The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-04 00:00:00

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

TESTIMONIAL TO B. WEBSTER, ESQ.
We have great pleasure in giving insertion to the
following spirited testimonial to our excellent friend
Mr. Webster, by the fair witches of the Haymarket
Theatre, who have presented the worthy Manager
with a beautiful vase, or " loving cup," as a token of
their regard and cordial appreciation of his merits.
May he long live to enjoy, and see the loving cup of
hospitality go round :
MY DEAR Stn,—Myself and my sister labourers in
this flourishing and delightful little' vineyard, solicit
your pardon for this intrusion upon your valuable time;
but we trust that the FEELING which prompts them to
this intrusion will plead their excuse. We are well
aware that HITHERTO it has been the custom for
gentlemen only to perform the office of presenting
any tribute of respect. WE, my dear Sir,
have assumed to OURSELVES, the gratifying and
pleasing task of entreating your acceptance of this very
humble mark of our sincere esteem and regard towards
you— as a brother artiste—and as a worthy, honourable, and
enterprising manager. That you and yours may long enjoy
the comforts and BLESSINGS you have been the means of
diffusing around all those who are so happy as to be
placed upon the list of this establishment, is the fervent
prayer of, my dear Sir, your truly devoted servants,
The LADIES of the HAYMARKET THEATRE.
Mrs. Nisbett. Miss Carre.
Madame Celeste. Miss Cherrys.
Mrs. W. Clifford. Mrs. Caulfield.
Miss Bennet. Mrs. Humby.
Mrs. Reed. Mrs. Stanley.
Mrs. L. Buckingham. Mrs. Worrell
Miss Lee. Miss Conner.
Mrs. E. Yarnold.

ESCAPE OF A SOLDIER FROM THE STRONG-ROOM
IN THE TOWER.—On Sunday night last, Thomas Hodges, a
private in the Scotch Fusilier Guards, made his escape from
the strong-room attached to the barracks in the Tower. He
was under sentence of sixty days' confinement, for disobe-
dience of orders, and is believed to have been in possession
of a quantity of valuable jewellery which had been stolen
from a gentleman named Studly, at North Brixton, by his
servant, who was transported for thd offence at the last Old
Bailey Sessions. The girl was taken into custody in the
Tower, while on a visit to Hodges, who was seen several
times, by his comrades, with jewellery and/a number of so-
vereigns, after that occurrence. He was taken into custody
and examined at Union-hall, but discharged for want of evi•
dence. Since then he had been tried by a Court-martial,
and sentenced to sixty days' confinement. He contrived to
get a suit of private clothes on Saturday, and was seen in
possession of a diamond ring and about twenty sovereigns.
He is supposed to have gone to Hereford, and a handsome
reward is offered for his apprehension. He is about six feet
high, well made, light complexion, and sandy hair and whis-
kers, aged twenty-six.
BRASSFOUNDERS' COPPERSMITHS, AND BRAZIERS'
hysTrrunox.—Tuesday this Company held their sixth an-
niversary dinner at the White Conduit House Tavern, when
the Treasurer, William Devey, Esq., presided. This In
tution was established for the purpose of providing support
for the decayed members of these respective trades, and we
have the pleasure to say that few have been the occasions
upon which the objects of the supporters of charitable insti-
tutions of which we have been cognisant, have been more
successful, taking into consideration their limited means.
The Chairman was ushered to his seat amidst the cheers of
the company, which consisted of about 300 persons. He was
supported on his entrance by two knights in splendid brass
armour, the construction of which was very creditable to
the manufacturers of it. After the usual loyal toasts, &c.,
the worthy Chairman, who appears to have the goodwill of
all connected with him in business, expressed himself de-
lighted with the spirit displayed by the working classes ge-
nerally, but especially by those with whom he was more im-
mediately connected, in looking forward to and providing for
a time when it is impossible for any one so to exert himself
as to provide the necessaries for the daily maintenance of
himself and those dependent on him. He was glad to see a
spirit of independence growing and spreading throughout the
country amongst mechanical men, which would be sure to
establish goodwill and prosperity for them all.
FATAL ACCIDENT FROM THE BITE OF A CAT.—A
woman at Aberystwith, who was bitten on the hand by a
cat, as she attempted to remove its kittens, died from the
effects of the bite the other day. The hand and arm
Swelled, and mortification supervened,

;FUNERAL OF MR. T. CAMI•BELL,

IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

Moe funeral of this distinguished poet and excellent
m in took place yesterday in Westminster Abbey. An
imt cense number of his friends and admirers—and no
mat 1 ever had more—attended on the occasion ; indeed
the Jerusalem Chamber was crowded to suffocation
with people anxious to pay the last tribute of their
respect to the memory of the author of the " Pleasures
)1' Hope." Mr. Campbell's grave was dug in the centre
wf Poets' Corner, and among the assembled mourners
vre recognised Lords Brougham, Campbell, and
Aberdeen, Sir Robert Peel, and many other indi-
viduals of note in the political and literary world.
The funeral service was read by Mr. Millman, him-
self a poet, and with an impressive feeling and
solemnity that touched the hearts of all who heard
bin 1. While looking round on the busts and
monuments of departed men of genius which
Oict-ly stud "Poets' Corner," we could not help
ht:Cie-Wing and wondering at the bigotry—for we fear
it oan be called by no gentler term—that led to the
exclusion of Lord Byron's statue from among these
nat:Pnal memorials. Here it should have stood,
for 'among our national poets no man occu-
pies a more distinguished rank than the
author of " Childe Harold." It was a poor—a petty
excuse .for depriving him of the posthumous honour
which w as his due, for the Dein and Chapter of West-
minster to allege that he had written " Cain." The
question was not one of orthodoxy but of genius, and
should have been regarded as such. The man whsse
works are published in full, without any erasures,
precisely as originally written, by the High-Church-
and-State bibliopolist, Mr. Murray, could not have
been so immoral and heretical an author as to justify
our ecclesiastical authorities in closing the doors of
Westminster Abbey on his ashes.
The following is the simple inscription on the coffin
of Mr. Campbell :—" Thomas Campbell, LL.D.,
Author of ' The Pleasures of Hope.' Died 15th
June, 1844."