210 
THE FIELD. 
[Saturday, 
those people. When the 54 strangers had been secured, a 
meeting was convened in the Orchard, at which there was a 
numerous attendance. The chairman (Mr. Luke Wood) 
. . l . _ tnnn/iC OOI1 nOOtiKl IVlfh tllA 1 1 «• V ■ « ’ I ■ I A I 
numerous attendance The chairman (Mr. Lake Wood) ^ “ maildi d hln, in the hope that 
described the circumstances connected with the arrival of , t . vou i,j i, n etrenerthened. Mr. Yardlev inquired if the prisoner’s 
uescnoeu uie — ; ■ - , ,, 
the Manchester people, stating that those who wore unable 
to weave had been promised 6s. per week whilst they learnt, 
and such of them as could weave were at first to have 12«. 
for a pair of looms, and afterwards to he raised to 15s. Mr. 
Cowell exhorted his hearers to be strict in their observance 
of pence, law, and order, under the trying circumstances in 
which they were placed. He stated that three poor weavers, 
who had been forced into a mill against their inclination, 
had sent in 3s. as their first week’s contribution, to be en- 
tered in the balance sheet under the title of “Knob- 
sticks.” (Cheers.) The meeting was subsequently addressed 
by Messrs. K. Swinglehurst, Brown, Higham, and Grini- 
shaw, each of whom strenuously urged the people to keep 
the peace. . , . , , 
Holyhead New II An noun.— ' The labourers employed 
upon these works struck for wages on Friday week, und still 
continue to hold out, the contractors being unwilling to accede 
to their demands. Their present wages are only 2a. M. a day, 
and they ask for an increase of 4d., making it 3a. It is 
much to be regretted that this should have happened at the 
present time, the works having progressed so favourably 
and with the most cordial understanding between employer 
and employed for a long time. The Messrs. Rigby, the 
contractors, have always met their workmen in a fair and 
liberal spirit, and it is to be hoped l hat the present" turn- 
out” will be amicably and speedily settled. The men 
conduct themselves in a most orderly manner. 
IRELAND. 
Advance in the Corn -market — As tlio natural re- 
sult of the stirring events of the last fortnight, both at home 
und abroad, prices of grain nre slowly but steadily recover- 
in'' from the temporary depression which prevailed up to 
the period when the active measures taken by the Govern- 
ment indicated that all hope of an amicable settlement of 
the Eastern question was at an end. The Dublin corn-mar- 
ket opened this week with a demand for higher rates on all 
descriptions of grain, which, however, were only realised to 
a limited extent in barley and oats, wheat remaining at 
the previous quotations. The majority of the provincial 
accounts calculate upon a continuation of high prices for 
some time to come, in anticipation of which a greater breadth 
of land will be laid down with wheat this season than has 
hern the practice in any year since the famine of 1846. The 
culture of the “ national ” esculent, too, promises to be 
carried on on a scale of oven more than ordinary magnitude, 
the partial success of last year’s crop stimulating the tanners 
to run further risks in the hope of profitable returns. 
“ Never,” says a Cork paper, “ since the memorable blight 
of 1846 has there been so extensive and so early a growth 
of potatoes ns during the present year.” This is but the 
echo of the intelligence that comes from many other parts ol 
the country, south und west. 
Dublin, Wednesday Evening. — The 33rd (Wellington’s) 
Regiment embarked this forenoon on board the Emeu, at 
Kingstown, for service in the East. The day was brilliantly 
fine and the enthusiasm and excitement of soldiers and 
people defied all description. On the march through the 
Streets the hands of the regiments which accompanied the 
33rd played and sang alternately the popular song of 
“ Auld lang syne,” which the vast crowd of civilians seconded 
with deafening cheers. 
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals informed the magistrate 
that the charge wos in the first instance brought before Sir. 
Corrio, who, finding the evidence rather too weak to convict him 
it would be strengthened. Mr. Yardley inquired if the prisoner’s 
house had been searched. The Secretary said it had, but no dis- 
covery hod been made therein to connect the prisoner with his 
horrible traffic, bnt that could be easily accounted for, us within a 
quarter of an hour after his apprehension his residence— a 
wretched hovel, about 200 yards from the Fleet-ditch, abutting 
on Field-lane— was stripped by his companions, who no doubt 
pursued the same inode of living. Mr. Yardley remarked that 
unfortunately there was no law to punish for killing a cat, 
therefore it would be necessary to prove “unnecessary torture” 
to enable him to convict the prisoner. Tho Secretary replied 
that ho believed lie should ho able to do that, inasmuch as one 
cat out of numbers— from 20 to 30 probably— which the accused 
was seen to empty from a sack into the Fleet-ditch, was alive 
with its hack broken and tho skin on, and it lived two or three 
hours after the prisoner’s apprehension, when it was found to 
have a diseased skin, which accounted for its not having been 
flayed. The bncks of each of the other cats had been broken, and 
there was at least a dozen of them warm, and exhibiting signs of 
life, such ns a palpitation of the frame. He bad ascertained that 
tl.ev made up for linings of gentlemen’s winter clothing, and 
were considered more warm than the skin of other small animals, 
in conscqueneo of being removed from the body while it was 
alive, which caused the pores in the skin to close instantaneously, 
lie had also found out that, the skins had a ready sale at the 
dressers at 15s. a dozen. The learned mngistruto expressed his 
regret that he could not punish the skin-dressers, adding that he 
felt assured that no gentleman would, after the present shocking 
rrposc, have any cat’s skin about bis apparel. Evidence was 
then given, showing that on the night of last Saturday week, 
between 8 and 9 o'clock, the prisoner was seen to empty a bag 
containing four dozon and upwards of fresh-skinned cats, and 
niiion rr st that load wos one which was alive. Mr. lard ley ob- 
served that the investigation had almost chilled his blond, nn.l 
repented bis sorrow Hint tho law would not reach those who 
sanctioned such atrocities. JIo felt no difficulty, after what lie had 
heard about the case, and sentenced the prisoner to hard labour 
for two months. 
^moments. 
DRAMATIC FEU1LLETON. 
Drnrv 1 ane -The Corsican Brothers— Faultsin Costume.— Princess's, 
urury ua ■ —Richard.— Lyceum. 
RAILWAYS AND TELEGRAPHS. 
Roman Railways.— A letter from Rome soys “ When 
the railways are complete, the Roman States will have three 
principal lines— one will go to joiu the railways of the king- 
dom of Naples, another will go to Civita Yccchia, on the 
Mediterranean, und a third to Ancona, on the Adriatic. The 
latter bv an embranchment, will join the Tuscan lines, and, 
being prolonged along the Adriatic, will join at Bologna the 
railway of Central Italy. Of these three lines, that between 
Rome and Naples is being actively exocuted. Tho line of 
Civita Veccliia, of which a provisional concession was made 
in October last, was only definitively conceded in January. 
The concession 1ms been granted to a French company, cou- 
Bistiii" of two rival companies represented by M.Thil, in- 
spector of tho third nrrondissement of railways in France, 
and Count Ruinpon, a French resident at Rome. The 
preparatory works have already commenced, and when the 
engineers who are expected from France shall have arrived, 
they will be carried on with activity. The length of the line 
will he about 20 leagues, and the expense is estimated at 
between 13, 003, OOOfr. and 14,0O0,000fr. As it presents no 
o-reat engineering difficulties, it is hoped that it can be com- 
pleted within 18 months or two years. The Government 
does not make any subvention, and guarantees no interest. 
The line from Rome to Ancona is very long, and will require 
a large capital, ns it will have to be carried through the 
Apennines. It has not yet been conceded, but several 
companies are demanding it. The propositions of three 
of them have been submitted to the Council of State ol 
Rome One of tho companies, headed by the Marquis de 
Monclar, demands a guaranteed interest of five percent., 
with one per cent, for a sinking lurid, and a lease of 50 years; 
another, headed by M. Boffarini, demands a subvention of 
80 '100 000 francR, and a concosion of 99, or at least of GO, 
years •* and a third, beaded by M. Thil, demands a subven- 
tion of 60,000,000 francs, with a concession lor the same 
period.” ^ 
gtato Intelligence. 
high court of chancery. 
(Bepoiik Vice-Chancellor Sir W. 1’aqb Wood). 
His Royal Highness tub Prince of Wales v. Wheeler. 
His Itoval Highness is entitled to ail undivided moiety ol the 
manor of Treverhyn, in the Duchy of Cornwall, and Ins tenants 
have been accustomed to the flow of water to assist them in the 
operations of washing and preparing china clay there. Mr. Holt 
and Mr. K. Leigh Pemberton moved exparte for an injunction 
restraining the defendant from diverting certain springs of water 
and the bill prayed an account of the loss sustained by the alleged 
diversion. The Vice-Chancellor granted only an interim injunc- 
tion until after the next seal. 
intelligence. 
CLERK ES WELL. 
A ruffianly-looking fellow named Richard Calvert was 
placed at tho bar for re-examination, charged with skinning 
eats whilst they were alive. The Secretary of tha Royol Society 
I said Inst week that it was difficult to comprehend what 
good result the Drury Lane management could expect from 
ihe reproduction of the “ Corsican Brothers,” already worn 
thread-bare at. the Princess’s. Now that we have seen the 
now version, the meaning of this “move” is still more in- 
conceivable. The “ FrSrcs Corses ” at the Oxford-street 
Theatre lias been a great success— a success, so to say, pan- 
tomimic and spectacular, not dependent on its dramatic 
merits, which are small ; nor upon its deserts as a literary 
work which are still less. The dialogue was the smallest 
part ’of tho piece, and, indeed, it struck many people 
that all the talking might have been suppressed, and 
nothin" left but a ballet d 'action, without very much in- 
juring its prosperity. The ghost scenes, managed in 
a new and effective manner ; the opera masquerade, 
so full of life and brilliancy ; the striking tableau ol the duel 
under the leafless trees of the forest --these were what 
people came to see a second and third time. It would have 
been difficult to improve on these, and even an imitation 
of them did not seem likely at Drury Lane— partly because 
the expense of clothing so largo u stage in scenery ns well 
executed and costumes as handsome and varied, as those at 
Ihe Princess’s would never have paid, and partly because 
there was nothing in Mr. Smith’s antecedents to lead one to 
expect anv miraculous scenic or wardrobe perlections. bull, 
as the walls of London have been for some weeks gradually 
disappearing under Drury Lane placards and puffs, it was 
evident that the manager, in some way or other, expected 
great results ; and I, for one, though much misdoubting, 
was curious to know how he meant to obtain them. 
The chief difference between the Drury Lane version of 
Dumas’s play and that of tho Princess’s, lies in the intolerable 
length of the former one. On Monday night, it lasted from 
seven to half-past eleven ! Fancy a play which, as I said 
before, possesses small dramatic und less literary merits, 
lasting lor four hours and a half ! It is true that an hour 
aiid a half of it was cut out by Tuesday; but what style of 
composition must that be which cun stand the hastily exe- 
cuted excision of a third of its length ? Two whole acts there 
•o the first and the last— more than in tho Princess s 
version ; the first of which was perfectly unnecessary in any 
point of view, and the other only meant to introduce a 
tableau of a Corsican funeral, well done and effective in 
itself, but not required by the story. I believe these two 
acts are in the original ;-so much the greater the tact of 
Mr Bourcecault, who, knowing the taste of the British 
public, and that it likes to take its melodramas homceo- 
pathicullv, and not in those awful boluses which only a Porte 
St Martin audience can swallow, cut them out from his t ver- 
sion Everything in the writing of the piece seemed to be done, 
as tho Times critic says, on the principle of the alteration 
of tho Pilgrim’s Progress by a Nonconformist Divine, who, 
blaming John Banyan’s book for being too short and too 
amusing, got rid effectually of these two faults by the simple 
process of elongation. Now there isn’t much cream m the 
spoken portion of the Corsican Brothers, and the addition 
of a great deal of warm water by uo means improves it as 
a beverage. The first two acts were tedious m the extreme ; 
in the second, representing tho Corsican home of the Franchi, 
and the episode of the reconciled vendetta, by the restoration 
of the white hen (this incident, meant only to give a little 
couleur locale to the scene, was lengthened beyond measure, 
as it it bud been considered an important part ot the 
piece) there were some curious faults of costume. Why 
o„ earth should M. de Meynard, a Parisian, just ar- 
rived merely us a tourist in Corsica, appear in the full 
costume of the island? and does Mrs. Vickery, playing 
Madame Savillie de Franchi, who tells you that she 
lias never quitted her own home or the habits of her coun- 
try, think that a purple velvet robe de clutmbre lined with 
reel bilk, and a white lace veil oil her bead, is the usual 
Corsican costume for the mother of two grown-up sons. 
Act 3 is the masquerade scene ; here there is at least mo\e- 
ment, and light, and life; but why, when correctness is as 
easv us the reverse, not bo correct ? The scene is *uppo 8 J£ 
to represent the Grand Opera at Paris-why does,, t it do 
so? It certainly represents a theatre, but not that ot ti e 
Academy. Then, what is gained by bringing on the male 
dramatis persona (1 don’t mean the Coryphees, but those 
who are to sup afterwards at Montgiron’s) in domino . l 
between Chateau-Renaud and Madame de l’Esparre 
the fact of the latter being in domino is mentioned in 
the dialogue as a reason why she may go to Mout- 
giron’s house without being recognised — 6lie wears a 
white opera cloak, with a broad crimson edging, 
which would make her remarkable a mile off! Still pur- 
suing the subject of costume, for which I should apologise 
were the Corsicun Brothers not essentially a costume piece 
I must speak of the dresses of Mr. Brooke (Fubien do 
Franchi) and Mr. Mead (Chateau-Renaud) in the ball, and 
in the supper scenes. I never saw a French gentleman, or 
one of any other country, wear a coat with jet buttons 
waistcoat with gold edging and buttons, and trousers with 
a broad velvet stripe down the side, by way of evening 
costume, as Mr. Brooke does; nor black velvet collar, 
facings, and cuffs, as it is the pleasure of Mr. Mead to 
put on. Mr. Brooke’s costume is peculiarly unpleusant— 
lie looks, to quote a book (Dighy Grand) which I have 
lately been reading, wherein a certain Mr. Seager disguises 
himself in a similar style, the “Nobby Israelite” to per- 
fection. All this is very absurd and very vulgar, and may 
produce an effect at the theatres of Cincinnati or Buffalo, 
but certainly not in London. One word more, and I 
have done with the unpleasant tusk of criticism : — 
Mr. Brooke has occasion, in part of tho dialogue, to say 
something about Burger’s Lenore. He pronounces the 
author’s name as if he had been a Frenchman — as if it was 
Bourget, or something of the kind. Now certainly an actor 
is not expected to know German — (though no extraordinary 
amount of education is required to teach a man tho pro- 
nunciation of a celebrated author’s name) — but how on earth 
can Mr. Brooke have performed this part, as we learn from 
placards he has, more than a hundred times, without finding 
some friend to 6et him right here? I fear this srnull fact 
speaks volumes as to the kind of audiences who have hitherto 
applauded the “ Vendetta,” and accounts for its having been 
so near a failure on Monday night. C. 
Haymarket. — Her Majesty and Prince Albert honoured 
the Haymarket Theatre with their presence on Tuesday 
evening." The Royal suite consisted of Viscountess Jocelyn, 
the Hon. Beatrice Byng, Lord Waterpark, Colonel the Hon. 
C. Grey, und Colonel Wylde. 
Adelphi. — A new piece from the pen of Tom Taylor and 
Charles Rcade, tho authors of “ Masks and Faces,” is in 
rehearsal ot this theatre. The “ Thirst of Gold ” will be 
played to-night for the 74th time (there was no performance 
on Ash Wednesday), followed by “ The Serious Family,” 
which can only be played at the Adelphi, and is now more 
strongly cast than when originally played at the Haymarket. 
The two pieces present attractions which cannot but continue 
to fill the house nightly. Nevertheless, the new drama will 
very shortly be produced, and report speaks highly of it. 
It will embrace the strength of the whole establishment. 
Astley’s. — The Prince of Wales, the Princess ltoyal, 
tho Princess Alice, Prince Alfred, and the Princesses Helena 
and Louisa, honoured Astley’s Theatre with their presence 
on Tuesday afternoon. Their Royal Highnesses were at- 
tended by Lady Caroline Barrington, the Master of the 
Household, and Mr. Gibbs. 
Woolwich.— Theatre Royal.— Mr. Henry Betty took 
his benefit at this theatre a few evenings ago, and 
appeured in the comedy of “Much Ado about Nothing,” 
and the play of “ Ingomar.” The audience were much 
gratified with his humorous personation of the gay and 
chivalrous Benedict ; and the character of the wild chieftain 
of the mountains was sustained with effect and power. 
How to make Deap Persons Hear the Pianoforte. 
—The instrument should be opened, and a rod of deal wood 
provided about half an inch thick, three-quarters wide, and 
Ion" enough to reach from the bridge of the sounding-board 
to the mouth of the deaf person. If ono end ot this rod be 
made to rest firmly on the bridge, and the other end he hel 
between the teeth, the softest Bounds will be distinctly com- 
municated. — Musical Transcript. 
The Members of the Printers’ Dramatic Society 
<rave their first musical aud dramatic soiree for the season 
on Saturday evening week at Andertou’s Hotel, Fleet-street. 
A large and respectable attendance was the result, and tho 
entertainments provided, and executed chiefly by members 
of the society, gave evident satisfaction. Several pieces of 
concerted music were given with effect, agreeably inter- 
spersed with readings from Shakspere, Bulwer, Knowles, 
Hood, &c. , 
Brighton Theatre.— On Tuesday evening the season 
was somewhat prematurely brought to a close. There was 
an overflowing house, the performances being announced for 
the benefit of Mr. Henry Furren, the lessee; and that never 
tailin" star of attraction to a Brighton audience, Miss 
Louisa Howard, being announced. The “ Lady of Lyons,” 
tho “First Night,” and “ Jack Shoppard,” constituted the 
bill of fare; aud we were led to expect a few words from 
the manager by way of thanks to his patrons at the conclu- 
sion of the season. In this, however, we were disappointed. 
Instead of his representing Claude Melnotte, in the “ Lady 
of Lyons,” lie was called on, through unfortunate circum- 
stances, to perform tho principal, though by no means 
popular, character of “ The Manager in Distress,” and an 
apology having been tendered by Mr. Nye, the part was, at 
a very short notice, very ably sustained by Mr. D. Baldic. 
A lively little piece, “The unprotected Female,” was then 
substituted for the farce announced, the whole weight of 
which rested on Miss Mundlebert. Her performance was a 
fine one. Mr. Farren’s farewell address, of course, was dis- 
pensed with ; and, at half-past twelve, we left, on the curtain 
risin" for the commencement of “Jack Sheppard.” The 
season of 1853-4, thus ended, has been a diversified one. 
The manager commenced with as fine a stock company as 
ever trod the Brighton boards, and deserved and received 
the public support. Changes have from time to time been 
mude ; but, notwithstanding many excellent additions, there 
has been a gradual and injudicious deterioration of the com- 
pany. However, with all this, Mr. Farren has, on the 
whole, been well supported; and there must, indeed be 
“ something rotten in the state of Denmark” when affairs 
unfortunately reach the pecuniary crisis at which they now 
are. We should indeed be sorry to bid him a final adieu ; 
and we yet trust that another season my see lum with us 
again, with enlarged experience, feeling convinced tha , 
both in his managerial and acting capacity no lessee ever 
better deserved support from the Brighton public. Bruj i 
^Depreciation of Theatrical Propep rr.~ -On Tuesday, 
at the auction mart, Mr. Robins subinitt. d to pu » i 
Petition two renters shares in the Theatre Roya ru £ ’ 
,’sl ill domino ? INO pennon iwo renter* biitn« • _ - sori 
’ ^4'SUTo aa annual ° f ** * 
