The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-16 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER PLAY.

According to ancient usage at this season of the year,
the young gentlemen of Westminster School on Monday
treated their friends and the elite of the public to a
comedy from Terence. The play selected was the
Adelphi ; or, the Brothers. Considering that there were
many ladies at the representation the selection was not
the best that might have been made. There are few of
the sex who learn Latin now-a-days, and perhaps Lady
Jane Grey or the good Queen Bess might, atter all,
tave found the difficult colloquial text of this writer an
obstacle to a perfect apprehension of those objectionable
passages and epithets in the play—more especially when
delivered, as it was last night, in rapid dialogue. It
may therefore be presumed that nobody but scholars
were in danger even when Sannio disclosed the infamy
of his hateful vocation. The characters in the play
were cast as follows:
Micio
Demea

... N. R. Smart
... H. Vaughan Williams
... J. R. Armitstead
... R. G. H. Somerset
... H. R. Barker
... B. Burton
... H. Clapcott
... W. D. Somerville
... H. D. Nicholson
F. H. Forshall
... T. B. Connell.

Satanic)

Z.schinus
Syrus
Ctesipho
Sostrato
Canthara
Gets
Hegio
Dromo

Tibicina
Parmeno

MUTES.

... W. IL Home
... F. W. Stokes.

The theatre is formed in the great Dormitory, of
which it temporarily occupies a third, and it is ap-
proached through a double range of beds. The stage is
very prettily arranged, the scenery good, end in keeping(
with the date of the piece. The audience part is very
conveniently laid out, and there is a large gallery 1%1)0,41
all for the lads. Nothing could be more correct or con-
sistent than the dress of the actors, nor could there be
anything more perfect than the young aspirants in the
knowledge of their parts. It appeared to us that there
was no prompter—certainly he was never heard, and•
was never required. The whole performance, in this
respect, exhibited a splendid triumph of disciplined
memory, and the readings and accents—matters of great
delicacy—were faultless.
At seven o'clock the Rev. Dr. Lydell, the head-master,
entered, accompanied by some friends, and he was most
vociferously greeted by the young gods in the gallery,
who clapped their hands till the roof rang with the
echoes, the band strangely enough playing " See the
conquering hero comes." The curtain then drew up,
and the play' proceeded. The plot need be detailed no
further than to state that Demea, having two sons, gives
to his brother Micio one of the youths, fEschinus, to be
adopted by him, as Micio has neither wife or children.
The characters of the old gentlemen are strikingly
dissimilar, and they accordingly bring up the young
men very differently. The urchin Cupid, however,
involves both the wild and adopted son and his
better disposed brother Ctesipho in love and mischief.
The effect of these freaks upon the tempers of their
parents affords considerable amusement during the play,
and in the end the tyrannical father becomes emulous of
the popularity of his amiable-tempered brother, and.
sanctions the union of his brother with a poor ill-used.
girl, whilst the old bachelor marries to please Demea,
the girl's mother.
The part of Demea was sustained with great truth-
and force by Mr. H. Vaughan Williams. the part of
Sostrato was excellently delineated by Mr. H. Clapcott,
who assumed all a fond mother's tenderness in that ax-
quisite plaint in the third act, " Me miseram quid credas
jam ?" bearing the whole audience with him, and re-
ceiving immense applause. The old nurse was also a
finished piece of acting, though she had little to do. The
part was enacted by Mr. Somerville ; and Mr. H. R.
Barker played the tricky slave Syrus with great spirit
and broad comic humour. Distinctions arc almost invi-
dious, for every one did his utmost to contribute to the
success of the entertainment, which seemed to give great
delight to a very crowded house.

We were rather surprised to find that, notwithstanding
Parliament is sitting, there were few, if any notables
present.

At the conclusion of the piece the band of the Guards
struck np " God save the Queen." The curtain again
rose, and disclosed the whole force of the company with
the most pleasing effect, from the grouping of the figures,
the contrast of colours, and the classical, varied, and ele-
gant dresses of the performers.

PRICE OF SUGAR.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN,
Sia,—Taking the average of all the average prices of
West India Sugar, published each week in the Gazette,
from the sth of January to the 30th of November,
1847, inclusive, being forty-eight weeks, we have a value
of twenty-eight shillings per cwt. It is true that the
luxuriant sugar harvest throughout the British posses-
thtihmeila
posses-
sions has somewhat abated that price at the present mo-
ment; and it is also true, that the colonists have had
moneydifficultiess
incteo
the contend n against,beginning
ofOctober,rough s
r to scarcitythoosof
experienced by all classes of her Majesty's sub-
jects. Surely the great body of consumers in Great
Britain should benefit, wad have a right to participate
in the immense crops of sugar, the plantations have
yielded this season; the consumers can but have
their share of that advantage in price, while the
producers are sure of theirs in quantity. rhat can the
West Indians want or desire, that they would occupy the
valuable time of the Legislature, to the exclusion of
more important affairs ? Do they hope to levy contri-
butions again from classes who have suffered equally
with themselves, by endeavouring to revert to protective
duties ? They ought to recollect they have already
been more leniently dealt with thaa the agriculturists
of this country, inasmuch as they hadfive years allowed
them before the protection ceased, while the latter had
but three ! Again, all the protection an Act of Parlia-
ment can secure them has been granted ; and yet, so
great is the quantity of sugar produced this year in the
British possessions, that the settlers are utterly unable
to maintain all the law has given them.
The fact is, all things progress excepting the West
Indian colonist. What he was a hundred years ago he
is at this day, namely, alieni appetens sui profusus,
I remain, Sir, yours obediently,
Mincing-lane, Dec. 14. B. S. R.

The Prince and Princess of Saxe Coburg have
arrived in Paris from Brussels.

A new lady novelist is about to make her appear-
ance. who, from her peculiar position in society—admired
equally for her beauty, wit, and talent—is likely to elicit
considerable attention. Her work is called " Leonora ;
gS Story."
thery.''
VERTISE
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less than six pounds, delivered carriage free to any part
of England. Orders must be accompanied by a remit-
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will suffice on receipt and approval of the goods. A list
of prices and samples free, on application to G. T. Man-
sell and Co., wholesale tea-dealers, 2, Bucklersbury,
Cheapside.
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