The Sun.
London, England, 1840-04-08 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.

We had the pleasure of witnessing at this theatre last night
Charles Kemble's performance (for the last of the Kembles is too
great a name to be designated, notwithstanding the respectable au-
thority of the play bills, with the prefix of Mr.) of the character
of Benedick, in Sliakspeare's excellent comedy of Much Ado about
Nothing. Benedick was allowed to be one of Garrick's best cha-
racters, and, upon the whole, we are clearly of opinion that it is
one of the most successful of all Charles Kemble's -performances.
We have never seen anything to equal his acting in the
scene in which the woman-hater all at once discovers that he is
beloved to distraction by the equally wedlock-eschewing Beatrice. His
absolute bewilderment, at first distrustful of himself, by no means
satisfied as to whether he be asleep or awake, and labouring, as it
were, under the narcotic influence of laudanum, presented one of the
finest exhibitions we have ever seen of the first workings of some
great, overwhelming passion, in a mind previously a stranger to
its influence. The scene in which he challenges Count Claudio,
the innocent repudiator of Hero, was not so much to our taste,
but the actor was less to blame than the author. In truth, our
moral feelings are shocked by the proposal of the father of Hero,
that her lover should marry her cousin a few days only
after her reported untimely death, and still more by his
acceptance of such a mode of expiating the wrong he had
unintentionally committed against his ladylove. We think it is
Hazlitt who says that Hero is the principal figure in this play by
her beauty and her misfortunes. This judgment must have been
come to after a perus-11 of the comedy in the closet. On the stage
the main characters are unquestionably Benedick and Beatrice.
From first to last they alone divide among them all our sympathies.
Mrs. Nesbitt performed the part of Beatrice, and we can give her
no higher praise than to say, that since the days of Mrs. Jordan
there has not been such justice done to that charact r. Her arch-
ness, and womanly raillery, which all could feel to conceal
deep and tender feeling, was only equated by her quiet
self-possession, which left nothing to be desired. Mr.
Farrell, as Dogberry, and Keeley, as Verges, convulsed the house
with laughter. Miss Emmeline Montague threw what life she
could into the dull character of Hero—a personage, by the way,
with whose misfortunes we would find it difficult to sympathise.
At the falling of the curtain, Charles Kemble was loudly called for,
and made his appearance amid thunders of applause, which lasted
several minutes. There was not an auditor present who did not
appear to feel that an individualcompliment had been paid him by
the aipearance of this last of a race of histrionic heroes on the
stage. We trust he will be pre: ailed upon not to withdraw from us
for a few nights longer. There are thousands who have not yet
seen him—who wish to see him—and in whose lives the very sight
of him would form a delightful era. This consideration deserves to
have weight, both with him and with his friends. The house was
densely crowded.

TIIE ITALIAN OPERA.—Last night Pasta's
pupil, Signora Emelina TOsi made her first appearance in this
country, in the character of Norma. Her voice is not powerful,
yet, neither is it thin. It is on the contrary, full, sweet, and
of extraordinary compass—reaching from the region of the
contralto to the altitudes of the soprano. Some of her low
tones are peculiarly fine and impressive. What she still wants
seems a degree of physical strength, which, it may be presumed,
she will gradually acquire. She was favourably received.
Ernesta Grisi, Lablache, and Ricciardi, were all in excellent
voice. The ballet was the Gipsy ; and Fanny l'assler was as
captivating as usual. The house was full.

Baton and Baroness Dirnsdale, and the Misses
Ditnsdale, arrived at Alivart's Hotel, on Saturday, from Dover,
where the Baron and Baroness, with their family, have resided
during the winter.

The Earl of Coventry is labouring under severe
indisposition at his seat, Severn Bank, Worcester.
Lady Elizabeth Dawson has arrived in town
from a tour in France and Italy.

FREEMASONRY.--BV letters overland under
date the 13th February, we learn that Dr. Grant, the newly
appointed Provincial Oland Master for Bengal, has nominated
the following brethren to be officers of the Grand Provincial
Lodge of Bengal :
Robert Neane, Esq., B.C. S., Deputy Grand Master.
Sir E. Ryan (Judge of Supreme Court) Senior Grand Warden.
Major Bu:lton, Junior Grand Warden.

Major Henderson, Senior Grand Deacon.
Dr. Egerton, Junior Grand Deacon.

Alexander Grant, Esq., Grand Secretary.
It. Bagshaw. Esq., Grand Treasurer.
S. Smith, Esq. Grand Registrar.
There have been some difficulties in reconciling contending
claims for masonic distinction, but they have been obviated by
the courtesy and decision of the Provincial Grand Master, upon,
whom now rest the hopes and the expectations of the Anglo-
Indian masons in the extensive Presidency over which his
masonic rule extends

DEATH OF SIR RICHARD PHILLIPS.—We
hare to announce the demise of this venerable Knight, which
took place on Thursday last at Brighton, after a long illness, in
his 73d year. Sir Richard was collaterally related to the !ate
Lord Milford, and served the office of Sheriff of London in
11:4)8-9. He was known in the literary world as the projector,
editor, and proprietor of the Monthly Magazine, and the
author of various books connected with an improved system of
education.

MATCH AGAINST TrAtE.—,last Friday, on the
Chester road at Trannicre, a match against time was performed
by Mr. Barker's celebrated chesnut horse, Reynard. He was
mounted by his owner, and was backed to trot two miles in six
minutes and a half, which he accomplished in good style in six
minutes and 22 seconds. The match was for 40/., and the
betting in favour of time, two to one being laid against the
horse performing the task. We understand the same horse is
backed to trot seventeen miles within the hour, within twenty
miles of Liverpool, next week. Reynard has won 31 out of
33 matches that he has run. —Liverpool Cht angle.
The Earl and Countess of Radnor and family
arrived at their mansion in Grosvenor-street this day, for the.
season. Viscount Folkestone remains at Longford Castle,
and the noble family are placed in mourning by the death of
Colonel and Lady Catherine Buckley's infant son, who died
after a short illness, at Minestead, in the New Forest, not
long since.
Lord Rivers and the Hon. Horace Pitt have
arrived in town.
this SIR THOMAS PHlLLlPS.—Yesterday gen-
tleman •vas introduced to the Common Council of the City of
London, to receive the
greatest honour the City can confer for
his meritorious services in repelling the attack of the Chartists
in the town of
of the C'
1 agreeably to Newport. Sir James Shaw, the Chamberlain,
a suitable vote of the Common Council, presented the free-
domity to the Gallant Knight, and accompanied it with
sense of speechthehiig,l,it.hhoenSsomiurronfened upon him, and attributed the
Thomas Phillips expressed his grateful
cheered.
him. He wai loaudll4
resuslt,:hieAfl
chiefly to
but gallant band of soldiers who sup-
portedDErEcTi-vST P.EET, PICCADILLY.—
the: pricgeAvir:iiE,::stc tihNne:mu
cie so:.r,s .2
nSd.
Taiir:l4l;B-Fi..silS° Solomon OAn s , greaterinvisib 1
eproof r
ao-f
1 ..a
~,,,
,t
b..
adom.ed.
tit;itt
the
t,t . iiventea Speelacl. Len.e-
vreatest ben.lit and
relief, 31,,i the 4.01,4:111t. jinni"( t "
1 sdiels; Of 111411Vithial, ,Ini 1,,v,. „Ztr'"ur (" 0.,' many lbw,:
instant
thew, ai:d tl:, patronaa, they Lave, ".'7"". &wand ttiere is for
eeive. The Messrs. S. and B. sotioil. daily continue to le- !
tion with persons of the same name, and stlideisclaim all connec-
tion
spec-
tacles; the pernicious use of amber spectacles sale of amber
kmown to the public, and the vendor beinr, aware bring now well
therefore altered their name, by leaving nut the of
i:, lie has
~ word .' Am-
ber," and calling them " Patent Spectacles.
IJre, Esq., M.D. , F. R. 5.., &c., states amber is most
Andrew
fully electrical by friction, very hot, to such an extetal to ex-
power-
ploie into fragments. The workmen, too, are subject to a net-
sous tremor in their wrists, arms, &c. ; they encounter
danger by handling such dreadfully excited electrics.
Amber
great
ii of such a soft and sticky nature, that it is apt to take fire
and when exposed to warmth, it swells, bubbles up, and will
burn away with flame. This statement is further confirmed by
Sir D. Brewster and Pliny, as also by Parks and Hems on
Chemistry. The pernicious and destructive use of such a ma-
terial for spectacles to imperfect vision may be ascertained at
any respectable optician's in London.-39, Albemarle-street.
POISONING A HUSBAND.--Madame Lafaye,
formerlylNllle. Cappelli, allied to the first families of France,
and about to undergo trial for stealing diamonds and for poison-
ing her hnb '''' , ill in prison, and not
I:cei and, is said to be dangerously
y to survive • till the trial.

Just ready, in 2 vols.Brn., with Portraits and Autographs,

MEMOIRS OF

THE PRINCESS- DA SCHK AW,
LADY OF HONOUR TO CATHERINE IL
WRITTEN BY HERSELF.
To which are subjoined numerous Letters of the Empress
Catherine and other celebrated Personags.
Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street.
,* Orders received by all Booksellers.

Now ready, in 2 vole Bvo., with numerous Illustrations,
ELEVEN YEARS IN CEYLON;
By MAJOR FORBES,

- 78th Highlanders.
" Major Forbes is just the writer from whom the Briti,h
public would most v:illingly receive a❑ account of Ceylon—
which is at this moment a subject of especial interest. lie has
all the frankness of a soldier, mingled with the taste and judg-
ment of a scholar. Whether he recites the annals of ancient
wars, describes the relics of former grandeur, exhibits the proofs
of present improvement, or leads us into the forest jungles to
enjoy the exciting chase of the wild elephant, we find him
equally full of information. This is high praise, but it may
easily be justified by reference to the work. —Athenwurn.
Richard Bentley, New Burlington-street,
Publisher in Ordinary to her Majesty.