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
night. He has followed pretty closely the outline of
Euripides' tragedy, and hence his piece does not
abJuod 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
of antiquity. Of the use of popular melodies in
works of this kind, Mr. Talfourd has a keen percep-
tion, and we have rarely heard comic songs tell
with better effect than in this piece of Alcestis. The
Euripidean dramatis persona, consisting of Admetus,
Hercules, Thanatos (here calltd " Orcus"), Lnd
Alcestis, 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.
Shalders. That gentleman, who is the scene-painter
to the theatre, has a countenance remarkably fitted
for comic expression, and great talent in the art of
mAing droll grimaces. If his 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 this 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
Cent. Annuities, Three per Cent. Reduced Annuities,Old and
New South Sea Annuities, and other public securities,
amounted to 819,098/. 14s. 101, to be set against debts and
liabilities amounting to 725,f-,09/. 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 .9,7911. 19s. The income for the half-
year amounted to 154,828!. Is. 3d., and the expenditure to
89,838/. Os. 10d , leaving a balance of 64,990/. es. sd. Of
this amount the half-year's dividend consumed 6408/. 14s.
6a., while a surplus remains of 891/. ss. 11d, to be canried
to
the next halt-year's account. The chairman then knoved
that the accounts as read be received, and that a dividend
be declared at the rate of 1 per cent. for the half-yeas- on
the company's stock, payable at the same time with the 00-
vernment annuities. The motion was agreed to and the
court immediately adjourned.
DEATH or 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 iu
Surrey. He was called to the bar by the Inner Temple in
1805, and went the western circuit for a considerable period.
In 1817 he was al pointed Recorder of Penang, and he sub-
sequently became one of the Puisne Judges of the Suprereie
Court in Bombay.
TRoors FROM THE CAPE —On Wednesday after-
noon invalids of corps serving at the Cape of Good Hope ar-
rived' at Fort Pitt, Chatham, 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 Fcot ;-2 sergeants and 14 privates of the Ist i'at-
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 children
c Ane with the above in charge of Major William Glendon-
wyn Scott, 91st. Dr. Brinsley Nicholson, of the Medical ;Staff',
had medical charge of the troops.
OPENING OF THE VICTORIA DOCK AT HULL.--•
This new dock 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 which 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 20) gentlemen connected with the
docks and port of Hull, including also the Mayor andme.'ll-
- of the corporation, and the resident gentry of the . im-
mediate neighbourhood. From the boisterous state of he
weather some accidents were apprehended, but as far es."
know, fortunately none occurred.
The railway line of the Manchester, Sheffield, and
Lincolnshire Company, running out of the Great Nor
ettle.rn
line beyond Saxilby to Retford, was to have been open a by
the Great Northern Company on Monday lash
d up the line
Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Company blocked
to lie across
Manchester,
route route was named in the time-tables; but the
with trucks, set up red flags, and even etem_
Great Northeen
the metal to prevent the use of the f.ine.t
ro wereught, ashe usual,
reforecoamndpetlhleedncteo
arluenngthtehter
liner
mest
thetootGhearincsor_
pany.—Lincoln Mer cut y.
MONUMENT TO ARCHBISHOP ITOWLET.--Tbe 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 medizeval
eti 11e,
with the Book of Life clasped in death to his heart.
BEDFORD GAOL.—Mr. Charles Foster, the chief
clerk to the governor at Blillbank Prison, was, at the Bed-
fordshire Quarter Sessions, on Tuesday, appointed governor
of the Bedford Gaol. There were sixty candidates.
The Provincial Papers received yesterday are,
as might be expected, unanimous in their expressions of
regret at the loss experienced by the country by the death of
Sir Robert Peel.
One of the coaches running tetween this town and
Sunderland passed along the High Level Etidge, on Tues-
day last, being the first four-in-Laud ever driven along that
magnificent structure. Noccostle Journal.