The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-08 00:00:00

IHE SON, Will ON, MONDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 8, 1866,

saved a great deal of loss and annoyance. To-day
the formalities for handing over Venetia to General
LEBCE.UF will commence, and they this week will
witness an important era in the history of Europe.
Hungary will be the bete noire of the Vienna Gover-
mont, and in respect to its relations with that country
they have shown themselves most ignorant and in-
competent. Nothing can eradicate from their
minds the desire to be absolute in their policy
instead of proceeding in company with the spirit'
of the age. The recent complications of the war
render it more than ever difficult to rule Hungary
after the old fashion, and the question is, can or
will the Imperial Government adopt another and a
better course? Hungary will no doubt seek to obtain
a totally separate Government of 'its own, and to
this the EMPEROR is not likely to agree ; then, again,
some have proposed a middle course to be taken,
and this might eventually prove the safest means of
settling the knotty point, but then difficulties pre-
sent themselves to this. It is to be hoped, ere it is
too late, that the Vienna Government will not fall
into the fatal error of resorting to force should per-
suasion fail. It will not be a real triumph if the
power of Austria be again arrested by the success of
an appeal to arms, and we trust that more wisdom
will have been gained in the high places of Vienna
than permit so suicidal a step to be taken, for it may
prove the beginning of the end respecting Austrian
power in Europe.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Sunday Evening.

The Moniteur states that a treaty of commerce
and navigation between Italy and Japan was signed
at Yeddo on the 25th of August last. This treaty
is to come into operation on the Ist of January,
1367.

On the proposition of M. Armand Behir, Minis-
ter of Commerce and Public Works, a decree has
been issued, which, after stating that the cattle
disease is nearly extinct in Belgium, is rapidly on
the decrease in England, but still prevails with a
certain intensity in the Netherlands, cattle from
England, with certain exceptions, from the Nether-
lands and froth Belgium, may be freely admitted
into all the ports of France.
The Seine has completely returned; to its bed
and the Loire and other rivers which have created
such serious disasters are also rapidly retiring to
their accustomed position. The total amount of
the subscriptions is now 392,814 f.
After being invisible for some eight or ten days
the sun has reappeared and has shone brightly all
day. The weather is again splendid and warm.
There is a report in political circles in Paris, which,
upon inquiry, I believe to be well founded, that the
Chambers will assemble this year about three weeks
earlier than usual, viz., in the middle of December.
The many important events that have arisen, and
which will require consideration, also strengthen the
belief in the report. Another reason for an early
meeting of the Chambers arises from the desire to
terminate the session, so that its labours may be
finished before the opening of the Great Exhibi-
tion.

The Constitutionnel (I believe, exclusively) defends
the proceedings against the .Memorial Diplomatique,
at the demand of Prussia, but chiefly on the ground
that this course of policy would enable France to
proceed against Prussian papers which might attack
the French Government.

Princess Handjari, of the family of Schleswig-
Holstein, whose chief claims the sovereignty to the
Duchies of the Elbe, has just died at her chateau of
Malherbe, in Normandy.
An illustration has just been afforded of the pro-
verb, " There is many a slip between the cup and
the lip." Shakspere is again right in saying, that
" the course of true love never does run smooth."
At all events, it did not run smoothly in the case of
Jean Blempin and Marie Leroux, whose true love
has brought them to the Correctional Police Court.
Those young lovers (they are not 20) get a living
by gathering rags and other "unconsidered trifles."
In short, Marie is what is called in Paris a " chif-
fonier." She goes about with a basket and a crook
to pick up all sorts of things in the streets and high-
ways. What she finds sometimes is nothing to any
body. One day Marie said to Jean, " I have an
idea, if you like, we will marry and have a legiti-
mate wedding." Blempin seemed very much
astonished, but, however, he consented ; and the
banns were published and the formalities fulfilled.
Thus the affair got wind, and the news soon electri-
fied all the chiffoniers in the neighbourhood of the
barriere de Fontainebleau. From that moment the
lovers became the object of the jokes and sarcasms
of the whole camp, women and all. Whenever they
were seen the rag-gatherers " chaffed" them; as it
would be called in London. Some said it was against
all the rules of the fraternity of the hook and basket
for any member to get married. The thing was un-
precedented and dangerous, and would bring dis-
grace and ill-luck upon the whole body of rag-
gatherers. Blempin and Marie, however, were
undismayed by all these demonstrations, and held
to their purpose. The day for the wedding was
fixed, and the wedding party, with Blempin at their
head, went to the Maine of Gentilly. The clerk be-
ing absent Blempin got impatient, and very much
out of temper. At length the clerk arrived, and
finding the bridegroom very drunk and very up-
roarious, he took him by the shoulders and turned
him out of the room. This move did not exactly
suit Marie.- " I want to get married to-day," said
she ; " that's what I came for." "In that case,"
replied the clerk, " you must choose somebody else
among the company, " fur Blempin is too drunk to
be married to-day." The clerk, perhaps, thought
that Blempin saw double, and did not want another,
if even a better, half. "Do me the favour to leave
the place immediately," added he. It was quite
clear that the wedding must be postponed, unless
Marie took the clerk's advice and named some other
person of the party. They therefore all turned their
faces homewards, Blempin again at the head, but
instead of being full of fun, as he was when he went,
he was furious. He cried, swore, kicked, jumped
and sang. In order to drown his grief he stopped
at every wine shop on the way, and swallowed wine
or brandy until he became quite insensible. On the
return home of the party they were all out of
humour. The jokes and witticisms against the
lovers were renewed with tenfold force. Blempin
at first answered the jokes with jokes, but on their
repetition he could stand it no longer, and began to
hit and kick at his tormentors. A general row and
battle ensued, in the course of which two rag-
gatherers of the softer sex, Eugenie Valentin and
Josephine Depienne, received some rather severe
injuries in the legs, which were inflicted by the dis-
appointed bride and bridegroom. Blood had been
shed, and the rag gatherers cried aloud for venge-
ance. The two ladies in question, therefore, ap-
peared at the office of Correctional Police to de-
mand it.

shiTpsheacnodudnissel apfpoorinthtme aencctsusoedf
tdhv,e'ierltellueploans,tahnedhasrd-
aia
it would be cruel indeed if the court were to punish
them for wishing to set an example at once moral
and religious, for which they had already received
nothing but kicks, insults, and sarcasms. The
court did not at all sympathise with the lovers.
They had committed a violent assault, and must be
punished. So, instead of enjoying their expected
happy honeymoon, they were sent to prison, Blem-
pin for a fortnight, and Marie Leroux for a week.
It is at the present moment undecided whether the
levers will make another attempt at marriage. The
rag-gatherers will probably persuade them to think
better of the matter, and not inflict " such a heavy
blow and great discouragement" upon the fraternity.
A rather beautiful vegetable phenomenon now
attracts attention in the Square des Arts at Metiers.
About 20 chestnut trees out of 40 are in full bloom
for the second time this year. The same thing is
to be seen on the Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle and in
the Champs Elysces.
Two male children, twins, of the Albino races
have just been born at the hospital of, the Hotel

Disu, a fact which has excited much attention among
the medical men of that establishment. At twenty
they will have hair as white as snow. This white
hair is the chief characteristic of the Albino, but
they have other peculiarities,—great transparency
of skin, and such weakness of sight that their eyes,
which are red, cannot support the daylight. Ac-
cording to African travellers the negroes have a
superstitious dread of Albanos ; they lie concealed
in caverns while the sun shines, and only go out at
nights like wild beasts.
There have been two murders near Marseilles.
At St. Pierre in a dry ditch the body of a young
man, about 20, has been found with his hands tied
behind him. There was a deep wound in the sto-
mach, and the head was nearly smashed to pieces.
Almost at the same time another body Was found,
that of a man who had evidently been assassinated.
The police have not yet been able to discover any
clue to the circumstances of these murders.
The wife of a Prussian Colonel residing at San-
vigny, in the Haute Saone, was a short time time
ago confined, and had three children at a birth. A
letter was sent to the husband with the news, which
he received just as he was about to mount his horse
and place himself at the head of his regiment in
Bohemia, the evening before the battle of Sadowa.
The Colonel, in a hurry and excited, and perhaps
thinking that the births referred to a favourite bitch
which he had left at home, said to a comrade, write
and say, "Keep the handsomest. Drown the other
two."

The Prefect of the Seine has decided that the bust
of Henri the Fourth, and the tablet in black marble
recording his assassination by Ravaillac, which was
on a house in the Rue de la Ferrarerie, which has
just been demolished, shall be bought by the city
and sent to the new Municipal Museum.
M. Victorien Sardou has read a new piece to the
actors of the Vaudeville, and it is said that there
will be an innovation respecting it, and that it will
have no title, but be merely announced in the bills as
"A Comedy, in Five Acts."
A very curious relic is abOut to be presented to
the Emperor—the head of Richelieu. During the
revolution of 1792 it was stolen from the Sorbonne
by one of the persons employed there. It went
into the possession of several persons, but by the
researches of M. Duray, Minister of Public Instruc-
tion, it has been traced to M. Armez, an honest
mercer of Paris, who gladly surrendered it. The
violators of the tomb of Richelieu cut the head into
two parts in order to conceal it more easily. The
face is the colour of mahogany, and the white teeth
still remain. The moustache and the pointed beard
on the chin call to recollection the portrait of Phi-
lippe de Champagne.

As at present arranged, the
Emperor, Empress,
and the Imperial Prince will leave Biarritz in the
course of the week, and after a short stay in Paris
will go to Compiegne. There is no truth in the
report that the Emperor intends to visit Spain.

NEW HOLBORN THEATRE.

-f

The inauguration of a new theatre in the metro-
polis is a rarity, and to this circumstance is to be
attributed the great interest that attached to the
opening of the doors of the New Holborn Theatre
on Saturday for the admiration of the public to the
splendid edifice that has been erected by Mr. Sefton
Parry in Holborn. For a considerable period prior
to the time fixed for the opening of the doors the
approaches to the theatre were besieged, and hund-
reds left the scene ere half-past six arrived, unwill-
ing to encounter the pressure from without.
Punctually at the time announced the doors were
thrown open ; in a very few minutes the house was
crammed from floor to ceiling, and then another ex-
traordinary scene waa enacted, viz., the house-warm-
ing. The audience were enthusiastic in their applause,
the brilliant and beautiful appearance of the new
house gave much satisfaction, and the general
desire seemed to be success to the spirited and
energetic gentleman who had provided so splendid
an addition to the amusements of the metropolis.
We need not here repeat the general description
of the interior of the theatre—that has already been
made widely public, but we proceed at once to
notice the performance. The first piece was a new
farce by Mr. Williams, entitled " Larkin's Love
Letter," but the great interest appeared to centre' in
" Flying Scud," and therefore the farce was endured
with the same patience that the piece preceding the
pantomime on Boxing-night usually secures.
The descent of the green curtain was the sig-
nal for a renewal of applause, in the
midst of which Mr. Sefton Parry made his
appearance to deliver his managerial address. For
some time he stood bowing his thanks for the flat-
tering reception given him, and when silence was
obtained he proceeded as follows .
" LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,—

" I come to bid you welcome to my house—the welcome
is warm, but I hope you will find the house cool, and al-
though I have endeavoured to make it roomy, I trust I
shall never see any room in it. I have spared nothing to
make it convenient and comfortable; and I honestly thinkl
have
packed ed
ceed
in someindiff partsn t
figs in a box, it is not the fault of the box, it is the fault
of the figs. Some cheerful friends of mine encouraged
succeeded indifferently well
closelynow—if, in If
fact, you feel like you feel a little
me with the remark, that I had lodged my theatre too far
east. I replied, that the people of London will go to a
good entertainment wherever it is—and I mean to give
the best. With this resolve I addressed myself to the
dramatist who really seems to wield a charmed pen, and
he gave mo his cordial adhesion, and, what was better, a
new drama. The company contains the very best artists
that I could procure, and I believe I have left no en-
deavours untried to win that public support on which my
fortune now depends. Ladies and Gentlemen,—ln this
enterprise is embarked the savings of my professional life,
and I regard with gratified pride my ship, the only one
that has been launched in London for upwards of a quarter
of a century. Hero I stand alone at the tiller looking out
for the breeze of public favour. I am engaged in a more
perilous voyage than the Red, White, and Blue. That
little wonder put to sea with two men and a dog; I am
alone in my venture ; will you please to take me in tow ?
—(Prompter's bell.) Eh, what, oh ! it is the prompter !
He is in a hurry to begin the drama. I told him 1 would
allow no long waits between the acts, and he is trying the
guillotine on the inventor. I was about to add—(Promp-
ter's bell again.) It is no use ; he won't let me add more
than this :—I hereby declare and pronounce that on this
the 6th day of October, 1866, and in the 30th year of the
reign of Victoria the Good, there is opened for public en-
tertainment and recreation a new theatre, to be called the
Holborn Theatre Royal. God save the Queen."
The National Anthem was then performed, and
when the excitement of the auiience was at its
highest pitch up went the curtain on the
new and original racing drama by Dion
Boucicault, entitled " Flying Scud, or a Four
Legged Fortune," a piece showing the ups
and downs, crosses, double crosses, events
and vicissitudes of life on the turf. Mr. Boucicault
has in this drama achieved another of those won-
derful successes for which he is so remarkable, and
"Flying Scud" will, doubtless, prove one of his
greatest, if not the very greatest of his triumphs.
The plot of " Flying Scud " is as follows :
Four worthies known as the Quadruped, because of
being four
" legs," Captain Grindly Goodge, Col.
Mulligan, Mo Davis, and Chouser, are allied toge-
ther for the purposes of winning, by whatever means
they have within their reach, at all games of chance
and skill, and particularly on the turf. Their chief
source of income is Lord Woodbie, a young and not
very wise nobleman, in love with Julia Lattimer, a
young lady who, unconsciously to herself, is used
as a decoy duck by her uncle, Colonel Mulligan.
Honest of purpose, and sensible that she is an ad-
venturess, Julia refuses the proffered hand of Lord
Woodbie, with whom, however, she is hopelessly in
love. Meantime the Squire of Nobbley Hall, who
is the uncle of Goodge, has died, and the latter, who
is next of kin to the dead, and believes himself heir
to the estate, invites his associates to the hall to hear
the reading of the will. Waiting till all prepara-
rations are ready, Goodge amuses himself by falling
in love with Katey Rideout, the pretty grand-
daughter of Nat Gosling, an old ex-jockey, looked
upon with the highest respect by all members of
the ring. Finding in Tom Meredith, a young far-
mer and trainer on his estate, a rival whose suit is
accepted, Goodge turns him off the farm he occu-
pies, of which he has no lease. This is ruin to
the prospects of the lovers, and Katey, know-
ing the influence of her charms, ventures to
Nobbley Hall to ask for a lease for her intended
husband. This is refused by Goodge, who insults
Katey by unmanly violence. Trying to escape, she

runs into the stable of Flying Scud, a young race-
horse concerning which the highest anticipations
have been formed by Gosling. Goodge locks the
door upon her and retires, leaving her a prisoner.
Shortly afterwards Meredith approaching the place
listens at the door of the stable, and hearing the
voice of Matey, who thinks him Goodge, and begs
him to let her out, he arrives at the conclusion she
is faithless to him. With other tenants of the late
squire, Meredith goes to the reading of the will, and
finds himself, to his great surprise, the inheritor of
the entire estate, which, originally belonging to his
father, had been lost on the turf, and now, by the
will of the deceased squire, reverted to the family
of its former possessor. The property does not
console him for the supposed loss of Katey's
affection, and he disconsolately bids Gosling go
to Flying Scud's stable to learn why a marriage with
his niece is now impossible. The second act is mainly
concerned with Flying • Scud. Gosling, knowing
his value, has laid on him for the Derby to the
extent of his means. Meredith has also backed
him largely, and though still a " dark" horse, he
is the favourite of the Pig-skin Club. Those who
have betted most heavily against him are Goodge
and his associates, and many attempts are made by
them to get at the horse for the purpose of disabling
him. Thanks to the watchfulness of Gosling, all
these attempts are unsuccessful, and Flying Scud
advances in the betting till the odds are in his favour.
At last Goodge, who knows that for Flying Scud to
win will be entire ruin to the " Quadruped," offers
Gosling £2,000 to be admitted into the stable. Gos-
ling takes the money and distributes it among the
jockeys. Goodge and his associates are admitted
into the stable the night before the Derby. A change,
however, has first taken place in its occupants. Fly-
ing Scud has been removed, and another horse,
closely resembling it in appearance, been substituted.
This animal, accordingly, is doctored, and the con-
spirators, believing themselves safe, lay still more
largely against the favourite. The Derby-day comes
round. The course is seen crowded with assembled
thousands. The conspirators arc in the highest
spirits, when they are horrified by the intelligence
that Flying Scud, in perfect health, is among the
intended starters. All now is dismay where a mo-
ment before all had been confidence. A desperate
trick, however, is tried, and succeeds. The jockey
of Flying Scud (Ned Compo) is tempted with a
glass of brandy and water; he takes it, and imme-
mediately becomes so ill that he is unable to get on
his horse. All now seems lost. Gosling himself
yields momentarily to despair, then regaining
hope, he vows he will ride the horse himself. The
yellow cap and jacket are hastily put on, and Old
Nat, at sixty, rides his darling Flying Scud to
victory and glory. This scene of Epsozn Downs is
a truly wonderful stage illusion, and one altogether
without parallel. The race is seen in the distance,
whilst in the foreground we have all the peculiarities
of the race course. Niggers, tumblers, thimble-
riggers, card sharpers, gipsies, pic-nic parties,
Punch and Judy, &c., &c., all tend to make up
a scene which must be seen to be properly
appreciated. The applause it elicited was extraor-
dinary, but when old Nat Gosling appeared, riding
the winner, " to scale," after the race, the audience
became perfectly frantic with delight, and altogether
a more remarkable performance, actors, audience,
and horse included, has never been presented within
the walls of a theatre. The two concluding acts of
the drama excite but little interest. The conspira-
tors, driven to the utmost shifts, try to re-
gain some money by cheating Meredith at
cards, and by forging the signiture of Lord Wood-
bie. Playing, at a club, both Goodge and Davies
are detected cheating byLord Woodbie, who exposes
them. A duel is consequently necessary, and a
meeting is arranged to take place on Calais Sands.
Goodge, who is a dead shot, determines to kill the
young nobleman, as when he is dead the forgery
that has been committed cannot be detected. Julia,
overhearing the arrangement which has been pro-
jected by her uncle and Goodge, determined to
thwart it. She contrives that Lord Woodbie shall
mistake the hour of meeting, disguises herself in his
semblance, and receives the fire of Goodge, falling
wounded. In the fourth act the allies find that
" the game is up." They endeavour, then, to swindle
each ot.'•ier. The forgery on Lord Woodbie is dis-
covered, and Goodge, to escape punishment, con-
fesses his villainy towards Kate. The other young
lovers are betrothed, and Nat comes in
at the finish with a very telling " tag. "
The great part in the drama is that of Nat Gosling,
the old jockey, and in his impersonation of it Mr.
G. Belmore held the feelings and emotions of the
audience as completely at his command as • did the
late Mr. F. Robson. It was a performance of first-
rate excellence, and deserved the applause it elicited.
Miss Saunders also is fitted with a comic part of
more than usual excellence (Bob BUckskin), and
she thoroughly enters into it. Miss Fanny Josephs
made a very good Lord Woodbie, and Miss Bessie
Foote (Kate Rideout) and Miss Fiddes (Miss
Latimer) respectively supported their parts with taste
and judgment. We have to compliment Mr. G.
Neville (Captain Goodge) and Mr. G. Blake
(Charles Meredith) for the judgment they displayed,
and, though last, not least, the beautiful filly, " Fly-
ing Scud" enacted her part to admiration.
The scenery of the drama is beyond all praise.
The great illustration of " Epsom Downs," in the
second act, we have already noticed, but the opening
scene of the first act, and Calais Sands in the third,
are marvels of scene painting. The dresses and
appointments are all in perfect keeping, and the
admirable manner in which the entire drama has
been produced is worthy of the highest commen-
dation.

Mr. Sefton Parry, Mr. Boucica ult, and Mr. G.
Belmore were vociferously called for at the con-
clusion of the play, and greeted with the loudest
plaudits, and altogether the success of the opening
night was as perfect and complete as the enterpris-
ing lessee himself could well desire.