The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-01 00:00:00

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

As the period fixed for the final retirement of Mr.
Macready from the stage approaches, so does the de-
sire of the public to witness his performances in-
crease. Last night, long before the opening of the
doors, every avenue leading to the house was
thronged by crowds anxious to obtain admittance.
Indeed a Macready night at the "little theatre in the
Haymarket," is now what a Jenny Lind night at the
great theatre opposite used to be. IVithin ten
minutes after the doors were opened the house was
crowded in every part, and not even standing room
could be obtained. Mr. Macready performed Mac-
beth, and he never performed it more effwctively in
his life. Why will he now, in the very prime and
vig,our of his age, persist in leaving the stage ? Can
no prayers move bins ?

LONDON SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY
Last night the magnificent band and chorus of this
society, composed of upwards of eight hundred per-
formers, under the able management of Mr. Surman,
executed Haydn's oratorio The Creation, before
one of the largest audiences we have seen congregated
in Exeter-hall. The oratorio was preceded by a new
anthem, "In that day shall this song be sung in the
land of Judah," composed and conducted by Dr.
Elvey, organist of St. George's Chapel, Windsor.
Some weeks ago th;s anthem, which is dedicated to
his Royal Highness Prince Albert, was performed at
Windsor Castle before her Majesty, under the im-
mediate direction of the composer, and was last night
executed, for the first time before a general audience,
with all the choral and orchestral appliances
which Mr. Surman and the members of
this society could bring to its performance.
The composition is one of a very high order, and will
add greatly to the fame of Dr. Elvey. It was admi-
rably rendered by Miss Birch and Messrs. Turner,
Lockey, and H. Phillipps. In the oratorio of The
Creation which followed, one of the principal features
was Lindley's delicious violoncello accompani-
ment to the recitative and air "In Native Worth".
Mr. "Jockey's rendering of the words was most artis-
tical, and the performance was deservedly encored.
The oratorio was admirably conducted by Mr. Sur-
man, Who reads sacred music better, perhaps, than
any of his contemporaries ; and the choruses were ex-
ecuted with accuracy, steadiness, and precision.

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.
On Tuesday (William Cubitt, Esq., President, in the
chair), the discussion on Mr. Digby Wyatt's Paper, " On
the Construction of the Building for the Exhibition of
the Works of Industry of all Nations, in 1851," was
renewed, and was continued throughout the meeting.
Arguments, based on calculation, were adduced to
show, that though the building was amply sufficient for
resisting any vertical pressure to which it might be sub-
jected, it was not so well calculated to resist the hori-
z mtal force exerted by the wind, which might be taken
as sometimes equalling 25 lbs. per square foot.
The building in Hyde-park was the most extensive
example in existence of the " pure rectangular construc-
tion," but as it did not possess the strong gable end
walls of the Lancashire cotton mills, which were also
rectangular structures, composed of columns and girders,
the stability of the Glass Structure must depend entirely
on the simple rectangular form, which could only be
maintained by the perfect attachment of the girders to
the columns. It was contended that the snugs by which
this was effected were wanting in strength, and the co-
lumns not being attached to, or rooted into the ground,
might be supposed to admit of lateral motion. The ad-
dition of strong diagonal bracing was therefore recom-
mended, as being necessary to insure that amount of
stability requisite in a building intended for the circula-
tion of such multitudes of persons as would attend the
Exhibition.
The great amount of light admitted through a roof
entirely composed of glass, was considered objectionable
for the display of works of art, and it was contended
that a roof partially covered with slates would have been
better for general purposes.
Explanations were entered into to show, that the
snugs for supporting the girders were amply strong, not
only for the general duties they had to perform, but also
for resisting any tension or accidental strains which
might be brought on them by the failure of any adjacent
parts, and instances were adduced of the occurrence of
accidents during the course of erection, which had proved
this position to no correct.
it was contended that the glass was sufficiently thick,
and that in an extent of roofing of almost forty acres,
constructed by one firm during the last twelve years,
wherein no glass exceeding the weight of 16 oz. per
square foot had been employed, scarcely any breakage
had occurred,
It was proposed to use Sir W. Burnett's system of
saturation, by a metallic salt, to prevent the accidental
burning of the canvas on the roof.
The construction provided for the effects of contrac-
tion and expansion, consequent on the changes of tem-
perature. _

In summing up the discussion, it was impressed on
the meeting that the institution was not in any way re-
sponsible for the expression of individual opinions, the
object of the discussions being merely to elicit facts from
which each auditor might draw his own conclusions.
The meeting was then adjourned until Tuesday,
February 4th, when the monthly ballot fur members was
announced to take place, and the following paper will
be read:—" An Inquiry into the nature of the Patent
Law Protection, with a view to the better appreciation
and security of the Inventor's rights," by Mr. E. V.
Newton.

THE SAILORS' STRIKE.
SHIELDS, FRIDAY AFTERNOON.—So far as the wages
question are involved, the strike seems at an end, for a
number of laden vessels have left our port, the men re-
ceiving the full wages; and on the first sea-tide a large
fleet of colliers will leave this and the adjacent port for
the Thames.

No doubt a very great misconception of many of the
provisions of the Mercantile Marine Act exists in the
minds of a very great number of the seamen. The Local
Marine Board of this port has just issued a notice ex-
plaining and defending the provisions of the Mercantile
Marine Act.

This notice will do good no doubt, as the mon took
their views of the measure from the various speakers
who have addressed them. The speakers knew as little
about many of the provisions of the Act us the men
themselves. There is nothing to induce the belief that
the great body of the sailors on strike are prepared to
commit any gross acts of violence. In a former com-
munication it was stated that several vessels laden for
foreign ports were detained in the harbour on account of
the crews refusing to sign articles in accordance with
the provisions of tki Act, either in the shipping-office
or on board. To-day some of them have signed articles
on board, and the vessels will clear out.

The seamen of Sunderland are pretty much in th©
same position as those of Shields. Vessels are sailing
daily at the advanced wages, and the next sea-tide there
will be a clearance of the harbour of vessels. A deputa-
tion from the seamen waited on the Board of Trade on
Tuesday, and stated their grievances. The chairman
read to them the letter received from the Board of Trade,
in reply to the seamen's memorial, and a long and
friendly discussion followed. The principal subject of
complaint on the part of the seamen appeared to be that
the spirit of the Mercantile Marine Act is adverse to the
independence of the parties whom it professes to pro-
tect, and that the minuteness of its details, and the sys-
tem of ticketing of late years engrafted on the mercan-
tile marine, impose vexatious restraints without accom-
plishing
any useful object.
A public meeting of the men was afterwards held at
the Sailors'
Hall, and a resolution carried unanimously,
declaring the determination of the men not' to go to the
*lllXptng-office, or to sign articles there.
.I.le seamen of Stockton met in the Town-hall on
Monday and pronounced against the Mercantile Marine
Act.

Petitions to both Houses of Parliament, a counterpart
to the memorial to the Board of Trade, were exten-
sively signed by the seamen of North and South Shields
yesterday.
Down to the moment of our correspondent closing his
dispatch the Hecate war-steamer had not arrived in the
Tyne. A berth is provided for her by the harbour-
master, and she is expected every tide.
A body of Newcastle policemen are on permanent duty
in front of the Shipping-office, North Shields.
A meeting of the North and South Shields seamen is
to be held at Tynemouth to-morrow morning.
Sinco the above was written we have to announce that
the fleet of colliers are hauling out, and are getting ready
for sea. They will sail this afternoon.

He that understands the weight of each, would
rather wield a flail than a sceptre.—Eliza Cook's Journal.
ROYAL MARINEB.—WOOLWICLI, JAN. 31..--Second
Lieutenants Freeland, Harrington, and Lane, have rejoined
the Woolwich division from Admiralty leave. First Lieute-
nant Adair and the detachment of Royal Marine Artillery
disembarked at Woolwich from the Cyclops steam-frigate,
on that vessel being paid off, and proceeded direct to join the
head-quarters at Portsmouth.
DEATH OF A CONGREGATION.—A correspondent in-
forms us that the poor man, named John Jones, who used to
form the Rev. Mr. Walker's " congregation," at his chapel in
that place, died on the pith instant, and was buried en Sun.
day last at Backhand Monachorum —Plymouth Journal.
WHAT ABOUT WESTMINSTER. BRIDGE ?—lt would
be a great boon to the entire neighbourhood, both ends of
the bridge, if you could enlighten us as to the intentions of
the Government respecting the new bridge, the propased
temporary bridge, &c. There are so many rumours about
that with mzny of my neighbours, who are leaseholders, I
am in a state of perfect perplexity as to what is about to be
done. lam told, on pretty good authority, that the new
bridge will certainly be erected on the old site; that Mr.
y has quite changed his opinion about the bridge being
injurious to the new houses; but that he wishes the new
structure to be 100 feet broad, and flatter than the present
one, allowing 18 feet only from high-water mark to the
keystone of the arches. To this proposal, I hear, the City
Navigation Committee object, and
say they must have 25
feet clear above high-water mark. Is not the present
bridge, with three arches blocked up in the centre of the
Thames, a disgrace to the country—the centre arches of a
metropolitan bridge kept up by a wooden leg?—Correspondent
of the Builder.