The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-04 00:00:00

Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

A meeting of this institution was held yesterday
at its house, John-street, Adelphi ; Earl Percy,
P.C., in the chair. There were also present Thomas
Chapman, Esq., F.R.S., V.P. ; Sir Edward Per-
rott, Bart., V.P. ; John Griffith, Esq. ; Admiral
McHardy ; W. H. Harton, Esq. ; Admiral Hall,
C. 8., F.R.S. ; Stephen Cave, Esq., M.P. ; Admiral
Bullock ; Capt. Richards, R.N., Hydrographer of
the Admiralty ; Capt. Walker, 11.C.5., Board of
Trade ; and Richard Lewis, Esq., Secretary of the
Institution.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read.
£lB 15s. was ordered to be given to the crew of
the Mundesley lifeboat, for going off on the 7th and
Bth ultimo, during stormy weather, and saving the
crew of 11 men of the barque Elizabeth and Mary,
of Whitby, which had stranded on the beach be-
tween Mundesley and Bacton. The Birmingham
lifeboat No. 1, stationed at Caister, had succeeded in
bringing to port the steamer Corbon, of Newcastle,
and her crew of 12 men. She had been disabled
near the Cockle Sand during hazy and stormy
weather on the 7th ultimo. A reward of £6 was
likewise granted to the crew of the Rosslare life-
boat of the institution, for going off and sav-
ing the crew of six men of the smack Shamrock,
of Wexford, which had become a total wreck on
the north end of the Dogger Bank. Soon after
the rescued crew were in the lifeboat, the smack
completely disappeared. A reward of £6 was also
given to the crew of the Henry Nixson lifeboat, at
Maryport, for going off and assisting to save the
lives of three men and the master's wife from the
schooner Treaty, of Goole, which had gone ashoret
to £55 were also gl,vlees, by
on Dub Mill Scar, 8 miles E.N.E., of 111.arynpo
forr
Rewards amounting
valuable services rendered during the
tven, Dundalk,
the crews of the following lifeboatsioifa
viz. :—at Great Yarmouth, Budeod
I'Vexford. The
Winterton, Palling, Courtown,
and
£2 were voted
silver medal of the institutifoncoast_ hleatiensgtitution,
guard, and £l2
to Mr. John Bunt, officerdomen
at Sandown, Isle of
to eight other coast-
at' considerable risk of
of wind and
Wright, for putting
.ogoffuarduring a very heavy gale
of rtchecujergew of the Swedish brig
life, five of Sundsvall, which was wrecked
life'
off Sanclown on the night of the 24th of
March
were
The Silver Medal of the Society and
likewise granted to Mr. John Kerrnish
ciolmissioned boatman of coast-guard at Bowness,
last.
Cumberland, undll to two other men, in acknow
ledgment of their intrepid conduct in rescuing, at
considerable risk of life, a man from a very perilous
position off Drumburgb. Marsh on the 16th ult.
Various other rewards were also granted to the
crews of shore-boats for saving life from different
wrecks on our coasts. Payments amounting to
upwards of £8,6(0 were.-ordered to be made on
various lifeboat establishments. The thanks of the

the stage each received a generous welcome—not .a
mere formal recognition of talent, but a Warty greet-
ing as of friends returned after long absence. Mr.
and Mrs. Kean divided the honours, each being
applauded with equal cordiality, and of course each
acknowledging the kindness of the audience with
evident fervour. Surely it is not needful at this
time to say anything either in commendation or de-
scription of the acting which for more than thirty
years has maintained an uninterrupted and in-
creasing popularity, and we shall therefore not
attempt to perform this unprofitable task. We may
say, however, that increasing years bring about no
apparent diminution of their histrionic powers, and
after their long and arduous tour both return .to
England with all their former artistic polish and elo-
cutionary ability, and with unimpaired physical
strength. Indeed, in watching the performance of last
night, with its vigour, force, and precision, it was
almost inconceivable that one was listening to the
same voices, and watching the same acting,
as took the public favour by storm in Covent-
garden in 1833, and subsequently in Mr. Charles
Kean's first grand provincial tour. Passing years
have only added refinement and experience to the
natural endowments of both, and these popular
favourites, who are now about to enter upon the last
scene of their professiorial life, still retain all the
powers which first won them fame. Mr. Kean's
consummate skill was soondisplayed last night, and
IR4tts
interview with,Basaanio, and Still more
cpert. - • ,
lost none of his former carefulness in acting, effec-
tiveness in delivery, and extraordinary facial powers.
Never perhaps was the depth of passion and despair
more terribly rendered than when the usurer disco-
vers the loss of his money and his daughter ; and
the gleam of malignant satisfaction assumed in the
fourth act, when Portia decrees the judgtnent of the
bond, is a magnificent dramatic contrast to the blank
amazement and horror which seize him when thwarted
in his vengeful purpose. These are, of course, mere
salient points in a well-drawn stage picture, full of
beauties and adroit passes of skill, and all itsdiverse
parts, combining to form one complete and effective.
whole. So also with regard to Portia, the acting was
everything that good taste, happy disposition, and
great talent could secure. Mrs. Kean was blithesome
and genial as she always is, vivacious and animated
without being giddy or indecorous, and giving a
perfect realisation in tone and bearing to Shakspere's
conception of his heroine. All her speeches, and
they are neither few nor unimportant, were de-
livered by Mrs. Kean with the force of an accom-
plished elocutionist, and the author's bcautitul
description of the quality of mercy was spoken in a
way that earned the loudest applause of the audi-
ence. In addition to the cheers which greeted them
while the curtain was up, Mr. and Mrs. Sean were
several times called to the front between the acts to
receive the congratulations of the company. The
reception altogether was a flattering one, and is at
once a high complement to the artists and to the
appreciative tastes of the audience. The other
aendation,
characters were generally well filled, Bassani° and
ris besinaggedeaseeeresvisnogrt specialwere is
commendation,
m creditably
Nanedtshae t
managed.

To-night the chief item in the programme will be
" Louis XL," in which Mr. and Mrs. Kean will take
their old parts of Louis and Martha respectively.
To-morrow they take their benefit, when they will
appear in two pieces, " Henry VIII." and the
" Jealous Wife." We need not tell the public to
go—they are sure to do that; but those who wish
to get in should go early, else they
will stand a poor
chance of seeing even the doors.

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