Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-12-22
MISS JONES AS TIE BRIDE OF LAMMEk-
MOOR

The young actress p6r50Dated "Lucy Ashton, IN the
drama Of the bride Of Lammermoor," dramatized
from Sir Walter Scotts popular novel. Miss jones'
personaton an embodiment TO the very life of
Scotts beautiful and pathetic creation. 1t went d.
ectly TO the hearts of her audience aud stied the
theatre into the most eager attention. only broken
by the loud and unanimous applause which burst
forth in long repeated rounds during the last act
During The early scenes, Lucy ssimpy the innocent,
confding aud beautiful GIRL all tenderness, modesty
and Sentleness with nature that insnctivey bears
upon others for support, and that is quickly awed
into submission by the determined will of naughty
mother Then comes the terrible ordeal of fear,
guish, despair, ending in hepiess, hopeless, broken
ness of heart" Here the young artists imaginative
and representative powers were grandly displayed.
Here touches of genius Of the highest order were
manifested. The thrilling pathos of her tones and
looks, as she appeals TO her mother, the gradual
sinking of the soul from grief into despair, depicted
upon her lovely countenauce the momenary starts
Of insane energy her crushed appearance her frances
OF Imagination. in which her eyes are open, but
their "sense s shut" her toterng walk across
the stage to sign the marriage contract-her
insane start and piercing shrek when Ravenswood
bursts upon the marriage party the perceptble break
ing Of her heart che stands chilled and statue like
amid the tumult while her whole frame seems freezing
with horror-her passive yielding up of the golden
troth con-he unarticulste moving Of the lips, the
last despairng, dying effort which she makes to
recover her faculties Ravenswooi is leaving the
chamber her frantic adjuratlon, "stay-Ravenswoo
-stay!'-ths grand point she makes when Lady
Ashton approaches 10 sever her from her lover, aud
the gentle girl turns upon her with flashing eyes,
frame erect and quverlng with emotion, arms wildly
lifted in desperation aud the words touch me not
moher-touch me not!' bursting from her pale lips
these and the death which ends her long and ter.
rib!e suffering, were intensely real aud tragicay
powerful. They at moment hushed into death.
like stiffness, and the electrified her audience.
Her success triumphant. She received the tribute
of hearty applause, and added many TO her nightly
swelling list of admirers.
Those who are lovers of theatrical performances,
those who desire to sustain and draw upon the stage
persons whose gifts united to purity and worth
that elevate the profession, those who take delight in
reverencing the woman, while they worship the
artist can not fail to be drawn towards this young
girl, who does much honor to the American stage.
After the performance of the " Bride OF Lsmmer.
moor" Mics Jones sang the Msrseaise and appeared
in little drama, entitled Rose de Mai" Her sing.
ing gave much pleasure and elected great approba.
ton.
She will only appear for few nights more, and her
many engagements throughout the United States will
prevent her visiting Richmond again for some time
The lovers OF the drama must not fail to avail them
selves Of this opportunity TO see her.
-.o.-
SECOND VOLUME OF PATTON Il HEATH'S
REPORTS.
Reports of cases decided in the Special Court of APP
paals of Virginia held in Richmond during The years
1856 and 1857. BY John VI. Patton, Jr., ard Roscoe
Is. Heath, of the Richmond Bar. Vol. II. Rich.
nond, Va. Geo. NJ. West, publisher 1857.
We noticed in 1856 in terms of merited commends.
ton, the first volume OF these reports, and predicted
for the work certain if not speedy success. long
and intimate acquaintance with the Intelligent and
faithful reporters and The great ability of the distln.
guished and learned members OF the Special Court Of
Appeals. assured us that well prepared and faithful
reports of their decisions would, matter of cOurse,
rank with the reports of the Court of Appeals Of Vir
ginia. In this prediction We have not been disap-
pointed for, encouraged by the atterng reception OF
the fret volume, the reporters have determined to
port all the decisions of the Special Court of Appeals
until it shall have completed the docket consigned to
its care. As our readers are perhaps all aware, the
e1stance of the Special Court of Appeals terminates
with the completion Of the work assigned to it by the
General Assembly.
1t is Court composed of five of the most eminent
and accomplished Judges in the State, urists of dis.
tinction and experience of whom have been
on the bench for than twenty years. OF ripe
attanmens, with all the opportunities and facili.
ties afforded by the Law Library Of the State for in.
vestigatoD, there ia why the decisions of
this tribunal should not be as much respected. and
entitled to a. much weight, those of the Supreme
Court Of Appeals. Its Jurisdiction IL, as our profess
sional readers are aware, coordinate with that
Court, and its decisions Of equal force and authority.
1t is Court organised by law pursuant TO the pre-.
sent Constitution and the reported by Messrs.
Patton and Heath are those which, had this Court
not been established, would have been duly reported
by MIR. Grattan, the accomplished State Reporter.
The State, although the Legislature failed 10 provide
Reporter Of the Decisions of the Special Court OF
Appeals, is as deeply interested in the abors of
Messrs. Patton and Heath in those OF Mr.. Grattan
The Special Court Of Appeals is composed of men
who have, some OF them, grown gray upon the
Bench; as the names of Judge Thompson of the Au-
gusta District and of Judges Fields and CloptoH,
have been familiar with the profession for nearly
thirty years.
Their docket is large and interesting one, and
there are cases upon itnvolving every important and
interesting question likely to be presented to an Appel
late tribunal of as resort An examination of the de.
cisons reported in the first volume of these reports
convinced that the decisions in many instances
of very great importance, and final to many ques.
tons Of law not heretofore settled by the Courts.
That the reporters are volunteers, does not impair
the value of their works, all who are familiar with
the history of the English Reports, and reporters
aware, as the decisions Of the Courts of Westminster
have been handed down TO the profession through
long period of time, by individual reporters, with
nothing but the fahuness of their reports secure
their success aud popularity.
We are especially pleased with the reports of cases
in the second volume Of these reports. There are
more than one hundred cases reported in volume of
some six hundred pages The insiority of these
are stated with great cearLess and conciseness
and the decisions so strongly, powerfully and clearly
stated, as to remind us OF those brief but able, dec
sions Of the English Reporters, 10 which the weary
American lawyer turns with feeling ofgenuDe graz
ttude, relief and thankiulness, from the intermnable
reports of some OF our American reporters. With the
exception of the important decision in the case of
"Durkin e ais. the Exchange Bank" which
covers nearly fifty pages, there is not single case
which is reported at too great length and in this
the opinion OF Judge Thompson is almost as remark
able for lite great ability it is for its length. Indeed
these reports are so admirably prepared by the in
dssrious and learned reporters that ID impossible
for them 10 be otherwise than popular with the Bench
and Bar Of the State.
As these reports essential IA the reports Of
the State Reporter, it is matter of surprise TO us
that they have not been purchased by the State.
The decisions Of the Special Court of Appeals we
have said, are entitled to the respeot, snd