The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-21 00:00:00

OLYMPIC THEATRE.

Monday night Mr. T. Taylor's dramatic version of the
Vicar of Wakejie/d was played for the first time at this
house, and attracted a larger audience than has been as-
sembled for some time. The cast, with the exception, of
course, of the late Mrs. Glover, is precisely the same as
on the occasion of its original production at the New
Strand, where it was one of the most successful pieces.

PUNCH'S PLAYHOUSE,
STRAND THEATRE.
ru
trains
ui
On Monday night an amusing farce, by hir. E. Stirling,
*
entitled A Cheap Excursion, was presented at this bijou
theatre with much effect. The facilities for
offered to the public by the cheap excursion
rise to this bagatelle. Mr. Snobbs (Mr. Ta Y
bu: give
tor dealer, arranges with his cara sposa, Mrs. Snobbs)
(Mrs. Seymour), to have a day's gipsying.
ge
accordingly purchases an excursion ticket, and
after having duly admonished Jane (Miss Marshall),
their domestic, to look after the household property,
they depart upon their journey. Jane, who has an
attachment for Solomon Popp (Mr. John Reeve), a
policeman, determines also to go on a cheap excursion.
For this purpose she borrows some of her mistress's
clothes, and equips the object of her affection
in the habiliments of the head of the Snobbs
family. By a contretemps that will arise in fawrces,
the parties are all brought together in a wood, hen
considerable fun arises. They are after wards
separated by gipsies, and Snobbs is robbed by them.
The thieves, however, are taken, and after a few expla-
nations the curtain falls. The actors and actresses ac-
quitted themselves with mach gusto. Mr. Tilbury
played the part of Mr. Snobbs with the unction and hu-
mour of an Experienced ector. Mr. John Reeve was
lively and amusing as the policeman. Mrs. Seymoer
looked and played well in the character of Mrs. Snobbs.
Miss Marshall, as the maid, was replete with vivacity.
The piece was well put upon th©
well attended.

LONDON SACRE.I-)-BARIIIONIC SOCIETY,

EXETER HdLL.

The admirable manner in whida—the masterpieces of
the great composers of sacred music are invariably
rendered by the above society was sufficient to draw a
splendid audie,nce on Monday night to hear their per-
formance of Handel 's Ales.,iah. The magnificent choruses
were superbly given. The solo parts were sustained by
Miss Catherine Hayes, Miss Dolby, and Miss Hender-
son, Mr. H. Phillips, and Mr. Cooper. The delicious
manner in which that charming .vocalist, Mias Ilayep,
sang " I know that my Redeemer liveth," called forth
great applause, and richly was it merited. _ Owing, we

THE

imagine, to some mistake, Miss Birch's name was sub•
stituted for Miss Hayes i❑ the programme, and no doubt
the greiter proportion of the audi-nee left eith the
impression that they had been listening to the former
lady. The other vocalists sustained their parts well.
Miss Henderson, in particular, gave groat satisfaction
in the air, " Come unto him," &c. The baton, as usual,
was wielded by Ur. Surman, and the entire performance
reflects the greatest credit not only on him, but on all
those who tuck part in it.

OFFICIAL PENSIONS.—ARMY AND NAVY.—The
following minute has been issued by the Commissioners of
Customs in pursuance of an order of the Lords of the
Treasury, respecting the repayment to the Customs depart-
ment of sums paid on account of the army and navy pen-
sions, navy allotments, &c. The Board direct that a receipt
from the outports, by the Receiver-General of Customs, of
the bills for army and navy, half-pay pensions, navy allot-
ments, s c., and the schedule in which the classification of
the same is set out, the necessary examination be made, to
show, that the collector has satisfactori'y established the
fact of the payment for which he claims credit, and that the
schedule and vouchers be transmitted without delay to the
proper department of the army or navy, as the ca:e may be
(all further duty of arrangement and classification which may
be necessary being made in those offices), with a view to the
amount being forthwith paid to the account of the Receiver-
General at the Bank of England, to be carried to the Exche-
quer as Customs revenue. The accounts to be transmitted
monthly, and the regulations of this minute are to take effect
from and after the sth of July next.
WOOLWICH, MAY 19.—His Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge, Colonel of the 17th Lancers ; his Royal
Highness the Prince of Prussia, and the Right Hon. Lord
Adolphus Fitzclarence, arrived at Woolwich at an early hour,
and rode to the upper part of the common; where the
Horse Artillery were out for field-day exercises, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Bell. The line of the 17th Lancers was
drawn up in open order, and his Royal Highness was re-
ceived with the usual salute, the band playing the National
Anthem. After a minute inspection the troops went through
the whole of the evolutions of a field-day with a steadiness
and precision which elicited the warmest approbation "of
their gallant Colonel, and of his Royal Highness the Prince
of Prussia. Their Royal Highnesses at the conclusion re-'
turned to the west square, and on their return to the Dock-
yard station of the North Kent Railway, accompanied by
Lieutenant-Colonel Lawrenson, they paid a short visit to
the Royal Marine Barracks, and left by the one o'clock train
for London.
DRUMPELLER COAL-PIT.--The fire in Mr. Wilson's
coal-pit, Drumpeller, near Coatbridge, has been extin•
guished.
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES. NEWSPAPER
STAtors —Yesterday this Committee, consisting of Hon.
Milner Gibson (chairman), Mr. Ewart, Mr. Tufnell, Mr.
Arch, Mr. Stafibrd, Mr. Cob 'en, Mr. G. A. Hamilton, Sir J.
Walmsley, Sir T F. Lewis, Mr. C. Fortescue, Colonel More,
Mr. S. Adair, Mr. Sotheron, Sir W. Molesworth, and Mr.
K. Seyrner, re-assembled in the Committee-room, No. 14,,
In addition to Mr. Keogh, Mr. Timbs, Mr. Collett, and Mr.
Bucknall, already examined. The witnesses examined yes-
terday were Mr. Casell, Mr. Russell (Edinburgh), and Mr.
Parkin, of the Post-office. The evidence as vet taken chiefly
relates to the operation of the Id. stamp upon newspapers
throughout the United Kingdom.
MEETINGS OF BOARD OF GUARDIANS OF THE
PARISH OF ST. Pastuttas.—At the meeting of the board of
guardians of St. Pancras parish yesterday a conversation,
took place as to the manner in which the Poor-law Board
should be put in possession of the evidence taken by the
directors and before the magistrates in the late proceedings
against John H. Eaton, the master of the workhouse. The
Poor-law Board requested to be furnished with that evi-
dence in writing, to which application Mr. Cook, the vestry
clerk, stated to the board that his time was fully occupied
in fulfilling the duties if his office, and that, in addition, he
was continually applied to by the Poor-law Board. That'
body called on him week after week, and to furnish all they
demanded would occupy exclusively the time of a clerk.
His predecessor in office, when applied to for documents,
instead of furnishing copies of all documents, waited upon
the Poor-law Board with the minute-books, and gave ver-
bally any information required. After some discussion it
was agreed, on the motion of Mr. Mortimer Simpson, that
the original documents be sent to the Poor-law Commis-
sioners, to be returned on application. The chief ground
of objection to sending copies of the evidence was that it
would involve an expense of 21. 108. to the parish.
CUSTOMS RETURN FOR SCOTLAND.—By the offi-
cial Customs returns for the ports of Scotland, we find that
the gross amount of duties collected during the year ending
January 5, 1850, amounted to 1,953,4861., against 2,038,886/.
in 1849, and 1,710,016/. in 1846. As regards the foreign
trade during the same period, it appears that the British
tonnage engaged both ways in 1849-50 amounted to 971,920,
against 875,349 for 1815-6. The foreign trade for similar pe-
riods stood thus :-323,453, against 225,724.
PRISONS OF GREAT BRITAIN.—The sixteenth re-
port of the inspectors appointed to visit the different prisons
of Great Britain, has just been presented to both Houses of
Parliament, by command of her Majesty. The report refers
to the northern and eastern district. Mr. F. Hill, the
inspector, states that efforts had been made to introduce use•
ful labour into the prisons, and enlarged provisions had been
made for instruction in reading and writing at several pri-
sons. If the principle of using each prison solely for the
confinement of male or of female prisoners was adopted, he
supposes that, with a slight modification of the law, upwards
of 14 prisons might be at once wholly given up. The diffi-
culty of guarding against escapes of prisoners employed in
agriculture, is reported to have been greatly over-estimated.
The number of prisoners in the district in 1850 was less by
235 than in 1849, but the number of prisoners in confine-
ment at the end of 1850 was considerably greater than at the
end of 1849.

ST. STEPHEN'S WALBROOK.—This beautiful :edi-
fice is, by order of the parochial authorities, thrown open for
the inspection of the public free of cost, with an especial
view to the gratification of strangers visiting our metropolis
this year.

THE CONVICT BRIDGET LYONS.—The fate of this
unfortunate woman, who was convicted, along with her
husband Patrick Lyons, of the wilful murder of Margaret,
Fahey, at Warrington, is still uncertain. Prior to the exe-
cution of her husband, a respite was received from the Home
Secretary for the female convict. No communication has
since been received in connexion with her, and what may be
her ultimate doom is not yet known.—Liverpool Mercury.

The testimonial fund for the benefit of the family
of Mr. Rushton, the late stipendiary magistrate,
_has been
closed. The total amount contributed is 8,500/.

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.—The Society for the Pre-
ventio❑ of Cruelty to Animals held their annual meeting
yesterday afternoon at the Hanover-square Rooms. The
Marquis of Westminster, who took the chair at one o'clock,
having opened the proceedings of the day with a few pre-
fatory remarks on the society, and its condition and pro-
gress, the report for the last year was read by the secre-
tary. In this document the society was congratulated cri
the extension of the law for the prevention of cruelty to
animals to Scotland, on the removal of Smithfield-market,
on the activity and the organization of branch societies in
various parts of the British empire, and on the extension
of the influence of the society abroad, especially in France.
The report stated further that the committee had re-
ceived a donation of 1,4281., being the seventh part of
a sum of 10,0001., left by the late Mr. Lewis, of Ca-
dogan-place, for charitable purposes. The attempt of the
society to prevent cruelty to animals, and to prosecute
those who practised such cruelty, had been eminently
successful in most cases, but in many instances the ob-
jects of the society were defeated by the lowness of the
fines. The income of the society from interest on funded
property, donations, and subscriptions amounted to
2,2901. 13s. 6d., and the expenditure of the last year was
1,7981. 185.6 d , leaving a surplus of 491/. 14s 10d. in the
treasurer's hands. The Earl of Lanesborough having moved
that the report be adopted and printed, the assembly was
addressed by Mr. Thomas Allen, who impunged the pro-
ceedings. and generally criticised the conduct of the
committee. Mr. Allen's remarks elicited unequivocal signs
of displeasure from the meeting, and his accusations were
rebutted by Mr. Grenville Berkeley, M.P., and Mr. John
Wilkes, o❑ behalf of the committee. The proceedings ter-
minated with addresses from Sir James East and Lord Dud-
ley Stuart.

Tua AoArEmoNE.—According to the census re-
turn which was made by "Henry James Prince," as head of
the family in the Abode of Love, sixty-five individuals were
located there on the night of the 3 lst of last March. It ap-
pears, by the description of the persons in the census paper,
that all, except Henry James Prince and Julia Prince his
wife, are enjoy era of this local board on very slight tenure
indeed, as they are described, under the head of "relation to
bead of family," some as visitors and the others as servants.
We give the following analysis of this pious sect :-5 clergy-
men without cure of souls; I civil engineer; 1 landed pro-
prietor; 1 member of the Royal ge ofL
aSurgeons,ster
nopractising ; 2 annuitants ; Isolicitor and
extraor-
dinary ; 1 gentleman ; 6 fundholders ; one farmer of 509
acres, employing thirty labourers; I groom; 1 post boy; 3
helpers in the stables; 1 shoemaker; 8 women house-
servants ; 2 dressmakers ; 1 servant boy ; 3 carpenters ; I
mason; 6 laundresses; 1 tailor; 9 wives of visitors; 7 un-
married female visitors ; 1 unmarried male visitor, sixteen
years of age; 1 ditto seven yearsof age; 2 ditto, three years
of age; and 2 female visitors, one of them six and the other
four years old. Total of males, 30 ; total of females, 35.
There are but 5 children, of the respective ages of 7,6, 4,3,
and 2 years. It is evident from the return that this " Abode
of Love" does not depend for its population on an increase
from members residing within its precincts, as, although the
males and females are so nearly balanced, those who have
been paired are not blessed with " pledges of wedded love.'—
Somerset County Gazette.

ABORIGINES PROTECTION SOCIETY.—On Monday
the fourteenth annual meeting of the friends and promoters
of this society was held at Crosby-hall, Bishopsgate-street,
Dr.:Lee presiding. The report set- out the object of the
society, which was to act upon public opinion, and especially
upon the Government, in opposition to a policy of aggression
and annexation in the dealings of the British with native
races. The receipts of the society amounted to 3241. 12s. 11d.,
and after deducting the expenditure there was a balance of
651. 10s. Bd. in favour of the society; but it appeared that
there were outstanding claims upon the society which left an
actual balance against them of 74/. 2s. 4d. The Rev. S.
re-
ference i°-aY moved the adoption of the report, condemning, in very
man secoondthede late
emphaticthis terms, the policy adopted by the Government of
Lpaeicai:i7untry towards the Kafir tribes, and allading more es-
to the recent proceedings of Sir Harry Smith in re-
t:
resolution,outb reak in
wKhiaefhrawriasa.
aJn. iJ.
ou Freesl ..
Mr. J. Fairbairn carriedli e Reuvn.
resolution to the erect
and Mr. It N. Fowler seconded a
system adopted in rctlthat the oppressive and exterminating
the practical eation to uncivilized tribes is a blot on
country. The charactermotion was of the civilization of our age and
other resolutions of a was
agreed to, and was followed by
meet-
ing separated. formal character, after which the meet-
- The Customs duties'
week ending on Monday last, amounted
in Dublin for the
amounted to 17,861/. 19s. ld.
THE GOLD DUST Rol:11MB T.
at ten o'clock, an investigation was Yesterday morning,
of the London and South-Western ifaoirmenced at the offices
the circumstances connected with the recent way,Yolk-road, into robbery of gold
dust. The officials connected with the
o
Company and the Royal West India Mziuctheampton Docks
present. Mr. W'ontuer, solicitor, attended allTany were
n behalf the
Royal West India Company; the South-Western
Railway
Company was represented by Mr. Crombie, from Messrs.
Bircham and Co., solicitors to the South-Western, ---rs'
there
being also present Wyndham Harding, Esq., the secretary;
M. C. Stovin, manager of traffic; and Mr. Wadham Young,
the assistant manager. The number of witnesses to he exa-
mined will probably amount to fifty, commencing at the
docks at Southampton and terminating at Nine-elms Station.
The Metropolitan and the City officers will also be examined,
and the investigation, which is conducted with closed doors,
will probably extend over several days. The proceedings
lasted from ten o'clock till past live o'clock yesterday after-
noon, and were resumed this morning, at nine o'clock
precisely. The greatest interest is excited, and will con-
tinue to increase as the inquiry progresses. Up to
last night no additional information bad been received re-
singing the missing pld dot.