The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-13 00:00:00

SURREY THEATRE,

- -
Last evening a new d‘nuestic drama of that peculiar
class which has long found favour amongst the admirers
of the non-legitimate, was produced here under the un-
usually modest title of ..I.Tichaelmas Day. The period of the
play is fixed a hundred y-ars ago, •nd the action occurs
in the vicinity of Carlisle. The princ'pal characters are
an old miser, his daughter, her accepted suitor, a rejected
lover, a " village scam," and an officer of the law. These
various p,rsonages are brought together under cir-
cumstances which lead to the impression that they are
sufficiently acquainted with each other's peculiarities as
to render it somewhat difficult for any wry violent
contest to arise amongst them. Nevertheless, such is the
magic power exercised by the dramatist, that a murder is
committed by one of •he fraternity; and :he murderer is
supposod to be the accepted lover of the victim's daugh-
ter. Jealousy has been the cause of this accusation, and a
prison the effect of it. The real culprit, of course, remains
unknown until the conclusion of the piece, whilst the in-
nocent lover, who is made to answer for the charge, is
exposed to sundry trials of patience and endurance, which
are sufficient to drown all his hopes of a satisfactory ter-
mination to his attachment. The scenes of love and re-
venge which take place in the meantime are necessarily of
the most ,listressing character, but in the end the virtuous
are rewarded, and the vicious very properly punished, by
command of the law, and to the satislactioa of the audience.
The serious portion of the piece is, as usual, relieved
by the exploits of buffoons, who appear ever and anon for
the purpose of raising a laugh, often at the expense of com-
mon sense, but still to the delight of the contented occupants
01 pit and gallery. The drama was very cr tditably repre-
sented, and, as the production of a young writer, it may be
said to give some promise, inasmuch as its chief merit dose
not lie in prolonged dialogue, but in a satisfactory attempt
at dramatic action. The play was quite successful, although
the applause at the conclusion was not of that vehement
character which marks an undoubted triumph at this the-
atre. As to the title—Michaelmas Day—it has nothing
whatever to do with the piece, which might just as appropri-
ately be called " Good Friday" or " Shrove Tuesday.

GREAT CENTRAL GAS CONSUMERS COMPANY.—.
The balance-sheet of the Great Central Gas Consumers
Company, from its commencement to the 18th of March last,
has been issued. The amount received has been 143,277/.
(of which 134,733/. is on accountyf calls),
lance and the expl94/endin
i-
tare is stated at 130,033/., leaving a ba of 13,.

hand.
THE CASE OF MANSLAUGHTER AT STAMFORD.—
Yesterday (Monday) an inquest was held at the Town-hall,
Stamford, before John Torkington, Gent., coroner for the
the body of George Large, aged 32, labourer, of
lng on
on. The prisoners 11I‘Glen, Barnett, and Farrell, were
Lh
_of
tir g
each handcuffed to a policeman on their removal from the
station-house to the Town-hall. In Maiden-lane a slight
rush was made at M`Glen, and every now and then the three
prisoners were greeted, by a large number of persons, with
yens, hisses, groans, and cries of "Hang them !" The jury
consisted of the most respectable tradesmen, and the inquest
lasted above five hours, when a verdict Of Manslaughter was'
returned against Patrick M•Glen and lilichael Barnett, and
Farrel was set at liberty.
A Supplement to the London Gazette of Friday'
was published on Saturday afternoon, e .n aining the official
account of the "Ceremonial observed at the State opening
of the Exhibition of Industry of All Nations, on Thursday,
the Ist of May, 1851."
DREADFUL EXPLOSION IN THE CILGWYN QUARRIES.
—On Thursday last an explosion, which has greatly injured
four persons, and might have been attended with fatal re-
sults, took place in the Cilgwyn Quarries. Half a ton of
blasting powder was kept in a building appropriated to the
purpose, about 100 yards from the works. The foreseen.
John Williams, had just been engaged in weighing 80.9 r
powder for 4 quarryman, when the smith and two men
tered the hut, the former 'equesting leave to weigh tire.
chisels which he had forged only a while before. He place'
them in the scale, and immediately a terrible explosi°n f?l"
lowed- The men and boys were thrown to the groued witk
ke.,
fearful violence on the spot where they stood, but the roof
were blown
and walls of the hut, e casker,
to a great height andth distance.s of
Thpeowd forennia was the first
to recover from the shock, and he ran a coesiderable distance
with his clothes in flames, so that be was much burnt. The
smith also was dreadfully burnt andare less severe. It is
mutilated. The boys
were contused, but their injuries .
,ent a.eat to
with sae exposeu powder, caused the
ow der on the scal
ignite some remains of the p e, and that
thought the chisels must bare retainedsu ffici
this, communicating
dis aster.
BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY --The
forty-sixth annual meeting of the supporters of this institu-
at the society's premises,
Borough-road ; Lord J. Russell in the ch .ir. Previous to
tion was held yesterday morning
were examined in the various
tt
ee
nip
suebi celminee t ing
branches •educationthepursued pupils
ia
a highl • creditable the schools, and acquitted
manner. The room wail
densely crowded, several hund.eds being refused admission
from want of sufficient accommolation. The annual report
stated the society to be in circumstances highly favourable
to its prosperity and permanence. The annual sub,:criptione
had greatly increased during the year, and the model ach vole
were full and efficient.
THE INCOME-TAX —Government are requirinV
from the surveyors of taxes a return under D assessment Oho
assenmen‘ on income) for the year 184 s, (the period when the
Act was last renewed) and the return is to show where parties
made no returns to the tax-collectors, and were assessed by
them, and the charge substantiated ; also, where parties made
returns and were increased upon them, and the increase sons
firmed by the local Commissioners.
THE SWELL MOB ON "WED THE BOULOGNE
STEAMER.—A few days ago, Mr. an Englishman,
engaged in the cloth trade. discovered, on arriving at Bou-
logne by the Queen of the French steamer, that his pocket
had been picked of a purse containing 601. ; and the captain
said that he had no doubt that the rubbery had been perpe-
trated by two very fashionably dressed young men, with
whom he had been in conversation during the passage. Mr.
IV— complained to the police of Boulogne, and they sent
up to Paris a deception of the persons of the supposed
thieves. The police suczeded in discovering them in an
hotel in the Rue NCUVPSaIIat. Augustin, and Mr.
who had previously arrived in Paris, recognised them. Tbei
loudly protested their inuoeeiwe, but were sent to the go..
lecture of police.