The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-11 00:00:00

DRURY LANE THEATRE.

Last night,
.dramatic performances being pro-
hibited, Mr. Chatterton gave a grand musical fes-
tival, which attracted an overflowinc, house. The
programme was of unusual proportions, and em-
braced, in addition, a large body of vocalists, the
names ofiMr.Phelps, and Mr. Sketchley, the former
reciting selections from " Athalie," and the
latter detailing an account of Mrs. Brown's vifit to
to the play at " Queen Nrictoria'psarOt of theßmT con-
, Across the Water." The opening
, cert was devoted to selections from various cele-
brated oratorios, but the only solos that called for
any remark were the " Cujus Animarn," by Mr.
Cumming, and " lle wa , despised," by.- Miss
Palmer, both of which were excellently rendered.
The chorus was not quite up to the mark, but then
we must make some allowarte::! for the lrtsty manner
in which they had to i.e got together. In the,
second Fart Mr. Clnntning again carried off
honour by his singing Sheild's celebrated ballad,
•= The Thorn." Miss I, afford trind,-3 a most
premising debut, and slug the polacca from
"Puritani" with great brilliancy and eff.;c% Mr
V. Collins •perbrtne I a violin solo, and Mdlle.
de 13.3AuvoWn executed Benedict's " Erin" on
the pianoforte, but we canno`, say in a
faultless manner, as during' the performance she
twice got into didicul•.y, and hal a great deal of
trouble in recovering the right notes. Had this
lady not been a "professional" we should have
passed the ,natter by, but she would hardly thank
us for complimenting her for committing that which
she would well know was absolutely a fault.
Mr. Wilbye Cooper sang very sweetly a ballad,
" Tell her I'll love her." Miss D'Alton sang the
well-known brindisi from "Lucretia" very carefully
and well, and the s'sters Doria each contributed
some excellent singing during the evening. The
names of Miss Edith Wynn, Mdlle. Liebhart, Miss
PoOle, Miss Julia Elton, and Mr. George Perrin
figured in the programme. The entertainment
altogether was a great success, and the vast audience
was flighty pleased at Mr. Chatterton's "Lenten
Entertainment."

POLICE fiVTELLIGENCE—This Day.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
LOAN SOCIETIES.--Tho following letter has been re-
ceivad by the magistrates at at this court :
"Friendly Societies Office,
28, Abiugdon-street, S. W.

"Dear Sirs,—l wish to call your attention to the opera-
tion and working of the Loan Societies Act, 3 and 4 Viet.,
c. 110, under which 1 ant obliged to certify the rules of
loan societies.

"These societies aro generally got up by a publican, at
whose house they aro held, with a scamp who is appointed
secretary. I consider these societies as perfect swindles,
and from the daily complaints made to me by members,
their widows and children, I a.n sure that it would be
very desirable to repeal the Act which authorises them to
be established. It is my intentiaa to apply to the Govern-
ment to repeal the Act of Parliament, so as to abolish the
establishment of these societies.

" May I ask you, therefore, to say whether
from observation in cases come before you you will agreo
with me as to the mischief arising from their establish-
ment. —Yours faithfully, J.
,TIDD PRATT."
Mr. Tyrwhitt said that he quito concurred with Mr.
Tidd Pratt, and had had plenty of 'experience of the ovils
of these societies, there being frequent complaints made of
them at that court.

Mr. Knox said he cordially concurred with the contents
of Mr. Tidd Pratt's letter, and had abundant proofs bofore
him, and more especially so of
slate, of the mischief and
misery caused to persons who had anything to do with
such societies.
THE FLOWER GIRLS AND THE OXFORD-STREET TRADES-
MEN.—Four women, named Jane Gough, Amelia Curtis,
Ann Curtis, and Hannah Tobin wore charged before Mr.
Knox with causing an obstruction in Oxford-street by sell-
ing flowers.
The evidence of Tyler, 65 0, and Smith, 63 C, was to
the effect that they saw the prisoners yesterday, with
several others, selling flowers on the pavement in Oxford-
street, running after ladies and gentlemen, entering shops,
and causing a great obstruction with-their baskets of
flowers.

Mr. Ware, of 232, Oxford-street, said that there wore
generally five or six flower women on the kerb in front of
hie shop all day, and through the annoyance persons re-
ceived from being importuned in all directions, customers
were driven from his shop. He had warned the women
time after time. but to no purpose, they took possession of
the frontage of his shop, and as soon as respectable per-
sons CAIIIO up they were surrounded and pestered by the