The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-21 00:00:00

SURREY THEATRE.

Young's tragedy of The Revenge was produced at this
theatre last night, for the purpose of introducing to
Surrey audience Mr. Ira Aldridge, the African trage-
dian, in the character of Zanga ; and it is but justice to
him to say that his success was complete in that difficult
character. He has a clear and flexible voice, which he
uses with great judgment and taste ; he can infuse great
expression and feeling into his intonation ; his emphasis
is judicious ; and his transitions natural and appro-
priate. His acting was excellent throughout. Although
this was his first appearance at the Surrey,we are aware
it is not the first time he has been before a London
audience ; the circumstances, however, under which
he now comes forward as a candidate for public
favour, are far more propitious to a recognition of
his claims. A reaction has taken place in the public
taste in favour of the legitimate drama, and a cor-
responding demand for actors who can do justice
to the classic productions, is felt and acknow-
ledged. Without attempting to institute a comparative
criticism between the performance or merits of this gen-
tleman and any of those who might be considered to be
his competitors, we may venture to say that he stands,
without question, in the first class. In the farce of the
Padlock, his performance of the part of Mango was equal
to anything we ever witnessed, displaying great humour
and histrionic art in setting forth the sapient points of
that very facetious specimen of sable servants. The
greatest applause accompanied his efforts. If this gen-
tleman has assigned to him characters equally well cal-
culated to call forth his abilities, he cannot fail to be
great acquisition to the theatre, and to attract good
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houses, which, after all, is the great desideratum 1.
these cases. He was called before the curtain, and in
modest terms acknowledged the compliment paid lute,
and the appreciation whicti the audience evinced of his
efforts to amuse them. The evening's entertainments
afforded great satisfaction. A new farce, entitled Gutta
Perdu:, elicited so much laughter, that we do not feel
disposed to be very; rigorous i n a criticism of its merits.
In these dull times, it is no trifling merit to put people
into good hum, ur, sad t elicit a hearty laugh.

SPECIE FROM IRELAND.—The vessel Preussischer
Adler, arrived in the River from Cork, has brought, as
a portion of her cargo, ten boxes of specie. So large as
atri%al of specie from the sister island is particularly
remarkable, and of proportionate interest.
TIIE BISHOP OF MANCHESTER W. GUTTERIDGE.
—This cause, which creates considerable interest, is
appointed to take place at the Warwick Assizes, on
Wednesday, the 29th inst. Mr. Gutteridge, it will be
remembered, was a most persevering opponent of the
appointment of Dr. Lee to the bishopric of Manchester,
whose confirmation in St James's Church he unsuccess-
fully sought to obstruct. Amongst the witnesses who
have been summoned to give evidence on the trial are--
The Bishop of Worcester, the Hon. and Rev. G. hf•
Yorke, the Rev. J. Garbett, B.A. (the Bishop's chaplain)'
some of the Masters of King Edward's School, and
many of the inhabitants of Birmingham, to whom Dr.
Lee, during the time he held the mastership of the
school, was personally known.
DEATH OF ADMIRAL MATSON.—We regret to
state that Admiral Richard Matson died on Sunday, the,
19th inst., in the 77th year of his age. He was mate or
the Britannia, and served on shore during the occupy
Lion of Toulon, in 1793, and publicly thanked by Su'
Sidney Smith for his conduct at the destruction of the
arsenal and fleet; served also at the sieges of St. no-
renza and Bastia, 1794; Lieutenant of the Bedford is
Hotham's actions; and present at the capture of Surinam,
1799; gazetted 1793.

ARTISTS' BENEVOLENT FUND.—The supporters of
the above fund held their annual meeting yesterday at
the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen.street. R. H.
Sully, Eq., F.R.S., was in the chair. The report read
by the secretary stated that the Queen Dowager con-
tinued her munificent donation of 1051. During the
year forty widows had been provided with pensions of
141. each, and twenty-four orphans at 5/. each. The
total receipts amounted to 1,1071., and the expenditure
left a balance of 681. After the adoption of the report
the following were elected members of the council:—
Sir J. E. Swinburne, Bart., Sir M. A. Shee, B. B.
Cabbell, Esq., M.P., P. Legh, Esq., R. H. Solly, Esq.,
and Aaron Goldsmid, Esq. The meeting then separated.
FIRE AT A, LICENSED VICTUALLERS. This
morning, between the hours of one and two, the Grapes
public-house, the property of Mr. Jeremiah O'Connor,
situate in Duke-street, Lincoln's Inn•fields, was disco-
vered by police-constable 80 F to be on fire. The escape
of the Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire
was quickly at the spot, and owing to the exertions of
the conductor two or three of the parties residing in the
house were brought down the machine. The engines of
the London Brigade, West of England, parish, and
County offices were early in arriving, and plenty of
water was obtained from the New River Company's
mains, but the fire was not extinguished at a quarter to
three o'clock, although all danger of any further exten-
sion was at an end. The whole of the upper part of the
public house is de,troyed, and the contents totally con-
sumed. Mr. and Mrs. O'Connor are severely injured,
and it is reported that a child hai been burnt to death in
the flames.

HOTEL AND TAVERN KEEPERS' PROVIDENT IN-
STITUTIODL—Yesterday the friends and supporters of
this charity met at the Craven Hotel, Strand, to receive
the ninth annual report of the committee, and to elect
officers for the ensuing year. Mr. T. Bacon presided.
The report congratulated the subscribers on the steady
increase in the funds of the institution. Their receipts
for the past year, including a balance of 1001. at the
last audit, were 660/. Bs. Id. This, after investing 238/.
in the funds, awarding to deserving applicants sutra
amounting to 701. Is., and the defraying of various
expenses, left in their banker's hands a balance of
1181. 2s. 7d.

On the 9th inst., at St. Mary's, Southampton, the wife of
John Foote Hattatt, Esq., of a daughter.
On the 17th ins t., at the Rectory of St. George's, Hanover-
square, Mrs. Howarth, of a son.
On the 17th inst., the lady of Robert Horton, Esq., of e
daughter.
On the 17th inst., at Fountain-terrace, Camberwell-grove,
Mrs. Henry Goss, of a daughter.
On the 18th inst., at Woolwich, the wife of Mr. A. Strother,
of a son. . _ _

On the 19th inst., at Brixton-hill, the wife of Mr. J. E. C.
Koch, of a son.
On the 17th inst., at Denmark-hill, Mrs. John James
Smith, of a son.

Me" .K.ItINII.

On the 14th inst., at St. Marylebone parish Church, T. C.
Brettiugham, Esq., of St. John's-wood, to Miss Emma T.
Gilbert, of the Acacia•road, Regent's-park.

DIED.

On the 23d of December, at Bruges, in Belgium, Captain J.
Richardson, R.N.
On the 28th ult., at Stuttgart, Captain W. J. Speed.
On the I I th inst., at Timbridge-wells, Dr. Nelson, M.D.
On the 15th inst., at Chelsea, Henrietta Mary Anne, the
wife of Thomas T. Alkin, Esq., aged 39.
On the 15th:inst., at Pelham-crescent, Brompton, Anna
Maria Thompson, only daughter of the late Charles Joss-
ling, Esq.
On the 15th inst., at Brighton, John Leveson Gower
Ward, Esq., barrister-at-law, aged 31.
On the 16th inst., at Fermain Cottage, Guernsey, John
Innes, Esq.
On the 17th inst., at Chawton, near Alton, Catherine Ann,
second daughter of the late W. Fronting., Esq.
On the 17th inst., at Somerford, Stafford, Edward Monck-
ton, Esq., Lieutenant-Colonel of the Staffordshire Yeomanry
Cavalry, aged 70.

London : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, at
No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112,
Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county of
Middlesex, Tuesday, March 24 1848.

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