The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-22 00:00:00

THE ENGLISH THEATRICALS IN

PARIS.

There is nothing to be said in the way of criticism on
the performance of Hamlet on this occasion that I could
think of obtruding on you. It was occasionally percep-
tible to the English present, that in those parts where
the dialogue had bee❑ cut up to shorten the duration of
the play, the force of habit was near involving more than
one of the performers in speeches ordered to be omitted,
but nothing occurred to mar the effect of the perform-
ance, which was, generally speaking, admirable.
The performance was not yet over when Mr. Mitchell
received, through M. Delavigna (Conservateur du Mo-
bilier de la Couronne), an intimation that his Majesty
would speak to him on leaving the Theatre for his apart-
ments. This intimation was moreover, accompanied by
a splendid gold snuff-box, in a case, with the royal
cipher beautifully chased upon the lid. Mr. Mitchell
accordingly repaired to the point intimated by M.
Delavigne (brother of the late celebrated Casimir Dela-
vigne). Immediately upon the King's approach, his
Majesty was made awai e of Mr. Mitchell's presence, and
addressed him with affability in French, but checking him-
self, resumed in choice English, thanking him for the
pleasure he (Mr. Mitchell) had insured to him, to the
Queen and Royal Family, and indeed to the people of
Paris, by the admirable performances of the theatrical
company be had brought over. " I have seen Hamlet
played frequently," said the King, "and never saw the
character so well supported as on this night. Among
other Hamlets that I have seen was Mr. Bennett. Pray
who is Mr. Bennett ?" Mr. Mitchell made a reply which
I could not catch. "I have been delighted by Mr.
Macready," continued the King, "and found Miss
Faucit charmante." The Queen then addressed Mr.
Mitchell, and with equal condescension and kindness
similarly expressed herself ; and bowing graciously, the
royal party moved on.

Thu munificence of his Majesty did not end here, how-
ever; for Mr. Mitchell was accompanied to Mr.Macready's
dressing-room by M. Delavigne, who presented to the
tragedian, on the part of the King, his Majesty's
and the Queen's thanks for the great gratification he
had afforded them, and requested his acceptance of a
most splendid poniard, in a still more magnificent case.
The blade, a real Damascus one, having upon it an in-
scription in Arabic, is set in gold; the hilt enriched with
diamonds and other precious stones. The case is still
more costly, being of pure gold, exquisitely chiselled,
and set in rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds.
Nor did the King's kindness and bounty end even
here. On Friday Mr. Mitchell received, by command
of the King, a message, expressing his regret that the
enterprise had not been so successful as it deserved, ac-
companied by three bank notes, of a thousand francs
each, towards covering his outlay.
Thus worthily terminates an undertaking that will
long be remembered. Mr. Mitchell left last night for
London ; Mr. Macready leaves in a few, days, bearing
with him gratifying proofs of the favour in wh!ch he was
held here, among which the least is not the thanks of
the Commission des Auteurs Dramatiques.—Times.

PRESENTATION OF PLATE TO

MR. BRUNEL.

On Friday last a sumptuous entertainment took place
at the Albion Tavern on the occasion of presenting to
Mr. I. K. Brunel, the engineer to the Great Western,
Bristol, and Exeter, Bristol and Gloucester Railways,
and other great public works, a testimonial of the high,
appreciation of his services. The chair was taken by
Mr. Charles Russell, M.P., the chairman of the Great
Western Railway, and nearly a hundred of the sub-
scribers sat down to dinner. The testimonial, which, prior
to the entertainment, was exhibited in an adjoining room,
is of very beautiful workmanship, and consists of a
centre-piece and four accompanying ornamental
dishes for fruit or flowers, with six salt cellars, all of
silver gilt, in the style of Louis XIV. The value of
the testimonial is upwards of 2,000 guineas, and the sub-
scriptions were limited to the sum of ten guineas
from each subscriber. The centre-piece consists of
a magnificent candelabrum, surmounted by a beautifully
designed group of figures representing, on the base or
plinth rising from the pediment between the brackets,
Science, Genius, and Invention aiding Commerce ; whilst
around the base are groups representing the four Sea-
sons. Elaborately wrought scrolls spring from the
curved sides, supporting the candelabra for containing
twelve lights. This costly and chastely-designed orna-
ment, which was executed by Mr. B. Smith, of Duke-
street, Lincoln's Inn-fields, measures 34 inches in height,
is SO inches square, and the weight of it is about 1,500
ounces. The flower and fruit dishes are of a triangular
form, each being 12 inches in height, and 14 inches in
diameter. They have very rich scrolls, with groups of
figures round the pillars supporting baskets, exquisitely
designed, and weigh together about 750 ounces. The
six salt cellars are of a massive and highly-wrought cha-
racter, circular in form, with very rich feet, composed of
figures riding on dolphins, the weight of the six being
about 100 ounces.
Immediately on the cloth being removed, a table bear-
ing the testimonial was exhibited to the company
amidst deafening cheers. And the usual loyal toasts
having been given and responded to, the Chairman pro-
posed, " The health of their distinguished guest, Mr.
Brunel," and in doing so paid a high and well-merited
tribute of praise to the ability and energy displayed by
him, as well in the execution of the Great Western
Railroad, as in the other important works in which he
has been successfully engaged.
The toast was drunk with three times three and one
cheer more, reiterated again and again.
Mr. BRUNEL, who was evidently affected by the very
warm manner in which the toast had been responded to,
briefly returned thanks, and adverted with much feeling
to the difficulty under which he laboured in returning
thanks, surrounded as he was by many of those with
whom he had become acquainted in the course of his
railway experience, but whose professional connection
with him lied ripened into a hearty and lasting friend-
ship. It was indeed a source of deep gratification to re-
ceive a testimonial from and amidst such friends, and
they would believe him when he said that his gratitude
to those who had manifested so much kindly feeling to-
wards him amounted almost to a feeling of pain from
his inability to express all that he desired to give utte-
rance to.—(Loud cheers.) They would permit him to
repeat that his feelings overpowered him, and that he
would only say the kindness he had this day experienced
would never be effaced from his memory.—(Cheers.) In
his heart it would dwell for ever.—(Cheers.)
The next toast was that of " Sir Isambard Brunel,"
which was also drunk with three times three.
Among the toasts that followed were those of " The
Chairman," " Mrs. Brunel," and " Mr. C. A. Saunders,
the Secretary of the Great Western Railway."
Mr. Saunders, to whose able negotiations the present
high standing of the Great Western Railway may be
truly said to be mainly ascribed, in returning thanks,
made the important railway announcement, that the dif-
ferences between the Great Western and the South-
Western Railways had been amicably settled.
The dinner was admirably provided by Messrs.
Staples, and indeed it partook rather of the comfort,
quiet, and elegance of a private party than the bustle
and inconvenience almost inseparable from a public en-
tertainment.

The inscription, which we have omitted to mention in
describing the candelabrum on which it is engraved, is
as follows :

Presented to
ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL, ESQ.,
the Engineer in Chief of the Great Western, the Bristol
and Exeter, the Cheltenham and Great Western Union,
and the Bristol and Gloucester Railways,
By 257 Subscriber:,
to commemorate the completion of those great national
works, and to record their admiration of the science,
skill, and energy manifested in the design and execution
of them, their gratitude for the advantages conferred on
themselves and the public ; and their esteem for the
integrity and worth of his personal character.

.13A1ti8; 'JAN. 19.
The performancep of the tnglish company have at
length Wen. lirbiight to a close. Mr. Macready played
ht the Opera Comique last night (gratuitously of course),
in his celebrated scene from Henry IV, for the benefit
of the Societe des Auteurs Dramatiques.
A press of political matter precluded the possibility of
my noticing hitherto the peelotroance of Hamlet at the
Chateau of the Tuileries on Thursday night— an oc-
currence) ticvertheless, that will figure among the most
remarkable jastes Bran atiqucs of our epoch.
The theatre of the Chateau is precisely the Ihll of
the National Convention. It is beautifully fitted up. and,
lem told, capable of containing 1,000 spectators. This,
however, appears doubtful, for there were present on
Thursday night only 630 or 660 persons, and it was
literally crammed,
The hour fixed for the commencement of the perform-
ance was eight o'clock. Accustomed as you are in Eng-
land to punctuallity in this respect, you would still admire
the clockwork regularity of the King of the French. Pre-
cisely at the moment indicated his Majesty and the
Queen,:followed by the whole of the Royal Family, with
the exception of the Queen of the Belgians and the
Duchess Auguste of Saxe-Coburg, entered the theatre
and took their places. There were present at their entry
Lord and Lady Cowley, and indeed the whole of the
members of the Corps Diplomatique and their ladies, to-
gether with—it is hardly necossary to say—the elite of
French society, and a considerable number of foreigners
of distinction. The pit was filled by officers in uniform,
among whom were some three or four scarlet. In short,
a more gorgeous spectacle than the audience part of the
house presented has been rarely witnessed.
The performance commenced immediately, and pro-
ceeded to the close unbroken by applause—an indicatio❑
of a desire to reward Macready's fine delivery of the
first soliloquy having been at once repressed upon re-
collecting that the etiquette de rigeur prohibited in the
royal presence such manifestations. Macready lost
nothing, however, by the delay, as you shall see pre-
sently.

It may be proper to add, that the Old Grayfriars
church was erected in the year 1612. On the 7th of
May, 1718, however, part of the building was blown up
by gunpowder, belonging to the city, which had been
lodged in the steeple. The expense of repairing the
damage was estimated at 6001., and instead of building it
up in its ancient form, it was determined to patch up the
old walls in the best way possible, and, as there was a
want of church accommodation, to erect another edifice
at its west end, which was denominated the New Gray-
friars. This structure was finished in 1721, at an ex-
pense of about 4,0001. Neither of the churches had any
pretensions to architectural beauty, or were the slightest
ornament to the city.
We learn that both buildings were insured, but only
to the extent of 1,000/. each. They were both the pro-
perty of the city, and were occupied by the Establishment.
(From the Caledonian Mercury.)
Yesterday (Sunday) forenoon, one of the most appall-
ing fires took place that has occurred in this city since
the two memorable days in 1824, and which has been
attended with the total destruction of the Grayfriars
churches. The building, which comprises the two
churches called respectively Old and New Grayfriars,
is situate betwixt the Grassmarket and Lauriston, and
was, with the exception of the cathedral of Glasgow,
and the Trinity College Church of this city, the most
ancient place of worship in Scotland, the older portion of
it having been built in 1612, and the remainder in 1719.
o'clock The wereaymaesyounc an
Wfiormsto,bserved about half-past nine
daughter of one of the police
night force, named Donald Munro, whose house is at
the entrance to the churchyard, and within a few yards
of the building itself. On observing the fire bursting
out from the east gable window of the church, she im-
mediately called to her father, who was at the time in bed,
who instantly started up, and seeing the serious aspect
of affairs, at once rushed out with nothing on but his
sleeping garments, and proceeded to the police-office and
gave the alarm. Mr. List, of tho county, and Sergeant-
Major Kelly, of the city police, were in a few moments
on the ground, and after shutting the gate, to prevent
the influx of too many people, forthwith sent messengers
to the keeper of the water reservoir, to the military in
the Castle, and to the section-house in Chessels•court,
Canongate, where the unmarried men belonging to the
night force are for mutual convenience domiciled. In a
short time about 30 men arrived from the latter place,
followed by a strong detachment of soldiers from the
Castle. By this time four fire-engines had arrived, and
the hose having been laid to the water-plugs at the Grass-
market, Candlemaker-row, Heriot's Hospital, Park-street,
and George the Fourth-bridge, the engines were manned
by the firemen, and ready for action, but unfortunately, as
we are informed, no supply of water could be obtained
for nearly half an hour, during which the flames spread
through the building with fearul rapidity, and obtained
an ascendancy which, as it ultimately proved, the utmost
exertions of the fire brigade and those who so promptly
assisted them were quite unable to overcome. Within
half an hour after the first alarm, the whole eastern di-
vision of the edifice presented one huge mass of flame,
the great abundance and dry condition of the wood
affording fit material for speedy combustion, as was
awfully indicated by the intense heat which radiated to
a great distance around, and by the incessant crackling,
which, like a continued discharge of musketry, issued
from the scene—as it' the furious element, conscious of
its superior power, defying all the ingenious expedients
and persevering efforts of man, was determined to pro-
ceed uninterrupted in its career, and had become confi-
dent of its final triumph.
In the meantime the inhabitants of the houses in Can-
dlemaker-row, which form the eastern boundary of the
churchyard, naturally becoming alarmed lest the defitruc-
tive element should reach them, began with great expe-
dition to remove their furniture to places of safety, about
seven or eight chimneys of these houses having been in a
short time set on fire by the flying embers. Shortly after
eleven o'clock smoke was observed issuing from the wes-
tern division of the building (New Grayfriars), to which
the fire had communicated along the roof, for although
there was a stone wall dividing the two churches, yet it
appears that it had not been built all the way up to the
roof, but had stopped short some 10 or 12 feet from it,
the remaining portion being composed of lath and plaster
that was not
work, through which the flames soononpeenteertrriabtleed,
con-
flagration.
partgh a
thusflasp
or
artaiinvolvedupniah
ad thebee been
entireth e
progress buildi
of the fire that by half-
past in
yth aou great quan-
tity of water was constantly poured upon it, no visible
pbalasztienlgevwenith the o'clock
greatest there wfuasrys, caarcndel
effect was produced. After twelve o'clock large portions
of the roof successively fell in with great crashes, sending
forth dense volumes of smoke, illuminated by thousands
of large embers, that shot into the sky, and fell like
burning hail at a great distance from the scene. The
wind being from the south, the Grassmarket in particular
was literally buried with smoke and dust, so much so,
that objects could scarcely be seen at five or six yards'
distance. After three o'clock the combustibles began to
be exhausted and the flames gradually to decrease, but
it was not until four o'clock that they were got under,
while the engines continued to play until about five o'clock
by which time, though the flames were not altogether
extinguished, all the engines were withdrawn, the danger
being entirely over.
The ruins, as might be expected, present a most me-
lancholy appearance. The walls still remain, and that
part of the roof above the south gallery of New Gray-
friars, as well as a small part above the gallery opposite.
With the exception of these galleries and a part of the
seats in the area, which are only partially
burned, the whole wooden work has been consumed to
ashes. Looking from them the scene in that part of
the building is truly desolate and frightful ; the inter-
stices betwixt the seats are filled with smouldering
ruins, over which large black beams lie in the utmost
confusion, while the pulpit, itself burned to a wreck, like
a calcined mummy, looks down on the gloomy waste by
which it is encompassed. The older portion of the build-
ing—the part where the fire originated has suffered
more severely than the other, being, with the exception
of the bare walls, completely annihilated.
The fire originated, we understand, from a stove which
it had been the custom to light on Saturday evenings, in
order to heat the church before the hours of Divine ser-
vice on the following day. Whether it has been always