The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-24 00:00:00

OLI 211P1C THEATRE.

- -
The season at this favourite place of amusement
was brought to a close last evening, when the fol-
lowing address was delivered by its spirited and
popular manager, Mr. Robson :
" Ladies and Gentlemen,—After a season that
has lasted nearly two years, and has therefore in-
cluded something like eight seasons—a common
measure—l venture to bid you a short farewell. If
I wanted to sacrifice fact for the sake of a happy
illusion, I should say 1 was about to repose in my
chimney corner, but as this happens to be the
month of August, when people think more of cool
sea breezes than of warm firesides, I am perfectly
certain you would not believe me. Our old-fashioned
farmers are in the habit of hanging gammon of
bacon in their chimneys, but here is a case in which
even gammon and chimneys must be utterly discon-
nected, especially as I wish sincerely to refer to a
very serious subject. That .constant intercourse that
has been long maintained between us, delightful
to me, and I trust, not unpleasant to you, has this
year been interrupted by my sudden and severe
illness. However, this affliction has proved to me a
source of high gratification, for it has served to shoW
that my friends are more numerous than I had dared
to hope: The many public inquiries that were made
respecting my health during a period of pain and
prostration have left so deep an impression on my
mind, that I feel more strongly than ever the tie,
that of obligation, that binds me to my generous
patrons. Both my partner and myself must plead
guilty to the charge of introducing Little Rebell
into our generally orderly establishment, but as you
seem to have been gratified by the innovation, I
need offer no apologies on that subject. There is
one matter, however, of which I am entirely guilt-
less. Taking advantage of my illness, my partner,
who prides himself on being a moral man, entered
into an engagement—the sly rogue—with A Charm-
inn. Woman.' Aye, and he is quite ready to hear
all the responsibility of his indiscretion ; for, it
seems, you compliment him on his taste, and acknow-
ledge that the lady in question is a very charming
woman. indeed ; and—whisper, let me tell you—but
this is between ourselves—she is so much flattered
by your good opinion, that she means to remain
with us during the whole of next season. On the
23d of September we shall, I trust, meet again, end
my partner and myself will be found true to cur
old principle of establishing our theatre as a place
where smiles are frequent and hearty, tears few
and gentle, and blushes altogether unknown. Till
then, grateful for the past, hopeful for the future,
we both bid you farewell."

PRIESTS AND B RIVANDS IN NA P LES

__T ____~

The following details respecting the priests and
brigands in Naples are furnished by a letter in the
Nord of the 17th of August:—
"The authorities have just made a razzia of priests and
monks. From Castellamare to Sorrento, 28 were arrested
yesterday. In the evening, they were taken to the pre-
fecture of police. A similar course, it is said, will be pur-
sued towards all the monks and ecclesiastics who, since
the departure of his Eminence Cardinal Riario, carry on a
systematic opposition against the Government. Sermons,
marked by the greatest violence against King Victor
Emmanuel and Liberal Institutions, have been preached
on Sunday in several churches. The clergy have been
warned officially that they must restrict themselves
to their mission of peace, love, and charity, other-
wise the authorities will act against them with vigour. They
have not paid the slightest attention to the warning, and
their language is more and morn passionate and furious.
"Last night the official journal published one of those
sombre bulletins which recal the laconism of the Republic
of Venice. It is as follows 7

" Tragneto-Monforte, Aug. 14, 7 p m.
" 6 Yesterday morning at dawn justice. was executed on
Pontelandolfo and C'asalduni.' "
" The fo'lowing details have been furnished me by an
ocular witness :

" ' A detachment of 40 men of the 4th Regiment of the
line came a few days ago to these two villages, which had
become the refuge of brigands and of mutinous soldiers of
the provinces of Nolise and Benevento. There were also a
certain number of reactionaries wh' had escaped from the
battle of Montefalcione.

" ' At a given signal, after having been received w;th re-
the soldiers were
aptetaateekde
de r
bi eys t ohfe ‘h,
tLi
goanagd
eli
andve
itapelYasla"nts, who massacred
them to a man with the exception of a sergeant.
" ' To take vengeance on this ambuscade, two battalions
of sharpshooters surrounded on Wednesday the two villages
of Pontelandolfo and Casalduni. A flag of truce was sent
by daybreak to insist on the guilty being given up. The
flag of truce was received with a volley of musketry. To
exhit their defiance and contempt, the brigands threw
down from the roofs of the houses which they had barri.
ceded the heads and limbs of the wretched soldiers
a n d
d,
e s
pwahi
ro,
had perished by their hands. It was then that the two
battalions of sharpshooters, excited by fury
advanced, took by storm the two villages, and killed all
their defenders. They spared the lives of the old men,
the women, and the children. They then set fire to the two
villages, the greater part of which in a few hours was a
prey to the flames; "

Some of the most trustworthy advices from India
by the last mail state that, although the price of opium had
again fallen, the quotation being 1,390 r., and there WAS a
prospect of a still further decline during the present month,
it was strongly doubted if the revenue for the year would
exhibit any material reduction from Mr. Laing's estimate.
A. rather alarming articlein one of the Calcutta papers was
regarded as having overstated the ease, since it makes no
allowance for the high prices realised at the two Govern-
ment sales which had previously taken place, or for the
increased quantity of the crop. According to a rough cal-
culation the belief was, that casting accounts to May next,
and taking credit for increased quantity in Bengal and
Bombay, and the receipts from additional duty at the latter
Presidency, Mr. Laing's estimate will be about fulfilled.
Dn. LIVINGSTONE'S EXPEDITION.--The follow-
ing letter has been received from Dr.
r. Livivyinigeastroler:=l" On
board Pioneer, at Sea, Feb. 15, 186
urn
desired by Mr. King to enclose an answer to his communi-
cation of Sept. 13, 1860, to you. You will see that I cannot
recommend our coloured brethren to try their skill in
Africa. We found that our Kroomen even, from West
Coast, suffered from fever ; and it is well known that resi-
rdearnhcaeins
maoh re so
ot
beeli rucuattoeffraesndEeursro;heaenms rite as liable,
p
a slight attack
prostrates them. When lately at Victoria Falls my brother
had a severe altack, took our remedy, and marched next
day on foot. Africans do not possess the energy of Euro-
peans, and need about as many comforts. The event of
most intere-t and importance in this out-of-the-world re-
gion is the arrival of Bishop Mackenzie and his staff of
missionaries. They look a fine set of fellows ail of them,
and the bishop is without doubt the A 1 of the party. The
appear to have sound practical views of the work before
them, and with all my heart I wish them success. We have
areal steamer at last, and, with God's blessing, will now d
some service. Our hindrances have turned out for the best,
but no thanks to the agents who hindered us,"