The Sun. — London, England, 1859-12-27 00:00:00

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. Under the management of Miss L. Pyne and Mr.W. Harrison. THIS EVENING, VICTORINE. Messrs. Santley, H. Haigh, H. CCecTI, G. Honey, Bartleman, Misses Parepa, _ Conductor, Alfred Mellon. - - To conclude with the new grand pautomime, called PUSS IN BOOTS ; or, Harlequin. and the Fairy of the Golden Palms. Doors open at half-past 7—Commence at 8 o'clock. T HEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee. Mr. J. R. Ruckstone. THIS EVENING, the comedy of TIIE EVIL GENIUS. 3llss Reynolds. After which, the new Haymarket Comic Christmas Panto mime, VALENTINE'S DAY; or,llarlequin and the Fairy of the True Lovers' Knot. The pantomimists the unrivalled Leclercqs. THEATRE -ROYAL LYCEUM.-- Sole Lessee and Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING Planche's popular Drama of —THE CHILD OF THE WRECK. Maurice (her original charac ter) Madame Celeste. After which, will be produced a new Grand Christmas Ex travaganza and Pantoime, KING T HMIBE AR 0, he LITTL E PET and the m GREAT PASSION.SEL Clown, Mr. t H. Marshall—Columbine, Miss Rosino. Commence at 7. ROYAL PRINCE S S'S THEATRE.- Lessee, Mr. A. Harris. Re-engagement of the Wonderful DancPr, Mons. Espinosa. First appearance of Mdlle. Marietta Rosetta, Principal Dan sense of La Scala, Milan ; and first time of the Delapierre Family. These hig.hly-talented Children will appear every night. The Royal PriIICCS9 . B Rifles on parade every evening. THIS EVENING, (TUESDAY), the new drama, HOME TRUTHS. Messrs. G. Melville, J. G. Shore, F. Matthews, Miss C. Lec'erc , q and Mrs. Charles Young. After which, a new Christmas burlesque pantomime, by H. J. Byron, called JACK THE GIANT KILLER ; or, Harle uin King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Jack, Miss Louise Keeley—Harlequin, Mr. Cormack - Panta loon, Mr. Paulo—Columbine, Miss Caroline Adams— Clown, Mr. A. F. Forrest. Morning Performances on Monday, January 9, 16, and 23 commence at two o'clock. W THEATRE - ROYAL, ADELPHI. ANEW Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster. Holiday Attractions.— The Christmas Carol and the New Spectacular Extravaganza, by H. J. Byron, Esq„ the Nymph of the Lurlyberg; or the Knight and the Naiades. THIS EVENDIG, THE CHRISTMAS CAROL. Messrs J. L. Toole, C. Selby, Paul Bedford, Stuart, Billington, C. J. Smith. Romer; Miss Woolgar, Mrs. Billington, Mrs. Chatte rley, Miss Laidlaw. After which THE - NYMPHS OF THE LITRLEYBERG ; or, The Knight and the Naiades. Messrs. Toole, Bedford, Eburne, Smith, Powell, Romer, Miss Woolgar, C. Webb, K. Kelly, Laidlaw. Doors open at half-past $ ix—Commence at seven. Box- Office open from 10 to 5. No charge for securing seats, nor far bills of performance. All fees to servants of this establishment are strictly prohibited. Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith. ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE, King-street, St. James's. Lessee, Mr. T. B. Chatter ton. The nearest Theatre to Chelsea, Pimlico, and West minster, the Park being open to carriages and foot passen gers all hours of the night. THIS EVENING the performances will commence with GARIBALDI'S ENGLISHMAN. Messrs. Barrett and C. Young. Followed by a new sketch, A HOUSEHOLD FAIRY. Miss Wyndham and Mr. H. T. Craven. To conclude with the new pantomime of PUNCH AND JUDY. Introducing Miss Lydia Thompson and the Corps de Ballet. Clown, Harlequin, Columbine, and Pantaloon, and the wonderful Performim Dogs. Reduced Prices—Gallery, 6d ; Pit, ls. The Box-office open from 11 to 5 daily. Doors open at half-past six ; perform ante commences at 7. ASTLEY'S ROYAT, AMPHITHEATRE, Westminster-road. Sole Lessee—Mr. William Cooke, his Farewell Season. Great Attraction for the Holidays. The new bombastic hippodramatic, operatic Pantomime, abounding in comicality , called HARLEQUIN TOM MOODY ; or, Old Towler the Huntsman and the Goddess Diana, with :songs by Miss Esther Jacobs.—Gorgeous and Dazzling mechanical transfor mation scene. Harlequin, M. Richarde ; Pantaloon, Mr. P. Abbot, Columbine, Maddle. Mazzoni ; Clown, Mr. Hilde brand ; a family of Sprites by the Elastic Incomprehensibles. Scenes in the Circle by the Star Riders of the World. Three Morning performances of the Pantomime, and Scenes in the Circle, on Monday and Saturday, Dec. 26 and 31, and Monday Jan. e, 1860, at Two o'clock each day. CANTERB UR Y HALL CONCERTS.- EVERY EVENLNG. Sterndale Bennett's MAY QUEEN. And a Grand Se ection from Meyerbeer's new opera of DINORAH. - - --- Comio Vocalists -Messrs. George Hodson (the Irish Come dian and Mimic), W. T. Critchfield, and E. W. Mackney. Several interesting Pictures are added to the Fine Arts Gallery. The suite of Halls have been re-decorated and beautified, and constitute one of the most unique and brilliant sights of the metropolis. ROSA RONHEITR'S celebrated PICTURE of the HORSE FAIR is now added to the already magnificent Collection of Paintings in the Canterbury Hall Fine Arts Gallery. The gallery is open *um 5 till 11 on Sunday Evening. THE WEATHER.—Strx OFFICE, DEC. 27. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 47—highest since noon yesterday. 40—lowest this morning and during the night. 47—this day at noon. BAROMETER-29.35—a rise of three-quarters of an inch since yesterday. WIND. South-Westerly; moderafe,:with fine weather.") HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 3h. 44m.—Afternoon, 4h. 2m. To-3fon.now.-Morning, 4h. 19m.—Afternoon, 4h. 36m. I , 7kiiii , • , 5 .:1 0 .... , „,, ... a• ( _ , ~. ‘, ~,,,, e j ''S 4 s ' ' ' N' - ' 1 4., 1 jtt, '- . • .. 1. • :' , U ' 4" ' l c , ' i‘;t s --....2 26— , N. 41100111(h• ' ' t E - a. 714* : .;:: .• • ' ai ';. w ill'. 0a . T ..... , 4v. A.,. THE SUN. LONDON, TUESDAY, DEC. 27, 1859. AS a matter of course there will be laid upon the table of both Houses, almost immediately after the re-assembling of Parliament, authentic returns of the different corps of Rifle Volunteers formed throughout the United Kingdom, and of the num ber of those who have spontaneously and patrioti cally responded to the trumpet-call of this great national enrolment. The Earl GREY, in his ad mirably telling speech on Friday last, down at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, rather underrated than over-stated the aggregate numerical strength already attained by these corps, when he observed, " I hope that we shall soon be able to reckon upon the services of 50,000 men—l should be glad if it were even double that number—but, at all events, upon the services of 50,000 men, well drilled, and well taught in the use of that formidable weapon, the rifle, ready at a moment's notice to come forward in the defence of our common country." There is no reason whatever, indeed, that the aggregate number of rifle volun teers should stop at 100,000, or even at 200,000. Let it be borne in mind that the total of the adult male population of these i.,lands may be taken at very little short of 10,000,000 ; and then say whe ther a National Guard selected out of the youth and strength, the vigour and energy of that grand total need be regarded by necessity as having reached its maximum at 50,000, at 100,000, at 200,000 ! Extraordinary as the advance has already been in this grand onward movement, it has even now—only commenced. If by this time we have, according to Earl GREY'S notion, already closely ap proximated to an aggregate of 50,000, it will take but a comparatively brief while longer to have that total doubled, trebled, quadrupled. Let this work of enrolling but proceed as it has hitherto been proceeding, and England will speedily have a National Guard worthy of the designation. Worthy of it, in the first instance, by its numerical importance —worthy of it afterwards by its skill in the use of the deadly weapon which yields it the very title distinctive of its armament. Among all the numerous commentaries upon the Rifle Corps movement that have recently appeared, not one has been more clearly or more admirably explanatory of its character than that from which we have already quoted, the address delivered on Friday by Earl GREY to the local volunteers (800 strong) down at Newcastle-on-Tyne. There is only one previous comment upon the movement that we conceive, indeed, to be in any way worthy of comparison with it. We mean the impressive harangue not long since delivered by Mr. ALEX. KINGLIKE to his constituents at Bridgewater. But, then, Mr. KINGLIKE'S speech was a comprehensive political oration addressed to those constituents in his capacity as their thrice-elected representative—his remarks only referring incidentally to the significance of this enrolment of Rifle Volunteers. Whereas the address delivered by Earl GREY, on Friday, was exclusively directed to a consideration of that one vitally important topic. It was an address, as we have taken occasion to observe before, delivered to the assembled members of the Volunteer Rifle Corps of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. After refuting the arguments of those who would check the move ment 1) J ridicule, as a movement unnecessary under the circumstances, Lord GREY immediately added— " Far be it from me to impute to the Emperor of the FRENCH, or to the gallant nation which he governs, that he or they cherish hostile designs against this country." And observed further, " I am willing to give him credit for those assurances of a friendly disposition towards England which we are told are constantly reiterated by the EMPEROR, but still I say that within the last few years circumstances have arisen which make it expedient that this country should increase its means of defence." Earl G REY thereupon enumerated ♦ery pointedly a few of the more important of these strikingly illustra tive circumstances. He spoke of France always having a much larger military force than we have ourselves. He reminded his hearers that in Algeria alone our Imperial Ally has a land force there four times as large as that of England. He referred to the magnitude and efficiency' of the French navy, to her active preparation of a fleet of steam transports, to the organisation during the last few years throughout her dominions of a vast and admirably united system of railroads, and finally to the latest of all these " great facts," namely, that " at a moment when we were told that she could not disarm, because she had never armed, in an incredibly short space of time she was able to assemble beyond the Alps an army of 200,000 or 300,000 men." Adding, " Now, gentlemen, I say that when we see all these measures we are bound to look to our own means of protection." Will any body gainsay the reasonableness of this? "I have no doubt," Lord GREY at once subjoined, " I don't mean to throw any doubt upon the declarations of the Emperor that these preparations do not imply hos tility to us, but when I consider the nature of these measures, that they are not all of them of a defen sive character, I think it must be admitted that their object is this—namely, that if France should be unexpectedly engaged in war with any Power she may be enabled promptly to strike a severe, if not a fatal, blow upon her antagonist. Now, gentlemen, it is possible that we may be that antagonist ; and if France is ready to strike, I say we ought to be ready to de fend." It is a remark, by the way, not applying to France exclusively, but equally to every other Power or to any number of the other powers combined. England, surely, in rea son, ought not simply now, but always, to be pre pared to defend: herself against any antagonist, or any number of antagonists. She ought to pos sess at all times a naval force capable of preventing, and ready upon any emergency (however sudden), to prevent the landing upon her shores of any hostile armament. And, together with an efficient Channel Fleet, she ought also to have ever orga nised within her seagirt boundaries a National Guard, skilled in the use of the rifle, and capable, by means of her railways, of rapid concentration. A movement like this is only rational. "We must not," as Earl GREY says, " owe the safety, we must not owe the security of this land, which has been for centuries unpolluted by the foot of an invader—we must not owe our safety to the forbearance or to the good faith of any other nation —but, under GOD'S providence, we must rely upon ourselves." There is the good old proverb that tells us " GOD helps those who help them selves." It is the recognition of the force of this great truth, it is the vivid recognition of it at last by England that has led to the enrolling of her new National Guard under the name of these Rifle Volunteers. It is an enrolment purely Defensive. And one, therefore, that need give umbrage to no ally, however sensitive both by temperament and by propinquity. The communications of Mr. Muni and Baron LIEBIG to our leading morning contemporary de serve notice. Long ago, befofe the construction of the Metropolitan Parliament and the determination to construct the enormous sewers for which we must all pay so heavily, we insisted strongly on the im possibility of such a system being the final one. We knew, indeed, that it was hopeless to think of staying the new-born zeal to carry off our sewer age by this sort of Cyclopean underground archi tecture ; but we felt then, as we now do, pretty certain that in no great length of time these vast constructions would be found to be useless, that they would be used for drainage only, not for sewerage. Our principal reason for thinking so was that we had read with no little interest Baron LIEBIG'S views on agricultural chemistry, from which it follows with, we may say, ma thematical certainty, that the rejecta of the towns, as they came from the soil, and are essential elements of its fertility, must be returned to it. The unwholesome effects of such vast quan tities of fever-producing fluids circulating beneath our feet, and sending up their noxious efluv:a through innumerable apertures, as our senses can but too well testify, are indeed, a strongly corrobo ratory argument against the sewer system ; but the main fact is that the excreta which form the worst part of these fluids, are imperiously de manded back by the fields -which have furnished our towns with food for their inhabitants. Mr. MECHI and Baron LIEBIG are much in the position just now of Col. THOMPSON and Mr. COBDEN before the Corn-law agitation commenced and gathered strength. They plead for a cause the justice of which is as yet, apparent to a resolute thinker only. It is surmised in regard to them, as it was in regard to the Free-traders, that plausible as their case seems, some overlooked considerations will turn up, or that the rough-and-ready practice of agriculture, as of commerce, can afford to laugh at the reason ings of philosophers, and of the few practical men who are convinced by them. The misfortune of the case is, that we must be prophets. The crisis of the evil is not visibly urgent. Twenty or five and twenty years must elapse before the guano of the tropics will cease to be a substitute for our own sewerage ; for so long,at least, it is calculated that, at an enormous price, we may bring across the globe what might be supplied by good arrange ments at home, to the great advantage of the health of our towns and the purity of our waters. But we can hardly doubt that the time must come when, if war and pestilence does not reduce the populations of England and Western Europe, the price of food will becomo one of the greatest diffi culties in the government and administration of nations. We hardly need advert to the notorious fact that the cost of bread has had not a little to do with most revolutions from those of ancient R ome t o th ose o f mo d ern F rance. Whil e, however, food is at a reasonable price, and wages on the whole good, LIEBIG and his followers may be listened to, and thought clever fellows, but no public action will follow. It required the stench of the Thames for two or three years, and the fli g ht of members of Parliament from Westminster, to compel the purification of the river. And it will take high prices and discontents, and farmers com plaining of the impossibility of getting artificial manures; and, above all, landlords unable for this reason to keep up their rents—it will require all this to move our practical nation. The time must come, and when it does there will be kind of TUE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 27, 1859. - panic to save our sewerage, as there now is to waste We may flatter ourselves that our manufac turing productions will bring us food while English coal and iron last. But in this hope there are two things which may either, or both of them, deceive us. We may be superseded by native manufac tures in other countries, for as their populations increase they are vieing with us in producing themselves what we now send them. It is impossi ble to feel sure that we can always command the markets of the world; and, in proportion to the cost of food, we shall be less and less able to do so. But the countries whence we get our supplies of food will not themselves furnish it in inexhaustible abundance. In America the seaboard States have long bean exhausted of their fertility. Virginia is in great part again a pine forest, and its lands be come productive again only by the costly application of guano. The course of agriculture is westward in America, because it bas hitherto been of an exhaus tive character; and notunfrequently American squat ter farmers have grown little more than was needed by the Eastern States. It is quite among pro babilities that the Western States may at no dis tant period do more than supply the wants of the Atlantic States, in addition to their own, and that the hosts of immigrants from Europe may not only consume food, but erect manufactories on the other side of the water. When, some time back, we adverted to the subject, we fully acknowledged the real difficulty of the case—what we may term the mechanical one. We see that Baron LIEBIG does not overlook it. At the present price of guano, and with the existing mechanical means, it will not pay to retain and utilise our sewage. But no effort has been made worth notice in that direction. It should be known what is the desideratum, and when its importance is understood we shall be surprised if some plan be not devised which shall seem to us as simple as railroads and electric telegraphs now .do. All our public urinals, and all our conveniences of every similar kind at home ought to deliver their contents in an undiluted state to whatever conveyances may be devised as the means of placing them outside the towns, and perhaps directly on the fields themselves. A difficult feat -at first sight, no doubt one which must probably be partly chemical, by deodo risation ; and partly mechanical, by facilitating domestic conveyance to carts calling at an early hour. Possibly receptacles beneath the pavements with sides well glazed, and tops well secured, ac cessible to night carts, may be best, or some other unthought of scheme. Of one thing we can not have a shadow of doubt—that if the want be known and recognised, it will be soon met. Let the fact be weighed that the sewerage of London, which now befouls the Thames, would, if properly applied to our fields, produce sufficient additional corn for the consumption of London, and let prices seriously rise, and chemists, mechanics, and engi neers will contrive to arrest our sewage before it has left our houses, and lost half its fertilising power, and polluted the air of our streets. deux with very great applause. On the whole the Covent • garden pantomime has been very successful, and, with the alterations and curtailments which will doubtless be made, cannot fail to have a long run. of the muffled sounds which are generally heard struggling through the thick pasteboard. A ballet was introduced, in the course of which M. Espinosa danced with a comic vigour as surprising as that which he manifested in his " grand pas de Dervisch." The harlequinade introduced a new clown to public favour. A d6but of this kind is rarely brought under our notice. Whatever may be the reason, untried clowns do not generally put forward an announcement of their first appearance. Of Mr. Forrest, we have to say that he is very pliable in his joints, but a little stiff in his humour. The Harlequin, Mr. Cormack, is one of the nim blest we ever saw. The scenery of " Jack the Giant Killer" is beautiful throughout. The transformation scene, with its continuous changes, drew down vociferous applause, and cries for the manager, Mr. Harris, who appeared in obedience to the call, and bowed his acknowledgments. To sum up the merits of the Princess's pantomime, it is sprightly, well mounted, capitally anted, fully supplied with the materials of laughter, and not too long. DRURY-LANE- With what anxiety, judging from the immense audience that assembled last night, must Mr. Smith's annual tribute to jolly old Father Christmas have been looked for, the entries to boxes, pit, and galleries were in very short space of time after the doors opened filled to overflowing, and hundreds, after standing in the mud and rain and enduring the totture of the pressure, were unable to obtain admis sion. Those, however, who were in fortune's favour seemed bent on enjoyment, and it was with great difficulty that " King Rene's Daughter," the first portion of the entertain- ment, was allowed to proceed to an end. Although " the gods" permitted the piece to finish, it was only on the con dition that it should be gone through in dumb show, for not a single word was heard beyond the footlights. At the sight of the green curtain an immense cheer arose, and then, certainly not with breathless silence, the pantomime was patiently waited for. The new panto mime, is entitled " Jack and the Beanstalk ; or Harlequin Leap-year." The scene opens on the consultation of certain astrological almanack makers, who confess themselves puzzled in their meteorological prophecies by the proverbial fickleness of the " Weather," who shortly appears to vindi cate herself. A procession of the months, with their attri butes, passes before her, and the idea of tempering the severity of winter by a pantomime being introduced the subject is discussed, and all the " Jacks " of fairy story being paraded for selection, "Jack and the Beanstalk" is chosen. The story then runs through the well-known inci dents of the child's tale, in the coursed' which Tom Matthews assumes the character of Jack's Mother. His fairy patroness guides him to the " Grotto of the Pixies," which is the fast effort of Mr. Beverley's skill in the scenic display. Unlike his former works, Beverley this year chooses moon light, and a more beautiful work of art than his fairy grotto has never been placed upon the stage. The audience were in ecstacies, and it was not until the talented artist had bowed his acknowledgments that the pantomime proceeded. In this scene a grand ballet, performed by Madlle. Mor lacchi, Balbo, a troop of coryphees, and other lady dancers, amounting to 100, deserves special praise for the beauty and gracefulness of the groupings. A scene of gloom suc ceeds, and then we have the scene of the pantomime, " the good fairy in her floral home." To attempt to describe the wonderful combination of colour, spangles, gold and silver, and ruby and emerald fire, would be impossible. After the audience had looked on for a short time in mute astonishment, a loud cheer burst forth, which made the alls of Drury resound again and again. For nearly five minutes this hurricane of applause was kept up, and then came loud cries of "Smith," " Beverley," and " Roxby." The favoured trio made their appearance, bowed their thanks, and then came the transformation. The comic company consisted of two Harlequins (Messrs. Milano and St. Maine), two Columbines (Madame Boleno and Miss Sharpe), two clowns (Boleno and Flexmore), two Pantaloons (Tanner and Beckingham), and we really know not how many sprites. Tom Matthews plays his part in the opening, and comes in for his full share of applause. The pantomime for 1859 will bear comparison with any of Mr. Smith's former productions—gorgeous as they have been. HAYMARKET. Excepting in the crowded state of the house, the audi ence which was assembled here last night offered but few of those signs which generally distinguish "Boxing Night" from all other nights of the season. Mr. Bernard's comedy of the "Evil Genius" was listened to throughout with as much quiet attention and enjoyment as though it, and not the pantomime, had been all the novelty of the occasion. What a contrast to the days when those time-honoured precursors of pantomime, " Jane Shore" and "George Barnwell" used to be played through tumult and uproar, which reduced them to mere dumb-show. Surely our audi • ences, even down (or up) to the gallery, have become much more humanised. On the termination of the "Evil Genius" a slight effer vescewe and a few of those dulcet sounds usual on these occasions marked the excitement which attended the com ing of the new pantomime of " St. Valentine's Day; or, Harlequin and the Fairy of the True Lovers' Knot." Im mediate quiet and attention, however, followed the com mencement of the overture, which contained an appropriate feature in the introduction of occasional solos on a very fine toned knocker, the sharp rat-tats from which were given with a smartness and artistic finish which were worthy of the practised hand of a professional " twopenny." The introduction which leads to the harlequinade is by the author of the pantomimes which have been so success fully produced at this house for several seasons past, and, like them, it is constructed with much feeling for the graceful and the elegant. The playbills tell succinctly the story : how a certain Bishop Valentine, in former times, being the friend of all true lovers, used to assemble his proselytes on the 14th of February; how each swain presented to the maiden of his choice a letter containing pictures and verses, which afterwards became termed a " valentine ;" how one Sylvanus, being in love with fair Phoebe, a pretty milkmaid, is rendered jealous by their enemies— Scandal, Gossip, Hate, Spite, Malice, and other such characters—how, after having quarrellod, a friendly fairy invites them to a festival in her spring-flower abode on the eve of Valentine's-day—how even here they are pur sued by the adverse powers, and how eventually all is set right by the intervention of Bishop Valentine, when the transformation of the characters leads to the harlequinade. The scenery throughout is excellent, that of the intro duction being by Mr. Frederick Fenton, while the artists of the harlequinade are Messrs. O'Connor and Morris. Among the most conspicuous effects may be named the " Spring-Flowered Dell," and the transformation scene of the " Gigantic Envelope and opening of the Fairy Valen tine." In the first-named scene are some beautiful imita tions of crowns, flowers in coloured glass, displayed with brilliant effects of light, while the envelope scene is one of those elaborate and gradually-developing displays of com bined gorgeousness and elegance which aro now generally expected in a pantomime of any (pretension; nor will any amount of reasonable anticipation be disappointed in the present instance. Tho effect on the audience was such as to cause the immediate call for Mr. Buckstono and the artist, who were compelled to appear on the stage before the business of the scene could proceed. The pantomime proper then begins, and is carried on with great liveliness and bustle through a series of animated scenes, in the course of which aro hits at strikes, Big Ben, rifle corps, and other topics of the day, ending with a tableau of the Channel Fleet off the Eddystone Lighthouse during the great storm of November last. It remains only to speak of the acting. Miss Louise Leclercq was a most fascinating Phoebe, and acted and danced with a grace and refinement which could not be surpassed ; while Miss Weekes, as Sylvanus, was a most assiduous and attentive lover; nor should we omit a word of praise to Misses Denvil and Williamss, who, as Cupid and Hymen, spoke with a distinctness and point but too seldom achieved by very young ladies in pantomimic intro ductions. The characters in the harlequinade were sus tained by Mr. Arthur Leclercq as Harlequin, Mr. Chailes Leclercq as Clown, Herr Cole as Pantaloon, and Miss Fanny Brown as Columbine—a capital pantomimic quar tett. The Harlequin is nimble and vigorous beyond the average, dances well, and makes his leaps with a dash and precision that could not be improved. The Clown is active and gymnastic rather than humorous, but humour of late has become a rare quality in clowns. The Pahtaloon is as patient a scapegoat as could be wished, and takes his fair share of the active business, while the Columbine is a skil ful and graceful dancer. With the exception of one or two alight hitches, the pan tomime went remarkably well for a first night, and it was so decided a success as to promise ample and well deserved return for the care and cost which must have been bestowed on its production. PRINCESS'S. After the satisfactory performance last evening of " Home Truths," in which Mrs. CharleS Young, Miss Leclereq, Mr. G. Melville, Mr. Shore, and 'Arr. Frank Matthews were listened to with exemplary patienoe by the gallery, laughed at and occasionally applauded by the pit, and gently encou raged by approving smiles from the boxes, " a mirthful, magical, and comical" Christmas pantomime was presented with entire success. A better opening we have not seen or heard for some years of experience in pantomimes. The author of" Jack the Giant Killer, or King Arthur and ye Knights of ye Round Table," is Mr. Byron, known as the writer of a great number of burlesques. To his ideas of fun, which are very good in their way, the scene-painter and other practical assistants of stage effect have brought a most liberal aid. The acting, too, is of an order which is not often associated with the performance of a pantomimo. Miss Louisa Keeley plays Jack with an evident determina tion to make a part of it. She does more. She throws the whole weight of her talents into the scale for the purpose of ensuring a general completeness and a triumph for all con cerned as well as for herself. The excellent and truly Bri tish spirit of this young actress was even noticeable in her " lending a hand," more than once, to assist a tardy move ment of stage mechanism. She sang several parodies with all the archness and ease which have already so distinguished her in the pieces in which she has appeared since the opening of the Princess's under the new management. Her comedy is of the hearty and spontaneous nature belonging to her mother equally with herself, but which in the young, performer's case is tempered by a peculiar grace and sweet ness. Mr. Shore, as the principal ogre, was thoroughly gigantesque. His height and bulk were surprisingly mag nified by the skill of the costumier, but it was his own as sumption of burliness, and its accompaniments of porten tous gestures, and a strident voice, which mainly conduced to the illusion. When. after a terrific combat he is run through the body by Jack's trusty blade, the manner of his sinking back into the arms of his attendants, displaying by the action an immense hob-nailed pair of boot soles, pro duced a peal of laughter. Many such mirthful incidents occurred, and it is difficult to say whether the credit of them is fairly due to the author, to the actors, to the scenic artist, or to the designer of the masks , of which objects it may be observed that they are cleverly combined to move with the features of tbo wearer, and, by leaving the natu ral mouth quite free, to allow a distinct enunciation, instead t CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. The entertainments at this theatre consisted of Mellon's new opera, " Victorine," followed by a pantomime called " Puss in Boots and the Fairy of the Golden Palms," of which the opening, or introductory portion, is from the pen of Mr. J. V. Bridgeman. The performances began at seven o'clock, an hour earlier than usual, and the opera was con siderably shortened so as to be over by nine o'clock ; but all this was necessary to afford time for the pantomime, which did not terminate till midnight. Notwithstanding the curtailment of the opera, and the rapidity with which it was performed, it went off with great effect. Though it was boxing-night, and the house was crowded to the doers, the audience was most attentive, the principal pieces were warmly applauded, and the composer and the principal performers were called for at the fall of the curtain. The old nursery tale of "Puss in Boots" is a good subject for a pantomime, and Mr. Bridgeman has made good use of it. The incidents might have been a little more connected, and their sequence more intelligible, without any detriment, and the introductory portion is rather spun out by some tricks and practical jokes of a character which rather be long to a harlequinade ; but these excrescences may be easily pruned, and probably will be, for it must have been evident to tho performers themselves that they dragged somewhat heavily. But the greatest portion is admirably quaint and comic ; and the dialogue (which is in heroic verse) is written with a degree of point, elegance, and spirit, by no means common in productions of this class. Huon, the hero of " Puss in Boots" (Miss Emily Scott), is the younges t son of a miller, and the piece openein the mill, where the poor youth is discarded by his hard hearted elder brother and thrown upon the world with nothing belonging to him but a favourite cat ; and in addition to his domestic distress, he has the further misfortune of being hopelessly in love with no less a per son than a princess—the Princess Blanchefleur. Puss comforts him in his sorrows, by telling him that she is no ordinary cat, but " for some youthful pranks, a+banished fairy," and that she will see him righted, and united to his princess. Puss, accordingly, equips herself in her well known boots ; and the pair set out together in search of fortune. We are then carried to the Court of Queen Inno centia, a potentate of fairy land ; a good fairy, who has for a neighbour and rival another fairy sovereign called World linessa. Queen Innocontia is not clear about the designs of her neighbour; and has encouraged a volunteer move ment in her dominions, and we find her reviewing her rifle troops. This is one of the prettiest scenes we have ever seen in any theatre. The royal palace is gorgeous and beautiful ; and the exercising ground is filled by a host of fairy soldiers, all armed with rifles, and going through a series of real military manoeuvres—forming squares, dell' ploying into line, advancing and retreating, firing in alter nate lines, &c., —with a smartness and precision which we hope our rifle brigades may be able to emulate, and form ing a series of the most exquisite tableaux. The Queen harangues her troops, and her speech is so much to the pur pose that we must extract a bit of it : "That Queen, in truth, need apprehend nolrifle, Whose subjects, one and all, can use the rifle. Though now at peace with ever y fairy power, We might have war break out at any hour ; And, though I am not in the least alarmed, I recollect one fact : Forewarned, forearmed I I may regret this state of things, but yet, 'Tis, gentle subjects—l can ne'er forget— An evil 'neath which every power must labour That's get a strong and not too nice a neighbour. Perhaps I wrong her, but I must confess a Suspicion of the Fairy Worldlinessa. All this considered, then I think it wise is For you to study well your exercises ; They'll teach you how—and this 1 lay much stress on— To give in your turn—any foe—a lesson Which will not lessen the respect that's due From every other fairy folk to you." The effect of these lines, delivered by Miss Kate Saxon with much energy, was immense. The house rang with ap plause for several minutes. This scone, in truth, is the great feature of the piece, and is so admirably managed— so brilliant, graceful, and animated—that it is qnite suffi cient to make the success of the whole. The good fairy, Innocentia, is the protectress of Huon, Puss being employed by her to watch over and protect him, and especially to counteract the designs of Worldlinessa, who]wishes to marry the Princess Blanchefleur to the son of a courtier, a clownish youth, called Wilfulweight, who is made the subject of the tricks and practical jokes we have already alluded to as being somewhat de troll. The next incident relates to a certain Ogre, a formidable personage, whose castle Huon, under the direction of Puse, determines to conquer ; and this exploit is effected by Puss, who, getting into the castle, persuades the Ogre, by way of showing his power as a magician, to transform himself into a mouse, and, seizing the opportu • nity, instantly gobbles him up. After various adventures we find the principal personages brought in a steamer to Fingal's Cave, in the Hebrides. What has brought them there, indeed, does not much matter, as it introduces a view of that celebrated spot—a most exquisite work of art, full of zrandeur and beauty. In this scene the denouement of the story " Puss in Boots" takes place ; and then come the usual transformations. Huon becomes Harlequin (Mr. F. Payne) ; Blanchefleur becomes Columbine (Miss Clara Morgan) ; a femme character, the Countess Grabenuff, s capital e Harlequinenon be comes th e P an t a l con (Mr. Barnes) ; and the Count be comes the Clow n (Mr. Payne). The harlequinade is m i‘ F io . r i g a an yne w i a s s m a rellpretty and knownto be a a smart and graceful Columbine, but, beyond dancing in and out, had little or nothing to do. Mr. H. Payne, as the Clown, turn bled and bestowed kicks and slaps in all directions with in finite agility. There was a Lilliputian Harlequin and Co- UMW= (Master and Miss Lauri), w 49 danced arcs de LYCEUM. The plot of the Christmas extravaganza at this theatre has been already described in these columns, and it is our agreeable duty now to record its execution. The attention of the London public had been already excited by brilliant anticipations of the wonderful scenic effect promised by the artistic skill of Mr. Calcott, to whom we are indebted for one of the most charming combinations of light and colour, aided by exquisite drawing and design, which we ever wit nessed on the London boards. This is the " Transforma tion Scene," a title now universally adopted to distinguish that portion of this class of romantic entertainment, when the poetry of the introduction attains its climax, and contrasts with the boisterous business of the harle quinade. It is but justice to the scene and to the artist that we should for a moment pause, for the purpose of giving some definite idea of its intention as also of its constituent parts. It will be remem bered that the charming heroine of the piece, the Princess Imperiosa (exquisitely represented by the pretty Miss Hudspeth), is a young lady of most ungovernable temper, and that it is only when she is reduced from her high estate, and, under the influence of love, she lays aside her pride, that the true influence of her beauty is fully felt and appreciated. It is not very easy to deal logically with these fanciful representations, but this is the moral involved, and Mr. Calcott has embodied in the allegory he has adopted, of the chrysalis and the butterfly, the truth that circumstances, however humble, and an exterior, however rude, may be the birth-place of the lovely and the beauti ful. The scene represents a dense mass of under grown fern which gradually expands, and discloses a silvery light, and every variety of hue is thrown upon the leaves as they expand until the stage presents a profusion of foliage, gracefully disposed, and overhanging a crystal lake formed of looking glass, which reflects the outline of a variety of graceful wood-nymphs artistically reposing in eeatumes of admirably chosen colours. The effect of this scene is dazzling, and the intense silvery whiteness of the background is relieved by an arrangement of spiral glass columns, which, continually revolving, keep up an inter change of light and shade. We believe this is the first time that the introduction of glass on a large scale has been em ployed for such decorative purposes. Of the artistes it is impossible to speak too highly. Miss Julia St. George was of course a very charming Prince Hafiz, and her magnificent contralto displayed itself to great advantage not only in the dialogue but in the music allotted to her. Miss Hudspeth, as the Princess Imperiosa, acquitted herself charmingly, and was as great a pet as could be desired ; and Mr. Reuse, as King Paterfamilias, successfully rivalled, if he does not surpass, all the burlesque kings who have gone before him. Miss Stuart as Abigail, and Miss Turner as the page, were both excellent, and we should not omit to notice that the music selected was ably executed by the orchestra, as well as by the vocal force of the establishment. Nothing could be bettor given than the concerted pieces. We do not hesitate to say that some of the morceaux were given with a taste and judgment worthy of an opera buffs company. The harlequinade went off to the delight of the audience. Mademoiselle Rosine, the Columbine, was a very elegant and graceful embodiment of that fairy personage. She was ably supported by the two Marshalls as harlequin and clown, and the never-dying pantaloon was represented by Naylor. During the trans formation scene the audience testified their admiration by most vociferous applause, and Mr. Calcott presented him self and bowed his acknowledgments. Loud calls for Madame Celeste followed, and on that lady's appearance she was received with a perfect ovation. The entertain ment altogether was a complete success. ADELPHI. The Christmas piece at this theatre'was an extravaganza, called "The Nymph of Lurleybury, or the Knight and the Naiads. As the title indicates it is a metrical version of the Rhine Legend which treats of the feats of the daring young robber knight who sought the hand of the wealthy water nymph, and was punished for the mercenary motives which induced him to make his perilous journey beneath the Rhine. It is the production of Mr. H. J. Byron, and is founded on the operatic drama of " Lurline," which was presented successfully at the old Adelphi several years ago. In the first scene we have Sir Rupert the Reckless (Mrs. Mellon), who, having spent his fortune in dissipation, and finding that the companions of his prosperity are indis posed to sustain him in his follies, asks for the hand of Lady Una (Miss Kate Kelly), the daughter of Baron Witz (Mr. Paul Bedford), a wealthy neighbour. The young lady is well-inclined, but the Baron, finding that Sir Rupert is without property, declines the alliance. He suggests to him, however, to ask the hand of the water-nymph Lurline, whose palace is reputed to be full of treasures and richest gems. Rupert assents, and on the banks of the Rhine te meets with Lurline (Miss Eliza Webb), and immediately falls in love. He follows her into the waters, accompanied, though most unwillingly, by his Seneschal, (Mr. Toole.) Arrived at the Castle of Lurline Sir Rupert attacks but too successfully the heart of the nymph, and from her ho re ceives a casket of precious stones, with which he mounts to the regions of the air, after many promises of fidelity to his benefactress. In the presence of Una, however, ho forgets his vows, and, after wounding Count Calimanco, a vain swaggering rival, the day of marriage is fixed. His Senes chal, however, who has borne a long grudge to Sir Rupert and the Count, at the head of a band of marauders, inter rupt the marriage ceremony. Sir Rupert falls wounded by the Seneschal, and is on the point of being put to death, when Lurline, at the head of a band of Amazons, comes to the rescue. Having saved the knight and disarmed the Seneschal, she resigns her own claim to the hand of Sir Rupert, sees him united to Una, and points the moral of the tale, which is that nymphs should not be caught woo ing, and that knights should not seek by unworthy moans the possession of wealth. The scenery of the piece is much quieter than the usual style of Christmas decoration, but on the other hand the punning is much more extravagant. The palace of Lurline forms a brilliant picture, and her nymphs make a most resplendent figure therein. Amid the gay scenery of the palace a ballet divertissement, arranged by Mr. W. Smith, the stage manager, took place, and was very successful. But the most stirring scene of the whole was where Lurline, on hearing of the faithlessness of Sir Rupert, calls her Amazons together, addresses them in a speech to excite their ardour, and then guides them through various military manceuvres. In the narrow space in which Lurline had to execute her evolutions it is much to be doubted whether the most active drill-sergeant in the service could have produced so much movement, and combined so many picturesque forms. Miss Webb, who made her first appearance here on this occasion, per formed the part of leader in a voice. figure, and bearing that left little to be desired in a stage Penthesilea. Mrs. Mellon was, as is usual in her heroic personations, com plete; and Mr. Toole made the audience laugh as heartily as ever. But on the whole the Christmas piece was not so lively as it ought to have been, and it consequently obtained no very marked approbation from the audience. OLYMPIC. The Christmas festivity provided for the 'patrons of the Olympic in the shape of a burlesque by Mr. Robert Brough upon the story of " Alfred the Great," will probably prove one of the greatest successes achieved oven by the author, who, since the retirement of Mr. Planche, is fully entitled to the crown of extravaganza. Well connected, interesting, bristling with sparkling wit and puns admirable in their very badness, filled with capital parodies and telling aillu sions, Mr. Brough's new production has the advantage of being put on the stage in a liberal style and acted with great spirit by all engaged in it. The main point of the story will be familiar to every child-student of the History of England, but for a slight underilow Mr. Brough con fesses himself indebted to Mr. Sheridan Knowles. Here at the opening we find the Danes, under Guthrum (Mr. G. Cooke), in possession of England ; while Elswith (Miss Nelson), Alfred's betrothed, is attached to Guthrum's family in a menial capacity. Our first interview with Alfred is at the neatherd's cottage, or, rather, at a baker's shop, where he is serving his time, and where ho is visited by Merlin, who, in a short parody on the witch scene in "Mac beth," calls up for him three figures, who assure him that if he avoids red tape, enrols the volunteers, and keeps up the Channel fleet, England can never be conquered. Then follows the episode of the burnt bread and the anger of the old woman, who upbraidingly exclaims, " The stove's all black I see here's a pretty state I" to which ho replies, ruminating, " The stove's all black I and I'm Alf-Red the Groat I" Alfred then goes in disguise to the Danish revel, and sings before Guthrum, does tha Dlondin business on a tight rope ac ross a cataract, and finally escapes, to return with his army and to rout the invaders. The piece wants, perhaps, a little compression in one or two scenes, but it will play closer in a night or two, and the extra time now required for prepara tion will not then be needed. Mr. Robson plays Alfred with all his usual fire and spirit, and sings his parodies with briskness, quaintness, and effect. Mr. George Cooke is broadly funny as the drunken, swinish Dane ; and Mr. H. Wigan makes the best of a very small part. Tho ladies, however, bear away the palm. Miss Cottrell, Miss Nelson, and Miss Hughes, are all very well suited with characters, and all act and sing charmingly. Miss Herbert, who wo aro glad to see has returned to her allegiance at this theatre, looked strikingly handsome, but has very little to do. The villain of the piece is played by Mrs. Emden with a very ver paraphrase of welodramatic truculency. •: • 14c luutlesque was tllorouitl S4OCWIL, /tnd deservedly so ; the public have so long been served with fustain that the real article seemed to come again with tenfold vigour, and each joke earned its distinct round of applause. The curtain fell on a very pretty allegorical representation of England's glories amidst thunders of applause, and Mr. Brough (who, we regret to say, looked extremely ill) bowed his way across the stage in compliance with a loud and general call. SURREY. 'I he transpontino atmosphere is congenial to pantomime, and Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick, the lessees, and always successful caterers of this pcpular establishment, never allow a boxing-day to pass withoutHoducing one of the best, if not the best, specimen of this peculiarly English class of entertainment, which mark the introduction of the Christ mas theatrical season. "Harlequin King Holiday, or the Fairies of the Enchanted Valley, and the King that Wunce Killed a Cat," which is the title of the Surrey pantomime for the season of 1859-60, is quite equal in all its main features of broad burlesque, grotesque situation, uninteruptable puns, satirical hits at follies, fashions, and fears of the day —clever harlequinade, wonderful transformations, first-rate daneing, and last, but not least, beautiful scenery and artis tic groupings, to any of its predecessors. Perhaps there is less of plot in the burlesque introduction than usual, the whole point turning on King Holliday, the sovereign of the merry boys, and King Carewuncekilledacat, the ruler of the miserables. There is, as usual, something of love and of jealousy—persecuted lovers who, after escaping a thou sand difficulties in propria persona, aro permitted to win happiness by a probationary servitude in that doubtful state of existence, Harlequin and Columbine pursued by their relentless enemies, Clown, Pantaloon, and their attendant sprites—but always to the disadvantage and discomfiture of the pursuers. Thore are numerous combats between the hostile armies of the rival potentates, but although that of the Miserables is composed of giant spearmen, whose height would have made Frederick of Prussia indeed believe him self invincible, they are most disgracefully beaten by a com pact band of diminutive but well-drilled little lady soldiers who form the body-guard of King Holliday, and who are represented by thevery efficient corps de ballet under Miss Elizabeth Webster, assisted by Mr. Chapino's juvenile troupe. One of the most important characters in the bur lesque is a certain continental magician, the friend and ally of the King of the Miserables, one Grimgribber, in the shape of whose nasal organ, formidable spearlike moustaches and general make-up, and above all his ruling propensity to get into quarrels, we are at little loss to discover a strik ing likeness to a powerful continental sovereign. This im portant personage, who belongs to the questionable order of beings, and seems to have as many friends in the lower regions as on earth, is the chief plotter and planner of all the mischief, but finds himself outwitted at last, and com pelled to undertake the unthankful office of Pantaloon. Mr. E. Marshall played King Carewuncekilledacat, and with great humour parodied Mr. Chas. Kean's Lear, Charles Fox of the Campbell Minstrels, and Mario in some of his leading characters. Mr. J. Lauri as Harlequin, Mr. Crouste as Clown, Mr. Tapping as Pantaloon (in the absence of J. Lupine, who had been cast for the part, but was prevented by illness from attending), Miss Lizzie Marshall as Columbine, and the Zelekis as sprites, formed a pantomimic corps rarely excelled. Amongst the scenery the Fairies' Home in the City of Love and the Transformation scene, the Enchanted Valley and the Lake of Silver Waters, are specially deserving of notice, as being perhaps the most successful efforts of Mr. Dalby's pencil, and displaying a combination of light colour, and groupings of the highest order of stage art. Tho house was full to overflowing, and with an audience entirely composed of King Holiday's adherents. There wore one or two un rehearsed effects before the curtain—the most noticeable of which was a voluntary chorus, in which pit, boxes, and gal lery joined, of the two popular songs, "Willie, we have Imissed you," and " Wait for the waggon." ST. JAMES'S. "The production of two new pieces in addition to a panto mime, en Christmas Eve, proved that the zeal of the ma nagers of this theatre is still unflagging, while the charac ter of two out of the three novelties showed that experience has not yet taught them wisdom in selection, or art in pro duction. More preposterous nonsense than " Garibaldi's Englishman," a farce which commenced the evening, was probably never seen. The notion that an English dealer in pickles who had some contract with the Italian array, should pass himself off on his return as " Garibaldi's Englishman," and that ho should in consequence become the hero of those mistakes and designs only to be met with in farces, might have been made funny enough had it been treated by Mr. Coyne or Mr. Morton, who know every trick of the school ; but the genius on the present occasion, who is de scribed in the bill as a " popular author," has given the merest conventional outline of plot, set in tho dullest dia logue, and laden with the heaviest fun. Mr. Charles Young worked hard, and did his best with a part from which it was impossible to extract humour, and Mr. Barrett had an opportunity of wearing that singular deformity of fore head which he imagines represents old age, and of being generally bluff and hearty. This damp and dismal farce was succeeded by a very pretty, graceful, sparkling little sketch called the " House hold Fairy." The notion is originally French, but it has been very cleverly rendered by Mr. Frank Talfourd, who has supplied a great deal of telling, pointed dialogue, and performed his work throughout in a thoroughly artistic and satisfactory manner. The plot is as follows :—Julian de Clifford (Mr s ii. T. Craven), the last scion of an old family, has run through all his means, has sold almost the last stick bf his furniture, and as he looks upon working for a living as a disgrace, is about to commit suicide, when he is interrupted by a knock at the door, and by the en trance of Katherine (Miss Wyndham), who recalls her self to his remembrance as having been found by him when a child asleep in a forest, and since educated and reared by his grandmother, who is just dead. She has now come, she says, to pass her life with him, her adopted father. Bustling about in the most charming man ner, she soon contrives to throw an air of domestic comfort over his rooms, and by her engaging ways induces him to take part in some of her most menial occupations. All this time she sermonises him on the dignity of labour, the neces sity of playing our part in life, &c., until he throws aside all thought of suicide, determines to labour like a man, and finding that the girl of whom he was enamoured is a jilt, and has married another, he offers his hand to his " house hold fairy," who not only accepts him, but brings as her dower his family estate, bequeathed to her by the relation recently dead. Miss Wyndham played with great good taste and discrimination, tempering her vivacity with a sufficient touch of sentimentalism, and acting naturally throughout ; she was very well supported by Mr. Craven, who, somewhat n onc h a l an t a t fi rs t, war med up with the The situation and s h owe d cons id era bl e ar ti s ti c capabilities. applause at th e f a ll o f th e cur t a i n w as loud andgeneral, and the pi ece ma y b e l oo k e d u p on as a very well de served success. ti t e V that p a r t e t s h u e m a e u i t t h w e r a e s a f ll o e r d t h i h e s s p a a k t e e m o i f m t e h Fattractiond of Ju the title that the author called his patomime "Punch and Judy, s o t r ery Ha h rl a e s q n ui e n th a i n n d g ttheedFeawit•iythefthteheelCdrylitssateldilaranCasvtreese, t ' d fo ra r m th a, and the principal character, Punch, the god from his duller witicisms, than t p h ro e p s e p r eak sph er er e e f and made the hero of h d a u v l e le p r r e i g n v c i e i d u e e n l y t s f , a l a l n e n d buttoh his what lot. w eT gleanedh e plot o f f m the n i o t w e openingping i , lead thatads t o hp ta ear i n l yeahrumwniaceoesnenna against ; sd by the Queen of Something t King Humbug (called by rybody rUmbug), that he including gwsß Big gthe Ben,most e notnotorious cl u h e u k m , bugs the In of the accepts, g, an a d nd th c o au F se o s ur th L e iv t e r r an po s o ! l formation di m c a a r t c o h r an s, The opening, indeed, is remarkable for e t G h r r e e n a e t s E t h a e s t e K r n i Merchants, nothing but its dulness and its length ; it is poorly acted too by all except Miss C. Ranee,whose delightful self-sufficiency is really quite prepossessing. The transformation scene called forth a great deal of applause, and looked as though it had caused a large outlay; a portion of which might have been judiciously turned to advantage on the contumes and masks. The harlequinade went briskly enough, principally through the exertions of Mr. Paul Herring, one of the best of old-fasnioned Clowns; his companion, Mr. Alfred Glan ville, is neat and agile ; the Harlequin, Mr. Ash, is a fair dancer and posturer, but he should be instructed to wear his mask constantly on his face ; and the Columbine, Miss Fowler, and Pantaloon, Mr. Parker, are up to the average mark. The house was crammed to inconvenience. SADLER'S WELLS. The Sadler's Wells company, who, on their visit to Germany in the past year, have shown tho Berlin people the humours of a jolly old English pantomime, showed us last night one of the jolliest and most humorous that ever a London boxing-night assembly came together to enjoy ; yet its fable is of foreign and German extraction, the " Little Man in Red," well known to the learned Brothers Grimm, being introduced among the huts of the charcoal burners on the edge of the Black Forest, as a demoniacal yet beneficent meddler in the affairs of one Hans, a very ludicrous and love- lorn lout, who ultimately triumphs in life by the possession of the golden goose. The costumes and comic heads are of the very drollest, admirably con trasted and full of character—only to see these figures is worth the price of a box admission ; but the supreme at traction is the scenery, prepared by the most tasteful and in genious theatrical artist, Mr. Charles James. Between the luminous glories of his " Golden Gardens in the Plains of Plenty," and the concluding splendour, after the harleciuln ado, entitled "The Palace of Peace in the Realms of Com mon Sense," we are trestec with several very beautilnl pic tures, one of which exhibits a delicious moving waterfall, besides the grass and foliage of dreamy fairyland. Tho practical jokes and bustling incidents of the latter part of this pantomime contain allusions to every notable event and topic of the day. Altogether, "Hans and the Golden Goose" is an excellent pantomime. STRAND. Miss Swanborough having apperontly a mission to turn into burlesque all that is noble or touching in history or literature, has in due course taken the story of Tell in hand ; but no reasonable fault can be found with the way in which her poet has executed her e:ommission, for Mr. Francis Tal fourd has principally ( I .'irected his comic powers to the laud able task of makir:g tyranny ridiculous. Indeed, there is very about this new Tell, except in the fact that he is played by Miss Saunders, whose stature is somewhat low whereas his Emma is Mrs. Selby, a lady who, like Rosalind is "more than common tall.", Of course, the fine sentiment which he is perpetually spouting is occasionally relieved by such pathetic' reflections as would naturally occur to any husband of fine feelings when he saw that his said. Emma was a hemmer of his linen—which remark, strange to say, was not called a nonstick. The daring of Mr. Tal fourd, in the way of verbal quips, is in fact something almost without precedent. The plot run its course in the way everybody knows, save that Albert's life is saved far less by his si r e's skill than by the enormous size o f the fruit which Liberty, disguised as an apple-woman, produces for the ordeal. Certainly, if it eveer grew on a tree, that tree must have been in a state of perpetual admiration at the tom sua poma which for the nonce it was privileged to bear. The peasant army by which the castle of Gesler (Mr. Clarke) is stormed consists of women, under the command of Mrs. Selby and Miss Oliver—it being very sagely re marked that women are sometimes unrivalled as " wor riers." Finally, when Gesler proposes to cede his castle, Freedom appears once more, and, after lecturing in an edifying way all monarchs in general, and the Emperor of Austria in particular, as to the treatment of their subjects, assures the fallen tyrant that he shall not leave his castle, but that his castle shall leave him. She accordingly turns it into an amazing apple orchard, and then takes her flight, as we are let to conclude, to the place from whence she came—that is to say, to the shores of this happy realm. Tho heroine of the piece is Miss Marie Wilton, whose part (Albert) ;entitles her to wear the most ravishing pair of knickerbockers ever seen. If she had nothing to do but to walk about in this charming vestment, she would win the hearts of all beholders, but she has a somewhat consi derable role, which she plays with great animation. Miss Oliver doth also enact with great spirit the character as signed her; and to these ladies, with Mr. Rogers (who sustains the part of Gosler's factotum Sarnem with great unction), is entrusted the main business of the burlesque. The scenery is painted by Messrs. Calcott and Broadfoot; and parts of it are very meritorious. There is also a very pretty incidental ballet, in which Miss Rosins Wright in troduces her new pas called " La Belle Savoyarde. Altogether the piece achieved an unequivocal SUCCOOO. A STLEY' S. The Christmas piece at the Royal Amphitheatre is t 1 very attractive entertainment, and well sustains the reputation which Mr. Cook has acquired by his intelligent and spirited management of one of the most popular plao'es of public amusement in London. It is written by Mr, Nelson Lee, with parodies by Mr. R. Phillips, and it bears the ominous title of "Harlequin Old Towler and 0-, 0 Goddess Diana ; or, This Day a Stag shall Die." JA. is ingeniously con structed and abundant in picturescra o incident and romantic adventures. The action COMMP es Pan (Mr. Raymond) arrives d ur i ng a reve l, mounted on • real buffalo, direct from J_ n di a . Th e F a i r y Progression :c in Bacchanalia, wh ere (Miss Kate Carson) nes',, makes her appearance, and urges them to provide the Cl Ar i s t ava pantomime, exhibiting i n a tableau the subject of " Old T ow l er ," w hi c h is accordingly adopted. Tom Moody is the lover of the charming Patty the daughter of Old Towler, whom the Fairy Progression takes under ber protection. She summons the fairy police to protect the lovers, and thwart the designs of Old Squire Gameagola, who seeks to wed Patty ; they depart to inform the Goddess Diana of their plans, and we are transport ed to "Diana's Retreat, in the Land of Fairy Sports," whe re they await the arrival of the Queen, who comes in her ca r drawn by fairy palfreys, and commands Pomona and her subjects to aid the lovers. The next scene takes pia". in • Old Towler's House," on the morning of the chase. The old Squire claims the maiden's hand ; but young Tom enters and the lovers escape on two fleet hunters. The alarm being given, the father and squire summon all their friends to pursue them. A spirited love chase takes place, and is Pro tracted) until Bacchus instructs Will-o'-the-Wisp to mil load the Squire and Old Towler. Some comical mishaps follow, but the chase proceeds until they roach the villag e linendre.per's, where the usual shopping is taking pla ce, when. the Squire, misled byWill-o' -the-Wisp, leaps throug h the, window, to the astonishment of the inmates. We I lest 'arrive at Whirlypool Mill, where the lovers enter exhausted' appears, and the squire, attempting to enter the mill, is unhorsed by the sails. Old Towler comes in at the death, and claims the stag's antlers, which brings u s to the grand transformation scene of "The Palace of PregresS and Land of Charmed Palfreys," where Mr. Nelson's Lee's comic budget follows. The harlequinade is supported by Mr. Hildebrandt, Clown; Mr. Abbot, Pantaloon; Mr. Richards, Harlequin; Madlle. Mazzoni, Columbine; &a a whole family of India-rubber sprites. the a pplause The house was crowded in every part, and of the audienee was most enthusiastic. THE ALHAMBRA. The entertainments at this great equestrian circus are of a kind which can hardly fail to prove attractive at this fes• tive season, and in truth the gathering of last night was enough to content the most insatiable proprietor. There was indeed an afternoon performance, but that of the even ing was the most remarkable for numbers. In a ddition to the usual performance there was a novel equestrian harla quinade, entitled " The Golden Bull ; or Harlequin and the Enchanted Horn," in which the trained bull, Don Juan, and his tutor DanCastello, played conspicuous parts, clown, harlequin, pantaloon, and columbine appearing vividly on the scene. Both the bull and the spectators were in the best possible humour throughout, and there can be little doubt that the crowd of last night was the precursor of several others of similar vastness. CANTERBURY HALL. So popular is this place of entertainment that no Christ mas novelties are needed to attract the public, who have long since discovered that Mr. Morton knows well how to cater for their amusement, and the admirable selection of music, to gether with the efficient conductor and the equally efficient artists engaged, have secured for the Canterbury Hall afront place in the ranks of the places of amusement of the metropolis. The selections from Verdi's "Macbeth" and Meyerbeer's " Dinorah" nightly delight the habitues of the hall, while to strengthen the attractions nearly the whole of Professor Sternd ale Bennett's charming cantata, " The May Queen," is now being given. The Canterbury Hall is also strong in comic vocalists. First and foremost there is Mr. Mackney, the best nigger melodist in London ; then comes Mr. Hodson, the Irish comedian and mimic; and lastly there is Mr. Critchfield. Nor must the picture gallery be forgotten. It contains some admirable works of art, and forms an agreeable lounge, in which, while the eye is gratified, the taste is elevated by the contemplation of paintings which have been most judiciously selected. ROYAL POLYTECHNIC. Contrary to the belief of many persons this institution still continues its accustomed round of pleasing recreation. This Christmas Mr. G. Buckland introduces a new enter tainment entitled " Motley, or the Ways of the World." The pictorial illustrations are after our old friend George Cruikshank, and are admirably adapted to the subject. The ways of the world at the present moment are rife with sin gular events, and this entertainment is intended to expound them, and cannot fail to instruct, exhilarate, and amuse. The lectures on "Philosophy of Magic," by Mr. Gardner, are such as should be listened to by our young friends. r*. King follows with a lecture on recreative science, in which he illustrates scientifically the different toys which occupy 00 much of the time of a boy; and here Mr. King will teach them that while they are amusing themselves idly, they might be laying the foundation of great inventions. Th e phantasmagoria is certainly the best that has been exhi bited, and is to the holiday visitors to this institution what the pantomime is to thetheatres ; it is by the celebrated Mr. Child. The diving bell, dissolving views of China and India, and all the other well-known attractions, continue in their full force. We only hope that the new institution about to start on these premises may be as well conducted and afford as much gratification as our old friend the RoYai Polytechnic. THE GREAT GLOBE. This has now become so established an exhibition that it is almost needless to say it had a largo influx of visitors yesterday. From early morning up to a late hour of the evening streams of holiday folks continued to pour into tbe building, and to gaze with inter e st on the vast variety of objects now collected there. To the geographical gol d e n th r uological curiosities of th e pl ace wer e added, and w ill tame to be for some time to c om e, dioramas of the W ar be China and in Italy. The campaign in Italy maY thus realised, if not fought over again, in Leicester-square, au d the hostilities of the ensuing spring in China pondered with the aid of moving scenes, picturing out the Celestial Bin' pire to the ken of the spectator. MR. AND MRS. HOWARD PAUL'S ENTERTAINMEN T. Mr. and Mrs. Howard Paul were honoured last night by a largo audience at the St. James's-hall, when their very amusing entertainment once moro excited the unqualified applause of all present. There can be no doubt that its very varied interest is thoroughly appreciated by the public. CAMPBELL'S MINSTRELS. Those accomplished musicians attracted an overflowing audience last night to the St. James's-hall, whore Ai r variod and delightful performances attracted, as they ways do, the unqualified applause of a very large auditory. Their " Nigger Melodies," the " Excelsior" dance, and tho admirable one entitled " The Spirit of Ole Vir ginny," were all of them most admirably executed, and rewarded the " Minstrels" with several rounds of hearty cheering. It is worthy of note that this body of per formers is by far the most numerous that has yet appeared, and among them is included every possible variety of m cal and vocal talent that can enlist the popular appreciation. There can be no doubt that the " Campbell's Minstrels" have before them a triumphantly successful career. The Duke and Duchess of Wellington arrived at Apsley House, a few days back , from Clermont Lodgo, their seat in Norfolk. The Countess of Portarlington to has been is now suffereri co ng from indisposition, but we arc happy learn vering from her ilhaoss. Th e ee ifteen, Th e htt il ,_ Ac e° , ot ale Rnis k r . / No rdin ktiesty 4 lett io e " e ot ° aln s ti le to M k 4 od erEt i 9 qe tt4rt " -m114 144 ; 4 18 re Th e I tdd r th e R e4B —pe th e , A 4 4, e a t th t stagy th e .410 4 . 1, ••••• L TI 11r. Tli Wal( rep t ., not Patat 7:11(11 1t 4 lito, of the dep ar ° f th e tress Vi 4 1141