The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-24 00:00:00

THE SUN,

ADELPHI THEATRE.
Never have we witnessed a more complete, un-
equivocal, and decisive triumph than that last night
achieved by Mr. Josh Silsbee, " the celebrated
Yankee comedian," on his first appearance before an
European audience; and in truth the success was
tulle merited in every particular. Although mani-
festly labouring under severe indisposition, the debu-
tant exerted himself to the very utmost to realise the
expectations that had been entertained on his behalf.
If the audience had reason to be well satisfied with
the actor, the actor had no less cause to be pleased
with those who witnessed his earliest efforts on this
side of the Atlantic. He received a genuine, hearty
English welcome, which more than confirmed what
he had previously heard of the kindly hospitality of
"John Bull " to every stranger. On his entrance he
was greeted with enthusiastic cheers, that must have
removed any lingering doubts as to the tone and
manner of his reception, and inspired him with
abundant confidence to meet the ordeal through
which he was about to pass. His face, figure, and
make-up elicited this rapturous applause. The
mere look of Liston used to set the house in a roar ;
the same was last night accomplished by Silsbee ;
his rich oily countenance, gleaming with comicality,
showed the rich vein of humour that lay scarcely con-
cealed beneath the surface. But "his face was not
his only fortune"—there was a figure to match, so
that it signified little in what direction he was
turned, any aspect was equally provocative of
mirth. He gave the pure unadulterated Yankee dialect,
and the broad caricature delineation of the Yankee cha-
racter; but it was an original picture, there was no
copying from any other artist. He had full reliance
on his own powers; and it would have been a griev-
ous error if he had entertained any undue doubts on
the subject. We cannot say much for the piece itself,
except the parts of it in which Mr. Silsbee was en-
gaged. All the performers laboured zealously and
efficiently to give fair play to the new aspirant, but
despite the exertions of Miss Woolgar, as the Forest
Rose, in which she charmed the audience as she in-
variably does—despite the devotion of Miss Ellen
Chaplin, who assumed the queerest appearance in
check pinafore and hair clubbed together, in a manner
that would have driven a French perruquier to the
verge of insanity—despite the efforts of G. Honey,
and, it is but justice to add, the excellent make up of
Mr. Worrell, who made the most of his part as a New
York dandy—the piece would have had but little
chance of success but for Silsbee. The phases
of Yankee character displayed by him would have
saved a much worse production. He must have had
ample license to fill up the meagre outlines at his
pleasure. His courtship with Sal, extracting the
New York pillar shillings from Blandford, or telling
the tale of his courtship, interspersed with a variety
of genooine Yankee witticisms, kept the house in an
incessant roar, which reached a climax at the Cape
Cod reel, in which, with every nerve and muscle
in motion, he arrived at a degree of delirium which
was only abated by the discovery that the mischievous
Sal had substituted the hand of an ebony damsel—the
horror of a true Yankee—for her own. This dance was
rapturously encored, and was gone through with equal
spirit the second time, notwithstanding the fatigue that
must have attended the original effort. It would
alone be sufficient to attract an audience and ensure
bumper houses. At the conclusion Mr. Silsbee
was loudly called for, and in a brief speech he re-
turned thanks for his reception, alluding slightly to
the severe cold under which he was suffering, and
promising to come out " stronger and slicker" before
the end of the week. We congratulate Mr. Webster
on his acquisition, which gave another real Adelphi
triumph, such as those for which " the little theatre in
the Strand" has long been celebrated.

KOSSUTH.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—Kossuth is hourly expected to land at
Southampton. A letter.has been received from him,
stating that he was about to start in the American
ship Mississippi, which would either bring him direct
to England, or, failing that, would land him at Gi-
braltar to proceed hither by the English mail-steamer
due to-morrow or next day. Now is the time to give
this patriot and hero a reception worthy of his cha-
racter and his deeds. When barbarian despots, either
generals or statesmen so called, or kings or emperors,
visit this country, our aristocracy rush forward to
file, to feast, to honour, and to glorify them. Now
then, on the other hand, is the time for the people of
England, the people, 1 repeat, of this great and free
state, to show at bow much higher a price they esti-
mate true valour and disinterested patriotism. Let
it not be a reproach to us, that Englishmen care for
no other liberty than their own. If it be really so, I
will not invoke its destruction, but I will say that we
are not worthy of the liberty we enjoy. The most
glorious period of the most glorious reign in the
annals of this country was that of Queen Elizabeth,
when she fought the battle of civil and reli-
gious liberty upon a foreign shore. Alas !
those days are long since passed away, and all gene-
rous feeling for the well-being of other nations is ab-
sorbed in the selfish principle of non-interference,
whilst our own liberties remain unassailed. Oh, let
me beseech my countrymen, if their love of liberty
be so narrow, or so torpid, or so cowardly, as that
they are unwilling or dare not to enter the battle field
when opportunity offers, to contend side by side with
the oppressed against the oppressor, in whatever land
he may be found, let them at least do all in their
power to console in his misfortune, and honour in his
exile, the most virtuous patriot, and one of the greatest
men of this or any other age. W. A. S.
[Since the above was written, authentic informa-
tion has been received from Constantinople of the 10th
instant, announcing that Kossuth was actually on
board the Mississippi.—En.

THE TIMBE7tTRADE.—The Commissioners of her
Majesty's Customs have granted permission for all ships
laden with timber from foreign parts to discharge their
cargoes from six to six, instead of, as formerly, from eight
in the morning until four in the afternoon; also ships laden
with deals and other wood goods, from seven in the morning
until five in the afternoon, when discharging in any of the
docks under charge of the revenue officers. This relaxation
of rules will be of great benefit to the merchant and ship-
owner during the long days. In the winter months it is not
required.
A meeting of the leading merchants connected with
the Australian colonies took place yesterday at the George
and Vulture Tavern in relation to ,the aspect of affairs con-
sequent upon the gold discoveries. The chairman (Mr.
Flower) referred to the state of uncertainty in which all who
are interested in the trade with Australia have been placed
by the recent news, and pointed out the necessity for ascer-
taining what steps the Government intend to take, especially
with regard to supporting the colonial authorities in main-
taining p•oper regulations. A discussion then followed, and
it was finally resolved that a deputation should be formed to
wait upon the Colonial Minister with the view of obtaining
a conference upon the subject.
The Droit has the following rather incredible
story :—" A commercial traveller, whose business frequently
called him from Orleans to Paris, M. Edmund D—, was
accustomed to go to an hotel, with the landlord of which he
was acquainted. Liking, like almost all persons of his pro-
fession, to talk and joke, he was the favourite of everybody
in the hotel. A few days ago he arrived, and was received
with pleasure by all, but it was observed that he was much
less gay than usual. The stories that he told, instead of
being interesting as formerly, were of a lugubrious character.
On Thursday evening, after supper, he invited the people of
the hotel to go to his chamber to take coffee, and he promised
to tell them a tale full of dramatic incident. On entering
the room, his guests saw on the bed, near which he seated
himself, a pair of pistols. 'My story,' said he, has a sad
Wnortement, and I require the pistols to make it clearly un-
derstood.' As he had always been accustomed, in telling
his tales, to indulge in expressive pantomime, and to take up
anything which lay handy, calculated to add to the effect,
no surprise was felt at his having prepared pistols. He be-
gan by narrating the loves of a young girl and a young man.
They had both, h esaid, promised, under the most solemn oaths,
inviolable fidelity. The young man, whose profession obliged
him to travel, once made a long absence. Whilst he was
away, he received a legacy, and on his return hastened to
place it at her feet. But on presenting himself before her he
learned that, in compliance with the wishes of the family,
she had just married a wealthy merchant. The young man
thereupon took a terrible resolution. 'He purchased a pair
of pistols like these,' he continued, taking one in each hand,
' then he assembled his friends in his chamber, and, atter
' some conversation, placed one under his chin, in this way,
as I do, saying in joke that it would be a real pleasure to
blow out his brains. And at the same moment he pulled
the trigger.' Here the man discharged the pistol, and his
head was shattered to pieces. Pieces of the bone and por-
tions of the brain fell on the horrified spectators. The un-
fortunate man had told his own story."
FIRE AND MIRACULOUS ESCAPE..--A fire of a very
alarming character, and nearly attended with the loss of
two or three lives, happened at a late hour on Monday
night in the premises belonging to Mr. L. Doxatt, of the
Observer newspaper, residing at No. 30, Henrietta-street
Covent-garden. The flames commenced in the back attic,
at which time a servant and a young child were asleep in
the room. The moment the discovery was made an alarm
was raised, but the lire had made such progress that it was
extremely difficult for any one to get to the room in ques-
tion. Mr. and Mrs. Clark, who also lived in the house,
rushed through the fire in order to save child and servant.
In so doing both were very severely burned over the hands
and face; fortunately the child and servant succeeded in
getting upon the roof, and having passed on to the next
house they remained there until the Royal Society's fire
escape came up, when both were carried down in safety.
The engines of the parish, London Brigade, and West of
England Company quickly attended, and a plentiful supply
of water having been obtained, the firemen set to work most
vigorously, and at length succeeded in subduing the flames.
but not until the top rooms of the house were burned out,
the staircase destroyed, part of the roof consumed, and the
lower portion of the dwelling much damaged by water. The
origin of the disaster is unknown. Fortunately Mr. Doxatt
was insured iu the Sun Fire-office.
SHOREDITCII NEW ALMSHOUSES.—Yesterday after- 1
noon the ilia stone of the almshouses opposite St. Mary's
Church, Haggerstone, for 20 poor aged females, was laid by
the Lord Mayor. Spacious tents, most tastefully decorated,
were erected, and a great concourse of people assembled to
witness the ceremony. The proceedings were admirably
managed. It is estimated that 1,5201. will be required to pay
for the land and build the houses ; 8041. towards this amount
was collected on the Ist of September, leaving a deficiency
of 7164, which it is expected will be soon realised, as sub-
scriptions come in fast. The following words are inscribed
on the stone The first stone of these almshouses for 20
poor aged women of the parish of St. Leonard, Shoreditch,
was laid by the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, Sir John Mus-
grove, Bart., on the 23d September, 1851. ' Blessed is he
that considereth the poor.' "