The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-29 00:00:00

" TO AIR. WEBSTER.

" Sir,—l have been deputed by my brother actors,
many authors, and all the officers and artizans of the
Little Theatre in the Haymarket,' to present you with a
testimonial of their regard for you, and by which they
desire to mark and commemorate an event unprecedented
in the history of the drama—an event that the annals of
the stage, throughout its best days, have never been
able to record—and that is, a successful and uninter-
rupted season of four hundred nights. Four hundred
consecutive nights, without, on any occasion, closing the
doors for a special rehearsal, and on no pretekt whatever
making the slightest deduction from the stipend of any
one person who has had the good fortune to be employed
in your establishment.
" It was originally intended that the entire Haymarket
company should unite in celebrating this dramatic tri-
umph, but a majority of the ladies, with that enthusiasm
so characteristic of our sex, felt anxious at once to ex-
press their feelings for you, which they did to their sa-
tisfaction, and I am sure to your own. I preferred,
with another sister actress (Mrs. Fitzwilliam), to join
my brethren, and though there has been a division in the
mode of doing a proud and pleasant thing, yet the
hearty intention has been well and cheerfully carried
out by all. _ _ _ _

" And belive me, that we feel still higher gratification
in presenting you this testimonial, when we know it also
records your firm encouragement of English talent ;
proud are we to declare that the Haymarket Theatre
has been English " from top to toe "—ay, "my lord,
from head to foot " with English actors, English arti-
zans, English comedies, and, to crown all, ever a full
and joyous English audience, to appreciate them.
And more honourable yet is your triumph, still
more deserved, when we are conscious that circumstances
—imperative, no doubt—have prevented your efforts
being cheered by that high patronage which would make
our English hearts beat with gratitude, and, indeed,
teach us how to act "—our poets how to write. Still a
fostering public has enabled you effectively to present
the comedies of the noblest drama in the world, as the
honoured names of Shakspere, Massinger, Congreve,
Cibber, Vanbrugh, Goldsmith, Sheridan, Inchbald, Col-
man, Centlivre, Murphy, Morton, amongst the dead ;
and our Sheridan Knowles, with Bulwer, and many
others, amongst the living, whose names have appeared
in your bills, during the four hundred nights, can suc-
cessfully and gloriously testify.
" That you may long continue in your honourable
career is the wish of all who know you, and may the
spirit and enterprise that so lately led you to make a
munificent effort to discover hidden dramatic literary
talent, never fail of receiving that encouragement from
the public which is its due.
" And now, Sir, allow me to present you with that
epergne, in commemoration of the event I have named,
and with the heartfelt wishes of all your brother and
sister actors and actresses, and every person in the
theatre, for your health, happiness, and success, and for
the happiness and prosperity of your dear children, who
will one day read the inscription engraven here, with a
glow of conscious pride, as they reflect on the triumph
of their father, and the many warm and devoted friends
who have recorded it."

Mr. WEBSTER acknowledged the compliment paid
him in a suitable speech.

CAUTION TO AMATEUR ROWERS.—An accident
occurred yesterday, with narrow escape of the loss of life,
to two young men, in a boat belonging to Mr. Searle,
boat-builder, when rowing near the centre arch of
Putney-bridge, apparently in deep conversation ; and
had it not been for the timely warning of a young man
on the bridge they must have gone down, for the next
moment the boat went in half. They had just time to
catch hold of the piles that form the starlings, and were
taken off in two boats. It required the exertions of three
watermen to get the boat from the pier, as the tide was
running very strong at the time of the accident.
FATAL ACClDENT.—Yesterday a fatal accident oc-
curred to a guard of the train which left Bolton for
Manchester about three o'clock. The unfortunate man,
whose name is James Cooke, was seated in one of the
second-class carriages, and was putting on the brake, as
the train entered the tunnel ; but leaning too far over
the side of the carriage, his head came in contact with
one of the iron pillars of the tunnel, and with such
force, owing to the speed of the train at the time, that
the skull was dreadfully crushed and fractured. On
reaching Prestolee the train stopped, and Mr. Turner,
surgeon, of Manchester, who was travelling by it, got
into the carriage where the poor man was lying ; but
the injuries inflicted on the brain were beyond surgical
aid, and Cooke expired in about ten minutes after the
blow had been received. There appears to be no Llame
attributable to any one else ; the unfortunate man
having imprudently stretched his head out too far over the
side of the carriage. The deceased lived in Salford ; we
believe he was a steady man, and he has left a widow
and several children to mourn their sudden bereavement.
An inquest will in all probability be held to-cg.—Mau.
chester Guardian of Saturday.
CURIOUS CorticintrtcEs.—On Thursday, July 4,
1839, at three o'clock in the afternoon, W. Scholefield
left London w#h the police (A division) for Birming-
ham; and on Thursday, July 4, 1844, at three o'clock
in the afternoon, ioshua Scholefield died ap Manchester
buildings in London. On Monday, duly 15, 1839, the
burnings in the BUll-ring took place; and on Moaay,
July 15, 1844, B.' Spooner was officially dechired Mem-
ber of Parliament for the borough of Birmingham.—
• • • •-•
Leamington Spa courier.