The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-09 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN

SIR,—A short time back I bad the honour of delivering a
farewell Address at the termination of my management of the
Theatre Royal, Plymouth. The ,Address having been very
generally noticed by the London and provincial press, I am
compelled, in justice to distinguished members of the theatrical
profession, to solicit some contradiction of an inaccuracy in the
report of it.
Whatever may be my opinion of the effects of the starring
system on the provincial drama, I do not hold it honest to blame
those who snake the most of the favour heaped on them by the
public, and who, from their position, seldom seek managers, but
vice versa. I copy from the Devonport Independent of May
14, what I really did say, speaking of Messrs. Kean and
Macready :
" These possessing first-rate attraction required first-rate re-
muneration. Ido not complain of this—it is only a fair return
fur capital, for talent is the actor's capital. But this neces-
sarily decreases the manager's profits, as for weeks previous and
sub'equent to this attraction, the business is virtually impaired
by the engagement of the star.' Still, the labourer is worthy
of his hire.' I never pay them grudgingly—it would be unjust
to do so. From Mr. Kean—and lam happy to acknowledge
it—l have received repeated acts of kindness. Twice in this
very theatre he played for me for nothing, making me a pre-
sent of his share of the receipts. This was perfectly unsolicited,
and most certainly unexpected."
In other respects the report, I am sorry to say, presenting, as
it does, a melancholy but correct view of provincial theatres,
was correct.

I am exceedingly sorry to trespass on your time or space by
soliciting insertion of this, but I think, in justice to individuals,
it is necessary.—l have the honour to be )onr obedient servant,
May 31, 1842. J. C. HAY.

EXPERIMENTS WITH LARGE
GUNS AT DEAL.
The preparations for making experiments on an extensive
seale with large guns, on the coast betwixt Sandwich and Deal,
are now nearly completed, and the experiments will be com-
menced in the course of the next or following week. Major
Hardinge, K. H., and Captain Fyers, of the Royal Artillery,
have proceeded to Deal, the latter to join Major 1114.13ean's
company, by whom the experiments will be carried on. Major
Hardinge, as senior officer, will have charge of the whole, and, from
his great practical knowledge as an artillery officer, will be able
to give correct reports of the details, and how far they may be
likely to prove of an advantageous nature to the military and
naval services of. this country. The Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty and the Board of Ordnance have acted with a
spirit of liberality in this matter worthy of the heads of these
important branches of her Majesty's service, and have spared
no personal exertion, in addition to the fullest instructions, for
carrying on the experiments in the most effectual manner. The
following guns, having been previously mounted on ship car-
riages at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, have been delivered at
Deal, along with fifty rounds of balls, and cartridges for each:—
One 68 pounder, weighing 112 cwt., on Lieut.-Colonel
DutiOas's principle, removed from the Geyser steam frigate,
to try its range on land one 56 pounder, weighing 97 cwt.,
on Mr. Monk's principle; one 56 ditto, weighing 85 cwt.,
on Mr. Monk's principle; one 42 ditto, weighing 80 cat.,
on Mr. Monk's principle; one 10 inch gun, weighing 85 cwt., on
General Millar's principle; one 8 inch ditto, weighing 65 cwt.,
on General Millar's principle.
Several magnificent guns of a very large calibre, capable of
containing solid shot of 1301bs. weight, were recently cast at
the foundry of Messrs. Walker and Co., for Mehemet Ali,
Dacha of Egypt, and proved at the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich.
The founders of these guns having expressed a wish to have the
range of one of them tried to its utmost extent, their desire
has been complied with, and a suitable ship-carriage, and one
of Messrs. Walker's guns will be forwarded to Deal for that
purpose. A 32 pounder gun, weighing 50 cwt., and a splendid
32 pounder brass howitzer, constructed on a plan of Lieut.-
Colonel Dundas (Inspector of Artillery), will also be forwarded
at the same time for the purpose of having their qualities re-
ported upon.

CONTINENTAL FORGERS AND SWINDLERS.—For
some time past (says the Gazette des Tribunaur of Satur-
day) a great number of forged notes have been in circulation
in Cologne, Mentz, London, and Paris, without any exact
information being obtained as to the forgers. From an inti-
mation afforded by the various money-changers, bankers, and
others, who had suffered by the fraud, it was at length sus-
pected that the issuers of the notes were a company of foreigners
moving in high society, of elegant manners and good educa-
tion. The clue to the mystery was lately given by the arrest
of D—, a young Polish lady of great beauty and
elegance of appearance, who some shurt time back had taken
a house at Passy, where she was visited by a number of fo-
reigners, particularly a M. It—, with whom she made
several journeys to England and Prussia. From information
given to the Prefect of Police, a warrant was imued against
the lady, which was executed at the same moment that a
search was made by the officers of justice at the residence of
11. It—, Rue de Monsieur-)e-Prince. The gentleman had
fled, but left behind a voluminous correspondence, which gave
such exact information respecting the accomplices of the plot,
that it was impossible they could escape. This was transmitted
to England and Prussia, and a number of arrests were in con-
sequence effected, at the same time, at Dusseldorf, Cologne,
Mentz, London, and Edinburgh, and thus this hitherto suc-
cessful association has been broken up.—[The whole details of
this affair were exclusively published in the Morning Post, so
far back as the 12th and 13th of January last, and our accounts
of the conspiracy saved the mercantile and banking community
from great losses. The name of the lady was Madame Danelle;
her maiden name was Minierska. Her accomplice was named
Romanzow ; he has not yet been taken. Pressel, who was
supposed to be an accomplice, established that he was ignorant
of Romanzow's forgeries, and he has been released.—Note ED.
Morning Post.]
We are glad to perceive that the example so
promptly set by her Majesty, of contributing to the pressing
wants of the distressed manufacturers, has been followed by
tithe: s of high rank and station. The Queen Dowager has
forwarded :31.01. to the Committee; and his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, 200/. The Bank of England gives 5001. and
the Mercers' Company 2001., and we hope to find other public
bodies in the lists. The amount received exceeds MAIN.,
but the sum, to be available in any degree commensurately
with the wants it is intended to relieve, must double and treble
this. The names of the Committee afford a sufficient guarantee
that the sums placed at their disposal will be
judi-
ciously and in the most useful way.
TREATMENT Or CRIMINALS.—Sir Peter .
refusing an application on Tuesday, respecting a prisoner,
mentioned that Francis, who is in Ncwgate for shooting at the''
Queen; had applied to him to be indulged with a mattress,
which he had refused, telling Francis that he need not look for
any better treatment than the poorest man in the gaol. He
had ise notion of making great favourites of great criminals.