The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-30 00:00:00

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

, The theatre-loving public has for some years past been
aware of the existence of a Sir William Don, a real bona
fide possessor of the bloody hand of baronetage, who has
adopted the calling of a low comedian ; and with no attempt
at pseudonym, has been " starring" in the full honours of
his rank at colonial and provincial theatres, and even at
some of those far-off homes of the drama, which, though
well managed and lucrative, but rarely come into the regu-
ar critical ken. Last night, however, this gentleman made
his appearance at the Haymarket Theatre, playing the part
of John Small, in Mr. Maddison Morton's broad farce of
" Whitebait at Greenwich." John Kemble's criticism on
the tragedian who came up from the provinces to supersede
him with a London audience---" Well, sir, he is a very tall
young man I"—may, without the least question, be applied
to Sir William Don, who stands about six feet four inches
in height; his face, when " made up" theatrically, is gro-
tesquely telling, reminding one much of the late Mr. Liston,
and he uses every effort, legitimate and illegitimate, to ex-
tort the mirth of his audience. But granted all the fun of
imitating Buckstone, of talking about his size, and of
gagging in word and gesture whenever there was a chance
the rqsult urrived at is, that .Sir William Don is no more
than a smart amateur, whose physical endowments stand
him in good stead, but who has not the mental qualifica-
tion necessary to become a tolerable actor.

The Count and Countess de Flahault and Miss
Elphinstone de Flahault are expected at Coventry House,
in a few days, from their seat in Scotland.

The Hon. W. E. Duncombe, M.P., and Mrs.
Duneombe have arrived at Farrance's Hotel, Belgravia,
from their seat in Yorkshire.

The Earl and Countess of Ellesmere arrived at
Bridgewater House last evening, from Hatchfoill House,
near Cobham, Surrey.

The Earl and Countess Craven and family will
come to town on Thursday from Ashdown Park, Berks.
The Earl of Shelburne arrived at Lansdowne

souse, last evening, from Bowood.

Frances Countess of Waldegrave and Mr. Har-
court, M.P., will leave Strawber.ry Hill in a few days, for
Newnham Park, Oxfordshire.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mrs.
Disraeli have returned to Grosvenor Gate, from a visit to
Baron and Baroness M. de Rothschild, at Mentmore,
Bucks.

' Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston have ar-
rived at Cambridge House from Broadlauds.

Lord and Lady Colchester arrived at their resi-
dence in Berkeley-square, last evening, from Brighton.

DEATH OF MR. HARVEY COMBE.—The Sheffield
Daily Telegraph says :—We regret to have to annpunce the
death of this well-known sportsman, which took place on
the 22d instant at his residence at Cobham. Mr. Combe,
:who was in the 74th year of his age, was the head of the
great brewing firm of Combe and Delafield.

DEATH OF THE MARCHIONESS OF HASTINGS.-
Intelligence was received on Wednesday of the death of
the Marchioness of Hastings. This event took place at
Rome, whither the Marchioness had just gone from Malta
5o see her son, the young Marquis, who was ill. She was
;eized with apoplexy, and expired after half-an-hour's
ilness.

A RACE JUDGE'S DUTY.—Mr. J. F. Clark, the
race judge, has in his wanderings this year decided 550
races, for which 3,373 horses ran. Of these races 18 were
dead heats, 85 were won by heads, and 55 by necks.—
Sunday Times.

PENINSULAR MAILS.—The Peninsular and North
African Steam Navigation Company's steamer Warrior,
Capt. Cooper, leaves London on the Ist of December, carry-
ing a ship-letter mail for Lisbon, Cadiz, Mogador, and
Canary Islands, and is in correspandence for mails and pas-
sengers with another of this company's powerful steamers
plying regularly between -Lisbon and Madeira. Letters
will be in time, if posted by 11 o'clock a.m. on the morning
of the Ist of December, addressed outside " per steamer
Warrior,"