The Sun.
London, England, 1848-06-05 00:00:00

FRENCH PLAYS.

The troupe of the Palais Royal--that inimitable troupe
which, so lung as events let's the Parisians coarage enough
to lough, maintained its grata!l and warred against the
invasion of gloom—made its first appearance oil Friday
night at the St. Jarnt:s's Theatre. I%'e have now. in Eng-
land, for the first time, a complete company of French
comedians, thoroughly drilled, habituated to their parts,
"and all belonging to the same department of the drama.
Nothing could be more marked than the ditlerence re- 1
salting from this great advautega alone. Were it not
for the long intervals betwixt the acts, customary at this
theatre, the longest veu&ville ever performed would
have glided off nith astonislang rapidity, and withoutr
error or mistake, every nuanc2 thing thoroughly.stia.ied.,
complete in details, and up to every exigency of theatri-
cal illusion. We had only, of course, a portion of the
numerous troupe before us. The first in
two acts, entitled La Savonette Impertale, is an illus-
tration of the manner in which l'Empereur himself,.
a most striking example of the soldats heart= of
Voltaire, elevated his ,officers, raised from the ranks to
the level of the most aristocratic families of Prance. The
hero of the vaw!eville marries the daughter of a Marquis
of the old riyiete, who, in his pliancy and sycophancy to
the ruling power, dues not forgrt any of the prejudices of
hereditary lineage. In these prejudices his daughter for
a time participates, and despises the rough habits of the
soldier of fortune, her consort, until, become familiar
with his native nobility of character, and proud of his
prowess and of his glory, she repasts, and determines to
follow him away from all the frivolous scenes of Parisian
fashion, and amidst all the trials of a military campaign.
The hero was enacted by M. Derval, an actor of repute
in Paris, and the heroine was Mdlle. Figeac, an estab-
lished favourite of the Palais Royal. But there
was also M. Lemenil, who enacted the part of
a rou;h, true-hearted old soldier of the empire,
and, whatever the me:its of the two other per-
formers, he totally eclipsed them. We have seldom
seen a more admirable portraiture ; it was full of life
and individuality, replete with pathos, as well as broad
humour, His soap were excellently delivered, and most
justly encored. the great feature of the night,. how-
ever, was the second vaudeville, a vaudeville in no less
than three acts, which has had an extraordinary run in
Paris, under the name of line Fievre .Brulante. The plot
is too full of peripaies—too lengthy and involved—to
allow any connected account of it. The hero, Richard
Tremblay (Ravel) is a rich, eccentric young bachelor.
He is consumed by love for the fair sex; but such is his
timidity; and his consequent fear of meeting with the
objets of his dreams, that, at their approach, he is seized
apparently with horror of their presence, and gives way
to the harshest expressions of feigned dislike but of
real terror. He is in love with his opposite neigh-
bour, whose name he knows not, and passes his time
gazing at her from his window. Dire consequences
arise from his astronomical observations of his ruling
star. The young ladies of the milliner's establishment
below think his glances are directed to one of them, and
invade his retreat to solve the question, first—to his
dismay—in their own costume, but they next coma
dressed as young students, so that when subsequently he
meets them at a ball he thinks they are boys disguised
as girls. On the other hand, an old romantic dancer,
who has married a Russian Count, takes Tremblay's
love for her sister (twenty years younger) as being
addressed to herself, and gives way to the most head-
long return of supposed affection, whilst her husband
(Grassot) is no less headlong in his jealousy and ven-
geance. The unfortunate bachelor, besides his nervous
timidity, baffled in his affections, c,eistantly labouring
under the mistakes or misapprehensions of others as well
as his own, first tries to shoot himself; but, fortu-
nately, like the Irishman in the old story, he shoots
his image in a mirror. Next he throws himself out
of window, but falls in a mud cart. He encounters
the repulses of his inamorata, the persecutions
of the young milliners, and th,se, still Iw:re
terrible, of the old lady, together with the vengeance
of the Russian Count. His happiness is, however,
sealed at last by an adventure in a box at the
Opera Comique, where he gets the Russian Count taken
up by the police, by hiding in his box and imitating the
barking of a dog, which he has a naturalleropensity to
do, like a real canine quadruped, whenever he hears the
pianoforte played upon. His sweetheart, the Countess's
sister, accepts of his hand, to prevent the former, in her
romance, eloping with him, and the Count, in his alarm,
gladly contents to the match. The acting
of Rawl was
beyond all privs,.,.as it was beyond all description. The
least movement of his features produced bursts of lsugh-
ter amongst the audience. His mercurial moveineets,
his untiring spirits, his complete übandan,- his tilt( mate
desteeiclency and situ his tuitairabie sl, bv,-ry
of kLecoupivt, introduced—in a word,evor eeee-e of a
gee eine actor of is peculiar typ, a;; y
‘s ith most LI iumphant effeei. a i
~ea
by the scarce less celebrated actor Gr..,s,ot, wile played
the part of the Count and diplomatist. His broad,de-
cided caricature'style was full of originality, and con-
trasted excellently with the nervousdelineaion of his
brother actor. The entertainment was altogether must
successtul--..u1l of present
enjuyro,,tii
promise. and of future

HAYMAREZET THEATRE.
A new and original comic drama entitled Owns and
Odd Coinemccs was acted for the first time on Satur-
day. It bears internal evidence of being of true Bug-
glish facture, from its weakness of construction and its
entire absence of anythiee. approximating to develop-
ment of character ; for though' there is an attempt to
endue
mour,"it t.heis several personages with some ruling
done so inartifictally that it forms little be-
yond the mere outward covering The title bears but
slight reference to the action, there are neither
omens nor coincidences, if we except some auld wile
superstitions of an elderly gentleman, who shudders at
the upsetting of salt-cellars, and has an abiding faith in
the
and eveaqueous virtue of cauls and such antiquated follies,
n these absurdities have been worn threadbare
b
g p laywriyle precedin
The piece opens at; a fashion-
ab boarding-houseghts.
at St. John's-wood, kept by Mrs.
Provender (Ire. Ihmabv), with whom resides Mr.
Christopher Token (Mr. Farren), an elderly bachelor,
rich, silly, benevolent, nervous, and superstitious, who
believes in signs and portents, ghosts,.casting of nati-
vities, and other astrological fancies. his servant, Foil
(Mr. Keeley), having had the advantage of University
experience as a Gyp, becomes an academical rogne, and
contrives to fat ten upon the lean wits of his master.
Then there are Mr. Gorman Grub (Mr. Tilbury), a fat-
headed, rubicund-faced, swollen-paunched gourmand; a
Mr. Frederick Gayhurst (Mr. A. Wigan), a former pro-
visional director of various hypothetical railroads, who
is deeply in debt, and seeking to victimise the ladies and
gentlemen of Mre. Proven:ice's establishment, end last
and least, Lionel Harlencourt (Mr. H. Vandenhoff), a,
walking gentleman, drawn out
to infinitesimal tenuity,
who makes love to an amorous walking lady, Emmeline
Linden (Miss Harding). The ladies of the St. John's
Wood boarding establishment are Mrs. l'itzmarshall
(Mrs. Nisbett), an officer's widow, who breathes gun-
powder and talks congreve rockets; Miss l'rune (Mrs.
Glover), a spinster on the shady side of forty, scientific
and sinister, who affects systems and statistics; and Susan
(Mrs. Keeley), a bustlin, intriguing, quaint, monthly-
warning. We must not forget Trace (Mr. Rogers), a
sheriff's officer, and Mordax (Mr. Brindal), an individual
with no character at all. Tie boarders. have a pic-sic
up, the Taunus, et which the usual egreeabilities occur,
e. g. broken bottles, spilt wine, mutilated pasties, absent
cork-screws, and a thunder. storm. The ladies get soaked,
Mr. Token tumbles into the river, and is saved by

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-------7,....- - -,serc-a.,.....1
the pale, bilious, and interesting " walking gentleman.," - i'Llz-,;--7-:N
Then there is a mysterious story appended, v 4 lich we -:.i.f ~...,:i's
found quite unfathomable, about the young latii buiug ''.,„:-;,*?-:,
the orphan daughter of a former love of :‘!:-. 4":.ken, ..:--z!-:;!,-k4:i
and how Mrs. Provender, the principal of the N. ‘.f:kihu.s .-,,,,-,
Wood boarding estahlithment, had run a- ily ticlity7‘?'
..L.i...k...---
America, carrying the
.Young lady wilt, her, and , -1,, , ,
ing her husband behind her in the United States, .41(771-NrjSit._
turns out most opportunely to be the aforeraentiOned
\Ho
Trace, the Sheriff's officer. Then there is the verus-
tomed pairing--a sudden match is concluded httweert
Gaybkirst and the military widow, the young walking
gentleman is united to the young walking- lady, and
then came the final appeal to the audience, of whom
some faintly applauded and some considerably Plissp-
i proved. A description of a siege, after the mz.tiner of
the celebrated lines in the Love Chase, de!ivered by
Mrs. Nisbett with great spirit, was much applauded.
Mrs. Glover has a part totally unworthy her rennekable
talent. The pic-nic on an lit on the Thames atit,rried
opportunities for oddities of situation ; but a similar
scene, in a piece called, we think, The Miter Party,
performed during the Vestris regime at the Olympic,
detracted from its novelty. A want of clearness and
consocutiveness renders the piece ineff,ctive and weari-
some. The actors laboured zealously and the public
were amiable and patient; but, without great conden-
sation, we opine that the new drama will never become
an old one. It was not given out for repetitioc.

---
COURT CIRCULAR.
The Queen and Prince Albert, the Ladies and
Gentlemen of the Court, and the domestic house-
hold, attended Divine service yesterday morning, in
the Private Chapel in Buckingham Palace. The lion.
and Rev. C. Leslie Courtenay officiated.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent attended
the afternoon service in the Private Chapel in Buck-
ingham Palace.

'The Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess
Royal, and the Princess Alice, took airings yesterday,
and the Princess Helena and the Princess Louisa
were taken airings on Saturday.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited
her Majesty on Saturday.
Her Majesty the Queen Dowager and his Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge attended Divine
service yesterday, iu the Chapel Royal, St. James's.
The prayers were read by the Rev. Mr. Knapp, the
lessons by the Rev. T. Helmore, and the communion
service by the Bishop of London. The sermon was
preached by the Rev. Dr. Hook. The anthem was,
" Let me know my end"—Green. Sir George Smart
preiided at the organ. The Bishop of Norwich,
Clerk of the Closet, and the Dean of Hereford, De-
puty Clerk, were in attendance. The Qur•t•ii Dowager
and the Duke of Cambridge received the :..Icrament,
which was administered by the Bishop of London.
The Duke of Wellington attended the early service
yesterday. The Rev. Dr. Wesley officiated. The
Lord Ahnoner, the Bishop of Oxford, will preach on
Sunday next, in the Chapel Royal, St. James's.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge
attended Divine service yesterday, in St. Michael's
Church.

A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday afternoon
at the Foreign-office. The Ministers present were
Lord John Russell, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis
of Lansdowne, the Earl of Alia°, Sir George Grey,
Viscount Palmerston, Earl Grey, the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, the Earl of Auckland, Sir John :lob-
house, the Right Hon. IL Labouchere, Lord Campbell,
and the Marquis of Clanricarde. The Council sat
two h3urs.
The Committee on Education of her Majesty's
most Honourable Privy Council held a inceting on
Saturday, at one o'clock, which was attended by the
31,Iiirod Pto,trheesii,leandr,ofl,A,,rudc k
it,hdi:
sitiursscrelL,rgtleieurEeyar,lanodf
the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Excise, lad an
interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on
Friday, at his official residence in Downin,-street.
Dispatches were received on Saturday, at the
Colonial-office, from the Governors of the IVest India
colonies.
Dispatches were sent off on Friday evening, from
the Colonial-office, for the Governors of the North
American provinces.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, COVENT•GARDEN.—Her
Majesty's box was occupied on Saturday evening by the
Earl and Countess of Desart, Lord and Lady Brackley,
and Lord and Lady Blantvr.'. There were Os° present
the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, and Lady Caroline
Sandford, the Duke and Duchess of Montrose, the Duke
and Duchess of Leins'er, and Lady Jane Fitzgerald, the
Marquis of: Titehrield, the Marquis and Marchioness
of Lansdowne, the Earl and Countess of V lengall, the
Earl and Countess of Ilarewood, Earl of Cardigan,
Countess of Egremunt, the Countess Dowager of Essex
and Miss Johnstone, Viscount Cantalupe, Viscount
Templetown, Viscount Ingestre and Lady Sarah In-
gestre, Viscount Ebrington, Viscount Mandeville,
Viscount and Viscountess Dillon, Viscount Can-
terbury, Lady Caroline Cavendish, Viz.coutitesa
Dungarvon, Loi•cl and Lady Ernest Bruce, L rd
and Lady Carington, Lord Gienelg, Lady Scott, Lady
Joddrell, Lady Frances Hope. Lady Morgan.
Lady Webster, Lady Molesworth, Lady Lan-ley, Hon.
T. Fortescue, Hon. Dudley Fortescue, lion. W. Coke,
Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Gage, Hon Miss Maynard, Hon.
Mr. Upton, Hon. A. Willoughby, Hon. Sir Thomas
and Lady Seymour, Hon. Tbeobald Dillon, Hon.
Deleval Astley, Sir John Burgoyne, and the Misses
Burgoyne, Sir W. de Bathe, Sir 11. Webb, Sir Belling-
ham and Lady Graham, Sir F. Booth, Sir C. Marshall,
Sir W. Paulet, Captain and Lady Adela Ibbetson, Mrs.
Charles Mills and the Misses Mills. Mrs. Mountjoy
Martin, Mrs. Locke, the Misses Richards, the Misses
Byrnes, Major-General P. Campbell, 8.A., General
M'Gregor, General Fane, Colonel Towers, Colonel
Blane, Colonel Jones, Major Mountjoy Martin, Major
Womyss, Captain D. Carleton, Captain iloygartb,
Captain Cuddy, Captain Turner, Captain Leslie, Captain
de Bathe, Captain Seymour, Mr. S. llog-rs. Mr. J.
Lloyd Clayton, sir. Montagu Gore, M.P., Air. Sackville
Lane Fox, M. 1., Mr. S. Bailey, M.P., Colonel B.
Knox, M.P.

PORTUGUESE POTATOES.—A vessel arrived from
Lisbon with a cargo of oranges, has brought also fifty-
four cases of potatoes, the produce of Portugal. This
is an unusually large and important supply of potatoes
from this southern European state.
EARLY WHEAT. —We observed, yesterday, a
small field of Australian seed wheat in full ear and
bloom, growing on Mr. Hell's model farm, Oyster
mouth, within four miles of Swauses.—Cambiian of
June 2.

OFFICIAL SALARIES.^CIIEAP (?)
From a return recently obtained, it appears that the
actual net increase of the number of appointments, and
the amount of salaries in all public offices awl depart-
ments, since the passim; of the Act 4th ant sth Wil-
liam IV., c. 24, is 6,863 as regards the number of per-
sons. 184,3681. as regards the salaries, and 17,586/. as
regards the emoluments ; 7,060 persons at salaries
amounting to 260,0001. have been added to the esta-
blishment of the Post-office within the period of this
account, for the purpose of affording increased facilities
and accommodation to the public in the receipt and de-
livery of letters, &c. The account, iexclusive of the
Post-office, would exhibit a diminution of 197 persons,
and about .58,000/. per annum in salaries and emolu-
ments.

ArreEneNsiox or GAM:MM.—For some time
past it has been suspected that a very exteraive system of
gambling has been carried on at 64A, St. James's-street.
During the last week the police having had perva:e in-
forrnalion of the proceedings of the parties, have been on
the qui vine, and about haV-past two yesterday (sundry)
morning. Inspector Beresford, in company with a strong
body or the force, rs,paired to the spo., taking• the newly-
invented apparatus ter forcing the doors, &c., with them.
Several persons were stationed in different parts of the
street, evidently on the look out, and a signal was given
upon the appearance of the polic, to warn the persons
within the huildiog, in order that they might f frect au
escape. This, however, proved ineffectual. The police
advanced, the machine was put in action, ari.l the doors
instantly broken open, when the whole pt the parties
were at once captured, there being 16 in numb. r. The
tables, dice-box, and other !gambling implea ents were
also secured, and the parties were conveyed in cabs to
the Vine street police station, but were almost immedi-
ately released on bail. Notwithstanding the early hour
of the morning, hundreds of persons assemble.' round the
house in a few minutes.

SIR 11. I3ULIVER AND TIIE SPANISH GOVFIINMENT.
-It is, we believe, beyond all doubt that the imputations
cast by the Spanish Government on Sir Henry Bulwer,
and assigned by it in defence of the violent measure
taken against this country in the person of her accre-
dited envoy, are wholly unsupported by evidence entitled
to consideration or belief. Whatever may have been the
unfortunate state of feeling, which had existed from no
very recent date, between the representative of the Bri-
tish Government in Madrid and the Spanish M,oisters,
there is a total absence both of fact and of }:roof suffi-
cient to justify the most extreme proceeding, abort of
war, which is known to the usages of nations. With
a coarse precipitation, the Spanish Ministers have em-
ployed a remedy wholly unsuited to the occssien; and
the two countries may be exposed to some of the incon-
veniences of a rupture from tho consummate misconduct
of those eminent persons on both sides, %%hose primary.
duty it was to maintain the ancient courtesy and to re-
spect their common interests. But if the English
Minister is open to a charge of indiscreet interference,
the Spaniards had no right to resent such impolitic
conduct or unseasonable advice by a direct breach of the
law of nations; and as yet the larger offence remains
unredressed and unnoticed.— Times.

DEATH OF LIEUTENANT-GEriERAL GEORGE SAL.
moN, R.A.—This general officer, the last surviving of
18 officers who received commissions in the Rftys I Artil-
lery on the 24th of May, 1781—arnongst K he•m were
-Lieutenant-General Lord Bloomfield, Lieutenant• Gene-
ral Millar. Lieutenant-General Robe, and others, t►ho
acquired high distiction in the service—died on Thurs•
day, June 1, at his residence in Park-street, London.
The late General Salmon was Colonel Commaudant of
the 4th battalion of the Royal Artillery, baying been
appointed to the command of the battalion on the 7tb
of September, 1834. His period of service was 67 years,
he having joined as second Lieutenant on May 24. 1781;
promoted to first Lieutenant., 6th of June, 1788; Cap-
tain,_ 9th of September, 1794; Brevet Major, Ist of
January, 1805; Major, Ist of June, 1806; Lieutenant-
Colonel, 18th of June, 1807; Brevet Colonel, 4th of
June, 1814; Colonel, 3d of July, 1815; Major• General,
19th of July, 1821; Lieutenant-General, 10th of Ja-
nuary, 1837.