The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-26 00:00:00

LYCEUM THEATRE.

The amusements of this elegant place of enter-
tainment have been further agreeably diversified
during. the past week by the revival of an old
favourite farce, and the production of a new
comedietta from the pen of Lieut.:Col. Addison—
the fotmer being " Lucky Stars," Mrs. Keeley on
the present cceasion assuming her original charac-
ter of Barbara Bristles. The part of Barnabv,
formerly played by Mr. Keeley, was on this occa-
sion sustained by Mr. Rouse, whose make-up was
admirable, and who left nothing to be desired in
the efficient manner in which he acquitted himself.
The house was kept in a roar of laughter by the
ludicrous situations in which this trifle abounds,
and was brought to a close amidst loud demonstra-
tions of applause. On Saturday evening the per-
formances commenced with a new comedietta,
under the title of " 117, Arundel-street, Strand."
The plot, which is very simple, is as follows :—Mr.
Charles Ludlow (Mr. Walter Lacy), described as a
married bachelor, being in fact a gentleman who
had a tiff with his wife, has taken lodgings in
Arundel-street in the Strand, where a smart and
intrusive maid, Betsy Prim (Mrs. Keeley), who has
an eye to single young men lodgers, pays such
persevering attention to Mr. Ludlow, that he
unconsciously compromises himself with her until
she places herself on such terms of familiarity
with her master as at once to astonish him
by sitting down to breakfast with him. Poor Mr.
Ludlow seems unable to escape (with every desire
to do so) from the web in which he is becoming en-
tangled, the girl ," takes advantage of the situa-
tion," and Ludlow, not having the courage to
bring matters to a crisis, rather becomes the ser-
vant to the maid, than the maid is to the master.
some of the points to which this gives rise ate
highly ludicrous, and convulsed the house with
laughter. In order to keep the girl quiet, Ludlow
promises to give her a new
.dress, and to take her
to the play. Just at this moment a letter from
Mrs. Ludlow arrives, which appears to have the
effect of reconciling all differences between them,
and announces that she is coming up Loin
Brighton by the express train, and requests him to
receive certain dresses which she tas ordered. The

resses are delivered in due course. Betsy, during
the temporary absence of Mr. Ludlow, catches a
glimpse of the contents of the package left
for Mrs. Ludlow, and jumping at the con-
clusi▪
on that they are intended for herself,
carri▪
es them off in triumph to her bedroom.
Mrs. Ludlow now appears upon the scene just in
tune to join her lord and master's breakfast, and is
surprised to find the table laid for two, Betsy
having prepared it for, her master and herself. The
position is certainly a delicate one, and Betsy con-
trives to make it almost intolerable to poor Mr.
Ludlow, by acts of the greatest rudeness towards
his wife, whom he has represented. as his cousin,
in order to tranquillise the girl. The acting of
this scene is admirable. The boiling anger and
'jealousy of the girl at length know no bounds, and
she rushes into her room, quickly reappearing
decked out in the new dress which had been pur-
chased by Mrs. Ludlow. Mrs. Keeley's peculiar
talent never shone to greater advantage, and was
perfectly irresistible. The farce was still further
embroiled by the introduction of a Mr. Belton (Mr.
Rouse), described as a railway traveller, who,
I having come from Brighton in the same carriage
with Mrs. Ludlow, has fallen desperately in love
with her, and follows her to " Arundel-street,
Strand," where he learns that she is the cousin of Mr.
Ludlow, and he accordingly proposes for her hand,
in the presence of her husband. It will easily be
seen that matters are now rapidly arriving at a
crisis. The relative position of all parties to each
other is developed, the maid loses her supposed
lover, Mrs. Ludlow is reinstated in the affections of
her husband, Mr. Belton remains a disappointed
railway lover, and the comedietta is brought to a
close by Betsy approaching the foot-lights and ex-
pressing her determination to seek a new place,
where she may be fortunate enough to meet with a
real bachelor. The success of the piece was com-
plete. Nothing could exceed the very lady-like
and graceful manner in which Miss Kate Saville
personated the young wife, the very correct taste
and gentlemanly bearing of Mr. Walter Lacy as
„Mr. Ludlow, the boisterous humour of Mrs. Keeley
as Betsy, or the broad comedy of Mr. Rouse as the
railway traveller. Where so much is excellent it
is an ungracious task—but a duty—to protest
against the treatment of the character of Mrs.
Smith, the lodginghouse-keeper, of which so much
might have been made, by Mrs. Campbell.
This lady's conception of the character ap-
pears to us to be entirely erroneous, as we
very much doubt if it would be possible to
find in the present day any lodging-house keeper of
this class so coarse and vulgar either in manner or
in language. We would, with the most kindly
feeling, entreat this lady toremodel her study of this
character, since it is quite obvious that her abilities
are of that order as to be able to give any tone to the
part which her judgment may determine. This
being accomplished will render " 117, Arundel-
street, Strand," one of the most successful come-

diettas of the day. The piece was remarkably well
received throughout, and at its termination the
dramatis persona were loudly called for to receive
the acknowledgments of a crowded house.
The entertainments of the week were brought to
a conclusion by the "Abbe Vaudreuil" and the
" Tale of Two Cities."

COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS.

PARIS, MARCH 24.

Commercial affairs still remain in a state of stag
nation. Merchants and speculators are waiting un
til the new Customs' tariff shall come into force to
commence operations. Although the import duties
fixed by the new tariff are high, one great point has
been gained-prohibition is condemned to perish.
Accounts from Mulhouse state that there is very
little business doing, and that prices are looking
down. There has been a rise in the price of sugar
in the Paris market; good fourth quality is worth
70f. the 100 kilogrammes in bond. Sugar has like.
wise risen at Lille ; and ordinary beetroot sugar is
readily bought at 60f. the 100 kilogrammes in bond
for exportation. There were 500 casks of French
West India sugar sold last week at Havre at 62f. in
bond, and 1,500 casks for exportation at 6if. ;
6,025 bags for Falmouth at 67f. There has likewise
been a rise on coffee at Havre. There were alto-
gether 32,160 bags sold, of which 3,000 were from
Haiti at 76f. 50c. and 76f, 75. the 50 kilogrammes.
The remainder varied from 73f, 50c. to 80f. There
were few buyers in the Paris flour market last week,
and, in order to effect sales, it was necessary to
make a reduction in the price. Flour of the four
marks was likewise dull of sale. It is quoted at 55f.
25c. the sack of 157 kilogrammes for the month of
April 58f. for June, and 59f. for July. Good wheat
was scarce in the Paris market last week, and prices
firm at ?rise of 30c. the hectolitre. The price of
wheat was likewise well maintained in the provin-
cial markets last week. Oats are less offered. The
Minister of War required 5,400 quintals of oats for
the service of Paris, and could procure only 2,000
quintals at 19f. 20c. the 100 kilogrammes,
being 21c. higher than the contract concluded by
Minister on the 22d February. Rye is in less de-
mand at 20f. 50c. the sack of 115 kilogrammes.
Barley, on the contrary, is firm at 20f. for ordinary
quality.
The telegraph has supplied us with the prices at
the provincial markets held yesterday :-" Arras-
The market was less supplied than eight days since;
wheat was-asked for at a rise of 50e. the hectolitre,
prices 15f. 50e. to 22f. the hectolitre." "Chartres
-A small market, a rise on wheat of 15e. the hec-
tolitre. Oats firm." "Dijon--A small market, and
little business doing, same prices as last week.
Flour dull." " Metz-A small market, 333 hecto-
litres of wheat sold at an average of 25f. 86c. Oats
firm." "Nantes-There was a large amount of busi-
ness transacted yesterday in wheat, at rise of 25c,
the hectolitre."
There were 1.639 oxen offered for sale at the
market of Poissy on Thursday, of which 1,194
were sold at prices varying from lf. 4c. to lf. 34c.
the kilogramme ; 259 cows, of which 227 sold at
from 88c. to lt. 22c. ; 11,826 sheep, of which 10,157
sold at from lf. 48c. to if. 72c. ; 676 veal calves, of
which 572 sold at from if. 46c. to lf. 77c. The

average weight of the oxen was 344 kilogrammes.
Cows 218, sheep 23, veal cals;es 66 kilogrammes.

The paper manufacturers of the department of
Isere, 18 in number, have presented the following
memorial to the Minister of Commerce :
Monsieur le Ministre,—The manufacturers of
paper in the department of the Isere, seriously
affected by the derangement with which their
industry is menaced, adhere completely
to the memorial presented to the Emperor
against the plan of permitting the free export of
rags from France—a memorial signed by the manu-
facturers present in Paris. The undersigned parti-
cularly insist on this consideration—that every faci-
lity given to the exportation of rags, a matter of
first necessity for the papermaker, would produce a
rise on paper to the consumer—an effect diametri-
cally opposed to the object sought by the reduction
of the Customs' duties. They add t hat this raising
the price of paper in France would be the sole effect
produced by the permission to export rags, for the
rags produced in France are scarcely sufficient for
our consumption, and cannot be increased at will,
and the French paper manufacturer would be forced
to raise the price of rags so high that not a kilo-
gramme would go to England, and the price of paper
would be so much increased. Neither England nor
the English paper manufacturers could consequently
gain anything by the proposed measure, but the en-
tire of the French consumers would lose without
any compensation by the increased price of paper.
The treaty of commerce concluded with England
does not contain any stipulation, direct or indirect,
with respect to rags. The Emperor's Government
consequently is not bound by any engagement
nothing forces it to make the least concession to
the Englisk manufacturers with respect to the ex-
portation of that matter so indispensable to France.
The undersigned consequently hope with confi-
dence that the Emperor's Government, resisting
the solicitations of the English paper manufac-
turers, will refuse every facility to the exporta-
tion of rags from France, and will thus protect
the interests of the mass of consumers of French
paper, interests which, •on this occasion, are in
accord with those of the French manufacturer.
They earnestly pray you, Monsieur le Ministre, to
kindly submit to the Emperor the above new con-
siderations, which are most important for the gene-
ral interest as for themselves."
Accounts from Bordeaux state that the demand
for wine is active, but that the prices asked are so
high that it is difficult to execut e the orders received.
St. Estephe, first quality, vintage 1858, was sold at
4,700 f the hogshead of 912 litres ; fifth quality,
2,500 f ; 'ordinary Medoc, 1,000 f; La Tresne, 800 f
A small lot of white Sauterne was sold at 2,200 f.
the ton; Pujol, 460 f. to 480 f. White wines are in
great demand at Chinon, iu the Indre and Loire, at
65f. the cask of 228 litres ; red wines, 901. to 100 f.,
according to quality. Good old ordinary red wine
is worth 33f. the hectolitre, at Lens le Saulnier, in
the Jura; of the last vintage, 281. White wine
(dry), 36f.; last vintage, 40f. Large orders have been
received for wine at Pouilly, which were executed
at the following prices :—Vintage of 1858, 160 f. to
180 f. the cask of 272 litres ; vintage of 1859, 1.30 f.
to 1501. White wine has risen at St. Martin, in
the de Re, from 170 f. to 180 f., and. it is 'expected
it will go up to 200 f. Armagnac brandy, 52 degrees,
is quoted at Bordeaux 140 f. the hectolitre. Mar-
mande, 1301. Languedoc spirits of wine; 86'degrees
1321. 50e.
. .

SPORTING NOTES.

THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE MEETING.

The first numerous gathering of the sporting clans for
the season of 1860 will take place at Northampton to-
morrow. The attractions are sufficiently powerful even to
induce the members of the old school of turfites, who regard
with aversion racing in March, to divest themselves of
their prejudices, and to assist at a meeting at which so
much interesting and legitimate sport is provided for them.
The stamp of popularity has been long placed upon the
Northampton Races, and whilst the meeting continues
under the Marshall regime it is not likely to be effaced.
At Northampton business is conducted with so much order
and regularity, that persons who are most actively employed
there find quite a pleasure in their trouble.
That the plan which was suggested to extend the meet-
ing to three days has been abandoned, must afford no little
satisfaction to those persons who delight in the prosperity
of the fixture. To extend the programme to three days
would rather diminish than add to the success of the pro-
ceedings. Besides, too, the adoption of this measure is no
longer required, owing to the establishment of the Grand
Military Steeplechases, which are likely to become
the most popular cross country events in the
kingdom. It has been announced that the races
will commence each day punctually at one o'clock,
an arrangement necessary in order that the long
list of sport may be got through before dark. For the Stand
Plate there are twenty-five nominations, and about a dozen
starters may be expected. Lord Nelson is the top
weight, 9st., but his impost is not likely to crush him. Sir
Joseph Hawley, however, may trust his interest to Gallus.
Jenny Longlegs has already shown some form this season,
and will be near winning this event. To her and the best
of Sir Joseph Hawley's I shall leave the issue of the race.
The starters for the Northamptonshire Stakes are likely
to be numerous, and the betting at the post somewhat
brisk. The death of John Day has doubtless caused the
scratching of Ariadne, who had been somewhat freely
backed, and the miserable plight in which Philomel showed
at Warwick has also given speculators a little more money
to help their books. Forager holds the position of leading
favourite with much firmness, and a wide-spread belief is
entertained in the " goodness of the thing." He shall not,
however, forage for me. The Monk has been well sup-
ported, and his light weight ought to render him danger-
ous. Royal Sovereign has so frequently disappointed me
that I cannot again place faith in him. The black jacket
and orange cap of "Mr Howard," that has been so long
absent from the turf, will, it is said, make its re-appearance
at Northampton, and will be borne by Claire. The colours
may make a triumphant return, for Claire has shown no
common form. Weatherbound is backed and great hopes
are entertained of her. She is a nice, useful filly, but I
fancy scarcely class enough to win a race of so much im-
portance. Danae proved at Warwick that she can shy, and
with her 5 lbs. extra for winning there, she will have sst.
101bs. to carry for this event. Not a very great weight, it
must be confessed. I distrust the favourites, and must
therefore look to the outside division to furnish the winner,
and shall therefore give my faith to