The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-17 00:00:00

LYCEUM' THEATRE.

The performances at this house last night were for the
benefit of Mr. George A. Webster, its present tenant, the
speedy close of whose short term of management is thereby
intimated. The chief attraction of the evening was Sir
Edward Bulwer Lytton's play " The Lady of Lyons,"
in which the priccipal character, Claude Melnotte,
was played by Mr. Leigh Murray, who joined Mr.
Webster's company for a short engagement last week.
Mr. Leigh Murray has not been seen in London in any
part of this order or weight since his earliest appearance,
his success in the lighter walk of comedy and is certain
character-parts having wooed him from this early direction
of his talents. It is well that sun was tha case, for it is
highly improbable that he would ever have achieved or
maintained I. high:a:position asa tragedian as he has won in
nis present less lofty aspirations, not that the power of con-
ception or mental calibre of this accomplished actor ate
inadequate to the "swelling theme" of Melpomene, but the
;United extent of his physical capabilities decidedly pre-
cludes him from the successful execution of characters in
which stern vigour, deep passion, and fiery eeere y are requi-
site. For this reason, though Mr. Leigh Murray's Cleade
Melnotte is a graceful and natural impersonation, full of
quiet and refined touches of poetical feeling and even re vela
tions of deep pathos, it is deficient in that strong impulsive
dash—that headlong impassioned vehemence which is
Necessary to convey the true conception of the part—
we do not say the character, for of that there is li Ile or
none. The long inflated tirades with which it abounds can
only be effectively got through by one well practised in the
hackneyed devices of tragic declamation, and with a power
of lung that wilt enable him to rant, and soundly, too, when
occasion serves. Tne set speeches of Claude Meluorte are
laid out for " stagy" emphasis, and depend on the amount
f force with which their points are delivered to be ren-
dered truly telling, aNd it is one of the el, veri.esses of this
clever play that such is the fact. There is so much easy
grace in Mr. Leigh Murray's dept rtmenr, and so much un-
atfected truthfulness and delicacy iu his bursfs of sentimen',
'Nat if he was not all Claude Metnotte should be, he veon the
favour of his audience very rapidly and very unmistakeably,
and kept it to the end Nf the play, when he was c died for and
epplauded withenthusiasm. The Pauline Deschapelles of the
evening was Mrs. C.Young, who acquittt d he self wi h credit
of a part considerably beyond her reach. Of' the remaining
chat acttrs nothing needs to be said but that they ;Amine('
mote or less a respectable mediocrity. The succeeding pieces
eenstituting the evening's ent r • me. ts were tie 'farce of
c"elleljeritTy7maPdoeith4ic audience break
which in letari.nitWitoiudindaicnaymalet,;eaoif:tySivarur,rezyta
by hi "The Man who follows the Ladies,"
sketcha
bnyticlrslL Howard Paul, aud played by him
grotesquewr
itwritten
n a
and Mrs. Howard Paul; lastly, the farce of " Goed for
~I\t"aoitil i,ng."
presented
e but house,an with
unsatisfactory
h a exceptionttisfeactors a? pe
atria I the pit
seeingan
the nature of the cccasion.

Their Highnesses the Prince and Princess Woron-
zow and family have arrived at Claridge's llctel from Paris.
His Excellency the Count Apponyi left the
Austrian Legation on Sunday evening for Germany, lin
e .ve of absence for a few wet ks. Count Karolyi, who has
r. coot!), returned from the Continent, acts as Charge
d'Affaires during the conge of the count.
The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland have
let Alnwick Castle for the Lakes, Cumberland.
The Duke and Duchess of Manchester have gone
to his grace's seat ia the north of Ireland. The duke and
duchess go shortly on a tour of visits in Scotland.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde have
left town on a tour in Germany.
The Marquis of Salisbury left town yesterday for
Liverpool.
The Marquis and Marquise d'Assche have arrived
at Farrance's Hotel from Bit:01ton.
The Earl of Lonsdale is at Lowther Castle.
I town in G
tenredy.iy haves.
left Howick
house,iNiorthumber.arid, on a tour of visits in Scotland.
The Countess of Ca
rld'shi4eiP
Eisaerxr
acntdedCinou tonwletdon has arrived at Caledon
I 1 11, county Tyrone, from a tour of
W a_
ton returned to Loville Hall, tab
the noble earl had
from Stayley Moors, Cheshire, w ere
The Earl and Countess of sStarbrfdosricilirea,nd 110
on Monday, ,„
three days' excellent grouse shooting.

His