The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-21 00:00:00

STRAND.

Another adaptation from the French entitled Mon-
seigneur was produced at this theatre last night. As
the piece has been produced at other theatres in town,
and the plot given at full, we will not now enter into
a minute detail of it. Monseigneur is a person whom
nature has endowed with elements that scorn patient
industry. He never liked a calling that required
much labour, so he goes to Paris to make his fortune
in the shortest time possible. Monseigneur has an
instinct which tells him the best mode of arriving at
that end, so he becomes—a clerk in a merchant's
office ? No ; nothing of the kind. He becomes a
chevalier d' induerie, and if you believe the French
reports, a very lucrative profession it must be in Paris.
But Monseigneur is no picker of pockets; he scorns
inferior things and flies only at the very highest
game; not that little things do not come into his
pocket, but Monseigneur, who is at the very top of his
art, has employes whom he leaves minor details to. He
has got his cashier to dispose of his gains. They take
their thousands but he his tens of thousands.
You will ask how he accomplishes all this ? Nothing
easier to a man of experience. He dresses in the
first style, attends the opera, learns the secrets of
others, transmutes himself into a thousand shapes,
takes a thousand characters, and is at home in them
all. Take an instance. A rich jeweller is sending
home a casket of jewels of immense value, of which
Monseigneur has information. He is taken, richly
habited, in a sedan, where he knows he will meet the
bearer of the precious articles. He is right, and he
comes out and tells the jeweller's apprentice that he
ought to be afraid of Monseigneur's band, and puts a
pistol in his hand, for the purpose of defending him-
self. He then calls watch, and says he has been at-
tacked by the apprentice, and that his rich jewels
have been taken from him. The police, of course,
know the value of fine clothes, and the apprentice is
taken to prison, and Monseigneur marches off with
the jewels. They find their way through a variety
of hands, but are finally recovered for the apprentice
by Monseigneur himself, who finds that the appren-
tice is his brother. Mr. Roberts performed the part
of Monseigneur, which he maintained with consider..
able ability. The other parts were but indifferently
sustained, bat the piece was well received.

JEWISH LITERARY AND SCIEN-
TIFIC INSTITUTION.

An event, extremely interesting to the members of
the Jewish body in London, and, in some degree, to
those in all parts of the kingdom, took place yesterday
evening, in the opening of a new literary and scien-
tific institution, in Leadenhall-street, intended chiefly,
though by no means exclusively, for persons of the
Hebrew persuasion. The name fixed upon- by the
founders is " The Jews' and General Library and
Scientific Institution, and " Sussex Hall" has been
chosen as the denomination of the building which the
institution is to occupy. From the numerous attend-
ance, and other circumstances, it was evident that the
occasion had been looked forward to by many with
deep interest. Amongst the gentlemen assembled,
either to take part in the proceedings or to manifest
their approval of the undertaking, were the following :
Hananel De Castro, Esq., President ; Sir Isaac Lyon
Goldsmid, Bart., F.R.S. ; Sir Moses Alontefiore,
F.R.S.; D. Salomons, Esq.; F. H. Goldsmid, Esq. ;
Walter Joseph, Esq. ; Isaac Cohen, Esq. ;
I). W. Wire, Esq. ; Barnard Van Owen,
Esq.; Bazil Montagu, Esq.; and Dr. Raffael, of
Birmingham. A great number of ladies were also
present, and appeared to take great interest in all that
passed. The theatre of the institution, in which the
company assembled, is a large and handsome apart-
ment, one of the best, in fact, that we have ever seen
in connexion with a literary institution. It had, as
the President stated, been previously used as far back
as eighty. years ago, as a Jewish synagogue. The
galleries being retained, and a platform erected on
the spot formerly assigned to the ark, and the dome
in the centre considerably enlarged, the whole pre-
sented a very pleasing effect, and is well adapted for
the purpose for which it is designed.
Shortly after seven o'clock the chair was taken by
the President of the Institution, who commenced the
proceedings by a brief opening address. After ad-
verting to the liberal conduct of the Jews in founding
and supporting charities for the relief of their neces-
sitous brethren, he proceeded to speak of the want
which had been felt of an institution like that which
they were then establishing. They would there be
enabled to cultivate, foster, and encourage those noble
studies which must prove highly advantageous to all
classes of the community, and thus to follow the
example of the many laudable societies which had
endeavoured to ameliorate the condition of their
fellow men. He trusted that the institution would
attract such a large body of subscribers and friends
as would secure its continuance and success.
The Rev. C. M. J. RAPIIALL then delivered the
inaugural oration. In the course of an eloquent ad-
dross, he remarked that the Jews, as a body, had
never underrated the value of knowledge. Every
now preparing, publicly, to vindicate e
page of their history proved the reverse.
irTchleayimws'etroe
lite-
rature, and the benefactors of mankind.been
rank with the votaries of science, the patrlonst i odf
said that institutions already existed which rendered
that which they were forming unnecessary; and they
had been told that the only effect of the course they I
were pursuing, would be to strengthen that barrier
of exclusion which it should be their chief aim to re-
move. The principle of the objection, he admitted,
was right, but he denied its application to the case in
point. This Institution was not exclusive.—
Cheers.) They did not refuse to receive any
person of respectable character, without subject-
ing him to any test of religious opinion
him to subscribe any declaration of faith.---, or
(Arpepqur
ia iusin e.g)
The only ground on which the Institution could pos-
sibly be called exclusive was, that the direction and
management were to be in the hands of Israelites.
He then spoke of the vast importance and interest of
the study of Hebrew literature—a literature which
governed opiniun throughout the world, and the force,

simplicity, and beauty of which were, accozding to
Bishop Lowth, a Christian prelate, above competition.
Jewish literature was, he remarked, the inseparable
companion of civilisation. Long before they heard
of the Henrys and the Edwards of English history.
schoolboys were acquainted with their Joseph and
their Moses; long before they heard of the glorious
names of Waterloo and Trafalgar, they could describe
the fight between David and the Philistine. After
some further remarks in the same strain, he concluded
by expressing,a hope that the Institution would be
the instrument of diffusing knowledge, virtue, and
social happiness throughout their own body, and so-
ciety in general. The conclusion of this oration was
the signal for a general and prolonged burst of ap-
plause.

Mr. W. BALL then read an extract from his lecture
on the Ancient English Ballads, particularly those
referring to Robin Hood; and concluded by
singing, accoLwanying himself on the piano,
the celebrated ballad of " Robin Hood and
the Bishop of Hereford," founded on the tradition of
the woodland hero having feasted the Bishop on tint
King's venison, and afterwards made him pay 300
crowns for his cheer. The performance was highly
humorouq.

A Lecture on Artificial Light, illustrated by ex-
periments, was then delivered by Mr. Jones, of the
Adelaide Gallery.

Other entertainments followed, extending to a late
period of the evening. All of them were well received.
If we can at all read physiognomy, the attendance
was not confined to members of the Jewish persuasion,
but included a considerable sprinkling of members of
other communities, who had been attracted by the
novelty and interest of the occasion.
Several donations were announced in support of the
institution.