller, 219, Regent-street ; 011ivier, 59, Pall Mall ;
S,range, 21, Paternoster-row ; Pattie, 4, Brydges-street,
Strand; Machen and Co., 8, D'Olier-street, Dublin ' • Duncan
114, High-street, Edinburgh ; and to be had ofall Booksellers
The Work which is now presented to the public is the result
of very extended experience in a class of diseases and affec-
tions, which for some unaccountable reason have been either
altogether overlooked, or treated with apathy, and almost in-
difference, by the a: dinary practitioner. To enter into the
details of these affections, to point out their causes, and to
mark the terrific consequences, social, moral, and physical,
which are sure to follow from indulgence, in certain habits,
would be entirely out of place in an advertisement. We have
no hesitation, however, in saying thatithere is HO member of
society, by whom the book will not be found interesting, whe-
ther we consider such person to hold the relation of a PA-
RENT, a PRECEPTOR, or a CLERGYMAN.
The PARENT, who beholds his beloved child pining away,
and fast approaching to a premature grave, in consequence of
some disease, which for want of a careful investigation of its
real cause, has been set down to the score of consumption,
will, on perusing thi: work be astonished to find that in nine-
tenths of the cases of young persons of both sexes, who perish
of what is called pulmonary consumption, heart disease, tabes,
&c., the sole and exclusive origin has been the indulgence in
certain destructive habits, practised by youth much more fre-
quently than is at all suspected.
The PRECEPTOR, also, who holds temporarily, at least
the relation and responsibility of a parent, will, by perusing this
work, be directed, and very much assisted in investigating and
detecting the too often concealed pract'ets so often introduced
into schools, whereby the health and ultimately the lives of his
pupils are sure to be compromised, unless the evil be checked
in proper time. He will here find a clue to guide him through
the intricate mazes of this moral labyrinth, and a standard
whereby to judge, when delicacy of health should appear to
attack any of his young charges, what the real cause of such
attack may be, and thus he will be enabled to check the evil in
its incipient state.
The CLERGYMAN, in whose sacred character, is at once
concentrated the twofold relation of parent and instructor, will
here be directed as to the nature of those habits, to which
youth is addicted ; he will also be enabled to point out the
disastrous consequences which are sure to follow from them, if
not relinquished.

Messrs. CURTIS and CO. are to be consulted daily at their
residence,: No. 7, Frith-street, Soho, from Ten till Three, and
Five till Eight in the Evening; and Country Patients are re-
quested to be as niinnto as possible in the detail of their cases,
—as to the duration of the complaint, the symptoms, age, ge-
neral habits of living, and occupation in life of the party ; the
communication must be accompanied by the " usual Consulta-
tion Fee of 1/.," without which no notice whatever can be
taken of their application ; and in all cases, the most inviolable
secrecy may be relied on.
N.B. Seven doors front Soho-square.

The Adelphi Theatre is at present undergoing
demolition, with a view to its being rebuilt on an enlarged
scale, and more commodious form of construction. This
has long been wanted, for the Adelphi, although one of the
most popular, was the most ill constructed of the metropo-
litan theatres. The works are going on with great rapi-
dity, and the contractor has undertaken to get the new
house in readine,s for opening the season ,tc the ti.;u4 time,
which is about the first week in October.

During the present week The Merchant of Venice is
advertised at the Victoria, Speed the Plough at Sad-
ler's Wells, and dramas at every other minor theatre.
The Bayswater Albert Saloon advertises the perform-
ance of the melodrama called The Blind Boy, and the
farce of No Song no Supper. Here is a perpetual
and open violation of the law nightly occurrinc, in some
dozen places. " A law that cannot be enforced should
be repealed."
The present state of the two national theatres is this:
Drury owes about 230,000/., Covent-garden, 256,000/.
(the latter from Harris's statement in 1832.) To pay
five per cent. on the debts, Drury should let for 11,5001.
and Covent-garden for 12,800/. per annum
The receipts at Covent-garden theatre were :
Season 1810-11, 98,110/, 4s. Bd. ; season 1831-32,
43,318/. 19s. 11d. The average from the rebuilding
until 1820, was 86,0001. a year. The average from
1828 till 1834 did not exceed 42,000/. Similar state-
ments may be made as regards Drury-lane.
It has been averred (and statistics prove it) that the
public like large theatres. When the great Covent-
garden Company* went to the Italian_ Opera-house
(after the fire of 1808) they played to 3381. houses
on the average. When they crossed over to the little
Haymarket the receipts fell to 1531. per night! Again
in 1828 (the gas explosion) the plays that had at-
tracted 350/. at Covent-garden, brought only 145/. at
the English Opera-house. The same result ensued
when the Drury-lane Company went to the Lyceum.
Assuming it, therefore, as proven that the public have
hitherto liked large houses—we ask why ?
Is not the
answer obvious, because they were until very lately de-.
barred from seeing either good pieces or good actors at
small ones. The success of the Haymarket this and
last season settles the question. Get talent, and small
theatres will fill.

Did the public ever enjoy Liston at Covent-garden as
they did at the Haymarket and the Olympic ? Or the
great Mathews at the nationals as they did at the Eng-
lish Opera? Compare the effect produced by Mrs.
Yates and Mrs. Keeley at Covent-garden and Drury-
lane with those they achieved at the Adelphi. The
finest points of Vietorine and Smike would have been
lost in a 'lOOl. house. The success of the Olympic
under Elliston and Vestris also proves that the public
do like small theatres when great actors arc to be found
in them.

The first step towards regenerating the drama would
be to allow the minors to play any pieces written ex-
pressly for theni, and a portion at least of the regular
drama, and to keep all the saloons and singing-rooms
to the very terms of their license—singing and dancing.
The theatres could afford to throw them tumbling, rope-
dancing, and horsemanship into the bargain.
If theatricals have declined in the metropolis, the
provinces present as fearful a picture.
Bath (once the nursery of the stage) has ceased to
pay for years.
- - - • •

The
T proprietor of the Liverpool Theatre resigns this
season.

The York circuit,t now confined to Hull, Leeds, and
York, having ceded Sheffield, Doncaster, and Wake-
field, barely pays its expenses.
Manley's circuit has been long in the market. The
Norwich manager is forced to close some months in
each year. Charles Hill has quitted Brighton abruptly,
and that theatre is a common-wealth, alias a common
poverty. Mr. H. Bennett manages to make Shrews-
bury, Coventry, and Worcester pay ; we question if any
one else could. Munro does the same at Birmingham,
but lost money at Leicester. Beverley extracts, with
difficulty, a hying from Sunderland and Shields. Young
Elliston could do nothing with Leamington and Strat-
ford-upon-Avon. Barnett does wretchedly in all his
towns, save Oxford. Sloman made money at Dover, Ro-
chester, &c., but by a system to which slave-driving was
kindness ; at present those theatres do not pay. Shalders
scrambles on at Southampton. Portsmouth, &c.,
but scarcely lives. Ternan (on the new broom prin-
ciple) has done tolerably at Newcastle; but every one
of the theatres enumerated have been invariably de-
serted when Batty or Ryan, or other equestrian troops,
came in their vicinity. Dissenters arc taught that it is
sinful to go to the play, yet they visit equestrian and
mountebank displays. In towns where a company of
eight gentlemen and six ladies, at salaries not averaging
30s. per week each, cannot exist a month, an eques-
trian company, involving at least ten times the expense,
will remain (making money) for six, seven, or eight
weeks. 'This is the present state of dramatic taste in
the provinces.t The returns to the authors under Bul-
wer's Act show that the worst and most trifling pieces
are most frequently played, and that the amount re-
ceived from country theatres is decreasing week after
week.
Putting the case hypothetically, that the minors were
protected according to our suggestion, the next reform
must be in readers § and stage managers. It is clear
that a producing dramatist should not be the reader of
a theatre. It is no answer to instance Messrs. Morton,
Reynolds, Planche, and Serie, all honourable men.'
They, in common with their predecessors, were placed
in circumstances of suspicion ; they had all pieces of
their own to produce—private friends to serve—and
must have been more than human if vanity and friend-
ship did not sometimes warp their judgments.
Stage management has
degenerated awfully. To be
enabled to get up a play, it is, we presume, essential to
understand it ; how many stage managers of the present
day do so, or attempt to do so, is not for us to say. The
requisites for the situation are temper, common sense,
education, some musical, some pictorial capability ; an
eye for effect, an ear for harmony, a knowledge of cos-
tume, and a clear perception of the antthetical working
of a company, so as to bring one actor'si peculiarities to
bear upon another's. When the Macreadys, Keens,
Farrens, Powers, and such small deer, are on the stage,
..
the manager is mum. his is the new system—he
abandons the care of the entire play to the domination
of a single part. The result may be nightly seen.
Characters are cast not from a consideration of the
nature of the part itself, but a reference to the actor
who last played it. On this principle Edward Knight
(who stood same five feet) was at Drury, in 1816, cast
stalwart "Little John" in
Robin Hood, because he
(Knight) succeeded to the situation of a Vtlh actor, who
had formerly personated it.
To every trade, save authorship and fly t.
:ege• a man
serves an apprenticeship, but actor .: ,lea, age all
ready made. Seventy years Aker, . he since, V preface
to his dictionary, acknowled;,,!d that h
aj4 tadelled, his
rules from Garrick's speaki;.;.he ~cage, was then the
school for pronunciation, now it is for the greater part
possessed by men who know no language but their own,
and very little of that. We could name several per-
formers, of some standing too, who cannot read at sight,
and one who, until within the last seven years, could
not read at all. At Covent-garden, four years since,
a gentleman was engaged for important parts, who,
being requested by Macreadyt to advance too far,
replied, " Very well, sir, I'll stand a little more
backer." It ceases to surprise us that such persons
creep into theatres, when it is known that interest, not
merit, governs the entree, and that the system of
agency paralyses the provinces. Any young gentleman
or lady, equally stage and [lloon-struck, may seek
Messrs. Kenneth, Turnour, Sims, or Smithson (and
! with no voucher but their own fur their qualification)

11 Rees was an eccentric of the first water. He ap-
peared at Covent Garden Theatre in May, 1788, as Shift,
Smirk, and Mother Cole in the Minor. Afterwards kept
taverns. Imitated celebrated public characters, &c. He
was horsewhipped by old Astley for imitating him, and at-
tributing to him this phrase—" This here allegory (alli-
gator), gemmen, wor found on the banks of the Nile, and
when he wor cut open a man in harmour wor found in his
intellects, by —." Rees recovered damages for the
assault. He has been dead a few years.