The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-08 00:00:00

LYCEUM THEATRE,

Last evening the benefit of Mr. Edmund
Falconer, the lessee of the theatre, and the accom-
plished author of " Woman, or Love against the
World," took place, under favourable auspices. His
successful comedy, which has reached the 70th
representation, formed the first part of the enter-
tainment, and went off with its usual eclat, several
bouquets being thrown to the heroine at the con-
clusion. The most novel feature in the programme
was the recital of an original ballad, by Mr.
Falconer himself, entitled "Anne Hathaway," and
suggested by a recent visit to Stratford-upon-Avon.
It was a very pleasing poem, and somewhat original
in its design, since so little is known of Anne
Hathaway that she has seldom been the subject of
song or romance. Mr. Falconer introduces her to
us as the stout yeoman's daughter, holding herself
above the village folk, rejecting the addresses of a
neighbouring farmer, and announcing her intention
of marrying an esquire. He then leads us through
successive scenes of their simple life, pleasantly
told, to the day, fortunate for posterity, which
drove Shakspeare to London and sent Anne Hatha-
way and her little ones back to the shelter of her
father's house, where she remained during long
years, not always a welcome guest, and hearing the
villagers say, " That more nice than wise had been
Anne Hathaway." But presently gold and rich
gifts began to come from London, puzzling poor
Anne, who understood herds and crops, but could
not understand how fine words made money. And
rumours of success and great friends went through
the village, till the gossips said at last that the
Queen herself was jealous of the yeoman's daughter.
And at last one evening when she is standing sadly
at the door looking at a fallen apple, and recalling
the days when Willie used to come across the fields
to beg some, a stranger, in velvet doublet and
silken hose, draws near, and she sees Shakspeare
once again. He buys the largest house in
the town, then called " The House," with adjoining
lands, still proving kind and true to his humble
wife, as in the days when he wooed her under the
May trees. And thus, say the last lines of the
poem—

"Although this proud title his fame crowns to-day,
She married an esquire, did Anne Hathaway."
This graceful ballad was listened to throughout
with deep attention, and was warmly applauded at
the conclusion. The performance terminated with
John Oxenford's farce " Gone to Texas."

Prince Leopold arrived on Tuesday evening at
the British Embassy, at Paris, from England, and left on
Wednesday morning for the south of France.
NEW LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE WELSH COAST.—
At the meeting of the Mersey Dock Board yesterday, it
was decided to lease a site on the great Ormshead for a new
lighthouse. The cost of the lighthouse is estimated at
£5OO, and the annual expense of maintenance £3BO.
THE REPRESENTATION OF LINCOLN.—Mr. Bram-
ley-Moore has retired, and Mr. Charles Seeley, an advanced
Liberal, will, on Saturday, be returned without opposition.
REPRESENTATION OF BIRKENHEAD.—Mr. John
Laird, the well-known shipbuilder of Birkenhead, who is
the Conservative candidate for the new borough of Birken-
head, has recently seceded from the firm of which he has
for many years been the head. The cause of this proceed-
ing lies in the fact that Mr. Laird's firm was successful in
tendering for the construction of one of the monster iron
vessels of war, and in consequence Mr. Laird could not
enter Parliament as an interested party in such contracts.

THE PRINCE CONSORT AND THE EDINBURGH
POST-OFFICE AND MUSEUM.—We (North British Mail)
understand that the Duke of Athol], as Grand Master
Mason of Scotland, lodged a protest with the Prince Con-
sort against his laying the foundation stones of the Pcst-
office and Industrial Museum, on the ground that it was the
province of the Grand Master Mason to perform that cere-
mony in the case of all public buildings. The duke, we
believe, handed the protest to the Prince Consort at the sta-
tion in Perth, when his royal highness came through to
Edinburgh to perform the ceremony.

The colonial wool sales commencing to-day com-
prised 2,349 bales, of which 859 were from the Cape and
1,490 from Australia. There was a fair attendance of
buyers, both home and foreign, but the biddings were
languid, and previous prices were barely maintained.

ANOTHER CHURCH-RATE SEIZIIRE.—On Tuesday
(writes Mr. Atkins, of Orpington, Rent) a seizure for
church-rates was effected at my dwelling-house, and a table,
clock, and picture carried off. The articles now lie at the
"Black Boy," St. Mary Cray, to be sold on Monday. I
suppose that there will be proceedings taken against some
other parties in this village, who with myself refuse to ac-
knowledge the right of the Established Church to tax us
for the support of her worship. The present is the first
church. rate seizure that has been made in this neighbour-
hood, and I believe it is the beginning of a struggle be-
tween the compulsory and voluntary systems here.
ARRIVAL OF MR. ROBERT MUIR IN LIVERPOOL
—Mr. Robert Muir, who, it may be remembered, was taken
into custody in New York, as he was about to proceed to
Europe on board the Royal mail steamship Africa, he being
at the time the bearer of despatches from the British Consul
at New Orleans to Earl Russell, arrived in Liverpool on
Wednesday, as a passenger by the Montreal Ocean Steam-
ship Company's steamer North American. On his being
taken into custody by the New York authorities Mr. Muir
was sent to Fort Lafayette, where he was confined for a
considerable time, but has been liberated on his parole.
THE GREAT EASTERN.—A memorial from the
Liverpool pilots was presented to the Mersey Dock Board
yesterday, praying for the removal of the moorings of the
Great Eastern, on the ground that they offered an obstruc-
tion to vessels anchoring in the river. Mr. Rees, one of
the members, stated that the Great Eastern was next month
coming to Liverpool from Milford-haven to get ready for
sailing in February, and that the moorings, therefore, could
not be dispensed with.

A FRENCH LOAN.—A letter dated Paris yester-
day, says :—The Chambers will open on the 15th of
January, the Senate, however, meeting previously. Again
a loan to a large amount is confidently spoken of, with a
new impost to defray the interest. The last budget, 1
think, was made to show a surplus, and people ask how
does it happen that, in time of peace, and with flourishing
finances, another large loan is necessary ?

The accounts from America regarding the oil
springs on the lino of the Atlantic and Great Western
Railway in Northern Pennsylvania tend to show that the
supply is virtually inexhaustible. One agent writes that
ho would have no difficulty in procuring 20,000 barrels per
month at a price equivalent to Bs. per barrel, or about five
pence per gallon, and that he could probably get double
that quantity. The present estimate of the product of the
region seems to be about half a million of barrels per
annum.

ARRIVAL OF THE WARRIOR AT QUEENSTOWN.--
The Queenstown correspondent of the Freeman's Journal,
writing on Wednesday, says :—" This famous iron-clad fri-
gate arrived here last evening, in company with the Re-
venge, 91 guns, after a cruise of six days from Portsmouth.
The Warrior, so often described, and so well known in all
particulars, has now proved herself a magnificent success
so far as could be desired. During the late run her average
on several days was, even while running in a rough sea,
but under full canvas, besides being propelled by her screw,
17 knots an hour, a rate of speed unequalled by any vessel
afloat save those of the Dublin and Holyhead Company's
boats. Her trip, which was intended to be to Berehaven,
has given complete satisfaction to the officers on board,
amongst whom was Captain Drummond, R.N., of the Ad-
miralty Board. Only two circumstances connected with
the trip occurred of a nature not to be desired. On enter-
ing the harbour she was by no means obedient to the helm,
which would answer only to the starboard ; another matter
was, that on Tuesday morning, before daybreak, the lights
of the Revenge being undiscernible, the huge iron vessel
went within a' hair's breadth' of cutting down her com-
panion, who was saved from instant destruction only by an
instantaneous alteration of the Warrior's course; the lat-
ter, circumstance, however, says nothing, of course, to the
discredit of this noble invention. It is said she will remain
here some daye, under the command of Rear-Admiral
Smart, of the Revenge, who is in charge of the squadron;
and already the Warrior has drawn immense crowds, but
none are allowed on board. She lies anchored in the man-
of-war roadstead."

MR. AND MRS. ST. LEGER.—The London friends
of these artists will be interested to read the paragragh
here quoted below from a recent number of the Dublin
Evening Packet :—" Mr. H. St. Leger, a well-known
musical amateur, yesterday invited several eminent pro-
fessors, and distinguished lovers of music, to hear some
modern and classical pianoforte works and new songs, in
'one of the saloons of Russell's pianoforte warerooms.
Among those who performed, Miss Flynn and Mr. Theo-
dore Logior claim special notice. On playing the fine duet,
composed by Moscheles, on two grand pianos, called
'Homage to Handel,' the applause was so great that
they were obliged to repeat the piece, which they did with
(if possible) increased effect. Miss Flynn then charmed
her audience with several solos by Chopin, Mendelssohn,
Gottschalk, Mayer, &c., which she performed with exqui-
site taste and brilliant execution. Mrs. Lumsden and
several distinguished amateurs then sang some of Mr. and
Mrs. St. Leger's new songs, including " The Angel
Mother," " You Still may Trust in Me," and " Somebody
is Waiting for me." We were much pleased with the two
songs composed by Mrs. St. Leger for the occasion, called
" The Colleen Bawn," and "Dew is Gemming Flower and
Spray." The Inatinee was concluded by Mr. Theodore
Logier performing several solos on the piano by Chopin,
Liszt, &c. We were particularly struck with "Rigoletto"
by the last-mentioned celebrated performer and composer,
and a prayer and march composed by Mrs. St. Leger oz..
pressly for the band of the 60th Rifles.