The Sun.
London, England, 1848-06-16 00:00:00

LYCEUM THEATRE.

Last night Gay's Beggar's Opera, originally pro-
duced in 1728, was revived here with an admirable
cast, and came out after the pale platitudes recently
adapted from the French with the freshness of a new•
gathered bouquet. Though the circumstances which
gave this work se much " local colour" at the time
of its proauctiut. arc paanca, tho pungency of the wit
in the dialogue, and the truthful touches of trail
humanity, survive the occasion, and were received
and understood with all the zest which truthful illus-
tration invariably commands. The music is of a
character which can never fail to engage and gratify
the sense. We shall give the cast, comprising so
many distinguished names, in full, paying a passing
compliment to all and every one in it for the good
taste and sound judgment they displayed in readily
co-operating in so good a work. A little more of
this sort of feeling on the part of actors and mana•
Kers would do more to restore their cause, and secure
the reward so justly their due, than all their petitions
for patronage in high quarters.
The Player Mr. Parselle.
The Beggar . Mr. Meadows.
Captain Macheath
Peachum

Lockit
Filch
Mat o' the Mint Mr. S. Smith.

- -
Drawer
Mrs. Peachum . . Mrs. C. Jones.

Polly Peachum
Lucy Lockit
Madame Vestris.
Mrs. Coaxer
Jenny Diver
It will be seen from the above that on this occasion
the characters of the Player and the Beggar, who con-
coct, and who are the chorus of the extravaganza,
have been restored, and with good effect, depriving
the abrupt conclusion of much of its absurdity. Mr.
Harrison, who made his first appearance here, acquitted
himself with great success as Macheath. His voice,
in the interval which has occurred since his appear-
ance at Drury-lane, if not (improved in quality, dis-
plays greater taste and skill in its management. It
is also of a calibre much better adapted to this little
house, than the larger arena of Old Drury. His
upper notes are of exquisite sweetness, and they were
those most frequently used in the music he had to
sing. He was received with great enthusiasm on his
first entrance, and loudly applauded in all his songs.
He was honoured with encores in " My heart was
so free," " If the heart of a man is oppressed with
care," and " How happy could I be with either,"
which last he gave with considerable spirit. Miss
Kathleen Fitzwilliam made a most graceful and in-
teresting Polly ; and we have never heard the deli-
cious melodies allotted to the part given with greater
purity of intonation and feeling expression than
she displayed. She was rapturously applauded in
that touching air, " Oh! ponder well !" and in
" When my hero in court appears," and again in
" Cease your funning," which she closed with some
scientific adornments, given with equal taste and
ability. Madame Vestris, we need hardly say, was
an inimitable Lucy. Frank Matthews made a hit as
Peachum. And Harley, in the little part of Filch,
showed how an old hand, zealously determined upon
it, may steal a round of applause, however slight the
materials he has to deal with. The Mrs. Peachum
of Mrs. C. Jones was admirable, who is there on the
stage at the present day can ever approach her in
the delineation of such parts as Mrs. Peachum. It
is one of the richest bits of acting we have seen for
many a day. Miss J. Coleman sustained the little
part of Jenny Diver excellently. Miss Charlton was
the Mrs. Coaxer. The opera concluded with a gene-
ral dance by the characters, which was encored. . ihe
audience, who had been most lavish of their applause
throughout the performance, then called for Polly,
Lucy, and the gallant Captain, whom they welcomed
with distinct and hearty rounds of cheering. The
piece was well dressed in the costume of the period.

CONVOCATION OF THE CLERGY.— ADDRESS TO lIER
MAJESTY.—Iier Majesty having appointed tomorrow
(Saturday) for the reception of the address agreed upon
by the Convocation, the Upper and Lower Houses will
meet at the Jerusalem Chamber, Westminster, at two
o'clock, and at half-past two the procession will set out,
proceeding through the Dean's•yard, across the Broad
Sanctuary, through Prince's-street into Great George-
street,and thence into the Park by Storey's-gate, along
Birdcage-walk to Buckingham Palace, where they will
be received by the Lord Chamberlain, who will conduct
them to the Throne-room.
HOLYITEAD ROUTE.—The steam-ship Anglia,. 700
tons measurement, 350-horse power, built by Mare and
Co., engines by Maudsley and Field, intended for the
Holyhead station, to run between Holyhead and Kings-
town in conjunction with the Chester and Holyhead
Railway trains, was tried yesterday between Gravesend
and the Mouse light, and performed as follows:
Gravesend to the Mouse, with tide, 90 minutes, equal to
19.574 statute mile miles per hour; Mouse to Gravesend,
against tide, 120 1.6 minutes, equal to 14.690 statute
miles per hour. Measured nautical miles, slack tide,
4 min. 11 sec., equal to 16.489 statute miles per hour;
against tide, 4 mia. 39 sec., equal to 14.863 statute miles
per hour; two miles, 8 min. 50i, equal to 15.635 statute
miles per hour.