The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-18 00:00:00

SADLER'S WELLS 2HEATRE.

It cannot be denied that Mr. Phelps has rendered great
service to the legitimate drama and its professors, and the
barrier ho now seems determined to remove is one that has
existed for many years, during which time it has worked
most detrimentally to rising talent. Immediately an actor
by fortune becomes the manager of a theatre, from that
moment he, without considering whether he possesses the
requisite talent and ability for the task, foolishly imagines
that as a matter of course he must play the whole of the
leading parts, whatever talent he has secured to enable
him to carry out his speculation to a profitable issue. In
the majority of cases within our recollection this rule has
acted most detrimentally, because the public are debarred
the pleasure of novelty, and as a natural conse-
quence failure, commercially speaking, follows. Mr.
Phelps, however, seems determined to break down
this custom which has so long prevailed. But a short
time ago we were called upon to notice his abdication of
one of his favourite parts to Mr. Marston, and last evening
Mr Hermann Vezin appeared in another of his characters,
viz., Posthumus Leondus in " Cymbeline," The task for
Mr. Vezin, it must be admitted, was no easy one, especially
after the impression Mr. Phelps had created by his forcible
acting ; but we are bound to say his young successor ac-
quitted himself in a manner that proved his talent and
ability had not been over- estimated. His conception of
the part was admirable.. The different phases of the
character of the brave Briton were brought out
with a truthfulness and pathos that told immensely
with the audience. We have not space to dwell at length
on the many beauties of the part, but the manner in which
_ 41,n nn f+hpth;ra nnf
elocution of the highest order—in fact, the fervent thougEL
of the great poet were rendered with the taste of a man of
genius and a scholar. Mr. Marston's Jachimo was a careful
piece of acting, as was Barrett's Belarius, Lewis Ball's Clo-
ten, and Mr. Rayner's Cymbeline. Mrs. Chas. Young sus-
tained the part of Imogen, and a more exquisitely beauti-
ful peaformance has seldom been witnessed.

MR. JOAN BROUGHAM'S NEW PLAY.

(From the New York Times.)

WALLA cies THEATRE.--Mr. John Brougham, the uni-
versal favourite of the public, is now in London, playing,
we understand, in a successful engagement at the Hay-
market Theatre. We will send him, across the water, a
few hearty words of congratulation. His new comedy,
called "Playing with Fire," produced last night at Wal-
lack's, was not merely a success, but a triumph so unequi-
vocal as to deserve to be marked with a " white stone,"
according to the recommendation of Plautus, in the history
of the drama. We are aware that this is high praise, but it
is merited. Do not the roars of laughter echo in our ears
yet. Was ever audience dismissed, at the fall of the cur•
tain, more thoroughly satisfied with their night's enjoy-
ment ?
To describe the plot would be almost to write the play.
It cannot be wisely attempted, and we prefer to let the
patrons of Wallack's, who in this instance will be nearly
all the theatre-going population of the city, evolve it and
resolve it for themselves. It may be sufficient to say that
supposed matrimonial difficulties, which have no real exist-
ence, entangling a pair of husbands and a pair of wives, lie
at the base of its construction ; and that the "Playing
with Fire" typifies the dangerous mode of resort whereby
they endeavour to test each other's fidelity and sincerity of
affection. But beyond this, and yet artfully interwoven
with it, are a series of the most amusing stratagems, equi-
voques and contretemps that have been witnessed in a new
comedy for many years past. A crowded house testified
their approbation of these effects and situations with such
manifestations of delight as are seldom heard within the
walls of a theatre.

M. LOUIS BLANC ON NAPLES.

TO THE EDITOR OF 'TILE SUN.

Sin,—l have never been in Italy, and I have just returned
from Scotland. I am, therefore, perfectly amazed at reading
in a telegram, published by yesterday's newspapers, that
the Pro. Dictator Pallavicino has " forbidden me to open
national workshops." This fable is, lam afraid, worse than
ridiculous. It has probably been set afloat for the purpose
Nap
of working credulous people into a belief that Naples
eves a
present a nest for cosmopolitan schemers. At ll events,
it is calculated to revive the systematic calumny which has
fathered upon me those "national workshops" of 1848,
which, far from being established by me, were established
against me, that is, in utter opposition to my principles,
with a view to counterbalance my influence, and were,
according to M. Laniartine's public confession, " the de-
vice of my adversaries."
The Italian Pro-Dictator must bo well enough ae.
ared to
quainted with contemporary history to know this. h
Con-
sequently, even in the event hofwould have myhaving rbeeniep
Naples—which is not the case—
no necessity of forbidding M. Louis Blanc to open national
workships—l am, &c., LOUIS BLANC.
Oct. 17.

7118 LONGESwo RLD.T VESSEL IN THE

We have just received an official report of the perform-
ance of a river steam vessel, or articulated train of barges,
belonging to the Oriental Inland Steam Company, and in-
tended to navigate the shallow rivers of the east, which
possesses peculiar scientific interest from the fact of this
composite vessel being the longest vessel ever yet con-
structed, being nearly half as long again as the Great
Eastern. It appears that on trial this great vessel or train
was found to be easily manageable, and attained a satisfac-
tory rate of speed ; and its success solves the important pro-
blem of how to carry a very large cargo on a very small
draught of water against a rapid stream. The train consists
of a steamer and five barges, of the collective length of 900
feet. But these barges, instead of being towed asunder like
common barges, are joined to one another by circular joints
like a hinge, so that they constitute one longe flexible ves-
sel, with only one bow and one stern. The purpose of this
arrangement is to obtain the necessary displacement with
small resistance, and without the risk of damage, should
the vessel get aground; and all these conditions are effectu-
ally fulfilled by the arrangements adopted. The train is 30
feet broad and about 7 feet deep. At a draught of water of
3 feet it will carry about 3,000 tons of cargo. Such a vessel
is greatly needed at the present moment to carry up railway
materials in India, and to bring down cotton, flax, and other
articles 9f agricititwal produco,.Engineer.