The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-05 00:00:00

THE FAREWELL TO CHARLES MATHEWS.

The complimentary benefit to Mr. Charles
Mathews yesterday at Covent Garden, prior to his
departure for Australia, has resulted in, a great
success. Every seat in the theatre was filled, and
the performances produced the greatest en-
thusiasm.

All the old favourites received a warm rem).

Lion, but on Mr. Charles Mathews making his
appearance as Manager Puff in the " Critic" the
applause was tremendous.

At the conclusion of the mock tragedy the
expression of feeling on the part of the bril
liaat audience was something extraordinary,
and in obedience to calls from all parts of the
house Mr. Charles Mathews apiearcd, and spoke
as follows

" Ladies and Gentlemen, —Now, I appeal to you,
isn't it worth a voyage to Australia to draw forth
such an overwhelming and, I may say, unprece-
dented display as that of this morning ? I don't
know which is the most complimentary—the most
gratifying to my feelinp—the cordial demonstra-
tion from the brilliant assemblage before the cur-
tain, or the friendly co-operation and good-fellew-
sh.p of the galaxy of talent behind it. It almost
shakes my determination to leave you, and makes
me feel inc!ined to go on taking benefits every
morning for the next, twelvemonth. But perhaps
this would not be wise. Who knows but after a
few months my friends might get weary of me ?
so 1 don't think I will venture that experiment. I
have over and over again experienced the kindness
of the public, and under all sorts of circumstances
have been cheered by their favour and patronage,
though certainly not in so marked a manner as in
this instance; but I have never before met with so
remarkable a manifestation of good feeling—such
an utter abnegation of self on the part of my pro-
fessional brethren as has been exhibited to-day. To
find the most distinguished artists of our time con-

tent to Lide their candle under a bushel (I'm the
bushel), playing the most insignificant parts with
perfect good humour, even shaking their heads
without uttering a word, though, without uttering a
word, you will admit that a most flowery (flour-y)
speech has been made, is a compliment I never can
forget, and the remembrance of which I shall carry
across the ocean under my waistcoat., next my heart
of hearts. It not only proves the truth of Sheridan',
remark that where they do agree upon the stage,
their unanimity is wonderful,' but it indicates a per-
sonal regard which is more valuable to me than the
mest elaborately doled expression of professional
esteem. Albeit not given to the melting mood, I am
almost tempted to besentimental on the occasion, but
it is out of my line, and 1 would not mar the merri-
ment of the morning by a serious and formally con-
cocted set speech. I have no wish, ladies and,
gentlemen, to bring your pocket-handkerchiefs into
requisition ; I shall see enough salt water by and
by without that. No, it has been a merry meeting,
and I would have it a merry parting, trusting at no
distant period to have an equally merry return.
UL ! I am not unmindful of my return, believe me ;
the human mind naturally looks forward, and as a
proof I beg to inform you, thus in good time, that 1
have already accepted an engagement at the 11 iy mar-
ket on my arrival. Tickets may be secured at the
box office by telegraph a year in advance. After all,
I'm not going so very far, only to the antipodes,
and what is that in these days? A tour in the
provinces, nothing more, with a casual peep at
Egypt, and a possible glimpse of India and
China en passant—to many people a delightful
little pleasure excursion, even without the
temptation of profit tacked to it ; while I

have a double inducement in the hope of find-
ing pleasure and profit combined. Besides, I
am no stranger to the Overland Route ;' 1
ought to be quite at home in it, having had a run
of 200 nights on boa;d a P. and 0. steamer at the
1-hytnarket only a few years ago. But I should
to perfectly satisfied with a much shorter run thi
time, and, not being a manager, a run of six weeks

will be quite as much as I desirc. Once safely
landed at Melbourne, I have no fear of meeting
with a kind reception from those who have so often
given me pressing invitations to visit their shores.
The only anxiety on my mind will be the natural

one of how they will like me when they get me there.
In this sensational age is is somewhat daring to risk
a j,,,ureey of 15,000 miles to play simple coin. die:
and fares, without the now indispensable adjuncts
of fires, murders, wrecks, daring leaps, awful
headers, and crashing railway engines ; when
there is no chance for scene painters, machinis s,
limelights, hansom cabs, red fire, or moonlight
bridges. How if should not hit the taste of our
Antipodean friends? What's to be done then`:
Well, I suppose I must buy a. kangaroo, and
come home again. As the man said 'when
bound for Jerusalem, 'lf I can't convert
the Jews, I can buy an Arabian horse.' I re-
member a story of Sir Walter Scott's of a young
medical practitioner in Perth who, tired of waiting
for practice in his native city, announced that he
had determined to emigrate to Australia. Aus-
tralia!' said his friend, ' What on earth for ?
Why there are nothing but kangaroos there.'
Well,' said he, isn't their money as good as any-
body else's ?' So, if all else fail, I shall have to
fail back upon the aborigines and see if 1 can't per-
suade them to put their hands in their pouches.
At all events, if our brethren on the other side ot
the globe do not find me exactly the conunodity
they want, they can't say that I am a mere ephe-
meral, flimsy kickshaw, furbished up to impose upon
the colonial market. I may fall short of their ex-
pectations, but I am at least genuine of my kind—a
long-tried, well-seasoned article, warrauted sound
and fit for immediate exportation. And now,
ladies and gentlemen, the time is arrived when I am
to bid you adieu, but before doing so I must advett
to one most extraordinary circumstance connected
with this occasion. I cannot resiit referring to the
remarkable fact that, perhaps, for the first time in
the history of the stage—at any rate of the modern
stage—this benefit has come off without a single
poster, board, bill, or playbill of any description
having been issued, and that with the exception of
the programmes distributed in the house this morn
ing, and the simple announcement in the news-
papers, not an intimation of any kind has been
give❑ to the public. Now, this is a step in the right
direction. Time was when my bills were flying all
over the town, but now I am happy to be able to
say that I leave England without having a single
bill out. In a few days I shall take my departure,
and, as it may be a satisfaction to my friends
to know that my comfort and , happiness
will be insured during my peregrinations, as far as
anything can be insured in this world, I will with
your permission present to you a guarantee that I
shall have all the consolation man can desire in the
sweet society and affectionate solicitude of a be-
loved companion. Here is the guarantee (leading
forward Mrs. C. Mathews). Ladies and gentlemen,
allow me in the name of my wife and myself to bid
you respectfully and gratefully farewell."
The speech concluded amid loud plaudits. The
curtain again rose, and discovered a large assem-
blage of professional ladies and gentlemen, who,
gathered together in honour of the veteran come-
dian, echoed from the stage the shout of the
audience.

i:OURSE OF EXCHANGE.

Amsterda ... 11 10
m .. 93 h,c )irst :.. ..
1121 1181
12
1}
Do
Rotterdam — .. . 12 l;
Antwerp —
... 25 371 ... 25 42}
Brussels

13 1(11 13 11
Ratillairgu
Paris
Ditto

Marseilles
Frankfort-on-the-Main ••• 1201
Vienna
Trieste 1.!2 12 7U
12 70

29&
28
Potorsbur;r,
0
G.ponlingen. ....... . ... 9
2 18
••• „ 2
Perlin
1

Ma‘b ........ •" - 481
49
Leghorn ...
26 73 26 771,
Milan 6 75 ... 2C 771
.•
Genoa -
26 75 ... 26 77,
Naples
Palermo 26 75 ... 26 773
Messina
Lisbon 5ll 52
Rio Janeiro
New York .—... ••.
Oporto

•••
51! ... 52