The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-06 00:00:00

VTCO3IE.

TIIEATRE.
The Antigone of Sophocles, with Mendelssohn's
music, was produced here (in a French version) last
evening. On the production of this tragedy some
years since at Covent-garden in an English version,
the music was only incompletely given, so that this is
the first time that Mendelssohn's music to Antigone
has been completely given in England. Mr. Mitchell
has spared neither pains nor expense to place this
lyric tragedy on the stage in a manner worthy at
once of Sophocles and of Mendelssohn. The scene,
which has been admirably painted by Mr. Muir, re-
presents the peristyle of Creon's palace, which is
raised above the level of the stage ; in the front is the
altar, at the sides the chorus. The chorus
singers are forty in number, and the band
completely filled the orchestra. M. Jules Be-
nedict was the conductor, and nothing could
go better than did the music under his direc-
tion. The orchestra, previous to the play, performed
Mendelssohn's fine symphony in A minor, No. 3.
This composition was always a favourite with the
great composer ; it was composed after his return
from a tour in Scotland, and embodied his musical
reminiscences of the Highlands. It was admirably
performed last evening. The slow movement in I)
major has never been more exquisitely ren-
dered. Then came' the overture, which was
most feelingly, correctly, and delicately ren-
dered, as, indeed, was the whole of the music.
orchestral and choral ; to all engaged it seemed a
labour of love, and most fortunate has Mr. Mitchell
been in securing the services of such a conductor as M.
Jules Benedict. The hymn to Bacchus was gloriously
given ; and the two grand scenes, illustrating the
despair of Antigone and the agony of Creon, were
perfect triumphs for the orchestra. The final chorus
was beautifully rendered ; indeed, as far as the musical
arrangements are concerned, the performance of
last night was perfect. The French version
of the drama by MM. Paul Meunier and
Auguste Vacquerie has the merit of befog a very
close rendering of the original, and also of fitting
Mendelsaohn's music admirably. M. Paul Bocage
(under whose superintendence the; drama was pro-
duced) was the Creon, and he has not disappointed
the expectations we had formed of him. Majestic,
dignified, impassioned, he looked and moved " a hero
of the ancient race:' His last scene' was fearfully
sublime. The Antigone of Madame Rabut Fechter
was effective and tasteful, although at times some-
what deficient in power. Instead of proceeding along
the elevated stage to the place of death, as
has been usual in the English representations
of Antigone, Madame Fechter rushed among the
chorus, and was at length dragged off by her hair.
This reading is certainly no improvement. The
" business" thus introduced is essentially unclassical.
There was another alteration, however introduced,
which is certainly a great improvement, and adds
much, not only to the effectiveness; but to the
classical unity of the scene. Instead of being
brought in on a bier, in the last scene, as at Covent-
garden, the body of limmon was last night brought
on in the arms of his distracted father.
Never has the appearance of death been
more exactly counterfeited than it was by
M. Fechter, who played: the little part of Hmmon
exquisitely. The mounting was admirable—we had
no Greek nobles appearing in Roman togas ; the
Greek costume and the Greek colouring of the
piece was preserved throughout. The success of the
performance was complete ; and it must be gratify-
ing to Mr. Mitchell to find his exertions so !properly
appreciated as they were by the crowded and fashion-
able audience of last evening.

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Mrs. Mowatt and Mr. Davenport, two American
artistes, made their first appearance before an English
audience at this theatre* last evening, in Sheridan
Knowles's play of the Hunchback, Mrs. Mowatt sus-
taining the part of Julia, and Mr. Davenport that of
Sir Thomas Clifford. Mrs. Mowatt is slight in
figure, at d with a decidedly youthful appearance ;
her features are pleasing and expressive, and her
voice soft and melodious. She was terribly nervous
at first, but she soon overcame her trepidation, and
as she warmed in the part gained confidence. Her
delineation of the character of Julia proves that
she possesses great taste, a delicate appreciation of
poetry, and a good elocution. lier acting in the

DARING ROBBERY BY ARMED MEN...... 0110 01
the most daring robberies that has ever occurred in this
neighbourhood was perpetrated on Sunday night last, at
the Hill Farm, in Lower Darwen. On the night in ques-
tion, between six and seven o'clock, Mr. William Whal
ley, farmer, and the members of his family, were alarmed
by the sudden entrance of four men, with blackened
faces, and with pistols in their bands. The ruffians were
not slow in making apparent the object of their visit, and
proceeded to select such articles as they thought would
suit them ; among others they selected a fowling-piece,
which one of them was anticipated by Mr. Whalley in
reaching down from its place, when a melee ensued. The
robbers were more than a match for Mr. Whalley and
his brother John, and punished both of them severely,
taking from the pocket of the latter between two and
three pounds in silver, and with it and the fowling-piece
they made off. The daring culprits are supposed to be
navigators, and the perpetrators of a highway robbery
near the reen's Arms, Turton, on Saturday morning,
about three o'clock, when four men answering their de-
scription robbed James Marsden Brodie, of Grimshaw
Park, Blackburn, of 11.55. 9i-d. and his hat.—Manchester
Guardian.
THE PROPOSED DUTY ON GAS. A paragraph
has been going the round of the newspapers, in which it
is stated that a correspondence has lately taken place
between the Government and persons engaged in the
manufacture of gas, relative to a proposed duty of Is.
per 1,000 cubic feet on that article. Such a duty, it is
said would yield a revenue of 2,000,0001. a year, but we
are unable to say upon what data this calculation is
founded. We rather think that it is somewhat above the
mark. Some of the London papers assume that a tax
on gas would be popular. In Manchester it certainly
would not be so, unless it led to the reduction of other
taxes. If the object of Government in proposing a tax
on gas were to enable them to reduce some other impost
of a more obnoxious character, few people would make I
any objection to it. But if it is only to supply Govern-
ment with the funds required to provide new places for
the destitute branches of the aristocracy, under the speci-
ous pretext of strengthening our " national defences,"
we trust that Parliament will refuse to sanction any such
measure."—Manchester Examiner.
DEATH FROM A FOOLISH WAG ER.—Monday night
week, Robert Rogers, a private of the lit Royals who
was drinking at the Bowling-green public ,house, War-
rington, undertook, for a wager of five shillings, to thrust
a stick two feet down his throat. He took a thin smooth
stick, and had got it down to the length of eighteen
inches, when be turned deadly pale and taint. The com-
pany became alarmed, and at their earnest desire he
desisted from the further prosecution of the foolish
trick. He then pulled the stick from out of his throat,
and immediately vomited blood. A glass of ale was
then given to him, which he drank, and then fell down,
appearing to be in a dreadful state of agony, caused
by pains at the stomach. Surgical assistance was ob-
tained, but he died on Wednesday morning, at three
o'clock.—Liverpool Mercury.
ACCIDENT FROM THE CARELESS USE OF FIRE-
ARMS.—On Sunday, a young man, named Seville, lodging
at a public-house near Oldham, kept by D. Chadwick,
finding a loaded pistol in his chamber, was apprehensive
that a boy resident in the house might get hold of it
and thereby do some mischief. To prevent this he fired
it through the window, when the contents lodged in the
body of a girl twelve years of age, who was passing
along the main road at a distance of about thirty yards.
The sufferer was immediately removed to her parent's
house, where Messrs. Fawsitt and Neild, surgeons, suc-
ceeded in extracting the ball. The girl is still in a very
dangerous state. The young man who unintentionally
caused the accident was taken before the Oldham magis-
trates, when he was remanded to await the issue of the
girl's illness. Bail was refused.
It was understood yesterday that the Bank of
Amsterdam has reduced its rate of discount from 5 per
cent., at which it has stood for the last three or four
months, to 4 per cent., the usual Dutch rate.
W HEAL CURTIS COPPER MINING COMPANY.—The
ordinary general meeting of the above company took
place yesterday at the Guildhall Coffee-house. At half-
past two o'clock, Mr. Staple)', the deputy chairman of
directors, took the chair, and Mr. Bull, the company's
solicitor, proceeded to read the report. From this do-
cument and the balance-sheet annexed it appeared that
the operations of the company had, in the first instance,
been much retarded by mismanagement at the mines,
that recently a change of officers had taken place, every-
thing
was going on prosperously, and there was a fair
prospect of ultimate success. With reference to mo-
netary affairs, the directors had received, by ad-
vances from individual directors and payment of calls,
7,4051. los. 6d. ; out of which they had paid for the
Wheal Curtis mine, 3881. ; for plant, &c., 3,6761. 10s.;
with other small items, amounting in the whole
to 4,221/. 4s. 7d. ; outlay on the mine to 3,1841. ss. 7d.
The liabilities of the company's acceptances, &c., are
2,759/. 10s. 10d., to meet which there is an amount due
on the calls which, when paid, will leave a clear balance
in favour of the company of 9991. 17s. Letters were
read from the captain and purser of the mine, giving
most flattering accounts of their progress, and holding
out the strong hope of an exceedingly rich vein of
copper ore.—Mr. Thorogood, a shareholder and ex-
director, moved the adoption of the report, and begged
to confirm its general veracity from his own experience.
Mr. George seconded the motion, which was carried
without opposition, as was also a supplemental resolu-
tion ordering the report to be printed and circulated
among the directors.—Mr. Bull, solicitor to the company,
was elected a director in the room of Mr. Thorogood,
resigned; the other directors were re-elected, and
auditors appointed. Resolutions recommending prompt
payment of the calls were then passed, the supplemental
deed was signed, and the meeting separated.
PARlS.—Considerable improvements and additions
are about to be made at the Luxembourg Palace, at a
cost of nearly 50,000?.—The decoration of the Church
of St. Germain des nisi is proposed to be completed,
comprising the ornamentation of the choir and stained-
glass for the upper windows; the former is estimated at
7201.—the latter at 2,0001.—Designs have been invited
in competition for a theatre at Algiers, to accommodate
1,500 spectators. The cost is fixed at 48,000/.—Builder.
KENSINGTON UNION WORKHOUSE. The new
workhouse, now in course of erection, from the design
of Mr. Allow, for the parish of Kensington, on land
purchased of Mr. Gunter, is to contain upwards of four
hundred paupers, and has an infirmary with airing
grounds detached from the main building. The first
tenderod as accepted by the board was 10,600 and some
d
11,02poolu.,nadts ;whthiceh seitconndow, wstiatnh a
ds.ddTitihoenst„ aotaml oleunngted th to
of
frontage is 262 feet, the whole of which is given to the
aged and infirm, with arcades for exercise. and a garden
in front. The ble-bodied and younger classes are kept
more immediately under the eye of the master and
ma HOME.—moom(Gakoewsi tfirs
first
great healthful
reatgift),To.;;B MAN'SuildeEtrEn and
joyful ; to insure, economically, impunity from fire ;
such a supply of fresh.air, light
and warmth, when needed, as the constitution of man
demands, and to lead Art—capable of producing " An
endless fountain of immortal drink —delightfully to
adorn it, is matter of world-wide interest. When it is
remembered that -Homes are the manufactories of men,
and influence a growing nation, the importance of im-
proving these homes is at once seen. Perfect men come
not forth from ill arranged, ill-orderesl dwengs ; and
how few hom es are there which might not belli improved !
—The Builder.
M. Berard, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of
Montpellier, has just been dismissed from his place, in
consequence of his having given in his adhesion to a
reform banquet.
CHRISTMAS IN IRELAND.— Christmas was kept a
complete bolyday throughout Ireland. No business
whatever was transacted. Not even a single landlord
was shot.—Punch.

Property Talc • • ....
Post-office • . • • • ....
Crown Lands • • • • • • • •• • • • • " " .• " • •
Miscellaneous .......... •• • ..
Imprest and other Moneys
Itepayments of .I..dYances..•

To Cash, being the final Instal-
ment of Loan of 6,000,0001. .. •• .•

4,514,721
3,122,151
1,740,687
1,909,899
450,219
203,000
20,000
29,657
31,884
302,449

12,e34,667

4,111,862
3,256,480
1,561,555
1,914,783
462,567
208,000
40,000
11,746
30,614
74,048

11,674,955

675,774

IRELAND.
ADDITIONAL PROCLAMATIONS.
DUBLIN, JAN. 4.—Another extraordinary Gazette
was issued last night, proclaiming dis tricfs in Gal-
way, Cavan, and Fermanagh, and also calling in the
arms. In force from and after Saturday, the Bth day
of the present month of January.
In the county of Galway are proclaimed—
The barony of Longford,
The parishes of Ballynakill, Clonrush, Duniry,
Tynagb.
And that part of the parish of Inniscaltra, situate
in the barony of Leitrim.
In the county of Fermanagh is proclaimed—
The barony of Clanawly.
In the county of Cavan are proclaimed—
The barony of Tullyhaw,
The parish of D rumlane, in the barony of Sewell
Loughteefe.
Edmond Fitzgerald Ryan, Esq., and Gerald Fitz-
gerald, Esq., are appointed to grant licences to carry
arms within the
.proclaimed districts in the county
of Galway. Benjamin Holmes, Esq., has obtained
a similar appointment for Fermanagh and Cavan ;
and William Caldwell, Esq., for Clare and Limerick,
The Lord Chancellor is going on favourably.
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF PRISONS.
His Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant has appointed
Sir Nicholas Fitzsimon, Knight, inspector general of
prisons, in the room of Major Cottenham, deceased.
The magisterial chair in the head office of police, to
be vacated by Sir Nicholas, will, it is said, be filled
by our late Lord Mayor, Mr. Staunton.
DEATH OF MRS. HATCHELL.
We regret to announce the awfully sudden death
of Mrs. Hatchell, the wife of the Solicitor-General,
who was found dead in her bed this morning. Mrs.
Hatchell had been in delicate health for some time,
her malady being disease of the heart; but no appre-
hension was felt recently of the melancholy event
which has suddenly plunged her family into grief.
An express was sent off to-day to Mr. Hatchell, who
is with the Attorney- General conducting the pro-
secutions at the special commission this day opened in
Limerick.
FATHER M'DERMOTT'S DEFENCE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMAN.
We, the undersigned Roman Catholic inhabitants
of the town and vicinity of Strokestown, having read
with the utmost surprise and indignation the calum-
nious statements and assertions contained in some of
the public prints, and reported by the newspapers to
have been made in the Houses of Lords and Com-
mons, against the unsullied character of our beloved
and revered pastor, the Very Rev. Michael M'Der-
mott, the venerable Archdeacon of Elphin, feel it to
be a duty incumbent upon us to come forward on the
present occasion, to offer the most unqualified denial
and contradiction to the facts which are falsely
and malignantly put forth as the foundation of these
calumnies.
The gratuitous accusers of this most respected,
dignified, but calumniated clergyman, have first as-
serted that he denounced the late Major Mahon on the
Sunday before his death from his altar, and Lord
Farnham is reported to have certified in the House of
Lords that in denouncing Major Mahon he made use
of the following words :
" Major Mahon is worse than Cromwell, and yet
he lives." It appears that when the maligners of our
pastor found by his own letter that the charge of de-
nunciation was untenable, as having been made on a
Sunday, they turn round and state, with a degree of
matchless effrontery, on the authority of a nameless
Peer, that the denunciation of Major Mahon took
place on Monday, the day immediately before his
death.
Now, we hereby declare, without fear of contra-
diction, and hold ourselves in readiness to confirm
this our solemn declaration by our sworn affidavits
in any court of justice, that we have been invariably
in the habit of attending at mass on all Sundays and
holidays in the year in the chapel of Strokestown—
that we have a distinct recollection of our having
heard mass in the chapel of Strokestown, on Monday,
the Ist day of November, called All Saints' Day,
being the day before Major Mahon was murdered,
and that the Very Rev. Michiel M'Dermott, our
parish priest, did not open his lips to address one word
to his flock on that day.
We further unhesitatingly declare that we never
heard the Very Rev. Michael M'Dermott, on Sun-
day, or holiday, or Saint's day, or any other day, on
which he ever addressed his flock from the altar, to
denounce the late Major 'Mahon, or to express the
words attributed to him in the reported speech of Lord
Farnham, or any such words, or any words of a si-
milar import or meaning.
Luke Carlos, grocer, &c.
Nicholas Fahy, dealer.
Francis Kenny, rope dealer and manufacturer.
Thomas Casserly, slater and plumber.
John Smith, farmer.
Patrick M'Greeny, farmer.
James Cruise, private gentleman.
J. F. Callaghan, woollen draper, &c.
Daniel Hughes, farmer.
Michael O'Beirne, wine and spirit merchant.
Patrick Dolan, woollen draper, &c.
Patrick Macmanus, woollen draper, &c.
John Lynam, grocer, wine and spirit merchant
Hubert Croghan, wine and spirit merchant.
Peter Henry, wine and spirit merchant.

IRISH SPECIAL COMMISSION.
(From Saunders's News Letter of yesterday.)
LIMERICK, TUESDAY.
The Right Hon. the Lord Chief Justice and the
Right Hon. the Lord Chief Baron opened the Special
Commission for this county to-day. Their Lordships,
attended by Sir David Roche, Bart., the High
Sheriff, took their seats upon the bench in the Crimi-
nal Court shortly before eleven o'clock, at which hour
it was crowded to excess by grand and petit jurors,

witnesses, &c.
The Attorney-General, the Solicitor-General, and
Mr. Bennett, Q.C., with Sir M. Barrington as Crown
Solicitor, appeared to prosecute ; and Mr. O'Hea at-
tended as principal Counsel for the accused parties.
The Clerk of the Crown (George Fleetwood, Esq.),
having read the commission, proclamation was made
for a grand jury, when the following gentlemen an-
swered to their names, and were sworn :
John Croker, Esq. (foreman) ; Sir Vere Vere,
Bart. ; Wm. S. O'Brien, Esq., M.P. ; Win. Munsell,
Esq., M.P. ; The O'Grady ; the Knight of Glin ;
Joseph Gubbins, Esq. ; Charles C. Coote, Esq. ; Ro-
bert Maxwell, sq. ' • James D. Lyons, Esq..; Thomas
H. Royce, Esq. ; Michael Furnell, Esq. ; Bolton
Waller, Esq. ; Wm. H. Barrington, Esq.; Wm. Cox,
Esq. ; John Roe, Esq.; Wm. Howley, Esq.; John
S. Browne, Esq. ; Christopher Delmege, Esq. ; Car-
roll Nash, Esq. ; Heffernan Considine, Esq. ; Eyre
Massy, Esq. ; and Roger Keatinge Sheehy, Esq.
The Lord Chief Justice, addressing the grand
jury, said—Mr. Foreman, and gentlemen of the
grand jury of the County Limerick, you are apprised
by her Majesty's special Commission, and by the oath
which you have just taken, that you are now about
to perform your part in the administration of the
criminal law of the country. Your duties, at all
times of importance, must be regarded with peculiar
interest, and with deep anxiety, when, at a crisis of
great public danger, her Majesty has called on her
subjects to assist in vindicating the violated laws of
the land, and to be themselves the instruments of re-
storing to the country the blessings of order and tran-
quillity. That we are now in such a crisis there is,
unfortunately, no reason to doubt. The Legislature,