The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-25 00:00:00

SUMMARY OF NEWS

AND

Pubftt pinton.

" Who r las may re•al."

FOREIGN.

The adjourned discussion upon tho Secret Service
Bill commenced on Friday by a speech from M.,ly
against the Bill. He was replied to by M. Liadieres,
who was interrupted by M. Thiers in a most extraor-
dinary manner, the latter exclaiming that it was the
King who was the first to set the example of singing the
MarseiVaise. M. Boudet proposed that the sum demanded
be reduced by 25,0001. The Count d'Haussonville
combated the amendment, which was supported by N.
Billault, in a violent speech, who was met by M. Guizot,
to whom Odillon Barret replied. At seven o'clock, the
close of the debate upon the amendment was called for,
when the nominal appoal was made, and the question of
confidence implied in the amendment was put to the
vote, when there appeared—For the amendment, 205 ;
against it, 229—majority for Ministerf,24. The Cham-
ber then proceeded to vote upon the original preposition
fora million of francs; when there api3ared—For, 217;
against, 41—majority for Ministers, 176. The Opposi-
tion left after the vote on the amendment, as they did
when beaten on the address. The Chamber rose at eight
o'clock.

On Thursday evening the King of the French received the
Pope's Nuncio, Prince Pignatelli, M. Rossi, Peer of France,
Barons de Barante and de Bourqueney, and M. Bouny,
Director of the Indirect Taxes.

The Director-General of the French Post-office has pub-
lished an official notification of the establishment of mail
from London to Calcutta on the 24th of every month (ex-
cept when the 24th falls on a Sunday, when it will leave on
the following day), and stating that it will pass through
Paris on the night of the 25th.
The Marquis de Ferriere, First Secretary to the Embassy to
China, has arrived in Paris with the treaty of commerce
signed at Whampoa by M. de Lagrene and the Chinese Pleni-
potentiary. M. de Ferriere, in order to avoid the performance
of quarantine at Toulon, came by the English packet from
Alexandria to Southampton, and thence into France by
Havre, thus shortening his journey by five or six days.
Possibly this may open the eyes of the French Government
on the beauties of quarantine and passports.
Accounts from Athens, of the 2d, state that the Greek Mi-
nistry was daily gaining strength, and that tranquillity pre-
vailed throughout the country.
The funeral obsequies of Admiral Gregg were celebrated at
St. Petersburgh on the 6th with much pomp. The Grand
Dukes Alexander, Michael and Constantine were present.
A letter from Lucerne, of the 13th, in the New Zurich
Gazette, states that 72 persons have been condemned to
various punishments for the part they took in the late rebel-
lion, and that nearly 1,200 others are under prosecution.
Marchal, the author, M. Cauville, the publisher, and M.
Blondeau, the printer, of a libellous pamphlet, entitled La
Famille d'Orleans, have been condemned in default by the
Court of Assizes, and sentenced each to five years' imprison-
ment, and a fine of 10,000 f. Immediately after the judg-
ment Marchal was arrested on a warrant charging him with
fraud. It is said that M. Berryer and M. Cremieux both
successively declined appearing as counsel for Marchal, on
account of the nature of the work, which had before been
condemned in 1835.
COURT-FASHXONABLE.

The Duke of Buckingham has left Buckingham House for
Stowe. His Grace presides on the 25th at the Conservative
Association dinner, at the Town-hall, Buckingham. The
Marquis of Chandos, Sir Thomas Fremantle, Bart., M.P.,
and Sir J. Chetwode, Bart., M.P., act as stewards on the
occasion.

The Duke of Wellington's contemplated banquet to the
judges and members of the bar, at Strathfieldsaye, on Wed-
nesday next, is necessarily postponed, owing to the death of
his brother. _ _ _

Their Graces the Duke and Duchess of Cleveland and
Lady Augusta Powlett intend to remain at Raby Castle till
after Easter, when they will proceed to St. James's-square,
London, for the season.
The Marquis of Northampton has left town for Torquay.
The Earl of St. Germans left Dover-street at the close of
last week to visit Lord Eliot, his eldest son, who has entered
Oxford University. The Noble Earl afterwards proceeds to
join the Countess and the Ladies Eliot at Port Eliot, Corn-
wall, where the family purpose sojourning until after the
Easter recess, when the Noble Earl and Countess come to
town for the season.
The Earl of Aberdeen has issued cards for a grand dinner
party, at Argyll House, on the sth of March. The Lord
Chancellor, Lord Brougham, Lord Stanley, and most of the
leading Peers are invited.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The electors of Finsbury are about to testify their marked
disapprobation of the insult offered to their representative,
Mr. T. Duncombe, by Sir James Graham, in respect to the
opening of the Hon. Member's letters ; and also to condemn
the conduct of the Home Secretary in refusing to give any
satisfactory- explanation on the subject.
The Secretary at War has decided upon the erection of
five experimental military prisons, to which superintendents,
selected from the half-pay list, are to be immediately ap-
pointed, at a salary, in the majority of cases, of 2001. per
annum.

THE THEATRES.
HAYMARKET.
A new and original comedy in three acts, so styled in the
bills, entitled, The Sheriff of the County, from the pen of our
old friend Peake, was produced here last night, with the most
deserved success. In the olden time, when there were such
things as three-act farces, this would most probably have
been called a farce, but we will not dispute about names—
farce or comedy, it is a most agreeable, lively, bustling affair,
and kept the audience in a constant titter for more than
two hours, and Peake may boast that he has done more
than Majesty itself can do, created a high sheriff who does
not, either by himself or his deputy, cause a moment's heart-
ache to a single individual. Mr. Hollylodge (Mr. W.
Farron) the high sheriff of the county, is the most amusing
of officials—a retired country gentleman, devoted to his
garden and his poultry-yard. He eschews notoriety
—he seeks retirementhoW comes it then that
Mr. Hollylodge is made high sheriff of the county ?
Mr. Hollylodge has awife (Mrs.:Glover), bustling, ambitious,
purse-proud, to whom her neighbour, Lady Winkleworth
(Mrs. W. Clifford), a high-bred aristocrat, is even as Mrs.
Grundy was to Dame Asl►field, and Mrs. Hollylodge has a
brother, Smirker (Mr. Strickland), a shrewd country
attorney, who has an itching palm fur the few which fall to
the lot of deputy-sheriff. " What would Lady Winkleworth
say if I were the lady of the sheriff of the county?" quoth
Mrs. Hollylodge. " What sums could I not realise if I were
deputy. sheriff," calculates Mr. Smirker, and accordingly
Smirker goes to London, and by intriguing with the subor-
dinates in office, manages to get his brother•►n-law nomi-
nated sheriff of the county. Poor Mr. Hollylodge stands in
the last category of Falstaff's men of honour, and equally to
his surprise and his annoyance, hears of the .honour which
has been thrust upon him. At first, he is inclined to pay the
fine, but as Smirker kindly undertakes to perform all the
duties of the office, in fact, to be the factotum, Hollylodge,
much t f the delight of the ladies, consents to serve. The
whole house is in a bustle; Nonpareil (Mr. Webster), who
has been footman to three Lord Mayors, is brought down
from town to drill the servants, Andrew ( Mr. 11. Widdicombe)
a plain clodpole, and Pansy (Mr. Buckstone), a gardener,
much addicted to the study of the History of England, and
who is particularly anxious to know whether Jane Shore
would be a proper person to undertake the office of governess
in a respectable family. Banners are painted ; new carriages
are built; splendid liver►eries are ordered, one of which is
donned by the high sheriff himself, as his official
costume, much to the amazement of Lady 'Winkle-
worth and the confusion of Mrs. Hollylodge. Par-
ties are given, and the high sheriff is completely put
out of his way, and is in the high road to misery in conse-
quenee, when, fortunately, the intrigue of Smirker is dis-
covered. Smirker himself ►s struck off the rolls. Hollylodge
is superseded, much to h►s own comfort; and the husband of
Lady Winkleworth is appointed in his stead, much to the
discomfort of Mrs. Holl3 lodge. These are excellent ma-
terials for the production of fun, and Peake has
worked them up with the hand of a master.
Puns, some excellently good, some ludicrously bad, but none
indifferent, are bandied about in all directions. Hits at the
prevailing follies of the day—all of which tell—occasional
flashes of genuine wit, and frequent bursts of the most hearty
and unctuous humour. abound in this very amusing piece,
in the composition of which Mr. Peake seems to have con-
sulted the taste of all classes, for there is a sentimental un-
derplot, in which a young soldier is sentenced to death for
having struck his superior officer, who had been offering an
insult to his (the soldier's) sister. The soldier and the sister
turn out to be the nephew and niece of the high sheriff, and
of course the soldier is pardoned. The piece was evidently
written for the Haymarket company. Peake has taken the
measure of each member of it concerned in the production of
the comedy, and has exactly fitted every individual. The
comedy, therefore, goes adm►rably. The ;lase en scene is per-
fect, and at the conclusion it was announced for repetition
every evening amidst the loud applause of a crowded house.