The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-18 00:00:00

TflE SUN, LONDON, TUEISDAY EVENIN6, JANUARY lB, fB4B,

He replies :

" Is it so large ?
'I-here still is room ? ?mini/ it hold ?

lu such a sense as it is due to all,

1:11.-n, all the human kind ; but in that straiter

And inner clasp a here love.lit:s hoarded up,
Then oily thee."
His words, his manner frighten her, but all further
parley between them is prevented by the entrance of
Jab z, who announces that a troop of horse are in
the court below, sent to arrest a malignant, who had
sought shelter within the mansion. In an agony Lady
Evelyn demands of her husband to shield him from
'hanger. Roused to madness, Walter rushes, sword
in hand, to the door of the bower chamber, hut Eve-
lyn throws herself across his path. In a voice chok-
ing with rage and agony, WTaltsr commands her to
give way, declaring that her own life is not safe ;
when, placing herself before the door of the bower
chamber, she replies—

" Why, take it then—
So his be spared. Living thou shalt not pass me.
Here is my post, and if thou will advance,
illy heart lies upon thy bloody road."

This scene was magnificently acted by Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Kean. Walter, however, will not have her
,lifgrace and his dishonour made public, and therefore
dismisses the Parliamentary officers without suffering
them to search the bower chamber. He, however,
determines to separate from her for ever, and an-
nounces to her his determination. She seeks in vain
to mollify him ; she is ignorant of what cause could
urge him to such extremity. He speaks of the fugi-
tive as her paramour, and then the truth bursts upon
her. The acting of Mrs. Charles Kean at
this trying moment was beautifully pathetic,
beautifully true to nature ; never have the
mingled workings in the heart, of pride, indignation,
and sor row, been more truly, more exquisitely deli-
neated. She now consents at once to their separation.
If the accusation be true, she is not worthy of him ;
if false, he is not worthy her. Still, he would fain
have some hope ; he almost asks her to declare her
innocence, and that will satisfy him. He asks—
" Can we again be what we have been?"

Lady Evelyn replies—

" Never
The woman once suspected, from that hour
Is never safe again—the sacred fence
That hedged her in, when once a doubt has entered,
Is broken down; another doubt will follow
%Vial less obstruction—easier still the next—

Till they have worn themselves a beaten track,
And trust dwells there no more."
lie gives her a safe conduct to France, tells her to
take what she will with her, and orders Maud and
the Page to accompany her. He hands her the safe
conduct. She observes it is not signed. " And can
she be so calm at such a moment ?" observes Walter,
in a tone of the most intense agony. The pass is de-
livered to Evelyn, who gives it unobserved to Maud,
An alarm is heard without; a man on horseback is
seen escaping. The plot is evident to Walter—
it is his wife's paramour escaping with the pass. He
demands the pass of her, and , rushing to a window,
gives orders to fire on the fugitive. In an agony
she clings to him, and exclaims—
"Ha ! It is my brother !
Walter, it is my brother! "
It is too late ; he believes her not; a shot is fired,
and the fugitive falls ; his horse, however, alone is
shot, and a moment after the Lord Arden is brought
in a prisoner, and Evelyn's honour is cleared.
This most effective play was most effectively acted
by all concerned. Mrs. Charles Kean was beautiful
exceedingly as the Lady Evelyn. No living artist
could have acted it like her. We have no one
on the stage who can perform the high-born,
high-bred, proud, impassioned lady like Mrs. Charles
Kean. Witness her performance in Love—witness
her exquisitely beautiful and most womanly and lady-
like performance of Lady Evelyn last evening. Mr.
Charles Kean has vastly improved during his long
sojourn in America. An actor of high genius (the
only actor of real genius as eontradistinguished from
mere talent at present on the stage), he occasionally
marred his efforts by the besetting sin of men of genius,
—exaggeration ; but his artist-like feeling, his ex-
quisite taste, and his intense study, have enabled him
to overcome every tendency to this fault : all is
chaste, all is pure, and yet he is as intensely
impassioned as ever— as effective, as picturesque.
Taste has in him chastened genius, so as to form a
perfect artiste. 'Webster, as Jabez, dressed and
acted the old steward to the life. Mrs. Keeley, as
Maud, was quaint and most amusing, and Miss
Reynolds looked the prince of pages. All were
called for at the conclusion, and the reception of Mr.
and Mrs. liean, like their welcome on their first
entrance, was most enthusiastic. Webster announced
the piece for repetition every evening of their engage-
ment ; after which there were loud calls for the
author, who bowed his thanks from a private box.

(From the Times.)
The long dramas produced of late have not been
successful, and while the number brought out has
been far greater than at previous epochs, the oftener
has recurred to us the painful duty of recording
failures more or less respectable. And in the case of
the Haymarket Theatre this duty has been particu-
larly painful. It is in this house that authors, who
have aimed at a literary kind of dramatic composition
have chiefly found a field for their exertions ; and,
probably, in theatrical records, there is not to be
found a manager more liberal than Mr. Webster in
the encouragement of dramatic productions.
The course of failure seems at last happily inter-
rupted, and we may declare the fate of Mr. Lovell's
new play to be a legitimate success. Let us not be
misunderstood in the use of this word "legitimate,"
so often employed without any definite meaning at
all. This drama scarcely even pretends to belong to
the highest class of composition, nor does it aim at
anything like creation or original collision ; poetical
passages of beauty occur here and there, but these
cannot be said to constitute the characteristic of the
work. By "legitimate" success, we mean that the
audience really liked the piece, and that many future
audiences are likely to be pleased with it also. They
were not merely moved by that mischievous sort of
etiquette which compels a sanguine author to put his
head out of his snug private box on the first night of
his pi.ece,when he is doomed to see it slip out of the bills
wit tun a week after the felicitous event.
The theme of the Wife's Secret (so the play is
called) is the reverse of new, and is simple to an ex-
treme degree. The author has been compelled to use
obvious artifice to work it out so as to render gradual
progress possible. When a mutual understanding
between the dramatis personce would have solved a
mystery too soon, and prematurely cut the knot that
Was to be unravelled, he has delayed the critical mo-
merit by employing seeming accident to avoid expla-
nation, or by sealing up the mouth of the principal
speaker with an oath of secrecy. But he has managed
his work skilfully, he has sustained the interest of his
audience through five acts, and while his subject is
transparent he has succeeded in exciting surprise at
the successive stages of development.
Though new to the London hoards, the Wife's Se-
cret has been played in America by Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Kean, who brought it with them to this
country. They made their debut in it last night ;
and in consequence of its success, it is to be repeated
every night during their engagement.
Lady Eveline, the wife, is played to perfection by
Mrs. Charles Kean. She makes the character ex-
quisitely gentle and feminine, rising on occasion to
a haughtiness of conscious right, and looking with
abhorrent indignation at the imputation of wrong.
It was by the admirable preservation of the
tenderer side of the character that the sterner
traits produced their effect, for in her whole
performance there was nothing forced or exag-
gerated. While conscious that she has a secret
which she cannot disclose to her husband, the honest
fearlessness with which, in one of the critical situa-
tions of the piece, she looks unshrinkirigly into her
husband's face, is beautifully conceived ; and when
towards the end she is plainly accused of infidelity,
the change in her countenance, and the deliberate
manner in which she says
" I did not think
I could so nearly hate thee,"
is exceedingly fine. It should be observed, that al-
though she is aware that she is suspected of harbour-
ing a fugitive, it is not till late that she finds a doubt
is entertained as to her virtue, and the disclosure of
this doubt collies upon her as a thunderbolt, the shock
of which her pure soul is unable to sustain.. The in-
trinsic goodness of the Lady Eveline never lost
sight of by Mrs. Kean, who endows virtue with all
its cheerfulness and all its indignation.
The character of Sir Walter Ainyot, the husband,
though well conceived by the author, is one capable
of less delicate effects than that of the Lady Eveline.
I3uNts of sorrow, rage, or despair, mark the chief
phases in his position. Mr. Charles Kean, who played
the character, has, in a great measure, softened those
mannerisms by which he was distinguished prior to
his departure for America. He read the part well
well throughout, and though there was perhaps some-
what of sameness in the more violent passages of the
character, many of the strokes of pathos were given in
a really touching manner. The attitudes, expression
of dejection, and a sense of abandonment, which often

occur in the course of the piece, and which give a
picturesque character to the part, were well devised
and striking.

That admirable actress, Mrs. Keeley, plays a
lady's-maid, forced into puritanism by the manners of
the time, yet dropping the garb of sanctity at every
possible opportunity. The alternation of the nasal
twang with her own merry little voice tells with ex-
cellent effect, and the piquancy of the actress renders
this trifling part one of the most interesting in the
piece. Mr. Webster plays the crabbed dishonest
steward with care and judgment, and dresses the cha-
racter to perfection. Indeed, in the art of dressing so
as completely to change his exterior individuality,
Mr. Webster has scarcely an equal on the stage.
Mr. and Mrs. Kean, at the end of the performance
last night, were enthusiastically called by a crowded
house, and received a shower of bouquets; Mr.
Lovell was invited to bow from his box ; Mr. Web-
ster was loudly applauded when he announced the
play for repetition; and, lastly, Mrs. Keeley and
Miss Reynolds (who acted a page) were summoned
before the curtain.

(From the Chronicle.)
There was a double attraction at this house last
night—the representation, for the first time in this
country, of Mr. Lovell's five act play, called The
Wife's Secret, and the re-appearance, upon London
boards, of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean. The drama
achieved a cornpleta triumph, and the success of its
principal performers was not less decided, and not
less deserved. Indeed, we have not often known the
applause of a "first night" FO evidently spontaneous
and genuine, and it was bestowed with equal hearti-
ness upon the play and the two old favourites who
filled its principal characters.
We shall speak of the drama first. The Wife's
Secret will be in some quarters called a melodrama.
And it is a melodrama, but a good one, and we have
yet to learn that a melodrama—that is, a mixed
drama in which skilfully built up story and
striking situation and effect are added to poetical
conception, and keen and acute delineation of cha-
racter—we have still to learn that a play of this class
may not take equal rank as a work of artistic genius,
with dramas which possess far higher pretensions and
far lower capabilities. The Wife's Secret is, in the
first place, an interesting play. That is one great
point,gained. The man who sees the first act will
stay to see the last. The story, in its general fea-
tures, is clear, simple, and natural ; while the interest
flows on in a broad, unbroken current. The tale, too,
is managed with great dramatic tact and ability; you
feel that a clear head has guided its course, has planned
out every scene, and put an artistic finish to the
work, which is not in these days to be frequently met
with. The characters hare little subtlety in concep-
tion or execution. They are struck out broadly and
boldly with a hand which is steady in outline drawing,
and not unskilled in more minute filling in—touches
which show the master. The dialogue is not bril-
liant, neither is it dull. Here and there are touches of
poetry, put naturally and effectively; but in general
—and it is high praise to say so—the characters talk
very much in the fashion they would have used had
they been realities instead of fancies.
Slr. and Mrs. Charles Kean did their parts full
justice. We doubt whether the character of Eveline
is one which calls Mrs. Kean's full powers into play,
but she rendered it with a genial force and exquisite
touches of simple pathos. Were we to name the
grand characteristic of her performance we should
say it consisted in the full, tender, womanly spirit
which she breathed forth over all the delineation.
There was an utter 'absence of all exaggeration and
straining in her performance, but there was in it a
heartiness, a full earnest glow of mingled passion and
pathos which the audience not only appreciated but
shared.

Mr. Charles Kean has made decided progress
since we saw him last. His manner is much toned
down, and that without the loss of energy or power.
He played last night with great passion and with
great Ipathos. lie is more artistic than he was.
Nothing could be finer than the bursts of grief
which choked his utterance after the discovery of
his wife's supposed infidelity, and the closing scene
was 'given with great energy and commanding
power.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean were recalled on the
fail of the curtain amid a perfect storm of applause.
The subordinate parts are comparatively slight,
Webster's make jup as the old steward was quite
Vandykean, and Mrs. Keeley played a little part—
that of a saucy handmaiden of the heroine—Puritan
in a ppearance, but Cavalier ii, heart—with exqui-
sitely clever sauciness and great apparent relish. ;She
shared with the hero and heroine of the night the
honour of a call.

(From the Advertiser.)
Last right the long-announced and anxiously-
expected new play was produced at this house with
triumphant success. On many accounts, the occa-
sion had been looked forward to as interesting and at-
tractive in an unusual degree. The first representa-
tion of an English drama, of "legitimate" preten-
sions, is, of itself, sure to offer powerful charms to
a large class of playgoers. Then, last night, there
was the pleasure added of once again greeting the
dramatic productions of an author who has already
succeeded, on several occasions, in gratifying the
public by effective comedies. Their titles—Love's
Sacrifice, Look before you Leap, The Provost of
Bruges, &c., will at once recal many a recollection of
hours right pleasantly passed in hearing "the quick
comedians" give utterance to his language, and
moreover, good effect thereto, as well. Greatly in-
creased interest, also, was imparted to the performancce
last night, in consequence of it being made the medium
of introducing Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean to a London
audience, for the first time since their return from Ame-
rica. They have fulfilled various engagements, sub-
sequently to that return, in the provinces, and
very recently, in Dublin ; but, in the metropolis, they
have not appeared for many years. It is almost
needless, therefore, to state that the audience were
eager to behold once again those who have been so
well known on the English stage, and who were so
successful in their transatlantic trip. The delays
occasioned by the envious and unenviable influenza
(which caused the production of the play to be de-
ferred from last Monday) having been surmounted,
the first representation took place yesterday evening.
In recording this circumstance, and without regard
to the success or intrinsic merits of the piece itself,
we cannot avoid expressing the sense of the praise-
worthy and persevering efforts of Mr. Webster, in
support of our high-classed native drama. Through
good and evil days through encouragement and
frequent discouragement, he has proceeded, intel-
ligently and energetically, on his way, his exer-
tions ever having the tendency to elevate the Eng-
lish stage, and to encourage all promising, as well as
established and popular dramatic writers. Many
names which now hold an estimable position in
public repute, might be mentioned as having first ob-
tained a hearing for their plays at his delightful
theatre. But these facts are too generally known,
and we hope, appreciated, to require more remark
thereon from us on the present occasion. It will be
more appropriate, indeed, at once to proceed to de-
scribe last night's proceedings, and to record the
style, character, and fate, of this " new and original
play." It is entitled, The Wife's Secret, and has the
legitimate number of acts—five. Contrary, how-
ever, to what has often been obviously the result of
adhering to that set length, this production did not
in any respect suffer therefrom. There was no re-
tarding of the action of the piece, as too frequently
is rendered requisite, in order to make the incidents
last out the prescribed number of acts. Indeed, the
construction throughout was admirably skilful and
effective; and the consequence was that not for one
minute did the interest flag, mar the progress of the
plot, halt or linger to the detriment of the general
effect. Too high praise could not well be bestowed
upon the performance of the principal parts in this in-
teresting play. Mrs. C. Kean (whose reception was
enthusiastic, while her husband's was also very hearty
and flattering to him) rendered the heroine a
character of great beauty and deep interest. Her
performance was throughoat earnest, unaffected,
elegant, and impassioned. Her concluding scenes
were especially fine. Mr. Kean was admirable as Sir
Walter. It was a singularly careful and well studied
representation ; and the struggles between an ardent
and surely founded affection, and the dictates of
jealousy and strongly damnatory evidence, were
powerfully and efficiently displayed. Mrs. Keeley's
Maud was a singularly well sustained, finished, and
striking performance. It was wonderfully natural
and clever. Beneath the outward seeming of sanctity
which Maud has to assume, as she states, in accord-
ance with the fashion of the times, there ever and
anon peeped out the true and "carnal" spirit of the
woman. The quaintness, naivete, and heartiness
which shone throughout were delicious, and were
enjoyed by the audience to the utmost. Miss
Reynolds, as a gay gallant, and many-coloured page,
made much of the part entrusted to her; and Mr.
Howe was also a good representative of the fugitive
cavalier. Mr. Webster's version of Jabez was
painstaking and very effective. The canting, cunning
craft of the character was admirably well displayed,
arid the dressing of the part was excellent. Indeed
the play has been, in every respect, beautifully placed
upon the stage. The scenery (by Mr. P. Phillips,
Mr. G. Morris, &c.) is especially deserving of high
praise. It still remains to speak of the poetical merits
of the drama ; and it is gratifying to be able to pro-
nounce them, at once, great and numerous. The lan-
guage is tine and the thoughts powerful, impressive,
and oftentimes highly imaginative. Many passages
of peculiar beauty and excellence were receive-I with
most laudatory plaudits ; and the audience, altogether,
appeared unanimous in their favourable reception of
this interesting and impressive play. At its conclusion
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean were brought forward,
and numerous bouquets were cast at the feet of the
gifted actress. alie author was then called fur, and
bowed his acknowledgments front one of the stage
boxes. Mrs. Keeley was, most deservedly, afterwards

led forward by her loving "Page," Miss Reynolds,
in obedience to the flattering applause combined with
her name. Mr. Webster then stated that he con-
sidered that he was justified in announcing the play
for repetition every night during Mr. and Mrs. Kean's
engagement. The theatre was crowdedly attended.
(From the Post.)
After an absence of five years, Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Kean made their re-appearance last night.
During their absence in the United States of Ame •
rica, they have not only gathered new laurels, but,
if report be sooth, have discovered a new El Dorado.
We need scarcely add that their welcome was genial
and enthusiastic; and if we may judge by the effect
produced by their efforts on this occasion, they have
not moulted a single feather of their deserved popu-
larity. Mrs. Charles Kean possesses still the same
musical voice, each tone of which is exquisitely mo-
dulated to the passing emotion. There is still the
same delicately feminine character—the true woman-
hood—the gentle, the passionate, the persuasive, the
suffering. Never for a moment is the woman for-
gotten in the heroine. There are still the same
poetical appreciation—the same mentality—the same
speaking features. If any change is perceptible, it
is, perhaps, in an increased fulness of figure, and a
greater appearance of health, but not such as to des
tract from the symmetrical outline, or lessen the in-
tellectual expression.
Mr. Charles Kean has increased in vigour, and his
style has gained breadth and consistency. His decla-
mation is more even, and his enunciation of poetical
passages more continuous. In the more passionate
phases of the drama he has been ever fervid—nay,
even powerful ; but he failed to convey with equal
success the rninuter delicacies of character. In the
performance of last night a decided improvement is
manifest, the several developments of the scene were
signalised, not only by a natural earnestness, but by
careful study and artistic feeling.
The author of the new play, Mr. Lovell, has pro-
duced a capital drama in five acts ; the construction
is good, the incidents cleverly involved, and much of
the writing is distinguished by poetical excellence
and dramatic skill. As will be seen in our attempt
to convey the plot, the " heart of the mystery" is dis-
closed in the earlier portion ; but this prevents a
single doubt to rest on the innocence of the wife, and
affords full opportunity to the author to exhibit the
cunning of the playwright's art.
The period selected is that of the Protectorate, and
the ruling incident results from the dispersion of the
few devoted Loyalists who sought, at Salisbury, by a
last effort, to restore the monarchy. This deed of
chivalry was headed by Lord Arden ; the few honest
fellows in the west who aided him were ultimately
taken prisoners and lost their heads ; but Lord Arden
escaped, and fled for shelter into Dorsetshire. A more
stirring scene of action—one more rife with moving
accidents by flood and field—or richer in dramatic
means, could not have been selected; Then were family
affections severed, domestic ties wrenched asunder,
suspicion was abroad, scoundrelism assumed the
vizard of an ultra piety, and all the elements of society
and legitimate rule were shaken to their bases. The
cropped-eared Roundheads scrambled for the posts of
trust and profit, and old Noll assumed the royal
state.

(After developing the plot of the play at consider-
able length, the critic thus concludes :—)
The character of Babes Sneed was capitally acted
by Mr. Webster, and may be deemed one of his most
finished embodiments. The temptation to caricature
the shuffling gait and the nasal snuffling of the old
Covenanters was avoided, while the fell purpose and
demoniacal ruthlessness of the part were delineated
with fearful vividness.

Mr. Howe's Lord Arden was dashing and earnest,
Mrs. Keeley's Maud quaint and clever, and the Page
of Miss Reynolds arch and piquant.
The dresses were admirable, and the scenery ap-
propriate and picturesque.
The attack of influenza under which Mrs. Charles
Kean has been suffering was slightly apparent in
her more passionate scenes, but, despite this, she
achieved a veritable triumph.

Very many of the passages we have quoted elicited
great applause, and at the end of the play Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Kean were called before the curtain
amidst cheers and the waving of hats and handker-
chiefs. A similar compliment was paid to Mrs.
Keeley, Miss Reynolds, and Mr. Webster.
In answer to the summons of the house, Mr. Lo-
vell, the author of the play, bowed his acknowledg•
ments from a private box.s

ASHBURTON.

At the conclusion of the dinner given on Thursday
night, at the London Inn, Ashburton, in honour of
the Liberal Member, Colonel Matheson, M.P., our
reporter migrated to the other party at the Golden
Lion, where the chair was occupied by James
Matheson, Esq., M.P., the Gallant Colonel's brother,
near whom sat Robert Tucker, Esq., solicitor, G.
Caunter, Esq., Captain Clifton,
R. B. Berry, Esq., of Chagford, W. Hancock, Esq.,
&c., forming altogether a very large and respectable
company.
The Rev. Mr. DORE (Baptist minister) had just
risen to propose " Health, happiness, and prosperity
to one who was dear to the inhabitants of Ashburton,
and whose liberality made his mme dear to every one
who wished well to his fellow-creatures—their re-
spected Member Colonel Matheson." The reverend
speaker at considerable length enlarged on the satis-
faction he had experienced from seeing from his
window the poor people return from the distribution
of bread in the morning, with their loaves in their
hands, and expressed his own lamentation that ill-
health prevented his being present at that delightful
scene. Hi e nsisted that a gentleman of property who
preferred the arduous task of a Member of Parliament
to the couch of ease and the mansion of comfort, and
offered himself to be sent to Parliament, ought not
to be considered as under any obligation to his con-
stituents; but that they were rather under an obli-
gation to him. He declared that as a minister of the
gospel he left political and commercial affairs to their
proper officers; but on behalf of the dear youth
rising up around him, he put in a plea for a literary
society (as was understood) ; hinted that electrical and
astronomical apparatus was required, and suggested that
their worthy Member, with Mr. Matheson and other
might form
an institution.
ormacommittee to patronise the
egsetnatblleimshemn e nii
of suchnt

The CHAIRMAN returned thanks for his brother,
saying that it was his highest ambition to prove
himself deserving of their confidence.
Mr. BERRY proposed the health of their worthy
chairman, and late respected representative. After
the long time they had had the pleasure of knowing
him, they need not enlarge on his kindness of heart
and the benevolence he had displayed towards the
inhabitants of the town of Ashburton. lie had now
entered on a larger sphere, and no doubt would enjoy
the respect of those he was now representing in
another part of the country.—(Cheers).
Mr. MATHESON said it would be difficult for him to
find words to express the grateful feelings with
which he was indeed overwhelmed by the gratifying►
manner in which his health had been proposed and
drunk. He could only say that he appreciated the
honour most highly ; and that if he wanted words
adequately to express his sense of it, that arose from
the excess of emotion with which he was penetrated.
—(Cheers.) When it was his good fortune to come
first among them he enjoyed a degree of confidence
and kindness from them which could not but inspire
him with a most ardent desire to acquit himself to the
best of his humble ability of the duties imposed on
him by the distinguished honour they conferred on
him. It was a source of great pride to him to reflect
that the manner in which he had performed those
duties had uniformly met with their kind approbation,
and nothing would have afforded him greater pleasure
than again to solicit a renewal of that confidence, were
it not that he was called upon to assert the supremacy of
the liberal cause among a constituency who had such
claims on his attention as he could not resist, and who
were kind enough to believe that the interest of the
liberal cause would be served in his humble hands,
with greater prospect of success, than in those perhaps
of any other.—(Cheers.) Such was the call and
sense of public duty which alone could have induced
him to deprive himself of the pleasure of again soli-
citing their suffrages.—(Cheers.) It was a great
satisfaction to him that they all appreciated those
motives, and it added greatly to the satisfaction which
he could not but experience at the success which
attended his contest in a very different field.—(Cheers.)
It formed no small part of that success that the report
of the kind confidence with which they had always
viewed his efforts in this place no doubt served to
establish some degree of confidence among those to
whom he was not so well known as he was by them,
and although he had no longer the honour of filling
the plaee of their representative, it was with no
ordinary pleasure that he was still connected with them
by beat ties which he hoped would long continue to
atlbrd him renewed opportunities of cultivating their
goodwill in a private sphere.—(Great cheering.) He
should always look forward to their approbation as
one of the brightest rewards which could be bestowed
on him, and he should conclude by drinking all their
good healths, with hopes that he might often have
agreeable occasions of meeting them.—(Cheers.)—
Western Times.

SUICIDE OF SIR J. MILDMAY,

BART.
It is our painful duty to record the premature
death of Sir John Mildmay, Bart., which melancholy
event took place by his own hands, at an early hour
yesterday morning, at his residence, No. 6, lialkin-
terrace, Belgrave-square.
It appears, from the intelligence carefully gleaned
by our informant, that the deceased gentleman had
resided as above for about five years, occupying the
upper part of the house, the ground floor being let to
Mrs. Cox, a milliner; his establishment consisting of
two male and an equal number of female servants ;
and his health of late was stated to be tolerably good ;
but for several days past his valet had noticed that he
appeared low and depressed in spirits, but on the
previous day (Sunday) the deceased appeared some-
what better, and partook of his meals apparently
with a better appetite. He retired to rest between
eleven and twelve o'clock, and nothing more was
heard or seen of him until shortly before five o'clock
yesterday morning, when his valet was awoke by a
deadened report of firearms. He was undecided for
some time what to do, but eventually he went up
stairs to Sir John's bedchamber, on the second floor,
when on entering the room he was horror-struck on
discovering his master lying prostrate on the carpet,
weltering in his blood, and lifeless ; his head wes
shattered to atoms, and the walls and ceiling were
covered with his blood and brains, a small double
barrelled holster pistol, which had been recently dis-
charged, was lying close to his right hand, and had
evidently been discharged in the mouth. Several
medical gentlemen were promptly in attendance, who
pronounced death to have been instantaneous. Cap-
tain Mildmay, a son of deceased, who resides in
Chesham•place, was informed of the melancholy
event, and in the course of yesterday information
.I‘.trh ,b
otdh3e,
lies,
ie
scoroneran
for i
whov•a eowilln yleo Middlesex,
hold an nl‘qlure. whosestl I'da
to-morrowiksitercr't morning.

DEATH OF THE EARL OF POWIS. —lt is with
much regret we announce the death of this estimable
nobleman, which took place yesterday at Powis Castle,
in consequence of an accident he met with whilst out
shooting. Sir Benjamin Brodie, who had been sent for
express on Saturday, returned to town last night, bring-
ing the melancholy intelligence.
THE LATE DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT EUSTON-
SQUIRE STATlON.—Charles Gage, one of the sufferers
by the fall of the buildikgs at the Euston-square station,
died on Sunday in the University College Hospital. This
makes the second death amongst the wounded. The
others are doing well.

CONFESSION— OF Mum:lnt.—Within the last few
days rumours have been rife that a mason residing in
Douglas (Isle of Man), and who was not expected to live,
had sent for one of the ministers of the town for the pur-
pose of making a confession of murder, as he felt that he
could not die without revealing the secret. The murder
was said to have taken place some eleven years ago, and
was perpetrated by three parties, one of whom struck
the unfortunate man with a mason's hammer, and after-
wards threw him into Douglas Harbour, where he was
found the next morning with his skull fractured, but
which was supposed to be occasioned by a blow against
a vessel at the time of his fall. The man said to be
murdered was Robert Cannon, of the parish of Marown,
who was very well known throughout the island.
The private letters received yesterday, by the
Hibernia, from New York are interesting, and seem to
indicate that many singular and rapid changes in the
monetary relations of the United States and Englnial
may be looked for during the present year. The efflux
of bullion, which had already far exceeded the antici-
pations entertained on either side, continues unchecked,
and produce is still retained for higher prices in the
face of a rate of discount ranging for the choicest paper
from 12 to 15 per cent. Part of the specie brought by
the present steamer is stated to consist of American
gold, as there were no more sovereigns to be had ; and
at the same time the demand for bills was extremely
heavy, causing the price to close with much firmness at
from 101 to 101. From these circumstances it would
appear that shipments of manufactured goods must have
been made extensively from this country during the
present pressure, with orders for immediate sale and
remittance in bullion, since the sales of State stock-
on English account hare not been sufficient to explain
the continuous flow that has taken place.
THE MAILS.—The dates by the Hibernia steamer,
delivered yesterday from the Post-office, were Montreal,
December 25th ; Quebec, 96th and 27th ; Prince Ed.
ward's Island, 28th, and Sackville, the 30th ; St. John's.
New Brunswick, January let ; New York, the 2d ; and
Halifax, the sth instant. Next packet due from Boston
—the Caledonia, on the 29th instant. Ship letter-bag
for New York.—A ship letter-bag will be made up for
New York on Friday evening next, the 21st instant, to
be forwarded by the Sarah Sands steamer from Liver-
pool, on the 22d instant. The Hibernia steamer will
convey the British North American, Bermuda, and
United States' mails, to be made up on Friday evening,
the 28th instant, viri Liverpool, Halifax, and New York,
on the 22d instant. Her Majesty's steamer Acheron,
with mails for 51adeira, Cape of God Mips., Sian
River, Sydney, New South Wales, and Auckland (New
Zealand), is expected to sail from Devonport on the
18th instant (this day). Iler Maje,ty's ship Bonetta,
with mails fur St. Michael's (Azores), Madeira, Caps
Verde, and the Island of Ascension, sailed from I'orts
mouth on the 14th instant. Mails will be made up at
the General Post-office on the evening of the 31:.t inst.
for Madeira and the West Coast of Africa, to be con-
veyed by one of her Majesty's ships appointed to sail on
the Ist of February.

IRISH SPECIAL COMMISSION.
(From Saunders's A'ews Letter of yesterday.)
ENNIS, SATURDAY, JAN. 15.
MURDER OF MR. JAMES WATSON.—SENTENCE
OF THE CONVICTS RYAN AND ITAYES.-At the sit-
tiug of their Lordships this morning at ten o'clock,
Patrick Ryan " Small" and James Hayes, the two
men convicted on Thursday last of the wilful murder
of Mr. James Watson, of Ballycorney, in this county,
were placed at the bar to receive the sentence of the
Court.

The Clerk of the Crown (George Sampson, Esq.)
having asked them if they had anything to say why
sentence of death and execution should not be pro-
nounced against them,
The prisoner Hayes said —My Lord, we have
nothing to say but that we are both innocent of the
charge, and were not near the place where the
murder was committed. I never knew William
Ryan " Puck " in my life, and it is a hard thing to
be hanged for a crime of which one is innocent.
The other convict, Ryan " Small," said—l have
nothing but the same thing to say, my Lord, I was
fifteen miles away from Ballr;orney that day, and I
am convicted on perjured testimony. The witnesses
swore falsely to get the reward, and may God help
them that are innocent. I hope we will get a long
day, my Lord, for we are both as innocent as a child
unborn.

Their Lordships having put on their black caps,
The CHIEF BARON proceeded to pronounce the
sentence of death and execution upon the prisoners..
His Lordship having recapitulated the circumstances
of this most barbarous murder, and warned those
who had as yet escaped from justice, or had not been
up to the present time implicated in crime, to keep
aloof from all illegal confederacies, which would only
lead to their own destruction, and be the means of
injuring the country, by obliging the proprietors of
land to become absentees for their own self-preserva-
tion. He concluded by ordering the prisoners to be
hanged on the 15th of February next.
The prisoners received their sentence without
exhibiting much emotion. Ryan appeared to be
less concerned than Hayes, although it was still
apparent from his unsteady step from the bar that he
was not wholly unmoved. Hayes turned deadly
pale, and rolled about his eyes as a person would in
a faint or fit',; he was, however, able to leave the bar
unassisted.

MURDER. ANOTHER CAPITAL CONVICTION.
Michael Butler and William Harrington, both men
about forty years of age, were placvd at the bar, and
indicted fur having, upon the 6th of November, 1847,
at Gurtnaluck, in this county, wilfully and feloniously
murdered one Patrick Cleary. The prisoner Butler
was charged as having fired the shot at the deceased
which caused his death, and the other prisoner with
being present, aiding, and abetting.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL briefly stated the case
for the prosecution. He said that the deceased was
a man in very humble life, residing in the city of
Limerick, and had met with his, death in consequence
of having exercised the rights of a subject, and pro-
secuted some persons who had committed an outrage
on him some time previous to the Spring Assizi.ts of
1847. Before the assizes he was attacked by a
number of men, and having prosecuted them to
conviction, he was immediately made an object for
persecution, which ultimately ended in his death,
which was caused by a shot from a loaded pistol,
which shot, it would be proved, was fired
by the prisoner Butler, in the other prisoner's pre-
sence. The facts were these :—The deceased had oc-
casion to visit Broadfort in that county in the month
of November last, and being on his way home, about
a mile and a half from that village, on the evening
of the 6th, the two (prisoners came up to him and
fired at him, as he (the Attorney-General had already
stated), and inflicted a wound, of which he died on
the 21st of November, having previously made a
dying declaration, fully identifying the two men at
the bar as the men who attacked him on the night
in question. Evidence of a corroborative character
would be adduced, to show
.that the prisoners were
seen on the spot where the murder was committed,
and were seen running away after the firing of a shot.
Witnesses were examined who fully corroborated
the statement of the Learned Attorney. General.
The following document was put in :
" The dying declaration of Patrick Cleary, taken
before Wm. Roche, Esq., J.P., on the 18th November,
1847, at Limerick :

" I, Patrick Cleary, of the Englishtown, in the
city of Limerick, when returning from Broadfoot,
county Clare, on Saturday evening, at about half-past
five o'clock, upon the 6th of November last, was fired
at by a person named Mich. Butler, and seriously if
not mortally wounded in the chest and shoulder, in
consequence of which wound I am now languishing
at Barrington's Hospital, in said city. I also saw a
person named Matthew Hourigan in company with
said Butler, and seemingly aiding and assisting in
said crime. There was also a third person of the
party, whose name I do not know ; and I thus make
this deposition as my dying declaration, being in-
formed that I have little or no hope of recovery ; and
I make it therefore with the same truth and solemnity
as I shall answer for it before the throne of Almighty
God."

The deceased's wife proved that in less that a quar-
ter of an hour before he died she asked him was he
sure that Butler and Hourigan were the men who
attacked him, and he replied that he knew he was
dying, and was positive as to their identity.

. _ . ._..
The Crown case closed here, and
Mr. Olize addressed the jury for the defence in a
most eloquent and able address.
The CHIEF JUSTICE charged the jury, who retired,
and in a short time returned with a verdict of Guilty
against both prisoners.
They received the announcement with the same
indifference the convicts both in this county and the
county Limerick displayed when in the same position.
ROBBERY or FIRE-ARMS.--William Li,i'dy, a man
between 25 and 30 years of age, was indicted for
stealing a gun, at Kilnacrandy, in this county, the
property of John Shea, on the 6th June, 1847.
The jury convicted the prisoner. He was sea-
tnced to one year's imprisonment, with hard labour,
to commence at the termination of his present im-
prisonment, which will not terminate for upwards of
twelve months.

POSTING THREATENING NOTICES.—James Hence,
Nicholas Duggan, Michael 11I'llfahon, and Austin
Brooke, were indicted for having, on the 31st of De-
cember, 1847, posted a threatening notice upon the
gate of Col. Crofton Vandeleur.
Simon Curtin, a man residing in the neighbour-
hood, deposed that he knew all the prisoners, and
saw them post the following notice on Colonel Van-
deleur's gate upon the evening before New Year's-
day.
" Take notice Croftin Vandulure If you Dont
Chang your mind and give relive :to the young as
well the old and Not to Put a stop to the Publicke
worke as you are and Also Capt;n Kenidy if ye Dont
be said by this Notice blive me I will do with ye
as I Did with Pirce Carige so have yeir will maid in
time."

Examination continued by the ATTORNEY-GE..
NERAL.—I went borne after I saw the notice was
posted, and in about an hour afterwards the four
prisoners came to my house, pulled me out of bed,
and made me swear I would never tell what I saw
to any one.
Nargaret Curtin, wife to the last witness, identified
the prisoners as the men who came to her husband's
house on New Year's Eve, and made him swear he
would not tell any one in the world that he saw them
posting a notice on Colonel Vandeleur's gate.
Catherine Cane identified on.e of the prisoners as
baying been one of a party of five who came to Cur-
tin's house on New Year's Eve, and swore him, as
stated by the other witnesses.
Peter Curtin, a boy about ten years of age, son to
the first witness, identified all the prisoners as being
of the party who attacked his father's house.
The jury at once convicted all the prisoners.
Sentence deferred.
The Court adjourned until Monday.