The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-30 00:00:00

I Poet of Kiicg Arthur, to the Satirist of the New
rimon, to the Ronianciet of sly "Vowc/—"Io,
j 1,1(1nory of a Visit to Hoiyrood." Blaeavood has
told the reason why Sir Edward might, in a man-
ner,- have claimed the dedication of the -volume to
! h:w6elf " by right"—rehting as old Maga has done
in the number for last August (p. 223), that upon
the occasion of that visit paid together to Holy-
; ri,od by the Scottish bard ati:l the English novelist,
thci latter, turning to his companion, Raid--" Let
the world hear the story of Bothwell !" And it
has heard it accordingly—beard it, as it were,
from the lips of the recreant hero of the tale him-
self, through the medium of this impassioned and
artistically elaborated Monologue.

SIfETCIIES OF LONDON ACTORS.

MR. WEBSTER.

If there is one quality above another for which
Mr. Webster is -celebrated it is that of taking
pains. We think that he is himself aware of his
distinguishing excellence, and is proud of it. He
has twee of that fire of inspiration which, although
it may sometimes bring to light hidden beauties,
as often hurries an impetuous actor into extra-
vaaances. He is, on the contrary, a careful stu-
dent of the limits by which the capabilities of act-
ing are bounded. He is liable to under-act rather
than over-act a part. He would rather miss half-
a-dozen excellences than commit a single fault.
He is careless about extending his outline,
but he is scrupulously watchful as to the filling
it up. He is the Mieris or the Jan Steen of
actors. His finish is admirable. But then he
wants breadth. He never interprets largely, but
he always interprets accurately. He sees in a given
part all that the ordinary reader sees, and he gives
expression to his view of the part in a manner that
no ordinary actor could do. And this is all owing
to his wonderful power of taking pains, of bring-
ing to bear upon any given object of study all the
histrionic qualities with which nature has endowed
He hire- He leaves none of his faculties uuworked.
gets one hundred per cent. out of them all.
He never, lilao all common actors, or like many
ttetera of genius, has to reproach himself with hay-
log left any portion of his work unfioishod• This is
a most serviceable and useful peculiarity. By dint
of it Mr. Webster has gained, and maielained, a
position in public esteem which, althouov,lt not so
lofty or dazzling as that achieved by the public's
prime faVourites, has yet led to no inconsiderable
amount of fame and fortune. By unwearied study
and care he has surmounted certain difficulties
which would have been insuperable to ono of lees
energy. After years of labour, during which hi.'
was constantly rising in his profession, be was en-
abled to rent as lessee the home which had made
his reputation as an actor. In his farewell address
to the audience after the leaseeship of 16 years, he
told them that he took the Haymarket without the
assistance of a single farthing beyond what hi) had
saved by rigid econrany out of a very small salary.
During that time lie said he had paid 20,000/. to
authors, and large sums to the theatre and to
actors. His, ho said, was the longest leaseea'aip
on record. These assertions testify to an extra-
ordinary amount of energy and determination.
It would he difficult to point out characters in
Mr. Webster's repertoire which are more diFttin-
gaishcd than the rest for those qualities in w hich
hti excels. There are some which afford groater
capabilities for his talents than others, but owing
to the peculiarities to which we have alluded ho
seldom goes beyond the ordinary. average o:f his
acting. In his least. as well as his greatest parts
he always acts as well as lie can act. There are,
however, some parts which, from their larger de-
velopment, are greater favourites with the public,
because they make larger appeals to their sympa-
thies than others. Among these we may mention.
" Tartuffe." In. this play, which only missed at-
taining the extensive popularity of many of the
pieces of the Adelphi ou account of its total
difference from those pieces in point of construc-
tion and style—his acting was not to be surpassed.
It had, indeed, none of the animal spirits break-
ing through the surface of hypocritical reserve
which was so remarkable in Dowton's " Dr. Cant-
well." He was the finished, undisturbed hypo-
crite all through.. The perfect varnish of the cha-
racter was never disturbed by spot or wrinkle. As
an actor, acting the part of one who is acting, it
was admirable. Cymou Foxall in "The Beggar on
Horeoback," and Nathan Thompson in " Borough
Politics," Dr. 011apod in the " Poor Gentleman,"
thelLaird of Killicrankiein "Queen Mary's Bower,"
may be all specified as performances in which Mr.
Webster allows no fraction of an opportunity of
making the most of his part to escape him. He
10e..s the most perfect justice to his author, but
,at _the gamey-time-he -ntyvez—embellishes him. It
cannot be said,. therefore, that Mr. Webster ever
makes a part his own in the seuso in which Keeley
and 13uckstone do this. He never impresses his per-
sonality on the part. He is content to furnish his
audience with a ftitliful copy of his author's mean-
ing. He is as accurate as a photographer ;he is sel-
dma luxuriant, like au artist. With all this, his
d linea•ions aro occasionally artistic in a high de-
gree, and few persons have had to compare hint in
any particular part with another actor without hat-
ing to confess that, in taste, exquisite propriety,
ant correctness, 'Webster is the superior.
His achievements as a manager have been
even more remarkable titan those as an actor.
IL, conducted the Haymarket triumphantly
dosing 16' years. His career at the Adelphi has
been most prosperous. For his success he is in-
debted to that good taste and fulness of purpose
which distinguish his acting. His plays are got up
with an attention to detail which must involve im-
mense labour. No part is Neglected, no capabilities
amongst the manager's resources are unused. The
Ad Melphi, under r. Webster's managem-nt, has
consequently been the scene of oninterrupted
sne-
ce-s. To his other merits we may add that Mr.
WTc!,ster is a liberal patron of matters connected
with the drama, and is well versed in draniatie
literature. His judgment seldom deceives him.—
Daily Nc:vs.

THE FREE LAND GRANTS IN CANADA.

Tlio free bind grants, which we have noticed in
fernier nu hers, are creating much interest iu
Ca-
nada ; and, frceu the numerous applications which
we have had respecting them, wo are- glad to find
they are al,o attracting considerable attention iu
England. The terms of settlement, we find, have
been slightly altered, and it is very desirable that
it should be extensively known that the former
conditions of settlement, on the Hastings, Adding-
ton and Opeonga Road, which required the appli-
cant to be a British subject, and produce testimo-
nials of character, have been rescinded. No secu-
rity could be giv.!.n to the agent that the certificate
was gmuine, and to confine the grants to persons
nowv subjeuts of the British Crown would have ex-.i
el 4.h:a persons who make excellent and enterpris-
ing settlers, such as Germans, Norwegians, Swedes,
and even emigrants from the United States, many
of whom will probably avail themselves of the
opening thus afforded. The conditions are as
follows One hundred acres wilt be given
to any settler eighteen- years old, and having
the means of providing for himself until the
produce of his land is sufficient to maintain him.
The I:earer of the certificate must state to the ai.;ent •
his name, age, condition, trade, or profession;
whether he is married, and if so the name and age
of his wife, how many children he has, the name
and age of each of them ; where he is from, and
whether he is, the owner of land elsewhere. The
conditions of location are, to take possession within
a month, and to put in a state of cultivation at
least/twelve acres of the land in the course) of four
years, to build a house (at least 20 by 18 feet) and
to reside on the lot -until the conditions of set-
tlement are duly performed ; after which accom-
plishment only shall th'e settler have a right to ob-
tain a title of property. Families comprising
several settlers entitled to lands, preferring to re-
side on a single lot, will be exempted from the
and of residence (except
obliitation of huildint' tr
upon the lot on which they live), provided that
the required clearing of land he made on. each lot.
The ii,in-accomplishment of these conditions will
cause the immediate loss of the assigned lot of
land, which will be sold or given to another. The
road having been opened by the government, the
settlers are required to keep it in repair.—Vasa-
dicta Sews.

EOT Afa tilctrisa BAN K. —Yegterday the necessary
-ferule were uotie
.through and the various document g
signed by Vice-Chancellor kiinders!ey, and forwarded
by ,pecial messenger to Bury St. Edmund's, confirmice
the appointment by Mr. Edwards, his chief clerk, of
Ilarding as interim manager of the affairs of this
bank. Tim interim manager will have to enter into
such zn amount of recognisanoes as the court may
direc,„ and ho will also have tn find two er more
suretle-,. Now that the order atisolute for winding-up
tl ol the bank has been made, none of the assets
can b. disposed of except by order of the cou-t, and
the nianager wiil at ODCN, utideeths order of the court,
call upon all parties to deliver up all botAs of account,
deeds, inslruments, cash, bills
notes, and paperß, in-
cludir.g "tee lltdo book with the little key," kept
by Mr. Cameron, the tnitna,,er. The court will pro-
ceed to determine what piirtii:s will be entitled to
attend proceedings, and will appoint representatives of
contrilitu.ortes or shareholderA, who are entitled to
inspi.ct the boolia and ‘papeis free. Criminal proceeds
itig,.t ma; ha taken for stealing, embezzlement, or mis-
qpropratic.n, on behalf cf the shareholders, by the
manager, and a penttAy of 1001. may be enforced on
any covtibutory concealing the estate of the company.
Crolitors wili no have to be called iu, and the list
of contributories will then be settled.