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

VICTORIA THEATRE.

We are always pleased when we see at those thea-
tres, which are usually attended by the middle and
working classes, the regular drama performed instead
of those wretched, tawdry productions called melo-
drames, the only tendency of which is to corrupt the
taste of the people ; and when we observe with what
applause the tragic -and comic muse are received at
the minor theatres, it is surprising that the managers
of these theatres do net see that they would add con-
siderably to their profits and respectability while they
cultivated the public mind. True, the performance
of such a piece as Jonathan Bradford does not require
so great an outlay, in the engagement of actors, as
the tragedy of Othello, but, though the former may
fill the theatre as well as the latter (which may give
it a preference in the manager's eyes, who onlylooks to
his profits),yet, in the end, the regular drama is more
advantageous, for by it you improve the theatrical
taste of the public, and consequently add to the num-
ber of play-goers, while you bring to the theatre a
large class who otherwise would not be paid
to sit in it. On Tuesday evening the tragedy of
Othello was performed at this theatre to a crowded
house. Mr. Graham sustained the character of
Othello; Miss Vincent, Desdemona ; Mrs. West,
Emilia; and Mr. Dale, lago. The tragedy was well
cast, and very respectably played. About three
years ago we saw Mr. Graham as Othello at the Sur •
rey Theatre, and his Conception of the character, as well
as his acting, is very much improved ; his voice has also
lost a disagreeable huskiness which it formerly had.
His speech before the Duke and Senators was fault-
less, and certainly above par. There are very few
actors of the present day who more truthfully can
exemplify

" Whit damned minutes tell be o'er
Who dotes, yet doUbts; suspects, yet strongly loves."
During the performance of the tragedy,
all the above-
named actors received considerable applause—Mr.
Graham and Mrs. West particularly ; and it was
very pleasing to those who desire to see the plays of
Shakspeare read by .the people, to observe how highly
the tragedy of Othello was appreciated by the fre-
quenters of the " Victoria:'

ASTLEY'S THEATRE.—NOVEL PERFORMANCES.—
Tbese two justly esteemed favourites of the public,
Messrs. Widdicombe and Stickney, take their joint be-
nefit at Astley's to-morrow evening, when, in addition to
the usually attractive-bill of fare of this popular place of
entertainment, a plentiful dessert, in the shape of extra-
ordinary amusements, will be served up. Mr. Barry, the
inimitable clown, will,
on that occasion, repeat his won-
derful feat of sailing in a washing-tub from Vauxhall to
Westminster-bridge, at five o'clock, and will be accom-
panied by Mr. Carter, " the Lion King," in a sailing-
boat, with his Brazilian tiger with him in the boat ; and
the young lady will repeat the feat of entering the den of
wild animals. Altogether, to the patrons of this popular
establishment, there will be, both in doors and out of
morrow,rs. abundance of amusement ; and we are
Widdicombe and Stickney, for whose benefit
dsthiloeroerpsleirtefoso-s•rmances take place, will hare a bumper house,
not even surpassed by that which was recently so de-
servedly awarded to Mr. Carter.
MRS. TROLLOPE'S NEW NOVEL.—The patrons of
the circulating libraries will hear with pleasure that Mrs.
Trollops is again about to gratify their tastes by the
publication of a nelir work of fiction, which will appear,
we understand, immediately. This celebrated novelist
has hitherto eraployed her pen rather in satirising the
follies and lashinglthe vices of society, than in depicting
those scenes of domestic affection, and pourtraying those
more kindly feelings of the human heart,which generally
form the subject of the novel writer's powers ; but we
hear that in the case of the forthcoming work she has
chosen a theme, and adopted a style of treatment, which
will deeply excite the sympathies of all her readers—of
the fair sex in particular. "Young Love" is the attrac-
tive title of Mrs. Trollope, s new production.
LEEDS, OCT. B.—The strike of the hands employed
at the principal flax-mills. at this town, which occurred in
consequence of the introduction of the new Factories
Regulation Act, has to a great extent terminated. In
most cases the woakers and the employers have come to
an amicable understanding, but in every instance the
length of the worliiug day has been advanced a little—
averaging from 15
.to 30 minutes in each case—without
the wages of the workers being in the least augmented.
Sixty-nine hours of actual labour has still to be performed
by the hands, with an hour and a half for meals each
day, as a week's work. The hour and a half for meals is
generally divided thus :—breakfast 30 minutes, dinner
40 minutes, and tea 20 minutes. The first and latter
meal will be generally partaken of in the mills, the
machinery being entirely stopped at the time. Notwith-
standing that the strike of the flax hands may be con-
sidered at an end, about 220 turned out of the silk mill
of Messrs. Holdforth yesterday morning. They refuse
to allow their working hours to be lengthened, even to
the extent of 10 minutes a day, without some increase of
wages. They, like the hands at the flax mills, are ob-
taining an average wage of about ss. 9d. or Gs. a week.
THE AMERICAN LlNERS.—Another new vessel has

been built at New York, and is intended to take her

place as one of the regular line of packet ships trading
between London and New York, in addition to the
already extensive fleet of ships employed on that station.
She is called the Northumberland, and is daily expected
to arrive, having been advertised to sail again for New
York on her return passage on the 27th inst. She is
reported to be larger and altogether on a more splendid
scale than either of the last new ones, the Victoria or
Prince Albert, splendid as they are acknowledged to be.
The St. James, which arrived in the St. Katherine's
Dock a day or two since, had, in addition to a large
number of passengers and an immense cargo, consisting
of all descriptions of American provisions, including
beef, pork, cheese, &c., of which articles large quantities
are imported since the passing of the new tariff, a con-
siderable quantity of specie, amounting to several
thousand dollars. The Westminster left the dock for
New York yesterday morning, with a large number of
cabin and steerage passengers, and a full cargo of British
manufactured goods. A vessel sails from either port
every ten days, and the voyage is invariably
emarkable regularity and exactness. made with