The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-31 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE 711EA7RE.

Lord Lytton's delightful play, the " Lady of
Lyons," is the great attraction at Drury-lane
during the present week. Mrs. Vezin is much
more at home iu such parts as Pauline than
Lady Macbeth, her performance of the proud
yet loving beauty of Lyons being one of
great artistic excellence. Mr. B. Sullivau's Claude
is highly effective, and Mr. Ryder's Colonel
Damas is a vigorous and hearty perform-
ance. The play each time of its representation has
drawn crowded houses. On Saturday next the new
romantic play of the " Doge of Venice" is to be
brought out, and will be one one of those spectacular
works, on a grand scale, which, in accordance with
the established practice of the present manager, are
produced every autumn at Drury Lane. It is based ou
Lord Byron's tragedy " MarinoFaliero," and ampli-
fied with additions from the " Marino" of Casimir
Delavigne. Beverley, of course, contributes the
magic of his pencil, and the illustrative music is
taken from the " Marino" of Donizetti, whose book
was founded on Delavigne's play. The dramatic
adapter is the experienced veteran, Mr. W. Baylo
Bernard.

THE ABYSSINIAN CAPTIVES.

,p.----

The following letter from Mr. Rassam has been
forwarded to us for publication :
Magdala, Sept. 7.
"My dear Your kind and welcome note of
the 2d of March was nearly Rye months on its waY
here. Where the delay took place I cannot make
out. Our affairs are sadly neglected at Massowallt
and it appears that our agent there has been attend-
ing to any other matter save the wretched Abys4
sinian captives. Ever since we were sent as pri-
soners to this place in July, 1866, I have been send-
ing regularly a monthly post, and sometimes
despatched extra couriers when I had anything il'''.
portant to communicate. You will all be sorry t°
learn that myself and party are nigh starving,
owing to the mismanagement of those who have to
do with our affair at Massowah. I have repeatedly
written for money, but my messengers are sent back
with the same story, that Colonel Merewether had
given orders that no money was to be sent to me elc-
cepting via Matermua. The road between that place
and Magdala has been quite blocked up, partly by
the rains and partly by the rebels, and there is no
more chance of our obtaining money thence than
from Timbuctoo. I have warned them over and
over again not to trust to that route, but as we have
always been successful through the Tigree and
Lasta road, I begged that money should be sent to
us constantly by that way ; but my advice was not
listened to, hence this difficulty. Only God knows
what will happen to us in case we do not get all
succour from the coast for five or six weeks longer.

i 4 The rebellion has now become general all over
Abyssinia, the few districts between the Royal camp
at Dabrataboor and this place have thrown off
their allegiance to King Theodorus, and consequently
they have closed the roads against all travellers, and
have succeeded so far as to prevent public commu-
nication from taking place between Dabrataboor
and Magdala. For the last four months the Emperor
has only communicated three times with this place,
and even then he was obliged to employ a servant
of one of the native prisoners in order that he might
not be recognised. Our Royal friend is now beeeln"
ing desperate, and consequently he spares neither
male nor female if any of the rebels happen to fall
into his hands ; the rebels, on the other hand, imi-
tate the practice of their late master by butcher-
ing any person found outside the hedge which is
now built outside the Royal camp. I have only
been able to communicate with Mr. Flad at Dabra-
taboor since his return. Every time I tried to send
a messenger they were plundered, but the letters
they have always managed to save. The carnage
which takes place daily in the Royal camp front
famine, pestilence, and the sword is quite terrifying.
2,500 men who had intended to run away were
butchered like sheep, and 295 chiefs were starved to
death, after they had their arms and feet cut effl
for the same reason. For two whole days, from
morning till evening, nothing was heard but reports
of musketry, and at each discharge either the wife;
mother, or child of a deserter was killed. Ladies 0'
noble families were tortured to death, and the poor
creatures breathed their last under most frightfw",
agony. Men are now held responsible for the deser"
tion of their brothers-in-law, sons-in-law,or fathers'
in-law, as they are expected to know the movements
of their marriage relations. Between 40 and 50
persons die daily of different diseases.
" Some one has told the Emperor that if be per:
sisted in keeping me and my fellow-prisoners in 015
country England would be compelled to fight hae.i
' Let them come,' said he, and call me a woman
Ido not beat them.' You will all be glad to knot'
that his Majesty still treats me with consideration
and mock friendship, and he never fails to send rd°
polite messages, and orders the authorities of this
place to be kind to me and to come and see 111,°
often. Mr. Flad tells me that in the beginulit
of last month the Emperor ordered some s'Or'i
to be presented to deserving officers that shove
good service in the field. A sword which was Pre,
sented to me by his Majesty before my incarcerat'°3
was brought out with the rest intended for preserall
tion, and on seeing it he said to the officer in charge °f
the arms, Take care of that sword, it is the property
of Alr.Rassam, whom I have chained only because
had listened to instigators. I shall bring Ilia' to,
gether with them' (my European fellow-prisoners/
and release him and give him his property.' He butt
keep my sword for the sake of old friendship, "",
there is no more chance of his letting us out Without
coercion from without than to fly up to the ine°ll;
lie sent me a letter the other day wherein he called
me a friend and a brother, and assured me the 011 i
thing he wished in the world was the friendship
my Queen and that of myself. The chiefs of t'ito
mountain are still as kind to me as ever. 13e!°.eh
the rains began they enlarged my courtyard, Yiul e
enabled me to make a nice garden around
my r-
which has been built anew by the chiefs of this lel
tress. It is considered the p I halr°rettiest house there
and
the most comfortable. In front of the door to
erected a nice arbour, covered over with tolis
plants. We have had a great deal of sickness on .eh
mountain for the last three months, from 'will
beeli
nearly one-third of the native prisoners ha"f an
r
carried off. I thank God not only that none -f it
people have been infected by the epidemic, but

has not even touched our quarter. cu
" Our rainy season will be over in ten (133'01 lv
ago
we fear the Emperor will begin to make a Illy
towards this place. If he continues to behave eivi
towards me we might have a little quiet, 11 iye
begins to bully me woe betide us. However, ly
such a great faith in the mercies of our
Father that I feel sanguine that everythi4
yet end well and to the honour of England.
_nil,
" I hope that you are all enjoying perfect cbe,lti,
and with kind love to your husband and your
dren,—l remain, as ever, your affectionate frieo":l
" IlAsSAg•'

_ —_—
THE HILLSBOROUGH DEMON ta"STEATION.---1°1:,;
FAST, Wednesday.—The Ulster great Prote,
demonstration
was held ii.t Hillsborough to-day. rf
IL,erut
were no processions or display of party emblems. t'''''. 0
6,000 persons were in the fields, and their conduct W. 1.,
most orderly. The Marquis of Downshire took the eht:rias
Lord Roden was present. The Earl of Enniskillen e. 10,- tfi
prevented from attending through illness. R` fend
were unanimously passed pledging the meeting t° de
the Church Establishment.