The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-04 00:00:00

CANTERBURY HALL.

Last evening, a grand selection from " Lucrezia
Borgia" was performed at this attractive place of enter•
tainment, for the first time, with the most unexampled
Success. The parts of the opera chosen were the solo by
Orsini, and chorus, in which he counsels the avoidance
of the Borgias ; the scena by Lucrezia, " Holy Beauty ;"
the duet by Gennaro and Lucrezia ; and the celebrated
solo and chorus, in which Lucrez;s, is denounced as a
prisoner and an assassin. The first-mentioned piece
was given with great precision, and was loudly applauded,
as was also Lucrezia's scam, and duet. The principal
artistes engaged in the performance were Madame Ma-
rietta, Palmyra, Badzey, Russell, and Brunel' ; Messrs.
Clime, Grover, Melling, and St. Albyn. It was quite de-
lightful to witness the attention of the audience whil-t the
selection was being sung, as it clearly proved the splendid
music was duly appreciated. The success that has
attended these " operatic selections" has exceeded all
expectations, and the proprietor of the Hall really
merits the very high compliment paid him by Lord
William Lennox last night at the London Tavern.

CHRISTY'S MINSTRELS.—This deservedly favourite
troupe of transatlantic artistes, judging from the crowds
'Who nightly fill the Polygraphic-hall, have struck a
"gold placer" equal to any in Australia ; nor do we
wonder at their success, for here harmony and fun go
hand-in-hasd, and nightly we find ourselves laughing
heartily at a joke, and anon again in a melting mood at
oce of those plaintive southern melodies, the rendition
of which have made the Christys' names familiar in
every palace and cottage of the New World. They have
now added to their amusing programme a burlesque on
Jullien's Concert,, which for genuine fun excels any.
thing we have yet seen them do—introducing solos on
monster, indescribable horns, drums, &e. ; and a capital
burlesque on the popular Miss Jetty Treffz, by Mr.
Collins, who sings "Tramp, tramp," with orchestral ac-
companiments that would astonish the original. An
hour could not be spent more pleasantly than by paying
a visit to this comfortable hall, where every one seems
delighted.

MADAME TIISSAUD'S EXHIBITION.—The Potract model
of his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Brazil has just
been completed and placed in the Great-room of this
establishment. His Imperial Majesty was born in Brazil
in the year 1825, and was a son of the late Emperor
Don Pedro and his Empress Leopoldina, an Arch-
duchess of Austria. He is, therefore, descended from
he royal families of Braganza, Bourbon, and Hapsburg,
consequently allied to nearly all the reigning families of
Europe. His Majesty is stated to be a highly educated
man and a perfect constitutional monarch, and is there-
fore greatly beloved by his subjects. His Imperial
Nlajesty is represented in the uniform of an Admiral,
decorated with orders, the chief being the Golden Fleece.
The figure, which is stated to be six feet four in height,
is most life-like and admirably coustructed, being most
cieditable to the artists employed. The likeness is con.
sidered most faithful.

STANDARD THEATRE,—The skilful and successful
manager of this theatre has lately rewarded his patrons
by appearing for a few nights on the stage himself in a
favourite character—that of Ben, the boatswain. Mr.
Douglass is one of the best impersonators that we have
ever seen of the nautical character ; and for vigoir and
activity excels all competitors in the performanse of this
especial part. Yet, with all this excess of dernonstra•
tion, there is a quiet natural vein of acting at the bottom;
and not a wLit more is done than is needed for the Was•
tration of the part and the action. The judicious regu-
lation of the requisite amount of power is that which
most commends itself to us in Mr. Douglass' performance,
and removes it to a great distance from those noisy and
violent exhibitions in which some popular players too
much delight. Points of pathos there are, too, which
are nicely
holetawueghrt to admireecognisela
nr.
Douglas the
out;
thesa a
m egnd on the
ualitiesw:
are
in Mr. T. P. Cooke ; but the class of character is ruder,
nat;id nMorw.
appears almost nightly ,i,tt his own four act drama of
Jamesand i
Ai nmdPearrssonn isat
isqni stthaerrrei nf ogr ea't this et
hs Pe
aont rdee,
" Cloud and Sunshine, which is received with con.
tinued approbation. It is placed on the boards in a
s yle of splendour well calculated to enhance its success.
On Tuesday a new actor appeared in the touching part
of Belphegor—Mr. Brady], announced as from the Man-
chester theatre, a gentleman evidently well qualified to
prosper on these boards. His performance was scholarly
and intelligent ; commanded great respect and much
applause ; and, altogether, we must pronounce that the
debutant was most favourably received.—lllustrated
London, News, Oct. 31.

THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK.—Yesterday, a rather ire.
portant application in the affairs of this unfortunate con-
cern was made to Mr. Pugh, the judge at his Honour
Vice-Chancellor Kindersley's Chambers, by Mr. Henry
Harris, solicitor, on behalf of certain shareholders who
were induced, under fraudulent representations, to take
shares in the bank under the company's supplements]
charter. Mr. Harris contended that, under the autho-
rity of Brockwell's case, in the same bank, where it was
decided that a contract founded in fraud was legally no
contract at all, his clients were entitled to be re-
leased from all liability. After some observations
from Mr. Burton, solicitor for Mr. Harding, the offi-
cial manager, and Mr. Vandercome for the official
assignee, the judge decided that as the case of Brock-
well would, he was informed, be taken on appeal
to the Lord Chancellor (and probably to the House of
Lords) the application, though an important and proper
. one, must be postponed, Mr. Harris observing that some
of the cases were (..f poor men who had been trepanned by
the company's officers to take their shares at a time when
the concern was virtually insolvent.
DE,TRUCTION BY FIRE OP THE MUSIC-HALL, BRIGHTON'.
—Yesterday morning, about a quarter to 4 o'clock, an
alarm was given that the Sussex Music-hall, Edward..
street, was again on fire, and the police were quickly on
the spot with the fire hosing, but all attempts to get the
fire under were utterly useless, and in less than half an
hour after its discovery it had burnt itself out; and this
place of amusement is once more a complete wreck.
There is not a piece of timber standing sufficient to make
a Lucifer match; the interior of the wall presents no
other view than a heap of charcoal and fragments of
iron pillars. So sudden was the conflagration that not
a thing was saved, and from the facts which we have
gleaned, the interior must have been completely gutted
before the fire was observed, which was not done till the
roof fell in, when the flames shot high into the air, ilia•
ininatisg for a few moments the buildings around us, as
far as the Town-hall, and then gradually died out,
leaving nothing but the smouldering ruins for the water
to play upon. The property is uninsured.
A MOST BLOODY DUEL.—A duel took place between
Mr. C. M. Blair and Colonel Casey, at Stockton, which
resulted in the death of the latter. We quote from
the Stockton, Argus the following particulars, which
show this to be about the bloodiest and most
desperate duel on record :—" A. duel came off at an
early hour on Tuesday morning, a few miles from this
city, between Mr. C. M. Blair and Colonel Casey, both
of Merced County. A bitter animosity has for some
time past existed bet wean the parties, growing out of a
rivalry in the effort to obtain the hand of Mies L----, a
young lady of prepossessing personal appearance and
accomplishments, at present residing with her father
ou the Stanislaus. Mr. Blair and Colonel Casey
met in the bar-room of the Webber-house, on Mon-
day morning, each accompanied by friends, where
conversation ensued between them, at first apparently
in a friendly manner ; but Blair, becoming vexed at the
indifference which his rival assumed, made some
severe charges, which Casey denounced as false, and at
stehveeresambleow with histime,risio fist.fr C
from his
isseseat, drewh
struckis
voler,
r eßlaivra,
but was prevented using it by persons present. Blair,
being unarmed, stepped back, but was pursued
by Casey, who dealt him another severe blow upon
the face. The friends of the parties, however,
succeeded in preventing bloodshed arid restoring
order, shortly after which arrangements were
made for a settlement of the difficulty by other mews..
Yesterday morning was fixed as the time of meeting, at
a place three miles from the city, where the parties met
at about daylight, accompanied by a few spectators. The
ground was measured, a distance of ten paces, and, the
word being given, shots were exchanged. On the first fire
each party missed aim. The second shot took effect
upon Casey, causing a slight flesh wound. Upon at.
tempting the third shot the cylinder upon Casey's pistol
refused to revolve in consequence of an exploded cap
lodging upon the tube. Firing was then discontinued
forn ooe resumed.ssio n Each
without
wle Bclradi,r.
three of which took effect upon Casey, about
(Colt'sten
six
shooters) miri ut e s
w,
er
o during
reloaded
which
ve
strhyeexowohhaeitatonphgosenrds,
andsix firingshots wi ans acignai
oink
escaped without injury.
shot The wmhoisoth d
dangerous wound
received
by Casey
was
peri-
toneum or abdominal lining. A ball also passed through
the abdominal muscles. Notwithstanding the wounds
received by Colonel Casey, it is said that
lie exhibited an apparent unconcern throughout
the firing. He was Lrought into the city by his friends,
and is at present at the Magnolia-house. Blair, as might
have been cep, cted, has made his escape, probably to
await the result of Casey's wounds. We have known
Cal. Casey for a Lumber of years as one of the earliest
settlere upon the farming lands along the Tuolumne
tna
eds easst ehe mg
gentled t
lboym
eanlarge
worthy
rcolfe
aollf
rifriendsysr„
andli e inse
qk
csnfidence ; and we trust that the unfortunate affair in
which he has becerce involved may not terminate
:atally. The duel was, undoubtedly, one of the most
desperate en record, and we only regret the neces-
sity that compelled the resort to such hazardous means
of adjusting a personal difficulty." The San Joaqui4
Repubican says that, badly wounded as Col. Casey was,
he insisted upon having another round of six shots each
which his homes, of course, prohibited.—Californian
Paper.

r.