The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-05 00:00:00

NEW STRAND THEATRE.

The story of Alcestis has been turned into a bur-
lesque with considerable talent by a son of Sir
Thomas Talfourd, and his work was produced last
right. fie has followed pretty closely the outline of
Euripides' tragedy, and hence his piece does not
ab :mod in strong burlesque situations. His great
strength is shown in his dialogue, which is bristling
throughout with puns, some of which are quite new,
and remarkably good, while others smack somewhat
( f antiquity. Of the use of popular melodies in
works of this kind, Air. Talfourd has a keen percep-
tion, and we have rarely heard comic songs tell
with better effect than in this piece of Alcestis. The
EuripiCean dramatis persome, consisting of Admetus, '
Hercules, 'Thanatos (here callrd " Orcus"), and
Alce•tis, are very well played by Messrs. Compton,
W. Farren, jun., 11. Farren, and Mr. Leigh Mur-
ray; but the character that is most conspicuous is a
policeman extraneous to the plot, who is a sweetheart
to the housemaid of Alcestis, and is played by Mr.
Shslders. That gen'leman, who is the scene-painter
to the theatre, has a countenance rernatkably fitted
for comic expression, and great talent in the art of
inaking droll grimaces. if hi, peculiarity does not
lead him astray, there is much chance of his taking a
position as an original comic actor. The piece was
received with the loudest plaudits, and the author
being called, walked across the stage.

SOUTH SEA COMPANY.—The half yearly meeting
of the court of proprietors of thil company was held yester-
day, at the South Sea House, Threadneedle-street ; George
Franks. Esq., sub-governor of the company, in the chair.
The secretary read a statement of the affairs of the company
made up to the sth inst., with an account of its clear re-
venue and profits during the past half-year, from which it
appeared that the company's stock, consisting of Three per
Ceet. Annuitie,, Three per Cent. Reduced Annuities, Old and
New South Sea Annuities, and other public securities,
amounted to 819,098/. 14s. ltd., to be set against debts and
liabilities amounting to 725,T,091. 19s. 7d. There was,
therefore, a surplus sufficient to allow of a dividend of
per cent. for the half year, and to leave a balance in favour
of the company of k 9,7911. 19s. The income for the half-
year amounted to 154,82.8/. Is. 3d., and the expenditure to
89,8:38/. Os. 10d , leaving a balance of 64,9901. Cs. sd. Of
this amount the half-year's dividend consumed 64,098/. 14s.
6,1., while a surplus remains of 8911. ss. lid. to be carried to
the next halt-year's account. The chairman they moved
that the accounts as read be received, and that a dividend
be declared at the rate of l per cent. for the half-year on
the company's stock, payable at the same time with the Go-
vernment annuities. The motion was agreed to and the
court immediately adjourned.

DEATH OF SIR. RALPH RlCE.—This gentleman
died on the 3d instant, at his residence in the Royal
Crescent, Brighton, aged sixty-nine. The deceased was
member of an old CarmarthensLire family, latterly settled in
Surrey. He was called to the bar by the Inner Temple in
1805, and went the western circuit far a considerable period.
In 1817 he was appointed Recorder of Penang, and he sub-
sequently became one of the Puisne Judges of the Supreme
Court in Bombay.
Taoors FROM THE CAPE —On Wednesday after,-
noon,invalids of corps serving at the Cape of Good Hope ar-
rived at Fort Pitt, Chatinun, from Gravesend, at which
place they disembarked from the ship Protector, or 400 tons
burden, Captain Crouch. The detachments consist of 1 man
of the 6th Foot; 2 sergeants and 14 privates of the Ist bat-
talion, and 2 sergeants, 1 corporal, and 7 privates, 2d bat-
talion of the 45th Regiment; also, 2 corporals, 10 privates,
73d, and 6 men of the 2d battalion 91st Regiment, and 2 men
of the Ist battalion Rifle Brigade, with 1 sergeant and 4 pri-
vates of the Cape Mounted Rifles; 3 women, and 14 childrea
c Ine with the above in charge of Major William Glendon-
wyn Scott, 91st. Dr. Brinsley Nicholson, of the Medical Staf4
had medical charge of the troops.

OPENING OF THE VICTORIA Doss AT HULL.--
This new duck was opened on Wednesday with the usual for-
malities. At the time of high water, about eleven o'clock,
the lock-gates were opened, a task hich was not accom-
plished without some difficulty, in consequence of the stormy
state of the weather. The approach of the Trinity House
yacht, which was the first vessel to enter, was hailed with
loud cheers by the assembled multitude; other vessels,
yachts, and steamers, followed in her wake. At the conclu-
sion of the ceremony, and after a variety of speeches had
been delivered, the various authorities that took part in the
proceedings adjourned to the Dock House to lunch. In the
evening the Dock Company gave a sumptuous dinner, which
was attended by about 20J gentlemen connected with the
docks and port of Bull, including also the Mayor andm em-
hers of the corporation, and the resident gentry of the im-
mediate neighbourhood. From the boisterous state of,. the
weather some accidents were apprehended, but as far as: we
know, fortunately none occurred. -
The railway line of the Manchester, Shefneld, _and
Lincolnshire Company, running out of the Great Northern
line beycnd Saxilby to Rettord, was to have been opened
by
Th
the Great Northern Company on Monday last.
route was named in the time-tables; but the Manchester,new
Sheffield, stud Lincolnshire Company blocked up.pie line
The Great Northern
with trucks, set up zed flags, and even grotemen to lie across
;rains up to Gainsbo-
end thence along the line of the other com-
pany.—Lincoln 211er cm; y.
twi-ieeremtellearietfoorte'rceovnTptelliejed uteiseriutn. t thleteliirn
MONUMENT TO ARCUDISIIOP HOWLEY.—The mo-
nument to the memory of this most reverend prelate has lately
been erected in Canterbury Cathedral, nearly opposite to the
throne. It is a recumbent statue, after the mediaeval style,
with the Book of Life clasped in death to his heart.
BEDFORD GAOL.—Mr. Charles Foster, the chief
clerk to the governor at. Prison, was, at the Bed-
fordshire Quarter Sessions, on Tuesday, appointed governor
of the Bedford Gaol. There were sixty candidates.

The Provincial Papers rcecived yesterday are,
as might be expected, uoanim6us in their expressions of
regret at the loss experienced by the country by the death of
Sir Robert Peel.

One of the coaches running between this town and
Sunderland passed along the high Level Bridge, on Tues-
day last, being the first four-in-hand ever driven along that
magnificent structure.— Naccastk Journal.