The Sun.
London, England, 1828-10-07 00:00:00

DREADFUL ACCIDENT.

DEPTI,OIZD, OCT. 6.—At the chemical factory of
Mr. Benecke, situated by the creek at Deptford,
this afternoon between three and four o'clock, two
men named Ricket and Waters, who were employed
to clean the arnmonial vat, were suffocated by the
foul air it contained. It appears that one of the
sufferers was appointed to clean the vat, and not re-
turning so soon as might be expected, his fellow-
workman went to look for him ; on his reaching the
top of the ladder he saw him extended at the
bottom, and immediately descended to render him
some assistance, when unfortunately he likewise fell
a victim to the suffocating vapour. Mr. M'Cormac
(the foreman of the works) missing the men, and
knowing what business they were upon, became
alarmed and went to ascertain the reason, he no
sooner reached the vat than he at once discovered
the cause, but thinking that life might not be quite
extinct, attempted to extricate them from their
perilous situation, in which attempt he almost
perished, but by powerful exertion he saved himself,
though not without being a considerable sufferer.

THE PATENTEES versus THE ADELPIII.

MR. Enrroa—The " Old Play-goer," who, as next
friend, has undertaken to conduct the above suit, has made
but a lame defence for his Adelphi client. He states that,
as far as he could observe, there was no lashing, but merely
a tickling of the " well-known foibles and follies of the
Patentees." This may be good legal quibbling; but the
drummer's lashes, though called tickling, do not smart the
less for the softer appellation. To repel tl►e charges of
" having sought an opportunity of attacking one of ti►e
Managers of this concern, likely to become so prosrrous,"
I would ask of his next friend, how this mild and sweet-
tempered individual, who, as he modestly informs us, is
endowed with all " the dramatic talents of GARRICK,"
bow r►P: would have borne this " tickling of his well-
known foibles and follies?" Nay, I would ask himself,
amiable as he may be, how he would like his own to be
thus publicly exposed ?
But, to leave these personalities, the odium of which
must rest on those who commenced them, let us proceed
to the main point of the question, namely—are the
Adelphi Proprietors exceeding their license or not ? Your '
correspondent has arrogated to himself a power never exer-
cised by the Xing, the Privy Council, or the Lord Chain-
berlain. With the stroke of his pen he has restricted the
rights of the Patent Theatres, and transferred those pieces
that used to be performed at the Haymarket henceforth to
the Adelphi Theatre; but as be has not informed us what
the license is under which they are to perform these pieces,
I shall supply the omission. It is granted for the perform-
ance of Pantomime, Melodrama, and Barletta, and for
nothing more. So careful is the Lord Chamberlain not
to extend its powers, that every one of these ticklish pieces
are licensed, " provided they be Barlettas." That they
are not Burlettus is well known to the " Old Play-goer"
and his client ; but that they may not plead ignorance, I
subjoin the following definition of the word :.—"Burletta,"
Ital. front lagrlare, to jest, turn to ridicule, in music; it is
distinguished from Comic Opera by being more grotesque
and extravagant—Ex ANI PLES, Midas, Golden Pippin,
Poor Vulcan, &c. These are well-known English Bur-
kilos, and have a perfectly distinct feature from all other
representations on the stage. Let them then confine
themselves within their proper sphere of action" (as the
" Old Play-goer" says). Let them jest and deride as
much as they please, but let it he Burlettu, with dia-
logue accompanied by music. By doing this they will re-
move the just grounds of complaint of the regular Mana-
gers; but if they continue thus nightly to infringe their
license, the Patentees must either enforce the penalties, or
they will deserve to he tickled out of their property, their
rights, and privileges.—Your's,