The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-18 00:00:00

FRENCH PLA It S-ST. JAMES

La Dame de St. Tropez, which on its first production
at this theatre, during the last engagement of M. F. Le-
maitre, excited such thrilling interest, was performed for
the first time this season ou Friday evening. F. Lemaitre
being, of course, the George Maurice. His George
Maurice is a superb piece of acting, and it really last
evening seemed to be even more powerful and effective
than it appeared two seasons ago. The drama is most
artibtically constructed, and the last scene is the cli
max. In that last scene how painfully true to nature is
the acting of Frederic Lemaitte. His dying scene is the
most affecing thing on the stage. Ile was admirably
supported by Mademoiselle Clarisse as Hortense, by Du-
mery as Antoine Caussade, the villain of the piece, and
by Cartigny as the Notary. The house was crowded.

TilE CONDE DE MONTEMOLIN.—The Conde de
Montemolin and suite visited, on Thursday, the library of
the British ➢luseum, and felt so highly interested with the

different valuable ancient works put into his hands that he

spent the major part of the day there. One of the things
that struck the illustrious Prince most was the vast and pre-
cious collection of Spaaish manuscripts he saw, among which
was the original codicil to the will of Charles V., and often
expessed his astonishment how persons could be found ca-
pable of selling such national treasure.
EXTRAORDINARY RENCONTRE.—The quid nuncs of
an ancient town in Derbyshire that has figured rather con-
spicuously in our columns of late, were on the 13th instant
thrown into a high state of excitement by a rencontre in the
public market-place of a somewhat extraordinary character.
It appears that for some time past squibs, composed of very
combustible materials, have been flying about the town, to
the annoyance of some parties, and the amusement of others;
and an explosion of a rather ludicrous nature has at length
taken place, which our faithful chronicler thus graphically
narrates : —Between the hours of twelve and one o'clock on
the day above-named, two highly respectable parties,—one
a gallant lieutenant in her Majesty's navy, the other a son
of an indefatigable and very useful Member of the House of
Commons—happened to meet in the market-place, and mu-
tually suspecting each other of being the author of certain
printed cards, letters, hand-bills, &c., words ensued, and they
challenged each other with the fact. From words they
speedily came to blows, which resulted in a gallant contest for
the victory. Round one—the combatants closed in, "pitched"
right and left with determined fierceness, each bent on doing
great execution, and bringing the battle to a climax; chances
about even, but the" young 'un " rather the best of it. Round
second : fiercely contested, science at a discount, with both,
passion getting the better of judgment; the " young 'un "
pitched into his opponent's " bread. basket," who, in return,
struck at the visage of his antagonist, neither doing any
execution. Several rounds followed in succession, and a
crowd having collected round the combatants, a friend of
one of the parties interfered. The Gallant Lieutenant was
dragged from the scene into a shop by a chivalrous lady, and
the young esquire was forcibly held by the bystanders, and
prevented pursuing his antagonist, and taking the full
amount of his injuries—real or imagined—out in " kind."
The former, says our chronicler, showed marks about the
eyes, and blood was seen at intervals to trickle from the
mouth of the esquire. Of course the conflict caused a great
sensation in the' ancient and loyal" town, and it will serve
the quid nuncs to talk about for many a day to come. We
insert these particulars in the hope that their publication
will tame these fiery spirits, and bring them back to a pro-
per state of mind. Those who play at bowls must expect
rubbers ; and if either, or both parties, are guilty of the con-
duct which they impute to each other, we would advise them
to fight the battle out with ink, and most religiously eschew
a contest with clenched fists.—Froua the Second Edition of
the Derby Reporter.