The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-09 00:00:00

THE SERGEANT'S WIFE.
The announcement by Madame Celeste that it was
ntended to reproduce the melodrama of " The Ser-
geant's Wife," which lives only in the recollection
of those who thirty years ago had the pleasure of
witnessing the admirable performance of Miss
Kelly and that distinguished band of performers
who are almost extinct, but whose example appears
to have inspired a not unworthy race of representa-
tives, was a surprise to the play-going public, but
the realisation of the performance of last night was
more gratifying even than the recollection of by-
gone achievements. As was said by some cynical
traveller on the road to Chalons, in reply to a
romantic allusion to the dreams of Itosseau, "La
route vaut nzieux que les souvenirs," so we
may venture to express our opinion that this
well constructed melo-drama was better represented
last night than when we were affected in our youth
by the alternate emotions of pleasure and pain
which the powerful situations of the piece are cal-
culated to inspire. Miss Kelly, who stood un-
questionably at the head of this class of dramatic
representations, is an historical association which
can never be separated from "The Sergeant's
Wife ;" and so much artistic care had she devoted
to the impersonation of the character, that it will
be remembered when that lady opened her dramatic
school at Soho she commenced her season with this
performance—a triumph of histrionic skill which at
that period of excellence was acknowledged to be
the perfection of the art. If we remember rightly
Miss Kelly is the last remaining representative of
that distinguished of artistes. Mrs. Keeley appeared
last night in her original part of Margot, the strongest
test which could possibly be applied to the singu-
lar talent of Madame Celeste. Mrs. Keeley is in
possession of so much experience and so much
ability that these qualities would have over-
shadowed any second rate artiste ; bat in the case
of Madame Celeste they only served to bring out
in stronger relief the extraordinary natural and
acquired powers which that lady possesses. The
passion, the intensity of expression, the perfect
command of every situation presented in the drama,
cantituted a perfect and finished study of this school
of dramatic art, which was fully borne -witness
to by the fixed and earnest attention of an appre-
ciative audience. It is scarcely possible to imagine
anything more intensely absorbing than the inte-
rest which Madame Celeste, by refinement of art,
contrived to surround the particular scene
upon which the whole interest of this
melodrama turns, namely, that wherein the un-
fortunate sergeant's wife is condemned to witness
without a hope of escape, as she imagines, the mur-
der of the father of her husband. Nor was her
by-play less to be admired, in that scone where she
escaped from the chateau. We may be excused
for not detailing the plot of the " Sergeant's Wife,"
since it must be familiar to all who take any inte-
rest in theatrical affairs. It is sufficient for us, at
the present moment, to declare our decided con-
viction that it would be impossible to produce, in
any other theatre, an ensemble more perfect than
that which we had the gratification of witnessing
in the representation last evening of the "Ser.
geant's Wife." We should not be justified, how-
ever, notwithstanding what we have said, in clos-
ing this notice without remarking upon the very
great care with which each character was sup•
ported, Old Cartoache was admirably brought out
by Mr. T. Lyon, who reminded us forc'bly of the
palmy days of newton; whilst Mr. James Vining
exhibited remarkable talent in dealing with the
character of Denis. Mr. Johnstone's Gaspar, a
very ungrateful part, was nevertheless well sus-
tained ; and the Robin of Mr. Rouse gives addi-
tional confirmation to the very high opinion we
have already expressed of this gentleman's dramatic
talent. It was, indeed, perfect; and we feel per-
suaded that if Mr. Rouse prosecutes the study of
his art with the same care and energy which he
has already shown since his introduction to the
London boards, he is destined to attain the very
highest rank in his profession.

MR. COBDEN AND HIS CONSTITUENT&

The following letter from Mr. Cobden, M.P., has
been received by Mr. Mellor, town-clerk of Roch-
dale : ,

Cannes, France, March 3, 1860.
Dear sir,—Your letter, addressed to the House of
Commons, did not reach me, and I have only to-day
received your favour of the Bth ult., enclosing tho
resolutions passed by the town council of Rochdale,
and the public meeting of the inhabitants of the
borough, approving the conduct of their representa-
tive in relation to the negotiation of the treaty of
commerce with France.

I regret that I should thus have been accidentally
prevented from tendering to my constituents a more
prompt expression of my gratitude for this mark
of their confidence and kindness ; and the more so
because it would have given to me an opportunity
of explaining to them the cause of my absence from
the House of Commons.

In compliance with the advice of my m2dical
attendant at Paris, I have pa'd a visit to this tem-
perate region, to avoid the severe weather and the
late hours incidental to London parliamentary life
in the months of February and March. It is, how-
ever, my intention to return to my post the first
week in April; and I need hardly add how much
I regret mx absence from the house during the re-
cent discusssions,—l remain, dear sir, yours truly,
RICIIARD COBDEN.
Zach. Mellor, Esq., Town-clerk, Rochdale.

The Mayor of Birmingham has received the
following letter from Mr. Cobden, M.P.:—
Cannes, France, March 2, 1860.
Dear Sir,—l have received with feelings of
sincere gratitude the resolution passed at a public
meeting of the inhabitants of Birmingham, thank-
ing me for the services rendered to the cause of
free trade by the recent negotiation of the French
treaty. It must ever be a source of legitimate
pride to a public man when his acts receive the
sanction of large bodies of his countrymen ; and I
can unfeignedly assure you that I have felt espe-
cially gratified and honoured by this proof of the
approbation of the intelligent' and public-spirited
community over which it is your privilege to pre-
side. Pray accept my thanks for the kind and
friendly expressions conveyed in you letter accom-
panying the resolution ; and I remain,; dear sir,
yours very sincerely, RICHARD COBDEN.

TirE ALPACAS IN AUSTRALIA.—The shearing of
Mr. Ledger's flock of alpacas has been -successfully com-
pleted, and we may soon expect to have the wool in the
English market,--iltestralian and .11reto Zealand Gazette.