The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-13 00:00:00

THEATRICALS AT BRADFORD.

On Thursday last "King John " was performed with
great success. The Lady Constance, one of Shakspeare's
most beautiful conceptions, of Miss Forester, was an admir-
able piece of acting, evincing profound and careful study.
Her anguish was so intense, so true to nature, without
being overwrought, that she entirely carried with her the
sympathy of her audience. Her address to her son, Prince
Arthur—" But thou art fair ; nature and fortune joined to
' make thee great," was charmingly given ; and afterwards
to Austria, where she exclaims—" War I war I No Peace
—Peace is to me a war 1 "—was grand, replete with
energy, and elicited considerable applause. Miss Forester
is making rapid strides in her profession, in which, with
perseverance, she may look forward, at no distant period,
to hold a very prominent position. She possesses every
requisite for it, but she must carefully avoid straining for
effect. Her action is graceful and easy, her voice is good,
and her delivery excellent—hence, with care, we may pre-
dict much for her. Greatpraise is due to Miss Jones, a young
ladypossessing considerable personal attractions, for her very
clever impersonation of Prince Arthur. Her scene with Hu-
bert, in which thOatter is about to deprive the Prince of his
sight, deserves especial notice. Her appeal to him—" Spare
mine eyes"—was exceedingly beautiful and touching.
The King John of Mr. Harald would have been much im-
proved if more warmth had been thrown into it. He has
a full, rich voice, but his declamation is cold, phlegmatic.
The gentleman who played Faulconbridge had evidently
mistaken the character. Miss Gray made a very graceful
Queen Elinor, and Mr. Blythe, though last not least,
acquitted himself well as Hubert. The tragedy was fol-
lowed by the burlesque of " Masaniello," in which Miss
Huntley, as the Prince, and Mr. James, as the Masaniello,
played with great -spirit, and kept the audience in a roar of
laughter. It is but just to acknowledge that they were well
supported by-the rest of the company, and the whole went
off admirably.

DEATH OF COLONEL PERCEVAL.—CoI. Perceval,
Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Lords, died on Thursday
last, at his house in Chester-street, aged 72, after a pro-
tracted illness. The gallant officer formerly represented
the county of Sligo in the House of Commons, having been
returned for the county at the general election in 1831, and
during the 10 years he was in Parliament gave a zealous
support to the Conservative party, having voted against
the Reform Bill, the Municipal Corporation Bill, &c. In
Sir R. Peel's short Administration of 1835 he was Trea-
surer of the Ordnance, and in 1841 he vacated his seat in
the House of Commons to accept the appointment which
be held up to his decease, on the present Admiral Sir G. F.
Seymour resigning in order to take office as one of the
Lords of the Admiralty, on the formation of the late Sir R.
Peel's Government. He married the eldest daughter of the
late Mr. H. Lestrange, and was for some years Colonel of
the Sing's County Militia. The office of Sergeant-at-Arms
is to attend the person of the Sovereign, to arrest offenders
of rank, and to attend on the Lord High Steward of Eng-
land when he sits in judgment on traitors, also on the Lord
High Chancellor, the Lord Treasurer, and on both Houses
of Parliament, and, if need be, on the Lord Mayor of Lon-
don. Their number was limited to 30 by the 13th of Richard
11., chap. 6. In old books they are called virgatories,
because they once carried silver rods, gilt, as they now do
maces. During the sitting of Parliament one is constantly
in attendance in each house. The appointment is in the
gift of the First Lord of the Treasury.
THE SOUTHAMPTON ADDRESS TO GENERAL
No-M.—The following letter has been addressed to
Edward Palk, the chief magistrate of Southampton, by the
Lord Chancellor, in reference to the honours paid to his
lordship's son-in-law, Sir John Inglis, on his leaving South-
ampton, for India,fon Saturday week :—" Eaton-square, Dec.
6, 1858.—Sir_,—I wish that I could have been present on
Saturday to have witnessed the parting honours paid to Sir
John Inglis by the corporation of Southampton, under
your auspices as their Mayor. It has heightened consider-
ably the gratification which-I have felt at such a compli-
ment having been offered to one so closely connected with
me, and of whom I am justly so proud, that it should have
proceeded from a town with which I became associated so
many years ago by a tie which has formed so much of the
happiness of my life. With this recollection I may, per-
haps, be pardoned if I am unable to restrain the feelings
which prompt me to express my gratitude to you for the
honour conferred upon my gallant son-in-law, and to re-
quest of you- to convey the expression of my heartfelt
thanks to every member of the corporation.—l have the
honour to be, sir, your faithful and obedient servant,
CRELMSFORD."