The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-01 00:00:00

VICTORIA THEATRE.

Osbaldiston, the spirited lessee of this theatre, added
last night another interesting drama to the many he has
already brought out this season, for the entertainment
of the playgoers on this side of the water. The drama
is founded on Mr. G. W. M. Reynolds's celebrated
weekly work, " The Mysteries of London," and is en-
titled Markham and Greenwood; or the Brothers' Career.
The piece, which depicts many of the scenes and vices
incident to London life in all its waled grades, was evi-
dently successful. It is just of that cast which suits a
Surrey audience, and was applauded to the echo by the
guts. The evening's entertainments were concluded by
the burletta of Fayre Rosamonde, and Dominique the
Deserter; or, the Gentleman in Black. The Rouse was
crowded in every part.

HALL OF ROME.
POSES PLASTIQUES.
There was last evening a grand rehearsal of several
new roses Plastiques or moving Tableaux Vivans, by
twenty-eight male and female artistes, under the super-
intendence of Mr. Tumour, at this establishment. These
new groups are exceedingly graceful, and reflect great
credit on the taste of Mr. Tumour, by whom many of
them were designed. The Hall was crowded to excess.

THE BIRMINGHAM FESTIVAL.
SATIIRDAY.—The ball at the Theatre last night was
satisfactory as regarded the attendance, which was very
numerous and brilliant. To form a spacious arena for
dancing, the whole pit was boarded over, so as to be level
with the stage. Entrances were contrived through the
boxes, by flights of steps on either side and in the middle.
The dress boxes constituted a comfortable place of repose
for the dancers. The upper boxes and gallery were filled
by the visitors who came merely to look on. An or-
chestra was somewhat clumsily constructed in the former
for the musicians, who were sadly incommoded for the
want of some barrier to protect them from the encroach-
ments of curious gazers. The popular Jullien
was there, but only a very small number of
those faces, so familiar to Londoners, which
ordinarily are recognised in his orchestra de bal.
Nothing, indeed, could have been more execrable
than the music, which was out of time and tune the
whole evening. Instead of Koenig, who had been ex-
pected, we had a performer on the cornet-a-piston who
generally came in too late, and when, by accident, he
came in time, was sure to play out of tune. After so
magnificent a festival, this shabby arrangement of the
ball music was the object of unanimous animadversion.
Jullien is unrivalled in his way, but he must have his
band, or his energy goes for nothing ; twenty Julliens
cannot turn scrapers into fiddlers. Besides which, the
authorities had Oven the public to understand that
Jullien and his band were to preside. In other respects
the ball was badly managed ; out of twenty-three
dances there were thirteen quadrilles, which gave the
whole a most dreary aspect. Nevertheless, there were
as many visitors, active and passive, as the theatre could
well contain ; and among them we noticed Lord Wrot-
tesley, the President of the festival ; Lord Sandys, and
other distinguished persons. The dancing was kept up
till the morning had far advanced.
Mendelssohn left yesterday for London by the seven
o'clock train. Moscheles, and most of the principal
artists engaged at the festival, followed soon after. The
town has lost one half its life and bustle. There is no
official account of the results of the meeting yet pub-
lished, and information in that quarter is very difficult
to be obtained, those who are in a condition to afford it
being so very mysterious and inscrutable, that it is im-
possible, without an importunity beneath the dignity of
the press, to extort any thing from them. The general
management of the festival would admit of animadversion
in more than one respect, had we leisure and inclination
to make it. The want of rehearsals at the miscellaneous
concerts was painfully felt. The want of accommodation
for the members of the London press was a mark of
inattention that sorts not well with the Birmingham re-
putation for hospitality to strangers. The gross receipts
of the festival amount to upwards of 11,5001. The
expenses have been enormous, including a large sum for
the decoration of the Music Hall; still there is nearly
5,000/. left for the General Hospital. Since 1834 such
a profitable festival has not been known in Birmingham,
and it is the more gratifying from the fact that a very
mediocre result was anticipated. Mendelssohn's .Elijah
was the grand cause of excitement, and the preparatory
notices of the London journals helped not a little to
raise it.

SUNDAY.—Last night the festival may be said to have
terminated with the grand concert given at the Theatre,
which was crowded to suffocation. The concert was pre-
ceded by a comedy sustained by the company. Among
the artists engaged was Madame Grisi, who had re-
covered from her indisposition, and sang divinely; she
was encored in a duet with Signor Mario from the
Donna del Lay o, and in the air, " Non fu sogno,"
from Lombardi. Signor Mario was similarly
complimented, in Alari's cavatina, introduced into
Don Gregorio, and substituted the serenade from Don
Pasquale, the first notes of which were received with a
burst of animated recognition. Signor Mario also sang
the " Adelaida" of Beethoven in such expressive and
passionate style as would hare satisfied the composer
himself—nothing could have been more charming. Be-
side these, encores were awarded to the clever Misses
Williams, in Macfarren's "Merry Gipsies ;" to John
Parry, in two of his humourous extravaganzas ; and to
F. Lablache, in the Tarantella, which ho sang capitally.
Moreover, Mr. Hayward and M. Benedict played a
duet, for violin and piano, in brilliant style, and the
latter accompanied all the vocal music in his usually
able manner, on a pianoforte of Erard, to which that
very pleasing and ingenious invention, the " JEoliam
attachment," gave double zest and piquancy. The band,
led by Mr. A. Mellon, from London, played two over-
tures of Weber and Beethoven with great spirit, and
the concert passed off with the utmost eclat. It was an
effective climax to the week's festivities.

DANGEROUS FRACAS ON A LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE.—
On Saturday evening, when the 6.30 A.M. mixed train from
Bristol was between Steventon and Didcot stations, on the
Great Western Railway, a quarrel arose between Temple,
the engine driver, and Poole, the stoker. A. fight ensued on
the engine, and if both had fallen off the consequences must
have been dreadful, as the train was going at the rate of
nearly thirty miles an hour, and there was no possibility of
the guards getting to the engine to stop it, the high third-
class carriage being between them ; nor were they aware of
the fight until Temple, finding himself worsted, stopped the
engine, to endeavour to throw Poole off, when the guards
alighted, and succeeded in obtaining a cession of hostilities
until their arrival at Dideot, when they were reported to
Mr. Bishop, the superintendent, who gave them into custody
of the guards of the fast train, and conveyed them to Pad-
dington, where their conduct will be investigated by the
directors. Their places were supplied by others at Didcot,
and the train reached Paddington in safety. Both men have
very irritable tempers.
ANOTHER FIRE IN ESSEX.—On Saturday morning,
between one and two o'clock, a fire broke out at North
Ockenden, on the premises of William Eve, Esq., of Ocken-
den-hall, in consequence of the heating of a stack of clover.
The fire was speedily communicated to four other stacks, all
of which burnt with fury fur three hours before assistance
could be procured, when two engines belonging to the Board
of Ordnance arrived from Purtleet, closely followed by one
from Romford. By great exertions the fire was confined to
the five stacks, although fourteen large corn stacks were so
closely adjoining the burning masses, as barely to allow room
for a carriage to pass between them. The property is for-
nately insured.
DANGEROUS BUILDINGS IN ST. JOHN'S-LANE, SMITH-
FIELD.—In consequence of the dilapidated and dangerous state
of several houses in the narrow part of St. John's-lane, Smith-
field, the authorities have considered it necessary to stop the
thoroughfare; in the meantime the premises have been
shored up for the safety of the public (the occupiers having
all vacated) and every precaution taken to prevent accident.
THE SURRENDER OF KOTE KINGRA.—The follow-
ing letter of thanks to the Artillery officers serving in the
capture of this fort was sent. by Brigadier Smith to Lieut.-
Colonel Wood :—" Camp Kangra, May 3, 1846.—Sir,—.The
surrender of the fort having allowed the return to their re-
gimental duties of the 4th Artillery officers, who have been
acting as assistant-field engineers, have: to return you my
thanks for the aid you readily afforded, and to mention my
sense of the valuable and zealous exertions of Lieutenants
Wheelright, Holland, Tulloh, and Machell, brought to my
notice by Major Napier.—l have the honour to be, Sir, your
obedient servant, EDWARD SMITH, Brigadier, Chief Engineer.
—To Lieutenant-Colonel Wood Commanding Artillery
Forces, Kota liangra."