The Sun. — London, England, 1851-12-27 00:00:00

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. Th e DRURY-LANE THEATRE. t4ne Theatie R o y a l, D r ury-lane—time-honoured ld Drury" —is once more devoted to the represen ,eb'et of the drama, and, as it is now under the manage efe,..,"°f Mr. Bunn, the only director of Drury who has, e i ee 's a nY Years past, exhibited tact and judgment suffi te "‘ in his cateringa for the amusement of the public re p_shle him to keep the theatre open through the Theatre f a season, we hope and believe that the .e'lea t r i e ) Royal, Drury-lane, will, for many years to flllteicentinue under his spirited management to be that whilst to its legitimate purposes ; certain we are, th e tbwhilst he continues in the direction we shall have the stage Pieces, whether lyrical or dramatic, placed on i rk eLage and performed in the best manner. c hart u e Ose who saw the interior of the theatre only one e erf rt f ortnight since, when Jullien gave his last coli de,' W ould not recognise in the present exquisitely 4 _ prated salle the dingy " dust hole" which they .L °4l quitted. In ten days the whole interior of the theatre has been not merely cleaned and redecorated, absolutely and entirely renewed. The ceiling is .21 decorated in the Louis XVI. style, classically err e ged in alcoves alternating with shields, and eete t it; 'Y decorated with allegorical figure- and represen e lens of fruits and flowers. Toe pannellings of the va epee • i e circles of boxes have been entirely redecorated,.. g rae l ti c e: white, and gold, and the . effect is light and tr e 'itt and at the same time brilliant in the :e e l: tile . The prosenium has likewise been tperl ° rated in white and gold, and the royal box is ee t gem of tasteful and costly decorations. The of the se d ecorat i ons re fl e cts infinite credit on the e re ' c'f Mr. B. Her witz, who was their designer. Tu ehtl an the whole, there is a magnificent new centre k e tideli er, which has been designed and erected by v e -4 rs• Pellatt. Within ten minutes after the doors e re r p e ci e liened the pit and gallery were crowded to fo re ,l e wing, and before the commencement of the per tsiirhnes every seat in the dress circle was occupied, wei.st the first and second circles of boxes were very h fil led—indeed, to procure a seat anywhere in the . °llse, ci rcle except at the very back of the second and third of 's was after the performance had begun a matter . re e : lee eding difficulty. At seven o'clock the curtain th e ' and discovered the whole company assembled on l Aeiti a l l ' a ge; the band struck up, and the Natio a n d a eti was sung. At its conclusion Mr. Bunn eed to the footlights, and was welcomed with . re newed and hearty plaudits. He addressed the audo• ee as follows ; ot " , ti ldiss and Gentlemen,—To use the language of one to"greatest favourites, Grimaldi, on the very spot ; tad . ° , ll this very anniversary, Here we are again litre been could but be aware of the obstacles which vr oe 'een thrown in our way, you woul vary much d 3 v eer how we got here.—(Laughter.) But ten ay ltd passed since Vie parish in which this theatre stands ho us "°t contain another such ally dust-hole as this r 4 1 4 la which we are assembled. I trust to your Ple ui ese Y to say what it looks like now.—(Cheers.) T tffset,: a g, change which you contemplat e has been ke •" °Y hands, but lam sure you will concur with It ha te thinking that hands could n ot have done h ? there not been hearts in them. Some years ago tea 2 4 : l 4 the honour i n thi s theatre of explaining t he ( "Pee why I restricted the performances to ballet ouch etand %t er , .I t arose f rom thi s , that those who wanted n th eat 'aumients were sure of procuring them at another and le over the way. This argument no longer exts _ s , inttherefore have the honour to announce that it euti° n to give you every description of entertain mentna that research and industry can devlse.—(Cheers.) ray oe a nY • Misrepresentations have been circulated as to actual, and future intentions, that I have niy i ff ."_° be due to the public and myself to state what 0 n ate really are. I cannot better illustrate the te ee pli upon which my success depends than . by Area ° te which I haver elated on a former occasion, and used t ° siti enee of another audience. Formerly there u vs s .h d e Pley ed 't the orchestra of this theatre a foreigner, hei e the bassoon. In his youth be was an a mi fluousPerfor lli mer, his notes being exceedingly mehee yet audible through the whole house; but w w _ t. all, hlB ° k those liberties with him which he takes i n 4 rate l :, e rlo tes could with difficulty be heard beyondhthetor 'tar s — the pit. The gruff old gentlemen, sy p en orre accustomed to take up their position in who for `Blo w th e house, at least grew impatient, and roared, s ee ,. louder ;' the little boys in more remote regions lt fe • poorhe cr me .y, and shouted Blow louder,' till at as audie InUsician turned round in anger, and, facing his ! exclaimed, 'Ladies and gentlemeu,deiresi all s er a well for tkese people to shout Blow lou but ladi t :: vind to come from ?'—(Laughter.) And now,ie ta Mys ll3 Y4els t e nd geutlemen, to point the moral and 94 , ,, elf d : -„Say, do ma the honour to find the wind, and I_ eau to tile rest.—(Loud cheers.) I will do what 1 tO 'curve your patronage, and, should it be granted sie eer ' e lhere is not a heart amongst you that will be more T he Y grateful than mine." 4 tde ' r r s aged y With -° n performingofFazio then commenced, Mr. J. R. th e utgreatherself to the ungrateful part of Fazio efrec', and Miss Glyn exerting 0_ $i most to fulfil the requirements of the part the f ; at the conclusion she was called on by . th e c° ee ' who had repeatedly applauded her during le e Ilseappearance of the performance, and on her the stage " exhausted that she nearly fainted on the directionAt the conclusion of the play, the band, und e r aiG ee ,, of Signor Schirra, pertortned the m atge tverture to William Tell, and then came h I :te m es u, n ew e l_ comic Christmas pantomime, entitled ,11" egzttn 1-I (igarth, or The Two London Prontic_ens: 411stie-4 be gathered from the title the " Idle a nd 1 'de A Pprentices" of Hogarth have furnished the th e n ex P°n which this pantomime is founded, but with mon bet exception of the idea there is nothing in gre at et the work h/QabvieeauP'efrtoor,lilal moralist ; we have not even of the playwright and that the a single --Rogarth's immortal series. But if we Of pantomime Hogarth we have Mr. W.H. Payne, the Lord ever ,get ei `whose appearance at Christmas is l ast e i e e le° rned by delighted thousands, and who was i come gut greeted with the hearty and heartfelt we - to)leelisifreeltatile. is n ever accorded save to . an Certes the industrious apprentice his f W . H. Payne is infinitely more amusing than g 's ife c' d " e dull gentleman who is Hogarth's hero — fort y , u strY is indefatigable, and he has at least " a eahibir e en .tiee power" of serving customers, as was h Playbill'' in the grocer's shop, where, to quote h e to per Phraseology, he made the nearest approach deueortual motion ever witnessed. In this scene who seldom , h the eiia, te , a burlesque Truandaise with Chapin°, h Part of the master's daughter, wand el ese a " we seen any imitation more grotesquely n this thane Was Payne's imitation of Perrot . 1 . immortal is worthy to rank with h a.l imitation of Macready. The Idle e s ik4 d the i rr was well represented by Mr. H. Payn el 'eatati 18 sea Coveney made most fascinating repr tier _ yes f ()' -industry and Knowledge. The s_F . e h - o ch e f, l o n the introduction is very beautiful. ilia the the haunt of Idleness and Ignorance to eag e d. Industry and Knowledge was capitally vated ' and tke latter representing richly cumltsi: l 'ihich Coun try through which run fertilizing streams,..e t le er sn are adirsetanccreo,ssiesda by magnificent bridges, w.itail 4 a th e 11 " 3 :1 train is seen traversing a railroad beautiful specimen of landscape 4, 14 painting. The departure of an excursion til e a of charity childrenin this scene amused.. the lid ienee vastly. The last scene, in w_hinh . hi_e transformation takes place—the Fairy lie o e .. de Y eed . " lB exceedingly beautiful, and in this is intr W as short but very graceful divertissement, whichplace, see , o , o `uneh applauded. The transformation takes ki r - 1 e have Mr. J. Marshall as Harlequin, Mr. u• 3 4, 71411 as Clown, Mr. Barnes as Pantaloon, Mr. lift as as Sprite, and Miss Falser as Columbine. I. le et : t fer harliquinade company has seldom been col within the Q o i u ,within the walls of any theatre. Of . to rflu ite of Miss Falser it is impossible th e 'Peak in terms of too high praise ; to e re esprightly ag ili ty an d arc h naivete which binetne e sbential characteristics of every go od Colum ' eha adds a gracefulness which is most fascina hiltand which her predecessors have too seldom ex thet e d• She is the best and most graceful Columbine_ 41 ._ we have seen for the last twenty years. Mr. d • 47raban lyr is a most active and neat Harlequin, and Mr. f en eearshall is an admirable Clown, full of bustle and o b 4 , In the c ourse o f th e h ar l e quinade he performed Wiee violi n a grotesque an d mos t amusing burlesque hi o l k "res performance of " The Carnival de Veni se," the -" was most rapturously applauded, and api n • vliPortune introduction of which raised the pit,t s „ of the audience to " vociferous applauding p ar , which was kept up to the conclusion of the e He then gave an equally close and 0(111IY ludicrous imitation of Bottesin i, and another ise Erns t• He was encored again and a g ain. There as likewise a new polka introduced , which wass p's ef ully danced by Mr. J. Marshall and Miss th e er • The last scene represents the opening of ott Great E x hibi t i on on t h e I s t of May, 1850, and for d e s e e the p rogramme does no t exaggerate, when it si v cri b" it as one o f the most elaborate a nd eaten , i t e scenes ever introduced on the English stage, and . e e nli ght have added also, one of the most magnif e„,„"' Some of the tricks were excellent, and all e ti snt with much greater neatness than is usual on th e e fir st night of a pantomime. The applause at Will Conclusion was enthu-iastic and the pintornime 1, no doubt have a long run, if i there is an unsparing es e tr od ta sde of the scissors; it is too long, and the in - sh o „ ll ee e t°rY scenes are heavy. The introduction th e -I be curtailed at least one half, and then, when • h e edg things are thus brought close together, it le n a most amusing production, and will have a lengthened run. HAYMARKET THEATRE. mAnother burlesque from the prolific pens o . f the 1 3rough has been produced as the Christ . m . a . s s pritro' by Mr. Webster, for the amusement of tale n s• We had almost' imagined that every fairy b a n,:ver written h a d come through the hands of rn writers of burley ups, Not co, however. Sized Hamilton' s s t ory of the Alayflo,ver has been t Ponan by the two clever authors in the present "'Lee, d manufactured into, perbal)9l one of the bast pieces of the kind they have ever writecn. The dialogue is live l}, spirited, and full of wit end Toe hits at the lollies of the day are numerous, and the puns, all laughter-moving., are of every variety of excellence. There is a rattling fire kept up , which perpetually tickles the risible faculties of the audience. The plot of the piece is as follow.; :—Hardbake the Great, King of Candy, (Mr. James Bland), has a daughter, the Princess Radiant (Mrs. L. S. Buckingham), who has got such a " killing" pair of eyes that no one can see her face and live. " What's to be done for the people" that they may not be utterly annihilated by her piercing glances is satisfactorily answered by Count Vaide, Lord Chancellor (Mr. Henry Bedford), who an nounces a coming man, who will undertake to do something. That person is Pooh-pooh, and by donning a pair of green spectacles, he is enabled to look the radiant lady in the face—nay, more than that, tale- s her portrait. This done to his satisfaction, he starts in search of his brother, Prince Pie conix, and in a forest, after having fought and vanquished lions, tigers, griffins, and dragons without number, he meets Mayflower (Miss Collins), who is in the power of the witch Dentate (Buckstone). With that ready gal lantry and knowledge of the supernatural which all burlesque heroes seem to learn intuitively, be con trives to rescue her from the power of the aforesaid witch, and elopes in the most approved style on the " man Jingle," and that feat being accomplished, the curtain falls on the first act. In the second Buckstone turns Bloomer lecturer (!), and the Princess Radiant takes the command of a troop of amazons. Mayflower again falls into the witch's power, but, by one of those coups invariably intro duced to windup an extravaganza, happily she is, by the intervention of the fair y Serena, transformed into the Princess Brilliantond, of course, is " given away" to the valiant Pooh-pooh. Prince Phoenix, too, who has been hovering about the stage in the shape of a mysterious parrot, is also made to fill his proper position in society, and espouses the Princess Radiant, and all is wound up in a " blaze of triumph," with no end of red and green fires. The burden of the piece rests on Mrs. Fitzwilliam, Miss Collins, and Mr. Buckstone. The Pooh-pooh of Mrs. Fitzwilliam was an extremely clever performance; and the arch im personation of Mayflower, by that talented and rising young artiste Miss Collins, was most delightful. Buckstone's " Dentata" is also most felicitous and irresistibly comic. The audi ence were certainly greatly amused with his grotesque figure as the witch, but when, in the se cond act, he came on in full Bloomer costume, their mirth knew no bounds, peal after peal of explosive laughter bursting from all parts of the house. Even if the piece were not so gorgeously mounted as it is, Mr. Buckstone would be sufficient to insure for the Princess Radiant a run. It was com pletely success ful, and was announce d for repetition every evening. There were vociferous calls at the conclusion for the authors, who came forward and bowed their gratitude. The burlesque was preceded by the Beggar's Opera, and followed by the Two Bonnycastles. The house was crowded. ADELPIII HEATRE. The new Christmas burlesque at this theatre, Little Red Riding Hood, is founded upon the familiar nursery story of that name. The wolf of the tale is transformed into Wolfram, Baron of Burliburg, " a robber of the Rhine and the rhino," of course repre sented by Mr. Paul Bedford. Miss Kathleen Fit z william is Trudchen, or Little Red Riding Hood, the daughter of. Grimbold (Mr. G. Honey) the Baron's seneschal, a good specimen of a genuine melodramatic villian of the blackest dye. Red Rid ing Hood is provi ded with a lover, Otto Von Rosen (Miss Woolgar), the rightful heir of Burliburg, who by a coup d itat turns out the old Baron and takes his place. Besides these characters, we have Miss E. Harding as Kind. heart, the good fairy of the piece, snd Mr. 0. Smith as Aldebaran, another alias of the " Old Gentleman" who goes about doing mischief for Kind-heart to remedy. It is needless to add that the burlesque was as we ll acted as it was possible. All London playgoers have repeatedly applauded Miss Woolgar as the lover, Paul Bedford as the tyrant, Miss E. Harding as the good and beau tiful fairy, and 0. Smith as the Old Nick of Adelphi burlesques. The present one contains several goo d parodies on popular airs, and ex cellently sung by Paul Bedford, Miss Woolgar, Miss K. Fitz William, who looked like the original Red Riding Hood walked out of the story-book. Two of the scenes, the Submarine Pavilion of the Rhine Witch, and the last, the Blaze of Triumph and Rush of Water, are really gorgeous. The burlesque was perfectly successful, and when somewhat curtailed, will, no doubt, for a considerable time, in the words of the play-bills, produce "an overflow to all parts of the theatre." The performances_ commenced with The Forest Rose, with Mr. Silsbee, and fortu My Pre cious Betsy, with Mr. Wright, who nately seems entirely to have recovered his voice, and, of course, kept the audience in a roar of laughter the whole time be was upon the stage. LYCEUM THEATRE. The holyday season had an auspicious commence ment at this agreeable theatre yesterday evening. Never had a manager better cause to he pleased with an audience, and it is but justice to say that the en thusiastic and rapturous bursts of applaused the so frmore e quently bestowed during the evening, an sub,tantial proofs of approbation afforded by a house crowded to excess in every part, were fully merited by the talented couple who now wield the managerial sceptre at the Lyceum. Long before the com mencement of the performances every awere a bl e corner corner in boxes, pit, and gallery completely occupied, save the seats secured by the box-keeper's notices affixed thereto, and which were looked upon with envy by the less provident parties, who trusted to early arrivals as sufficient is to ensure f a vourable posit ions for the evening. T appointments were, however, submitted to with be coming good humour, for all appeared to think the any temporary inconven ience cheaply purchased by just and proper encouragement thereby amusemafforded ent. to the popular caterers for the publio The entertainments commenced with Mr. Slingsby Lawrence's new and eminently successful comedy, The G.tome of Speculation , his in which Mr. C. Mathews as Affable Hawke, conv ulsed the audience by a dmirable management of his various duns, suiting himself to the disposition of each, alternately bullying and cajoling, until h e not merel y appeased the ruth less creditor, and obtained further breathing time, but also extracted an additional sum from his.pocket, and added largely to the debt which was about to be en forced without the slig h t est further indulgence. His treatment of the old miser Earthworm (Mr. F. Matthews) was peculiarly amusing, getting SOOl. from him just after 31. had been paid as an instalment to save his family from starvation. There is something inspiring in the prospect of a densely crowded house, which had the usual effect, not only on Mr. C. Mathews, but on all the subordinates. Certain it is, that he surpassed himself, and presented one of the most finished pictures that has ever been presented to a London audience. Notwithstanding the anxiety to behold the new labour, which it was truly anticipated would prove a new triumph of the veteran Plancbe, the first piece was listened to with an attention, and as heartily applauded, as if it had constituted the chief attraction of the evening. At length, after a pleasing overture, the curtain once more drew up for The P rince o f Ha ppy Land; or, the Fawn in the Forest. The laureate of fairy land, once more drew on the inexhaustible stores, supplied by the Countess Daulnoy. La Biche au Bois was the tale selected on the present occasion, and Planche has followed the original closely, but w ithout servility. The first scene is a grotto and fountain, at which Nigretta, Princess of Ethiopia, comes to seek the assistance of her fairy godmother, Carahossa, in consequence of being jilted by Prince Felix. The phantom of her rival, the Princess Desi• derata, is raised by the fairy, who promises speedy the veng eance on the Prince and Princess, former by being compelled to marry the sable complainant. The next scene is one of t h ose gorgeous pictures for which the Lyceum has rendered itself remarkable. The fair Desiderata (Miss Lanza) is discovered sleeping in the Point-lace .Chamber in the Tower of Tapers. On waking she communicates a dream to her attendant, Floretta (Madame Vestris—who was received w in which she ith an enthu siastic welcom e on her appearance), sees, and falls violently in love witb, Prince Felix, ac cording to the approved precedent in such cases made and provided. This vision induces her to reject wi'h disdain the addresses of ten potentates, just commu nicated by her father, the Grand Duke of Vert-and venison (Mr. Frank Mathews). An ambassador thentarrives from Happy Land, bringing with him a speaking picture of hi s master, w hich is at once re cognized as the original of the vision, and 'the off however er is at once joyfully accepted. A difficulty arises. The Prince is dying for love, and noth in g but the immediate celebration of the nuptials can preserve his life. On the other hand, the Princess will fall into the power of the Fairy if she beholds f daylight within the first twenty years of her life, o which seven days are as y e t to come. T his impedi ment is removed by the Ambassador undertaking to have her conveyed in a close litter, impervious to the light. There:is then a prospect of,Happy Land, in which the Prince hears with delight of his good fortune, and sets out to meet " his better half half way, Then comes the " Black Gang Chine,": in which the project of the malicious fairy is to be carried into exe cution. The serenaders of the Princess of Ethiopia are engaged to attract the attention of the guards of Desiderata, which they succeed in doing so effectually, that they were loudly encored. The same stho (lu, O e Obsipovl hones") agains e , 11 ; w a ( a ci B oum : lt edseco ndrushedf time paid, and the y f N ,„ i w gr a e r t d ta to ( t i e n ar m d e o r:y n the curtain, and let day-light in upon the unfortunate Desiderata, who is forthwith turned into the Wbite Fa NIL" " The Peerlas Pool," with the grand vaalering of f,:iries for the fruit and flower, is another of those brilliant pictures in which the frequenters of the Lyceum delight. The fairy bullet was admirably performed, and Miss Rosina Wright was greeted in a manner becoming an established favourite. In the second act the faithfdl Floretta is brought by fairies to tha retreat of the White Fawn. Pressing a ring which she had received from her mistress, she sees the fairy Pine Apple, who offers her assist ance to the mistress of the ring. Through her aid Floretta not only obtains an interview with the Fawn, but it is also granted that the Princess shall resume her original form every night at sunset, and retain it until sunrise. Felix, who has lost his way in the forest, receives from a bow and arrow from the Indian Chief Tan-tee-vee and goes in pursuit of the Fawn whom he aims at. The Fawn is brought in wounded, and is known to be the Princess. At nightfall Desiderata herself appears, with the cruel shaft piercing her ear and hand. The fairy Carabossa and Nigretta then appear, and threaten the complete destruction of the unfortunate Princess, which brings on a contest of generosity be• tween the lovers. Floretta, however, again invokes the fairy Pine Apple, who restores happiness, con quering the malignant Carabossa and her sable protege. The piece, concludes with a scene of extraordinary splendour surpassing even theaconcluding tableaux of King Charming, or, the Queen of, the Frogs. The curtain fell amid torrents of rapturous applause, during which Madame Vestris and Miss Julia St. George, who performed the Prince most admirably, were called for and led before the curtain in turn; a compliment which many were disposed to pay to Miss Lanza, who made a decided hit on her first appearance, and who will prove a valuable acquisition to the company, as well as a vocalist has an actress. OLYMPIC THEATRE. The genius of pantomime has certainly taken up ber abode at the Olympic. Could the celebrated John Rich re-visit the scenes of his labours and triumphs, be would, doubtless, at this plum-pudding period, make a friendly call upon his brethren in Wych-street. In fact, no one can do better, if he desires to witness a pantomime of the good old English standard, whose effect is heightened by the inventions and improve ments of modern pantomimic science, and not destroyed by the unnecessaryinnovations of pretending reformers, than visit the company of the veteran Farren. The occupants of the gallery, after all, though their up roarious conduct and free criticism, would have led to the supposition that they were the most tremendous of reformers and innovators, are as much wedded to old customs and usages as Sir Harry Inglis or Col. Sibthorpe themselves. To them the pathetic song of " the old woman and ber hot codlings" has a peculiar charm, and the thieving propensities of the Clown, and the roguish connivance of the Pantaloon, an endur ing interest and attraction. The success last night was not equivocal, but as great as any ambi tious author could desire. To say this, however, is almost superfluous, when it is known that the prolific brain of Nelson Lee—the very im personation of pantomime himself—supplied the budget of fun, wit, and jollity for the delectation and amusement of the audience. His former efforts were a guarantee that he would not fail on the present occasion. For a period now nearly reaching over a quarter of a century he has endea voured, and that successfully, to excite the risible faculties of little and great children during their Chrismas holidays. He would seem to be a dweller in fairy land, who drops down among us just before boxing-day, to make us acquainted with the nymphs and other beings in the other region, in whose society he takes such especial pleasure. This year history forms the ground-work of the pantomime, and Nelson Lee's fancy, which, of course, has a considerable range, supplies the superstructure. He instructs as well as amuses. The period chosen is the beginning of the twelfth century; the subject William Rufus, the red-haired and red-whiskered monarch ; and the scenes Harrow-on-the. Hill, Westminster, and the New Forest. Hume and Smollet have not been followed to the letter, nor is Doomsday Book sup posed to give a correct account of the situation or relative distances of the spots selected—but that is nothing. In the first scene we are trans ported to the magical Halls of Fiction, on the island of Great Romance. Certain sprites, overpowered by cloud and difficulty are pouring ever heavy story books to find a subject to please their mistress— Great Romance, a story-teller of imaginative disposi tion—on her return from earth. This pompous lady, who is well supported by Miss Rawlings, suddenly appears from the regions below, and, after a brief con sultation with her servants, resolves " To call on fact to aid her in her diction, Then form a pantomime of fact founded on fiction." By a magic whirlwind the spectator travels to the enchanted Grove of Daffydowndillys, where there is a questionable union of fact and fiction. Here Miss Wyndham Snowdrop leads the mazy dance, followed by a stream of animated beauty. This fancy ball /es Jullien, is kept up with great spirit by the corps de ballet, who are attired in the most light and beau tifully coloured of fairy dresses, and look charm ingly. Miss Wyndham is not only a graceful and agile dancer, but a good actress and vocalist, and possesses the additional qualifications of a good leg and ancle and a pretty face. The arrival of Queen Fancy (Miss J. Adams) in an enchanted car of animated butterflies, leads to the consummation of Great Romance's idea, and the pantomime is forth. with named Red Rufus ; or, Harlequin Fact, Fiction, and Fancy. The plot is simple and intelligible :—Sir Walter Tyrrell, the renowned archer, is to be united to the Faire Alice Bullseye, the daughter of a bow and arrow merchant, of Harrow-on-the-Hill. King Rufus has a passion for her, and desires to . satisfy it by the destruction of Tyrrell's hopes. Accordingly, after the curfew had tolled the knell of parting day, and warned people to put out their fires and candies and go to bed, he comes, in company with his friend Beauclerk, to Harrow, and carries off the fair maiden to Westminster. Rufus subsequently has a dream, in which he is told "Rufus, Rufus, Red, To-morrow will your life be sped." But disregarding the warning, he goes on the mor row to hunt in the New Forest, wo suppose by rail way, for he journeys thither very quick, and then loses himself amidst the labyrinths of that rich plantation. Tyrrell has followed his foot steps with a determination to be revenged, and when in a lonely part of the forest attacks him, sword in hand. A fierce combat ensues, and, after much fighting, which elicited loud and hearty laughter from the audience, they give in, from exhaustion, ne ither having succeeded in inflicting a fatal blow. Tyrrell takes advantage of the pause to send an arrow into the eye of the hunting monarch, from which be eventally dies. Then comes the transfor mation of characters. Mr. A. F. Forest is Harle quin, Miss Lees Columbine, Mr. G. Tanner Panta loon, and Mr. Edwin F. Edwards Clown. They all sustained their parts in a way which redounded much to their credit. Mr. Edwin Edwards deserves especial notice; he is inferior to no Clown in modern times, and promises to become one of the first favourites in London, where he appeared last night for the first time. As a tumbler he is certainly unsurpassed ; one of his great hits was walking backwards and forwards upon a ball up an inclined plane, and then descending in a similar way. He exhibits two dogs, which are the most skilfully-trained specimens of the canine race we ever saw ; they waltz, play at leapfrog, ascend and descend ladders, and perform other acts which none could believe un less be saw them. The scenery was splendid through out, arid the dresses said much for the taste and ex ecution of Mr. G. Allen and Mrs. Rawlings. Mr. Shalders, who is the scene painter of the establish ment, enacted the part of Rufus with his usual broad comicality. The allusions to the events and topics of the day were few and far between, but all were good. Among the best hits was one with reference to the s p l a e t e e p n e t r exhibitioni bed,ulparticular t h e h a u d r , w h h u ic h tt h n r o o t w only n h l i y m w u a p ke on s the the floor. The clown was the victim in this case. The first piece, the Road to Ruin, was listened to with some impatience and interruption, though the caste was excellent and the acting very good. The only drawback last night was the announcement that Mr. Diddesr, who was to have been Sulky, was too in disposed to appear, and that Mr. Cooke would read the part—an apology which was received in the best pos sible humour. PRINCESSES' THEATRE. 1 To announce the production of a new piece at this 1 theatre without having at the same time to record its legitimate and complete triumph would cause no little astonishment to ourselves or to our readers. Such is the admirable spirit of its management, liberal in outlay, exact in discipline, and clear-sighted in taste, that nothing unworthy of approbation is brought upon the boards ; whilst the efficiency of the troupe, individually and in the aggregate, guarantees the success of the representation as far as depends upon the performers. We looked forward, consequently, with perfect security to reaping considerable enjoy ment from assisting at the representation of the pan tomime ushered into public existence last evening; but we are compelled in justice to confess that, as regards comic richness and variety, the agreeable an ticipation was exceeded by the reality. In the department of dialogue it is much smarter than the Christmas piece of last year, and, in the strictly pantomimic, the achievements of the Grimaldi and Eller of the day, with their associates, are exhaustive of the vocabulary of praise. A nautical adventurer, celebrated in familiar song, is the hero of the piece which has been launched upon the tide of popular favour under the title of Harle quin Billy Taylor; or the Flying Dutchman and the King of Raritongo, and in which the fortunes of Mr. William Taylor are set forth in the manner fol- lowing. The opening scone discloses the submarine ca,veres of he IN erei3ee, wrier° the deep sea nymphs sad trizons are beheld in gleaming garb The fairies Corelia (Miss Yivesh) reed (Miss Desbo rough) discuss the goods they have iu store fur their favoured hero, but their anticipations are frustrated by the unexpected appearance of Britannia enthroned oe one of her wooden walls, a scenic effect which was greatly applauded. The ()Jean Queen dismisses a press-gang to seize the fated Billy, who in the succeeding scene is discovered in busy preparation at the sartorial board for his approaching marriage. The wedding suit donned by his representative (Mr. F. Cooke) is one of the most ludicrous fashion, and the aspect of his lady-love (Mr. Wynn), as a full blown Bloomer, equally provocative of mirth. This clever pair of actors contributed a large quota to the jollities of the induction. The press-gang seize their victim, who makes a deadly resistance with a monstrous pair of shears, and transfer him to the " gallant Thunderbomb," the quarter• deck of which is next beheld crowded with tars in masks of laugh able hideou ness. They are speedily boarded by the Flying Dutchman (Mr. Leber) and his ghastly crew, and after a tremendous engagement Billy Taylor jumps overboard, and is cast on the shores of Rari tongo. The moonlit scene of the marine residence of the sable King of t his region is exquisitely beautiful. Here he is on the point of espousing the Princess of the royal nigger -house, basely preferring ambitious pros pects to his early love, when his faithful betrothed, who has followed him in disguise of a sailor, "under the name of Richard Carr," avenges herself by shoot ing him through the head. As Richard Carr, Wynn manifested a highly appropriate development of fun ' datnental symmetry. Britannia again comes on the scene, and restoring the defunct delinquent to exist ence, transforms the leading personages. Billy Tay lor becomes harlequin (Mr. Cormack), his true-love i changed to Columbine (Miss Carlotta Leclercq), the King of Raritongo to Clown (Mr. Flexmore), and the valorous Admiral of the Thunderbomb, whose top-boots denoted his commandership of the Horse Marines, to Pantaloon (Mr. Paulo). Rich and rare were the consequent freaks and boundless the approval of the spectators. The " hits" flew fast and thick, and scene followed scene till an inimitable climax was arrived at in " The Bird's-eye View of London by Moon light," in which the serenading of Clown and myriads of cats upon the house-tops baffles all description. It was literally " a screamer," and the Brothers Sala and Mr. Ellis here worthily brought their excellent store of mirth to a crowning pitch of glory. " The Home of Britannia in the Floral Realms of Light" brought down the curtain amidst unanimous testimonies of adhesion. The success was unqualified, and de servedly so, for the pantomime both possesses intrinsic merit, and is superbly put upon the stage. Cormack, who received a very warm welcome, fully sustained his reputation as the prince of harlequins. The brilliant activity and finish of his dancing excited great applause. Miss Leclerq, to a spirited and re fined agility, adds a piquant joyousness that renders her impersonation of Columbine singularly happy and fascinating. La Belle Carlotta, who is thinner than she was last season, wore, last night, a most tasteful yet simple attire, which became her exceed ingly, and helped to make her look the character to perfection. If Falser be the Empress, then Le Clercq is the Queen of Columbines. Flexmore, the "great gun " of the affair, was hailed with a universal feu de joie of affectionate greeting, and• rattled through his nefarious career amid continous explosions of mirth. His customary imitation of the Stars of the Ballet were most effective, and the assumption of suitable costumes which he has now introduced lent them a novel and peculiar zest. He had an immensity to do and did it iamensely well. Paulo, well kiinvn as a satisfactory representative of the hoary caitiff Panta loon, did his decoirs well,; and last and least in sta ture, but not in merit, we must rnake mention of Miss Kate Terry, who was a most regal little Bri tannia in the introduction, and in the last scene bat one danced a Mazourka wonderfully well. This very clever little creature yielded the most marked plea sure to the juvenile portion of the audience in parti cular. In this pantomime the scenery, dresses, and appointments are in first class style, the tricks capi tal, and the piece from beginning to end " all alive." If any "cutting down" be deemed essential, we re commend that it be done with a very sparing hand, and that there be no omission or transposition of scenes. There was nothing in the slightest degree to be excepted to on the score of tedious ness, and it should be borne in mind that every pantomine shrinks of itself some twenty or thirty minutes after the first night or two. In short, the management have produced an entertainment blame less in the composition, the getting up, and the per formance, and whoever wishes to enjoy a thoroughly good legitimate pantomime will find no reason to re pent an evening's visit to Harlequin Billy Taylor. The house was crowded frem top to bottom long be fore the conclusion of the first piece, the Merchant cf Venice, of which some of the less important portions passed off in dumb show, owing to occasional ebulli dons of inconvenient hilarity on the part of the gods. There must have been at least a thousand persons in the pit, and the denseness of the Olympian region was something awful to contemplate. At the fall of the curtain a call was raised for Flexmore, who came forward and claimed indulgence for the imperfections necessarily attendant on a first night's representation. The performances were over shortly after twelve. 1 ,dgf t oar Sot' ,r lb; [ n uts, 0114; 00. - ! ieve 7 o en ; 9 d V' 5 O d ; 5. 1 10 d; Is. Lob' d s P cl ar 6 . alto°' d ; '4' 9 f 1.4411 lid• 0 7 2 L b olb w 61b t° Calf 1 pd; rs °a/ )0103* ClOl . IOW offe r r loo' owle t r los& 9 61 ;1,4°6:16 , 3! 6,9 1 " 0' - 10 i:P° of itA fe°lb ' 0 0 Otte .01 1. a i° too' V ofe oil ' 0 ° ,f 1; c op ciJoeo o Oie ,t oAbe r os' Xi 6 4 . 6 , !file d ° cid # co vei 00 0 01 1 1( #0 5 .0 0 1 ,0 0 100 ;rl4,Pr PUNCH'S PLAYHOUSE. This neat a- nd comfortable little temple of amuse ment has undergone many mutations, but was never applied to so excellent a purpose as when under the modern designation of Puach's Playhouse; and the title is not altogether inapt, for what Punch is to the reading public this theatre is to playgoers who love the ridiculous and comic as presented on a stage. There are no three or four-act pieces, whose merit, if any,. is lost in their extreme length; and as brevity is the soul of wit, so th e managers here condense their productions as Punch does his pungent para graphs. The Christmas novelties produced at this theatre last night commenced with a new comedy by Mr. R. B. Brough, entitled the Twelve Labours of Hercules. The principal chaiater is the Chevalier de Murilac (Mr. Walter Lacy),' who unites in his per son the characters of a drunkard, a gambler, and a profligate, falls in love with' the indifferent to his the Countess de L'Es trange (Mrs. Copela n d), w h o l at tachment. Not at all d aunte d by her expressed dislike, he pursues her w ith t h e grea t es t perseverance until, at last, to rid h e r se lf o f hi s importunities, she im poses upon him twelve c onditions, agreeing to be come his wi▪ fe if he sum( ds is observing them for cause Lela, an op era d ancer Miss Marshall), who the space of 24 hou rs . Th ese . are to avoid swearing, drinking, gambli ng , d ue lli ng, to P ay his debts, to is attached to him, t o h ate hi m; to learn to dance, to compose verses, ( &o. He appli e sbimself to his task, and the d iffleulties in his w a y f or m the plot of thei pece lie is, however, marri e d to t he Countess, this event being aided by L e l a h ersel f , and all ends happily. The piece is e xcee di ng l y we ll written, and the dia logue is smart an d w i tty. V w as capitally played, and the miss en scene excellent. The actors and actresses did full justice to their parts. At the fall of the curtain the principal characters and the author were su mmone d b e f o re it, and the piece was announced for repetition amidst general applause. The entertainment s conc l u d e d w ith an extravaganza, called The Mand ar i n ' s D aug ht t r, being the Simple Story of the Willow P a tt ern Pla te. This is a most amusing production. The story is slight, but the plot has furnished scope of one for the most amusing pieces ever produced at this theatre. It was perfectly and deservedly successful, and it reflects great credit upon Mr. E. Sti▪ rling, the manager, for the excellent and splendid way in which it is got up. Mr. Rogers, in the course of tne piece, convulsed the house with laughter with his apparent sufferings from sea-siok ness. His acting was really excellent, and in this point painfully natural. The house was well attended. SADLER'S IVELLS THEARE. Last evening the Temple ()f Fancy of the Isling tonians, 'yclept "the Wells," attracted one of the largest and merriest audiences we ever remember to have seen even at this famous stronghold of panto mime. The Christmas entertainments provided for the holiday-makers commenced with Bulwer's beautiful play of The Lady of Lyon s , which, as is generally the case with the first piece on a Boxing-night, was nearly gone through in dumb show. Miss Cooper appeared to sustain the part of Pauline very beauti fully—we say appeared, for, under the circumstances, it was impossible to hear hardly two succeeding sen tences. Having arrived at the fifth act of the play, nothing then could be heard except the words " the pantomime," and the falling of the curtain was the signal for a hearty round of applause. The panto mime is from the pen of Mr. Greenwood, and is en titled harlequin and the Yellow Dwarf; or, the En chanted Orange Tree and the King of the Golden Mines. The opening scene is the Court of Revels in the ancient Palace of Old Style, where the Abbot of Misrule, attended by various well-known characters, from Tom Thumb up to Sir Roger de Coverley, are represented enjoying themselves in a very pleasing though somewhat old-fashioned manner. Their amusements are, however, speedily checked by the entrance of 0!cl Style, who tells them that their noses are put out of joint by the rapid improvements of the fast-going present age. This is confirmed by the appearance of New Style, who expresses her contempt for her pre decessor's taste, and quickly changes the scene to the Temple of Design in the Realms of Invention, where, after showing him how things ought to be dona in these times of improvement, she consents to allow him one short hour for the production of his Christmas annual, of which the old gentleman takes advantage, by at once changing the scene to the en , chanted Orange Grove, with a distant view of tl - e Sandy Desert by sunset. Here we are introduced to the Princess Allfair (Miss de Vere), attended by her rubynose guards, who, afflicted by that fatal curiosity to which most ladies are said to tr.ve always had un fortunately a tendency, d, termines, in spite of the en treaties of her attendants, to taste the fsrnid,en fruit. Of course she does so; but the fatal consequences of her indiscretion are averted by the appear ance of the Yellow Dwarf (Mr. 'Thorne), who being mesmerised by her charms, falls into the pit of love, and obtains her promise for their future nuptials. To show his gratitude, he immediately changes the scene to the Emerald Boudoir of the Princess Alifair, where the Princess is discovered fast asleep in bed, much to the delight of her anxious mother, Golconda, Queen of the Rubynoses (Mr. Naylor), who, having cheered the spirits of her daughter and herself by a substantial breakfast, prepares to receive as graciously as most mammas do a rich suitor for her daughter, in the person of California, King of the Gold Mines (Mr. C. Fenton), who now enters, attended by bis metallic guards. His courtship is cut very short by the sudden appearance of the Yellow Dwarf, who, after sundry encounters, carries her off in triumph to the Giant's Courtyard of the Polished Steel Castle. Here, after many gigantic difficulties, the pursuers, by the aid of the Desert Fairy and Smorls park, a very active sprite, obtains an entrance. The scene now changes to the Hall of a Hundred Steps, where the Yellow Dwarf is attempting to prevent the necessity of an action for breach of promise. In this, however, spite of his endeavours to captivate his mis tress by the magical illustration of the various senses, he is frustrated, and being disturbed by the entrance of the King of the Golden Mines and the young lady's distracted family, a struggle ensues, the issue of which would be very doubtful, but for the entrance of the Desert Fairy, who changes the face of things. The Hall of a Hundred Steps becomes the Brilliant Palace of Diamonds, and the various personages are transformed into the usual pantomimic characters. The comic business consisted of puns and hits, some of them good and others remarkable for their pro fundity. Fenton made a good Harlcquin, and Miss De Vere a very graceful Columbine. Mr. Rochez was hardly up to the mark as Clown, Naylor and Thorn as Pantaloon and Sprite were both excellent. The very clever performances of Master Rochez as Little Sprite, and Master Still as Little Clown, also deserve to be recorded. The scenery, by Mr. F. Fenton and Mr. Wright, was the subject of general admiration. The pantomime was perfectly successful. MARYLEBUNE THEATRE. Great pains and liberality appear to have been be stowed at this theatre on the productien of the Christ mas pantomime, which rejoices in the titlelof Sir John Barleycorn ; or Harlequin Champagne and the Fairies of the Hop send Vine. The Harlequin and Columbine wero highly meritorious. The celebrated Tom Matthews, a host in himself, was Clown and the character of Sprite was admirably sustained by H. Wright, who played with much applause the last two seasons at the Princess's. This talented artist made a decided hit last evening at the Marylebone, proving himself a trump card tbr the management. He is likely to become an immense favourite with the frequenters of the theatre. The pantomime was thoroughly successful and prouni,es to have a long and profitable run. ASTLE Y'S THEATRE. The pieces produced at this house last evening were Azael the Prodigal, and an original, equestrian, comic pantomime, introducing the whimsical per plexities, escapes, dilemmas, and extraordinary adven tures of the father of a family, taken from Punch, ex pressly for .this theatre, entitled Arr. awl Mrs. Briggs; or, Harlequin Punch's Festival. The audience were first introduced to " the Dell of Dire Confusion, on the Borders of Fairy Land." Dame Nature ar rives in her emblematic car of state, drawn by six highly caparisoned horses, and exclaims— " I cannot sleep, Pm in a furious passion; Dame Nature now is getting out of fashion!" The hissing of a railway engine is next heard, and Art arrives on his new steam•propeller. Art re lates his new inventions, at which Nature laughs. Art exclaims—" You may laugh, you merry rattling cricket; but I have invented a new look." Nature replies, " Yes, for Hobbs to pick it." Even tually, Nature and Art becomes friends, and unite for the purpose of providing a new pantomime for the coming year. Art, to show his power, changes the abode of Nature to the " Palace of Glass." Wit, Satire, and Jollity are then summoned by Punch, and two subjects are presented—Mrs. Caudle and Mr. Briggs. It is needless to say Briggs is instantly chosen, and Art directs Punch to " Depart to Earth, your fortune try, What you have to keep well open is your weather eye." The audience were next introduced to both the exterior and interior of Mr. Briggs's house, and to an infinity of laughter-stirring scenes, the leading incidents of which have recently characterised the pages of Punch. Mr. Briggs eventually assumes Clown (Mr. Arthur Nelson) ; Mrs. Briggs, Panta loon (Mr. Ruckman) ; Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Brigg's Salley's sweetheart, Harlequin (Mr. W.H. Harvey) ; and Salley, Columbine (Miss T. Avery). The ordinary freaks of the Clown, the imbecility of Pan taloon, the sprightliness of Harlequin, and the grace of Columbine, terminated a very amusing and mirth exciting pantomime, of which Mr. Nelson Lee is the author. The house was crowded. THE GREAT GLOBE. Mr. Wyld's Model of the Globe is decidedly one of the most instructive and interesting exhibitions now open to the public. The graphic descriptions of the gentlemen who officiate as guides, and conduct, as it were, in half-an-hour, the spectator over the whole earth, completely obviates the objections raised by some critics as to the usefulness of the model, upon the suppposition that it was necessarily upon too small a scale, No map, however, could give so ac curate an idea of the general features of our planet ; and not only the situation, but the relative size of continent and island, river and mountain, are instan taneously presented to the view. We were glad to observe that, of all the exhibitions which it was yes terday our duty to visit, Mr. Wyld's Model appeared to have by far the largest number of visitors. SERI SOMMER'S CONCERTS. The first of a series of concerts by this gentleman iolras tedby evening the a p t sr l ion V mc i i l pra l iaesl'rlsoypof operatic Rooms. The en tertainments w a s givenet. mconsistedßand, who appeared in full nati ve costume,h on i o nn selec tionsd Hungarianexe cuted variety of popular airs with precision and effect. M. Dupont gave an illustration from the Prophete on the piano, which well deserved the rap turous applause it elicited, and at the request of one of the audience he extemporised a number of brilliant variations on a popular Irish air. Herr Sommer performed a fantasia from Puritani on the Sommero phorn, thei, powerful in.trument which attracted so much attention and admiration at the Great Exhibi tion. The vocal part of the entertainment was ade quately sustained by Madlle. Therese Magner and M. Jorez, who sang some German and French airs. The audience, which consisted chiefly of foreigners, was tolerably numerous, and seemed highly gratified by the performances, notwithstanding the indecisions apparent in the management, and the vexatious omis sions and alterations that were made in the.programme. PROPOSED ROYAL << MARIONETTE" THEATRE. On the site of the once popular Gallery of Practical Science, in Adelaide-street, Strand; a very elegant theatre has just been constructed for the performance of a troupe of artistes of an extraordinary character. The humorous vaudeville, the interesting spectacle, the comic bur lesque, and the 'elegant ballet, will here be repre sented by " Marionettes," or :mechanical figures of such exquisite construction, that every movement and every action will, it is said, fairly rival those of their human contemporaries. " There is speech in their dumbness, Language in their very gesture."— Winter's Tale. The scenery to be used in this extraordinary per formance will be remarkable for artistic truth, the dresses for splendour and strict adherence to histo rical authority, and the decorations for gorgeousness and correctness. The first performance will take place next week. DESTRUCTION OF THE GLOUCESTER HOTEL, GREEN WICII, BY FlRE.—Yesterday (Friday) morning between twelve and one o'clock, a mounted police-constable of the R division arrived at the London engine stations with intel ligence of a serious fire having broken out in Silver. street, Greeenwich. The moment the news was received, Mr. Hen derson, the chief officer of the D section of the London esta blishment, started to the scene with en engine and a power ful body of firemen, and wcs iollowcd by Mr. Connorton with the West of England engine. On entering Greenwich they found the spacious range of premises belonging to Mr. A. Larkins, and termed the Gloucester Hotel, in a regular blaze. The building, which was about three limes the size of an or dinary house, stood in Silver-street, and at one period it was feared that every place near would havefellen aprey to the fury of the flamer. The engines of the parish, is well as those from 1 the Royal College and her Majesty's dockyard, had previously uh i n g s ' o a r n o l u o l u l h y e : arrived, and being supplied with an abundance of water is th n us from the Kent mein, the police and inhabitants were fortunately enabled to cut off the extension of the fire in the direction of the other buildings, during the time lost in i reducedwot n h e e nbt m u tt a on i main otwbuoao until kht y i el mosts a o , f ws fi ehr a ii flame. sending to town for additional assistance, but they could not and with the rssistance of the local aid eventually succeeded L o i if succeedsubduingndon valuablefi remen,ia t ec o extinguishing property nfi awgr# therefore,as reported by Mr. Superintendent Braidwood :—" The Glou cester Hotel, in Silver-street, Greenwich, about two-thirds the building and its contents destroyed." No. 1, . of street, Mr. W. Doo, tobacconist, contents seriously , l in the d same by removal. Mr. Larkins wcs insured in ,the IYCentinFigre office for the contents, end the building ' e insured in the Royal Exchange Office, but Mr, 1) was insured. The . GO was not origin of the fire ii unknown. "Go IT, BOOTS." -1 Mrs. Boots, of Pennsylvania has left her husband, Mr. • Boots, an d strayed to parts un known. We pres ume this pair of boots are rights and le fts. We cannat say, howev er , that Mrs. Boots is right , but there is no mistake Mr. Boots is left... d ime, icon Paper. RESIGNATION OF LORD PALMERSTON, (FROM A CORRISPONDLNT.) It is but fair to recollect that one side only of the explanation necessary to clear up the mystery (for a ralp tory it is at present) of Lord Palmerston's retire ment from a cabinet, of which he was always a lead ing and by far the most popular member, is before the public; and it is important to keep steadily in view the fact, that the side of the case which has been given comes from a journal which has invariably endeavoured to alienate his late colleagues from Lord Palmerston—which, as the organ of the Russian and Austrian embassies, has pursued him with unabated rancour, hostility, and calumny—and which was first and foremost in that intrigue that was last summer exploded and defeated by the memorable majority of the House of Commons on Mr Roebuck's motion. Great caution is, therefore, necessary before any be lief can be reposed in the statements made in the sense in which they are propounded. Lord Palmerstun's signal services to the Liberal cause, his past devotion to constitution a l government, his high, frank, and courageous n beari - g on all occa sions, his generous sentiments and his p o p u l ar man ners, all require, nay demand f rom the Liberal party hesitation before they can cr e dit the assertiontha t he belied the principles c expressing f his life, b y " unbounded approbation end ad m i ra ti on for P ie d'etat that annihilated the lib e rti es o f France." This is too huge b draught on popular credulity in the broad, unexplained, and coarse manner in which it is put, to go down with a public which has hitherto known him as by far the most advanced and liberal Foreign Secretary England ever had. Besides, it is accompanied by other demands on popular gullibility of a still more difficult character. We are required first to believe that a Court, from the hospitalities and courtesies of which (notwith standing some gratitude was due to him for his con duct and policy in Portugal) he was for upwards of twelve months excluded, and to which he has of late been only once re-admitted, has given Lord Palmers • ton that uninterrupted confidence and support which were peculiarly and emphatically necessary for a Foreign Minister in his exceptional and difficult po sition; with the representative of every despot bat tering at him without, and hostile critics and col leagues annoying him within the Cabinet. This the liberal party cannot credit. Lord Palmerston, be his present error and fault what they may, had not, it is certain, that fair play in high quarters which every Secretary of State needs, but which to him, under such circumstances, was indispensable. Next, we are required to believe that those wretched animosities and pitiful jealousies which Mr. Macaulay, in his letter to the Lord Provost of Edin burgh, plainly stated, prevented the formation of a liberal administration towards the close of 1846, never entered the present Minhtry ; we are required to be lieve that Lord Palmerston's policy was never opposed in the Cabinet ; we are required to believe, that it was most frequently and most energetically supported therein by a peer, who never opened his lips yin the Greek debate in the House of Lords ; and more than all, we are required to believe that on Monday that Noble Lord was ignorant of the cause which bad in duced Lord John Russell to hastily assemble a Cabi net Council to receive Lord Palmerston's resignation ; although we are at the same time told that another Members of the Cabinet connected with his Lordship, who did not attend, had declared he would never again enter a council-room in which Lord Palmerston was present. This is what the liberal party cannot credit. It needs something much more authoritative than our contemporary's statement to exculpate some of Lord Palmerston's colleagues from the imputation of unfairness to him. And lastly, more startling than all, we are re quired to believe that the despots of Europe, that the " strong governments" of the Continent, that hostile diplomacy in London, that the ambassadorial intrigues which Lord John Russell denounced in the House of Commons, as the cause of the Greek con spiracy against Lord Palmerston, were all quiescent on the 'present occasion ; when, at the same time, it is stated that Lord Palmerston " approved of a coup d'etat which annihilated liberty in France," in order that he might form an alliance with France to counter-weight the northern confederacy. Tbis the liberal party will also hesitate in crediting. For it will ask itself, who gains by Lord Palmerston's retire ment? Who? Why Russia and Austria, tyranny and despotism. Yet, with the innocence of lambs, their ministers in London had nothing to do with the matter. They opened and shut their eyes ; and some one dropped the sugar plum in ! Simple souls ! Lord Palmerston's recent conduct may have been indefensible ; but it is not on such gobemoucherie as this that he can be condemned. His strength, his support, his existence lay in the liberality of his policy. It was on that ground that the House of Commons so emphatically sanctioned his proceedings in Greece ; it was on that ground that municipality after municipality lately thanked him for his exer tions in the liberation of Kossuth ; it was on that ground that he was hated and detested by continen tal despots ; it was on that ground that his less liberal colleagues carped at, and,—it may yet turn out—at last betrayed him. It is not credible, there fore, that he admired and approved of a policy which annihilated liberty in France; be may have hesitated from rushing into hot hostility with an usurper capa ble of seeking support from any quarter, and daring any crime. That is possible. Probable, too, it may be that Lord Palmerston, saw danger in the continued struggle between a discredited Assembly and a des perate adventurer. But that the Minister who created constitutional government in Belgium—who rescued Spain from absolutism—who successfully defended the Swiss from the intrigues of the Jesuits when backed by Austria and France—who stretched forth his hand to Italy—who declared that the Hungarians were not rebels—and who has lost no opportunity of avowing that in his judgment civil liberty is the only basis of national happiness—desired to see military violence permanently rule France, cannot be true, unless, indeed, the vigorous intellect and the fine mind of Lord Palmerston have, for the instruction of mankind, been suddenly sillicted with insanity. If, however, he did really desire such a fall for France , no punishment that public opinion can devise is too signal for such treachery. What, then, is the conclusion to be reached ? That the circumstances which led to Lord Palmarston's re tirement have yet to be fully explained. And justice to him requires from the liberal party that it suspend its judgment until he himself shall have been heard.— Daily News. PRIVY COUNCIL. WINDSOR, FaIDAY..--Her .Majesty held a Privy Council at Windsor Castle, at three o'clock this afternoon. The Council was attended by his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Marquis of Lansdowne (Lord President), the Lord Chancellor, Lord John Russell (First Lord of the Treasury), Sir George Grey (Secretary of State for the Home Department), Earl Grey (Secretary of State for the Colonies), the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere (President of the Board of Trade), the Right lion. Fox Maule '(Secretary at War), the Marquis of Clanricarde (Postmaster- General), Lord Seymour (First Commissioner of Public Works and Buildings), Earl Granville, and the Marquis of Westminster (Lord Steward). Her Majesty having been pleased to appoint the Right Hon. Granville George, Earl Granville, to be one of her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, he was this day, hy command of her Majesty, sworn one of her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State ac cordingly. Mr. C. Greville was clerk of the Council in waiting. The Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord John Russell, and Earl Granville had audience of her Majesty. Earl Granville received from the Queen his seals of office as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The Court was attended by Lord Edward Howard, Vice-Chamberlain ; the Marquis of Ormonde, Lord in Waiting ; and Colonel the Hon. N. Hood, Groom in Waiting. The Earl of Westmoreland had an audience of the Queen. The Lord Chancellor, Sir George Grey, Earl Grey, the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Right Hon. Fox Maule, Earl Granville, the Marquis of Westminster, Mr. C. Greville, and Lord Edward Howard, travelled from London by a special train on the Great Western Railway Ito attend the Council. Lord John Russell travelled from Pembroke-lod ge, Richmond-park; ; and the Marqui s o f L ansdowne ' and Lord Seymour arrived from Bowood-pa rk , Wiltshire. The Right H on . Henry Labouc here came from Stoke. After the Council the Marquis of Lansdowne an d Lord Seymour returned to Bowood, Lord John Rus sell returned to Richmond, Labouchere to Stok e . and the Right lion. 414 . The Lord Chancellor , E arl Granville, and the rest of the Ministers and Officers of State , returned to London by special train on the Great W estern Rail way, taking their departure from the Castle at twenty minutes past four o'clock. Luncheon was served to the official circle in the Castle, precious the P r ivy Council. ROY AL MARIN • Eg —WOOLWICH, DEC. 26.—PRo tionoNs AND ArrormiuNTs.—Colonel Second Commandant John' Rawlins Coryton, of the Plymouth division, to be Colonel-Comman dant, and appointed to the same division, race Gordon, retired. Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Giles, of Chatham divisiou, to be Colonel Second Commandant, and appointed to Plymouth, vice Coryton. Brevet-Major James Whitcomb, of the Chatham division. to be Lieutenant Colonel, and appointed to the same division, vice Giles. First Lieutenant Richard ' Farmer, of the Plymouth di v i s i on, to be Captain, and appointed to the Chatham division, vice Whitcomb. Second Lieutenant Dixon Whidbey Curry, of the Plymouth division, to be First Lieutenant, an d appointed to the same division, vice.Farmar. DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM B. COOKE, BART.--We have to record the demise of Sir William Bryan Cooke, Bart., of Wheatley.hall, near Doncaster. The deceased gentleman WA3 in his 69th year, haying been born in 1792. NAVAL INTI-,LLIGENCE. MALTA, DLC• 19.-110 Ercbch sleaLiar Osiris due here on the I3th inst., 1 14v i ug damt.ged her rudder very seriously by gating on c h ore in the bay of Aboukir, has been detained at Alexaudria for repair, and the Nil has beau ordered to carry on her mails. She arrived here this morning. We have no movements among the shipping. Balls and parties are the order of the day, and the winter season promises to be unusually gay. The accident which befell Mr. Magrath, as men tioned in our last, has proved lighter than was at first reported, and the young mau has escaped with a severe concussion of the brain. The greatest hopes are now entertained that the sufferer will be pre served. On the opening of the Council yesterday, Sir W. Reid gave the following address " We are met this day in consequence of adjourn ment from the 26th of August, 1851. " On meeting the Council of Government for the first time I wish here publicly, but briefly, to express the earnest wish I feel that the recent change in this Council, by which elective members have been intlo duced into it, may prove a beneficial measure for all interests concerned. "In order to work out the principle of elective as semblies successfully, forbearance in pressing new measures and calmness in discussion are amongst the first requisites. Jr see discussion, reg u l a t e d b y estab lished rules, is an essential element to representative bodi es . But the gradual solution of political problems, which were formerly ill understood, is rendering pro tracted discussion less necessary, and tending to re move party spirit from legislative assemblies. We requir e t o meet h ere i n order to give legality to our proceedings, but much advantage would be derived from habituall y consu lting with each other upon pro posed measures , and endeavouring to mature them, and to ag ree upon them, before t h ey are f orma ll y in troduced in C ouncil the elective principle,. Th e Crown, whilst admitting h , of t a h s . w in Council. It will be for us here so to conductour proceedings as to wisely Queen reserved the right of legislating by order give as few occ as i ons as possible for the exercise of this reserved ri g ht. We should admit no difference between elective M em b ers and Members named by the Crown. It sh a ll b e my constant endeavour to protect all the rights of' elected Members as the best guarantee for unit e d action inthis Council. Never losing sight of I mperial interests,we should all of us endeavour to c ement still closer the union of Malta with England, by s t r i v i ng tna in terests of the Maltese peopl e . advance the " I find it is intended to erect a light-house on the western extremity of Gor, , , and I have been instructed to propose a short ordinance for commutingt c ton nage dues to be paid by steam- vesse l s. If you pass e this ordinance, it will becom e m y d uty to urg the completion of the light-house as speedily as pO - ssible. I can scarcely conceive an object of deep er i nterest to humanity than that of erecting beaco ns to guide the mariner in danger, and happily the erection of such lights coincides with commercial interests. " I have observed with great satisfaction Your de sire to improve your charitable institutions. A pro posal will be submitted to you for carrying out still further these intentions by the erection of new build ings, for a lunatic asylum and a poor-house. If you agree to their construction, I recommend you to c ome to an early decision regarding . the sites you m a y yoursel ves pre f er for these buildings, in order that they may be begun without delay. " These two subjects will be brought before you to day. The subjects of the different codes, in which you have a great interest, I hope w ill b e procee d ed with at our next meeting." PoRTSMouTn, Dec, 26.—The Neptune, 120, Cap tain Yates, will be taken into the basin to-morrow, ready for docking, to have her bottom overhauled. The Birkenhead iron steam-frigate Master-Com mander Salmond, will emb ar k at this' port draughts from the 12th, 45th, and 60th Regiments and Assis tant-Surgeon Bowen, 48th Foot, on promotion to Second-class Staff Surgeon, for the Cape of Good Hope. She calls at Queenstown for other draughts. Tne Hon. Pownall Fleetwood Pellew, First Lieu tenant of her Majesty's yacht Victoria and Albert, died at Tatterdell's Hotel, Portsea, last night, after a short illness. PLYMOUTH, DEC. 24.—Mr. Henry B. Jackson, late acting mate, and Mr. James Edmonston, late acting assistant-surgeon, both of her Majesty's sloop Fly, just returned from the New Zealand station, were on Saturday last tried by court-martial at Hamoaze, on board the Impregnable, 104, Captain A. Lowe, for desertion. The former was sentenced to three months' imprisonment at Exeter, and to be dis missed the service of her Majesty. The latter was dismissed the service. The same Court passed a sentence of six months' imprisonment on William Golding, ordinary seaman, for desertion from the Havannah, Captain Erhkine, on the 6th of October, 1848. The steam block ship Sanspareil is to be fitted with Grant's cooking apparntm. The hired troop-ship Chatham, 16 days from Ber muda, with one company of Artillery and one com pany of Sappers and Minnere, arrived in the Sound this morning, bound to Chatham. The Resistance troop-ship, from Gibraltar for Portsmouth, was off the pert this morning. APPOINTMENT. WOOLWICH, DEC. 26.—Lieutenant George W. Watson, (1849), recently serving in the Phoenix steam-vessel, is appointed to the Centaur steam frigate, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral "William Wilmot Henderson, C. 8., on the south-east coast of America station. The Chatham transport•ship is daily expectel at Woolwich with the Ist company of the 24 •battalion of Royal Artillery, under the command of Captain J. R. Doraville, and the Ist company of Royul Sappers and Miners, under Captain J. W. Gordon, Royal Engineers, on board, on their return from foreign service at Bermuda. Letters from the companies were put on shore and posted at Plymouth on Wed.. nesday, the 24th inst. It is stated that the vessel made the passage from Bermuda to Plymouth in 16 days, and it is noticed as a remarkable fact that although the company of Roy al Artillery went to Bermuda on the 28th of September, 1646, and con sequently has been upwards of five years on that sta tion, not one death has occurred—a circumstance hitherto unexampled in so long a period on a foreign station. The strength of the company is about 100, non-commissioned officers and men. The Right Hon. Sir F. Baring, Bart., is spending the Christmas holidays at Stratton Park, Hants ; Rear-Admiral Dundas, C.B , is at Larsden, Chipping Norton ; Rear-Admiral Hon. M. F. F. Berkeley, C. 8., is at Berkeley Cottage, Fishbourne, Chichester ; Captain Milne is at Brighton ;. Hon. W. Cowper, M.P., is on a visit to Lord Palmerston, at Broadlands ,• and Mr. Secretary Parker, M.P., is th e guest o f E ar l Fitzwilliam, at Malton, Pekrsfield. Lieut. J. Morseby, of the Gorgon steam-sloop, Pacific, and Lieut. Packwood, of the Thetis, 38, ex changed ships previously to the Gorgon quitting the station for England. DEPARTURE or rns RIFLES.—The Rifles will em bark for the Cape in the Megaara, screw-frigate, Master-Commander Barlow, at Dover, Jan. 2. The ship is ordered round from Sheerness. The Birken head, steam-transport, Master• Commander Salmond, proceeds to Cork, and fills up all her detachments for the Cape. Captain Rodney Mundy, flag captain at Sheerness, has proceeded on leave of absence to the 17th of January. _ Britannia, 120, Captain Goldsmith, will be ou t of the hands of the dockyard at Portsmouth about the 7th instant. She has va canc i es f or only about 200 blue jackets. Simoon screw-frigate, at Portsmouth, is reported ready for trial. Thetis, 38, Captain Keep er, was at C oqu i m b o O ct. 20. She had been th ere f ora month for the purpose of protecting the interest s o f th e B r iti s h mercha nts during the dist urbances about the presidentsbv• The affair was nearly over and The ship' s and she was expe companycted to receive her orders for Valparaiso. well; only • f our men were on the si ck list. LAUNCH OF THE Bor.- - AL MAIL STEAMER ARABIA. addition was made to t he Cunard On Wednesday las i tn an mail steamers by the launch of the line of Royal Au' iu jiding-yard of Messrs. Steel and Co., Arabia, from The a ng l ines are to be furnished by Mr. Robert Greenock. F v e o e w ; The Arabia promises to be one of the Napier, rfiCelit . steamers afloat, and it is confidently ex ll fully equal, if not surpass, anything that Cunard h e a c s t yet been done by the liners. The engines are side levers, of the largest size, we believe, ever put on board d ra ti gn a f t she will a :lD: ve t :el, the cylinders being 103 inches in diameter, with a nine feet stro:ae. The collective power of the two engines will be upwards of 1,000 horse-power, working at a low pressure. There are to be two sets of tubular boilers placed before and abaft the engine-room, each having, of course, a separate funnel. The wheels are 37 feet diameter, with fixed wooden floats 11 feet long by about 3 1 ,E feet broad. The principal dimensions of the Arabia are—length of keel and fore rake, ,285 feet; length on deck, 310 feet; breadth of beam, 40.8 ; depth of hold, 27.7 inches ; tonnage, 2,402 tons. The Persia, now on the stocks, and in an advanced stAte, is a counterpart in every particular of the Arabia, and will be ready for launching about April next. We may add that the Arabia is to have two funnels, and only two masts, which latter, of course, stand very far apart. Her almost sole de pendence will be on the immensity of her steam power. She. is expected to be ready for her trial trip early in .April. L.orc! R.N., and the Messrs. Burns, John Hay, owners, were present at the launch. DunLIN.PROVOSTSIIIP or TRINITY COLLE G E, t anted to It is understood that according to the be c t la h a , r i e w r a g r s Trinity College, Dublin, by Queen E l j z i a the principal t provided that on a vacancy of the Provosts. I but in the reign of should be elected by the fellso w vested in the Crown. By Charles I. the appointment . ~' it w the statutes of the college d at least a B.D. ; and no depar ture required that the Provost shall be in holy orders, and allowable except by special dis pensation from these staetureoawn. Ever since the Revolution of pensation from the been chosen from among the senior 1688 the Provost as exception of the notorious Prime-Sergeant fellows, with the . it was most disastrous to the cullege• Hutchinson, whose reign ..,. TIIE S IsT, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 27, 1851.