The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-02 00:00:00

BIRTHS IN THE WEEK.

Males ... ... ... ... ... 664
Females • .., ~. ... ... 680

Total ...

-.1,344

*ln this number are included 23 by Scarlatina, 35
by Typhus Fever, 104 by Diarrhoea, and 13 by Cholera.

MRS. FANNY KEMBLE'S READ-

INGS OF SIIAKSPERE.

This celebrated lady has been engaged by Mr. Mit-
chell for six readings of Shakapere, at the St. James's
Toeatre, end last evening she read the Midsummer
Night's Dream. It was a delightful entertainment, and
gave us a keener feeling of the beauties of this exqui-
site play than we have ever been able to derive either
from its private perusal or its representation on the
stage. Mrs. Kenai)le's reading, indeed, is perfect; quite
free from the heaviness and monotony to which this kind
of entertainment is liable, and on tne contrary full of
grace, animation, and variety. Shakspere's charming
poetry derived fresh charms from the finely modulated
tones of her mellow voice, and she showed a most
intellectual comprehension of the author, bringing
out many delicate beauties and traits of meaning, which,
to us at least, had the effect of novelty. Her discri-
mination of the characters was admirable. The timid,
gentle Helena, anti the impetuous Hermia, could not
have been better distinguished bed they stood before us
in two separate persons. The scenes of Bottom and his
fellow clowns, without being in the least overcharged,
were lively and amusing. Bottom's way of making him-
,,elf at home with Titania and the fairies was irresistibly
In Herons. In truth, her reading of these scenes showed
a richness of comic,hurnour which we had never observe,'
in her acting. Mrs. Kemble looked exceedingly well,
and seemed to be in excellent health and epirits. No-
thing cold be warmer than her reception by. a large and
fashionable audience. Bursts of applause followed the
most remarkable passages; and, after she had retired,
the long-continued plaudits brought her forward again
to make her acknowledgments. The remaining plays which
she is to read are the Merry Wives of Windsor, Mea-
sure for Measure, Much Ado about Notkny, and the
Merchant of Venice. There could not be a better se-
lection.

SINGULAR FULFILMENT OF A DREAM.—On Friday
evening last a young man, named Joseph Piston, aged 22,
was bathint; in the river Collin, near to Ashley-mill, when he
was unhappily drowned. It appears that the deceased had
been working in a hay. field throughout the day, and, being
hot, determined to bathe, although particularly cautioned
not to do so by his relations at the mill, with whom he live?.
Their reason for so cautioning him was that on the three
previous nights he had dreamed that he was drowning in
the river. Each morning he had related his dream to the
family, and in joke told them who should have his clothing,
&c., if it happened, and mentioned a young woman who was
to have his watch. On the night in question he had been
swimming down the river. He left the water, and told the
parties who were with him that he would have a dive in a
deep part of the river. So saying he ran on the bank, sprang
in headforemost, and never was seen afterwards. An alarm
Was given, and Mr. Davenport, who is upwards of sixty
years of age, but an excellent swimmer, jumped into the
river, dived several times, and tried all he could to find him
but without succ*s. It was an hour and a half before Pix-
ton's body
could be found.—Blanc/tester Guardian.
INCIIMBERED ESTATES IN laELAND.—lresterday
a Parliamentary paper was issued, containing soma observa-
tionstates in Ireland and the transferCommissionersntliupon
tno
ft laineysupliajretat
thereof
efrteloi their ird
intoisttrhi-e
Court of Chancery. It appears
ons9wnihtaith'ethsealeCommissioners by the
distri-
bution of the funds arising
ineum bered
havee-
su m they hope to distribute the entire property, and of that
sold more than half a million's
About 100,C00/haes transferred to the
entire in their court with
the exception of 25,0001., which may b
Court of Chancery.
,000/. before ethvacation
been already dis-
tributed. The Commissioners hope without
from any other court to distribute 200 assistance
and 200,C001. more in the month of October.
"that there is no part of their practice which givese add
public such satisfaction as the readiness with which pay-
ments are made when the rights d parties are correctly as-
certainel

IMPORTATION OF BRANDY.:---A vessel which has
just arrived in the docks from Char mte, has brought an ex-
traordinary large cargo of brandy, comprising 70 puncheons,
700 hogsheads, 357 smaller casks, and 1,048 cases of the
spirit, the produce of France. The value of this cargo, with
reference to the high duty leviable on the article, must have
been very large.