The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-04 00:00:00

CHRISTY'S MINSTRELS.

Last night "Christy's Minstrels" commenced a series
of performances as the St. James's Theatre. Their
entertainment is partly musical, partly terpsichorean,
and partly dramatic. The musical portion, though the
"bones" and the banjo are conspicuous as with Pell's
company, is marked by more ambitious efforts at
vocalization and has less of that peculiar element which
we are accustomed to associate with the idea of " nig-
gerism." Viennese airs and reminiscences of the Tyrol
are warbled forth by extremely red lips set in ebon
faces, and there is a general tendency to elevate the
sentimental and the pathetic at the expense of the
comic. In the dancing, on the other hand, full scope
is given to the grotesque humour of the artists, and
several feats are remarkable not only for their eccen-
tricity, but for the wonderful bodily agility displayed in
new forms.

The entertainment went off to the entire eatiefaction
of the audience.

HAYMARKET STARS.—The veteran T. P. Cooke
commences an engagement for six nights at the Hay-
market, on Monday evening, in his original character
of William, in "Black-eyed Susan." Although it is not
announced that these are to be Mr. Cooke'a farewell
performances, it is probable that he will on this occasion
retire finally from the stage. He will be succeeded on
Monday, the 10th of August, by the celebrated comedian,
Mr. Charles Matthews, who, previous to his departure
for the United States, plays a round of his popu?ar
characters here for eight nights. He will appear for
one night (the 19th of August) at Liverpool, and will
sail on the following day for New York, whither he has
been precede-I by Mr. Posey, for the purpose of making
preliminary arrangements and engagements for Mr.
Mathews.
THE PAVILION AT BRIGHTON.—Trie town council of
Brighton having offered a premium of 2001. for the
best, and 501, for the second best design for appropriat
ing the north-west portion of ;he Pavilion for the use of
the public, eight arch'tects' designs have been sent in for
consideration. It is intended to provide the town on the
site of the Pavilion, with a music-ball, an antheum or
winter garden, a free public library and reading-room, a
public picture gallery, and a museum, at a probable cost
of about 12,0001.
PROSPECTS OF THE SPORTING SEASON. &MTH-
AMPTON ,MONDAY.—Our sporting friends will be glad
to hear that the breed of partridges in this neighbour-
hood will be one of the best known for many years.
The coveys are numerous, and the spring birds exceed-
ingly strong on the wing. Should the present fine
weather continue, and harvest operations be unimpeded,
the sportsman will have something to do to follow his
game, Reports from the upper parts of Hampshire, as
well as from Wiltshire, agree as to the abundance of
sport for the let of September.
CRYSTAL PALACE. The Vocal Association, com-
prising 330 male and female voices, will make its third
appearance on Friday, August 7th, under the direction
of M. Benedict, in the Central Transept of the Crystal
Palace. The success which attended the two previous
performances there, has indeced the directors to make
arrangements for a third, of an entirely different cha-
racter. The programme will be Mendelasohn through-
out, including "The Walpurgis Night," and " Loreley."
The vocalists engaged are Mr. and Madame Weiss, Mi
Fanny Huddart, and Mr. Montem Smith. Miss Ara-
bella Goddard is also engaged to perform Meodelssohn's
concerti.

Tuic WEATHER IN FRANCE.—A letter from Mar-
seilles, of the 31. st of July, states that the heat on that
day was so intense that a, delve heavy mist completely
obscured the lights of the lighthouses at night, and
, rendered the entrance into port dangerous. The Vectis,
with the Indian mail, was a long time getting in ; the
Avenir lost her way for an hour and a-half, The tber-

moineter marked 36, deg. centigrade. The wind rose a

half-past 10, but instead of refre-,birg the atmosphere it
was but and sultry. In the Tarn-et-Garonne on the 29th
of July a violent thunderstorm burst over the country.
It came 'rem the west, and was accompanied by heavy
rain. The lightning struck a farmhouse and set fire to
it. Storms, accompanied by great heat, have taken
place in other parts of France.

RAPID TOWAGE.--LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY.—A. tele-
graphic despatch was received here this morning an-
nouncing that the James Baines, Captain M'Donnell,
had arrived at Portsmouth, for the conveyance of troops
to the East Indies. She was towed to Portsmouth by
the steam tug Regoltre, Captain Jevon, belonging to
the new steam tug company, in 82 hours, although en-
cluntering a heal gale in channel. The Champion of
the Seas, Captatn M'Kirdy, of the same line, and of a
similar tonnage (2,386 tons) was taken in tow an hour
previous by the tug Blazsr, but no intelligence has been
received of her arrival. It may be stated that the Re-
solute when she took the James Baines in tow had been
only one week off the stocks.

OUR SOLDIERS' DRESS IN INDIA.—The sufferings and
loss of our noble troops in the Crimea, and the causes
from which those sufferings and that loss arose are fresh
in the peblic recollection. They will be repeated in
India, but with far more fearful results, unless instant
attention is paid to the proper clothing of our troops
there. Became cur men can live there in their Euro-
pean clothing, it is not considered requisite to alter it.
The frightful waste of strength and efficiency it enta I',
and the consequent predisposition of the body to disease,
and the lowering of the system at a time when it needs
to be uphell at its utmost vigour to resist fatigue and
disease—these points appear to be smeared for, as well
as the sufferings of the men from excessive heat, so much
aggravated by their clothing. Away w ith et mke,
shakoes, and red tunics, as well as black leather boots,
which attract the sun and swell the feet. Away, also,
with the crossbelt and any breast-belt. Let each man
have a forage cap with peak and two white covers; two
white woollen loose tunics ; their pack. ammunition
belts, to be arranged like the French Zouaves' ; and
brown leather boots. None of our men ought to leave
this country without proper clothing for India.—Corres-
pondent of the Times.
THE TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCHES FROM INDIA.—It is
understood the government have thus far been unable
to obtain any satisfactory information regarding the
causes of the delay last week in the Indian telegraph.
The director at Trieste cannot give any (xplaratior,
except that many messages sent about the same ti no
experienced equal or greater detention. A thunder-
storm somewhere between Trieste and Munich is still
said to have occasioned the interruption. There is, how-
ever, a difficulty in accepting this solution. A thunder-
storm might stop a succession of messages, but it is not
easy to see bow, when c)mmunlcation was resumed, it
should cause them to arrive in different order from that
in which they were originally transmitted. Thu., it
seems that the despatch addressed to Lord Clarendon
from Trieste at 11 5 a.m. on the 28th of July did not
arrive in London till 12 35 p.m. on the following day,
while a message despatched between three and four
hours later arrived at the India-house more than an
hour sooner. Probably the whole can be made clear,
but the subject is hard of investigation, the ways of
telegraphs being often as incomprehensible as the
majority of messages they contrive to pervert. There is
reason to conclude, however, that if any fault is to he
found in the present instance it does not lie with the
English company.
GENERAL BAaNARD.—It will be learnt with great
satisfaction that General Barnard has greatly dis-
tiuguished himself by the military capacity he has dis-
played before Delhi. He arrived there with all possible
speed by a long forced night march, and found that the
mutineers bad taken up a very formidable position
about two miles in front of the town. Notwithstanding
that his men were suffering, he attacked at once by a
bold advance aad a skilful flank movement with that
hearty will which at once carries soldiers to victory
The 71st sprang from behind two sandhills where the
worn-out men had obtained a brief rest, and immediate
success crowned the efforts of the soldiers and their
gallant leader—the position was carried and occupied,
the rebels being driven out with great loss. General
Barnard was complimented by those about him on
the achievement due to his skill ; and in the hasty
council of the battlefield was advised to bring in his
wounded, rest his men, who were now suffering ter-
ribly from over-fatigue, and to retrench himself in the
excellent position he had woo. But the General turned
a deaf ear to every counsel, pointed to a ridge outside
the town where the rebels were again assembling, in a
few words expressed his will that the ridge should be
carried, and the discomfiture of the enemy be com-
pleted :—"lf this be not done, they, too, will intrench
themselves, and it will cost us three times as much to
dislodge them. They are now panic-struck ; but if
allowed to hold that place they even might attack us at
a disadvantage. No ! lam sorry the poor fellows are
tired, but they will take the ridge." Again, animated
by their General's will, and guided by consummate
science, the small and wearied force marched forward
with unfailing pluck. Again victory was theirs ; they
rushed on the guns with devoted courage, and cap-
tured 26 of t.h.e enemy's cannon, and drove them with
l're's't 'laughter within the walls of Delhi. Morning
Poo, - _ _