The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-28 00:00:00

FRENCH PLAYS-ST. JAMES'S

THEATRE.

Encouraged by the success of the three last seasons,
Mr. Mi.chell commences his campaign for the present
season on Monday next, two months earlier than usual.
Every true lover of the drama will be rejoic:d at this
announcement, for the French play is certainly one of
the most intellectual amusements of the country. His
engagements, too, are of greater importance than they
have been during any of the preceding seasons. Monsieur
Lafont, of whom the habitues of the St. James's, during
the last season, preserve so many pleasant reminiscences,
opens the season. He will be supported by
Mademoiselle Martelleur, of the Theatre Francais,
and Mademoiselle Eug6aie St. Marc, of the Theatre du
Vaudeville, both of whom are new to this country, and
who will be members of the regular company during
the season. Madame Albert will be here at the end of
December, and will, during her engagement, appear in
all her popular characters. During a portion of her en-
ge gemeatiMowiieur Laferriire, of the Theatre du Vaude-
ville, will make his deia before a London audience ;
and, judging of him from the report of our Parisian
contemporaries, he cannot fail to become a favourite.
In February M. Felix, also a popular actor of the
Vaudeville, will make his deln2t, with our old favourite,
Madame Doche. In April Mademoiselle Rose
Cheri. the p,t of the Gymnase, will make her
debut, and during her engagement several new
plays will be produced. She will be succeeded by
the fascinating D‘jazet, at the conclusion of whose -en-
gagement Mademoiselle Plessy and M. Lafont will ap-
pear. At this time the finest cimedies of the French
language will be produced, and for awhile Thalia will
reign triumphant at the St. James's. She will, however,
give place eventually to her sister, Melpomene, for Mr.
Mitchell has succeed in engaging the glory .of France,
the tragedian par excellence of the world, Mademoiselle
Rachel, who will appear in selections from the chefs-
d'ceuvre of Corneille, Racine, and Voltaire. But while
due homage is paid to the transcendent genius of the
mighty masters of the bygone classical days, the modern
French tragic drama will not be neglected, and the
Virginie of Latour, the most successful of the new French
tragedies, will be represented for the first time before
an English audience. The general company will be a
powerful one. In addition to that admirable aitist3 Car-
tigny, and a great number of our old favourites, it in-
cludes the names of many (oaks, who, although un-
known in England, deservedly enjoy a high reputation
in ti er own country. Mademoiselle Eliza Forgeot is
the direct rice, and Cleup, to whom the public are under
great obligations for his unceasing efforts in forma days
to naturalise the French drama among us, resumes his
post of regisseur. We anticipate a brilliant season, for
the public in general is not ungrateful, and certainly Mr.
Mitchell deserves all the patronage that can be bestowed
on
.him. As a caterer for the public amusement, he is
judicious, enterprising, and indefatigable.

Doci YARD.-100 shipwrights are to be hired
forthwith at this yard until the 31st of March next, to fit the block-
ships, the Forth and Seahorse.—Devenport Independent.
OUTRAGE IN ROSCOMMON.—CASTLEREAt OCT.
22.—Mr. Greene, an Englishman, who holds a farm of be-
tween fifty and one hundred acres of land, and who resides
within half a mile of Ballymoe, and five of Castlerea, was
waited upon last night by four men, who, having placed him
upon his knees, each man presenting a pistol, swore him to
let a house he has to a shoemaker, at six pounds a-year, and
that unless he did so, they, one and all, declared they would
return and shoot him. He is now here, afraid to go home,
and the police are going out to investigate the affair.—Cor-
respondent of the Dublin Evening Mail.
We are enabled to state that the Venerable Dean
Stacpoole, now in France, has written to his agents in this
county, directing that they should convey instructions to
the tenantry on his estates not to sell corn of any descrip-
tion, but to detain it for the forthcoming awful crisis. Such
conduct is beyond praise, and worthy of imitation. Mr.
Molony, Kiltannon, is selling the best cup and crow potatoes,
not only to his own tenantry, but to the neighbourhood at
large, for three-halfpence per stone, giving his cattle and
vehicles for'their conveyance, and receiving the proceeds in
small instalments.— Clare Journal.
DECLINE OF SOCIALISM.—ROMSEY, OCT. 25.—The
formidable building at Tytherley, in this neighbourhood, con..
strutted for, and some time since tenanted by, members of
the " New Moral World," has already out-lasted its original
uses, and not a few of its former inmatt s are seeking other
habitations, with curses both loud and deep at the delusion of
which they have been the dupes. The society is generally
understood to be insolvent, or nearly so, nor would it appear
from evidence recently given before the revising barrister,
that the finances of its founder are in a very flourishing con-
dition. The estate of Rose-hill, near Broughton, was pur-
chased for and presented to Mr. Owen, who claimed in July
last to vote in county elections in respect of ownership ;
this claim was objected to, and on the examination by Mr.
H. L. Footner, of Stockbridge (an adjoining parish), it was
stated by the occupying tenant, that no portion of the rent
was paid to the soi-disant proprietor, but that all of it went
to the mortgagee, Many shattered fortunes, and much con•
sequent distress, are the results of this effort to establish
Socialism in Hampshire, and a huge impracticable edifice
remains as a monument of its folly and its fallacy. We re-
cently mentioned the circumstance that a few late residents
at Harmony Hall have found a " local habitation" at Bent-
ley, not far from their old dwelling, and are acquiring a
" name" for peculiarity of opinions and mode of life. The
patriarch of the party (a Mr. Galpine), and the principal
features of his teaching and example are—the practice of
abstinence and entire denial of luxuries, with the adoption
of the New Testament as an exclusive guide-book.—Hamp-
shire Advertiser.
CRIMES OF RESPECTABLE PEOPLE.—M. L—, a
jeweller, was iii the habit of dining every Sunday in the
Palais Royal, at the restaurant Fournier. For some time the
master of establishment had remarked that a number of
spoons and forks constantly disappeared. Each time that
the family L— dined there he had recommended his waiters
to exercise the most strict surveillance. Last Sunday M.
L— entered with his wife, children, and female servant, and
the waiter followed his master's instructions in all things.
After the dinner he found that five articles were missing. As
it was hnpossible that they could have gone unless taken by
M. L—, or one of his party, that gentleman was asked to
step into a private room. When Informed of what was
suspected, M. exclaimed loudly against such an accu-
sation, but M. Fournier insisted on both him and his wife
being searched, and on Mme. L— were found the -five
missing articles. M. L— was horror-struck; he endea-
voured to justify the act of his wife by intimating that she
was enceinte. The commissary of police was sent for, and
search being instituted at the residence of Mme. L—, an
article of plate was found which had been taken away a
fortnight before from M. Fournier. It had been placed
in the shop-window, amongst the second-band goods.
Mme. L— being questioned, stated that she had purchased
the article from a man whose name she had not taken down,
because the article was only imitation, and of little value.
It is difficult to comprehend Mme. L.'s conduct, when it is
stated that the other articles were also imitation, and that
she could not possibly be mistaken in them, being constantly
in the habit of handling gold and silver articles in her hus-
band's business. The commissary of police has thought it
his duty to place both M. and Madame L— at the dis-
posal of the Procureur du Roi. Their shop has, in conse-
quence, been shut up. and the children, one thirteen years
of age and the other thirteen months, left with their servant.
This sad event has thrown the family of Madame L— into
consternation. M. Fournier himself experienced great regret
when be heard that Madame L— was the daughter and
sister of two persons of his acquaintance, of irreproachable
character.— Gazette de Tribuneaux.

IMPUDENT RODBERY.—As Mr. William Gould, of
Charlton Mackral, was returning from Glastonbury market
on Monday last, about seven o'clock in the evening, he was
met at Butleigh Wooton by three men, who pulled him from
his horse, tied his legs, blinded his eyes, stopped his mouth,
and threatened, if he made the least resistance, to knock out
his brains. They then rifled his pockets of a cheque for 321.
and seven 51. bills, amounting altogether to 671. ;
also an engine-turned silver watch, maker's name
William Tyas, No. 9,635, a pair of silver spectacles, a pocket-
knife with two blades, and one other knife with two blades,
and a comb and pencil-case, with which the rascals made
off across the fields in the direction of Glastonbury, leaving
Mr. Gould to extricate himself as he could. On his making
the alarm, Sir Alexander Hood, who lives near, with truly
manly spirit, aroused the whole neighbourhood, and toge-
ther with his servants and others, started in search of
the robbers, but we are sorry to say, without effect. Sir
Alexander Hood having taken Mr. Gould to his own man-
sion, kindly afforded him all the consolation in his power.
We are happy to say Mr. Gould escaped with a few slight
bruises. He is a man much esteemed and beloved, and the
greatest sympathy towards him pervades the whole neigh-
bourhood. As yet, the scoundrels have escaped detection,
although several persons have been apprehended on sus-
picion.—Somerset County Gazette.
CHINESE FILTERING.—The waters of the Wangho
and Yang -tse•kiang are highly surcharged with mud, the
former containing one-seventeenth part, and the latter one-
ninety-sixth of earth. This renders them both unpleasant
and unwholesome to drink; and to it may possibly be attri-
buted a portion of the sickness we sustained. The Chinese
have adopted a very simple remedy for this evil, one far
simpler and equally efficacious with our filter, but which, un-
fortunately, was not discovered until we were leaving the
river, but which it will behove any one who may chance to
visit muddy streams to remember. Into about a quart of
water they throw a small pinch of alum, leaving it to stand
a few minutes; it becomes as clear as crystal, a considerable
sediment being found at the bottom. Not even the poorest
fisherman but is always provided with a small portion for
this necessary purpose.—Cunningham's Service in China.
The inhabitants of Williton and neighbourhood
were not a little surprised last week, at the walls being
placarded with notice of a sale by auction, of the late Lord
Egremont's wearing apparel, by the executors of his late
butler. Being of so unusual a character, we transcribe the
advertisement entire for the amusement of our readers:—
" WILI.ITON.—For sale by auction, in the great room at the
Egremont Hotel, in Williton, on Saturday, the 18th
October instant, by Mr. Purssey, a very large and
desirable wardrobe of wearing apparel, in the posses-
sion of the executors in trust of Mr. Woods, butler
to the late Earl of Egremont, deceased ; consisting
of several dozen Holland shirts ; about 150 pairs of trousers,
in cloth, f •stian, cords, sea duck, drill, summer cloth, and
mackintosh; a large collection of vests, in drill, jean, valen-
cia, kerseymere, &c. ; several cloth great coats, pilot coats, a
large assortment of close coats and jackets, in various fabrics,
a quantity of hats and caps, a pair of antigropelo mud boots,
several pairs of other boots. A large quantity of shoes,
slippers, clogs, &c., &c.—Monksilver, Oct. 14, 1845." We
understand that great competition arose for the various lots
sespecially the 150 pairs of breeches, so anxious were the as
oembled dealers to possess themselves of these appurtenance
f his late Noble Lordship.—Taunton Courier.
FIRE AT LEEDS.—Between three and four o'clock
on Saturday morning last a fire broke out at the warehouse
of Messrs. Stocks and Sons, wool merchants and Spanish
leather manufacturers, situate in Trinity-street, Commercial-
street, Leeds, which proved very destructive in its conse-
quences. Immediately after the discovery of the fire an
alarm was spread, and several engines were quickly on the
spot; they were got to play on the devouring element with-
out loss of time, but the conflagration battled all attempts to
stay it, until the roof and every floor in the building (which
was four stories high), except the lower one, had been de-
stroyed, with the whole of the contents, consisting of wool,
leather, &c. The origin of the tire has not been ascertained.
The damage is estimated at about 400/. We understand that
the stock and the building were insured in the Sun Fire-
office, but not to the full amount of the damage done.
We are informed that various parties have been
applied to officially for statements relative to the quantity
reinaininv a last year's grain, and the probable returns of
the present harvest in their respective districts. These appli-
culterior
oabtjieocritss,llbloesatrinpgrOubapobtliythritereinlvistuhreas
tloie‘bve taodospotmetel
miti-
gating the anticipated scarcity of previsions,—Aberdeen
Herald.