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

STRAND THEA TRE.

Not to be Done is the title of a new farce, which
was produced here last evening, and which, thanks to
the excellent acting of Mr. Leigh Murray, Mr. H.
Farren, and Miss H. Marshall, achieved a great suc-
cess. The scene takes place at a certain New Year's"
day party, and the plot turns on an agreement en-
tered into between two young men, that whichever of
them remained single on the day of the party should
pay to the other 1001., if the other had, in the mean-
time, married. One of them, represented by Mr.
Leigh Murray, is really married, and the other, re-
presented by Mt. H. Farren, in order to avoid pay-
ment of the bet, introduces a servant girl (admirably
acted by Miss M. Marshall) as his wife; who, by her
intense vulgarity, soon arouses the suspicions
of his opponent, who, retiring shortly afterwards, re-
turns as a drunken ld cobbler, who pretends to be
the father of the pretended wife, having sufficiently
disgusted the pretended husband, and roused the ire of
his uncle at this mesallianfe, he retires, but only to
return as a snuffy old woman, the mother of the
damsel ; the advent of the mother is too much, the
pretended husband repudiates his wife, confesses the
trick, and pays the one hundred pound; to his oppo-
nent, who was " not to be done." The acting of Mr.
Leigh Murray in these different .disguises exhibited a
versatility for the possession of which the world had
not previously given him credit. Mr. H. Farren was
excessively amusing, and the vulgarity of Miss M.
Marshall was gloriously rich. At the fall of the
curtain the applause was general. The house
was crowded.

IMPROVEMENT OF THE HIGHLAND SMALL TE-
NANTRY. —PORTREE, SKYE, APRIL 29. Last week a
numerous and influential meeting was held in the Court
House here, for the purpose of establishing a Hebridean
Branch of the Royal Patriotic Society of Scotland. At the
instance and through the medium of the Perthshire Ladies'
Relief Association, the secretary of the former institution has
been employed during the past month in selecting industrious
small tenants, putting them upon an improved system of
husbandry, whereby their produce may be largely increased,
obtaining leases for them of the various proprietors,
advancing seed corn, guano, &c., and making arrangements
for further advances or small loans, to enable them to con-
struct improved cottages, after the models of the above so-
ciety. The poor Highlanders have hailed such truly judi-
cious and patriotic efforts for their amelioration with un-
feigned gratitude, and at the meeting at Portree, on the
25th instant, which was attended by ministers of various
religious denominations, and by the influential inhabitants
of the island, expressions of approval of the principles of
the Royal Patriotic Society were unanimously made, and
thanks were voted to the Perthshire Ladies' Highland Re-
lief A.3sociation for the carrying out of those principles, and
the commencement of an enlightened and an efficient sys-
tem of permanent amelioration, and the only source of
regret are that it was not earlier commenced and is not co-
extensive with the destitution with which it- is requisite to
grapple.
EXTRAORDINARY BLAST OF ROCK.—At the Silver
Mine Lime Works, Linlithgowsbire, the property of Robert
Aitken, Esq., 3,700 tons of stones were recently raised at
one blast. The quantity of powder used to detach this im-
mense weight of stone was 5 cwt. This, we believe, is the
most extraordinary blast of rock which has ever been
effected in Scotland.—Glasgow Mail.
LONDON SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF YOUNG
FEMALES.—The anniversary dinner of this most excellent,
most meritorious, but comparatively ill-supported institution,
took place yesterday at the London Tavern. Lord Robert
Grosvenor, in the absence of Sir Culling Eardley, Bart., took
the chair. Want of space compels us merely to announce,
that Lord Robert Grosvenor, M.P., was compelled to retire
at an early hour, and that his place was filled by Mr. Digby
Seymour, barrister-at-law. Suffice it to say, that seventy
young females, under fifteen years of age, are now fed,
clothed, religiously educated, and fitted for respectable servi-
tude in the asylum at Tottenham. The asylum will accom-
modate at least thirty additional inmates. Many are now
waiting, and if not soon admitted must return to a vicious
course of life. Numerous applications are also continually
being made, but no more can be received for want of funds.
Shall these young creatures continue in sin? or shall the
committee be encouraged by liberal contributions to rescue
from ruin those who are asking day after day for admission?
The dinner was provided with a profusion and taste worthy
of the fame of Messrs. Bathe and Co.

RICHMOND THEATRE.—During the past week the
performances at this theatre have been under the direction
of Mr. F. Butler, late of the Olympic. The pieces performed
were not the best that could have been selected, but what
was done was well done. The only exception to the fore-
going remark, with respect to selection, was She Stoops to
Conquer and The Eton Boy, for which Miss J. Coleman (late
one of the Vestris troupe) was engaged to sustain the part of
the sporting hero, Tom, which she did with much comic
power and success.
[ADVERTISEMENT.]—A Wonderful Cure of Wounds
and a Debilitated Constitution Renovated by Holloway's Oint-
ment and Pills. —lllr. Male, storekeeper, of Gundagai, New
South Wales, states that these medicines have effected a most
astonishing cure on a settler in his vicinity, who was dreadfully
afficted with wounds on various parts of his body—his consti-
tution was so debilitated that his death was considered certain,
but the application of Holloway's Ointment and Pills have per-
formed wonders, for this young man has been completely
cured, and so extraordinary is the case that the Editor of the
Sydney Morning Herald has given publicity to it in his paper
of January 4. 1848.—Sold by all Druggists and at Professor
Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, London.
PRINCESS'S THEATEE.—Contrary to general ex-
pectation, the management of this theatre is to continue in
the hands of Mr. Maddox, who has obtained a renewed lease,
having out-generalled Mr. C. Kean, on the ere of the com-
pletion of all necessary arrangements by the latter gentle-
man for entering into possession. Those, therefore, who
looked forward to the enjoyment next season of an efficient
company, elegant decorations, and all those attractions which
might confidently be anticipated under the auspices of the
Keens and Keeloys, must cantinuet o regale themselves with
the perpetuation of that operatic brilliancy in all its origi-
nality which has so long and deeply fascinated the fre-
quenters of this dazzling house.
NEW QUALIFICATIONS FOR CUSTOM-HOUSE
CLERKS.—The Commissioners of the Board of Customs have
just issued an order that no person can be appointed to fill a
clerkship in the Customs hereafter who has not a knowledge
of the French and German languages, and of arithmetic and
algebra.
IMPROVEMENTS AT KENSINGTON.—The houses
directly opposite the Queen's-road, in High-street, will be
thrown down, and a road to Brompton will be carried on
from that particular point. The barracks which at present
adjoin Kensington will also be removed, and a new pile
erected in another position.

Few will leave the seven apartments decorated
with the works of the exhibitors, for the spring season
of 1850, with anything like feelings of disappoint-
ment. For, with less of those productions which
fail to rise above the level of mediocrity, the collec-
tion for this year is characterised by a larger number
of those rernareable pictures which are manifestly
the effusions of artistic genius. Unfortunately we
have cause to mourn over the permanent disappear-
ance from the ranks of the principal competitors
of one whose labours have materially tended
to advance the cause of Art in Eng-
land, and whose reputation even before his
demise had already grown up into classic propor-
tions. With all his undoubted blemishes—blemishes
more especially visible to the painstaking hypercriti-
cism of this age of perverse and petulant depreciation
—William Etty had nevertheless capacities so ripened
by reflection and practice as to compensate, nay, even
more than compensate, for his conspicuous deficiencies
in idealized delicacy and refinement. Those who could
pass unmoved by any sentiments of pride or admira-
tion round the gallery not long since adorned by the
collected works of this great master, those who could
not experience some emotions of exultation in the
powers which had there tended to honour and to ele-
vate the school of British artists, and which, while
realising some of the dreams of our national ambition,
had the yet further merit of exciting much prospec-
tive emulation, will of course traverse, this.season, the
rooms of the Royal Academy without one regret for
the distinguished artist whose genius and industry
have so often enhanced the value of its annual exhi-
bitions. Others there are, we are gratified to know,
who will turn in grateful retrospect to the memory
of Etty, as to that of not one of the least of the de-
ceased academicians. Among such individuals,
we are satisfied that it will be a matter
rather of annoyance than of pleasure to find an in-
different trifle like "The Toilet" (276) paraded as a
specimen of the late Mr. Etty's abilities. Had none
of his productions displayed more beauty than this
coarse and uncomely female, he would scarcely have
elicited from us at his departure a panegyric which,
to our mind, is not more earnest than it is deserved.
Another of the great masters of the Royal
Academy demands from us some sorrowful
consideration ; for, although his life is still
happily spared, his genius has long since
departed. We say this advisedly, with all deference
to the opinion of Mr. Ruskin, and with all respect for
the powers formerly displayed by the object of his
idolatry—Joseph Mallord William Turner. Our
homage for the capacities of this extraordinary
painter, as they were revealed in years now, alas !
bygone, can scarcely be surpassed by any less enthu-
siastic than the Oxford graduate. Nevertheless, or
possibly we should say, hence, while acknowledging
a certain charm in the arrangements of
the colouring in his latest productions, we
do most energetically protest against works
so flagrantly defiant of all the rules, even the ele-
mentary rules of art—and of all the laws, the eternal
laws and diurnal appearances of nature. What can
possibly be meant, we should like exceedingly to
know, by the little black dog or diabolical grimalkin
looming in the middle of the picture (192), entitled
" Eneas relating his Story toDido ?" Or w hat, again,
can be the earthly or unearthly meaning of (373) the
" Visit to the Tomb," where the sunset is indicated
by smears of yellow paint such as would be disgrace-
ful as the work of a journeyman glazier. Better than
these, as being somewhat less incomprehensible, is
(174) "Mercury sent to admonish ellneas," and (482)
the "Departure of the Fleet," the whole four being
additional illustrations to that manuscript poem of the
"Fallacies of Hope," which seems to have effected a
most moonlike and dementing influence over Mr. Tur-
ner's imagination. As nothing whatever can be said in
commendation of these eccentric and ultra-capricious
vagaries of the brush, as far as the beautiful is con-
cerned, perhaps we may be permitted to
intimate the possibility of discerning in them
some degree of utility—their motley array of
colours suggesting more brilliant patterns for the
calico printers than the most gorgeous kaleidoscope
ever manufactured. Among the more prominent de-
faulters in reference to the present exhibition we have
reason to regret the non-appearance, this May, as ex-
hibitors, of Mr. Herbert and Mr. Mulready, men
whose supremacy in their different departments en-
ables us but ill to afford their temporary withdrawal
from competition.
Fortunately, however, for the real admirers
of art, we can recognise still many eminent names
in the catalogue, and upon the walls of the different
apartments admire the exquisite products of their in-
dustry. Foremost among them, Mr. Eastlake rivets
our attention by his impressive portrayal of (72)
" The Good Samaritan"—a work which in the severe
simplicity of its treatment, the purity of its colouring,
and the forcefulness of its expression, immediately
arrests our observation. Although, of course from the
very subject of it, with less emotional energy and anima-
tion than the (169) "Escape of Francisco di Carrara,"
copied by Mr. Eastlake from his original production
so entitled, the " Good Samaritan" is immeasurably
superior in point of attraction as well as in general
merit, being in short one of the most successful
effusions of his artistic ability. Edwin Landseer
contributes three pictures to the collection, the two
smaller and less pretentious ones being, to our think-
ing, infinitely preferable to the huge oblong painting
(189) of " A Dialogue at Waterloo ;" and this,
notwithstanding the inimitable representation of
the horses in this historical picture, the felicitous
likeness of the Duke and his daughter-in-law, and
the capital group depicted in the left, where the young
Garde-Chasse has thrown his game on the w
turf, anti
is leisurely enjoying his luncheon. Admirable,ninal
as,.
examples of Mr. Landseer's genius .e as anro animal
of
painter, are (533) "Good Doggie, tn
Lady Murchison," one of the finest ol;; portraits
ever produced; and (281) " The Lost Sheep, ere w e
feel, in looking at
italniost as snow-bitten as
the shepherd, almost as suffocatedtas the sheep, and
a
almost as excited in the search fter the missing un-
fortunate, as the clog
who is yelping barks of distress.
Conspicuous among the works of our English' artists
is the great painting by Paul de la Roche, the artist
par excellence among the present generation of
Frenchmen (369), " Cromwell looking at the Dead
Body of Charles I. —a production of such extraordinary
merit as to deserve this early and especial reference.
It would be well for many if our native painters were
to scan this noble effusion of the genius of M. Paul
de la Roche with that eclectic appreciation which
draws materials for improvement from all themes,
whether foreign or indigenous. Unlike most of his
recent pictures, which have soared into the loftier
regions of the art, Mr. Maclise this year reverts, and
with eminent success, to his earlier style, giving us
his version of that immortal incident in the "Vicar of
Wakefield " (56) " The Gross of Green Spectacles."
Nothing could be more truly or more purely in the
spirit of Goldsmith, more rich in humour or
more geneial in sentiment. Moses, all innocence at
his mishap, explaining with outstretched bands the
circumstances of his bargain, Olivia, looking round
lovingly, but reproachfully too, as if she said—" Oh I
you dear silly fellow, how could you!" Mrs. Primrose,
in horror at the misfortune, the little ones breathless
with curiosty at sight of the boxful of spectacles in
their shegreen cases, and the Vicar scanning
his property with an air at once serious and
saddened. The painting is altogether, in its way,
a masterpiece. Another work by the same artist
(160) represents his " Spirit of Justice," nety,P,ai_nr_t_ehd
in fresco, at the new palace at Westminster. Am-mu6Mr. Webster has contributed no less than four pic-
tures, all of them excellent, and one (98)
" A Cweeherr y-
t
seller," produced with exceeding brilliancy, y
genius of
missed that industry and consummate
humour which last season developed themselves in his
In the humorous,
large picture of thaboys sli ing
nevertheless, the present collection is singularly
rich : instance this,,Leslie's (125) "
Jones showing to Sophia Western herself, as her
best security for
his Good Behaviour ;" his (95)
1 " Beatrice,",inher garden concealment ; and Mr.