The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-06 00:00:00

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.

The energetic lessee of this theatre seems fully alive to
the importance of securing a continuance of the tide of good
fortune which has set in at his theatre. "As You Like
It" is announced for Tuesday next, in which Miss Mary
Provost—a lady new to the metropolis—will appear as
Rosalind, Mr. Phelps as Jacques, and Mr. H. Vezin as
Orlando. The great attraction, however, will be the pro-
duction of Othello, with Mr. Fechter as the Moor, and, ac-
cording to rumour, Mr. Ryder as lago, Mr. W. Farren as
Cassie, Miss Reynolds as Desdemona, and Miss Elsworthy
as Emilia. If this be the cast, we cannot but think
it is exceedingly weak, considering the great amount
of talent now at the command of Mr. Harris. The public
have looked forward to the production of " Othello" with
great interest, believing that Mr. Phelps, our best English
actor, would sustain the part of lago, and thus fairly enter
the lists with the talented Frenchman. How such is not
to be the case we cannot say, but we should imagine Mr.
Phelps cannot refuse to play the part from any fear of un-
favourable comparisons being drawn between him and Mr.
Fechter. Surely Mr. Fechter cannot object to Mr. Phelps.
Both gentlemen are great in their.respective lines, which
are as distinct as possible. Besides, Mr. Phelps, we
should think, would gladly embrace such an oppor-
tunity, as he is a thorough artist, and one
far above that paltry, petty jealousy so prevalent
amongst our actors. Then, again, Desdemona ; with
Miss Heath in the Theatre, it is inexplicable why
Miss Reynolds is to play the part; and although Miss
Elsworthy will sustain Emilia very well, Miss Atkinson
would give a more forcible reading of the part. Mr. -Wm.
Farren, according to the line of business he has been play-
ing, is about the last man on the stage who ought to
attempt the part of Cassio. He is undoubtedly very good
in the lover parts in modern comedy, such as those pro-
duced at the Haymarket Theatre, which, if the cast be cor-
rect, he is about to quit-, but Shakspere is far beyond his
power. Mr. Harris cannot have been at a loss for a gen-
tleman able to support the part of Cassie, as he has in his
company one who has been generally accepted as the legi-
timate successor to Charles Kemble, viz., Mr. H. Vezin.
At Sadler's Wells last season he was entrusted by Mr.
Phelps with many of the parts he himself for years
performed, and those who had the good fortune
to witness his Leonatus Posthumus in " Cymbe-
line," Mark Antony in " Julius Caesar," and Romeo,
enjoyed a gratification not often afforded to the oldest play-
goer. Yet with this gentleman in the company, Mr.
William Farren has been selected for the part of Cassio.
Truly this is one of the curiosities of management. Mr. Shore
will make a very good Roderigo, as of late he has made
Shakspeare his study, and has not been inapt at his task.
The caste, we fully expected, would have been as follows :
Othello, Mr. Fechter; lago, Mr. Phelps, sen. ; Cassie, Mr.
Vezin ; Brabantio, Mr. Ryder; Roderigo, Mr. Shore; Des-
damona, Miss Heath; and Emilia, Miss Atkinson. With
all these artistes in the theatre, the wonder is why it is not
so.

BAYSWATER ROAD RAILWAY.—The adjourned
meeting of the Metropolis Road Commissioners in reference
to this railway was held yesterday at the offices, White-
hall-place. The previous meeting, on the 20th June, was
called by Lord Portman and Sir John Shelley, commis-
sioners, and was numerously attended. On that occasion
Mr. Train applied for permission to extend his line of rails
through Notting-hill, and also to make a double line, and
the application was supported by amemorial signed by some
thousand persons. On other hand, Mr. J. E. Bradfield,
applied that the original order made by the commissioners
last November should be revoked, which application was
supported by a memorial signed by Mr. Beresford Hope,
Lord Harrington. and about 2,000 of the most influential
residents in the neighbourhood, and others, who claimed a
free right over the highway. Mr. Dunford. and Mr. Harvey
appeared on behalf of the tradespeople of Notting-hill, and
made a similar application to that of Mr. Bradfield. The
commissioners decided to take the opinion of counsel on a
legal question; and yesteriay, having met, they resolved,
by a large majority, that the present rails should be re-
moved, and the road restored to its original state ; and they
gave Mr. Train to the 4th October to carry out their reso-
lution.

THE CHANNEL FLEET AT KTRICIVALL.—We are
indebted for the following to the Orkney lierald:—" On
Saturday morning intelligence reached this place that the
seven vessels of the Channel Fleet now cruising on the
east coast had left Leith, and that their next port of destina-
tion was Kirkwall. On Monday intelligence was received
that the vessels were tacking about between Tankerness
and the south end of the island of Shapinsha, and were
moving down towards Kirkwall, the wind being westerly,
nearly right ahead, but, as the tide was turning also against
them, it was thought they would anchor in some of the bays
outside till the evening. However, they kept moving on, led
by the Revenge, Admiral Smart's flagship, and it was sur-
prising even to those best acquainted with the rapid cross
tides and difficult navigation of these narrow channels how
the large war-ships were managed. They moved slowly
on, sounding their way, and by half-past 12 the Admiral's
ship anchored off Carness Point, in Kirkwall Roads. Half
an hour afterwards she was followed by the Aboukir, which
anchored to the right or north side of the Revenge. A
strong adverse tide, running at the rate of 10 miles an hour,
having now sot in, the wind also being right against them,
and n
Nthe the other five vessels anchored in the Bay of Holland; and
between seven and ten in the evening they all entered the
ith
Roads, and anchored to the north and west of the Revenge.
The weather continues gusty, wind west, and frequent
thick, drizzling showers, some of which came on in the fore-
noon
just when the vessels were passing between Shapinsha
ad the, ainlan
VICWd
, an ii
t themagnificentinterferer
Nss
bothwit.ehteh:es
fromsi gnalling
the
.t,,hhe Aore.di A salute of 13 guns was fired from the fort when
Lirai's ship east anchor, which was frcmptly an-
swered by the Revenge, The fleet is expected to remain
here till Saturday."

REPRESENTATION OF LONGFORD.—The election
of a member for the county of Longford, in the room of
Col. Henry White, retired, took place on Thursday. The
only candidate proposed was Col. Luke White, who was,
therefore, duly elected.