The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-12 00:00:00

WHITTINGTON CLUB.

MRS. SINCLAIR'S EVENING WITH THE
SCOTTISH BARDS.
Last night anentertainment of that sort rendered so
popular by the late Mr. Wilson was given in the hall
of the above-mentioned institution by Mrs. Sinclair, a
lady well known in the musical world as a fine singer
of Scottish music. Among the host who are endea-
vouring to follow in his footsteps, she alone seems
destined to fill up the blank caused by his premature
death. She brings to her assistance a great deal of
research and much musical ability, and consequently
her entertainment is what it ought to be—in every
respect agreeable, amusing, and interesting. Her se-
lection of songs last night was excellent, and the
musician-like mannner in which they were given
Equally so. " The Lea Rig" was capitally sung, and
" Up in the Morning Early" was encored with accla-
mation. The songs, however, were not the only
agreeable part of the soiree, the pleasant, light running
commentary, or descriptive lecture, being replete
with agreeable anecdotes and interesting matter. Nor
must Miss Sinclair's pianoforte performance be passed
unnoticed, the judicious manner in which she ac•
companied her mother showing great good taste,
whilst her solo (a fantasia on airs from Don Pasquale)
was brilliantly executed, and proved her to be an ac-
complished pianiste. The room was quite full, and
the audience were frequent in their delieve, monstrati
intends
ons
of satisfaction. Mrs. Sinclair, we be
making a provincial tour, and it is almost a work of
supererogation to wish her that which she is sure to
obtain—success in her undertaking.

THEATRE ROYAL EDINBURGH.
Unquestionably the greatest performer whom Mr.
Lloyd has yet introduced to our boards, or, to speak
wider, who has appeared in Edinburgh for some time
(we may safely say since Mr. Macready's farewell)
is Mr. Davenport, the American tragedian. Of
strangers—of American celebrities perhaps more es-
pecially—the Edinburgh public is proverbially chary.
Whatever amount of fame may have been achieved
elsewhere forms but a slight introduction to
the critical tastes of our audiences. But
Mr. Davenport needed no herald to sound
his praise. In person, judgment, voice, ges-
ture—everything that constitutes the great actor—
he brought his own recommendations with him, and
at once achieved a decided triumph. Avoiding minute
criticism, we may say generally that his performances
of the Stranger and Othello were characterised by
good taste and simplicity, with an absence of all
affectation and straining atter effect. He excels in the
rarest quality on the stage, xaturalness, and both in
level passages and in sounding the higher notes of tra-
gedy he rarely if ever outrages the "modesty of nature."
One scene is made harmonious with another, and a com-
plete char peter is thus presented to the critical spectator,
which, if not coming up to the highest ideal of per-
fection, falls at least little short of it, and displays a
power of conception and execution which very few
of the many aspirants to interpret properly our best
dramatists ever attain to. Those, therefore, who wish
to enjoy an intelligent hour with Sbakspere will
rarely find a better opportunity than is now pre-
sented by Mr. Davenport's appearance here. Judg-
ing from his noble performance of Othello, we make
bold to say that of the
°' mighty master's" creations
there is hardly on the stage at
present a more fitting
exponent.—Edinburgh paper.

A MOST UNWELCOME " KISS."--A rustic, staring
at the group of the Amazon, and noticing upon the pedestal
the nat-ne of the artist—A Kiss—exclaimed, as he saw the
tiger's huge paws round the horse's neck, in its terrible em-
brace, " Well, I know 1 shouldn't like such a kiss as that."
SERIOUS FIRES IN DEVONSHIRE.—A Wesleyan
meeting-house and two cottages adjoining were destroyed
by fire, at Kingskerswell, on Thursday; and on Sunday,
three dwelling-houses, situated in Park-street, Cn diton,
were totally destroyed, and others more or less injured,
by fire.
- - - - -

HERRING FISHING.—We are glad to learn that the
Newhaven fishermen have been fully occupied during the
last week. The herrings are not large, but of fine quality,
and have been found in great abundance a mile or two off
Burntisland and Aberdour. Caledonian Mercury.

CHILD MURDER AT DERTIY.—Au inquest has been
held on the body of the child found in the canal, at Derby,
yesterday week, and a verdict returned of Wilful Murder
against some person or persons unknown. Two women
who were apprehended on suspicion have been liberated,
and no clue at present exists to the perpetrator of the re-
volting crime.