The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-24 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

The Revolt of the Harem, that most successful and
splendid of ballets, was revived at this theatre last even-
ing for the purpose of introducing Mademoiselle Plunkett
to a Drury-lane audience, as Zulima. We have frequently
had occasion to speak in praise of the cherographie per-
formances of this very talented young lady during the
course of the two last Italian Opera seasons. Gradually
has she been rising in her profession, until she now has
obtained a position which has secured to her an Euro-
pean reputation. But we are much mistaken if Plunkett
has even yet reached the height which she is destined to
attain. There is a spirit, a neatness, and a precision in
her steps, which proves that she is perfect mistress of
the mechanical part of her art; but there is also a grace,
an abandon, and an enthusiasm, an intellectuality about
her style, which shows that she is fully aware that cher-
ography is merely another phrase of poetry, and that as
such it must be studied and developed. If we mistake
not, the time is fast approaching when she will take
her rank as a premiere danscuse par excellence. Her first
pas last night secured her the favour of the audience,
and at its conclusion she was loudly called for to receive
their congratulations. From that moment the ballet
was for her a succession of triumphs. She was admirably
supported by Clara Webster and Montessu. At the fall
of the curtain all the three were called fur. The Revolt
of the Harem has been revived with more than its pris-
tine splendour, and no doubt it will have a run.

DINNER TO CHARLES KEMBLE, ESQ., AT MAN-
CHESTER.—On Tuesday evening a dinner was given to
this highly-talented gentleman, by a number of directors
and other members of the Athenaeum, desirous in this
way to mark their respect for him, and their high grati-
fication at the great intellectual treat which his series of
twelve readings of the plays of Shakspeare has afforded
to the members generally, and to hundreds of others.
About five-and-twenty gentlemen sat down to an excel-
lent dinner in the new saloon of the Albion Hotel, under
the presidency of Mr. T. B. Potter ; Mr. Malcolm Ross
was the vice-president. Mr. Kemble sat at the chair-
man's right ; and amongst the gentlemen present, were
Messrs. E. Watkyn, P. Berlyn, James Edwards, C.
Lampert, C. Duffield, Stern, H. Capes, Alexander Ire-
land, John Chapman, Matthew Curtis, Benjamin Syd-
dall, James Barton, Thomas Ashton, jun., &c. After
the usual loyal toasts, the Chairman proposed " the
Health of Charles Kemble, Esq.," in appropriate terms.
The toast was received with the greatest enthusiasm,
and was responded to in a neat speech, in which Mr.
Kemble avowed his deep love for the drama ; adverted
to its influence on the mind, and expressed the gratifica-
tion he had experienced at his reception here, and espe-
cially at the great attention paid him by the intelligent
and discriminating audiences of the Manchester Athe-
nmum. After a few more toasts and sentiments the
party separated, highly delighted with an agreeable, in-
tellectual, and social evening.
BOLTON.—INCENDTARISM.—ATTEMPT TO DESTROY
A TIMBER-YARD BY FIBS.—We have already detailed
the particulars of a diabolical attempt to destroy the
workshop and timber-yard of Mr. Thomas Graham,
joiner and builder, Bridge-street, in this town, on the
night of Friday, the I Ith inst. The fact of the fire
being the work of incendiaries was clearly proved by the
testimony of a female servant of Mr. Pcndlebury, sur-
geon, who saw two men get over the yard wall just at the
time the fire broke out. They
.ran in the direction of
Bark-street, from which there is a road into Deans-
gate, and shortly after a sawyer, named Richard Leach,
was taken into custody on suspicion of having been
concerned in the crime, he having entered the King's
Head public-house,. with three other sawyers, about
a quarter of an hour after the fire was discovered.
No evidence, however, could then be found to warrant
the magistrate in sending him fiur trial, and he was con-
sequently discharged. Subsequently, however, cer-
tain facts were discovered, through the activity of
the police, and Leach was again apprehended and
brought before the magistrates, at the Borough Court,
on Saturday last. The additional evidence was that of
Richard Mason, assistant to Mr. John Scowcroft, drug-
gist, Deansgate, who stated that about a quarter or half-
past nine o'clock on the night of the fire, the prisoner
came to their shop and bought a pint of spirits of tur-
pentine, which he put into two pop bottles. Ile was in
his shirt sleeves at the time, and appeared to be in a
great hurry. The same fact was also proved by an old
man, named Thomas Marsden, who happened to be in
the shop at the time. Mr. Mason could not swear poti-
tively to the bottles, but he gave such a description of
them, as left no doubt upon the minds of those present
that they were the same as they found in the timber yard
with turpentine in them. It was ten minutes past eleven
o'clock when the two men were seen coming over the
wall out of the yard, and the prisoner and three other
sawyers went into the King's Head, in Deansgate, at
twenty-five minutes past eleven, just allowing sufficient
time to go the distance. The prisoner was committed for
trial at the next assizes.—Manchester Guardian.
SERVANTS' INSTITUTION.—Yesterday, a special
meeting of the supporters of the above society was held
at the committee-room, Great Marylebone• street, to.
take into consideration tho propriety of granting pen-
sions to such members as, from ill health or old age
were reduced to the necessity of receiving relief. Mr.
White having taken the chair, resolutions to effect the
object of the meeting were carried unanimously. The
report stated that the receipts last year amounted to
3801. 2s. &W., and the expenditure to SOIL Os. 6d.,
leaving a balance in favour of the society of 291. 2s. 3Ad.
Thanks were voted to the chairman, and the meeting
separated.
AWFUL SUDDEN DEATIL—This morning at eleven
o'clock, Mr. James Bennett, managing clerk to Messrs.
Yates and Turner, of 24, Great George-street, West-
minster, came in his usual health and spirits to the office,
and whilst in the act of speaking to one of the clerks, he
fell to the floor, and an effort being made to raise him
he was found insensible and helpless. .A.• messenger was
immediately sent for medical aid, and Mr. M`Cann, sur-
geon, of Parliament-street, promptly attended, and. pro-
. ;minced him dead.