The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-11 00:00:00

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

The comedy of The Merry Wives of Windsor
was revived as this theatre last evening, Strick-
land appearing as Sir John Falstaff for the first
:ime. The character of Falstaff is the most per-
fectly comic character that ever was drawn ; but
it is also the must difficult character to embody'
in the whole range of the drama. A wit, a hu-
mourist, a sensualist, a man of expensive habits,
but of slender means, mixing on familiar terms
with men of all ranks, from the prince to the
tapster, and yet, while associating with tapsters,
never forgetting that lie might be the companion
of princes; a gentleman by birth (his grandfather
could write himself armiger, or what right had
he to a seal ring ?), by education (lie had been
page to Thomas Moubray, Duke of Norfolk),
and by station (he was a knight in days when
knighthood could only be won by military ser-
vice)—Falstaff was yet, at times, compelled by
his necessities, " to leave the fear of God on the
left hand," and to live by his wits. To the world
—however much be might indulge his rolicking,
social humour, among his more immediate asso-
ciates—to time world he always kept up his dig-
nity—" Jack to my familiars—Sir John to the
rest of Europe." This latter part of the sentence
is in general too much disregarded by our actors.
They make him Jack to everybody ; there is no
" rest of Europe" to whom he is Sir John. This
is not what Shakspeare intended, and we are
happy to say that it is a fault into which Mr.
Strickland did not fall. Mr. Strickland has added
immensely to his already high reputation as a
Shaksperian actor by his Falstaff of last evening.
To say that his is the best Falstaff on the stage is
not doing justice to the merits of his very admi-
rable delineation—it is the only truly Shaksperian
Falstaff that we have ever seen. The humours of
the character are brought out in strong relief—
the wit overflows from the heart; he is witty,

not because he is anxious to shine, but because it
is his nature—he cannot help it—and throughout
the whole character it is evident that he is a man
who has been used to good society. His very
love-making, sensual and absurd as it is, is yet
gentlemanly withal, and we cannot but feel that,
could he have knocked sonic twenty years off his
age, and some ten stone off his weight, Master
Ford's jealousy might not have been altogether
causeless. His air throughout was that of one
who having been in his youth a man, a bonnes
fortunes, could not bring himself to believe
but there must have been some error in
the date of his birth as recorded in the
parish register, and that, as in him grey
hairs were not the signs of wisdom, so
neither were they the signs of age. It is usnal
in noticing the first appearance of an actor in a
new character to mention the various points he
made. Be it Strickland's great praise that he
made no point, technically so called. The cha-
racter from beginning to end was so admirably and
so equally sustained, that it would be impossible to
select any one part for particular commendation,
without being guilty of injustice towards every
other part which was left unmentioned. Strick-
land has long stood unrivalled as the delineator
of Shakspeare's humorists—(who that has ever
seen it can forget his Sir Toby Belch),—and his
Falstaff is by far his greatest and his best charac-
ter, He was called for at the fall of the cur-
tain, and announced the play for repetition every
evening, amidst the rapturous applause of one of
the most crowded audiences ever assembled
within the walls of the Haymarket. The comedy
is, in other respects, very strongly cast. We had
Madame Vestris and Mrs. Nisbett as the wives,
Charles Mathews as Slender, Mrs. Glover as
Mrs. Quickly, and James Bland as Doctor Caius.
Webster, as Sir Hugh Evans, was irresistibly
comic. He is the only Sir Hugh who gives us
anything like the dialect of the Welsh parson.
The duelling scene was admirable. Stuart made
more of Mr. Ford than we have before seen
made of that victim of the green-eyed mon-
ster. .In Stuart's hands Ford becomes
really a character, and we feel an in-
terest in his fate, although we laugh
at his unfounded fears. The interspersed music
was prettily given, and Madame Vestris and Miss
Matley were encored in the duet " I know a
bank." The Gambols of Oberon and Puck
followed, introducing Professor Risley and his
son. The audience were delighted with the truly
elegant and classical performances of this won-
derfully graceful boy. We scarcely know how
to designate these unique performances. " The
poetry of motion," which would be perhaps the
most propor term to give them, is too hack-
neyed to be applied to that which is so unique,
so original, and so inimitable. Master Risley, in
fact, performs an aerial ballet, for, supported on
the hands or feet of his father, he accomplishes
all the most perfect of ballet dancers could
accomplish on the stage—graceful poses—sta-
tesque attitudes—intricate and elaborate pas
tours de force, astonishing equally by their ease
and elegance—tour d'adresse, accomplished
with the most exquisite neatness and precision—
Such are the performances of this wonderfully
graceful child. The applause was rapturous
throughout, and at the conclusion the father and
son were again called forward to receive the
cordial greetings of the audience. The Fair

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One with the Golden Locks conclk!COfete.u•
ing's performances. The house wttir.79Maia' 19 X. Nt
the ceiling. Long before the malt— Oft-'llie •-t
curtain every place was occupied, so tktit thare
was not even standing room.

TINY on BOARD au EMIGRA.-
TION SHIP at COVE.

Informations were taken before Edward Millett, Esq..
J.P., county Cork, on the Ist of January, against the
crew for mutiny on board the Sea Queen, Government
emigration barque, lying at Cove ; and also at the in-
stance of Mr. Curtis, Surgeon Superintendent of the said
vessel, against one of the crew, named Jambes Thomas,
for assaulting him, and threatening to take his life. The
ship, which was bound for Port Philip, is taking out
over 200 emigrants.; when staying at Liverpool, the chief
mate was dismissed the vessel for immoral conduct, and
making use of the most infamous language (which was
also practised by the crew) before the female emigrants.
The crew then exhibited the first symptoms of insubor-
dination, declaring they would not go 1s sea if the mate
was not reinstated. Four of the men left the ship the
next evening without leave, but returned on the follow-
ing morning. At this time a most determined spirit of
animosity existed amongst the crew against the burgeon
Superintendent, which they took no pains to conceal
from the Surgeon, using every means of thwarting him
in the execution of his duty on board.
The assault was committed on him under the following
circumstances :—On the afternoon of Sunday the 30th
Dec., the Surgeon Superintendent had occasion to visit
the agents on shore on a point of duty, and for this pur-
pose he was accompanied by the Chief Officer, (who had
Joined at Cork in the room of the one dismissed at Ply.
mouth) with four hands in the jolly-boat, of which num-
ber this James Thomas formed one. When the Sur-
geon's business on shore was concluded, he and the Chief
Officer returned to the boat, but as the men were absent
the Chief Officer proceeded in search of them. As soon
as lie left the Surgeon, Thomas, who it appears was await-
ing a suitable opportunity, rushed Gown fecen the
heights above to the beach using idle meet dreadftil iip-
precations to the Surgeon ; stating that NU bad obieed
leave to come on shore for the sole purpose of revZhagenee
himself and others upon the Surgeon Superintendent ;
that he had long earnestly desired such aleoeportenity,
and that in what he now said he expressed the
of the whole crew. A scuffle took place between them
in which the Surgeon had the advantage. But c`4l re-
turning on board, Thomas again attacked Mr.
Curtis with a knife, but was again overpowered,
and put in irons till the next morning, when he was
given into the custody of the shore police. The wind
being fair, the Captain gave orders to weigh anchor, but
the crew refused unless another man was shipped in the
place of Thomas. In this emergency he celled a con-
sultation with the Surgeon-Superintendent end officers,
and it was determined to signalise the ships of war an
the harbour. The Captain complains loudly, and seems
to have just cause in so doing, against the conduct of
the officers of the three men-of-war, lying in the har-
bour, in not giving him assistance after having made
the following signals :—At daylight we hoisted the
Ensign Union downwards forwards—a siral well
known to be one of urgent distress, requiring imme-
diate assistance. No notice of any kind whatever was
taken of this. We next hoisted No. 3;240 of Merryat's
signals, implying " Mutiny on board," a signal which,
flying at the main, could not have escaped the notice of
the flag officers, or the officers of the other ships of war,
since it was distinctly perceived and made out on shore.
At eight o'clock a.m., no assistance of any kind arriving,
we fired a gun. At nine o'clock no sign of a boat or
answering the signal, we fired another gun. At ton
o'clock we fired a third gun, in tile hope of attracting
the notice of the Admiral, but all to no purpose, although
the signals were flying until noon.
Signals as the captain said, had the fiercest mutiny
existed on board of us—had the vessel been sinking with
250 souls on board—it would have been the same ; we
could not have made signals of more urgent distress,
even in those cases, and in them alike we should have
received no assistance ftom the ships of war in harbour.
A boat now arrived from the shore, and it became a
question whether wo should apply to the Admiral or to
the Civil authorities, and it was decided that, as we eat
signalised the flag ship, it would, perhaps, be the proper
course to go on board and explain the matter there.
Being disappointed of any assistance from the:Admire],
Mr. Curtis and the chief officer proceeded to shore, and
a warrant was immediately granted by Edward Millet,
Esq., for the apprehension of the crew. A strong party
of armed police proceeded on board the Sea Queen, and
arrested the men, taking them on sho :ruin custody. The
men we tried at the police-office lire same day by
Messrs. 'Holmes and Millet. Jamie) Thomas was sem,
tenced to pay a fine of 51. or to be imprisoned for six
weeks and kept to hard labour. The crew were sen-
tenced to be imprisoned fbr ten days, with hard labour,
and forfeiture of any wages duo. The ship is under a
penalty of 201. a day demurrage, beside the enormous
expenses of victualling so largo a number df emigrants.

PICCADILLY IMPROVICMENTS.—The Cornmissionerg
of the Woods and Forests, on the meeting of Parliameat, in-
tend to apply for a Bill to carry into effect the long-projected
improvements in the above street. Government, we under-
stand, has offered to pay the whole expense of widening. the
street from the mansion, formerly the Marquis of Hertford's,
where the road is only thirty-one feet wide, to rfamilten-place,
taking the ground from the Green-park, and making the whole
of a uniform with of seventy feet; and the parislAs of St. Mar-
tin and St. George are to keep it in repair.
SINGULAR ASTRONOMICAL PTIENOIMENON. Mr.
William Lassell, of Starfeld, in a letter to the editor of rho
Liverpool Times, calls the attention of the astronomical readers
of that journal, to a rare and beautiful exhibition of the planets
which will in a few days adorn the, south-western eky. e
states that, "on Saturday, the 13th mgt., all the planets of
our system will be clubtcred together, and if the attitosphere iw
clear, may be all seen with the naked eye, except the /Pro most
distant, Saturn and the Georgium Sidus. The former of these
will be a little too near the sun to allow its pale light to be dis-
cerned, and the latter under any circumstances requires a
powerful telescope to recognise it di.itinctiv. ennsdrom
surpassing brilliancy, will first appear, and may be easily vete
sbortly after four o'clock, or about sunset, having an altitude of
about 12 or 13 degrees. About seven degrees west of her, and
at a lower altitude, Mercury will appear, Saturn being abtut
13 degrees west of Mercury, and too close to the horizon to be
seen. About 12 degrees east of Venus will be the place of
Jupiter, and 23 degrees cast of Jupiter, Mars will appear.
About six degrees further to the east than Mars will be the
place of the Georgium Sidus, which at sunset will have an alti-
tude of about 31 degrees. So that if an imaginary line Ito
drawn in the sky about 65 degrees long, one end of which shall
touch the sun when in the horizon, and the other end terminate
eastward at an altitude of 31 degrees, the planets will all be
situated nearly in that line, with the exception of Venus, which
will be situated some two degrees south of it."
. _

A printed notice to the following effect was paged
yesterday at the Custom-house, and at the several docks, which
is very important to merchants and persons having business at
the Custom-house:—" The Beard of Customs having caused
to be printed and published a compilation of the general orders
and minutes, issued by them in the month of Septemr, which
affects the importation and exportation of goods, and prescribe
regulations for the conduct of those who have business to
transact at the Custom-house, notice is hereby given, that
copies of the same may be had upon application at the celiac-
tor's-office, and on payment of the sum of 4d. A similar work
will be published monthly in future, and may be had at the
before-mentioned office." The above order is in consequence of
a recommendation of the Revenue Inquiry Commission.
LICENSED VICTUALLERS AND THE MILITARY Au-
Tiroarnas.—The four desperate and brutal ruffians of Ma-
rines, named Jackson, Kirby, Johnson, and Reid, who were
committed for fourteen days for a savage attack upon Mr. Son-
nex, a licensed victualler and landlord of the Duke on Horse-
back public-house, High-street, as well as upon Sergeants
Payne and Gladwell, 37 R, returned yesterday to the garrison
from Maidstone, and as soon as they reached Woolwich they
immediately went to Mr. Sonnex's house, where they made
use of the most dreadful imprecations, and said they would
have another turn with the landlord and the b— polka Whets
they mustered strong enough. Mr. Sonnex refined to serve
them, and they left the house, but a short time afterwards
Jackson returned and tried to knock up a fight, but could not
do so. It is fully expected to-night that another outrage will
be committed by them upon any one that indiscrimmatety
comes in their way, especially the Royal Artillery ; they, hew-
ever, have taken the precaution not to go singly about, but in
bodies, to repel their ruffianly assailants, should it be required.
LONDON JOURNEYMEN BAKERS' PROVIDENT IN..
STITUTION.—On Tuesday evening a public meeting ache sub-
scribers to the above Institution was held at Mr. JAISlen, the
Ooach and Horses, High Holborn, Mr. Dweinble in the chair,
for the purpose of raising funds towards the erection of an
asylum for the relief and reception of aged and infirm journey.
men bakers and their widows and orphans. Mr. Crnickshanks,
the secretary, read several letters from millers, muter bakers,
&c., pledging themselves to support the proposed Asylum, and
several resolutions favourable to the charity having been
adopted, upwards of 160 millers, master bakers, &c., enrolled
themselves members, after which thanks were voted to the
Chairman, and the meeting adjourned.
Why was Murphy in danger of being frozen to
death on the 7th inst. ?—Because he was out 1,11 the coldest
weather. •
CONSUMPTION OF BREAD AND FLOUR IN 'ills
METROPOLIS,—It is estimated that 30,000 sack* of ficur are
consumed weekly in the metropolitan districts, the populatiosa
of which, according to the last census, is 1,870,727; the con-
sumption of bread, allowing 51bs. weekly to each person, is
2,338,409 loaves, each weighing 41bs. ; and admitting that a
sack of flour is manufactured into 93 of these loaves, it re-

quires 25,144 sacks to yield a sufficient quantity of bread forge
metropolis, leaving, 4,t,56 sacks for puddings, biscuits, pastry,
and ether manufactures.
RAILWAY COMMUNICATION WITH IRELLND.--Yes-
terday Mr. G. C. Glyn, Chairman of the Directors of the
London and Birmingham Railway Company, and Mr. Caeed,
Secretary; Mr. R. H. Collett, 81.P.,11r. W. H. *owns,
and Mr. Duff, Directors of the Chester and Holyhead Rail-
way ; :Mr. W. H. Moss, chairman of the Grand Junction'
Railway; and some other gentlemen interested in railway
companies, had an interview with the Chancellor of the
Exchequer and Sir George Clerk, at the official residence of
the First Lord of the Treasury, in Downin street. The
deputation was kheaded by Mr. Collett, M.P. Shortly
after the members of the deputation had met, Sir Robert Peel
and Sir James Graham joined the meeting. The object of the
interview was to obtain the assistance cf Government in
facilitating the communication between England and Ireland.
The deputation entered into the details of their plan, the prin-
cipal point of which was the continuation of the railway line
from Chester to Holyhead, by which means the johrney be-
tween the two capitals would be diminished by some hours. Sir
R. Peel listened with great interest to all that was urged by
the deputation, and manifested the most perfect acquaintance
with the subject. No decision was come to, but the deputation
left highly satisfied with the reception they bad met.
TILE HERRING FISIIRRY.—This week the Mid
Quay has been the scene of unusettl bustle and activity, by the
arrival of a number of vessels from the Kyles of Bate, loaded
with fresh herrings. It appears that the fishing has been 80
productive that the fishermen have been glad to find purchasers
on the ground at lad. per 120. Yesterday the bernngs there
were selling at Is. 4d., and retailing at six ape.nny. The cheap-
ness of herrings and potatoes is a great blessing to the poor.--
Greenock Advertiser.
just held, taot:tse
hatcher
E there i EuiAa
stall unwholesome mutton for silo, and sentenced to two
i—ndAiettedpfo°rneeasffetfirirng sessions,
u hi
Recorder, on passing sentence, stated that if any one else -Wes
morels? imprisonment and a fine of Si. to the Creivn. The
tberenfter convicted before him for the same offence, be should
award a more severe punishment. It is to he hoped that the
example new made will be a warning to butchers against palm-
ing off bad meat on the public.