The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-07 00:00:00

T FIE TRAGEDY AT LERWICK.

This shocking tragedy is as yet unexplained. No
rnot,ve can be discovered. Mr. Williamson, the mur-
derer and suicide, was a respectable merchant; he ap-
peared to have a warm affection for his family, and his
affairs do not show any embarrassment. Some of the
local papers publish terther details :—His first victim
was his wife. He had apparentiy struck her a Liarlui
blow with the cleaver on the head ; with the razor he
is flicted a frightful cut upon her throat. He went
through the same horrifying process in the case of the
daughter, as she still lay asleep. He next rushed up-
stairs to the apartment occupied by the three childrer.
The elder boy was seized, numerous and serious cuts
were inflic ed upon his bead either with the hatchet edge
of the cleaver, or with the raz it blade, and with the
latter instrument a fearful wound was made upon his
throat; but before the consummation of his intended
fate he managed to release himself from hie father's
hands and made his escape downstairs. Upon the
youngest of the three—the eleeping infant—the same
elaborate attack was made as in the case of the first two
and stronger victims. With its head smashed, and
almost severed as it was from the body, its death must
have been instantaneous. The terminating scene of the
sickening tragedy was carried out in the other room on
the same floor on which these transactions took place.
To this room the second son, John, had made his escape
in his n ght-dress. He could scarcely, however, have
done more than reach the apartment when hie father,
f Alowing is hot pursuit, overtook him, and seizing him
as he vainly attempted to elude his hold by leaping into
an unoccupied bA, dragged him out by his superior
strength, one or more stunning blows on the skull soon
served to make him resistless, and by a sleep raz cut in
the throat he was the next instant deprived of life as
speedily as the innocents who preceded him. Dropping
the mutilated corpse at his feet, the infatuated man nett
addressed himself to the deliberate destruction of. his
own life. Throwing himself on his back on the tnidd.le
of the floor of the same room in which he stooad,n
placed his neck against the leg of the table,
ttillj,
and,
pre-
venting any chance of the wound being ?aft,. apart
drawing towards him a chair which stood.
Wel' supports,
merit, he passed his arm round one of its band
as
of the
thereby insuring equal steadiness offittba was enabled to
neck. By this finesse of arrang
carry out his horrible design
isted, inflict a wound upon
sv i tehmfeatal precision. With
open from ear to ear,
his strength did he, thus asisaid
his throat that the neck
r.szonrlgenetrated to the very bone,
He and the blade of the instant—a ghastly
Inr:snts imbrued in his own and his
He must have died
with his hands and
-arsses of hie murdered wife's hair
victims the instruments of death
victims' blood, ebnisdfitaregers,
still clinging Of the five victims of his demoniacal fury
by his sid"" -vor—his eldest boy—has been carefully
the oleurvi.
tended E lace his escape, and, by the aid of the surgeon,
his dangerous wounds are slowly healing. He is not yet,
however, altogether out of danger, and it is doubtful if
I he will ever sufficiently recover his natural strength.
Toe bodies of the others, with that of the deceased I-I-kr:-
self, were not interred until Tuesday, and a more mourn'•
fra cortege WM never seen in the streets of Lerwick.

LO or -
7,1
•
.Ilowing letter is from Lieut: ±C '. r
.
R .N., Admiralty Agent :
" am sorry to acquaint you ?VI t pis
of the Peninsular and Oriental steam packet AVM, .
on the evening of the 16th inst., on Ceylon, nine
miles To the north of Trincomalee, near Pigeon
Island.
" The Ava left Calcutta on the 10th for Madras, on
our route to Suez, having orders to take in at Mad-
ras some treasure ou Government account, to be
landed at Tiiecomillee. We arrived at Madras on
the 14th at 3.30 p.m. ; and left on the 15th at 4
p.m., for Trincomalee ; 16th, at 4 p.m.onede the
land (Ceylon) on the starboard bow. At 7.30 saw
a steady light, supposed to be Trincomalee. At
the helm was starboarded, with orders to keep
eseints off the land. When the land
- it was then put hard a
engines ; but
before she lost her way after turning astern she
struck and bilged upon a rock on the starboard
side. The engine room was immediately full of
water, and the fires put out. The Admiralty agent
went into the mail room, but was obliged to return,
finding it rapidly filling, and in less than ten
iminutes the deck above the mail room was covered
with water, leaving no chance of recovering the
mails except with the aid of divers. Smooth water, -
and the ship breaking up forward. The weather
at this time, light bee( z-s and cloudy, with much "F:
swell, the ship striking heavily abaft the fun- .:"
nel. The crew were ordered to clear away
boats to laud the passengers, which was quickly
done without any accident. An officer was put in
charge of each boat, and all the ladies and children,
and then the gentlemen, were embarked, with
orders to lie by the ship until daylight. As soon as
the boats had shoved off we commenced getting the
treasure on deck (having on board 500 boxes each
s eiCining 5,000 rupees). At 11.30 the mainmast
we,. t just below the top, taking with it the mizen
topmast.
" 17th.—Weather the same. At daylight found
there was too much surf on the beach to attempt
landing the passengers, therefore despatched the
ladies and children to Trincomalee, where they all
arrived safe. As soon as the surf moderated the
remainder of the gentlemen were put on a rock near
the ship, so that the use of the boats would be
available for saving the mails ankletreasure. At
10.30 observed the ship had ceeeee-Jeeireeebe star-
b card side Porn the gunwale to the water's edge.
The people were immediately ordered up from the
afeer hold and commenced landing the treasure, the
ship working and complaining very much, there
being considerable swell on, but the weather fine.
At 1.30 p.rr. the ship broke in two with a loud
noise, just before the starboard gangway and abaft
the funnel on the port side. Some time before she
parted the boxes, 200 in number, had been removed
for safety further forward, but breaking diagonally
some fell into the opening, leaving 154, which
were safely landed.

" 18th.—Weather the same. At daylight visited
the wreck. Found the afterpart about 20 feet
astern of from where she parted and the remain-
der of the mainmast quite gone, a quantity of
cargo and baggage working out through the open-
ing and floating towards the shore. A party of
the Ceylon Rifles and a body of police sent from
Trincomalee to protect the property ; the wreck
was visited several times during the day, but
nothing further is likely to be saved until the
forepart breaks up. We have tents pitched on
a sandy beach abreast of the wreck. Dutiug the
day it is very hot, but rather cold at night. We
are all well, although almost every article of bed-
ding and wearing apparel has been lost. A great
part of the crew have been sent to Trincomalee,
but the captain and most of the officers, with
myself, remain here, and purpose doing so while
any hopes remain of saving the mails or other
property.

`; When the ship struck, and during the time
when there was any personal danger, the captain's
orders were given with that coolness, and so well
carried out by the officers, as to give coufidenca
and insure safety ; also the chief and second engi-
neers, with the whole of their department, be-
haved most admirably. Any personal exertion on
my part was quite unnecessary, but any suggestion
of mine was immediately attended to.
" 19th and 20th.—Weather the same.
"21st (Sunday).--Went off with the captain
and some divers, hut they would not undertake
any work while the water inside the wreck was
surging so much."

LOSS OF THE _ROSED.ALE, LONDON AND
NEWCASTLE STEAMER.

Yesterday the following report was received at
Lloyd's relative to the total loss of the Rosedale,
screw-steamer, from Loudon to Newcasile, on the
moaning of the Ist inst., on the Long Scaur Rocks,
near Hartlepool. The report is written by Captain
G.
,Wood, the master of the Rosedale, who attested
to the truth of it before the Admiralty Receiver of
Droits at that port :
" We left London on the 30th ult., wiud S.W.,
weather moderate, and at 7 p.m. of the 31st was
off Whitby. In the meanwhile the wind had
changed to the N.E„ blowing hard, with a heavy
sea running. We steamed as far as Sunderland,
when finding from the strong wind and heavy sea
that the ship could not weather Souter Point we
bore away frem Hartlepool, considerinc, it prefer-
able, as a place of shelter, than Sunderland. At
8.13 a.m. of the Ist inst. we rounded Hartlepool
Hough, and steamed for the Hartlepool (old) har-
bour. Between the outer buoys and the channel
two pilots boarded the steamer, and took charge.
They directed her to be backed out, saying she was
not exactly straight for the channel, which orders
were carried out. She was, in consequence, backed
into the heavy sea. The wind was blowing a gale
on the startoard bow, which prevented her coming
to, and she drove away into the middle of the bay,
where the port anchor was let go. While the ship
was driving out, the pilots waved to two steam
tugs, which were coming out of the East Hartle-
pool channel. On their coming close within hail,
I asked the captain of one of them what he would
charge for assisting the steamer into the harbour.
The answer was, lie would make no bargain. In
consequence we hove up the anchor, and attempted
to steam into a more sheltered place, but she only
.drove further up. We again let go the anchor,
and endeavoured, with the aid of steaming, to
prevent it from dragging. Tito steamer was then
about two cables' length of the Long Scaur Rock
astern of us. In about an hour and a half after-
, wards felt the vessel strike the ground. We then
let go the second anchor ; in doing so, the first
mate met with a serious accident. The cable get-
ting entangled, he, in attempting to clear it, got
his arms jammed in the hawsehole, and before he
could be extricated we had to heave the chain back.
The arm was broken, and he was otherwise much
hurt. Iu about a quarter of an hour afterwards
the ship struck again and again, when some part
of the machinery gave way, and at the same time
the vessel broke away from her cables and drove
ou the rocks above alluded to. It was now about
a quarter past 11 o'clock a.m., the gale was blow-
ing furious, and the only chance left was to drive
the ship far on the rocks, for a heavy sea was mak-
ing a complete breach over her, and the crew were
in great danger. To effect this, had the jib hoisted.
While in this condition, the lifeboat belonging to
West Hartlepool, which had put off to our rescue,
succeeded in taking all hands off the ship and
lauded them safe ashore, but the men lost every-
thing they possessed, for the vessel shortly after-
wards went to pieces and became a total wreck.
The ship was insured."
la I

can again
THE NATIVE INDIAN ARMY.—We
neverewe cannot son-
have a military force in India in
fioudre,which we cannot bring ourselves wt to
tiat:
tont
which
ddidoclit
sit
trr
si:
coos
out:: d
of
oeteachescort
r
enemies to fear. The extent
li
.poluinre'ofvjhthilee
troops were in former days ample) ed p.
tdutieshevery was
rigidnessi th
ar.dari:erne.i
ieypi
ions
forms required for a r
, • egeguular duties where self reliance
prompt
n3;t
anant d
nbl
dai gnihdnttbdihaneeespnttcolneri regr, action, are so much more ins-
rnaiiatyie.s of the line, which not unfre-
The duties of defending our
our enemies, and of maintaining
qtruoennttielYreA.":.fnacppressing or detecting crime among the
order an“v;„1, more connexion with each other than this,
people bath
cases physical force must be resorted to ; in
that in b°
boa cases men must have arms committed to their hands
wire authority to use them. Yet for all the great per-
poses of external d-fence half the army until r ow enter-
tAined by us would have sufficed, had the deficiency bees
wade up by police. For this last branch of service the
native must always be fallen back upon. He may be made
much more ugiful even than the European, and quite u
safe. The sepoy mutiny could never have ripened into
insurrection but for the acquaintance of the various
corps with each other, the community of their discipline
and the frequency with which they bad served together.
A. police corps is necessarily a local and an isolated
thing. Were the Ghaut Rangers to fly to arms, there
is no reason whatever why any of the adjoining local
' corps should sympathise, co-operate with, or join them
—very many reasons why it should be the opposite.
The knowledge of the fact is quite sufficient to prevent a
rising. Were it otherwise, we should just have lost the
services of a single insubordinate body, which would be
at once exterminated, and there an eod. With sufficient
abundance of police corps there seems no difficulty
of our keeping India in perpetuity with an army exclu-
sively English, or of maintaining English troops in raea-
_
! sonable good health, fit at all times for service, _ e and
d
without any inordinate amount of casualties, ever/w
ml4l
througklut the country,—Buie's Vreeland
rSkindwa.
.1 •

4

•••-•-)

IER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
JL SEASON 1858.
The approach of another Season lays upon the Direction of
Nor Majesty's Theatre the welcome duty of acknowledging
the continued kindness and confidence by which its friends
Pave never failed to supply a sure guarantee of success, and a
()militant stimulus to new exertions.
The past year was distinguished by events which call for
special recognition.
The gracious selection of Her Majesty's Theatre as the scene
of the Royal Festivities, on the auspicious occasion of the
nuptials of her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, has added
Stew lustre to the historical distinction which the Opera House
has so long enjoyed as the favourite resort of the Court and
aristocracy of Britain.
The Director has again to record his grateful appreciation
of the noble aid munificent encouragement which, after
achieving the re-establishment of the Theatre, has continued,
with discriminating taste, to guide and sustain the efforts
made in each successive year to maintain for the Opera of
London its fitting place among the Musical Institutions of
Europe. That position is now amply recognised in every
Continental capital, and the approving verdict of the audi-
ence of Her Majesty's Theatre is universally accepted as the
hx:ghest testimonial which an artist can produce.
last year has contributed to extend, as well as to elevate
the influences of the establishment, and to exhibit it in the
largest sense as a National Institution. The Subscribers, by
whose Affective encouragement daring the Season the experi-
ment of a supplementary series of popular performances was
Alone rendered possible, will have the gratification of know-
ing that they have not only secured and improved for them.
selves their accustomed recreation, but have been the means
of conferring upon a wider circle the refined enjoyments of
the highest musical art.
The Operatic features of the last season must still be fresh
in the memory of all. Besides other additions to the talent
secured in former years, the resources of the Theatre were
enriched by the acquisition of a tenor whose artistic genius
and unsurpassed sweetness of voice were instantaneously re-
udgment of musical connoissieurs, and by
cognised by the j
the instinctive appreciation of every lover of melody.
The Direction have been fortunate enough to retain the
invaluable aid of Mdlle. Piccolomini, Signor Giuglini, and all
the vocalists who contributed to past successes ; and is able
to announce, iu the approaching debut of Madlle. Titiens,
event which it is believed will distinguish the season of 1858
as the first appearance of Signor Giuglini marked that of
1857.
It is seldom that nature lavishes on one person all the varied
gifts which are needed to form a great soprano. A voice
whose register entitles it to cl Aim this rank is of the rarest
order. The melodious quality and power, which are not less
essential than an extended register, are scarcely more common.
Musical knowledge, executive finish, and perfect intonation
are indispensable ; and to these the prima donna shoul I add
dramatic force and adaptability, and a large measure of per-
sonal grace. mare endowments will not sufficeunless
they are illumined by the fire of genius.
How nearly the high ideal isapproached by Madlle. Titiens,
and how much more nearly it may hereafter be reached under
the same genial encouragement which has developed the
powers of so many aspirants, the friends of the opera will
have an early opposite ity of judging.
The Director has again the satisfaction of expressing his
slicers gratitude to ell his artistic friends within the theatre,
for the unfailing zeal and devotion which have enabled him
to record the completion of another season without a single
deviation from the performances announced.
The performances will commence immediately after Easter
with the debut of Madlle. Titiens, and Signor Giuglini's first
appearance here in Meyerbeer's grand opera of " Gli Ugo-
notti," on the preparation of which the utmost efforts have
been bestowed to make it in every way worthy of the
occasion. At an early period Verdi's Opera of " Luisa Miller"
will be given for the first time in this country, when Madlle.
Piccolomini will sustain the part of the heroine.
The English School of Composition will be represented by
"La Zingara "of Balfe. The repertoire will be selected from
the works of Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Donizetti, Bellini, in
which Idadlles. Piccolomoni, Spezia, Ortolani, and Signori
Giuglini, Belart, Belletti, Vialetti, and ethers have won the
appreciation of the subscribers.
The Ballet will be supported by Madlle. Pocchini (for whom
a New Ballet has been expressly composed, to be produced
early in the season), by Madlle. Marie Taglioni, Madlle. Bos.
chetti, Madame Rosati, and other favourites, and by Madlle.
Orsini, who will make her first appearance early in the Sea-
son.
Each performance will be made as effective as possible, and
the Director hopes, by unceasing exertions, to meet the con-
tinued confidence of the subscribers and the public.
oast.
Maxine. THERESA TITIENS

(Principal soprano of the Im-
perial Opera, Vienna),
Madlle.
Madlle. ogroLANI,
Madlle. LUCIONI
(Of the Scala, Milan, and prin-
cipal Theatres of Italy, her
first appearance),
Madame GHIONI
(Of the principal Theatres of
Italy, her first appearance),
bfadlle. SON DI NA,
Madlle. GRAMAGLIA,
Madame ALBONI, and
Madlle. PICCOLOMINI.

Signor GIUGLINI,
Signor BELART,
Signor MATTIOLI

(Of La Scala, Milan ; Teatro
Regio, Turin ; and Royal
Theatre, Madrid, his first
appearance),
Signor BENEVENTANO,
Signor ROSSI.
Signor ALDIGHIERI,
Signor MERCURIALI,
Signor CASTELLI,
Signor VIALETTI,
and
Signor BELLETTI.

DIRECTORS OF THE MUSIC AND CONDUCTORS. —The ability shown
by Signer ARDITI, engaged during the past successful Winter
Performances, has induced the Direction to retain his valu-
able services ; and Signor BONETTI, whose talented exer-
tions hare given general satisfaction, has been re-engaged, and
will arrive immediately after the termination of the Italian
Opera Season at Paris,

BALLET.

Ma,dlle. POCCHINI,
Madße. ANETTA ORSINI

Madlle. MORLACCHI,
Madlle. BOSCHETTI,

(of La Fenice, 'Venice, her first I Madlle. MARIE TAGLIONI,
appearance in England), and Mine. ROSATI.

--Madlle. ROLLA,
Madlle. ERNESTINA 810-

M. DURAND,
M. ALFRED CARON

(of the Academie Imperiale,
Paris, his first appearance).

LETTI•
(her first appearance),
Madlle. PASQUALE.
The Corps de Ballet will be composed of Pupils of the
School of Instruction and others selected with care.
Director of the School of Instruction and Maitre

de Ballet
Regisseur de la Danse M. PETIT.
Leader of the Ballet M. NADAUD,

An engagement has also been effected with the eminen.
Maitre de Ballet, Signor ROTA.

The Repertoire hill consist of a selection from the Works
of Meyerbeer, Bellini, Verdi, Donizetti, Rossini, and Mozart.
The first work t) be produced will be (first time at this
theatre) Meyerbeer's Grand Opera of LES HUGUENOTS,
which has been for a long time in active preparation,
and will be produced on a scale and with an effect worthy of
this great work. The minor, as well as the principal parts,
will be effectively filled. The Scenery has been prepared with
great care. The First Act will comprise a scene, drawn from
nature, on the picturesque banks of the Loire, the locality of
the action. The other scenes will present features of great
interest. The Dresses will be historically correct.
Shortly afterwards will be produced (first time at this
theatre) Verdi's Opera of LUISA MILLER, the Libretto
foultded on the celebllated Drama of Schiller, "Cabals mad
Liebe."

OtheoNovelties are in contemplation, and the engagement
of Madlle. Titiens will enable the direction to resume several
works that have not been given for years.
To afford the subscribers the opportunity of hearing the
work of the popular Engli II composer, gaffe's Opera of LA
ZING&RA will be presented some time during the season.
Signer Giuglini will resume the part of Thaddeus, already
sustained by him with such decided success. He will also re-
appear in all the principal par's in which be has been so
favourably received by the subscribers and the public.
Madlle. T tiens has arrived, and will make her first ap-
pearance in this country at the opening of the Theatre, as
Valentine, in Meycrbeer's Opera of THE HUGUENOTS.
Sigr. Giuglini will also, for the first time at this Theatre, ap-
pear in the character of Raoul de Nangis ; Madlle. Ortolani
will appear in the part of the Queen of Navarre ; Madlle.
Lncioni as the Page ; Sigr. Vialetti as Marcel; Sigr.
Aldighieri as Nevers ; and Sigr. Belletti as St. Bris.
Madlle. Piccolonaini will make her appearance in April in
one of her favourite parts, and afterwards in a part in which
she had the greatest success in Italy, LUISA MILLER.
Later in the season Madlle. Spezia will appear in one of her
favourite dramatic parts.
Madame Alboni will arrive early in May.
Sigr. Belart will arrive on the 10th April, at the close of
his successful engagement at the Italian Opera, Paris.
A new Ballet, by M. Massot, is in active preparation, is
which Madlle. Pocehini, who has arrived in London, will ap-
pear, entitled FLEUR DES CHAMP.
The general favourite, Madlle. Marie Taglioni, will arrive
early in May, and will appear in a new Ballet Divertissement
composed expressly for her.
Madle. Orsini will make her debut immediately on tho
opening of the Theatre, in a new Divertissement.
A new Ballet Divertissement will also be produced for the
first appearance of Madlle. Boschetti.
The Subscription will consist of Thirty Nights, and tho
terms will be as follows :
Pit Boxes..
Grand Tier
One Pair .
Two Pair .
Pit Stalls .

150 Guineas.
~ 2JO „
~ 150 „
~ 100 „
25 „

The THEATRE will OPEN immediately AFTER EASTER,
when will be produced, first time at this Theatre, Meyer
beer's Opera of
LES HUGUENOTS

(Gli Ugonotti).
Valentine
The Queen of Navarre
The Page Madlle. LUCIONI.
Raoul de Nangis Signor GIUGLINI.
Marcel
Count of ?levers
Count of St. Bris
Conductor, Signor ADRITI.
With scenery, entirely new and original, by Mr. Marshall ;
tresses, entirely new and taken from the best authorities, by
Madame Copere, and executed by M. Laureys and Mrs.
Masterman ; principal machinist, Mr. Sloman ; head of the
property depactment Mr. Bradwell ; the mise-en-scene and.
incidental ballet, by M. Massot.
DESCRIPTION OF TILE SCENERY.—Act I. Scene Ist.—Tou-
rain.—Saloon in the Castle of the Count de Severs. This
Scene has been composed in the Renaissance style, age of
Francis I. Scene 2d.—Park and Castle of Chenoueeau, com-
posed from Sketches made in the vicinity of Auboise. Act
Paris—The PrC-aux Clercs and View of Paris in 1572, from
the Etchings of S. Silvestre. Act 111. Paris—The Castle of
de Nevers-- Interior. French Gothic style, with Renais
saince enrichments. Act IV. Paris—Chapel of the Hugue•
gs of S. Silvestre.
note—A Quartier of Paris, from the Etehin

TIIEA.TRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee—Mr. J. B. Buekstone.
THIS EVENING, April 6, will be performed AN
UNEQUAL MATCH. Characters by Messrs. Buekstone,
Chipendale, Compton, W. Farren Rogers Clark, and Miss
A. Sedgwick, Mrs, B. White, Miss Lavine;and Mrs. J. Fitz-
william.

After which a Classical Extravaganza, entitled PLUTO
AND PROSERPINE.
Concluding with MY HUSBAND'S GHOST,
Orchestra Stalls (which may be retained the whole of the
evening). 6s. each. (No charge for booking.)
First Price. s. d. Second price, s. d.
Dress Boxes 5 0 Dress 80xe5,......,... 3 0
Upper Boxes
3 0 Upper Boxes ............... 2
Pit 2 0 Pit 1 -0
. 1 OiGallery 0 -6
Commence it Seven. •