The Sun. — London, England, 1849-04-10 00:00:00

of Mrs. Bryant, who has shown her unexampled kind ne:•s and attentiJn. An application has been made by the magistrates to Sir George Grey, to appoint the execution for 21onday, instead of Saturday, on account of the injury which business will sustain, if allowed to take place on mar ket-day. No answer from the Right llon. Baronet has yet been received. MAGAZEN ES-(CON TINUED). D 0 L HAN. _ Out of all the articles published in the April num ber of this periodical we Eelect one for especial and conspicuou s mention. We hail its appearance with a sort of rapture, exulting, as we do, in the exposure of as huge a piece of humbug as ever Fulled a few su perstitious old women into dismay. 1 . e famous pro phecies or Orval—the renowned previsions of the re cluse of Orval—about which there was so much fuss lately—have been proved to constitute a gigantic sham. Louis, the Lord Bishop of Verdun, writing to his Metropolitan, asserts that he has personally questioned the author of this gross imposture —and, says he, "If I have had the sorrow of stating that a priest had the misfortune of sinning in so weighty a mstter against the Laws of truth, 1 am happy to add, my Lord, that I have also had the consolation of receiving from the mouth of the guilty one a complete avowal of his fault. lie told me, in fact, that the little book said to have been printed at Lux embourg in 1544 had never existed, except in his imag nation." So that this bubble that had swollen to such vast proportions, and had affrighted so many thou sands in Christendom, 1 - is burst ! We are glad of it. So perish the influence of all false prophets, be they Presbyterian clergymen of London or Jesuit missionaries of Poictiers ! THE JOURNAL OF DESIGN. In its second number, now just published, this novel candidate for public favour among periodicals developes its utility. When the Journal of Design has been matured in its arrangements, we doubt not that its merits will be very generally recognised. THE BELLE ASSEMBLEE. The Belle Assemblee for this month contains an interesting portrait of Scott's most interesting heroine, Jeanie Deans. Among the literary contents of this ladies' magazine, which, under the able auspices of Mrs. Newton Crosland, is always well provided, we have been especially attracted by a little tale by Eliza beth Youatt—" Helen's Trial." The merit of this tale is its paactical utility. The heroines of romance, whether of a three-volumed novel or of a magazine tale of three pages, are almost invariably beautiful and as invariably perfect. It is not so with Miss Youatt's heroine. Helen, with a good heart and many estimable qualities, has a bad temper, by no means "an estimable thing in woman." 'We tran scribe, as a warning to all whom it rrrty concern, a most eventful passage in Helen's life. One summer's day Luke Howard, to whom she is deeply attached,. goes to Helen's cottage to ask her to be lais wife. On his way be meets her brother, who tells him she is engaged with Biddy, her mantua-maker : " Luke sat down on the wooden bench just outside the little rose-covered cottage, waiting until Biddy should go away ; and the sounds of strife which came through the open casement bad little in harmony 'with the perfect stillness of that sweet summer day. Thoee few moments changed the whole current of her destii ty. Presently Biddy came out pale and tearful—the velvet boddice was spoiled. Helen followed, with a to.7rent of angry worth ; and she and Luke stood face to ftice. There was a long silence, and she felt faint and sick at heart, and almost lunged for the earth to open and swallow her up." THE PUPPET SHOW. Part XII. This facetious gentleman with the black eye has now been dancing his puppets to the amusement of her Majesty's lieges during a whole twelvemonth. His pen and pencil are as merry and loquacious as ever. SoMetimes his voice, instead of preserving the comical squeak of a penny trumpet, sounds clear and mellow, like a cavalry bugle sounding to horse and battle. • Hear him sing of THE SWORD OF LIBERTY. " The Sword of Liberty is Reason, Reason, fearless, pure, and grand; • Tyrents quake and mutter treason, When they sce the glorious brand. The Sword of Liberty is Reason, Sharp it is and shining bright; And will cut its way in season, To the truth and to the right." Hear him again, like a sharp-witted fellow, gibes us, of course in his gibus, with hints as to-- " The best season fi)i. gold digging.—When you are in the vein;" or irreverently call " Chateaubriand's Posthumous Memoirs—A dead sell." The illustrations are as =Ruing as the letter-press. THE BANKERS'. Our excellent contemporary fully maintains in the present number the high character it has already at tained. The first paper is a clear and well-written article on "The Influence of a Convertible Paper Currency," which completely upsets the fallacies of those who support the restrictions on banking intro duced by the Act of 1844. There is also a notice of the new " British Bank," by means whereof it is in tended to introduce the Scotch system of banking into the metropolis. The concluding portion of the article is worthy of notice. It says, " Such, briefly stated, are our views in respect of the consti tution, and prospects of the British Bank. It comes into the world in the twenty-fourth year of joint-stock banking in England, and ht.s, therefore, the instructive experience of that period to direct its course by. We hope and believe that that course will be a prosperous one, and therefore we bid the adventurers welcome. Under a wise direction and an able management it cannot fail to take a prominent rank amongst the great banking establishments of the country." We miss the letters of Thomas Bul lion, which in a pleasing style conveyed much sound information to the banking community. The sug gested " Code of Instructions" for the guidance of the officers at the branches of a joint-stock bank will, however, prove a good substitute. Additional light is thrown on the Savings Banks question by the paper " on the recent frauds at the Brighton and Margate Savings Banks," which prove that defalcations and mismanagement, in these valuable institutions, are not peculiar to Ireland. The most interesting article, however, is the " Review of the Practical Working of the Act of 1844," which shows how utterly inadequate that mischievous statute has proved for the evils it was intended to remedy, and exposes its injurious results with a master hand. There is also a variety of useful information on various sulijects. The paper " On Banking and Commercial Law" is also viorthy of notice. THE MIRROR. The opening article of the Mirror is entitled "The Champions of Privilege," and is a regular " smasher" of Mr. Charles Macfarlane, who, from being a book seller's back, has turned cad to the King of Naples, whose character he admires (Mr. MacFarlane is a gentleman of peculiar tastes), and whose atrocities he attempts to justify. This literary flunkey gets a most unmerciful lashing in the Mirror. It was richly deserved, and is well laid on. " The Adventures of a French Republican," by Percy B. St. John, are continued, and th e chapters contained in the present number are peculiarly valuable, as exposing the in trigues by which Guizot, Thiers, Mole, De Mon talivet, and Odilon Barrot took advantage of the simplicity of Lafayette (as they are now endeavouring to do of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte), in order, " for a consideration," to escamoter the Republic to the advantage of the Orleans dynasty. Hargrave Jen nings' " Mirror of the Month" is overflowing with poetry, as is Blanchard Jerrold's dissertation on a " Man with One Opinion" with quaintness. The other papers are of more than average merit, and the present number of the Mirror may be considered as an improvement upon its predecessors. THE QUARTERLIES. THE ZOIST. The present number of this quarterly journal of mesmeric science contains a narrative of a cure of blindness by means of mesmerism, which is, if pos sible, even more remarkable than the cure of cancer recorded in a former number of this periodical, to which we directed the public attention some months since. In that case the operator was Dr. Elliotson, , and therefore the mesmerism a. in that instance applied with all the knowledge of therapeutical science which hard study and long practice cannot but give i to the professional man ; but n the present instance the me smer i sm was appliedby a lad, a near ycon flexion of a very distinguished prelate, whose rank and station and high character are such guarantees her s i ncer it y as t o pu t t o s il en ce the sceptics of who, in the case of a person of less elevated rank,might in. dulge in scoffs. The following is the narrative of this most extraordinary case : "It is now more than three years since one of the members of my family undertook to mesmerise a poor blind woman in o u r v illa g e, with a view of attempting to restore her sight ; but with the professed and imme diate design only o f re li ev i ng severe p a i n i n th e head arid shoulder, with confusion and giddiness of the brain, which had long distressed her. She was aged about forty-five 3 ears, and had been blind twenty-six of these. She wes horn and bred in our village, and when I first noticed her sixteen years ago, as " the blind woman," she was led abo u t b y a little girl, one of her nieces. She could with one eye faintly discern light front darkness, so far at least as to perceive shadows passing before her; but she could not judge of their distance, or walk with out stumbling over every object in her way, neither could the discern colour or form. She would mistake a donkey for a man, the undefined shade being all that she saw. The disease was called opacity of the cornea. "She became blind three or four after birth of her first elift-1, • !''. caught, partly thr oug h t h e painful rtiLeiiks h:cit nl,- I ' ll o women i n t h e ne i g hb our h ood had recommended to her. In the course of a few years after she became blind she underwent three operations ; one eye " was cut," to use her own expression, three times; and on om of these occasions she saw a flash of light before the bandage was put on. When the last operation was per formed (which took place she thinks about twenty years ago), the surgeon advised her never to undergo another, for that her sight was quite gone. _ _ H She had t;Vo children ii,f((r she became blind. The appearance of the eyes was this; a thick, opaque, grey ish white substance rested upon them, but in one eye there was a small spot less opaque, or at least thinner than the rest, through which, when she held her head in a particular direction, she could perceive the shadows I have alluded to. "When her case was undertaken, the intention of operating for the benefit of the eyes was not, as I have said, made known to her ; the expectation of relieving severe rheumatic pain in the head and shoulders, and giddiness and heaviness of the head, under which she had suffered for many years, was the only one held out to her. Of mesmerism, it may be supposed, she knee nothing ; but, having implicit confidence in us, and, being told that we thought we could relieve pain by placing a hand on her head and then drawing it down to her feet, she willingly consented to sit down. "At first she felt only a cold trill run down her arms;' soon she expressed her surprise that she could sit so still, being habitually very restless; by degrees she became sleepy, and, while apologising for feeling so drowsy, and striving for a few minutes to resist the in fluence, she fell asleep. It was efferently a natural sleep. On awaking, she said that a great weight had been ris from her head,' and that ‘.the pain was gone.' " The mesmerism was continued daily; but still with the professed intention of improving her health. No thing was said about the sight, lest expectation should lead to disappointment. In the course of a little time, however, during one of her sittings, she said that she saw something bright and coloured pass before her. It was found to be her mesmeriser's ring; and this cir cumstance encouraged us to feel and to make known to her a strong hope that her eyesight might be partially, at least, restored. " She was, at this time, mesmerised daily (with seve ral interruptions of a day or two) for four months, and then three times a week for about two or three months longer, using mesmerised water also to wash the eyes. At this period the strength of her mesmeriser became ex hausted by her exertions,* so that she was obliged to discontinue them, and I took up the case. By this time, however, the poor woman's sight was partially restored; she could see colours in the shop windows and walk into town unassisted. Her sleep became less like natural sleep at this time. She saw vivid colours in the dark when I passed my hand before her eyes, and light seemed to stream from them. She also conversed freely in her sleep. " Since the above period, health and other circum stances have serenewhat interfered with the treatment of our patient. I mesmerised her at first three times a week, and afterwards twice, with the exception of about three morals in each year (during which I was absent), down to the present time—December, 1848—the whole period being about three years and five months since the case was undertaken; two years and eight months of which the mesmerism was going on only twice a week. During this period the outward manifestations of change in the symptoms of the eyes were, first that she could close them, whereas she had never since her blindness been able to close the lids over them, even during natural sleep; secondly, that water frequently poured from them after mesmerising, whereas they used to be perfectly dry; and, thirdly, that the opaque substance which covered them, first became thinner over the upper part of the eye and thinker beneath, and gradually a small portion of the pupil became visible. " The present state of the eyes (dated Dec., 1848) is this:—the opacity of the cornea in one eye has disap peared, leaving, at least, only a slight cloudiness in ono spot, which does not prevent her seeing with it as well as other women of her age; in the other eye, the opacity is very much contracted and occupies only a small space in the bottom part of the eye, leaving the upper part clear. She surprised us, about eight months ago, by spelling out the letters stamped on a glass bottle, which a person present, not much older, could not read without glasses; and this is the more remarkable, because she had never been a good scholar,• and had been twenty-three years without seeing a letter until a short time previously, when she had begun to amuse herself, first ; with reading the large letters on the printed bills fixed to the walls, and after terwards in a book. She can now work in the common way, but not thread her needle, though she can see the eye of it perfectly, which I attribute partly to want of practice, and that it is a habit so early acquired that we are not aware of its difficulty when attempted at a later age. She cuts out her caps, walks into town (four miles) alone to make her little purchases, and performs all the ordinary occupations of life. And these things are the more remarkable in her, seeing that she was extremely awkward i❑ everything she attempted, and had never performed for hei self any of those little offices which blind people are usually taught to accomplish, and had always a child to assist and lead her about excepting in her own immediate locality, where the people knew her and got out of her way." TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD JOHN RUSSELL, M.P., &c., &c., &e. Mr Lord,—Your Lordship was pleased to inform the Irish Members, " that as soon as the views of the Cabinet had been sufficiently matured, the Go vernment plan should he stated in the House of Com mons." I trust your Lordship only means to give a general outline, and not to attempt entering into the details; for it would be just as unwise to do so, as it would have been to have given Sir Charles Napier instructions how he was to conduct the campaign in the Punjaub. Nona who have not studied the question can pro perly appreciate the difficulties necessarily attendant upon carrying out the Government plans, if these two ends are to be attained : first, that the advances to.be.made shall employ the greatest number of per sons in the distressed unions ; secondly, that such advances shall be repaid. I will now enumerate a few of the most important questions which will inevitably arise. First, to what extent, and in what manner, should the unions be parties ? It is clear that enormous benefit will be conferred on landlords in those districts in which the Government advances are spent, whose land is to be benefited by arterial drainage, and upon what conditions. Is the work to be performed in those unions where the distress is greatest and the rates highest ? There is a premium held out to neighbouring unions to qualify themselves for such assistance. Is the work to be performed in those unions where the distress is least and poor-law light in consequence of the exer tion of landlords ? Then the object of Parliament will not be answered, and the distressed unions will not be relieved. Is the work to be performed by Government—by the union—by landlords—or by individuals contract ing with these parties ? Keeping in view the fact, that the labourers in these unions are in an emaciated and demoralized condition, in consequence of their having for some time received the minimum of food without the performance of any work, the solution of this question will be no easy task. It is difficult to estimate the loss a contractor would incur by employing labourers incapable, or unwilling to work, but the loss to a union would be fur greater, and that to the Government immense; and, then, if you resolve to avail yourselves of individual sagacity and hopefulness, another important question arises. If the works are to be carried on with that rapi dity which is one of the elements of success, then other labourers besides those of the union will be temporarily required. The work completed, and then—what ? If, on the other hand, these works are only to be carried on so as to absorb the surplus labour in the distressed unions, then the repayment of the advances will be in jeopardy. All these questions are most important, and their proper solution requires a master mind—such the Government have in Lord Clarendon, and the task is worthy of his powers. Place, therefore, in his hands the working of the measures, and success is morally certain. Attempt to define the details by Act of Parliament, and prepare for failure—the money of the industrious classes wasted—the condition of the Irish people hardly improved—and universal discon tent both there and in England. Employ no commissioners, whether amateur or paid. Bentham said that Government boards were only screens. Government commissioners are some thing worse ; all the good they can do is far better done by employees, who, in fact, usually perform the work. A careful perusal of these difficulties, and others which will suggest themselves, will naturally recal to your Lordship's mind your first project, viz., the reclamation of waste lands, which Sir Robert Peel accom plished l re attendantchose -to d e f eat. H ow much easier to be Howcomparatively o f t re e e r of the o difficulties measu res! w much more beneficial to the Irish people! For in the reclamation of waste lands it is not pos sible to perform the work in a short period ; every year requires more and more labour, and that of all descriptions; the comparatively feeble, women and children, useless in the formation of railroads or of arterial drainage, would be usefully employed. When the railroad is completed, the arterial drainage finished, will it not be then even as now ? These cannot be repeated, but a successful reclamation of waste land would have been followed to an enormous extent, and even when co mpleted would still furnish much employment for the people. However, truth is just, and will prevail ; and a ssuredly the reclamation of waste land will be o ne of but in my next the objects of a wise Gover nment ; letter I will venture to sugg est a mode which would, I think, assist in carrying out Government measures, e d, to on and give to Lord Clarendon the best possible which to form his judgment. I have the honour to remain, Your Lordship's most obedient servant, Corwar, Ayril, 1849. RIGBY WASON. • - She suffered exceedingly in consequence of her ex ertions; and I mention the circumstance with the view Cf clutioning young Tu against undertaking chronic 0" - Y :1 7 ;2 m't•ived at the posse , :sion of their . • ••7 , d : Vt'aS h,Jself, StiluU to health by mesmerism, which the skiliol phy sician who attended her was wise enough to prescribe and kind enough to afford. EASTER AMUSEMENTS. THE THEATRES. HAYIITARKET The brothers Brough will soon reign supreme monarchs of the realms of rollicking, side - splitting burlesques. Planche's burlesques are elegant, grace • ful, and witty—we enjoy his drawing-room wit and smile, but for a hearty laugh that shall convulse the midriff and drive away spleen, commend us to the brothers Brough. Their new burlesque, entitled The Sphinx, which Was produced last evening, is a drollery of the moat mirth-exciting character. True to his origi nal nature, Keeley, the perfectly original Billy Black, is the Sphinx, "a singular being, curious in more ways than one, of an inquiring mind and an obliging dispo sition." His costume, his manner, his complaints, and his riddles are all rich and unctuous exceedingly, and when he came forward at the conclusion to speak the tag he was received with shouts of applause and laughter. Mrs. Keeley was Mercury, and she acts the part of Chorus after the fashion not of ancient Greece, but of defunct Barticmy fair, describing the peculiar appearance and natural proportions of the Sphinx after the most approved showman fashion. James Bland as Adelpates, alias Croon, was the most magnificent of monarchs; anti Miss Reynolds as Jocasta, the prettiest of heroines. The CEdipus of Miss P. Horton was excellent. She sung her songs with exquisite taste and humour. She is now the hero, par excellence, of burlesques. No one can approach Miss P. Horton in this peculiar line. The scenery, by Mr. P. Phillips, was exceedingly beau tiful, the dresses were superb, and the whole was admirably put upon the stage. At the conclusion, after the principal artistes had been called on, there was a loud call for the authors, who appeared and bowed their thanks. We predict for the Sphinx a long career of popularity. The burlesque was pre ceeded by the Brigand, and followed by the Rough Diamond, in which Mr. Buckstone and Mrs. Fitz William made their re-appearance on this, the scene of their former triumphs. Their reception was enthusiastic in the extreme. The house was crowded to suffocation. ADELPHI. As far as regards this theatre last night the critic's occupation was gone; for the managers, satisfied, it may be, with the returns which their current pieces are bringing them, did not think it necessary to fur nish any new entertainment for Easter. This was, to be sure, rather a startling innovation on the esta blished custom; but it may be presumed that the point has been well considered by these who are most interested in the matter and are conversant with all the items which enter into a theatrical profit and loss account. The appearance of the house—it was quite full—would seem to justify the policy of the manage ment, by showing that the bill, though it promised no novelty, did not lack attraction. The pieces per formed were, the Hop Pickers, Who Lives at No. 9 and the Encha n ted I s l e , w hi c h h ave been duly noticed in this journal; and it is only necessary to state that they were received with the applause which nightly accompanies their performance. LYCEUM. Mr. Planehe has produced for the Easter offering at the Lyceum one of the best burlesques he has ever written. It is entitled The Seven. Champions of Christendom, and as each champion represents a " separate nationality" (to use a Lamartinism) various opportunities are afforded of making telling hits, opportunities wh;ch none know better how to turn to witty account than Mr. Planche. Among the most successful of these hits were those of SK James of Spain, and St. Patrick of Ireland. St. James expressing a doubt whether it is not almost better to be in Spanish bonds than a bondholder, and St. Patrick exclaiming— " St. Patrick, I, from Ireland, I suppose; What to do with it Heaven only knows." The Seven Champions are thus represented :—St. George of England, Miss Kathleen Fitzwilliam; St. Denis of Prance, Miss Louisa Howard; St. David of Wales, Miss Marshall; St. Anthony of Italy, Mrs. C. Horn ; St. James of Spain, Miss De Burgh ; St. Andrew of Scotland, Miss J. Coleman ; St. Patrick of Ireland, Miss Gale. St. George has an attendant in the person of Charley Wag, Esq. (Mr. Chas. Ma thews), who rattles through the part in most voluble style, and sings,a couple of songs full of out•of the way jingling rhymes and quaint conceits in his own peculiar rattling rapid fashion. The other knights have also their respective attendants, represented by Messrs. Harley, John Reeve, 11. Hall, and Selby. The latter gentleman represents the attendant on St. Denis, a certain M. Aille de Pigeon, who, having been bambonz!ed by M. Cabet to travel in search of Icaria, has been plundered not only of his money but of his clothes, while his plunderers not only rob him but accuse him of being himself the thief, because "All property is theft. No man is right till he has nothing lett!" Ills making up of the part was admirable. He was the very beau ideal of one of those Socialists who in easquette and blouse fought behind the barricades of Paris in June, 1848. The scenery, by W. Beverley, is not only magnificent and gorgeous, but each scene is a perfect work of art. Mr. Beverly seems destined to revive the days of Stanfield and David Roberts. The last scene of the first act, representing an enchanted lake, is one of the most exquisite things ever seen. It is equal to any thing that Turner has ever painted. The perspec tive of this truly beautiful scene is marvellous. The last scene of the burlesque, in which the long line of tents, ornamented with the blazonry of the cham pions, is seen stretching long into the:distance, is also wondrous, considered merely as a work of art, while as a piece of gorgeous magnificerce, this last scene has never been surpassed. The piece was completely successful, and the author and principal artistes were called for at its close. The music of the burlesque does great credit to the taste of Mr. Tully. The medley overture was encored. The house was crowded to excess. TIIE PRINCESS'S. Every Thespian hierophant in the metropolis pig forth his most attractive bill of fare for Easter. Mon day, to lure those lieges whom the philanthropic Crisp had not enrolled for the admiring gaze of the Parisians, or the fascinations of the Crown and Anchor, drawn to the suburban joys of Greenwich Fair. Second to none, the enterprising manager of this elegant theatre was last night rewarded by the enthusiastic approbation of a well-filled house. The entertainments commenced with Donizetti's celebrated Lucia di Lammermoor. Mademoiselle Nau, as Lucy Ashton, warbled her nightingale notes with dulcet brilliancy, and was well supported by Weiss and Allen, the latter of whom sang very sweetly as Edgar. But the main attraction of the evening— especially to the juvenile portion of the audience, who mustered in considerable numbers—was the grand extravaganza, entitled Noureddin and the Fair Persian. It is now so many years since,—to our shame be it spoken,—we have turned over the pages of the " Arabian Nights," that we are unable to decide upon the degree of re semblance to the original story maintained in the present adaptation by Mr. Edwards. When Lane's edition of the wondrous tales appeared we resolved on renewing acquaintance with the favourite studies of our childhood, but were speedily scared by the re pulsive spelling of the proper names, which presented old friends in a garb too outlandish to be endured ; for we have ever loved to walk in the beaten paths of orthography, nor could the sands of the Sacramento tempt us to wade through a column of the Penetie Nuz. Be that as it may, a better production in this peculiar department of the drama has not been given to the stage, and we prognosticate for it a long and successful run. The rising curtain discovers the fairies and their Queen (Madame Le Clercq) disport. ing by the margin of a moonlit lake. A sprite is summoned in the form of an ape (M. Plimmeri), and commissioned to watch over the fair Persian, who is about to be sold in the slave market of 13alsora. 'The next scene introduces us to the mart, the preaiding spirit of which is the slave merchant, Hagi Hassan, (Mr. Wynn). Khacan, the Vizier, (Mr. H. Horn castle), a hoary-bearded old sinner, enters for the purpose of making a purchase for the King. He has considerable chaffing with Hassan, and is much tormented by the Ape, who by this time has insi nuated himself into the good graces of the latter, as being the master of Nekayah, the Fair Persian. Hassan, in apology for his tricks, says, " Although sometimes affairs may not look bright, As long as we've an ape here, (a Napier) all is right." This hit was loudly applauded. Nekayali (Miss Kenworthy) is produced by the merchant, and at once purchased by the Vizier. Being brought to his house, she is seen by his ward Noureddin, (Miss Emma Stanley), and they straightway, fall in . love with one another, and resolve to run 0ff..., To facilitate their escape, the friendly and sagacious Ape is placed by them in the litter which is to convey the fair slave to the presence of the King, and borne re verentially to the royal presence, whilst the lovers are already off and away by a locomotive. We now behold the Monarch of Balsora (Mr. Money) re posing in state, but on the apparition of the hideous inmate of the palanquin he becomes furiously irate, and sallies forth with all his court to the annihilation of the audacious Noureddin, and the recovery of his: purchase. He has, how ever , to content himself with burning down the traitor's house. Just as the flames were about to burst forth in this scene, some noodles in the pit, sniffing the approaching mimic conflagration, roared out "Fire!" which sent a third of the audience flying. Happily, the absurd mistake was almost imme diately perceived, and a few words from his Bal iho„rfii)ariei s y ot r ii e ll - l a c, s n sm% t tli the f a ffr t ig e hte : d e c a ,t u i audience hfore tbt 0 cf the scoud act. are next seen, we,aied and Bagdad. t r a n l. B p 'h o e r t f 4 a i t r h y eal A r to b o ; h j'l u ei n l e a g ry fug appears,iin a ' thc t \e ' t o t 1 1 : v e e i tr r sn r e e li r e , and grand banquetting chamber in the pavilion of Hare= al Easchid. This transformation of scene had a beautiful effect. They now refresh themselves from the Caliph's table, in company with Ibrahim, his chief attendant (Mr. Oxberry), whom the Commander of the Faithful (Mr. C. Fisher) Ends drunk on his return. However, he accords a gracious reception to the enamoured pair, and furnishes them with a pardon to Noureddin under his own seal, to secure his safety with the monarch of Balsora, who is a vassal of the Court of Bagdad. Previous to their departure they are entertained by an exhibition of his dancing girls, who execute a ballet, which was warmly applauded. The grouping was remarkably good, and a pas de deux by Mademoiselles Therese Cushnie and Le Clercq excited a perfect furore. Le Clercq (may her shadow never be less !) enchanted the spectators with her exquisite combination of agility and grace. The Ape, who remains behind at the Sultan's special request, has sportively purloined the seal appended to the pardon, so that on their return to Balsora, the imperfect document is treated with utter contempt by the King, who tears the lovers asunder, and orders Noureddin for instant execution. The block and grim headsman are prepared, and the fatal mandate given, when the faithful Ape appears with the imperial teal, and bursts of music-announce the advent of the Caliph. The terrified ruler of Balsora abdicates in order to avert the indignation of his suzerain, and his intended victim is appointed his successor in the regal dignity. Such is the out line of Noureddin and the Fair Persian, which pos tesses superlative merit as a spectacular burlesque. The incidents are highly amusing, the dialogue apposite and witty, and the mise en scene magnificent. The plaudits, frequent and hearty throughout, were tumultuous at the fall of the curtain, and the author being unanimously called for, bowed his acknow ledgements from a private box. The extravaganza proved a decided hit, and we pronounce the adapter, the manager, and the performers to have deserved well of their country. ST. JAMES'S. Magic bath still her votaries, and last night her temple was crowded by those who are anxious to psy honour due to h er c hi e f m i n i s t er , Robert Houdin. The great magician was greater than ever. His dis tribution from the corne d'abondance was upon a mon kter scale of liberalty, and his feats were performed with infinite grace, elegance, and neatness. STRAND. We are gratified at having to announce the revival of the legitimate drama—and that, too, in one of its most respectable phases —at this interesting little theatre. The event, destined, no doubt, to form a prominent feature in the history of this too-long ne glected establishment, has originated in the destruction of the ill-fated Olympic, which, as is generally known, was to have been opened yesterday for the summer season, under the management of Mr. Henry Farren ; the new direction perforce transferred their company to these boards. The pieces selected for the opening night were the standard drama of The Farmers Story, the farce of Founded on Facts, and Mr. Selby's popular play of Robert Macaire. Among the characters we were glad to see nearly all the leading favourites of the Olympic. Our old friend Compton appeared as Bristles in the first piece, and as Mr. Skeptic in the interlude, and was inimitable in both. His fair spouse, too, so favourably known to the public by the name which he has induced her to relinquish (Miss Emme line Montague), made her first appearance in the part of Mary Lockwood in the Farmer's Story, and drew down repeated bursts of applause by her delineation of the mild and gentle wife. Mrs. B. Bartlett,. a lady who has acquired some celebrity in the pro vinces, made her first appearance before a London audience, and Mr. Edwin Harvey, of the Glasgow Theatre, also made his debut in the metropolis on this occasion, and promises to be a valuable acquisition to the company. His Jacques Strop, in Robert Illaeaire, could not, we think, have been excelled even by Wright. Mr. H. Farren was a capital Robert Macaire, and Mr. Leigh ;NI urray deserves equal praise as Stephen Lockwood. The house, we were sorry to perceive, was by no means as well filled as the character of the performance merited. SADLER' S WELLS. Last evenini;-cowded and delighted audience was attracted to this very favourite theatre. Little was it ever dreamt of, when Mr. Sadler first built an orchestra, in 1683, for the entertainment of the crowds of invalids who were attracted by the many super stitious notions attached to the waters of the "Wells," before the Reformation, that one day it would be the only place in London where the works of the immor tal Will Shakspere would be completely represented ; yet so it is. The entertainme n ts comm enced last night with Richard 111., from the text of Shakspere —not the improved version that has so long maintained its ground on the British stage, to the entire exclu sion of the original creation of the bard of Avon. To the meritorious exertions of Mr. Phelps, in the successful production of the plays of Shaks pere, in their original state, this production of Richard 111. will add fresh lustre. This gentleman's conception of the character of the hump backed Duke was excellent, although in parts he.gave us quite a new reading. The Richard of Mr. Phelps does not hate his victims, but they stand in his way, and, as he does` not l ove t h em, t h e y . p er i s h ; a n d, when jesting at hi s mot h er ' s prayers, h is d e li very o f the followin g passages was a d m i ra bl e : Madame, my mother, Ido cry y ou mercy, I did not a ce y our grace. Hum bly on my knees I crave your blessing. Duchess—God bless thee, and put meekness in thy breast, Love, charity, obedi ence , and true duty! Glo'ster—Am en; and make me die a good old man! That is the but-end of a mother's blessing; I marvel that her grace did leave it out. Nothing could exceed the exquisite finish with which these lines were given. Mr. Phelps was ably sup ported by Mr. G. Bennett, who sustained the character of the Duke of Buckingham, and whose excellent dng T o h f e There the part no deserves point-m a o k u i n r highest , n o clap-trapcom m e n da g - r ti e o a n. i de clamation, but an ev enness and finish in his acting which at once proved him to be a true Shaksperien artiste. Mr. H. Marston sustained the part of the Duke of Richmond excellently well. Miss Cooper, as Queen Elizabeth, Miss Huddart, as Lady Anne, and Mrs. Brougham, as Queen Margaret, each acquitted themselves with exquisite grace and delicacy. Of the remaining characters we have only space to say that they was each and all excellently sustained. A word ortwo with respect to the "getting up" of the tragedy—the dresses were magnificent in the extreme, and showed that great attention had been paid to the correctness of the style and manner of the period. The scenery was truly beautiful, and special mention must be made o f it , espec i a ll y i n th e l as t ac t —the encampment of the contending armies of the roses—the dioramic effects produced in this scene were really beautiful. When Richmond first enters on the field it is sunset, night gradually appears and here moonlight effects are produced, and then succeeds the grey of the dawning day ; these effects were so beautifully managed that loud applause succeeded each change. The last scene—the battle-field of Bosworth was exceedingly grand—we never sawr e any thing to equal it on the stage—it was alnas tePgie eed of arrangement. At the conclusion o of the tra la the applause Mr. Phelps was called for, and received m comencement he so richly merited. Previous to t he n ee the excel- Ina of the after-piece, The Mau *ster of F fo e rrmed Jullien's lent band of the establishment. p tat it was with Drum Polka so effectiv el y we think that the honoured audience an encore. Altogether, at Sadler's Wells last evening was as well entertained as at any theatre in London. 111ARYLEBONE. The lessee of this little unique refuge of the drama presented his holiday patrons with as good a bill of Easter fare as, were they more fastidious than moreover, t play' in these is their wont, they cou ld not with reason carp at. T and the days, this startling peculiarity , , that neither are adap tations from the French, con stituted t he amusements otwheor new a bu p rl ie e e sq es Z t and d o p n o e ss a ess fi inveg-,ac of the evening. Heart's Trials, from the pen of Mr. Hughes, of the Adelphi Theatre, though not a pro duction of considerable merit,. is yet in la nguage an d incident a production of interest, and evinces respectability of talent in its author. Its poetry does not startle by its b r illi a ncy ; its incidents do not wind up the au di ence to the highest pitch of excitement, neverth e l ess th e simplicity of the narrative, e, and the exc e ll ence o f the performers entrusted withits development, com mended it to the audience, and its success was com plete. The story is simple. The D u k e Alberto (Mr. Davenport), a gay cavalier, with a character for morality and stability about equal to that of our own Charles 11., succeeds to the Duchy of Mantua by the sudden demise of the former Duke. The licentious ness of his former life, and the dread of a licentious Court, cause the grave councillors of the State much choler. Among those who dread this most is the Lord Montano (Mr. James Johnstone), who possesses a beautiful and only daughter Florinia (Mrs. Mowatt), betrothed to Lord Angelo (Mr. H. T. Craven), who had saved her father's life in battle. Before the nup tials can be solemnized the Duke and his daughter are invited to the coronation of the Duke Alberto. They go ; the Duke seeks an interview with the Lord Montano, and informs him that he his passion ately enamoured of his daughter, and asks her in marriage, intimating that his former follies shall not tarnish his new-born dignity. He tells him that she is an affianced bride, and hastens to remove her from the Court. The Duke, who is sincere in his reforma tion, though apparently resigned, is agonized at the thought that Florina is to become the wife of an other. An accident happens to the carriage in which Florina is travelling, the Duke saves her life, and onset) her to be conveyed, while in a state of insen sibility, to some private apartments, where he detains I.er, in the hope that he shall be able to overcome her objections to share his ducal state. Florina, however, being, like many other young ladies, rather self- willed, is not at all mollified by the persuasions of her royal admirer. Lord Montano, and her lover, Angelo, for some time believe her to have been drowned in the river, along the strand of which ran the road on which her carriage overact; but their apprehensions are re lieved by a note from Florina herself, forwarded by consent of the Duke, but containing no more words than were necessary to intimate her existence. Mean • while Gasper (Mr. Lee), an Indian slave belonging to Montano, who cherishes an aspiring passion for his young mistress, has discovered her retreat, and obtains admission. He endeavours to persuade her to escape with him, professing of course, an intention to escort her to her father's castle, but really design ing to get her into his own povt er. The scene, how ever, is interrupted by Duke Alberto, and almost im mediately aftervtards by Montano and Angelo, who had received Florina's note, and, we presume, had also discovered the place of her confinement. The Indian slave, finding his plot thwarted, stabs the Duke in the back, and he dies, good-naturedly be queathing his duchy as a legacy to the fortunate lovers. The materials, as we have said, are slight, yet out of them an entertaining play has been concocted, each of the five acts of which are remarkably short ; indeed, the whole compressed into three would but occupy the time of an ordinary drama. The acting of Mr. Davenport and Mrs. kilowatt was excellent, and in deed the whose of the performers exerted themselves to the utmost. The scenery was extremely pretty. The burlesque, which we understand is from the prolific pen of Albert Smith, entitled Guy Fawkes ; or a Match for a King, is one of the best productions of the kind we have ever witnessed. It abounds in. smart hits at past and passing events, and, in short, kept the audience in good humour from the beginning to the end. A smarter piece, or one better got up in scenery and costume, has never been produced here, and we recommend our friends to pay the theatre an early visit. Miss Saunders sustained the burlesque part of Guy Fawkes with a raciness and drollery only met with in the best comic actors. Miss Villars, Miss Hamilton, Mr. H. J. Craven, Mr. G. Cooke, and Mr. J. Herbert, "one of the American aristocracy, and having landed property in California," sustained the principal cha racters, and one and all made the most of the parts set down for them. The house was well attended. ASTLEYS. The holiday people mustered last night in consi derable numbers at this justly popular place of enter tainment. Perhaps, of all others, it presents the greatest attraction to those whose avocations allow them only at long intervals to visit theatres, and who, when once released from the monotony and weari someness of every-day toil, seek to find a place where there is something exciting, stirring, and funny, and where they may enjoy the greatest amount of enter-, tainment in the smallest possible amount of time. They come to such a place with a keen appetite for enjoyment, and what the critic may condemn, and the playgoer laugh at, is to them a matter of little mo ment so long as it affords them a subject for a joke, or an opportunity to give an encouraging cheer. The performances last night gave good indications that the skill and enterprise hitherto shown on holiday occa sions on this side of the water, are by no means flag ging; and, judging from the success which attended them, we may prognosticate a successful and prosperous Easter season. A new grand, roman tic, equestrian spectacle, by Fitzball, commenced the entertainments, entitled the White Maiden of California; or, The horse of the Ocean, in which Mr. Batty's beautiful and nob!e stud of animals was introduced with considerable effect. The first scene opens with the deck of the Sphinx, which being overtaken by the white squall, is speedily wrecked and destroyed. The captain's child is gaved by the horse of the ocean, to whose back it is bound, and the crew are left clinging to the rigging. The second act, between which and the first fburteen years are supposed to elapse, brings us to the inter esting regions of California, where we are presented with the view of an Indian encampment. The child, now a grown up woman, forms one of the party, having been brought hither by her faithful bearer— the horse. The third act gives, perhaps, a not alto gether imaginary representation of the gold diggins in the valley of the Sacramento. The captain, attracted hither by the glowing 'accounts of the gold country, is superintending the digging operations of his crew, who are throwing about gold with as much carelessness as they would brickbats. After several exciting skirmishes with the Indians, the long-lost daughter is discovered and rescued from the Indians, and so ends the piece. The Scenes of the Circle followed, and the wonderful equestrian feats performed by the different riders elicited loud applause, more especially those of Mdlle. Louise Tournaire, who is a most graceful and elegant rider, and of Young Hernandez, whose evolutions on horseback are per fectly astounding. His performance last night was certainly superior to anything which of late years has been seen in the metropolis. 'The entertainments wound up with the interesting melodrama of The Dumb Driver. SURREY. Mr. Shepherd has begun his campaign with that enerjy and spirit which, in nine cases out of ten, is of itself sufficient to command success. He gave us last evening a new drama (from the practised pen of Fitzball), entitled Alhamar the Moor. Pell's Ethio pian Serenaders, with "Boz's" Juba; the admirable comedy of COUBi7I Cherry, with Mrs. Stirling (who is now engaged at the Surrey) as the heroine; and a revival of the far-famed pantomime of Mother Goose, which last will for some time be a 301.1TC:3 of attrac- tion, as the whole of the present race of playgoers will, no doubt, eagerly seize the opportunity now offered them of seeing a production of which every one has heard so much, and which yet so few have seen. But we are forgetting Alhamar the Moor. The scene of the story is laid in Valencia. Ferdinand the Fourth (Mr. Neville) has a favourite secretary, Don Cheru bino (Mr. Raymond), whose sister Leonora (Mrs. Stirling) is beloved by Dorio Cavijal (Mr. Lyon), an eminent noble, upon whose loyalty suspicions have been breathed at court. Don Cherubino refuses his assent to the union of his sister with Dorio, which, conjoined with Leonora's advice to leave Valencia for a short period as a prudential measure until his in nocence shall be made apparent, elicits from him vio lent language towards Cherubino in the moment of excitement. He resolves however to leave Valencia with his brother Garci (Miss Clara Tenet) and while on his way is accosted by Masco, a mendicant (Mr. Eme ry) who solicits alms. Dorio is still smarting under the pain of his refusal, and even entertains suspicions of Leonora's lore. So that Alasco overhears threaten ing language towards Cherubino. Garci, however, gives him alms, and a stor m comin g on, the mendi cant in the next scene takes shelter in the ruins of an old moresco palace. While there, Alhamar (Mr. T. Mead), accompanied by Don Sanchiano (Mr. H. Widdicomb), who have both reasons for disliking Cherubino, attack and slay him while on his way. Alasco grapples with Alhamar, who escapes, but drops a ring, which Alasco picks up, but loses immediately afterwards. His suspicions, however, point to Dorio as the murderer; and Leonora, in the excitement caused by the assassination of her brother, adds weight to his testimony by reference to his lan• guage at their parting interview. The result is that Alhamar is restored to his former position as Secre tary to the King. Dorio is arrested at Martos, whitherhe has retired, and imprisoned as the assassin. Sanchiano, whose complicity in the affair renders him dangerous to Alhamar, is confined in his palace for safe keeping, when the Moor enters, and believing himself alone, exults over the success of his schemes which have thus removed a rival favourite, and doomed his rival for the hand of Leonora to the grave at the same time. The suspected noble and his brother are on the way to execution when the ring is dis covered, dropped by Alhamar on the night of the as sassination. It is recognised by the King as one pre sented by himself to the Moor, and his revenge and ambition are at once disappointed, and the drama closed by his own death. The curtain fell amidst great applause, and the piece was decidedly successful. VICTORIA. Two new pieces (in addition to the pantomime) were produced here last evening with complete suc cess. The titles of the new pieces were Clarence Cleveland; his Struggles for Life and Death, and The Maid of Velitri; or, the last Deed of Garboni. It would be quite superfluous to describe the ingre dients of which these pieces were composed, and it will be sufficient to state that they were as full of moving accidents and startling events as the most en thusiastic " hero worshippers" of this locality could de sire. Clarence Cleveland was a lengthy affair in three acts, and each act terminated with a grand coup, which gave great satifaction to the audience, who, in one in stance, were almost tempted to demand an encore. The principal characters were a young squire, an old mavis trate, an orphan sailor (Clarence himself), a wander ing pedlar, a young lady (the beloved of Clarence), and a Meg Merrilies-like gipsy, who knows every body's business, and who always snakes her appear ance at a moment when any discovery is about to take place or mystery to be solved. The scenery represented, in rapid succession, an astonishing variety of gloomy chambers, wild glens, cliffs by m oonlight, rocky marshes, dilapidated hovels, yawning caverns, splendid saloons, and every descri p tion of stage effect which from time immemorial have formed the melo dramatists stock in trade at this far famed place of resort. Miss Vi n cent was deeply pathetic as the heroine, and the audience were quite chinned by her devotion to her father (the old magistrate a bove-mentioned), and to Clarence Cleveland, her lover. Mr. Dal4played the father most paternally, but he seemed to tabour under the difficulty of being obliged to lower his voice much be low its natural compass. his old friends, however., before the curtain, did not fail to recognise him, and he was repeatedly greeted with loud cries:of " Bravvo Dale !" Mr. Johnson, Mr. Laws, and Miss Richard son performed the other important characters, and the audience were delighted with everything they said or did. The piece was, of course, completely successful, and the other new drama, The llaid of Velitri, shared a similar fortune. This latter production was of a less`homely, but if possible, of a more romantic cha racter than the former. A set of Italian brigands vt ere the chief actors in the scene, and their exploits were sufficiently effective. The house was crowded in every part. CITY OF LONDON The managers of this theatre have taken care to provide abundance of amusement for the holyday folks at the East- end—and nothing could surpass the attractive character of the bills descriptive of the Easter entertainments. The first piece was stated to be " a truly original and beautiful domestic drama, by H. Webb, EFT, entitled The Harvest Queen, or Glendwyr of Snowden." The story turns upon the difficulties in which a son of an old Welsh Baronet gets involved through a double marriage—first with an intriguing French woman, and next with the daughter of his father's steward, to whom he had become deeply attached. The first mar riage was contracted under circumstances which showed that the young man was the duce of deep cunning and design, and his confidential friend, who had formed an attachment to his aister, resolves upon finding th e means o f ex t r i ca ti ng his unfortunate young friend from the difficulty in which he had become involved. In dramas of the present character espe cially, it is astonishing with what ease the hero and heroine can be freed from all kinds of dangers and dilemmas, and the drama of The Harvest Queen pro ceeds upon that golden rule. The Frenchwoman who flattered herself that she had been successful in securing:the title of Lady, along with that of a comfort able home, is proved to have been guilty of serious crimes, and to have been previously mar ried, and her husband, whom she had sup posed to be drowned, is brought forward to confront her. The drama, of course, terminates with the happiness of the lovers, their marriage having been declared to be valid. There are, as a matter of course, numerous trying and exciting scenes, and escapes of a most miraculous character, and the comic portion of the piece is supplied by a stupid Welsh man and his sweetheart, a fifer in the Grenadiers, and an old weather-beaten boatswain. The drama was performed some short time ago at the Surrey, when the heroine was personated by Miss Vincent. On the present occasion Miss Eliza Clayton sustained the part of Eva Glendwyr, and acquitted her self exceedingly well. The other principal parts were supported by Mrs. E. F. Saville, Mrs. Hugh Campbell, and Mrs. R. Barnett; Mr. H. Howard, Mr. Ersser Jones, Mr. W. Searle, Mr. E. F. Saville, Mr. J. Gardner, Mr. Coreno, and Mr. Milbourne. After the drama some very surprising feats were exhibited, in which a mere child was the principal performer, but they were rather more of a daring, if not of a dangerous character, to be altogether agree able or amusing. The whole concluded v.dth a spectacle, entitled Histerhan, or the Assassin of the Mountain, in which combats and processions were liberally introduced, the great feature in the piece being the introduction of "real water issuing in a torrent from the rocks." The house was filled to overflowing, and the performances were loudly ap plauded. STANDARD. The entertainments at this theatre deserve special commendation, for good and sufficient reasons. The Mountain Cataract, announced in the bills as performed for the first time, is full of interest and varied inci dents. A profligate chieftain, Lord Ronald of the Isles, enters upon a course of sensual depravity, which leads to the murder of a young female whose affections he has engaged, and who afterwards falls a victim to his jealousy. Ile also interposes his authority to coerce his sister into a marrisge against her inclinations, although she is affianced to a lover suitable to her rank, Sir Malcolm of Lorn, with whom he has a feud, not uncommon at the period when it may be supposed the scene of the drama is laid. The lovers, however, are, as in these cases is always provided, eventually united, and the Lord of the Isles finds a premature death by drowning in a cataract, which gives a title to the piece. The hand which renders this act of retributive punishment to the tyrant, is that of M'Lomond, the Idiot of the Hills, who has been used by him as an agent to conceal his dark deeds. M'Lomond, in a lucid interval, assumes to himself the office of an avenger of the innocent victims of his master's de pravity. Mr. Hicks performed this character with great spirit and dramatic effect, and elicited much applause. Mrs. R. Donner also enacted the part of the mistress of Sir Malcolm of Lorn with appropriate expression and effect. The piece was completely successful, and is likely to prove a source of attraction to this theatre. The entertainments were diversified by the athletic performances of Mr. Burdet and his son, which were much applauded. The theatre was crowded, and the audience well conducted. THE EXHIBITIONS, kc. BRITISH MUSEUAL—Easter - Monday - is always a great day at the British Museum. The crowds that then flock to' view the treasures of art, science, and natural history deposited in this national establish ment are almost innumerable ; and it is satisfactory to find that the visitors drawn together from all parts of this vast metropolis always conduct themselves with so much propriety. No addition to the stores of the Museum has recently been made, with the exception of the Nimrod marbles, which, however, are not yet in a state to be submitted to public in spection. The whole front of the new building is now completed, and the unsightly screen belonging to the old edifice will soon be removed. It is con structed in the pure Greek style of architecture, and forms a striking contrast with another public build ing of importance, now slowly advancing towards completion—the Queen's Palace at Westminster. These two erections seem to stand in the extremes of simplicity and richness, and are both fine examples of their different styles of architecture. BIUTISH INSTITUTION, PALL-MALL.—This is one of our oldest established exhibitions ; but the display on the walls this year is by no means so striking as former years could boast of. There are, however, i❑ the present year's exhibition some beautiful Specimens of landscape painting from the pencils of Lee, Cres wick, and Danby. Martin's large picture of Joshua commanding the sun to stand still, is not equal to some of his former efforts, either in conception or effect. Most of the works exhibited are respectable in point of talent, but very few rise above mediocrity. Like all the other London exhibitions, this received yesterday an accession to its ordinary number of visitors. COLOSSEUM.—A vast number of persons visited this place in the course of yesterday. The numerous attractions which have been already described have lost nothing of their power, a n d th e p u bli c s h owe d their good taste yesterday by flocking there in more than usual numbers. 'Die whole of the arrangements may now be said to be complete, and a more excellent exhibition can hardly be imagined. Some of the views are most meritorious. DIORAMA.—This exhibition was well attended. The pictures exhibited this year show a great advance in the art of painting views, by which an immense expanse of country is to be represented, and by which prospective views of the interiors of cathedrals are to be faithfully delineated. Some of these pictures are, both for grandeur of outline and minuteness of deta il, amongst the best things of their class hitherto exhi bited, and if a little more pains were taken (which might very easily be taken) the effects would be most extraordinary. The views of the Palace of Windsor which are here exhibited should be seen by all who are anxious to know of what the interior of palaces consists, and all antiquaries should inspect the models of the cathedrals of Cologne and Rouen. POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.—A vast number of persons visited this Institution yesterday. There was enough to amuse and to instruct all. The various models of scientific contrivance, the representations of inventions for which patents have been obtained, the lecture of Dr. Bachoffner, the diving-bell, and the almost innumerable specimens of mechanical and chemical science, engaged the attention of the au ditors for several hours, and it is but just to observe that a due estimate of the value of the Institution ap peared to govern those who were present, and that the contents of the museum were regarded, not as a show, but as a collection to advance knowledge, and make those for whose benefit they were collected more wise, and more capable of appreciating the ad vantages Of science. The 'T PIANISM — MARIE, TILE INFA N T clever young artiste and evening levee of this very ier 1 pianoforte playing was well attended yesterday. t 9 i x years old, with is truly wonderful, scarcely ye yet morning span an octave, hands so small that she o c a nnot mest difficult pieces of she performs some of t he a n ease, a brilliancy, a n pianoforte music an d a power of execution which might put professor, and which in one so her singing also is t a o cc t u h r e acL, g are truly astonishing very youn g and, in her character songs, such as " Little pleas i ng; _ „ she is _ , Red Riding Hood, b admirable. She also dances blush manya ; the " Cachucha" very gracefully. All little ladies should attend the levee of the clever and interesting Marie, if only for the purpose of seeing what, by skill and taste and study, playing even in a child six years of age can accomplish. MADAME TUSSAIJD'S EXHIBITION.—This exhibition was crowded all day with visitors. In addition to the attractions by which the public have hitherto been drawn to the rooms, there are now the representatives, almost equal to the originals, of Richard 111., M. Guizot, General Cavaignac, Louis Napoleon, and other persons of similar notoriety. The rooms are of the most elegant description, and the proprietors of tl e - 31, - who perfectly estimate the taste of the age, I have spared no pains to make the grand hall as ele gant and as elaborate as can be imagined. THE AMERICAN PANORAMA.- The exhibition of Mr. Risley's Panorama of the Gulf of Mexico, &c., was yesterday literally crowded with spectators. It is understood that this view is a genuine representa tion of the country, the river, and the districts which are professed to be represented. The painting itself is meritorious. The public appeared yesterday to appreciate these merits, and in consequence attended in more than usual numbers. A picture of this mag nitude has never before been painted or exhibited; and if the picture has no other merit, it has at least the qualification of magnitude to class it with the sublime, and nothing of littleness to detract from its claims upon the beautiful. CREMORNE GARDENS.—A very numerous collec ton of holyday people were assembled in the gardens of Cremorne to witness the ascent of the balloon, under the management of Lieutenant Gale. The ascent took place in the presence of several thousand persons at half-past six o'clock. The gallant ae ronau t lerformed the feat of descending from the upper car to one lowered beneath it by a rope ladder, and dis charged fireworks, &c., amidst the cheers of the spec tators. The balloon took a direction towards Wim bledon, but was so soon lost in the clouds thas it was impossible to conjecture to what point it was making. A variety of amusements followed. the ascent, and the festivities of the evening, consisting of fireworks, illuminations, theatrical and other performances, lasted till a la'e hour. The band is very good, and the whole of the arrangements are well managed and carried out. THE FAIRS. Despite the chilliness of the weather the diversions at Greenwich, Stepney, and Chalk Farm, were mul titudinously attended. The amusements were pre cisely the same as those which have been in vogue for years. At Greenwich the successors of the great Richardson supported the British drama by perform ing a play and a farce in the short space of twenty minutes throughout the day. " The Riders," humble imitators of Franconi's and Astley's, jumped through the usual number of hoops, from the old, steady, easy-trotting piebalds, long favourably known to the Greenwich public. The Crown and Anchor booth displayed its variegated lamps, dispensed its bottled stout, and gave forth the sounds of its untiring quadrille bands with untiring splendour and energy. It was crowded with dancers, and with visitants— who could not find room to display their steps and their ankles. Confectioners' booths abounded ; and the swings, roundabouts, &c., had no ;lack of adven turous patrons. Stepney fair added to the above-named entertain ments a novelty. A number of small carriages, each capable of containing four persons, with the model of a locomotive engine and tender, are whirled round a raised platform upwards of 500 feet in circumference, and to the spectators below it appeared that the car riages only were moving, while, to complete the delusion, smoke was seen to issue occasionally from the funnel of the miniature engine. The machine when in motion went at a railroad pace, and was worked by men concealed beneath the platform to which the carriages are fixed and move with it, th e outside wheels only revolving. The Chalk Farm diversions were of the usual cha racter, except that rifle and other shooting formed part of the entertainments, which attracted a vast crowd. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. NEWMARKET CRAVEN MEETING.-MONDAY. The Craven—once a very popular race; but now, like the Riddlesworth, and many other old-fashioned stakes, fast going out of repute —did not fill, and two other races having gone off in forfeits, the list was " deprived of its fair proportions," its events dwindling down to sin in number, of which Escalade's race was alone calculated to excite any interest beyond the moment. Owing to this falling off, and the wretched state of the weather, the heath was very thinly attended, speculation was on a limited scale, and there was altogether a lack of that ani maticn that might fairly have been expected to distin guish the opening of the campaign at Newmarket. The result of Escalade's race bad the immediate effect of send ing Nunnykirk to 10 to 1, Vanguard to 1,000 to 45, and of bringing the Firefly colt into the betting at 1,000 to 30, and 30 to 1. Of the transactions on future events we may dispose in a few words. The only bets laid this morning were 10 to 6 agst Fernhill, and 8 to 1 each apt Hornpipe and Tisiphone for the Newmarket Handicap; 6 to 4 agst Loupgarou for the Somersetahire Stakes; and 1,000 to 25 agst Indus for the Derby. The Metropoli tan has not been touched upon, but several attempts hare been made to back Peep• o'-day Boy, who, we are in formed, rose to Btol in town on Saturday night. It is doubtful if Canesou will run to-morrow. The - following is a full return of the day's racing as the short time left us for transmitting our parcel to Cambridge will admit of The Hinchinbrook Stakes of 100 sous. each, h ft; for three-year olds; colts, Bst 71b; fillies, ht 41b; D.M. (4 subs.) Cul. Peel's Indus walked over. Handicap Sweepstakes of 20 sous each, and only 5 if de clared, &c., to go to the second horse; for three-year olds and upwards. (10 subs., one of whom declared forfeit.) - Mr. Batson's Beauclerc, 4 yrs, 7st 91b (J. Sharp) 1 Duke of Bedford's Retail, 3 yrs, 54 61b (G. Mann) 2 Mr. Hargreave's Burghley, 3 yrs, sst 21b (E. White) 3 Lord Glasgow's b f by Lanercost, 3 yrs, 6st 71b 4 Me. Baum's Sotterley, 4 yrs, Bst 121 b (F. Butler) 0 Col. Peel's Lola 31tmtcz, 4 yrs, Bst 51b (Flatman) 0 Sir G. Heathco'e's fby Velocipede, 3 yrs, 6st 21b... 0 Lord Exeter's Skudar, 3 yrs, sst 121 b (J. Mann) 0 Mr. W. Nevin's Princess Charlotte, 3 yrs, sst 51b... 0 Betting sto 2 agst Retail-3 to 1 agst Canada filly— and 4 to 1 agst Lola Montez, The tour horses placed by the judge laid in front the whole of the distance, Burghley leading to the dip, where Beanclerc went in advance, and ran in an easy winner by a length.—Run in 1 min 52 secs. A Handicap Sweepstakes of 25 sous. each, 10 ft, for four yrs old and upwards. T.Y.C. (7 subs.) Lord Clifden's Sagacity, 5 yrs, Bst 31b...(Flatman) 1 Col. Peel's Franciscan, 4 yrs, Est 91b (G. Brown) 2 Lord Ester's Ulysses, 5 yrs, Bst 21b (J. Norman) 3 Sir J. Hawley's Paultons, aged, 7st 111 b (E. Flatman) 4 Betting-7 to 4 agst Ulysses—and 3to 1 each agst Paultons and Sagacity. Sagacity made all the running, and won very easily by two lengths. The race was not timed. _ _ _ Sweepstakes of 50 soy& each- for three year old colts, B.t 71b; fillies, Bst 31b; 41b allowed, &c. D.M. (8 subs.) Lord Orford's c by Sir Hercules, out of Firefly Colonel Peel's Quinine (Flatman) 2 Lord Stanley's Escalade (J. Holmes) 3 Lord Exeter's Turban (Bartholomew) 4 Betting-7 to 2on Escalade. who took the lead and cut out the work to the T.Y .C. post, where Quinine passed her, and carried the running on until half way up the cords; Firefly colt here took the. lead from her, and won easily by a length; Escalade a bad third. Run in I min. 53 secs. Sweepstakes of 100 sovs. each, h ft, for three yrs old colts, 83t ;lb each; 41b and 61b allowed, &c. Cam bridgeshire Course. (10 subs.) Duke of Bedford's Sobraon (F. Butler) 1 Lord W. Powlett's f by Touchstone, out of Van. 2 Mr. W ygram's Pylaites (Boyce) 3 Lord Exeter's cby Voltaire, out of Silistria " 4 Sir J. Hawley's Queensberry ...........(E. Flatman) 5 Betting--2 to 1 agst Sobraon-3 to 1 agst Van colt— and sto 1 apt any other. Queensberry made slow run ning to the Duke's Stand, where Sobraon headed her, made the pace good, and won easily by two lengths. Run in 2 min. 20 sec. Match, 150, h ft, A.F.—Mr. Verity's Diplorolitist, fist 12Ib (F. Butler), beat Mr. Gordon's Queen Mary, 7st 41b (Flatman). Even betting. Won by a head. This race WRSI not timed. Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, for three yrs old; colts, Bst 71b; fillies, Bst 41b; not engaged in either Riddles worth, the 2,000 Guineas, or 1,000 Guineas Stakes. D.M. (4 subs.) Duke of Rutland's Nina (W. Boyce) 1 Lord Stanley's Legerdemain (F. Butler) 2 Lord Exeter's c by Voltaire, out of Silistria Betting-6 to 4on Nina, and 7to 4 agst Legerde main. Legerdemain made the running to the • cords, where the favourite went ap, and won easily by a length. Run in 1 min. 56 eec. Match, 200, h f3st 41b each, D.M.—Duke of Bed ford's St. Rosolia received forfeit from Lord Exeter's f by Voltaire, out of Galata. NEWMARKET, MONDAY NIGHT. Ectry for the 10 Sovs. Sweepstakes (to•morN2 soD, Grasshopper f, 3 yrs--Sysimachus , 3 y . r s h li n a o n s g o a p r h o e o r , , 4 5 y yrs—Treacherous, a - 8 _ T T ° r m e a m e y b stone, 4 yrs. BETTING. 8 to 1 agst Hornpipe. . 6 to 1 agst Canezou t hed:—R ' The following are sera; r oscious, Sylvan, Back biter,lo to 6 agst / T 'e u rn E l 3ll sponge, Quee n Corsican, Westow, Fly catcher her f Skudar, Retail, and Burghley. j~lDDcatc • L o s o E w a:. p — s T C A i a K a s p . n p 0 st and ofHuberta h p a e r e e .. Sir ilonour paid. 100 dichsedo are struck out. NEWMARKETtoiI l'eNarD3glus:tsl3: i p i ii r ig:Vr t 34 SOMEREETSHIRE STAKES. 6 to 4 agst Loupgarou—taken. 3 to 1 agst Flying Dutc D h E - " L . to 1 agst Nunnykirk—t. man —taken 25 to 1 agat Vanguard—t. 6 to 1 agst Tadmor 30 to 1 agst Firefly f. V An a lof' ,VATERLOO-BRIDGE.—A guide-lamp on a lofty and extensive setae, and of a peculiar description, has been placed at the southern extremity of Waterloo bridge. It is erected midway between the carriage gates, and serves a double purpose, having several gas lights facing the bridge for the convenience and safety of passengers; and on the other side, looking , towards the Waterloo-road, the lamp is formed of pieces of stained glass of different colours, having directions thereon in legible characters, that the bridge conducts the passenger to the West-end, and also the central parts of the metropolis. This lamp erection will no doubt be ' a convenience and a service to the public, and we ob serve, also, that a lamp, or stand of lamps, of a sub stantial character, has been erected by the authorities a short distance down the W a terloo-road, at the centre of the carriage-way betwee n Upper Stamford-street and the York- road, a point where it was much needed. There is little doubt that the immediate proximity of the terminus of the South-Western Railway has been the CAM of these ireproTements. THE• SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 10, 1849&