The Sun. — 1864-09-17 (London, England)

LAI.: tlug A al,la haloidoaCODA of sense, but showing up cant and humbug, or presenting most grotesque aspects of conventional life in almost every word he utters from the "table."  Eugene, the musical epicene, is quite a marvel. "His" assumption of the female voice and manner—rudely shattered by his lightning flashes of the masculine—are the pertection of burlesque,in one of its most difficult and subtle lines. Mr W. Randall, wile is re-introducing his imitation of the late Mr Robson (with a feeling allusion to the loss the public have sustained by the late event) gives unmistakeable signs of possession of dramatic power. In his Sampson Burr (" Porter's Knot") Mr Randall may be said to " photograph" the late actor in one of his most highlywrought delineations. We are also glad to see Mr Jonghmans breaking- fresh ground in reproducing some of the more noted solos and duets (comic and sentimental) scattered throughout the field of foreign and English opera. Some of the buffo revivals—given with dramatic action, and not with the mere dry see-saw of the arms—open up a new source of pleasure to The Oxford audience. A little revolution is setting in in the musical world, and music seems destined to exercise a more exhilarating influence than ever. It is well, then, not to lose sight of any combinations by which vocal and instrumental music may be rendered attractive. Two English opera companies are almost on the point of starting, and Mr German Reed has struck a most fantastic, but telling chord in his musical afterpieces— farces set to music, in fact—the idea of which he has felicitously adopted from our sprightly neighbour across the channel. Everything denotes activity in musical circles. The old cry of the " dearth of talent" is reviving, in the straits of rival enSreprencurs to obtain tonors, baritones. and sopranos for the forthcoming struggle. Good singers, and even singers of promise, are at a premium in the market; and a species of kidnapping is being resorted to by the Montagus and Capulets of the Haymarket and Bow-street houses, which strikes terror into or elates the hearts of the Concert Hall singers. The competition, however, will be good for art; singers of talent will maintain and improve their position—the charlatans will go to the wall. Well may an indignant Unswortla ask " Where are we now ?"  SHOCKING SUICIDE,—On Thursday evening Mr .T. H. Church, borough coroner, held an inquest at the canteen of Colchester Cavalry Barracks, on the body of George Knott, private 16th Queen's Lancers, who had committed suicide that morning by shooting himself in hie barrack•room with a horse pistol. The jury first proceeded to view the body of the unfortunate man, who was discovered 1) ing upon his face in a pool of blood in the upper story barrack-room of the married men's quarters, with his right hand grasping the pistol and his fore finger firmly on the trigger. It was afterwards stated in evidence thathe rote that morning at half-past five o'clock, and went to the stables to clean his horse, when he appeared well and cheerful with two of his comrades. Atter partaking of breakfast with his wife, who thought he seemed low spirited and said but little, he went back to his work, but returned home again, and during the absence of his wife to clean the troop-room ho committed the fatal act, and was found as described between nine and ten, quite dead. Surgeon Ker Park, 16th Lancers, upon examining the body discovered that the deceased had discharged the loaded pistol in his mouth,•completely blowing away the palate, and causing the ball to enter the brain, thereby causing death. Me had been in the 16th Lancers 22 years, and bora the character of a good, steady soldier, and no cause was assisgned to induce him to commit the rash act. The jury, after hearing the evidence, unanimously returned the verdict " That deceased committed suicide, but there was no evidence to show the state of his mind at the time. He has left a wife and four children.