The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-03 00:00:00

Bridgwater), accompanied by the Hon. Thomas
Egerton (who enacted the second brother), with
their sister, the Lady Alice (who could not have
been at that time more than 13, and who acted the
lady), were on their way to Ludlow from the house
of some relatives in Herefordshire, when they rested
on their journey and were benighted in Hayward
Forest, and the incident (Lady Alice having been
even lost for a short time) furnished, it was thought,
the subject of " Comus," at the Michaelmas festi-
vity which was acted in the great hall of the castle,
the occasion being the installation of the earl as pre-
sident over the march of "Wales, to which office he
was nominated. The early edition, a small quarto
of 35 pp., was simply entitled "A Masque presented
at Ludlow Castle, 1634, on Michaelmasse Night,
before the Right Honourable John Earl of Bridge-
water,Vi:.count Brackley, Lord President of Wales,
and one of his Majesty's Most honorable Privie
Counsell, &c., London. Printed for Humphrey
Robinson at the since of the Three Pidgeons in
Paul's Churchyard, 1637." The names of the
principal actors appear at the end of this edition•
The songs were set to music by Mr. Henry
Lawes, gentleman, of the King's chapel, and a son
of Mr. Thomas Lawes, a vicar choral of Salisbury
cathedral. The Lady Alice, who excelled in sing-
ing, was a pupil of Lawes ; she was allotted the
Song of Echo. Lawes performed the part of the
Attendant Spirit, and undertook the general ma-
nagement of the masque. It is not known who
were the original representatives of the parts of
Comus and Sabrina. The masque did not bear
Milton's name until 1645. Between 1637 and 1797
as many as 27 editions have been enumerated, and
it is presumed that others existed. Entertainments
of this kind having been discouraged, " Comm" was
the delight of comparatively few until 1738, when
it was produced at Drury-lane Theatre, divided into
three acts, and adapted to the stage, by Dr. Dalton,
prebendary of Worcester, Lawes' music being re-
jected, and new accompaniments composed for the
occasion by Dr. Arne. It was subsequently (1773)
reduced into two acts by George Colman and per-
formed at Covent-garden ; since which period it
has been repeatedly presented on the stage, and
was revived as recently as two years ago at Drury-
lane. In 1750 it was acted and published for the
benefit of Milton's granddaughter, who kept a
chandler's shop, an occasional prologue being
written by Dr. Johnson, and spoken by Garrick.
It was surmised that Milton produced `‘ Comus',
under his father's roof, at Horton, near Coln-
brook, in Buckinghamshire (Milton was then 26
years of age). The poet went to reside at Horton
after leaving Cambridge, his father having retired
there on a competent fortune, and holding his house
under the Earl of Bridgwater. There was no evi-
dence to prove that Milton was ever present at
Ludlow Castle during the representation of his
work, though it was thought that the general
theme of Milton's poem was chosen to rebuke
the excesses of the inhabitants of that town. It
was not known whether Milton had witnessed the
masque that created a sensation in the early part
of the year in which his own was produced ; al-
though, as he occasionally made journeys to London
to improve his study of music, and his friend, Henry
Lawes, was engaged to furnish the music both to
Shirley and Carew's masques, which, according to
Whitelock, excelled any music that before that time
had been held in England, it was considered probable
that Milton, at any rate, might have attended some
rehearsals of the Inns of Court entertainments. He
then referred his hearers to David Masson's " Life
of Milton," and to Mr. Thomas's Wright's " Lud-
low Sketches" for information on all known parti-
culars of Milton and his works, and wound up his
paper with a poetical peroration from the work
under consideration.
Mr. COCKING read some interesting remarks on
the remains of the Austin Friars at Ludlow, which
were accidentally discovered when digging on the
site of the present cattle market in 1861. At that
time Mr. Cocking was Mayor of Ludlow, and for-
tunately being an archaa)logist, the accidental open.
ing of some of the foundations attracted his atten-
tion ; a subscription was got up, and the whole of
the foundations were uncovered, and having been
accurately measured and drawn were again covered
over, and the cattle market is now carried on over
part of their site. At that time the existuuee ur any
such buildings was forgotten, though there was a
street close to called Friars lane. The different offices
were all clearly traced—the friary, with the tower,
nave, aisle, chancel, and apartments of friars and
servants' refectory, &c. The basis of a stone pulpit
with two or three stone steps was found, but in a
situation where it could not have existed originally.
Other fragments of stone masonry were also found,
all of which are now stored up in the cattle market.
Very few bones were discovered ; but two skeletons
were dug up and reinterred. History showed this
friary to have been in existence in the 13th century.
It was dissolved in 1538. The inventory taken at
its dissolution showed that the friary could not have
been a wealthy one.
A few remarks were offered by the CHAIRMAN
and Mr. HILLS, who had visited the spot when the
foundations were laid open.
To-day the excursion programme was a very
lengthened one. The excursionists set out in nu-
merous carriages from Ludlow as early as nine
o'clock, and would not return before seven or eight
o'clock. The first object visited was Aston Church,
and some ancient tumuli not far off. Leinthall-
Stark's Church was then passed, and the church
described by the Rev. W. Williams. The party
next proceeded to Wigmore Castle, abbey, and
grange. This retired and out of the world spot was
once, no doubt, a place of some importance. The
castle was given to Mortimer, who came from Nor-
mandy with the Conqueror. The priory was
founded by one of his heirs about 1179. Only a
small portion of the ancient castle remains.
Edward 111. was entertained here on his journey to
Wales. From Wigmore to Downton Castle, the
seat of Mr. A. Boughton Knight, was the next stage.
This is a modern residence, built at the close of the
last century. The scenery around is very beautiful.
Mr. Knight entertained the party to luncheon, after
which they were to visit other places on their way
back to Ludlow.

MARKE TS. ---T his day.

COVENT GARDEN.

- -
FRUlT—Apples, 4s Od to Gs Od per bushel; grapes, Ss
Od to Gs Od ; cherries, 4d to Os; pine apples, 3s to 6s per lb;
strawberries, 6d to 2s per lb ; lemons, 8s to 12s ; oranges,
8s to 14s per 100.
VEGETABLES—Artichokes, 2s Od to 4s; beet, 18 to 2s;
cabbage, is Od to 2s ; cauliflowers, 35 to 5s per dozen ;
asparagus, is Gd to 6s ; celery, is to 2s Od ; horseradish,
3s to 53 per bundle; carrots, 6d to 8d por bunch ; herbs,
2d to 4d; leeks, Od to Od; mint, 3d to 6d per bunch;
parsley, 2d to 4d ; turnips, 4d to 8d per bunch ; endive 2s
Od to Os ; lettuces, is to is 6d per score ; onions, 4s to 5s ;
spinach, 2s to 3s per bushel; cucumbers, Gd to is 6d each ;
potatoes, 80s to 180 s per ton.

NEWPORT.
Per 81b. by the carcase.
Beef 3s 4d to 4s 8d I Veal
Mutton ... 8d to 4s 8d I Pork
Lamb
WIIITECITAPEL.
Per 81b. by the carcase.
Beef 3s 2d to 4s 8d I Lamb ...... 4s Od to 5s Od
Mutton ... 3s 8d to 4s 8d I Pork
Veal

HIDES ANI) SKINS.
Market hides, 56 to' 641bs' 21d to 3d ; 64 to 721bs,
o 3id ; 72 to 80 3,d to 30; 80 to 881bs., 3idto 4d ; 88
;o 9Glbs., 4d to 41d. iforsehicles, 9s Gd to lOs Gd ; calf skins
:light), 2s Od to 4s ; full, 7s Od ; sheepskins, lambs, 3s Gd
to Ls Ud ; shearlings, 2s 4d to 2s 10d.

BREAD.
The prices of wheaten bread in the metropolis are from
91d to 103. ; of household ditto, 7d. to 9d. per 41bs loaf.
II AY.
SMITHFIELD—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4 10s Od; clover,
£4 Os to £5 15s Od ; and straw, £2 to £2 6s por load.
A fair supply.
CUMBERLAND—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4 15s ; clover,
£4 Os to £5 15s Od ; and straw, £2 to £2 6s por load.
A moderato demand.
WHITECHAPEL —3lotldOW hay, £3 to £4 108 Od; clover,
£4 Os Od to £5 175 ; and straw, £2 to £2 6s por load.
A steady trade.
New hay is quoted at £2 lOs to £3 15s, and now clover
£3 to £1 lls 6tl per load.

THE BODY or MAXIMILIAN. —The independanCe
Bilge, in a correspondence from Mexico, dated the 28th of
June, has the following iu a postscript :—" The body of
Maximilian has just been given up to the Minister of
Prussia. As to the Minister of France, it is asserted that
he will bo detained as a hostage for damages which the
overuraont claims W novo); from France."