The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-11-12
LOCAL M ATTERS.

ClRCuiT CouRT.-Ihe case OF herr'S heUS vs..
Maria Garter was still before the court on Friday
and Saturday, and will be resumed this morning.
The court decided that the party asserting the will
had the right to open and close the case, consequent
y Mr. Bradley, the part of the devisee under the
will, opened the by interesting history of
the singular life of DR.. Kerr. He was followed by
Mr.. May in address of some length in which the
will, its nature and effect and the associations
and circumstances attendant upon its execution,
were commented upon with much feeling. The
subscribing witnesses, at least three of them
Messrs. Samuel Wroe, Henry s. Addison, and
James j. Dickns, were examined, and each pro-
| nounccd DR.. Kerr, at the time of executing the
will, to be a man OF uncommonly sound mind, men,
Dry, and understanding. The fourth subscribing
witness, j. F. Gillespie, is not now a resident of
the city.
The evidence against the will was commenced
on Saturday, and consists, far, in details of the
daily transac tons and usual course Of life Of DR..
Kerr, since the period when he broke off his init
macy with his family, and went to live with the
negrcss Maria
There is every probability that the case will not
be closed till the end of the present week.
CAMPHINE CoMBUsTIoN.-A camphne lamp in
the front window of Messrs. Tucker & Beach's
Auction store, Pennsylvania avenue, exploded
or was upset on Saturday night and in moment
the entire window enveloped in flames and
smoke 1t was fortunately extinguished, without
other damage than the breakage Of the lights, and
some slight injury TO the goods in the window.
STEAMBOAT CHANGEs.-We learn that Captain
Rodgers, for some years past the very popular and
efficient commander of the steamboat between this
city and Aqua creek on the great southern mail
route, has been rendered and accepted the post of
chief engineer of the new steamer Atlantic, of Col
Inns line between New York and Liverpool While
his numerous frends here are much gratiied with
his personal advancement, they cannot but regret
that Captain Rodgers will no longer be upon our
waters, where he had become SO great favorite,
and was universally beliked by :" all sorts of peo
ple," from his uniform courtesy, attention, and
gard to the comfort Of travellers
Mr. McCauslen, United States engineer, late of
the steamer Allegheny, has accepted the post vaca-
ted by Capt Rodgers and has resigned in the navy.
He assumes the command of the mail boat Balti-
more this morning.
THE ADELrHI.-This pleasant and popular place
of amusement has passed into the hands of Messrs.
Cartlitch & Brown, lessees who fitting ii up
in a very tasteful manner for the winter campaign.
With the merits of Mr.. G. F. Brown, as a manager
and actor, the public are already well acquanted
and his associate, Mr.. Cartlitch, brings with him
an enlarged experience in the management of
theatres which will be of much service to the
cess of the Adelphi, having been for fifteen years
manager and stage director under the late dis
tnguished artist ''Ducrow," of London; and for
nine years he held the post of stage manager of the
National Theatre, in Boston The stock company
will be entirely new, and among them, we learn,
is the celebrated actress and authoress, Miss Con-
way Carman.
The Improvements to the interior of the Adelphi
are Of the most liberal character; the depth of the
stage having been increased II feet and extensions
of the front added, TO seat 200 more visiters
The house has been newly plastcred throughout,
and the interior painted in fresco and decorated in
beautiful style by Mr.. J. c. Exner A tasteful
proscenium is thrown across the stage, painted in
oil by Mr.. G.. Kirk, on which is inscribed the motto
Of the Adelphi, in gilt, eve will endeavor." A
capacious orchestra is placed in front of the stage
The upholstering, now in progress, is to be of the
best quality, and is under the charge of skilfu
artist The exterior and front have also been much
improved, and ornamented with elegant block
letter sign, "the Adcphi" presented TO the lessees
by Mr.. William II. Porter.
The change in the interior Of the theatre has been
so great, that il will be difficult for play -goer to
recognise il as the same "little box" where he
beheld the fine acting of "Julia Dean" or n
"Booth;' and, il the new company will add as
much, by their acting, the "feast Of reason"
may safely predict for the managers brilliant and
prosperous