The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-19 00:00:00

GALLERY OF ILLUSTRATION.

Notwithstanding the great success that still at-
tends the present entertainment given by Mr. and
Mrs. German Reed (late Miss P. Horton), we hear
it is shortly to be withdrawn, in order that new
illustrations, now in course of active preparation,
may be produced. To such of our readers who have
not yet visited this attractive entertainment, we
can cordially recommend it. From beginning to
end the effect produced on the audience by Mr. and
Mrs. Reed is one continuous burst of joyousness,
and it may be truly said that seldom or ever is
heard, at any entertainment of an elegant descrip-
tion like this, such ceaseless merriment. Although
thousands may by this time have made the ac-
quaintance of "Mrs. Myrtle" and "Sir John
Quill," yet the good old lady still wel-
comes all her visitors with that cordiality
and warmth which distinguished her first ap-
pearance, and " Sir John" still preserves all
his personal attractions despite the number of
hearts he has captured. Mrs. Reed's singing of
itself would be sufficient to draw the lovers of pure
melody to her entertainment, but combined with
her rapid changes of costume and the skilful ac-
companiments of her husband, a fund of amuse-
ments is produced without parallel in London.
Since Mr. Reed has become the lessee of the
Gallery various improvements have been
adopted, with the happiest effect. The
mode of lighting the magnificent salle is
chaste and brilliant. A succession of stars
of extreme brilliancy are inserted in the crown of
the central roof, by which means an effect novel and
beautiful is produced, and the ventilation rendered
unexceptionable. Another great improvement
introduced is that of an elegant boudoir set
apart for the use of ladies, with female atten-
dants, who are strictly prohibited from taking any
gratuity whatever. Feet-warmers have been
provided for the occupants of the stalls, while
every attention is bestowed on the visitors to the
other parts of this elegant place of amusement, once
the residence, and considered the chef d'oeuvre, of
one of our greatest architects.

Messrs. Reade and Tom Taylor's comedy of " Masks
and Faces" was produced last evening, at the Colchester
Theatre, with great success, by Mrs. Seymour's little
company. Mrs. Seymour sustained the part of Peg
Woffington with great skill ; and a word of praise is also
due to Messrs. Shalders, Hurlstone, and Robertson—
in fact, the whole of the company—for the admirable
manner they sustained their respective characters.
WINDSOR, Thursday.—The anniversary of the birth
day of her Royal Highness the Princess Louisa, who
this day completed her tenth year, was celebrated here
with the customary honours paid to the members of the
royal family.
Sir Maurice Berkeley, K.C.8., had an interview with
the Right lion. J, W. Henley, yesterday, at the Board
of Trade, and presented a petition from the landowners
and mercbants in the neighbourhood of Portsmouth, for
the improvement of the entrance to the Longton Har-
bour.
A deputation on the subject of Hampstead-heath had
an interview with Lord John Manners yesterday at the
Office of Works in Whitehall-place. The deputation
consisted of Mr. Turner, Mr. Gurney Hoare, Mr. Pryor,
Mr. D. Powell, Mr. Le Breton, Mr. Douglas, and Mr.
Sudlow, Parliamentary agent.
THE MAGISTRACY.—The Lord Chancellor has declined
to confirm the appointment of a gentleman to the Wol-
verhampton bench of magistrates, on the ground that an
office which he held—that of poor-law auditor—was
incompatible with that of a justice of the peace.
HOLYHEAD NEW MAIL SERVICE.—The new packets
to be provided for the improved mail service between
Holyhead and Dublin are to be four in number, and
each vessel is not to be less than 300 feet in length and
of 1,700 tons measurement, The contract has actually
been taken for vessels of 2,000 tons and 700-horse
power, the speed to be superior that of the Queen's
yacht, the Victoria and Albert-174 knots an hour.
The voyages are to be four daily—viz., two from each
port. Messrs. Laird, of Liverpool, build two, and Mr.
Samunda, of Blackwell, the other two, and it is expected
that the communication between London and Dublin
will be reduced to 11 hours.
METROPOLITAN DRAlNAGE.—Parliament has ordered
the publication of a letter from the Metropolitan Board
of Works to Sir B. Hall, Bart., the late President of the
Board of Works, containing objections to the plan for
the main drainage of the metropolis suggested in the
report of the referee?, as also a letter from the latter in
reply to those objections. This correspondence took
place in October and November, and the particulars are
already known to the public. A second paper ordered to
be printed by the Lower House of Parliament on the 4th
ult., contains copies of a communication from the Metro-
politan Board of Works to the First Commissioner of her
Majesty's Works, requesting further information
relative to the plan of drainage suggested in the
report of the 31st of July, 1857, of Captain D.
Gelton, Mr. Simpson, and Mr. Blackwell, the three
referees. There is also a letter from the referees
to the late First Commissioner 'euppliag the required
additional information, dated the 7th of January, 1858,
This information, as it is supplied in the form of dia-
grams, geological maps, and a mathematical analysis
(by Mr. Pole) of the laws which govern the flow of water
in tidal channels, is obviou-ly not adapted to the under-
standing of the general public. Until the admission of
the main principle of the referees plan—the removal of
the largest possible portion of the sewage by gravitition
alone, without recourse to artificial means—the referees
decline to furnish any further details respecting interceptt-
ing sewers within the metropolis.
CHARGE OF DRUNKENNESS AGAINST A CLERGYMAN.--
A commission, directed by the Lord Bishop of Lichfield,
sat at the Town-hall, Ellesmere, to inquire into charges
preferred against the Rev. David Bards, perpetual curate
of Dudleston, of being drunk at a lecture and prayer
meeting on the 16th Dec. last, and also during the hours
of Divine service, in the parish church r f Dudleston, on
Sunday morning, the 20th Dec. Mr. R. Morrall, one of
the churchwardens of Dudleston, said that on the 20th
December he perceived, immediately after the beginning
of the service, that Mr. Birds was in liquor, from his
slow and drawling mode of reading, and the mistakes he
made—the fret in omitting seven or eight verses of the
second lesson (20th Acts) ; 2d, omitting the collect for
peace ; 3d, the exhortation to the holy communion for
Christmas-day, whereby many were kept away ; and 4th,
after giving out for his text the 28th and 29. h verses of the
sth chapter of St. John, he only read one verse and four
words of the eecond, omitting the material part. On leaving
church he had some conversation withhim, whendefendaut
stated that he was ill, suffering from a bil ous attack, but
admitted that he had taken a little brandy and water,
under the advice of his medical attendant. In cross-
examination it was shown that Mr. Birds lived nearly
four miles from the clime), and had to walk there and
back every Sunday, taking his meals at the Griffin Inn
on Sendays. Some other evidence, medical and other-
wise, was (given. The commissioners then held a con-
sul'ation, and in about half an hour, the public being
again admitted, Archdeacon Allen read the following
decision :—" We, the commissioners appointed by the
Bishop of Lichfield, having heard the evidence against
the Rev. David Birds, and the further evidence adduced
f ,r the defence, are unanimouily of opinion-le, that
the case has been brought forward properly ; 2d, that as
the medical evidenc3 distinctly states that what was ob-
served might have been the consequence of infirm bodily
health, of which infirm health there is unquestionable
evidence from other sources, there is not sufficient
foundation in regard to either of the charges for institu-
ting further proceedings." This announcement was re-
ceived with loud appleuse by a crowded unit Aft-r a
few ob.iervations by Mr. Smallwood and the Rev. C. 0.
Konyou, the proceedings terna:nated.—Eciclow:3 ,Shems-
ibuey Juuenal.
EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE.--. 4. sailor while busily \
en-
gaged on the maintopgallautyard of the ship Endynoion,
in
twti_i:ht; t
i:tvt ozawkiuttnaaes
pas able
blederouoscp.
kakwev, Liverpool, on Wednesday, missed
this footing, and fell from a height of upwards of 120
tere;:zal:e.fort,uanoardteullyarfyell on the side of a boat, which
to upwards,
is fall, aomnn his life, f
home, otherwise
oottthfhhueeturhs
giwedhiesdseeocufkn the
considerablyhn houses.jeubr
oedat.
escape has scaicely ever been