The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-28 00:00:00

ADELPIII.

A new farce, entitled 7he Irish Dragoon, or Wards in
Chancery,-from the practised and prolific pen of Selby, was
produced here on Monday, with the most decided success.
The Irish Dragoon is Mr. Hudson, who, having been a dra-
goon in the Spanish Legion, has retired with more honour
than p,ofit, and is, therefore, content to officiate as light porter
in the establishment of Mr. Brown Sherry (Selby), a wine
merchant. The wards in Chancery are Miss Emma Harding
and Miss Ellen Chaplin, and two most lovely wards they are.
But to our stcry. Mr. Brown Sherry having packed off Mrs.
Sherry (Mrs. F. Mathews) to Gravesend, determines to enjoy
himself en garcon, and goes out to make a night of it, leaving
his clerk, Fizgig (Mr. Munyard), and his porter, in charge of
the establishment. They, too, determine to enjoy themselves,
and accordingly Fizgig, having ordered in a dinner from the
pastrycook's, invites to the dinner his lady-love, Mrs. Isloomly,
a widow (excellently acted by Miss Emma Harding), and her
friend, Miss Matilda Jenks, a would-be prudish young
lady (whose primness, arising solely from the fact
that she has not " a young man" like her friend,
was given with great humour by Miss E. 4 Chaplin.)
Ile dragoon forces himself upon the party, and is very soon
installed in office, as Miss Jenks's young man. Just as they
are about to sit down, the bell rings. Sherry has returned,
and the young ladies are locked up in a book care. Sherry
has received a note from a fair incognito, to whom he has been
making desperate love by letter, appointing an interview at his
officz, and dismisses the clerk and porter for the day, who, how
ever, secrete themselves under the desks, in order to seize an
opportunity, if possible, of releasing the fair pFiseners.
The lady enters, veiled, and just as the con-
versation becomes . interestieg, a ring is heard. He
secrets her in a cupboard and lets in Mr. Mellowpear (Wil-
kinson) an attorney, who comes with an order from the Court
of Chancery to seal up and take possession of all Sherry's books
in a suit instituted against him by the executors of his late
partner. Mrs. Bloomly and Matilda are fairly locked in and
sealed up, and he is about to seal up the third door when
Sherry tells him that his wife is in that cupboard, and calls her
out. To his horror it is his wife, who answers to the call,
and who suspecting him of infidelity had carried on a curres
pondence with him as " Arabella.' This is a capital scene,
and was excellently acted by Selby and Mrs. F. Mathews.
She sees the two bonnets and accuses him of having harboured
the owners in the office. He stands aghast. In her search
for the heads which fit the bonnets she drags Fizgig and the
dragoon from their hiding places, and they confess that the
bonnets belong to some ladies whom they had brought in—
their aunts. Mellowpear is sent for, and releases the two
wards in Chancery, who, in order to calm the suspicions of
the jealous Mrs. Sherry, consent to make Fizgig and the dragoon
happy. This is a lively, bustling farce, and was excellently
acted by all concerned. It went trippingly off, and we have
no doubt but that the Irish Dragoon will be found upon
parade every night many weeks to come. In the course
the piece Hudson sings a new burlesque serenade, " W ake,
lady, wake," with great taste and humour. He was raptu-
rously encored. The house was crowded.

THE PENINSULAR MAIL.---The Queen, Oriental
and Peninsular Company's steamship, Captain Russell, arrived at
Southampton on Sunday, bringing the usual Peninsular mails and
30 passengers. The Queen left Gibraltar May the 17th ; Cadiz,
18th; Lisbon, 20th; Oporto, 2lst ; and Vigo, 22d. She was de.
tained on her outward passage, or would have arrived yesterday.
She brings as freight, five cases of bullion, a large quantity of
fruit (principally oranges), saffron, leeches, &c.; besides 25 bales
of po:fatoes. The news from Lisbon is without interest. The
Bishop of Levria had been appointed successor to the late
Patriarch. Mr. Sheridan Knowles had arrived at Lisbon from
Madeira, and was about to give some public readings at one of the
hotels.

Lord and Lady Cowley celebrated her Majesty's birthday by a
grand dress-ball and supper at the hotel of the British Embassy
on Friday. The number of invitations amounted to 1,700, and
the company included the entire rank and fashion of both France
and England, together with nearly every foreigner of distinction
at present in Paris. With the exception of M. Guizot and M.
Salvandy, absent from illness, all the Members of the Cabinet were
among the the guests, as were the Presid,ents of the two Legisla.
tive Chambers, and the chief dignitaries of the State. The Foreign
Ambassadors, with the entire diplomatic body, were present.
M. Guizot comes every day, says the Courrier Francais, from
Passy, to his office, between one and two o'clodk, but remains
only a short time. The Count de Salvandy is still confined by
the gout.

A letter from Lucerne, of the 19th instant, announces that the
Grand Council has granted Dr. Steigel a reprieve, and that hopes
are entertained of his sentence of death being commuted into
exile. The same writer states that eight of the political prisoners
confined in the tower of the Hohenrain have effected their escape,
by breaking tile bars of the window, and letting themselves down
by means of a rope.

In the Chamber of Deputies, on Saturday, M. Dufaure presented
the report on the Bill relating to the railroad from Paris to Lyons,
and from Lyons to Avignon. The rest of the sitting, up to post
hour, was taken up with the Juges de Paix Bill.
In the Peers the discussion on the new Customs Bill was re-
sumed. The part under consideration was
_that which speaks of
Chinese and Indian silks. Baron Dumont addressed the Chamber
at some length, and proposed to prohibit altogether their intro.
duction into France. This was opposed by the Minister of
Commerce.

The Constitutionnel observes, that the report of M. Bignon on
the budget of expenditure was less favourable to Ministers than
.hat of last year, Among the numerous reductions proposed by
'le Committee was one of 3,000,000 f. in the supplies required for

Algeria.
The Courtier Francais says, " Since the armament of the forti.
fications has been voted, the works are carried on with activity.
The continuous wall is nearly completed at Bercy. At the extre-
mity of the rampart, adjoining the Seine, a Ihrmidable redoubt is
being constructed, which will sink every boat that should attempt
to descend the river without the permission of the commlnder.
Four large barracks are, besides, building in the Interior of the fort
of Charenton, which is now occupied by a large garrison.
METROPOLITAN COMPLETE SUFFRAGE ASSOCIA-
nost.—A general meeting of the members and friends of this asso-
c.ation was held on Monday, at the Guildhall Coffee-house, King.
street, Cheapsido, Ebenezer Clarke, Esq., in the chair, for the purpose
of considering the resolutions submitted to the House of Commons
by Lord John Russell. After some deliberation, a resolution was
carried condemnatory of the resolutions as vague and unsatisfactory,
no alteration being proposed in ,the present unjust electoral system.
A resolution was also passed approving of the amendment to be
proposed by Mr. Sharman CrawfOrd—."That the present state of po-
litical tranquillity, and the recent revival of trade, afford a favourable
opportunity to g ye immediate attention to the claims so repeatedly,
urged in the petitions of the ~,eople for an extension of the Parliamen-
tary Suffrage, as well as to consider of such measures as may tend
permanently to improve the condition of the labouring classes," and
a petition was adopted praying the House of Commons to pass such
amendment._ Addresses were delivered by Messrs. Simmonds, Elt,
Vincent, Dick, &c. After a: vote of thanks to the Chairman, the
meeting, which was very respectable, broke up.
CHEAP POSTAGE IN INDIA.—It is a positive fact,
that the natives of the north.west carry the spirit of economy to
such a degree of intensity, that ten letters are often sent under one
cover, which do not weigh more than the tenth of an ounce. This
cover, which often contains all the letters dispatched from a town
during the day, is, according to the last privilege, conveyed a hum.
dred miles for half an anna, of less than the tenth of a penny each.
What is the penny postage to this P—Xlen's Indian Mail, May 24.
THE GRAND DUCHESS STEPHANIE OF BADEN.—
This illustrious lady, during her stay In England, • expressed the
warmest interest in the success of the approaching Polish ball. Her
Royal Highness requested that her name should be placed in the list
of Lady Patronesses : and, on quitting England, she left a handsome
donation towards the funds, which was transmitted by the Duchess
of Hamilton to Lord Dudley Stuart.
A dreadful accident occurred near Tintrim, in the county Gal.
way, on Wednesday, at the house of a man named Hallinan, who
had been engaged in illicit distillation. A keg of the spirits was
on the floor of the house, in which there were three girls, when a
man named Garvey, who was drunk, came in, and calling for a
light to prove the spirits, set fire to the whole, and caused a ter-
rible conflagration. One of the girls was burned to death; the
two others were dragged out, but were much injured.
CONCERT. —A brilliant musical treat is to be, given
at the London Tavern on the night of the 29th, at which
Miss Birch, who has been long absent in Italy, will sing, as
will likewise the Misses Rainforth, Pyne, Barrett, and Messent,
aided by Herr Oberhoffer, who takes the first rank in the vocal
corps of his Highness the Duke of Baden; Wetherbe, Herr
Staudigl, John Parry, Handel Gear, Harrison, Stretton, &c. &c,
The whole is given by, and under the management of, the ac.
complished pianists, Mr. and Mrs. Schwab.
CORN-LAws.—The most specific _suggestion
in Lord John Russell's multifarious address last night was on the
corn-laws.- The only addition he has made to the public stock of in-
formation on this subject is that he has descended from his Ss. fixed
duty of 1841 to 45., or perhaps 55., or perhaps Gs. It is difficult to
comprehend why his' original proposition should be so slightly cor-
rected for so doubtful a result. As his Lordship is now rather
winning adherents than choosing a course, he may prefer to content
himself with the least possible show of change. Let him, however,
save himself the trouble of an exact decisiox of a point which evi-
deu fly% costs so much labour. Peel will tuiderbicl him. " The day,
will come, th' inevitable day," when Peel will make a clean holo-
caust of the corn-laws, offering up what the Irish Catholics call " an
unqualified and uncontaminated gift" to the free-traders. He will
not do things by halves. Cannot Lord John Russell see this in
time ? Henceforth it is his fate to be behindhand in the market.
While he is haggling for his odd shillings, and thinking to allure the
purchaser by the doubtful tone of his denials, a more desperate and
determined salesman interposes, and throws him out of the market.
—Times.
PATENT CARPET.—A patent has been obtained by
Mr. Sievier, the sculptor, for manufacturing the above article
by power, a process heretofore unattainable. It, will entirely
superseded handweaving, and, although we may deplore the
loss of labour, yet we must feel at the same time every im-
provement is of importance to the country in a national point
of view. The old method required two persons to weave a
Brussels carpet, and that an average of 30 3 ards per week
was obtained from a loom ; by the patent process one
attendant will make 200 yards per week without having to
exert any-labour mere than to fill the shuttle with weft.
ANNUITIES. TO THE WIDOW AND DAUGHTERS OF
THE LATE SIR WILLIAM Norr.--In common with all our country-
men, we have felt a deep interest for the family of the late la-
mented Sir William Nott; the bereavement which they suffered by
the hand of death being aggravated by the serious pecuniary loss
consequent upon it. To our readers, not less than to us, the fol.
lowing announcement will, we are certain, afford pleasure The
Hon. the Court of Directors of the East India Company have
granted to Lady Nott, widow of the late Major-General Sir William
Nott, Q. C. 8., an annuity, during widowhood, of 2001.; and to the
daughters of the deceased, Letitia and Charlotte Nott, whilst un.
married, annuities of 100 L each."—Allen's Indian Mail, May 24.
His Royal Highness the Duke de Nemours is ex-
pected to arrive at Buckingham Palace in the course of the ensuing
week, on a short visit to her Majesty, and it is expected that it„
Duke will be present at her Majesty's grand bah costume,
ham Palace; en the Gth of June.
thrown into
ATTEMPT TO :MURDER Ane:
—On
tineig, between nine anti ten,
treatment, the unfortunate
athsattatpearetf oeafasideßrlaabclkte
I.atement in consequence of a brutal attempt
fe orfepeNoartteodn to murder his wife. It ap-
pmeaadrse b y
that,a minazjonfstelzenntine
woman snore than 30 years of age) had been separated from her
r:V:e-I:beT:tirohenv,,:n'E—ltinbothUiiii3rhuocok Ind
B.:f
husbf.:od, who had been confined in Horsemonger-lane Prison for as-
Faulting her, and from whence he had been discharged only a few days,
was placed by her sister In buSiness, with a view to obtain alivelihood,
at No. 114, Blackfriars-road, occupying a shop and parlour only,
where she sold cigars and other trifles. The husband finding this out,
and,.it Is believed, know,ng of the absence of the sister, who had
gone to visit some friends neer Judd-street, went to the shop about
nine o'clock, and entering the parlour, seized a poker, and com-
menced his murderous attack, striking her violently over the
temple and back part of the head with such force as to bend
the poker nearly double. In his victim's efforts to defend her-
ootl'iTer as
persons assisted to remove passing, he rushed in and
grappled
her-
self the bones of her arms and fingers were broken, besides otter
injuries inflicted. The cries of " murder !" and " oh, save me !"
having
with
e
assailant,
a person
andw h
the woman, who had become insensible, and Was deluged with blood,
into the surgery of Mr. Smith, close by, when it was found that she
had sustained such severe injuries as to render the case not only
highly dangerous, but, almost hopeless, and Mr. Smitl. directed her
imrrielate,rellgixaklto,Guy's Hospital, where sire
was taken in a cab.
In th meantime the fellow attempted to make hi; escape, but was
sstreetecureseit
abtyi 0
np oa i ede -lezetda bulpe. Leiria, at; L, and Vs.en to the Tower-