The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-03 00:00:00

CREMORNE GARDENS.

These delightful and favourite gardens closed for
the season last night. Notwithstanding the threaten-
ing aspect of the weather upwards of 3,000 persons
assembled on this occasion as a mark of respect
to the indefatigable and worthy proprietor, Mr.
Ellis, whose benefit it :was. The farce of The
Bath Road ; or the Intrigue, was very well acted
throughout, especially the Tom of Mr. Van
Bure,n. The National Anthem followed, Mr. Ellis,
Mr. Van Buren, and Miss Prescot, singing the prin-
cipal verses, assisted by the entire company. Mr.
Ellis (the proprietor) was much cheered at the
conclusion of his verse, which he gave with spirit, and
in delivering the following address, the applause was so
great, and his feelings so overcome, that he was only
faintly heard by the greater portion of the audience :
Ladies and Gentlemen—On the present occasion
I feel it a duty I owe both you and myself, to submit
to your notice a few observations, and as this is
my first appearance on any stage, I trust you
will afford me your indulgence. I beg to offer
you my moat sincere and grateful thanks for the
very liberal and distinguished patronage with
which you have been pleased to honour Cremorne
Gardens during the three seasons it has been under
my direction, and to assure you that no effort shall
be wanting, no expense spared, in ,rendering it
worthy your future approbation and support.
During each vacation alterations, enlargements, and
I trust, improvements, have been made, and while
encouraged by your approval, rest assured I will
not relax in my endeavours to render this place
of amusement worthy of your patronage. I regret
that the present season, owing to the unfavour-
able state of the weather, has not been
equal to our anticipations ; still lam not discouraged,
and pledge myself that during the approaching recess
every improvement shall be made which may add to
your comforts, and every novelty and attraction
sought for which may contribute to your amusement.
Once again, ladies and gentlemen, I beg to offer you
my most profound and grateful acknowledgments,
with an assurance that your approbation shall be the
best stimulus to my future exertions."

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—In reply to the observations which have
appeared in several journals, on the omission in my
programme of the names of any soi-disant professors
of the legitimate drama, permit me to state, through
the medium of your important columns, that however
I might feel myself warranted, by an experience of
their utter want of attraction, in declining engage.
ments with such artistes, I have nevertheless mani-
fested every desire to include them in my arrangements.
I offered to Miss Helen Faucit the highest salary
(25L For week) given to that delightful actress Miss
O'Neill, when she was drawing all the world after
her, but Miss Faucit demanded 151. per night, which
is 901. per week.

I sliould have been ready to have given Mrs.
Nisbett the salary of such actresses as Mrs. Jordan,
Mrs. Davison, &c., viz., 251. per week, but I was
scared by her intimation that she had recently been
in the receipt of 601.! and was exempt from playing
in afterpieces, in which class of entertainments both
those actresses so enchanted the town.

I was prepared to give Mr. Anderson 201. per
week (higher terms than he had with Mr. 111 acready
at Drury-lane), but he required 101. per night (GU
per week !! with certain other drolleries, quite bijoux
in their way !)—and recollecting that the Kean had
25/. per week in the plenitude of his attraction, I felt
called upon to decline the difference.
I am old-fashioned enough to think that the his-
trionic talent we possess is by no means equal to
what we have lost—that English performers neither
improve nor attract by emigrating to America—that
the public are not to be blamed for confining their
patronage to first-rate instead of second-rate artistes,
and, that a director cannot justly be condemned for
refusing to give the latter about three times the sala-
ries, on an average, that were given to the former.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your much obliged servant,

A. BUNN.
Theatre Royal Covent-garden, Oct. 2,1848.

THE DISTINS' FAREWELL TO ENGLAND.--This
talented family will give their farewell concert at Drury-
lane Theatre on Monday next, and from the talent en-
gaged it cannot fail to rove successful.
GATHERING AT FORT WILLIAM.—The Highland
Society at Lockaber had their annual competition on
the 21st current, for the encouragement of the per-
manent wearing of the Highland garb, as well as for
games. The meeting took place under the ramparts
of Fort William, thus affording amphitheatrical seats
for the spectators, and a flat arena for the competitors.
Probably in the whole Highlands so excellent a site
for the purpose could not have been selected ; and cer-
tainly no district could have produced a better display
of Celtic beauty or Celtic strength or agility. The
company amounted to nearly 3,000 persons (all ad-
mitted tree). It must be apparent to all spectators that
in competitions of this nature the judges are placed
in a most embarrassing situation, and probably never
to a greater extent than the gentlemen were on
this occasion ; for where all the competitors were
worthy it was with great difficulty any decision could
be made. It may be pointed out that the result of
giving prizes to boys for competing has been emi-
nently successful. The boys of Fort William and
vicinity, under twelve years of age, will run, leap, swim,
or put the stone, in a manner that would astonish their
seniors. The long race, 1,200 yards, up a steep hill and
back, was run in four and a half minutes, and it was
keenly contested—the winner being about two yards be-
fore the second competitor. The ball, which took place
in the Freemasons' Hall, was most numerously attended
by the nobility and gentry of the district, as well as by
numerous friends from a distance The music, refresh-
ments, &c., &c., were provided by Mr. Melrose, of
the George Inn, and gave perfect satisfaction.—lnverness
• Courier.