The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-30 00:00:00

CORK THEATRE.

After an absence from this city of ten years, during
which period the inhabitants of the capitals and princi
pal towns of Europe and America have testified their
admiration of her genius in the most flattering and sub-
stantial manner, that highly-gifted actress, Madame
Celeste, made her appearance at the Victoria Theatre,
before a full and fashionable audience. She wag sup-
ported by Mr. Webster, whose reputation as an actor,
and talent as manager of some of the principal London
theatres are well known. When last in Cork, those who
witnessed the performance of Celeste in the Arab Boy,
Alp the Renegade, the Wept of Wishton Wish, and other
eharacters which she has made exclusively her own,
deemed the foreign aid of language superfluous—so ex-
pressive were her gesticulations and attitudes, and so
full of meaning and eloquence were her looks while
pourtraying in silence the feelings which influenced her.
On the present occasion she has come before the public
in quite a different range of characters, which are
admirably calculated to display to advantage
her varied talents. The sensation she created
last evening in the character of Marie Ducange,
written expressly for her by Mr. Boyle Bernard, showed
a just appreciation of her powers in developing that
very interesting drama. We have never seen anything
more painfully affecting or fearfully real than the mad-
ness of Marie, and it will be long, indeed, before the
impression created by her powerful acting in the most
striking scenes will be effaced from the recollection of
the audience. Mr. Webster was exceedingly happy in
the character of Frong, who is an admirable satire on the
present mania for speculation, and convulsed the house
with laughter by the effective manner in which he deli-
vered some passages. After the curtain fell, Madame
Celeste was called for amid the most deafening applause,
and was greeted when she made her appearance from
box, pit, and gallery, in the most enthusiastic manner.
The performance concluded with a laughable afterpiece,
entitled the Trumpeter's Daughter, in which Celeste, as
Madelon, and Webster, as Philip, won renewed applause
by their admirable acting. In the last scene the original
Polka was danced by Celeste in a style never equalled in
this city. It was loudly encored, and the curtain fell
amidst murmurs ofapprobation.—Corh Southern Reporter.

FALL OF THE CHAPEL OF
BOATSWAIN SMITH.

On Saturday morning, shortly before three o'clock, an
accident nearly attended with a frightful loss of life, and
which has involved a serious destruction of property,
occurred in Wellclose-square, nearly facing the brigade
engine-station. At the time stated above, Police-con-
stable 11 161, whilst going his rounds, had his attention
directed to the premises used by Boatswain Smith, as
a preaching• house, and which have been termed the
Mariners' Church, by hearing a loud noise, as of the
falling of timbers, within the building. The constable
immediately endeavoured to arouse the inmates, but be-
fore he could do so the whole building fell with a tre-
mendous crash to the ground, carrying along with it
the adjoining premises, known as the Mahogany
Bar public•house and Albion Saloon. Fortunately,
Mr. Collins, the occupier of the latter build-
ing, with his wife and family, managed to effect their
escape. As soon as the dust had in some measure
cleared away, a most distressing scene presented itself.
The whole of the orphan children suddenly emerged
from one of the back apartments, and crawling upon the
top of the ruins, were bewailing their impending fate.
A number of the brigade, with a party of police con-
stables, at once set to work, and, after considerable
trouble, succeeded in extricating the whole of the poor
children. The occupiers of the buildings on either side,
apprehensive that their own houses would likewise fall,
simultaneously rushed into the square in their night
clothes, and were all hospitably received by their more
fortunate neighbours. The Chapel and the Mahogany
Bar lie in complete ruin, and all that remains of the
Albion Saloon is the stage. Mr. Collins estimates his
own loss at £1,500. The accident, it is supposed, was
caused by the removal of some flooring in the chapel.

THE SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE IRON DISTRICTS.---,
A numerous body of the " puddlers" still continue out, and seve-
ral establishments have given notice to reduce the price of wages to
meet the reduced price of iron. The Unionists of the north, as was
to be expected, have taken advantage of this state of things, and
during the present week delegates have addressed the turnouts at
Bilston, and other places in the district, urging them to remain
arm in the turnout. It is not a little singular that in some in.
stances the workmen in the iron districts are insisting upon an ad.
vanes of wages, and in others men are called upon to resist an at.
tempted reduction. This anomaly creates considerable confusion,
and before any man making inquiries upon the matter of contro-
versy can come to a Satisfactory conclusion, it is necessary that he
should make himself thoroughly acquainted with the exact relative
position of the masters and their men. It is certain some of the
great 'lnns, owing to the largeness of their stocks, are indifferent
to the course which, for the present, the workmen may pursue;
but it is extremely to be regretted that this very unsettled state of
the staple manufacture has produced a very unfavourable effect
upon the other trades of the distriCt. They are generally elack;
and comparativ* ?racial!

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.
On Thursday a Court was held for the dispatch of public busi-
ness.

TOLLS AND STALLAGE, AND THE ENLARGE-

MENT OF NEWGATE MARKET.

A long discussion took place on the important question
respecting tolls and stallage and the enlargement of New-
gate-market, as recommended by the Market Committee,
but, as the report was referred back to the Committee with
additional instructions, we abstain from giving an account
of the proceedings until the Committee shall have again re-
ported on the matters. It is only necessary to mention that
Mr. W. Jones, the Chairman of the Committee, informed the
Court, in calling their attention to the report, that the limit of
the amount which might be required to enlarge the market was
60,0001., and that the following amendment was carried :
" That it be referred back to the Committee, with instructions
to report the present area of Newgate-market, the space pro-
posed to be added, the sum estimated to be expended, and the
plan of the building intended to be erected."
Alderman and Sheriff SIDNEY presented a petition from
the Committee for Building and Endowing a Church for the
Seamen of the Port of London, for a grant of money to carry
that object into effect. He called the attention of the Court
to the claims of the seamen upon the community, and stated
that the floating chapel long used by them was in a state of
decay, and required much repair, and that the erection of a
church in the neighbourhood of St. Katharine Docks, for their
benefit, would be in every respect highly advisable.
Deputy CORNET seconded the motion to refer this petition
o the Coal, Corn, and Finance Committee, and said that he
had opportunities while a member of the Navigation Committee,
of observing that the floating chapel and two other floating
institutions on the Thames constituted serious obstructions to
the navigation.
Mr. ANDERTON was of opinion that the Commissioners of
Woods and Forests ought to render such an application un-
necessary grant of the necessary site, as the seamen,
although their services could not be disputed, were a severe
burden upon the public.
Deputy CORNET informed the Court that the Commis-
sioners of Woods and Forests had offered to sell ground for
1,2001., which was worth upwards of 2,0001., for the proposed
chapel.—(Hear, hear.)
Some surprise was expressed that the boating chapels, which
had been but a few years ago much preferred as places better
adapted to the taste of the seamen, were now yielding in popu-
larity to the ordinary chapels frequented by the mixed public.
The petition was referred to the Committee.

PROTECTION OF LIFE FROM FIRE.
Mr. D. W. WIRE presented a petition from the Royal
Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, " for the pro-
viding of fire-escapes within the City of London." It stated,
that the plan upon which the fire•escapes were constructed
had proved more efficacious than any hitherto acted upon
or suggested, and that, within the last year, the lives of ten of
urf ellow-creatures had been saved by the use of the machines
of the Society. He submitted that it would be a difficult
matter to add anything to the powerful argument contained
in the petition, and moved, without more comment, that it
should be referred to the Police Committee, in which he well
knew it would meet with the most attentive consideration.

Mr. LOTT said that some years ago he had submitted to the
Court a proposition on the subject, which, if it had been
adopted, would in all probability have counteracted several
calamities of a most awful description. He had, after great
pains, succeeded in getting the subjeet before the Police
Committee, in which 50 models had been examined. He
was desirous to knew why the three machines which were
constructed upon one of those plans, and whieh were de-
posited in the Guildhall, to be used by the police, were not
now in operation ? He knew that upon one occasion of a
fire, a policeman, when asked about the escapes, said he
knew very well where they were, but that did not signify,
as they were not in his beat.—( Hear, hear.) He wished to
know whether the neglect of the machines arose from any
disagreement anywhere. At all events, he was satisfied that
the interference of some more influential member of the Cor-
poration than himself would have been productive of the good
which he had exerted himself in vain to accomplish.
Alderman `Noon said Mr. Lott was much mistaken if he
thought the Committee held the plan in low estimation, be-
cause it was the result of his suggestion ; no such idea
ever occurred to them. In fact, there were several difficulties
in the case. Of all the plans of fire escapes, there was but
one of practical utility, and that was the canvass bag es-
cape, one of which description of machines had been sent
to almost every station-house in the city. But there was no
established body appointed to apply them in cases of emer-
gency or to keep them in a state of preparation. It would
be most desirable that they should be in the hands, and
under the control of the police, but the Commissioner could
not apply the public money under the Act of Parliament,
to such a purpose. Now, those who petitioned the Court that
day were an established Society, with regularly-appointed
officers, who were always on the alert, and the Court would
act wisely in rendering them the aid they required for so im-
portant a purpose.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. R. TairLon could not very clearly see how the Court
were justified in placing implicit reliance upon the conduct of
the voluntary society which had thus petitioned the Court.
They designated themselves a Royal Society, but he could not
see what reliance was to be placed upon their stability. He was
convinced that the care and management should be in the hands
of the police alone, or a body constituted as the police
were.—( Hear, hear.)
The petition was then referred to the Committee.
COMPLETION OF THE IMPROVEMENTS OF HOL-
BORN-HILL AND FARRINGDON-STREET.

Mr. R. L. JONES brought up the report of the London-
bridge Approaches Committee, to whom it was referred to
examine the allegation in the petition of the inhabitants
of the north side of the ward of Farringdon Without, for
the completion of the improvements at Farringdon New-
street and Holborn-bridge, with instructions to report their
opinion upon the expediency of carrying out these proposed
improvements. It stated that the Committee had viewed
the new line of street and the projecting houses on the
north side of Holborn-bridge, and directed the Clerk of the
Works to report his opinion as to the estimated value of those
houses, and also to report the probable amount of the cost of
the improvement, deducting the value of the surplus
ground; that they had subsequently received reports from
the Clerk of the Works, from which it appeared that ex-
clusive of law charges, the probable cost of completing the
line of improvement at Holborn-bridge, after deducting the
value of the surplus ground, would amount to 14,500/.
That the Committee, having duly considered all the cir-
cumstances, are of opinion that it was desirable for the
City to complete the line of improvement at Holborn-
bridge by purchasing and setting back the said houses, pro-
vided suitable means and powers could be obtained for that
purpose; and they were further of opinion that an oppor-
tunity would at the same time be afforded for effecting an
additional improvement of Holborn-hill. The Committee,
therefore, felt it their duty to draw the particular attention
of the Court to the propriety of taking measures to
carry out these objects ; and they recommended the same
accordingly. That they had caused the vaults to be con-
structed on each side of Farringdon-street, and had already
let eleven of the lots of ground in that street for building leases,
and were taking measures that they trusted would ensure future
lettings ; so that the whole of the improvement, so far as the
City was concerned, might be completed without delay, and
they were the more strengthened in that opinion in consequence
of the measures in progress for carrying on the new line of
street in the county of Middlesex.
Mr. JONES, in commenting upon the report, spoke of the
necessity which existed for much more extensive improvements
in the City of London, and manifested the strongest disposition
to proportion the changes in several of the populous streets to
the large means possessed by the Corporation and theirin-
creasing prosperity.
The report was agreed to, and, after some discussion upon a
subject which was suddenly dropped by the announcement that
there were not members enough present to constitute a Court,
the Lord Mayor declared the Court adjourned.

DISCOVERY of HUMAN REMAINS.
A discovery, which has created considerable interest and
excitement, took place at Birmingham on Tuesday. A
number of workmen, in the employ of Mr. P. Smith, the
town survey or, were engaged in sinking what is termed
a dome well, at the Public-office, in Moor-street, when
about seven feet from the surface of the ground they met
with the remains of a large dog. This created no surprise,
but immediately beneath the excavators found their work im-
peded by apparently a large box, but which, upon examina-
tion, proved to be an oak coffin. On its top was a porcelain
pipe, of curious, and evidently antique construction, and an
engraved heart, with the initials "W. S." The coffin, con-
sidering the number of years it is supposed to have been
in the ground, was in a state of excellent preservation.
Curiosity, as a matter of course, was excited to ascertain its
contents, and, upon being opened and examined, it was
found to contain the skeleton of a human being, through
which, as in past times in the case of executed malefactors,
a stake had been driven. The remains were submitted to
the examination of one of the medical gentlemen connected
with the Queen's College and Hospital. and he pronounced
them to be the skeleton of a male, about the age of 25 or '26.
The only point presented worthy of observation was an in-
dentation of the forehead, from which it would be inferred
that the deceased came to his death by violence. There are,
however, very plausible reasons for coming to a different con-
clusion. It is not at all improbable that the fracture of the
forehead was the result of the violence of the workpeople em-
ployed in the excavation ; and if the man whose remains are
found was murdered, it does not appear likely that his mur-
derers would have honoured his corpse with an oak coffin,
decorated with expensive insignias. Moor-street, in which the
remains were found, is now situate in the very centre of
Birmingham; but two hundred years ago, at which time,
at the latest, it is supposed the body must have been in-
terred, it formed part of an extensive park, belonging, as
some say, to the Jennings family, and subsequently to the
ancestors of the present Earl Howe. His Lordship holds
extensive property in the neighbourhood at the present time.
Meriden-street, Park-street, Jennings-row, &c., constituted
a part of the original domain. The probability is that the
body found is the remains of some member of the family to
whom the estate formerly belonged, and who, as is frequently
the case, even in modern times, was buried within the
precincts of the family grounds. This view is confirmed
by the fact that in Oxford-street, now standing upon a por-
tion of the same domain, a few weeks ago the workmen
employed by the town surveyor met with the skeleton of
a man who had evidently been buried for a great number
of years, and between whose thighs was placed a large black
bottle containing a black fluid. Unfortunately, however,
the cupidity of an Irish excavator employed upon the work,
who expected to find something to drink, led him to break
the bottle, and its contents were never correctly ascertained.
It is needless to say that the discovery of the remains of a
human being in the immediate neighbourhood of the public
prison has led to many vulgar and unfounded surmises. How
these notions are to be corrected it is difficult to say, but it is
to be presumed that the worthy borough Coroner, who, during
his tenure of office, has been most extraordinarily industrious
in the discharge of its duties, will find in popular clamour a
justification for sitting in judgment upon the discovered bones.

THE LATE ELECTION FOR SHERIFFS.—Mr.
Laurie who was on last Midsummer-day chosen, together with
Mr. Chaplin, to fill the office of Sheriffs of London, and Sheriff
of Middlesex, is the nephew of Sir Peter Laurie, with whom
he was formerly in partnership in the extensive concern in
Oxford-street, and is possessed of a very large fortune. Mr.
Laurie lately purchased the Duke of Norfolk's mansion near
Hyde-park, and is the owner, in right of his wife, a lady of
considerable affluence whom he lately married, of the splendid
house called Holcraft's, adjoining the Bishop of London's
Palace at Fulham. The new Sheriff, it is said, is a man of
extremely active mind, and is determined to perform the
duties of the office so as to gratify his fellow-citizens. Mr. D.
W. Wire is to be his Under-Sheriff, the appointment of whom
has given the highest satisfaction to those benevolent indivi-
duals of both sexes, who are so alive in the career of reform of
unfortunate criminals.

SHOCKING ACCIDENT AT DRURY-LANE THEATRE.
—On Wednesday evening, immediately after the fall of the curtain
at the close of the opera of The Enchantress, and while Madame
ThMon was upon the stage, a quantity of the heavy machinery
immediately in her vicinity fell with a tremendous crash, knocking
down two of the scene-shifters of the names of Kirby and Hathaway.
They were Immediately picked up, bleeding profusely, arid in an ap-
parently lifeless state. A medical gentleman, who was in the houle,
Promptly attended, and ordered them instantly to be conveyed to the
heipianl. The injuries received by Hathaway were slight iu com-
parison with those sustained by Kirby, of whom, we learn, it is feared
there is little hope of recovery. Not the slightest blame attaches to
any OWI in the thwart.