The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-09 00:00:00

THE SUN,

ADELPHI THEATRE.

A romantic drama in three :sets, entitled The
Queen's Secret; or, The Iron Mask, was produced
here last evening with marked success. The hero of
the piece is the celebrated and mysterious man in the
iron mask, who is here represented to be the elder
brother of Louis XIV. The plot is highly ingeni-
ous :—Roland (Madame Celeste), who, in the end, is
doomed to wear the iron mask, has been deserted by
his parents, and a reckless adventurer, called the
Chevalier de R.:equates (Webster), is employed by the
Cardinal Mazsrin to watch over his career. Roland
is travelling through a distant part of the country of
his birth, when he meets and falls in love with a
peasant girl—Aline (Miss Kathleen Fitzwilliam),
and he is on the point of being married to her, when
the nuptials are prevented through the instrumenta-
lity of the Countess de Chevreuse (Miss Woo!gar),
who is aware that a mystery hangs about the his th of
the young lover, and is accordingly deeply interested
in his welfare. In order to favour the Countess's
design the Chevalier (but unknown to her) sets fire
to Roland's mansion, and in the confusion which
ensues the marriage is suspended. Various incidents
follow in rapid succession, and amongst other things
it is discovered that the Chevalier had formerly
seduced an innocent girl, who had since died, leav-
ing an only child. The name and history of this
child forms another episode in the piece, and
serves to increase the mystery which envelopes the
character of the Chevalier. The progress of the plot
also discloses the fact that Roland is the Queen's son
and the brother of Louis XIV., and immediately
after this discovery he is consigned to prison under
the circumstances before mentioned. The fates, how-
ever, interpose, through the agency of the aforesaid
Countess, whose influence over the destiny of the
Chevalier is so povverful that she causes on interview
to take place between him and Aline, which leads to
the discovery that the girl is his own child. The
denouement is felicitous and thoroughly melo-dra-
matic. In this juncture he is entreated to favour the
escape of the imprisoned youth, and so completely is
he overcome by compunctions of conscience that he
resolves to atone for his conduct by wearing the iron
mask in Roland's stead, and leaving the youth to fly
from the prison accompanied by his betrothed, who
having partaken of his sorrows, is now determined to
share his joys in a distant land. Mr. Webster played
' the Chevalier de Rosarges with great judgment and
effect. His " make up" was excellent. -Miss Wool-
gar personated .the Countess in her wonted style of
,
accomplished efficiency. A scene in the third act
between these two excellent performers was most
effectively given and loudly applauded. Miss Fitz-
william displayed much feeling as the peasant
girl, Alma ; and Paul Bedford, as the
stupid, cowardly Baron, afforded exceeding
delight to the audience. Madame Celeste as Roland
was admirable. As the peasant youth, the gallant
cavalier, and the woe-worn prince, in each phase of
the character iu which the hero of the drama is re-
presented, her picturesque appearance and combing-
, tion of energy and pathos, rendered the pat one of
her most successful roles in melodrama. The play
was announced amid giwat applause for repetition
every evening until Csieste's departure for America,
whence ihe frequenters of the Adelphi will ardently
long for her happy return, crowned, if possiole, with
additional laurels. 01 this most talented lady a
morning contempory happily remarks—" As a
dramatic artist she is, in her own particular line,
unrivalled. For thorough picturesqueness and
artistie grace of appearance, Madame Celeste, in
many or the fantastic parts she loves best to
play, is quite a phenomenon. Let the playgoer
call to wind the di,,guises in the Mysterious
Stranger—tilt, wit by fanenul and thoroughly pic-
turesque bearing of Miami in ;he Green Bushes—or
the very striking portraiture in The Flowers of the
Forest In ' wake up' and bearing MaJalTle Celeste
possesses, indeed, almost unequalli-d powers. As an
actress she bas always )abound under the disadvan-
tal,e of speaking broken English, and she is far from
being free from mannerism; but she has perfect in-
telligence—ner conception of a part is singularly vivid
and acute—and she always plays with unflagging
energy and genuine earnestness, her heart and her
powers thoroughly in the work. Madame Celeste's
management of the Adelphi has been deservedly pros-
perous. She has worked as hard in the arduous task
of getting up' pieces as in performing her own part
in them. Her taste and judgment in the prepara-
tion and arrangement of elaborate scenes and group-
ings are consummate ; and we may add tbat, per-
sonally, Madame Celeste is as much beloved by the
establishment over which she presides as she is artis-
tically respected and appreciated by the public." The
new piece is, we understand, adapted to the English
stage by Mr. Webster, whom we congratulate on his
twofold success, both as adaptor of, and actor in the
Queen's Secret.

LONDON,

THE SPANISH ACCOUNT OF THE,
IN VAS lON OF CUBA.
(Frcm the Times.)

We have been favoured by the Spanish Minister
with the following description of the late events in
Cuba :
" The Spanish _Minister has read the leading
article published in the Times of Saturday, upon the
events that have taken place in the island of Cuba;
and being convinced that the errors which it contains
can only procesd from the want of a correct and
authentic information and from the exaggerated ac-
counts :nf the American newspaper, he takes the
liberty of sending to the Editor of the Times an exact
report of what has happened in Cuba during the last
invasion.
" The following facts are taken from the official
documents, and the Spanish Minister in becoming
himself responsible for their veracity, sincerely hopes
that they may give the Editor of the limes a true
idea of the events to which they refer.
" M. de Isturitz trusts also in the justice of this
highly respected journal, in order to enlighten the
public opinion of this country on questions of such
magnitude and importance ; as nothing can so effi-
ciently serve this desirable end as to present the history
of the facts, such as they took place, M. de Isturitz
thinks it his duty to communicate them to the editor
of a journal that, like the Times, has such powerful
means of forming and correcting the opinion of one of
the greatest nations of the world.
" Before proceeding any further it is important to
record some facts. The attempt at Round Island,
and the - expedition of Cardenas, had clearly and
frankly established the respective positions of the
Spanish and American Governments. While the
former announced in the most public and solemn
manner its determination to apply with the utmost
rigour the law of the rights of nations to the invaders
of Cuba, the latter, through the proclamation of
General Taylor, declared them outlaws, and excluded
from all protection. Both Governments did re-
peatedly warn them that death as pirates should be
the consequence of their crime; but this advice, per-
fectly unnecessary in any other country, was not, un-
fortunately, listened to in America.
" The expedition of Cardenas took place, Spanish
blood was spilt in that most unjustifiable aggression,
and at last - the criminals fled. The Spanish Gover-
nor, who had in his power the prisoners taken at
Contoy, carried' his generosity to the extent of im-
prudence; some of them were acquitted, the others
forgiven, not a single victim fell ; in fact, it was im-
possible to carry further the effects of clemency.
" Soon, however, were felt the results of such a
generous conduct. 'die sedition of Puerto Principe,
the rising in arms of ..lguero and his few adherents,
stimulated by the expectation of a new expedition
from the United States, and the final landing of Lopez
and his 'parthans-on the northern coast, soon con-
vinced the Captain-General of Cuba of the fatal effects
of former lenity, and of the necessity of the pre-
scriptions of the law being applied with the utmost

severity.
"Being therefore decided to act with energy, he
received at 3 o'clock in the morning of the 12th a
dispatch from the captain of her Majesty's frigate
Esperanze, addressed to the Governor of Mariel, ad-
vising the approach of a steamer. The Captain-Ge-
ne, al, calculating the direction of the suspected vessel,
did not hesitate one instant, and at 7 o'clock that
same morning the war-steamer Pizarro, under the
command of General Brutillos, sailed from Havannah,
with seven companies of troops (about 700 men),
having in tow a echooner with the horses belonging
to the stuff officers, and a few soldiers of the Regi-
ment el Rey, all of them commanded by General
Enna.
" The Pizarro anchored the same day in Bahia
Londa, four leagues distant from Playitas, where the
pirates- had landed in the morning. Lopez had divided
his forces. About 400 men were possessed of a
village called Las Poses, and 100 more were placed
in El Morillo, a small hill with a few houses that look
upon the coast, with the probable intent of assisting
the landing of new expeditions, or to secure a retreat
in case of a defeat.
" General Enna, impatient for fighting, and no
doubt deceived by the many and contradictory reports
consequent upon the hour and haste, divided also his
small forces. Two companies attacked the hill El
Morillo ; two more remained out of the seat of action ;
and himself, with only three companies, attacked the
main body of the invaders, consisting of at least 350
men, protected by the houses of the village, by some
defensive works rapidly made, and by the difficulties
of the ground. General Bona had, therefore, to fight
against an enemy not only superior in force, but who
had besides the advantage of being defended by strong
parapets.
"-The Spanish troops attacked with the bayonet,
receiving the fire of the enemy, and they met with
the most desperate resistance. The loss on both sides
was very considerable, and both parties fought, man
against man, in the streets of the villages. The
Queen's forces had 120 men wounded, and a consi-
derable, but yet unknown, number of dead, among
whom was the second major of the Leon regiment.
General Enna, who had his horse killed under him,
found himself obliged, in consequence of the position
occupied by the enemy, to wait fur the artillery and
to retreat with his small force. The pirates left the
village to attack him, but the general charged them
with his few men and compelled them to re-enter
their shehered positions. He then halted at a short
distance with his little force, which he bad yet to di-
vide by the necessity of transporting and escorting
the wounded to Bahia Londa.
" There he remained, without being at all mo-
lested, till the 15th, in the morning, when he was re-
inforced by four companies of infantry and 150
horses, that the Captain-General of Cuba had sent
under the command of the colonel chief of the general
staff, and on that same day he was also joined by
another column of five companies and two mountain
pieces under the orders of Brigadier-General Dun
Martin Rosales.
" The invaders, who had remained inactive since
the encounter on the 13th, contrived to leave the vil-
lege of Las Poses; and by the latest news from the
Havannah, dated the rich, at eight o'clock in the
morning, it is known that Lopez had only with him
200 men out of the 500 he had at the time he landed.
All the others had been killed in the affray of Las
Poses, or had been dispersed and shot by the troops
and by the country people, who had spontaneously set
on their pursuit.
" Ia this number are included the 50 adventurers
made prisoners by the crew of the steamer Habanero.
The following are the circumstances and particulars
of the executions :—Tbey had been taken in four
beats on the coast of Cuba in Spanish waters. They
formed part of the expedition of Lopez, and they were
all found armed, with a chief and five officers at their
heed. They arrived at Havannah early in the
morning of the 16th, and having been found guilty
by their own evidence and declarations, they were
shot at half-past eleven, near the Castle of Atates.
More than 20,000 spectators were present at that
melancholy scene, and raised their vivas for the Queen
and for Spain. The troops had formed a square, the
cavalry and the civil guard being on the sides. The
colonel was shot alone, the five officers together, and
the other individuals 10 by 10. All of them were
immediately withdrawn from the place of execution to
make room fur their unfortunate fellow-sufferers.
Their mortal remains were, also, immediately placed
in 10 hearses, furnished by the funeral undertakers,
who, dressed all in black, carried them to be decently
buried. The troops marched round after the execu-
tion, and then withdrew; not one single corpse
remained in the square ; then, and only then, were
the people allowed to enter the place where such a
painful act of justice bad been performed.