The Sun. — 1845-12-16 (London, England)

MURDER OF SIR LAWRENCE JONES, BART.  The Impartial of Smyrna, of the 28th ult., contains the following account of the murder of Sir Lawrence Jones, Bart., by a parcel of brigands:— "Oa the 6th, at two o'clock in the afternoon, two English gentlemen, viz., Sir Lawrence Jones, Bart., and Captain Twopenny, left Macri for Smyrna ; they were accompanied by a Greek dragoman of the name of Nicoli, and also three conductors. On the night of the same day they all slept at Karghi, and the next day, at twelve o'clock, they found themselves at the foot of the mountain called Khassils-Bel, where they stopped to breakfast. During this repast one of the conductors observed to the dragoman that two or three Zhybeeks were at a distance in front, but as he in a short time lost sight of them. the voyageurs were undisturbed and their route was continued. But they had not proceeded more than six minutes on their journey, when they were suddenly assailed by a warm fire of musketry from behind one of the rocks of the mountain. Sir Lawrence Jones fell dead, as well as the Greek Nicoli, by this fatal discharge ; Captain Twopenny was also grievously wounded.' The robbers, without the least fear of being recognised, approached and began to take possession of everything which they could lay their hands upon. Captain Twopenny miraculously escaped from being dispatched. One of the brigands had already pointed his pistol to the chest of the wounded captain, when a fellow brigand turned the aim of the pistol, and it went off in a different direction. Having remained for about an hour and a half upon the stage of the field of murder, the robbers departed. Captain Twopenny, aided by his conductor, with difficulty remounted his horse. It was not until twelve hours' ride of fatigue that the suffering gentleman arrived at Macri, weltering in his blood, which was running from his numerous wounds. He had done everything in his power to take with him the remains of his departed and unfortunate friend, but could not succeed. He was satisfied with cutting off a lock of his hair, and taking a ring off his finger (which had escaped the rapacity of the robbers), as a sort of souvenir to his afflicted family. On his arrival at Macri, his first care was to look after the body of his companion, which was brought to Macri on the 9th, as well as that of Nicoll ; both of them were buried iu the Greek chapel, with all the ceremonies and rites of that faith. This affecting news has produced the most melancholy sensation amongst the English residents at Smyrna."  BIRMINGHAM, Dac. 14.—Last Friday evening the 12th inst., the long promised representation of Sophodes' Antigone was given at our theatre. The house was crowded in every part. The delayed production of this tragedy on our stage was, we understand, attributable to an accident  which bad befallen Miss Vandenhoff, occasioning a lameness which prevented her appearing in public for these three months past. We congratulate her on her recovery, though we observed, with regret, that her movements were not altogether unconstrained, and we missed, in consequence, two or three of those beautiful transcripts from Grecian statuary which lent such classic grace and dignity to her Antigone on the boards of Covent-garden. Vandenhoff, as Creon, looked and moved an impersonation of Olympian Jove. The choruses, generally, were up to the business of the scene, and we doubt not, as the tragedy is announced to run through the week, that every night will render them more easy and perfect. There was some mistake, or failure of intent, in the closing scene which caused the finale to fall flatly on the sense. This will, doubtless, be remedied on repetition. The several beauties of this classical drama require a cultivated  taste to appreciate and enjoy them ; we speak from experience, and can tell our readers it improves on repetition.—  From a Correspondent.