The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-24 00:00:00

Drury Lane Theatre.

The winter season of this theatre, now under
the sole management and direction of Mr. F.
B. Chatterton, commenced most auspiciously on
Saturday evening. During the recess the whole
of the interior has been thoroughly renovated,
and the house now presents an appearance of
the utmost splendour. The emnpany secured by
the manager is remarkably strong, and embraces
the names of Mr. Phelps, Mr. Barry Sullivan, Mr.
Swinbourne, Mr. T. Powrie (from Edinburgh), Mr.
H. Talbot (from the provinces), the brothers Webb,
Miss Helen Faucit, and Mrs. Hermann Vezin, for
dramatic performances, and Mr. H. Drayton,
Mdlle. Jenny Baur, Miss Poole, and, we believe,
Mr. Sims Reevesfor ballad opera. Such a combina-
tion of talent at once shows the determination of
Mr. Chatterton to carry on his season with the utmost
spirit, and from the overflowing state of the house on
the opening night we augur confidently with complete
and perfect success. The entertainments selected
for the inauguration of the season were Shakspere's
tragedy of " King John" and the " Comedy of
Errors," in the former of which two important altera-
tions in the cast have taken place since its revival
at the termination of last season. Mr. Barry Sulli-
van, in place of Mr. Anderson, sustains the part of
Falconbridge, and Mrs. Hermann Vezin succeeds.
Miss Atkinson in that of Constance.. The imper-
sonation of the character 'of King John by Mr.
Phelps is too well known and too highly appreciated
to need any comment further than to say that on
Saturday evening it was given with that mas-
terly elocutionary power that has placed Mr.
Phelps at the head of the dramatic
profession. Mr. Barry Sullivan's Falconbridgewas
a praiseworthy performance. Many of his objec-
tionable mannerisms have been toned down by his
visit to Australia, and although his portrayal of the
part lacked that dignity and polish with which the
late Charles Kemble invested it, yet it was played
with a spirit and judgment that calls for the highest
praise. Few, we believe, were prepared for the great
performance of Mrs. 11. Vezin as Constance. Every
one was quite certain that the character would be
given with touching pathos and tenderness, but the
grand bursts of passion that take place in the third
act came upon the audience with such surprise as to
elicit a perfect hurricane of applause. The closing
speech, however, perfectly carried the audience
away, and applause succeeded applause only to be
renewed with tenfold vigour. It was a perfect
triumph of dramatic art, and before the action of
the tragedy was allowed to proceed, Mrs. Vezin had
to re-appear and bow her thanks for the universal
applause her splendid acting had called forth. Mr.
Swinbourne, as Hubert, also came in for great
honours, and Master Percy Roselle, as Prince
Arthur, divided with him the giant's share of the
applause bestowed on the fourth act. The other
characters were all very effectively given, and
the scenery, dresses, and picturesque group-
ing made the representation of the tragedy
one of the best ever placed upon the
stage. At the conclusion of the tragedy the
applause was extraordinary, and to comply with the
repeated calls Mr. Chatterton had to appear and
personally acknowledge the hearty manifestations
for his success in his new character as sole lessee
and manager. The National Anthem was succeeded
by the " Comedy of Errors," in which the Brothers
Charles and Henry Webb appeared as the two
Dromios, and the peculiar resemblance they bore to
each other rendered their performance amusing in
the highest degree.

We congratulate Mr. Chatterton on the prosperous
commencement of his season, and wish him a con-
tinuance of it to its close.

"RACHEL'S SECRET." By the Anther of "The
Master of Marton.", 3 Volumes.—" Whoever takes uP
the first of these delightful volumes is sure to read them
all, and to retire from their perusal with a pleasing remem-
brance of a deeply interesting story, artistically and power-
fully wrought. The style of the work is perspicuous
exceedingly, characterised by scholarly accuracy, rhetori-
cal taste, and genius for description of no common order.
The reader will not have to travel far in the first volume
without meeting with some of the most delightful delinea-
tions of scenery, individuals, and incidents. There are
few writers who have equalled in descriptive talent the
author of ' Rachel's Secret.' "—Morning Post.
EXPLORATION OF A GROTTO IN THE ALPS.-011
the flank of the Maritime Alps, near the village Of
Castiglione, has long been known an opening in the face
of the rock, giving entrance to a vast grotto. To approach
this there was no road or path, and yet it showed evident
traces that the hand of man had modified the work of
nature. Some short time since three Englishmen deter-
mined to make an attempt at exploring it, and, taking ad;
vantge of the fissures and projections of the rock, one e.`
them reached the.opening, and, lowering a cord, assisted
the two others to mount. In the middle of the grotto
they found a large circular hole, and one of
them, attaching the rope to himself, descended. At the
depth of about 40 yards he landed in another largo nave'
but, as in the former case, with the circular aperture in the
centre. Determined to continue his exploring, be n'ae
obliged to get one of his friends to descend to the second
cave to lower him to the third, which being done, he found
at a depth of about 60 yards a repetition of the circuna-
stances, but was prevented from descending any farther, a°
the cord was not long enough, and they then returned in
the same manner to their companion in the first grotto
This cavern is supposed to have served as a resting Plec:
to the hordes of Saracens who in remote ages ravaged the
Mediterranean coasts.

AN ACTOR STABBING HIMSELF ON THE STAGE'
—During the performance of the drama of "The Green
Hills of the Far West," at Middlesbro' theatre, leSt
week, one of the performers, named Edwin Harris, 51
tamed a severe injury. He imp ersonated the character°
Jonathan Marston, the villain of tho piece, and whilst 'II
the act of stabbing himself at the close of the drama tbd°
knife accidentally entered the upper part of his thigh, a°
inflicted a deep gash. He is in a very precarious stole'
symptoms of inflammation having shown themselves.
LETTERS, &C., FOR AUSTRlA.—lnformation
been received from the Austrian Post-office that the post
communication with Austria, via Belgium and Pruselit''
which was interrupted during the late war, has now Well
re-established, and, consequently, letters, newspai3e,rt
printed papers and patterns or samples of mercliaedll,
addressed to the Austrian Provinces or the City of ,
grade, or to the places in Turkey, Moldavia, Wallacnig'
or the Levant, at which Austria maintains post--efliceE
will no longer be forwarded exclusively by the route II
France, but will be sent according to the regulations
force previous to June last.—By command of the ros
master-General.—General Post-office, Sept. 24, 1866. i,
The trade in roses, as is well known, is of c°/:.13,4
derable importance in France. Rose trees are cultiVa"r..
in different parts of the country in open fields, just as tuo
nips or cabbages. Thus, there are 500,000 rose trees Ile's;
Orleans ; 200,000 near Metz ; -1,000,000 near A3°01.00
1,500,000 near Lyons; 2,000,000 near Paris ; and 2,0001 • s
in the 13 communes of Brie-Comte-Robert. The variettl:ll
called Rose-The, the Bourbon, and Maosseusr, get°
particularly in the environs of Paris and Orleans.
~01315
THE REVENUE RETURNS.—We have goeu re-- t
for anticipating that the revenue returns for the quit
which will terminate next Sunday will show an 10c1000
of more than half a million as compared with those °f
correspanding quarter of 1865. The fact is eminently A'1.1.11
factory, for though our present rate of taxation is °e col-
the same as it was last year, some of the income t° ;so
lected in the quarter referred to was upon the higherot,
do
of duty in existence up to April of that year. N° Dot
coming returns will show a diminution under this het"
it will not be as large as we might have expected' t
item of stamps, of course, will be affected by the 614 :V°
commercial affairs, and under this head we shell 04
find a falling off. But, as we may gather from the 1/11°LisI
of Trade returns, the customs will exhibit a silbt6;inon•
increase, probably not far short of a quarter of A 010,
The excise, not yet affected by the bad harvest, Wu to
no doubt, show an increased yield, quite neutralisingettg
falling off in the income-tax. The item of miscellons uvis
will, too, be much more than usually prolific, and, excess
have said, the net increase will be substantially in half-
of half a million. The state of the accounts for theti;oo
year and year can scarcely be expected to be so fav°.,,,lts of
in proportion, as they are affected by the reduc,tvectod,
taxation made in April, 1865, which, it will be reeot 000
Mr. Gladstone expected would have a material effe.ci year.
the yield of the present as well as of the last finaucis
—Sunday Gazette.

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