The Sun. — London, England, 1867-12-27 00:00:00

A glorious holiday audience assembled last night at " Old Drury." Long before the opening of the doors the crowd of holiday makers congregated before every one of the numerous entrances of the theatre, was far beyond all former Boxing-nights, and when the massive doors were thrown open, had the occasion been the gratuitous distribution of Bank of England notes, the crush to obtain 'admission could not have been greater. IVithin 10 minutes every available seat was occu pied, yet such was the intense anxiety of the out riders that, in spite of all remonstrance, they in sis-ed upon still itig for adinis. , „ion, in the hove of securing CVPiI StalidiPg MUM. 11:0F!! N‘lin 0 1, 7 t:: ined even this very questional;le comfot t felt content, i,s it Cluistmns time, and those who failed had nothing left but to e turn to the pay-box and there receive their money back, which hundreds were compelled to do. The appearance of the interier of the grand theatre, crowded from floor to ceiling with laughing, jolly, good-tempered people, is of itself a sight worth a great deal of trouble to witness, as on no other occasion than " Boxing-night" is a similar sight to be seen. Everybody has come to see the pantomime, and the farce that invariably precedts it is merely looked upon as a breathing time for the crowded and delighted audience, who are not slow in passing their opinions aloud upon the merits of the perfoimers. The farce over, excitement reaches its climax as Mr. Tully makes his way up the centre of the orchestra to lead the overture. The bell rings, three slight taps are beard of the musical director's baton, and then the harmonious introduc tion to Mr. E. L. Blanchard's great pantomime for 1867 commences. The selection of music is of course highly appropriate to the merry occasion, and therefore it embraces most of the melodies that have become popular during the year. Each air has its admirers, but when the first few notes of the comic song " Not for Joseph" is heard the whole of the " gods" take up the strain, and join the chorus with such hearty goodwill, as to make the walls ring again with uproarious delight. Cheer after cheer followed the close of the jolly chorus, and an attempt was made to obtain its repetition, but the many amongst the gigantic audience were so anxious for the panto mime that the overture was allowed to pro ceed to its conclusion, and then up went the curtain on the latest production of our King of Pantomime writers, which is entitled, " Faw Fee Fo Fum ; or, Harlequin Jack the Giant Killer." First ;,we have a view of the Giant's Causeway by moonlight, with a bevy of Leprechauns with glowworm lamps, seeking the four-leaved shamrock. They don't find it, how ever, but are alarmed by the coming of the Giants, who have convened a " monster meeting" at this appropriate spot. Here we have same clever phan tasmagoria of giants going to the meeting, and finally the great gathering of the Irish giant, Brian Boroihme ; the Greek giant, Mr. Titan ; the Chi nese giant, Mr. Chang ; the Syrian giant, Mr. Anak ; with Messrs. Og, Gog, Magog, Polyphe mus, and other big-boned personages. For their resolutions, which, with the Irish giant in the chair, are of a most Fenian character, we must refer to their debate as given in Mr. Blanchard's report of the meeting. The alarmed Leprechauns turn in formers, and convey the particulars to the Fairy Ondine (Miss Poole), of the Peerless Pool. Of course this leads to a complication ; but, all interior, Miss Kate Harfieur as Nectarine, chief of the Fruit Fairies, makes some pretty speeches, in a very pretty dress, to a crowd of very pretty fairies, in a very pretty garden, and Miss Poole sings a very pretty song, " I am a light, bright, water sprite," to a very pretty tune, scored by J. 11. Tully. After all these pretty things, which young masters and misses must go to see, we come to a clever change of scene, wherein, by slidings horizontal and ver tical, and workings which a Yankee would describe as " slantinglicular," the fairy gardens become a village on the Cornish coast. The Duke of Cornwall (Mr. Moreland), his daughter Adel gitlia (Miss Edith Stuart.), with his knights, returned from the Holy Land, al:pear, and Jack, who seems to be " Nobody's Child," comes in flying a kite. The giant Corn - loran swims from St. Michael's Mount, discomfits the Duke, carries off his daughter, and the brave knights run away. Not so Jack; he pursues the giant, cuts off his head in the sea, rescues the duke's daughter, and returns in triumph to hear the triumphant distich— " This is the valiant Cornish man, Who slew the giant Cormoran !" " The Logan Stone," on the road to St. Ives, is the next scene. The man with seven wives, in terror of a two-headed giant, comes in. Jack drovs Blunderbore, the Welsh giant, into a hole " whence ships take ballast when they go to sea." Here he receives the Sword of Sharpness, the Coat of Darkness, and the Shoes of Swiftness, with which his after-exploits are achieved. 'The in terior of Fee-Faw-Fo-Fum's Castle shows us the three-headed giant at home, mourning the fate of Blunderbore. The old legend of the log of wood which Jack places in his bed to be pounded by the Giant's club is represented, and finally, to the air of " Not for Joseph," the log gets the clubbing in tended for the bones of Jack. Finally, Jack per suades the Giant to perform the hasty-pudding trick, by taunting him to follow his example, and the three-headed Giant falls a victim to his con queror. The battlements of the Giant's Castle, in ruins, lea 7s up to the " Fairy Boudoir, and Presen tation of the Bridal Gifts" of Jack and Adelgitha. This, the gra at transformation scene, is one of the most resplendent beauty and refined taste. The sprays of the four-leaved shamrock open and dis close to view. a palace of lacework, and drooping orient pear's, in the centre of which is a gigantic specimen of fairy jewelry, resplendent with glitter ing diamonds. Fay 3 in sparkling attire flash out the splendid prismatic rays of the rainbow, and when to that is added the effect of emerald and ruby-coloured fire and the electric light combined, a scene of dazzling brilliancy is disclosed, altogether eclipsing anything that bas ever yet been produced even by the renowned scenic artist Mr. Beverley. The applause was tremendous, and before anything ap proaching silence could be procured the painter had to bow his acknowledgments. The harlequinade now commences with three sets of pantoinimists :—Three Harlequins (Messrs. J. Currnack, S. Saville, and Alger), three Columbine:; (Mesdames Adele Marian, Fanny Lauri, and F. Valckeneare), three Panta loons (Messrs. Barnes, J. Morris, and J. Rus sell), three Clowns. (Messrs. 11. Boleno, C. Lauri and Tom Dot), and two Sprites (Messrs. Sidney and Jelina). Mr. Chatterton Las, in this instance, as on all other occasions, kept his word—he promised the most gorgeous pantomime ever produced on the boards of the theatre over which he presides ; and anything more brilliant or splendid could not have been imagined or invented. The entire audience were pleased beyond measure, and the Christmas annual for 1867 must be pronounced a great and well-deserved, in fact, a gigantic buccess. Gilbert A'Beckett ; the scenery by Matt. Morgan, Hawes Craven, and Messrs. Pitt, Willey, and Cuthbert ; the music by Mr. Betjeman ; and the stage arrangements by Mr. Augustus Harris. Of the plot it is first "our cue to speak," and, so far as we understand it, it is after this wise :—Black Diamond, the Coal King (Mr. Lingbam) seated upon his throne, and appropriately surrounded by blackguards, opens the burlesque by drinking a health to his lady-love, Brilliantina. While dwel ling on his passion for the Diamond Queen he receives a telegram from his old friend the Baron, who, worried to death by his troublesome nephew and niece, thus asks his advice. Black Diamond replies, and has no sooner despatched the mes s:tee than his guards, who have been on the look out for her, announce that they have captured B: Oft s Florence Evelcigli), Black Diamond threatens her pith his vengeance, when she, art fully feigning affection for him, suddenly snatches him from Lis charmed sceptre, and transports him forthwith to her own palace in the regions of the White Diamond. The Baron (Mr. W. 11. Payne) has been undergoing an unusual amount of annoyance at the hands of his two little charges—the two babes, Mileudo (Mr. Fred. Payne) and Primrosehilina (Mr. J. Clarke) —who devote the whole of their day to the destruction of the china, glass, furniture, and perishable property belonging to their uncle. Maid Marian (Miss Maria Harris), their nurse, does her best to defend them, but in vain, and affairs are brought to a crisis by the arrival of Black Diamond's telegram, recommending the Baron to summon his Villain (Mr. J. D. Stoyle) and get him to " spiflicate" the children in the wood. The fearful purport of this message is caught by Maid Marian, who, threatening to call in the assistance of Robin Hood, is thrown into a dungeon by the order of the Baron. Freed from the nurse he sends for his creature, the Villain, a bargain is soon struck—the children are fetched, and overcome, notwithstanding the Villain's unprepossessing appearance, by the attractions of some sugar-sticks, and induced to accompany him for a walk in the wood. Robin Hood • (Miss Amy Sheridan), with Little John (Miss M. Marshall), Will Scarlett (Miss Nelly Harris), and the Merry Men happen to be holding a pic-nic in the forest. Marian arrives, and an nounces the danger that is hanging over the babes. All determine to capture the Baron, and depart in search of him. The Villain at length reaches a secluded spot with the children, and is about to de spatch them, when their tears move him, and he abandons his guilty design. The Baron, however, who has been suspecting something wrong, and watching, intervenes, when a fight ensues, in which the Villain is worsted, and the defenceless babes are left to their fate. Making up their bed of leaves, they are about to terminate their career in the usual manner when Brilliantina appears and sends the Robins to their assistance. Instead of burying the birds arouse them, and at length come in such num bers that the babes are struck with the idea of taking them home to attack their uncle. For this pur pose they drill them, and all of them march off toward the Castle. The Baron has in the mean time been caught by some of the Merry Men, and and " ducked" in a neighbouring stream, while the Villain, who has patched himself up with sticking plaster, has been found by the others, whom he has joined, after having promised to reform his ways. The Baron, having dragged himself home, goes to bed with a severe cold. Here he is tortured by his nephew, his conscience, and the cat, and is at length aroused by the news that the castle is attacked on all sides. Eager for the fray, he puts on his armour, flies to the battlements, where a desperate struggle of all concerned ensues, leading to the mutual intervention of Black Diamond and Brilliantina, and an adjournment to the transfor mation. THE SUN, LOIND what in danger of being obscured by the very ela borate machinery with which it is worked out. The first scene is Dismal Swamp. The plot is laid ; Cock Robin is to be destroyed ; Miasma (Mr. Thompson) will do it ; he is the agent of Satana (Miss Goodall) ; those renowned villains, Sparrow, Cuckoo, and Raven are the instruments selected. The scene changes to the abode of Fresh Air, a splendid abode. An assemblage of all the little " dicky birds" takes place, a gathering our juvenile friends will never forget ; the marriage just about to be celebrated by the wicked plotters. Court martial is held, the villains are condemned, and saved only by the transformation into bears. The next scene shows us the interment, then follow the transformation into mortals, the home of the beaux, who have become compound house ,holders—with a vote—then ensued rapidly Gaffer and Farmer Gray's cottage, a fairy aquarium, an enchanted wood, a mystic fountain—a series of scenes very brilliant, and closing with a St. James's Palk after a snow storm. The ballets introduced into these scenes would require a long description to do them justice. The corps are extremely numerous, and the dresses very striking. In the transformation scene no effort of colouring has been spared. Much of their effect was lost in consequence of mecha nical " hitches," which are apt to occur on boting night, but a few rehearsals will repair this defect. It is equally impossible to speak of all the characters who deserved a good word. Miss Caroline Parkes as Cock Robin, Miss Goodall as Salimir, and Miss Furtado as Jenny Wren, distinguished themselves in such a way that we cannot omit re ference to them. The harlequinade produced bois terous laughter. There are fcur clowns, two harle quins, two columbines, two pantaloons, five sprites, &c. Mr. Lauri, in this part of the performance, merits a special mention. The piece lasted rather too long—over four hours. It can be made a little brisker with advantage. Attention, however, hardly ever flagged. Mr. Smith has been in possession of the Lyceum for only ten days, and considering that fact, the way in which the piece has been presented is marvellous. Though he had to ask the forbear ance of the public, a few rehearsals will make this elaborate pantomime one of the most popular—or we mistake. CHRISTMAS AMUSEMENTS. DRURY-L ANE. COVENT GARDEN. In the olden days, when Covent Garden was ex clusively an English theatre, its renown for pan tomime was great. Rich and' Harris were names of strength in the managenunt for years before the mcir.ory of the present generation c in reach. The formr.r, ri h :rl , friin by prof •s ,, ion, though rfuncm berA last by the mat relating to the " Beggar's Open," which made " Rich Gay and Gay Rich," was great in pantomime, and so the ell theatre con tained until, twenty years ago, when it was rebuiit, interiorly, arid turned into an Italian Opera-house, for the seceding artists of her Majesty's Theatre, Grisi, Mario, Costa, and their following; and thus, despite the lamentable smash of its first proprietor, Mr. Delatield, it remained. The new opera-house which arose upon its ashes has, however, been the home of English opera, under Pyne and Harrison, r;s well as Italian, and has had its winter dramatic season for our home-born holiday folk, great and little, and long may it remain so. Last evening, after th e l aug h a b le farca of `'The Goose with the Golden Eggs," the grand Christmas Pantomime was produced. The bootie by Mr. We shall not pass sentence on Mr. A'Beckett's libretto until we have seen what can be done with it in the way of pruning, for, like most young writers, he has written a great deal more than is worth learning or repeating, and if worth both more than any judicious audience can endure. Th result of this, and somewhat too much made of a bedroom scene of the Baron, and a rumpus with the servants of the grot:sque how chola, delayed the transformation scene beyond eleven o'clock, and gave to the introduction much clown's work that was due to the harlequinade. That the pretty actresses, Mesdames Maria Harris, Amy Sheridan, Polly Marshall, and .Nelly Tiaras, with the Merry Men (of the corps (IC bullet) of S:lerwood Forest, did not console us for the length of the introduc tion it would be uncaudid to deny. Still, people who go to see a pantomime have some fixed ideas, and do expect a fair half to be given to redhot pokers, petty larceny, assault, battery, and murder, with the other recreations to which Punch and the Clown have a prescriptive right. A word, however, of the scenery. He who does not see Batt. Morgan's " Realms of the White Diamond" and " The Fleet ing Seasons" has lost a standard of comparison in the merits of scene-painting. Another delicious bit of built-up forrest is " The Merry Greenwood," in which Robin Hood and his pretty men pic-nic. On its disclosure a general call for the artist was answered by the manager, who stated that Mr. Hawes Craven was not in the house. The transfor mation scene is a coruscation of changing splen dours, in which the art of colour-blending brilliancy of reflection, and the aids of machinery, dresses, and the most statuesque positions of graceful female forms are tceated with a happy combination that approaches cur idea of the perfection of stage spectacle. Description is futile, and nothing but a visit and an attentive admiration can convey a true idea of its splendour and taste. Of the actors in the in troduction, Messrs. Payne were, as they are well known to be, n u lli secundus in pantomime. Mr. J. 1). Stoyle sang and acted capitally as the Vil lain ; he was to the very Coburg manner bred and born ; his sword light with the Baron (Mr. W. H. Payne) embodied all the old glories of the days of Bradley and Blanchard, Hicks and Cathcart, when " grand combats" filled the transportine theatres nightly. Of the harlequinade we can say that what there was of it was good, and smartly played by the Harlequin, Mr. F. Payne ; Columbine, Mdlle Esta; Clown, Mr. Harry Payne; and Pantaloon, Mr. Paul Herring. The events of the year and the follies of the fashions were satirised in the usual way, and the pantomime succeeded in giving gene ral satisfaction ; though the dense fog during the evening had so cleared the streets of conveyances, that we fear many of the visitors must have been compelled to resort to the most primitive method of reaching home. The Adelphi opened last night with a dramatised version of "No Thoroughfare," a Christmas story, which, as all the world now knows, is written by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins. The drama tising of the story has been well done ; the dialogue is lively and characteristic ; the scenery, comprising wine -cellars, London streets, Alpine heights, with great gulfs of empty space seen between the peaks, is admirable. On the whole, we think that the Adel phi will be found to be one of the most generously patronised places of entertainment in these London holiday times. Apart from the prestige which the place derives from the fact that its framer is the greatest living novelist, "No Thoroughfare" is so well performed, that its excellence in its dramatised shape seems to be native, Better acting than Mr. Fechter's Obenreizer it would be difficult to con ceive ; Mr. Neville is respectable as Mr. Vendale ; Mr. Belmore is capital as the sharp lawyer, who takes care of the Vendale interest ; Miss Carlotta Lcclercci is pleasing in her little part of Marguerita; Mr. Webster is unctous as Joey Ladle, who takes it in " at the pores;" and the other parts are well filled. Last night was' perhapsl, a somewhat unfavourable one for securing a first performance to advantage. There was something careless and in sincere in everybody's acting. The holiday feeling had evidently reached the stage. At one point Mr. Fechter, who is full, not to say overflowing, with confidence in his interpretation of " Obenreizer," was so observably careless and inattentive to the character he represented that he appeared to be playing with, but not playing, his part. As so much depends upon realisation and vraisemblance in "No Thoroughfare "—the plot being full of situations which are, to say the least, unusual any carelessness or insincerity in the acting is decidedly reprehensible. But the quick, electric force of this gentleman's acting in certain scenes is marvellous. The scene in the Swiss chalet is carried out with admiration, spirit, and verve, and the mountain scenes are im pressive and charmingly rendered. The Adelphi will no doubt continue to be well filled at this sea son, and we can only say here briefly that it deserves all the patronage it is likely to have. LYCEUM. How many generations have had their sympa thies enlisted in the life and death of Cock Robin ? More than we can tell. - Mr. E. T. Smith, there fore, has been happy in selecting this story for his first pantomime at the Lyceum. Mr. W. S. Gil bert, the writer, has improved in the original story by the addition of Jenny Wren as a heroine, and so pre:.erving the unity of the piece through a series of transformations. in which they figure as " The Little Man who Woo'd the Little Maid." One might think Mr. Gilbert had taken a hint from Homer in the first page of the Iliad, for the arrow which slays Cock Robin is from the Dismal Swamp where Miasma and other evil spirits, his offensive off spring, dwell, and against their machination.; we have the good spirit of Fresh Air, who transforms Masters Sparrow, Cuckoo, and Raven into three bears for their share in the catastrophe. After the re-appearance of the hero and heroine in unusual lun, they go through a most interesting series of adventures, through the possession of a magic ring entitling them to three wishes. Fairy Fortune also endows them with a magical purse, cap, and sword—all of unlimited efficiency. The one purchases all favours ; the other transports its possessor everywhere in search of the " waters of unceasing life"---not to be confounded with eau de vie—and the third enables him to give a satisfactory account of the bears. Demonio and Satana are continually besetting the Little Man and the Little Maid ; but the good fairies always avail to remedy their misfortunes, and they finally transform them of:course into Harlequin and Columbine. So much for the general character of the plot, which is some- PRINCESS'S. The conjoined attractions of " The Colleen Bawn " and " The Streets of London " brought together a numerous audience, and with Mr. and Mrs. Boucicault as the heroic Myles na Coppaleen and the hapless Lily O'Connor in the first drama, and Mr. Vining as the imperturbable Badger in the last, the sympathies of the spectators were kept throughout the evening in a state of continual ten sion. The two pieces are so remarkable for their scenic effects that on this ground alone their suita bility to the season could be triumphantly demon strated ; but they have besides the advantage of prominently displaying the talents of the company, and in some instances of exhibiting the performers in their very best characters. Those who go to th e theatre in search of a " sensation" will miss a great deal if they overlook the present strongly-consti tuted programme of the Princess's. TIIE ADELPIII- "SO THOROUGHFARE." NEW QUEEN'S THEATRE. Here Mr. Alfred Wigan dispensed with panto mime, eschewed burlesque, would have nothing to do with extravaganza, put aside spectaculai fairy groupings, and produced no transformation scene. There was nothing for which holiday folk look at Christmas time. Still, as there must be a large section of the theatre-loving public who, like Gallio of old, " care for none of these things," it is not improbable that Mr. Wigan may find that he has math no mistake in preserving at least one house from the histrionic superstition of the season. Au old and esteemed Adelphi favou rite, Mr. J. L. Toole, the popular comedian, has been provincialising with immense success for seve ral months. London audiences missed from among them this man of mark, and the simple announce ment that be would commence an engagement with Mr. Wigan's excellent company brought about him, on the occasion of his re-appear ance, troops of friends. Seldom has a heartier reception been accorded on any occasion at a place of public amusement. It must have been pleasant for Mr. Toole to find that he was so well and so genially remembered, and it was equally satisfac• tory, no doubt, for those who bestowed such wel come to observe that time has rather improved than deteriorated the calibre of this clever low comedy representative. After Shakspere's "Katherine and I'etruchio "—Mr. IL Irving and Miss E. Terry sustaining the leading characters very creditably— Mr. Toole presented himself as Dick Stubbs in the two-act comic drama from the pen of Mr. R. Lacy, " Doing for the Best," about which, not very long since, there was considerable liti gation between the author and the actor in the Court of Queen's Bench, at Westminster, Mr. Toole proving more than a match for his antagonist on no less than two occasions, and receiving legal decisions in his favour. " Doing for the Best" was first performed at the Theatre Royal Sadler's Wells in November, 1861, Mr. Phelps taking the part which Mr. Toole now assumes. It is not a brilliant or by any means a carefully-written drama. In the provinces, especially where the maritime element prevails, we can well understand that it has met with approval, butler Londoners many of the features are rather far-fetched and improbable. There are, however, incidents well worked out; and the character of Dick Stubbs is one at least which serves to develop Mr. Poole's peculiar low comedy conceptive power. He played with admirable judgment, throwing out the lights and shades quite as effectively as in parts for which he has already secured well-deserved reputation. Those who think that actors who excel in the particular rule in which Mr. Toole has acquired so deserved a celebrity cannot give adequate expression to the finer and more pathetic feelings, as well as the purer dramatic emotions, would do well to visit this theatre and witness Mr. 'Poole in his present repre sentations. They will there learn that the finest portraiture of the most tender passions can so exist The Christmas novelty at this theatre, which may be regarded as the temple, par excellence, for the presentation of pieces having a burlesque character, is an operatic extravaganza, entitled " The Caliph of Bagdad," from the practised pen of Mr. William Brough, and was produced last evening with com plete success. As its name implies, the idea of the piece is founded upon Boieldieu's once popular opera, " La Calife de Bagdad," au English version of which, by Torn Dibden, was brought out at Covent garden at the very beginning of the present cen tury. Mr. Brough, however, as is customary with Christmas pieces, has modernised the characters and incidents until they are rendered types of the present day. In the first scene we are in troduced to the Caliph's Palace. Here, amid dancing-girls, tinkling cymbals, gongs, drums, and other accessories to Eastern pomp, we make the acquaintance of the renowned Caliph Haroun Alraschid (Miss Ada Swanborough) who, by the way, made her first appearance in the cha racter since her severe indisposition, and met with a most cordial reception at the hands of the audisnce. He, we find, in addition to his fondness for roam ing about his capital in disguise to seek out wrongs and to redress them, as recorded in the vivacious and time-honoured pages of the " Arabian Nights," has recently imbibed notions of Reform. In fact, he goes in boldly for Western manners and customs, much to the disgust of his chief military officer, Mahoud (Mr. T. Thorne), a disappointed grumbling personage, who believes in the super-excellence of all ancient modes of government, and cannot see without repining the reforms and innovations in troduced by the present Caliph. In one of his dis guised wanderings he meets with the lovely Darina (Miss Newton),daughter of the poor bankrupt Chibib (Mr. Turner). A case of mutuallove is the immediate result of the meeting. Al-Bondocan, the name the disguised Caliph has assumed, offers marriage, and is accepted by the bard-up parent, not without mis givings as to the real character of his future son in-law, but with anything but dissatisfaction at finding that Al-Bondocan is rich enough to pay off his own pressing creditors and duns, however the wealth may have been obtained. The loving couple and the pleased father have scarcely left when the Cadi (Mr. D. James), a bribe-taking, time-serving magistrate, enters to make proclamation of the fact that an intruder of the masculine gender has dared to trespass within the sacred walls of the harem, there to visit the lady Camira (Miss Har land), a slave purchased by the Caliph only three days before. Camira, it seems, had been stolen from her home by a tribe of marauding Arabs, and sold to the Caliph without any of her family or friends knowing of her destination. Her father, Hazib, however, discovered her whereabouts, and he it was who had secretly visited his daughter. But Hazib (Mr. C. Fenton) happens unfortunately to be a proscribed outlaw, and dares not declare himself, so has to seek safety in flight ; and rewards are offered for the discovery of the still unknown intruder. Meanwhile Abdallah (Miss E. John stone), the betrothed lover of Camira, has in vain been seeking her. 'Returning home in danger at the loss of his love, whom he believes gone from him for ever, he hears at one and the same moment the proclamation of the offered reward, and the sad tidings that his own father, the ruined Chibib, and his sister Darina, are about to be sold by auction in satisfaction of a debt to a vindictive creditor named Hassan (Miss E. Holt), a rejected suitor of Darina's. Reckless of his own fate, Abdallah, in order to save those so near to him, claims the re ward, denouncing himself as the offender ; and with the money thus obtained discharges his father's debt. Hassan, however, does not choose to he foiled in his spite, so bribing the Cadi to con ceal the fact of the cash having been paid (there being no witnesses to the transaction), he receives from that worthy magistrate a warrant to sell up his debtor's family as though the debt were still owing. Hassan departs triumphantly to execute his warrant, when old Chibib himself enters in search of the Cadi. He wants him immediately to prepare a marriage contract for his daughter Darina. The Cadi sneers at the idea of a girl iu her position dreaming of marriage, and insultingly refuses to attend to Chibib's request until the latter names as the bridegroom " Al-Bondocan," when the Cadi is immediately all abject submission. This name, " Al-Bondocan," the one assumed by the Caliph Haroun when wandering in disguise, is known to his own officers, and to them only. Chibib, however, who is not in the Caliph's secret, attributes the influence of that name to super natural powers possessed by its owner. Throughout the piece all tends to strength this idea. His son Abdullah, whom he has lost, is restored to him, and made happy with the love of Camira. It is the work of Al-Bondocan. His old friend Hazib, the proscribed outlaw, receives the Caliph's pardon ; while his foes, Hassan and the Cadi, are basti nadoed. Al-Bondocan has brought it all about. The secret is kept both from Darina and her father up to the very last, when, amidst public pomp and rejoicings, Chibib finds his daughter made the bride--not of a wizard, but of the Caliph Haroun Alraschid himself. Such, then, is a narrative of the story of the piece. It gives, however, but a faint idea of the subject itself, which is admirably and ably worked out by the author by means of clever and happily conceived jokes and puns, songs, choruses, and dances, all of which combine to effect an ensemble that was highly appreciated by the audience. Miss Swanborough sustained the character of the Caliph with ability, and sang the songs assigned to her with taste and judgment. She was well supported by Miss Newton, Miss Ada Harland, Miss E. Johnstone, and Miss E. [Jolt ; while Mr. Thorne and Mr. James, as the commanders of the Caliph's forces and the Cadi, were as grotesque and as amusing as usual. The scenery, by Mr. Fenton, is of the most characteristic and splendid description ; and the music, composed and arranged by Mr. Frank Mus grave, was most appropriate and telling through out. The dresses are costly and magnificent, and the whole burlesque is placed upon the stage in that unrivalled manner which has gained for this theatre so much celebrity. At the close of the piece the author, who was loudly called for, appeared upon the stage, and bowed his acknowledgments. The comedy of " Kind to a Fault" preceded the extravaganza, and the entertainments were brought to a close with the performance of the laughatile farce of " Nothing to Nurse." uN, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 27, 1867 with the most exquisite appreciation of the ludi crous as well as the truest delineations of those touches of nature which make all men akin. Always humoursome, never vulgar, Mr. Toole is now perhaps the only actor who alter nates between grave and gay, and is equally at home in either. He gave great satisfaction last night, and was called before the curtain at the close of each act. The other characters were well sustained—Mr. L. Brough as Bill Hawkins, Miss Hodson enacting Jane, and Miss Markham grace fully undertaking the tender-hearted and well tried Emily. In the farce of the " Birthplace of Podgers," Mr. Toole made his audience right merry, and gained immense applause. There can be no doubt that in Doing for the Best" Mr. Toole's role of a working man suddenly elevated to wealth was admirably sustained. The complete contrast between the humble artisan and the heir to five thousand a year was perfect. Obvi ously there is a vein of sympathy and of genuine humour, tinged with a minute appreciation of the details of character in humble life, which combine to make Mr. Toole's acting thoroughly unique. To this doubtless he awes the fact that he is so gener ally popular, and one of the most successful actors of his class upon the stage. however, understood his business thoroughly, and introduced so many of the current popular melo dies into the overture that he made the " gods" willing participators in the proceedings of the even ing. They lustily and heartily sang the songs in succession, the whole affair presenting a very ani mated scene. The opening scene of the pantomime introduces us to the Home of Pantomime, where old Father Christmas, sent on a mission from Sadler's Wens, is tracked by Tragedy, Comedy, and Farce, a dramatic " Union" for the overthrow of Panto mime. Father Christmas selects from the nursery stories offered that of " Red Riding Hood," and he is about to depart when he is confronted by the " Union ; but Pantomime calling in the aid of Burlesque, they make a successful stand against their opponents. The cast embraces Miss Alice Dodd, as Prince Hopeful; Mr. Walter Searle, as the Wolf ; Miss Grace Edgar, as Little Red Riding Flood ; Mr. George Fisher, as Cross Patch ; Miss Leigh, as Boy Blue ; Mr. Chester, as Old King Cole; Master Levettez, as Baa Baa Black Sheep ; and Miss Fitzgerald, as the Fairy Queen Progress. Taking the text of the author, it may be fairly said that it is superior to most of such productions. Mr. Cheetham has evidently carefully thought out a consistent plot, and introduces very happily many sparkling passages apropos of current events. The pantomimic group consists of Sylvester, from the Theatre Royal, Manchester, and Opera Comique, Paris, Clown ; Arthur Roby, as Harlequin ; W. Lacy and Tom Robins, as Pantaloons ; Les Freres Costello, as Sprites; Miss Emily Wood, principal dancer from the Theatres Royal, Dublin and Liver pool, as Columbine. " Merry Isiington" may go farther and fare worse in search of a Christmas entertainment than that to be found at home. STRAND. SADLER'S WELLS. At this house a familiar subject is revived. under the title of " Little Red Riding Hood ; or, Harle quin Prince Hopeful, Baa Baa Black Sheei,, and the Cruel Wolf," by Mr. F. G. Cheetl:. m. The piece which preceded it was, as usP . L dt on Boxing night, played almost in dumb how; and judging from the portions we b.^.;41,4 of it, did not deserve any better fate. s . lioconductor of the orchestra, This theatre, always hitherto attractive, has lost nothing of its prestige under the lesseeship of Mr. W. H. C. Nation and the management of Mr. T. L. Greenwood, in whose hands the entertainments catered for " Boxing Night " of 1867 gave to a crowded and fashionably attended house the greatest satisfaction. After the favourite farce of " Racket Court," in which Mr. V. Villiers, as Mr. Cranky man, and Mr. 11. Williams, as Dozyman, kept the house in laughter, notwithstanding the impa tieoce for the pantomime, " harlequin Little Jack Horner, Goody Two Shoes, Oranges and Lemons, and Three Men in a Tub" was produced, and elicited throughout the warmest applause from all parts of the house. The admirable and abiding nursery tale of " Little Jack Horner," known to all adnits_ " children of a larger growth"—and most amusing, to them, is now produced in a manner that is cal culated to prove greatly attractive to children of tender age, numbers of whom, just home for their holidays, were, with their parents, to be seen in the various parts of the theatre. The scenery and trans formation scene, designed and painted by Mr. J. Hicks, reflected great credit on the artistic genius of that talented artist. In one of those scenes, "The Enchanted Workship of Jack-of-All-Trades," Miss Nellie Nisbett as Jack, with his Merry Men, Masters Tag, Rag, and Bobtail, and " All the World and his Wife," excited much laughter. The Abode of the Senses, a series of tableaux represent ing " Sight" (Miss Prettydear), " Hearing" (Miss Sweetsound), " Taste" (Miss Sugarcandy), "Smell ing" (Miss Loverose), and " Touch" or " Feeling" (Miss Taperfiuger), was a most attractive succession of tableaux ; the various representatives of " The Five Senses" having been ushered in in classic cars drawn by cream-coloured and other attractive ponies ; and added to the charm of the equestrian procession were one hundred ladies of the corps de ballet, pleasing companions of the Senses, by whom an elegantly-appointed and admirably-exe cuted ballet was executed, elicited from all parts of the house enthusiastic applause. Among the various scenic productions the exterior of the dwelling of Little Goody Two Shoes, on St. Valentine's Day ; Nobody's House ; the Retreat of Mother Red Cap, on Hedgehog Heath; the Travellers' Rest, on the road to Fairy Land ; and the Enchanted Bramble Bush, elicited much applause ; but the grand crown ing scene—" The Transformation"—already al luded to, the Blooming of the Wildbriar, as it has been poetically designated in the bill, invented and painted by Mr. Julien Hicks, evoked the most rap turous applause. Dazzling beyond description, and abounding in beautiful and varied attractions, a more charming composition could not well be con ceived. Mr. Hicks was called for from all parts of the house, and was greeted on his appearance with 'cheering and encouraging plaudits. In this scene Mr. Harry Collier acquitted himself as an admirable Harlequin, Miss Carrie Collier (Goody Two Shoes) was transformed into Columbine, a part in which she won distinction and received applause; Mr. Car roll played Pantaloon with a due appreciation of the amusing character ; and Seymour and Signor Bevaui proved themselves agile and humorous Clowns. The harlequinade was admirably con trived, and full of fun, frolic, and humour. Though last, not least, and specially deserving of notice, the house, filled in all parts, was pleased throughout the entertainments ; and Mr. Nation's attractive pantomime is likely to have a long and a successful run. NEW ROYAL A3IPIIITHEATRE. This beautiful theatre, lately opened at High Holborn, was last night visited by a large and respectable audience to witness the equestrian per formances produced under the management of Messrs. Thomas M'Collum and William Charman. The programme for the entertainment was copious and varied, and several eminent artists, American and English, entered the arena in competition with one another for equestrian renown. Among the principal performers we may mention with admira tion the names of Mr. James Robinson and his son Clarence, whose daring exploits fill the mind with astonishment approaching to terror ; Messrs. Dele vanti, Keith, the Brothers Bell, and Madlle. Virginie Troost. Descending to the inferior ani mals, two comic mules are especially deserving of notice for their aptitude in knowing thoroughly what they are required to do and how they ought to do it, and managed by two clowns (Messrs. Conrad and North), who fully understand their mules and are suitably appreciated in return. Mr. Robinson's equestrian exploits were of the most surprising kind. His difficulty seemed to be not to keep on the horse but how to fall off him. He was con tinually placing himself in the most difficult posi tions to preserve anything like a connexion between him and the quadruped, but it was of no conse quence on what part of the animal he placed him self, or how he did so, there seemed to be a sort of magnetism between the horse and the rider that established an unbroken connexion between them. The entertainments of the evening gave universal satisfaction. ASTLEY'S THEATRE. VICTORIA THEATRE. At this theatre—lately under the lesseeship of Messrs. Frampton and Fenton, and now under that of Mr. J. Arnold Cave, who has had it painted externally, and has improved it in its internal decorations and arrangements, imparting to it a new and attractive appearance—a highly amusing pantomime was last night produced for the entertainment of the frequenters and patrons of the house, whose name is " legion." The pantomime is entitled " Charles the S..'cond and Pretty Nell Gwynn° ; or, Harlequin Oliver Crom well and the Little Fairies of the Enchanted Oak," from the pen of Mr. Robert Soutar, the popular comedian. The house was crowded in all parts, the utmost order prevailed ; and the pantomime, in the pro duction of which at considerable cost Mr. Cave has been engaged some months, was throughout well received, and is likely to have a long and compensa tory run. The entertainments concluded with the admired romantic drama of " The Wandering Boys." POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.—This institution has this year put forward a strong holiday programme, which we have no doubt will be duly appreciated by the public, for nowhere are instruction and amuse ment more happily combined. Abyssinia is a subject which must interest every one just now, and the lecture by Mr. Thomas Baines is both popular and exhaustive. Professor Pepper's lecture on Fara day's discoveries and their results, in which he shows up the sb-called spiritual manifestations, and introduces the celebrated ghost effects, is also well worthy of attention. But the chief attraction for the juvenile visitors will be found in Mr. Darner Cape's musical entertainment of " The Babes in the Wood," with the excellent dioramic scenery for which the Polytechnic has been so long celebrated, and which has never been exhibited with greater area than at present. Then there arc Mr. Mat thews in " Modern Magic," Dugwar the Indian juggler, ventriloquism by Madlle. Carvalho, the Automatic Leotard, and a host of other amuse ments, so that it is no wonder that the performances are highly attractive to sightseers. EGYPTIAN HALL.—Those who wish to "drive du . care away" have only to visit the performance o Mr. Maccabe, and they cannot fail to succeed in their endeavours, at least so long as they were in the company of that gentleman, whose " Begone dull care" continues to attract large audiences, and appeared yesterday to be fully up to the mark for exciting the risibility of the holiday folk. Mr. Maccabe gave two performances yesterday, and will continue to do so daily until the close of the year. Sir Rowland the Rough 'Un must be seen to be ap preciated. ST. JAMES'S HALL.—London would scarcely be complete at holiday times without its professor of magic, whether he be a wizard from the north, south, east, or west, or whatever designation he may choose to take. The gentleman, who, hailing from this hall, crow appeals to the public to witness his marvel of magic appears to ignore all adventi tious aid, and merely announces himself as Rubiui. M. Rubini, however, is in no way inferior to his predecessors, his tricks are deftly and neatly per formed, and, in "beheading a lady," he is tho roughly at home, eliciting, on each representation, marked expressions of wonder and alarm. TuE OXFORD.—Herr Lutz's cantata of " King Christmas," with Miss Fitzhenry, Miss Russell, Mr. Green, and Mr. Fox in the principal parts ; the duet from " The Stabat Mater," " Quis est Homo,' , and Gounod's sacred song " Nazareth," to Mr. Chor ley's words, constituted one portion of the enter tainments on Christmas-eve. Miss Fitzlieury and Miss Russell were encored in the duet and in " Nazareth." Mr. Alfred Stodare's "Magic and Mys tery," the herculian feats of a new artist from the Paris Hippodrome ; two mock parliamentary speeches from Mr. Foster ; and some highly relished comic singing from Messrs. Sydney, Rickards, and French, constituted another part of the programme. Auber's overtures to " Fra Diavolo " and "Le Cheval de Bronze" were well performed by a band of 30 musicians, under the vigorous baton of Mr. Jonghmans. Last night the principal variation in the programme was the substitution of " Orphee aux Enfers" for the cantata. In this selection ap peared Miss Russell, Miss Fitzhenry, Messrs. De Brenner, Fox, and R. Green. Mr. Jonghmans and M. Bury also gave with effect the grand duet from Adolf Adam's comic opera, " Le Chalet," and the entertainments gave general satisfaction. MADAME TUSSAUD'S.—Among the various exhi bitions in the metropolis there are not many more interesting or attractive than Madame Tussaud's gallery of distinguished and historical characters in Baker-street, Portman-square. The exte nsive rooms have been redecorated with much splendour, and the ancient and modern court dresses are of a costly description. In fact, the exhibition for very many years has rested its claim to public patronage on being one of the finest, most complete, and best managed of its kind in the world. The collection Contains more than 200 celebrated characters, and among the line of the Kings and Queens of Eng land, from the time of William the Conqueror, a* new portrait mold of her Majesty t.as been added; also, life-size, of their Royal Highnesses the Princesses Helena, Louise, and Beatrice, the Duke of Cambridge, and Princess Mary. There is likewise a commemorative figure of the Prince Con sort, illustrative of his royal highness being th e originator of the International Exhibition. M any other additions have been made, and among them are the Sultan of Turkey, the Viceroy of Egypt, the Emperor Maximilian, Theodore, King of Abys sinia, &c. Apart from the portrait figures theme never has been a collection which contained so many curious objects of interest, and even Paris does not possess more significant mementoes of the revolution from the knife of the first guillotine to the key of the Bastille, and probably all France does not con tain such a number of valuable and interesting relics as are to be found illthe " Napoleon Room," MARYLEBONE. At this theatre, new under the entire manage ment of Mr. Albert Montgomery, a pantomime was produced called " Little 80-Peep who Lost Her Sheep ; or, Harlequin Jack, and the Ogre of the Brazen Castle." This old and well-known estab- lishtnent has passed, as stated, into new hands, and has been embellished, decorated, and painted by the new proprietor. The pantomime itself, as one may guess from its name, is founded on an old nursery rhyme well-known to most of us, and mixed up with associations that few would be willing to forget. It was written expressly for this theatre by Frederick Maccabe, Esq., and, though got up at a very short notice, is really a piece of great merit, and was put upon the stage with surprising ability and success. The entertainments of the evening concluded with the drama of " Mich tel Earle." NE A' ROYALTY. The travestie of " Black-eyed Susan" has now triumphantly passed through its second Christmas, and " Pretty See-USACI don't say no" having been trebly encored nightly, last evening attline 1 the distinguished honour of having been sung . for the 1,312 th time. Miss M. Oliver, Mr. Dow‘ar, and Mr. Danvers have thus accomplished a vocal feat, which may hereafter be associated in sporting chronicles with the thousand miles which were walked in a thousand hours by Captain Barclay. The other entertainments consisted of the comedy of "Humbug" and tho farce of " Highly Impro bable." ST. JAMES'S. The entertainments last night included Mr. Stir ling Coyne's comedy of " A IVidow Hunt," in which Mr. John S. Clarke, the American comedian, played the militia Major Wellington de Boots for the 62d time, the old interlude of " is he Jealous ?" and the still older sketch of " Fifteen Years of La bour Lost." Mr. Clarke continues his performances for four nights longer, and on Wednesday next Miss Herbert makes her first appearance this season. A new comedy, by Mr. Craven, called " The Needful," in which the author will perform, is to be produced on the occasion. PRINCE OF WALES'S. Mr. Dion Boucicault's five-act comedy of " I-Tow She Loves Him," with its whimEical situations and brilliant dialogue, served last evening to well enter tain a holiday audience. Some judicious modifica tions have increased the effect of the piece, and the excellent acting of Miss Marie Wilton, Mss Lydia Foote, Mrs. Leigh Murray, Mr. Hare, and Mr. Montague, was fully appreciated by the auditory. One of the most prominent characters in the comedy is unquestionably the aristocratic Beecher Sprawley, so admirably acted by Mr. Bancroft, that no amount of praise which could be bestowed on the assumption would exceed the commendation justly its due. A faithful study from life, kept carefully free from exaggera tion, and preserving all the characteristics of a man of good family, though the younger son of the Earl is not remarkable for nobility of conduct, the part so strongly individualised by Mr. Bancroft will be always remembered to the advantage of the actor. Mr. Buckstone's merry comedietta of " A Dead Shot," with Mr. George Honey as Hector Timid, and Miss L. Foote as Louisa Lovetrick, commenced the evening, and Mr. Maddison Morton's untiring farce of " Box and Cox," with Mr. George Henry and Mr. Hare as the joint occupiers of the same apartment, brought the performances to a brisk conclusion. MISCELLANEOUS. entirely filled as it now is with souvenirs of the great Emperor. The celebrated military carriage, the state.,.carriage, and other carriages used at the coronation at Milan, and the last carriage he ever entered, used during Napoleon's exile in St. Helena, the camp bed on which he died, the cloak worn at the battle of Marengo, and the coro nation robes, are also among the especial, attractions in the " Golden Chamber." The " Chamber of Horrors" contains the leading characters of the last 20 years who have covered themselves with guilt, and the latest addition is the model portrait of Frederick Baker, who was executed last Tuesday for the horrible murder ;t Alton. Yesterday the gallery was crowded with visitors. ZoOLOGICIL GARDENS.—Regent's-park is not specially inviting :It this period of the year, yet these gardens were not yesterday without their attractions, notwithstanding the unfavourable wea- trier for out-door amusements. The attendance was fair, and the walrus appearei to have marked claims on the attention of the juvenile visitors. THE .1100IIS AND GROUSE DISEASE. In consequence of the failure of the past grouse season to a great extent on many of the best and most important moors of Perthshire, fears were en tertained that no shooting could be enjoyed next year. It seems, however, from reports we have re cently received, that on some extensive moors where Le distemper had apparently scarcely left a bird in the end of August a good many grouse have lately been seen ; and the birds seem healthy, in fine plu mage, and good cendition. On the extensive grounds of Drummond Castle, especially, which were thinned to a great extent by the malady, grouse again appear to be pretty numerous ; and unless disease again appears during the spring months, or the birds suffer from the storms of winter, there will be a much larger stock for breeding than many anticipated two months ago. We learn also that on the moors where the distemper broke out first, it was most deadly, and in spreading from moor to moor it became less virulent. At Glenalmond and Cannachan the greater part of the birds fell victims before the malady appeared on the neighbour ing hill of Monzie, and then disease extended gradually westward, and appeared but to a very limited extent on a range west from Glenturret. The accounts from all the moors stretching from Auchuafree to Aberfeldy in the north to Due keld in the north-east, are more favourable in regard to the stocks of grouse than many predicted; and in several instances the effects of sportsmen con fining themselves to the shooting of only the old birds are now to be seen in a pretty fair stock of grouse, though the birds in many places are at least from 60 to 70 per cent. fewer than at this time last year. It seems that numerous sportsmen are about to get up a movement to change the opening day for grouse shooting from the 12th to the 20th of August, for the experience of the last few years has shown that, generally speaking, the birds at ,the 12th have invariably been too small in size to kill, and consequently in many instances little was done at shooting the young birds till near the end of the month. The reports now all show that the distemper which devastated so many moors has disappeared in the meantime; but many are looking forward with anxiety to the spring months, when it may appear as it did the two last sea sons. In some places, however, the malady pre vailed more or less from the spring of 1866 up to a recent date. The sportsmen have now all left their shooting lodges for the season, after enjoying unprecedentedly good sport at the moun tain hare shooting and other kinds of game. In the Crieff district of the county the rental of the several moors where no shooting took place, owing to the scarcity of grouse, amounted to about £5,000. Some notices have been published by us, on what we understood to be reliable information, to the effect that the present scarcity of pheasants and partridges on the Drummond Castle estates was attributab!e to the great destruction of these birds during the previous season. We have been requested to state, on authority, the exact number of these birds killed during the season 1866-6 7 / namely : —Phemants, 357 ; partridges, 390. When the vast extent of the coverts and cultivated ground on this estate is kept in view, the above small pro portion of these birds killed one season cannot be considered excssive, and the probability is that the great destruction complained of on this estate among these birds took place in the months of June and July last from natural causes, from which few estates in the district were exempt.—Scotsman. Foreign ilail l'actet List, MAILS DIIE. .ustralla and New Zealand, via Southampton.— .Jan. 1 9 Ditto, via Marseilles ..., .... ..Jan. 1 3 . Ditto, via Panama Dec. 3 0 . drazit, Buenas Ayres, and Avec Video Jan. 5. Ditto. by French packet Capc Verds. by Brazil packet .... _ J An. 5 . ;ape of Good ave. A.acenaion. and it. lielena Del ' 23 .;hina, Penang. and Singapore, via Sou:hampton Jan. 3 Ditto, via Marseilles .. Falkland Islands ilbraltar, via Southampton Dec 20 . India. via Southampton . .... ... Dec. 29 Ditto, via Marseil es . ...D . 0 . 23 Malta, ttypt, &a. Ditto, Aarseilles Dec. 2S. Mauritius, Caps of Good Hope, and Natal, via Southampton . Jamb , bat ), Janet les Jan. 13 ewfoundlai.c Portugal ... . Jan. 5 Ditto, by pi • to ship to Oporto .. Ditto tto to Lisbon United &tates. ithada, California, &c., uy British •acket Dec. = 6 t;itto, by l tited tates packet Ditto ditto New York; D:tto ditto Nov York) Ditto ditt' (Baltimore) ....... . ..... Ditto, by Canadian packet .... West Coast of Airs Madeira, and Teneriffe......Jan. 3 Wert Indies and Pacific (except Mexico and Baha mas) Cabs and uexico Dec. 3° ' Baha.nas, via New York lierinuda. via Halifax The Price of Gold. The course of exchange at New York on London for at 60 days' sight is about 1109 per cent. At this rat e ther ! is no profit on the importatioa.ot gold from the Unite" States. Toe quotation of gold at Paris is about at par , and the short exchange on London is 25f. 15c. per £1 sterl ing : c)inparing these rates with the English Mint pr ice o f Z 3 Witt. per ounce for standard gold, it appear s tha gold is about 1-;oth per cent. dearer in Paris than in Lon don. billo [ADVERTISEMENT.] --Holloway's Pills.—With the ad vance of autumn the mornings and evenings becor:l3 chilly, stop the late free action of the skin, and give se h e to disorders of the lungs, liver, or bowels. Under sue s circumstances, prevention should be looked for as well IL' cure. The firsi symptoms of cough, disturbed stoma; or deranged bowels, should b 3 removed by judicious d°:. 3 1 ,. of these pills—the very finest alteratives, which act w! , O certainty and success on any organ in which faulty ac ti l l exists, whether it be perceptible or unknown. Acti n h g n ie gentle aperients, Holloway's Pills strengthen the system, increase the appetite, improVe the digestion, r the gulate the bowels, exhilarate the spirits, and exped ite circulation of pure, healthy blood. Births. HAzLErr —On the 19th inst., at Addison-road, Kensington; tho wife of W. Carew Hazlett, barrister- a t-law, ° son. SCOONES —On Christmas-eve, at Wimbledon, Mrs. Scoones, of a daughter. WESTON—On the 25th inst., at Beryl() House, rtot l P e n ll- park, the wife of Robert W. G. Weston, Esq., o f i t 51 ' • Marriages. iforr —KTA:G.- On the 24th inst., at the British Effibtlsge Paris, liardloy-Wilmot Blomefield Holt, only sou of Rev. Eardley Chauucy Ilult, of 8 Burwood-placo, 125""° park, so Julia, eldest daughter of 1;5(1 Christian King , .' late of Kensington. r ist HEMSTED —CODDINGTON- On the 19th inst., at I) ", a Church, Kin thury, Bork 2, Stephen, eldest s on of SteP'.ll,e sn Ifested, E-(4., of Newbury, to Blanch Martha, the 0.117. daughter of the late Major Cuddington, o f the 40111 ziment. Deaths. r. A A BALFOUR—On the 24th inst , Charles John B alfour, Ro LA yal Navy, second son of • Charles Balfour , Esql HALaETT—On the 22d inst at Little Bookh atu, pit daughter of Sir John llalkett, fourth Baronet of firrane, Fife, aged 90. ORME—Oa the 20th iust , George 0 me, Esq., Worihiug, aged 71. • -Or WAT.I.IN—On the 20th inst., at Chatfield Souse, rt l° ' ' Mr. Robert S. Watlin, aged t 33. Ili g WHITE -On the 24th just. at at 7 Brixton-rise„Atle,.6 Jackson White, Esq late . Manager of the city -, aged 63. Broadivatert - - ____--- , r , r 3, O , London : Printed and Published by WILLI-A 2 NI A'" ---- 02. of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TRH SUN Office, No " of Strand, in the Precinct of tho 59707, in the COE Middlesoz.=-Ericlay, Dumber 27, 1887. Ae LIJN( Higl &c. p BENT 0 On a Part. to jj 1 1 ,11 twill avid ix Wale w Forms AR This !moving by Me: for h© Solo C lII' A Li ABYSc Engl zn Boxing Is. ; ch M J added In the the m e Years Dur TION ENFI Prix Ilenr3 Pull I llessr, CO2' TER, RICH &two i Mr. day n( STOI Pril raenad Full Plu y to Plaer spec incnt, in the at Mitc St. Jan o'clock -41; Prize : It le Solt the Ai 01321 han's ~r ; Pi7)(111 10s. 6, 248, prep ai raoyi n 248,13 ,Il 4 , 9.c1iel 2 8.6 d --Rae effect. Ittia kti,r ap TAB, ,3, 28.9 d. 248 , Ei I . 4 "erl da 114 oc, 248 , , ~,.....":1 Pea kutd GF] Thi/ t hshod Li . Ban Kees c 11'3 il - t7,1 , Aid It the No. ..,._,_. _lltAl Mth , ea st tui ve I)ZCi