The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-28 00:00:00

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• . ,i 7 ' . ) MR. BROOKE'S FAREWELL BENEFIT.\L.
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(Front the Melbourne Age.)
The hundred and twenty4hird and final night
of Mr. Brooke's performing in this city was signal-
ised by the assemblage of one of the most crowded
and enthusiastic audiences of the season. The
aspect of Oorpin's Olympic on Saturday evening
was such as to convey to the actor, who then took
his farewell benefit, an assurance that his popu-
larity had sustained no diminution, that he pos-
sessed numerous and warni admirers among all
classes of the community, and that he would be
followed, on his retirement from the stage of th •
Olympic, by the respect and regrets of the play
going public of Melbourne. And deservedly so ;
for his professional visit to this colony has been
productive of enjoyment to tens of thousands,
and his prospective departure will deprive the
Australian theatre of one of its brightest orna-
ments. His talent, aided by the enterprise of the
manager, and supported by so accomplished an
artiste as Miss Cathcart, and by actors and actresses
of such ability as are comprised in the Olympic
company, has enabled the Australian public to
witness representations of the Shaksperian drama
in a style of completeness that has elevated the
theatres of the metropolis of Victoria to a level
with those of the capital of Great Britain.
The grey discrowned Lear, the melancholy and
philosophic Dane, the impetuous and unscrupu-
lous Richard, the fate-impelled Macbeth, the hard,
remorseless Shylock, noble Othello, boisterous
Faulconbridge ; )Richelieu, Evelyn, and Claude
Melnotte ; the Corsican Brothers ;
Master Walter, and Julian St. Pierre ; Petrnchio,
Beverly, and lago ; Captain Murphy Megoire,
Felix O'Callaghan,
.and the Irish Attorney ; Mat-
thew ElmGre and Rory O'Mpre ;—what a diversity
of character is here, and what a masterly apprecia-
tion, not merely of the broader features but of the
minor idiosyncrasies of each, has Ms. Brooke die-7, 0"e-- -
played in his impersonations of the whole. While be
has toreae t almost every note in the gamut of the pas
sions, h's good taste and sound judgment have pre-
vented him from exaggerating vehemence of language
into bombast, cr degrading humour into buffoonery. He
has been thoroughly succe, slul, too, in broadly and dis-
tinctly defining the individuality of every character he
assumed. Other actors of eminence may have possessed
voices of greater flexibility and compass ; but few have
managed them with greater skill, and with a happier
subordination of tone to the vocal characteristics which
presumably belong to the part sustained, than Mr. Brooke
has done. •
No one character that he has sustained has reminded
us of another. Each occupies a separate niche or isolated
pedestal. Nor, while availing himself of the traditions
of the stage, in regard to the " business" of the piece,
and of thetas graces of elocution, " points," gestures, at-
titude, and by-play, of which the usage has bees conse-
crated by illustrious precedent, has Mr. Brooke failed
to subject each character he has impersonated to a care-
ful and intelligent study ; and, often detecting latent
beauties which have escaped the attention of his prede-
cessors, he has given us new readings, and stamped both
his action and elocution with the charms of originality.
And this is high praise to any actor : rem, mbeing that
the Kaltsperian drama, more especially, has bten the
study of so many men of genius on the stage, and of
such numberless analytical critics in the closet.
The play selected by Mr. Brooke for his farewell be-
nefit was ' Love's Sacrifice," ,which is not so great a
favourite with a Melbourne audience as with play-goers
in England : the actor's choice, however, was a wise
one, for there are few characters which admit of the ex-
hibition of more powerful and varied emotions, or in
which he more strongly excites and sustains the sympa-
thy and attention of the spectators. A detailed not ce of
the performance would simply b. 3 one continuous
eulogy; and two lengthy for the space at our dis-
posal. and for the reader's patience. In Miss
Cathcart, the loving and self-sacrificing daughter
fouild a representative, capable of breathing life•
into the somewhat chilly character pourtrayed by
the dramatist, and of heightening the beauty of the
poet's verse, by the grace of the actress's elocution
and the charm of her manner. Mr. R. Younge's
Lafunt was perfect. We saw some of the specta-
tors setting their teeth at him, and heard others
muttering their detestation of him. What hther
compliment could be offered to him ?
Mr. Brooke's first appearance on the scene ex-
cited a hurricane of applause. Vociferous mani-
festations of delight called him before the curtain
at the end of the third and fourth acts, and the
plaudits which accompanied the fall of the green
baize, at the termination of the drama, swelled
into a storm of approbation, when he once more
appeared, and led Miss Cathcart forward to share
in the ovation. As soon as the tumult had sub-
sided, Mr. Brooke advanced to the footlights and
took his fare Well of the Olympic audience in the
following words :
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN—The unwelcome hour has
at length arrived that must separate us. In the ordi-
nary course of my professional avocations, in visiting a
town for six or twelve eights, the task of saying "Fare-
well" is at all times a painful one. What my feelings
are upon the present occasion may easily be imagined
when T reflect (with pride and sati4action) that I have
been honoured with your patronage and enthusiastic an.
probation for 123 nights. (Cheers.) Thiscircumstance
will, I make no doubt, cause much surprise and specu-
latioa in the mother country, and tend to advance this
colony not only in the good opinion of " the abstract
aid brief chroniclers of the time," but that of the whole
itiabt I;
uuaatnteliiidtttiyoe.
tnyoot (Renewedeturhii.
etr loveit
aele of the of
‘Ncheers.)
iatgi
havemtri Thisritn u
eb
estdehnreeampsars I must
o;
surrounded;dtuoc t ti
ohlae
caosfopotitrmili.never during my career have I witnessed the pro-
ductions of Snakspears placed upon the stage in such
rapid succeedon, and in so perfect a manner. (Great
applause.) It is a matter of regret that on the eve of
my departure I should have been made the subject
of a gross attack from a society, the professional prin-
ciple of which is "The Support of the Legitimate
Drama." That attack I now declare (as an act of
duty to myself) to be as false as cowardly, and as
oowardly as unjust. (Cheers.) But, as ' Shakspsre
says—

[PRICE 4D. STAMPED SD•

FORTRESS OF ANAPA.

(From the Morning Herald.)

When the present war shall meet with its legiti-
mate historian, among other of its inscrutable and
unaccountable freaks and bye passages will be
found the episode of Anapa. Let not our readers
start away from an unusual name, or imagine that
we intend to treat them with some dull criticism
and civilian's disquisition upon au obscure and un-
interesting passage in the war. In the name of
Anapa there is, in fact, involved the history of the
Circassians, and the part they have taken, or I
should have taken in this campaign against
Russia. And though mightier interests may for a
time have absorbed public attention, yet, when
these are passed,, and it has become possible to
take a calmer review of the war and its events,
the question will recur, how is it that so little has
been thought of the Cireatsians ? Why have a
people occupying a most important frontier and
boldly withstanding for years the aggregate powers
of Russia, been never brought into play, and. ap-
parently never so much as regarded by the allies
or their rulers ?
Our correspondent's highly-interesting and im-
portant letter from Anapa, which appeared in our
columns of Wednesday ast, will explain this
strange anomaly. It will show both the causes of
the apparent inactivity of the Circassiaus, their
little prominence in the war, .and the real authors
of that inactivity, -It will clear the character of a
brave and hardy race from the imputations which
have gathered round it. And when the Duke of
Newcastle again takes his seat in the House of
Lords, his grace, who has been visiting Anapa,
and has ma le himself familiar with the events to
which we refer, will doubtless take an opportu-
nity of enlightening the nation as to the true state
of the case.

If our readers will take the trouble of examining
the relative positions of Kertch and Anapa, and
the surrounding districts, they will at once perceive
the commanding and important situation of the
latter, and its paramount value as the key of Cir-
cassia. A very little pains would have converted
it into an impregnable stronghold. Built upon a
rock, possessing the greatest advantages by Sea and
land, Anapa is not only important as a military
position, but as a rallying point for the Circassians.
A few hundreds of Europeans fairly supplied with
ammunition might hold it out against any large
force which Russia could bring against it ; because
their strength would be continually augmented by
a population whom years of hostility have made
the uncompromising enemy of Russia. It will be
seen, indeed, by our correspondent's letter that
Sefer Pacha, the old Circassian chief, with two
field-pieces only, did offer to raise a body of men,
and hold Auapa against the Russians, if he only
received sufficient encouragement from head-quar-
ters at Sebastopol. He did, in fact, hold it
without that encouragement ; nay more, in spite of
the very heavy discouragement with which he, like
many other brave men, have been visited during
the war, whenever they dared suggest operations
which did not emanate from one particular class of
heads or find favour within the limited capabilities
of certain privileged cliques. As a military posi-
tion Anapa is of no less value than Kars ; in re-
ference to the immediate population by which they
are surrounded, the former outdoes the latter; just
as much as the good-will of a hardy race like the
Circassians is more valuable, as it is more trust-
worthy, than any professions of aid from the races
which surround many of the Asiatic fortresses.
But just as brave General Williams was left with-
out support at Kars—was rewarded with an indif-
ference proportioned to his sacrifices and exertions
—just so was it at Anapa. The old Circassian chief
was abandoned to his fate—he, too, was left to
make the best of his two rusty guns, and perish or
not, The Circassiaus have met, on the side of the
allies, with a total and contemptuous indifference;
their applications were disregarded ; their advances
repulsed ; " important despatches, reports, and
petitions " of the utmost urgency were left with-
out an answer. And as if these instances of cal-
lousness had not been enough, with a total want
of right feeling towards Sefer Pacha, who had
always distinguished himself for his loyalty to the
cause of Constantinople and the allies, without his
concurrence, and in direct opposition to the wishes
of his people, a resolution was taken by the allies
to blow up the fortress. On the 10th of October a
French officer arrived in a steamer with orders to
carry out these intentions. The narrative shall
be given in the words of the original communica-
tion :

"You may imagine the figure presented by the
French captain of engineers when he received this order.
Coste is an excellent young man, who has all the
jollity and all the ;rankness of a French soldier. That
which he bed promiSed and that which ho was obliged
to do contradict each other so point blank that he knew
not how to communicate to Sefer Pacha the order which
he had just received. Lie thought that his best plan
would be to avoid meeting with the old man, and it was
only at the last moment that he caused him to be told
I of what he was ordered to do on the following day, Oct.
28, viz —to set fire to the mines, and embark immedi-
ately after for Sebastopol. That he might execute the
order of his superiors without any obstncle on the part
of the Circassians, he invited Sefer Pacha to assist in
his operations. Sefer Pacha was at that time obliged
to keep his bed on account of severe indispoiition.
When the melancholy news was communicated to
him, a bitter smile gave an indefinable expression
to his countenance, and his reply was, 'Marshal
Pelissier has all power in his hands ; why, then,
did he resort to falsehood, and make me pass at the clue
of my days for a liar among my countrymen ? Let my
chief of the staff do what is necessary, As to me, in
spite of my sickness, I desire not to be present when you
are destroying my patrimony. I wish to retire among
my countrymen, and when the destroyers shall have de-
parted let me know it.' The old man, bore down by.
chagrin and disease, then mounted on horseback, and
went hence at three o'clock to a village where he was
born, while the colonels of the staff posted themselves
with the troops of the garrison and the two cannon to
restrain the Circassians, who were disposed to attack
the French.
Happily the strength of the place resisted the
efforts made for its destruction by the engineers,
and Anapa still remains little damaged—a memo-
rial of grief and neglect to the Circassians—acon-
venient fortress for the occupation of the Russians,
when the declaration of peace shall have given them
an opportunity of repairing their losses and retriev-
ing their errors.
Bat we wait for the return of the Duke of New-
castle to substantiate those statenkents—refute them
he cannot.

" We live in the world's wide month,
Live scandaliz'd and foully spoken of."
'Who steals my purse, steals trash ; 'tis something, nothing,
'Twas mine, 'Lis his, and hs,a been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name,

Robs me of that which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed."

(Cheers. )

I will, if you please, avail myself of this opportunity of
acknowledging the courtesy and attention of the gentle-
men connected with the press during my engagement.
To the indefatigable stage manager, Mr. R. Youngs,
I am indebted for much valuable assistance, and can•
not too highly commend his exertions in the drama's
cause, which have been most ably aided by the pencil
of that talent artist, Mr. William Pitt ; and my thanks
are also due to the ladies and gentlemen who have so
successfully- co-operated with me. Ladies and gentle•
men, I will trespass no longer on your kindness, but
say in the language (f the immortal bard—

- " Should we ba taking leave
As long a term as we have yet to live,
The loathness to depart would grow."
" Our separation so abides and flies
That though residing here guest yet with me,
And I hence flying still remain with thee."

And now, in the sincere hope that increasing prosperity
may attend the city of Melbourne, and wishing you
collectively and individually health and happiness, I
most respectfully, and with every feeling of gratitude
say—" Farewell."
We could have wished that Mr. Brooke had not
fallen into the error of implicating a large body of
gentlemen in a censure passed upon an individual
writer of an injudicous piece of doggrel. The pro-
duction animadverted upon was not calculated to
injure a reputation so firmly established as that of
the tragedian ; and we are of opinion that the more
dignified course to have adopted would have been
an abstinence from anything like an ebullition of
angry feeling. We did not approve of either the
animus or the style of the doggrel ; we equally dis-
approve of the animus and the style of the re-
joinder.

At the conclusion of his address, a shower of
bouquets fell at the feet of Mr. Brooke, and a
wreath of laurel was flung from the box occupied
by Miss Hayes and a party of friends, —a graceful
tribute from the bright star of the lyric to that of
the legitimate drama.
Coppin's Spider Dance next sent the house into
convulsions of laughter, and his speech at the con-
clusion, with its allusions to the "iron-pot,"
" stew-pot," and the " head cook of the establish-
ment," were greeted with bursts of applause and
merriment.
The rattling farce of the " Garrick Fever " ter-
minated the evening's entertainment, and sent
in good humour.
everybody home

FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE LONDON DOCKS.—On Wed-
nesday afternoon, shortly after 1 o'clock, an accident of
a most frightful character occurred at the London Docks
to a respectable female named Maria Shand, aged 26
years. The deceased, with a young female (Agnes
Forman), and her brother, Captain D. Forman, and
several intimate friends, proceeded to the London Docks
to view the interior of the establishment, and subse-
quently they ware invited to the fourth floor of No. ie
warehouse, to witness the process of working the hydrau-
lic machine used for the purpose of raising heavy weights,
which pass through several traps or openings in the
flooring. The deceased and her female companion sud-
denly left the gentlemen, and walked to the aperture,
when they leaned over a low rail to look down at the
machinery at the basement, where the labourers were
employed, when the " lift" descended with terrible vio-
lence and crushed the bead of the deceased in such a
fearful manner, that she expired in three minutes after-
wards. The deceased's head was nearly separated from
the body, which presented a melancholy spectacle. The
deceased was removed by the dock officers and the police
to the parochial undertaker's (Mr. Scotcber) to await an
inquest. The deceased's companion, who was much in-
jured, was removed to the London Hospital, where Mr.
Ross, the house surgeon, rendered every assistance, but
very little hopes are entertained of ber recovery. The
nfortunate deceased was to have been married this day,