ENGLISH THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 3078, 31 December 1872, Page 3

ENGLISH THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

Theatrical matters are rather more in-tere.-u mu than usual. At the Gaiety Charles Matthews re-appoaml on the 7th ult., and the house has been crowded nightly since. Having been pestered with applications for pecuniary assistance from tbi uordes of respectable beggars that ever successful professional man is haunted by, Mr Matthews wiote the ioliowii g funny letter to the Ti'/njraph “ Air ("diaries Matthew's presents his compliments to the whole human race, and begs to state tbat, much as he loves his fellow creatures, he finds it impossible to provide for tbe necessities of even tbe small population of London atone. Tbe enormous number of applications for assistance he daily receives, chiefly from total strangers, makes it necessary for him to apologise for not entirely supporting the applicants and their families ; and it is with shame he is ooligccl to confess himself unable to accomplish so desirable an object. He has had quite en- ugh to do to fight through his own difficulties, and has been, and is still laboring at a time of life when many men would he glad to be sitting quietly by their firesides, in the hope of acquiring a small independence for his old age, which endeavour would 1 e completely frustrated were he to devote all his hardearned savings to the necessities of others. He hereby declares upon his oath, tnat though he has lately travelled thousands of miles, and met with all the success ho could wish, and is at the present moment basking in the sunshine of public favor, he is not a millionaire; and though warmly attached to his species in the plural, he has at last learnt to value it iu the singular —his specie having become equally dear to him. It is not that lie ‘ loves Ciesar less, but that he loves Homo more.’ He admits the force of the old quotation, ‘ Hand ir/nara vinlivvseris mccurren; disco,’ but bo offers this new translation—' Having so long suffered distress of his own, he has learnt, though rather late, to feel for the necessities of tbe one who is most in want of assistance—namely, himself !’ ” For this he was severely handled by flic Fi/jaro, which lively print is apparently unab’e to appreciate the self-sacrifices Mr Mathew's has made during his life for the benefit of his kind. Mss Julia Mathews is is the Fleur do Noblesse, and since the first night or two his been seen in her beat “foim” in this character. Mr J. H. Allen made his ih-htd in London about three weeks ago at iSa 1 lev’s Wells, as Claude Melnotte, and was flatteringly received. During the present week he has played Shyloek and Hamlet, and the management have extended his engagement. Mr Harwood left I ondon for Faria ai nude to Brindisi, where he will catch the mail steamer. He has engaged for the Theatre Boyal, Melbourne, Mr 11. Faitclough, a tragedian of high reputation here, who played I ago to Vr Bvndmam’s Othedoattho Lyceum a few years back with great succos, and who will go to Melbourne in company with Millie. Eugenie Legrand, a tragedienne who has taken first honors at the Oiffion and Vaudeville theatres in Faris Mr Bart. Bees, who brought out Madame Anna Bishop and John Drew' to Australia, now goes out as agent for Mr Fairclough, and with his principal will leave this in about a month. He has also made engagements with Mr and Mrs Bo'ton, formerly of Drury lane; Mr and Mrs Dampier, the former of whom was highly recommended to him by Madame Ceh stc ; Mr Edwin Shepherd for the pen;- s- nobles, the Buvalli sisters, Miss Johnstone, also a dansense and a pupil of M. Milano; Miss Louisa Crawford, for juvenile business and burlesque, and several others of lesser note. If Mr Harwood has been unsuccessful in inducing any of the few first-class actors and actresses we possess to emigrate, it has not been through lack of energy and eloquence. But the large salaries they got here and in America leave little inducement to them to risk a long voyage and the ordeal of Australian criticism.