Star.
London, England, 1830-08-14 00:00:00

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

After the Comedy of She Would and Sits Would Nol, which
was well sustained in all its parts, and admirably in some, a new
farce was produced from the pen of Mr. BUCKBTONE, the success-
ful author of the Happiest Day of my Life, and Popping The
Question, under the title of A Husband at Sight. The following
Is the plot : ~

Frederic Baron Louisburg, a Colonel of Hussars, and a general
lover, while sojourning with his regiment in Polsnd, prevails upon
Augusta Polinsky. the daughter of a brave officer, who has died
in the field, to believe that he is sincerely attached to her. The Baron
afterwards returning to his aunt's estate in Germany, forgets the
fair Augusta, and is particularly attentive to the daughter of a
farmer, named Catherine Parchwitz. His aristocratic aunt, fearful
that he should marry this peasant, he having been heard to pro-
mise her such a distinction, takes advantage of die Baron's ab-
sence on a hunting party, to many the pretty Catherine out of
hand. Gundershoff, the Steward, is dispatched to the farm, to
carry the intention of the Baroness into instant effect; and, meet-
ing with a travellerat an inn (Augusta,) and hearing that he is an
unhappy wanderer he resolves to dissipate his melancholy, and
check his locomotion by giving unto him a wife. The affair is
arranged with Catherine and her father; and, when the young tra-
veller hears that he is to marry the girl, to prevent the heir of
the estate making a fool of himself, he appears in a greater hurry
for the completion of the ceremony than any of the parties con.
cerned. They are consequently immediately married. The
young Baron returns from his hunting party, and, finding his pretty
peasant a wife, seizes the husband, to wreak vengeance upon him ;
but seeing his face. he suddenly, and to the astonishment of all,
rushes from the place. This is attributed to disappointed love, and
the wedding festivities proceed. Evening advances, and the happy
pair, being left together, the bride wonders at the coolness of her
husband, who is evidently anxious to make his escape. The
Baron again appears, and desires an interview with the bride.
groom alone. The request is granted ; the young traveller faints
away, and Ferdinand discovers in him his deserted Augusta Po.
linsky. Catherine re-appears at the instant, and is alarmed at the
situation of her husband. As he recovers the Baron flies for his aunt,
to obtain her immediate approval of the reparation he intends mak.
lug Augusta. Catherine cannot imagine what has caused her hus-
band to faint away, and is greatly terrified at his wildness and strange
conduct. He thrusts her from him, and instantly quits the house.
Catherine's father, enraged at such treatment, determines upon a
divorce; she will not listen to such a aroposal, exclaims that she
adores her husband, and departs in pursuit of him. The young Baron
returns with his aunt; the bridegroom has been detected endeavour.
ing to make his escape in a cloak and bonnet ; he is brought back to
the house, is introduced to the Baroness as Augusta Polinsky,
Ferdinand throws himelfat her feet,and promises to make atonement.
Catherine returns, inquires of every one for her husband, and is dis.
mayed to find she has married a woman. She resolves never to take
a husband at sight again, but her disappointment is partly solaced
by the Baron promising her the hand of her former admirer.

The situations here described were in every instance done most
ample juatice to by the performers. VI xixo's Ferdinand was a
very clever performance, and WED/TER, as Gundershoff, was both
droll and original. But the chief onus of the performance lay
upon Mrs. H UMW and iglu MORDAUNT. The former as the
simple Catherine was spirituelle in the extreme ; her every sentence
was replete with talent ; and Hiss 111011IDAUNT, u the husband.
played feelingly and effectively. We were almost inclined to
come to the conclusion that this clever young actress is better
suited to the pathetic than to the unqualified comic style which she
has hitherto chosen. No inconsiderable portion of the effect with which
she performed this part was attributable to its being, with the ex.
caption of one or two instancea, less ova/Acted than usual with her,
and less marked by that mistaken affectation which is, perhaps, her
only fault. The farce went off with great spirit, every scene had
its share of approbation, and the announcement of the piece foe
etition was received with loud applause, unmingled with the
slightest show of dissention. The house was well uttendtd.

THE LAW OF ARREST.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

Sra—The law of arrest has formed a leading feature of legislation
during the last sessions of Parliament ; and the expenses, tics, At,.
taken from defendants, was justly reprobated, and more I:4.ou:hely
in the execution of writs of flees jacias. The odium in th? putilit
mind for such exactions erroneously attaches to the sheriffs' officer,
when, in fact, (as far as regards the county of Middlesex,) it orif,l.
fades with the perpetual under-sheriffs. The only fee allowed by
them to the officer for levying an execution is one guinea, although
the poundage received by them on such writ may amount to hurt.
deeds. Out of this guinea the officer is chat ged 2s. Gd. for the war.
rant ; and if, for the protection of the property levied on, two nu n
are necessary, Mewls. Burchell and Co. the under-sheriffs, will only
allow out of the poundage the possession-money for one mar. As
a proof of this assertion, in a levy made by myself, in " The Kintt,
v. Jones," for 5901 owing to the property lying on wharfs and be:l
tcred, two men were:indispensable for the safe custody of the pr
perry, and to whom I paid 171. 10s. I handed to the untier-slierif.
321. for the poundage on this levy ; but Mr. Borchelt would o: l}
allow 81. 15s. namely, the allowance for one man. Here, then, is
case where the officer, who alone is responvihle for the amount e
the levy, sustains a loss of 81. 15s. by doing his duty, while th.
under-sheri% pocket 231. ss. nett profit, for doing nothing. How,
for losses like these, which occur continually, is an officer to be re-
munerated ? The answer to this Is simple : the officer is compelled
to grant accommodation to defendants, to the injury of the plata:-
tiro interest, in order to obtain presents, and illegal fees, to ceva
such his losses; as, in this instance, the officer has no tented:,
against the all-powerful dicta of the perpetual malty-sheriffs. The
obvious and immediate remedy which I would paw out a, appli.
cable to this evil, would be a fair and equi!able art;.!:gcnient of the
poundage between the under-sheriffs and the officer levying. This
being effected, the exactions and much of the complaints incidental
to arrest for debt, would be obviated. The sher:ff's officer would
then be enabled to forego (and they would do so willingly) the tees
they are now compelled to exact from defendants for hail herds,
civility, &c. 8:e. In a few days I will submit to you a full state-
ment of the fees now levied on the Public, by the under-shctiffs of
Middlesex and their officers, instead of the legal fees to which they
arc entitled. I have no doubt, by inserting this in your valuable
paper, it will lead to an expose of facts, that will tend more to re-
lieving the unfortunate debtor, than all th.: acts that can be passed
by Parliament without it.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
Carey Street, 111;NRY BEABIONT,
Aug. 10, 1830. Fourteen years Officer to the Sitetitrof 31iddlebes.

LEI Tk.ll TO OIL ROWRING.

In answer to a communication as to the light in which the French
people would view the subscriptions fin the sufferers at Palls, the
following letter has been received :
" NATIONAL GUARD OF PARIS.

"Hotel de Ville, Aug. 10, 18111.
"Dane SIR—We have had a conference with General Lafayette
on the subject of your letter, and beg you will communicate its re-
sults to the free men of England.
" We think that the cause of liberty would he easentially served
if a deputation were named at a general meeting in London. to pre
sent to General Lafayette, as Commander of the National Guard. the
subscriptions for the wounded of the sufferen., and at the same
time to be the bearer of an address to the inhabitants of l'aris,
on the late events. We think it would be a noble occasion
for each to give evidence to the other of their love of free-
dom and of peace, and of their mutual esteem and friendship. 1:
would be a step—a great step towards the union of two eultivand
nations--it would be a glorious example to the rest ;it would Lc t
supersede thc holy alliance of k ings bythe holier alliance of thc peopk.
" After the arrival of this deputation in Paris, a deputation would
be named here to be the bearers of an address to the inhabitants of
London, thanking them for their friendly exertions, and expressive
of our hope for the establishment of the extension of liberty and
good government.
" These, my dear Bowring, are the suggestions which we respect-
fully submit to the consideration of our kind friends. These we
desire to be known in England, and to the world. This is a happy
moment. Let us profit by It, for the universal cause of man.
" An Order of the Day' is at this moment being published, an-
nouncing to the people of Paris what the people of London are doing
in their favour. All hearts are united in this good work. The
Americans, too, are coming forward.
" Now then, zealously tor the good cause ! and let us place the
Charters of Liberty beyond the reach of tyrants.
"Yours, wholly, "Count de LASTEYRIE."

REQUISITION TO THE LORD MAYOR,
To convene a Meeting of the Citizens of London to congratulate the
Citizens of Paris, and subscribe for the relief of the sufferers.

Yesterday Mr. Richard Taylor, the Common Councilman, mom.
panied by two other gentlemen, waited upon the Lord Mayor, as a
Deputation from a body of requisitionists, and presented to hi.
Lordship the following Requisition :
London, Aug. 11, 1830.
TO THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD 3IAYOR OF THE

CITY OF LONDON.
ltly Lord,—We respectfully request your Lordship to call a
meeting of the inhabitants of this City, as soon as convenient, in
order to give them an opportunity of expressing their congratula.
tions at the triumph of constitutional liberty in France; their ad.
miration of the moderation and courage with which the struggle
has been conducted by the brave citizens of Paris; and their fervent
hopes that the result of these memorable events may be the consc-
lidation of all the interests of peace and freedom in every pan of the
world ; and, further, to promote a subscription for the wounded,
the widows, and the orphans of the sufferers in the late events in
the French capital.

We have the honour to be, my Lord, your Lordship's most
obedient, humble servants. (Signed by about lOU citizens.)
The Loan BIAYOR received them in a most cordial and polite
manner, and stated that he had, in fact, already considered the sub-
ject, as it had been suggested to him a few days ago by his brother
magistrate, Alderman Wood, that the feeling which pervaded his
fellow-citizens would certainly occasion such an application. He
(the Lord Mayor) entirely approved of an expression of public opi-
nion of the nature of that stated in the requisition ; but he felt a
difficulty in giving his official sanction to such an expression. Under
these circumstances he recommended the requisitionists to call a
meeting of the citizens of London at the London Tavern, and there
their opinions might be collected in the most complete and forcible
manner.
The Deputation begged to know of his Lordship whether, since
he was made favourable to their object, he would have any objec-
tion to preside at a meeting called as he had suggested
The LORD MAYOR replied that he could not attend as a private
individual without giving the sanction, with respect to which he
felt a difficulty--namely, as to any official co-operation. He must
therefore decline the honour proposed to him.
The Gentlemen of the Deputation asked his Lordship whether he
had any objection to a statement of his favourable opinion being
made known to the requisitionists ?
The Loan hlairoa replied emphatically that he had no objection
whatever, provided they kept in view the distinction between his
personal approbation as a private individual, and his declining to
interfere in his official capacity as Chief hlagistrate.
The gentlemen of the deputation stated, in the course of sonic
conversation which ensued with his Lordship, that the most grati-
fying expressions of sympathy had been made by the people of Li.
verpool, Manchester, and Wolverhampton, and other places. A
letter had been received that morning from Edinburgh, stating that
a requisition was there in progress, and had been signed by some
men of the highest talent, and,of opposite opinions on questions of
domestic politics. Indeed, amongst all friends of constitutional
freedom in the metropolis, there appeared to be perfect unani-
mity of sentiment; they only differed in their opinions as to the
mode in which it should be expressed ; it was universally ac-
knowledged that the conduct of the Parisians was unparalleled in
the history of the world. The deputation did not doubt that the
French people would do justice to the wounded and the fami-
lies of the heroes alto had fallen in the great conflict; but still
they thought that the people should be allowed to contribute, nu,
to the payment of a common debt, and that it was equally their
duty to express their admiration and gratitude. A letter had
that morning been received in the city from Mr. laifitte, the
President of the French Chamber of Deputies. He said, " All •
France will applaud the genemus intervention with which the
people of England have honoured that great struggle, whose re-
sult has been the complete overthrow of despotism."
The LORD MAYOR repeated his expression of sympathy, anti,
as we understood, used some expression to the effect that he
would consider the difficulty which he felt of taking any part, as
• Chief Magistrate.
The gentlemen of the deputation said the requisitionists would,
no doubt, take his Lordship's suggestion into immediate considera-
tion, for they did not feel themselves justified in procrastinating
their expression of feeling.
The deputation then withdrew.
We have since been informed that a mating of the requisitionists
has been held, at which it was determined to act upon his Lor.:
ship's suggestion, and to hold a meeting at the London Tavern on •
Tuesday, at twelve o'clock.
The names attached to the requisition were highly respectable,
and consisted almost entirely at perm= who do not come forward
on ordinasy political occasions, and ore never attached' to the rapt.
',Wong for reform meetings.