The Sun. — 1863-10-13 (London, England)

LABLACHE.—Of all the great artistes of our day, in every sense of the word, either as regards rotundity of body-, ditto and power of voice, intellect, talent and genius as an actor, grandeur, and conception of characters —either grave or gay—downright, earnest, and good vocalisation, with genuine and unaffected fun, combined with much sterling sense and depth of vocal organ—give us Lablache I Ho was an artiste that any country might be proud of, and the " Lazzarom." may very well smile at us more northern " chanters" for Naples having given birth to so excellent, so grand, an " en-chanter." To add to which, Lablache's mind was pure, enlightened, and noble ; his feelings hospitable, his hand generous, and his heart good ; by this tribute we mean nothing to the disparagement of other artistes, such as Braham, Rubini, Donzelli, Mario, Ivanhoff, Tamberlik, Dupres, Sims Reeves, Santley, Ronconi, Staudigl, Pischek, Tarnbutini, &c., most of whom we knew, many intimately—to whom be all honour due— and who, as sterling artistes themselves, we are sure, will agree with us in saying, that with Lablache died the greatest basso singer that ever lived.—The Orchestra. SINGULAR SUICIDE OF A IIiGHLANDER.—On Sunday evening about a quarter past seven o'clock, a private, named William Nicol, belonging to the 92d Highlanders, stationed in the Castle, at Edinburgh, committed suicide in St, Margaret's Loch, Queen's-park. Whilst taking a walk with three of his companions—two men and a boy--deceased proposed to bathe in the loch.y The night being dark, his companions—namedrespentivelo. pose, Strathdee, Dove, and Nicol—laughed at the foolish pro l but Nicol insisted on carrying out his wish , his feathered pulling off his tunic and throwing down .l who, althoughhat a, walked into the water. The boy N.lOO ;skins. if the water namesake, es no relation, called es. le, him, a., g thcleel then called 46 y -tr was cold, and he replied, but no answer being received, out if he intended returnin in g' ho stripped and waue- to try and rescue Nicol. He went but was obliged to reup to the waist., keeping shouting, turn to the embankment on account of the coldness of thewater. v. On his return . '- went into the leo water, while ]love ran to the gamekeepers lodge at the eastern entrance to the park for the purpose of getting a lamp and boathook, but nothing of the kind was in the house. The old man Dove a piece of candle and a few matches, with which 're -vied to the search for Nicol. A message was sent he retes. , Palace, and the guard was turned out. A mesto Holyroe.ct • gtspatched to the police-office, and a boatsage was next . ,r‘ immediately sent down, In the mean hook and ropes we,- . search made for the missing man, time a raft was got at e body was found. Deceased After a search of two hours ts., lv 20 years in the army, was 37 years of age, had been neak., ncli, Turkish, and and wore four medals—Crimean, -wing returned Indian—also two good -conduct badges. he mths ago, to this country from India only three or four in,. sn the j it is supposed the deceased committed the rash act fro. effects of sunstroke,  The Great Eastern—Meeting of Shareholders in London, • ___. OP"  The adjourned special general meeting of the shareholders in the Great Ship Company was held at the London Tavern yesterday. A report prepared by the committee appointed at the last meeting was read. The following is an extract(:_" The Committee state that they have directed their attention to the following:-1. To the exact financial state of the company. 2. To the state of the ship. 3. To the means of profitably employing her ; and lastly, 4, To an inquiry into the means of relieving the company from financial difficulties. On the first head the committee state that they have come to the conviction that the statement of the chairman that a peremptory sale was inevitable in 14 days, unless £30,000 was raised on or before Friday next, the 16th, was a mistake.' As to the state of the ship the committee say Without entering minutely into the details obtained from the captain and your engineer, your committee are of opinion, from the, information afforded by both, that every repair and alteration required to fit the ship for sea may be efficiently completed for a comparatively small sum; the hull of the ship is sound and seaworthy, and capable of performing any duty assigned to her; the engines are in good condition, but the boilers want thorough overhauling." With regard to the best means of employing the ship the committee say—" Three voyages to India or Australia (one and a-half each year) would give a little more than 70,000 miles, subject to the expense only of six loadings and discharges; six set of port and pilot dues; six set of agencies; six coast and harbour risks instead of 18, and only two years victualling, wages, insurance, staff, expenses, and interest instead of three. There would be but little competition in the rates of passage and freight. Passengers and cargoes would be available to any extent, and the result, under proper and efficient management, cannot for a moment bo doubted." After examining the plans for relieving the company from its difficulties, the committee thus conclude : " Here is our policy—here are our plans-1. Economy at home. 2. Placing the ship on the longest voyage, where there can be the least competition and the highest receipts—the shareholders contributing what may be required for the liquidation of the existing debts and outfit, which will be amply provided for by the suggested contribution." After some discussion, the report was unanimously adopted, and it was decided to summon another meeting for the 3d of November to fill up vacancies in the Board of Directors, and for the transaction of other business.