The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-04 00:00:00

LYCEUM THEATRE.

If the neighbourhood of Athens is in the condition that
Mr. Tom Taylor would have us believe, by his production
of Monday evening at this theatre, there would be a justifi-
cation of the philosophy expounded by the Greek Brigand,
Hadji Havros (Mr. George Vining). This amiable indi-
vidual, whose first introduction to a British audience was
made on the present occasion, is brought before our notice
as a gentleman of very peculiar views ; carrying on busi-
ness upon the broadest scale of way-laying and plundering
certain innocent English (and for the matter of that, any
other) travellers who may fall in his way. Hadji Havros
is, however, a philosopher, and not only a philosopher, but
a King, for he is called the " King of the Mountains," and
exercises a rude and severe sovereignty over a band of law-
less brigands, with a latent moral conviction that if the
whole world would only fall in with his policy, a
saving might be effected of nearly 50 per cent. on the
amount now levied by direct and indirect taxa-
tion. The audience are introduced to this gen-
tleman in the piece before us, upon the occasion
of those captures which have become familiar to the readers
o travels in Greece, and Mrs. Keeley (as Miss Penelope
Porcupine), Miss Maria Ternan (Mary Ann Melton), with
their footinan (Mr. Rouse), ara discovered in the gorges of
the mountains near Athens, a scone admirably painted, and
reminding one of the well known picture of the Corsair.
It is indeed impossible to speak too highly of this charming
representation. With the English party we find a German
naturalist, and a young lady whose education was being
matured at Paris, who afterwards turns out to be the
daughter of the brigand chief. It would be idle to attempt
to follow the author in the various incidents of this " comic
drama." They depend entirely for effect upon the admir-
able talent of the actors, and it must be admitted no author
was ever more indebted to this talent than Mr. Tom Taylor,
for the piece itself is " thin" beyond description. Madame
Celeste, who represented the Brigand's daughter, a part
totally unworthy of her, played with her usual taste, feeling,
and energy, and certainly made the most of one of the
weakest characters we ever saw allotted to her. Mrs.
Keeley sustained her reputation. Miss Ternan made a
most interesting Greek girl, but had nothing to do. Mr.
Rouse exerts himAelf to his utmost in a very common-
place character; and Mr. George Vining, though last not
least, deserves the highest credit for the very admirable
manner in which he acquitted himself as the Brigand Chief.
It must be observed that the piece, much to its improve.

ment, has been considerably curtailed. The scenery by
Callcott is magnificent, and indeed all was worthy of a
better production. We have already recorded our opinion
of the appearance of the theatre, which is in the highest
degree splendid.

STEEL-PLATED IRON STEAM VESSELS.

The first of a class of steel-plated iron steam
vessels, of somewhat gigantic proportions, which
the Government has decided on having constructed
for the British navy, is to be laid down at Chatham
Dockyard as soon as the necessary preparations
have been made at that establishment, and com-
pleted with all possible despatch. The vessel which
it is intended to be constructed will be rendered as
nearly as possible shotproof, and this will be ac-
complished by covering her above her water line
with massive steel armour plates. She will be of
a size never yet witnessed in the English navy, the
intention being to construct her 400 feet in length,
or about double the length of many line-of-battle
ships, and about two-thirds the length of the Great
Eastern. She is to be furnished with engines of
corresponding power, which will drive her through
the water at a high rate of speed, and her arma-
ment is to consist exclusively of Armstrong guns of
the heaviest metal and longest range. She will be
one of the most formidable vessels of war yet built
for the Government. The Assistant-Surveyor of
the Navy, Mr. Large, has paid a visit to Chatham
Dockyard, in order to ascertain if either of the
docks at that establishment are sufficiently large to
admit of the proposed vessel being built. The
largest of the docks is that known as No. 2, which
has been only recently finished, the Admiralty
having that dock built in order to receive the
largest vessels belonging to the navy. Its length
is only a very little less than 400 feet, but an addi-
tion of several feet will be made by the removal of
the caisson at the entrance and erecting in its place
a dam, by which means the required length will be
obtained for the construction of the vessel. The
dock is at present occupied by the steam floating
battery Trusty, 14, which is under repair, and as
soon as she has been completed it is intended to
commence building the new iron vessel.

'TIE B_RuMung thenriTON.—A letter from
RECORDER
Barrister
saysF :—.Luring
a Practising the
Recorder of our borough (Mr. Edwin James), he has been
attacked in our local journals, and comments have been
made in the London papers for his delay in holding his
autumnal session. It is due to the learned gentleman that
the facts should be known. At the assizes held at Lewes
on the 20th of July last, every borough as well as county
prisoner was tried, and the gaol, as is usual, "delivered."
The Recorder has fixed the 12th of October inst. to 11)1c1
the next session. The first prisoner awaiting his trial was
committed on the 21st ( f July last. By the Municipal
Corporation • Act a Recorder is bound to hold four sessions
in each year, and they are invariably fixed, as nearly as
conveniently can be, at the end of every three months from
the preceding session. It will thus be seen that there has
been no unusual delay.
POLICE MAGISTRATES.—Mr. J. Leigh, now sti-
pendiary magistrate at Wolverhampton, will succeed to the
vacancy on the metropolitan bench caused by the death of
Mr. Jardine. Mr. Leigh will sit at Worship-street Police-
court, in the room of Mr. Barker, who will be transferred
to Clerkenwell, in succession to 31r. Corrie, who has already
taken Mr. Jardine's place at Bow-street. Mr. W. Par -
tridge, of the Oxford Circuit, has been appointed stipen-
diary magistrate at Wolverhampton, in the room of Mr.
Leigh. The Recordership of Bath, vacant by Mr. Jar-
dine's death, will be filled by Mr. T. W. Saunders, of the
Western Circuit, now Recorder of Dartmouth,
The intelligence from Rio (le Janeiro regarding
the failure of Mr. Mello e Souza for £500,000, which was
announced by the last packet, is to the effect that his pro-
posal to pay in three years and nine months, without inte-
rest, had been agreed to by two-thirds of tho creditors—a
majority §ll.4lcieut to give it legal forces