The Sun. — London, England, 1850-04-02 00:00:00

Chester, to Thurso, drove on the beach this morning during 2 heavy gale from S E., and is likely to become a total wreck ; crow saved. SUNDERLAND, MARCH 31.—TLe Bee, of Woodbridge, is on shore, much damaged; also the Argo, of this port, with loss of mainmast, and the Salus, of Lynn, dis masted. The Louise, of Rouen, has sunk, dismasted. DUNGARVON, MARCH 30.—The Hib ern i a, o f an d f or Youghal from Newport, ran on the beach during the gale, and is discharging. SHIELDS, MARCH 31.—The Falconer, of Newcastle, the Shipwright, t f Maldon, the Emma, of Whitby, the Lsurel, Stanton, Union, and Maize, all of this port, are on the grounds in the Narrows and on the scarp; the last has received considerable damage. The Snipe, of Yarmouth, was dismasted from contact with another vesesl, and the Recovery, of London, of part of bulwarks. HARTLEPOOL, MARCH 31.—The Frances, of Whit.)y, went on shore near the Lighthouse yesterday. WHITSTABLE, MARCH 31.—The Midge schooner, of Liverpool, has received damage , having been on fire. LI MINGTON, MARCH 31. — The Britannia, Guernsey to London, has arrived with much daniagc, and must repair. BEAUMARIS, MARCH 31.—The Betty and Peggy is on shore much damaged; also the Alert and Ann, off Garston. FALMOUTH. APRIL I.—Wind E.S.E., strong.—Arrd. Gene, Porto Rico, for Canada. SUNDERLAND, APRIL 1. -- The Either, Frencil schooner, from Dieppe, is sunk in the harbour. The Chance schooner, has lost her stern. The Mathew and Ann, stern dama;ed. The Empress lost her mainmast. The Industry was dismasted during the gale. HARTLEPOOL, MARCH 31.—The following vessels have been either wrecked or stranded during the late gale:—The Coantesa of Morley, of Plymouth; the Daubine, of Stettin; the Alexandre, of II.rtlepool; the Nancy, of Goole; the Violet, of Wisbeach; the Henry, of Whitby; the Brandon, of Stockton. ARKET NEWS.--(THIS DAY.) RAT IWAXE.ZTS. ditto, 31 Sramtvinnn.--Meadovr Hay, 21 8 s to 31 105; Clover load. Os to 4/ lOs ; a n d S traw, 1/ is to 1/ 8s per C BERLAND Supply tolerably good, and trade v er y d u ll . llX.—Meadow Hay, 2110 s to 31125; Clover ditto, 31 O s to 4/ 7s ; and Straw, 11 2 s to 1/ 105 per load. A full avera g e supply, and a h eavy demand. WHITECHAPEL. - Meadow Hay, 2t 53 to 103; Clover ditto, 3/ 0 3 to 4 1123; and Straw, 11 is to 1/ 31 rBs pt lose. Trade dull, at about last week's quotations. BO W-STREET.-- J. DAY.) A footm an i n the service of . Adams Es., of Ely place, H o lb orn, was placed at the bar before q Mr. Jar dine, under the following circumstances : The inspector deposed that last evening, about half past seven o'clock, the prisoner came to him mad drunk, anti commenced telling him something about a game at skittles, a lot note, and his master's bank book. Having learned with difficulty where the skittle-ground was, h. (the inspector) sent for the landlord to as. if he knew anything of the affair. On his arrival at the station, from what be stated, it appeared th a t t h e pr i soner had been s ent to post some letters, and at the same time to pay into his master's batik a 10/. note. Before doing either of these duties he must needs enter into a public-house, where he met with some acquaintances. A game at skittles was proposed, no doubt by a gang of sharpers, who had caught sight of the bank book, and the chal lenge was immediately accepted by the prisoner. In a short time, the beer being handed round in great quan tities, the prisoner was found in the skittle-ground dead drunk, and his companions were gone. When he came to himself he commenced raging at the landlord, telling him that his house was a gambling house, and that he had been robbed in it. that he would go to the station and tell the police of it. Th e i nspector did all in hie power to quiet the stormy rage of the prisoner, but it was of no avail, and when spoken to he only became the more unmanageable, so he thought the best way would be to lock him up. Mr. JARDINE said that he would not punish him, as he bad suffered sufficient, and there was no doubt he would also lose his situation. WESTMINSTER.--(THIS DAY.) Mr. Broderip was engaged during the morning in hearing night char;„es, which presented only the ordinary results and characteristics of drunkenness and improvi donne following the orgies of Easter Monday. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S.—YESTERDAY. THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STASES. 7 to 2 agst Mr. Hill's Osterley,, 4 yrs, 7st—taken 4 to 1 nit Major Pitt's Mounseer, 4 yrs, 6st 131b— take 9 to 2 9 to 1 agst Mr. Jaques's Chantrey, 4 yrs, 6st 131 b - 10 to 1 10 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Belus, 4 yrs, 7st 51b— take 12 to 1 12 to 1 agst Lord Alford's Harriott, 3 yrs, sst 101 b 12 to 1 agst Duke of Bedford's Mahratta, 4 yrs, sst 111 b 1 3 to 1 ag st to 1 ast Mr. Irwin's Ballinarad, 6 y rs , 7st 71b--t Ostalle 2g Mr. Bumby's Velox, 4 y rs , 6st 11 1 b y and Mounseer were backed freely at 7 to 2 and 9 to 2, in fact, were the only horses in any real de mand; a few tens and soores were laid out on Chantrey and Ballinafad, but Harriott and Mahratta were friend less. •LTHORP PARE . 6 to 4 agst D u k e of Richmond's STAKES Buckhound—take 7 to 4 2 to 1 agst Mr. Howard's Prestige Bto 1 agst Mr. Freeman's Olivia—t to about 4001. METROPOLITAN STAKES. 2 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwioke's Cheerful, 4 yrs, Est 12 to 1 agst Major Pitt's Mounseer, 4 yrs, Est 101b-4 TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. Even on Lord H. Lennox's Beebunter 4 to 1 agst Mr. IL Hill's Pitsford—take 5 to 1 Beehunter was backed for a large sum at 5 to 4 and "ens, and left off with the call of the field. CHESTER CUP. 12 to 1 agst Mr. Payne's Glauca, 4 yrs, 7st 51b 12 to I agst Lord Howth's Peep•o'•day Boy, 6 yrs, 9st—take 11 to 1 20 to 1 apt Mr. Osbaldeston's Fogleman, 5 yrs, let taken to 504 25 to 1 agst Capt. Harcourt's Ellordale, 6yrs, Bst 31b take 30 to 1 33 to 1 agst Mr. St. George's Whim colt, 4 yrs, 6st 71b—taken 1,000 to 25 agst Major Pitt's Mounseer, 4 yrs, 61191b— taken several times 5,000 to 50 agst Mr. Robinson na Fleur de Seine, 5 yrs, 6st—taken 1,000 to 10 agst Mr. 11. Bill's Osterley, 4 yrs, 7st The business on the above event was too limited to call for any remarks. DERBY. 1,000 even was laid at the West-end on Mildew agst Knight of Avenel; 20 to 1 laid agst the Knight of Avenel; 5,000 to 400, and 1,400 to 100 taken about Clincher. The only bets this afternoon were 1,400 to 200 agst Ghillie Callum; 11, 12, and 13 to 1 to two or three hundred pounds agst the Nigger; and 30 to 1 to fifty pounds agst Sweetheart. Offers to take 16 to 1 about Knight of Avenel. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE RACES.--.WO are authorised to state that at a meeting of the Race Committee, held at Northampton yesterday morning, it was resolved that no deduction whatever shall be made by the Clerk of the Course either from the stakes, nor any fee from trainers for the admission of race horses to the ground; and that the only deduction will be 101. for the Judge from the Northamptonshire Stakes. NORTHAMPTON RACES. NORTHAMPTON, MONDAY NIGHT, 9 O'CLOCK.-- Arrivals—Alonzo, Mr. Merryman, Harriett, Watch dog, Dover, Bastinado, Iron Rail, Give and Take, Col lingwood, Recluse, Impression Hind of the Forest, Grier, Leap-year, Le Beau, Retail , Mahratta, The Monk, Cossachia, Clelia, Diligence, Equiria, fby Nut with out of Agnes, Nutbrown, Pius 9th, Osterley, Prestige, Regis, Tophana, Wanota Wallflower. Giselle, Rodney, Sister to O ffi cious, Olivia, ' Bishop of Romford's cob,•Chantrey, Sponge, Van Diernan, b c by Lanercost oat of Concertina, Humphrey, Ferule, Meanness, The Iron Crown, Telegraph, Salute, Knight of Gwynn Bishop of Romford's cob, Jest, Brother to Drakelowee: Forlorn Hope, sad ch f by Slane out of Receipt. Col lingwood, who was reported lame, is .quite sound, and _ha . s just took a good gallop this morning. Smith's lot arrived : Dawson's and Kent's are expected in the morning. CATTERICK BRIDGE RACES.--MONDAY, The Borough Stakes of 10 sous, each, 5 ft, with 20 added, for three yrs old, Est 101 b; four, Bst 31b; five, Bst 91b ; six and age d , 9st; mares, &c. allowed 3lbs. One mile and a quarter. (6 Subs.) Mr. Meiklam's R a b y , 4 yrs ... ...(Templeman) 1 Mr. Pedley's Foreclosure, 6 yrs ...(Bumby) 2 Mr. Wrather's Maid of Masham 5 yrs (G. Abdale) 3 The following also started, but were not placed: — Mr. Wilkin's Langton, 4 yrs (Cartwright) —Lord Zet land's. Castanette, 4 yrs (J. Marson )—and Mr. Green's Seignior of Holdernese, 3 yrs (Bashan3). Even on Raby. W on c l everly by a len g th, Fore closure getting second place by half a neck. The " Shorts" Sweepstakes of 10 sees. each, for two yrs old; Coles, Bst ) 71b; and filli es, Bat 41b. Straight run in. (8 Subs. Mr. Bulmer's England's Glory ...(Wi ntr i ngham) 1 Lord Zetland na The Leading Article...(J. Manion) 2 Mr. Green's Guardsman - ... (Fenn) 3 The following also ran:—Mr. Jaques's Heirloom (Prince), Mr. Meiklam's b c by Trueboy, out of Puri sina gempleman), and Mr. Hesseltine's Unity (Long_ staff). Betting-2 to 1 agst England's Glory, and 3to 1 apt Unity. Won by a length, the second beating the third by a head. The Filly Stakes of 15 son. each, 10 ft, for three years old. Sit 3lb each. Ono mile and a half. (5 Subs.) Mr. Osborne's>o fby u A ckland ...(G. Abdale) 1 Lord Zetland's Gardenia ...(J. Marson) 2 Mr. Meiklam's French Susy (Templeman) 3 Mr. Wilkinson's The Squire's Daughter .. (Holmes) 4 Betting 6 to 4 agst French Stay, and 2 to 1 agst Auckland Filly. Won by a length and a half, Gardenia beating French Stay by a head. The Revival Stakes (Handicap) of 20 sous, each, 10 ft., and 5 only if declared, with 30 added, for four yra old and upwards; the second to save his stake. Two miles. (25 Subr, 18 of whom declared.) Lord Eglinton's G len Saddel,s y rs, 7st 101h(Cartwright) 1 r.Beresford naFleur de Seine, 5 yrs, 6st 5 tb(Charlton) 2 Mr. Boy nton na Abbot of Meux, 4 yrs, 7st 81b(Basham) 3 The following also ran, but were not placed :—Mr. Cookson na Uriel, 4 yrs, Bst 71b (G. Simpson) ; Mr. Shedherd na Alp, 4 yrs, 7st 41b (T. Lye) • and Mr. Reyna r d n a Bi lly Brown, 4 yrs, Est 91b (Arnold). Betting -2 to 1 agst Glen Saddel. W on b y a l engt h , Abbot of Meux losing second place by a nec k . The First Year of the Second Easby Triennial Produce 51410 4 of 10 sovs, each, h ft, for 2 yrs old colts ~, THE SUN, Bst 71h; and fillies Bst 31h; the second saves his stake. Straight run in. (27 Subs.) Mr. W. Allen's Neasham ... (Holmes) 1 Mr. J. Scutt's Presto ... (Simpson) 2 Mr. Dawson's br by Trueboy ... (Cartwright) 3 Mr. Jaques's (Prince) 4 2to 1 agst Neasham. Won by a neck. Second year of the First Easby Triennial Produce Stakes cf 10 soya. each, 5 ft, for 3 yrs old colts Bst 71b, and fillies fist 31b; the second to save his stake. To start at the end of the straight run in, and go once round and in. (28 Subs.) Mr. Meiklara's The Italian (Templeman) walked ovi r. [ AD VERTISEMENT.]—BETTING.—Mr. John Moore, the Sporting Publisher (established 1819), ccntinues to lay the nsarket odds against all horsfs for the Nor thamptonshire Stakes, Althorp Park Stakes, Earl Open cer'a Plate, Bath and Somersetshire Stakes, Nevva)..Ket Handicap, Chester Cup, Derby, and Abergavenny Steeplechase Commissions from the country faithfully attended to on the remittance of a post-office order, payable to John Moore, Charing-cross, London. Ali bets paid the day after the race. S PORTEN G NOTES. No. "In nature's iufialte book of secrecy, A little I can read." " Maktt thee a fortune from me." ►SHABBPERE. SIR, —ln No. 1 of these notes I committed a most un accountable error respecting the Column Stakes, which I will at once rectify; I stated, that " the race for the Column Stakes will lay between Mickleton and Har ding., Cariboo third; Pontifex and Longinus. I presume. will be non est." It should have been—" the race fur the Column Stakes will lay between Mickleton and Longinus, Cariboo third; Pontifex, I presume, will be non est." The error, however, must have been palpable to any one versed in turf matters, as Hardinge is not entered for the stake. Alonzo's victory for the Trial Stakes at Warwick, had but little effect upon the Derby betting, beyond advanc ing Clincher (who is said to be 21Ibs better than his stable companion, Alonzo) from 20, to 14 to 1 takers; it, however, sent the chances of the Knight of Gwynne, Brennus, Torpor. and Osbaldeaton, if they ever had any, to the rightabout, and confirmed the Goodwood cracks in their positions. Warwick started, and the present week fairly precipi tates us into the racing season of 1850, for from Cat terick Bridge to-day, to the Newmarket Houghton at the latter end of October next, it is one unbroken chain of meetings. Colliugwood, I fancy, will be the first trump card played off at Northampton on Wednesday, his principal opponents for the Trial Stakes being The Swindler and Mark Tapley. The second event on the card is for the Great Northamptonshire Stakes, for which the following will in all probability start, viz :—Wanota, 6 yrs Bst 71b—Halo, 6 yrs Bst 21b Sylvan, 5 yr. 7st 101b—Ballinafad, 6 yrs, 7st 121b—Belus, 4 yrs , 7st 51b—Iron Rail, 6 yre, 7st 21b—Grief, 4 yrs, 7st— Osterley, 4 yrs, 7st—Chantrey, 4 yrs, 6st 131b—Moun seer, 4 yrs, 6st 131b—Topbana, 5 yrs, Est 13 1b—Giselle, aged, Est 121b—Velox, 4 yrs, Est 111b—Mahratta, 4 yrs, sst 111b—Harriott, 3 yrs, sst 101 b—and Bastinado, 3 yrs, 4st 61b. I shall summarily dismiss their pretensions b) declaring it to be my firm belief that Osterley has all the top-weights safe, as Harriott and Mahratta all the light division, and that OSTERLEY will be the first to catch the judge's. eye, Cbantrey, Mounseer, and Harrioti in attendance. Were Flatcatcher or Wanota at their respective weights of Bst 51b and Bst 71b meant, should say, over the Northampton course they would be highly dangerous. Bee Hunter will win the Harlestone Produce, and Watch Dog the Open Stak es . Harriott (41b extra) will not be a bad speculation, I take it, for the Pytchley Stakes, although opposed by Impression, Compass, and Give -and-Take. Mark Tapley ought to win the Northamptonshire Cup, if intended for that event; if not, I must look to Priestess or Quiver. The 10 Soy:. Stakes to Blackcoek; and Lord Spen cer's Plate, out of a field of twenty, may probably show Alonzo, 3 yrs, .sst 101 b, and Crucible, 4 yrs, ist 121 b, in front at the finish; the Bishop of Romford's Cob handy. The Althorpe Park Stakes, by the betting, (7 to 4 being taken about Buckhound, and 2 to 1 about Prestige) seems to be a certainty for the Danebury or Goodwood creeks, but it would not surprise me to see Olivia a-head of Prestige and Buckhound at the judge's chair, with Forlorn Hope and Mr. Merryman in close attendance. I am, Sir, yours, &c. THE SPIRIT OF TIIE TURF. April 1, 1850. ENGLISH DANCING.—AII the rooms were thrown open, and the crush was so great in the appartment devoted to quadrilles and waltzes, that the dancers were shut up in little rings, with hardly space enough to poise themselves to the time of the music. The pursuit of dancing under diffi culties is a lugubrious and equivocal pleasure, and to judge from the solemn faces of the young people who dedicate themselves to this amusement, a looker-on, who happened to be ignorant of the gravity that lies at the bottom of our en joyments, might suppose that they were performing some kind of painful sacrificial rite.—" The Ladder of fold" in Bentley's Miscellany for April. DEATH OF THE EARL OF MACCLESFIELD.— Thomis, the fifth Earl of Macclesfield, died on Easter Sunday, at Ensham-ball, one of his seats in Oxfordshire, in the 87th year of his age. He was the father of the peerage of England. His Lordship was but little known in public or political lite, having succeeded to the earldom only eight years ago, when he was at the advanced age of 79. The tenor of his life was that of a quiet, elegant English gentle man. When (on the death of his veneroble brother in 1842) he emerged from the position of a commoner to the fortunes of the family earldom, he retained, unaltered, the unostentatious and amiable bearing which endeared him to all who were connected or acquainted with him. His Lord ship was born on the 9th of June, 1763. As a young man he for some years held a commission in the Foot Guards. He married first on the 16th of March, 179 g. Miss Edwards. daughter of Mr. Lewis Edwards, of Ludlow, by whom he had four daughters, three of whom are living, and are— Lady Amelia Montgomery, Lady Matilda Montgomery, and Lady Louisa Parker; and on the 19th of March, 1807, his Lordship married the present Dowager Countess, who was daughter of Mr. William Breton Wolstenholme, of Sussex, by whom he left a son and two daughters—Thomas AugustusWolstenholme Viscount Parker(now the sixth Earl of Macclesfield), the Countess of Antrim, and the Lady Lavinia Dutton. The present Earl (who is in his 40th year) is married to Lady Mary Frances, daughter of the Marquis of Westminster, and has a family of four children. HOLIDAYS AT TDB COURT or BANKRUPTCY. — Yesterday a provision in the Bankruptcy Law Consolidation Act took effect. Hitherto there were no holidays in Easter week, but they are now specially ordered, and further, the commissioners in London can regulate the sittings in vaca tion. The following is quite a new provision in bankruptcy, and appears in the Bankrupt Consolidation Act, section 10, " That the Court shall sit for the dispatch of business daily throughout the year, Sunday, Christmas.day, Good Friday, Monday and Tuesday in Easter week, and the days appointed for public fast or thanksgiving excepted, and in London and in each district in the country the commissioners of the court, or such of them as occasion may require, shall attend for that purpose; provid e d a l ways th at i n each district in the country in which there is only one commissioner of the court, such commissioner, or in his absence from illness or other reasonable cause, the registrar of the court in such dis tricts shall so attend; provided also that during the time ap pointed by order of the Lord Chancellor for vacation in the several offices of the Court of Chancery, the commissioners of the court in London and in the several districts in the country respectively shall have full power and authority to regulate the sittings of the court, and appoint the attendance of such as vacation commissioner or commissioners for that purpose as shall appear fit and necessary for ,the administration of justice in the said court." • LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—The engine-drivers upon this line have appointed deputations from the several locomotive stations to wait upon the loco motive superintendent, for the purpose of obtaining redress of certain alleged grievances. One of the grievances is an alleged unaccountable delay in the payment of the premiums they are entitled to for good conduct. PRESENTS FOR HER MAJESTY.—The Rosamond steam-vessel, which arrived at Plymouth from . 'rangier on Saturday, has landed at the Royal William Victualling yard some native African animals and birds, sent as presents from the Emperor of Morocco to her Majosty the Queen of Great Britain. They consist of a lion, lioness, tig e r, five ga zelles, and two pair of ostriches. The three former are con fined separately in str o ng c lo s e w oo d en boxes, with small iron gr a ti ngs on e i t h er s i de to admit light and air. The lion and lioness are y oung, an d appear to b e goo d specimens. The spots on the tiger are not yet distinct, and it thus has for the present a leopard-like appearance. The gazelles, so called, lsoepeme and ra a rather to be an i ntermediate spec i es b etween an ante goat, combining the graceful agility of the former with the vigorous strength of the latter. They are of a rich tan-brown colour and in fine condition. None of the animals are arrived at mat ur i ty. The ostriches, when erect, carry their heads nearly seven feet high; their plumage is of the ordinary bl ac k and white, but they are not at present in perfect feather, and the bodies of two are cased in clothing to protect them from the uncertain temperature of a northern climate. Having had a comparatively short passage by steam, both the animals and birds retain their native freshness. Two intelligent Arab keepers who speak Spanish, have come to England in the Rosamond. They approach without fear the lion, lioness, and tiger; and these ferocious beasts allow their swarthy attendants to fondle them and to handle with impunity their formidable teeth and powerful jaws. The feline animals are placed in the Saw-mill Store, the others are in the Melville Store. They wilt remain at the Victualling-yard until orders are received from her Majesty, who, it is expected,will send down a royal messenger to take charge of these gifts. THE LATE COLONEL WEARE, K.H.—Last week this di stinguished °Meer died (27th u l t. ) i n H ere f or d s hi re, having lately retired from the office of commandant of the provisional battalions at Ch at h am. He entered the army as an ensign in the 35th F oot i n the year 1804, and the follow ing year served with the British and Russian army in Italy. Lieutenant Weare served in Egypt in 1807, against the Turks, and was present at the second attack on Rosetta, as well as the capture of the enemy's guns and camels on the thehanks of the Nile and in the retreat to Alexandria. In 1809 nd dsaot I L , pla i mB e rnl u opdos t t ! ido n naa a Lieutenant lor t etds campaigns during the tk a h t i ne t gl siege r fg e te d h u oe cf Santaio n loniano f the l3l. u i n s rd l a a a islands s that o a f ct l e s a c l ai year lschia an engineer officer. Afterwards he proceeded to ho the Penin • Oswald, o f division of the army. Durizl,Bhlo2t,nlLl3n,oainn7id pre sentalnBdl4e,dwtasheafiidfich- in the severe affair of Villa these campaigns he was Bu Vittoria,ro s, bothhe advance aaaa ol t s o of n l d Bl a 3 i e , g a ea ff affair in the retreat from Omas, the battle of aolfr of Sebastian, battle of novelle, and some of the affairs at the eamreayor's house on the IBvdaon medaln e- Sebastian,r Bayonne-road. N threeTi v h e e u ela. claspste nC o lf l oB o 3r n G e h l hise use,arvioe h a ad received the at Vittoria, St. appointedaka. intmetaljl9l: of the tenant-Colonel of tine battalion, and from that tune till the present held the appointment of Commandant. He was also one of the aides-de-camp to the Queen. A man should live with his Friends on such terms that no change of fortune may oblige him to alter his con_ duct towards them. Eltza Cook's Journal. SAYINGS' BANKS.—The National Debt Commis sioners have called upon the unenrolled . friendly societies, of every description, to forthwith be certified by the Govern ment barrister, or else withdraw their amounts deposited in savings' banks. Another stir into those institutions! LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 2, 1850 EASTER AMUSEMENTS. DRURY-LANE THEATRE. Mr. Aederson seems determined to revive the legi mate and national theatrical entertainments at this the national theatre. He commenced his r eason at Christmas, with a legitimate five act play and a legi timate Christmas pantomime, the very best that has been produced of late years, and the run of which exceeded, by some weeks, that of any of its competitors. Aud now, at Easter, wisely eschewing the dangerous ground of burlesque, he gives us a regular, legitimate, magical, gorgeous, Easter piece, which will be to the full as attractive as was his pantomime. It is so many years since a regular legitimate Easter piece has been produced, that the performance of The Devil's Ring ; or, Fire, Water, Earth, and Air (for such is the title which Mr. Rod well has given to his fairy spectacle) has all the attraction of novelty to the more juvenile playgoer, while to those who remember the national theatres in their palmy days, it recals pleasant reminiscences of by gone times, when from Easter to Whitsuntide Thierna na Oge:reigned supreme Prince of the Lakes at Drury-lane, and Peter Wikins was parried away through the air, by the Flying Indians, every night, at Covent-garden. The Devil's Ring is not only a perfectly legitimate Easter piece, but it is one of the most gorgeous, one of the most effective, one of the most wonderful of its sort. It is far and away the best fairy spectacle that has been pro duced since Cherry and Fair Slar, and the effects. are so marvellous as to really merit the name of magical. Indeed, your ancient magician must have been a very clever fellow indeed if he could approach your modern theatrical machinist in the performance of wonders. The Devil's Ring is a tale of pure en chantment. The heroine, the Princess Eveline (Miss E. Nelson), has been carried off by Go-dah (Mr. C. Fisher), the wizard of the elements, and with her singing -maid, Leila, imprisoned in the centre of Mount Etna, and the drama opens with a beautiful view of the city and harbour of Catania, in Sicily, with Etna smoking in the back-ground. This beautiful scene is one of the most beautiful productions of Brunning's pencil, and, considered as a work of art, is exquisite. We here find divers knights who have failed in ob taining possession of the Devil's ring, by the posses ' sion of which alone can the Princess be rescued. The ring can only be seized from the Brazen hand by one who has never been untrue in honour nor false in love ; and Herbert, the Minstrel of Cassel (Miss. F. Huddart), undertaking the adventure, enters the caverns of the Brazen Hand, seizes the ring, and has bestowed on him, by the Spirit of the Ring (Miss A. Lonsdale), a golden wishing-branch, and Whir liburg (Mr. Seymour), the slave of the ring, and the most grotesque and active of posturers, to attend him. Herbert then summonses his brother Franco, the charcoal burner (Mr. S. Artaud), to attend him, and together they proceed to seek out Eveline ; France, who is the a funny man" of the piece, being stimulated thereunto by his love for Leila (Mies Rafter) the Princess's singing girl. The scene now changes to the Realms of Fire, in which the Princess and Leila are confined. Herbert and his party arrive and rescue them, and they ascend with the Princess and Leila through liquid flames to the earth ; the second act opens with a magnificent view of the falls of Niagara, and here the wizard weaves his spells to recapture the Princess by the aid of the second element, water. In this he succeeds, and they descend through the falls to the City of the Fountains, the coral home of the Naiad Queen. This is an exquisitely beautiful and gorgeous scene, and a ballet by the Naiades is very gracefully executed. The Princess is again rescued by Herbert, and the inchanter has recourse to the third element, earth. The scene is laid in the diamond caves of California, and here the Wizard by an earthquake gets Herbert and the Princess in his power, and Her bert having lost the magic ring, is with the Prin cess in danger of perishing, when Franco by aid of the wishing-branch, discovers their prison, and by wishing their pursuers may remain where they are until he sends for tbem, enables them to reach the upper world by a gigantic staircase, when they emerge in a Sicilian vineyard at the time of vintage. This Sicilian vineyard is another exquisite specimen of beautiful landscape painting. The fourth element is air; here the Wizard has impri soned the Princess in the Palace of Rainbows from which she is rescued by the faithful Herbert, and the drama ends with the gorgeous wedding procession of Herbert and the Princess, and their triumphal entry to the Hall of the Hundred Knights in a car drawn by real horses. This last scene is the mos gorgeously magnificent ever exhibited on any stage and brought down the curtain amidst thunders of ap plause. The music by the author, Mr. Rodwell, is essentially dramatic, and the piece is interspersed with various songs and duetts, and concerted pieces, which were very effectively rendered by Miss Rafter, Miss E. Nelson, and Miss F. Huddart. At the con- elusion Mr. Anderson was called for, and announced the piece for repetition amidst enthusiastic applause. The house was well attended. HAYMARKET. The after-season set in last night at this favourite theatre with its wonted success and brilliancy. Having survived the Dogberry of Keeley, who was throughout the hero of the evening, we awaited the rising of the curtain for the Easter piece with an anticipatory confidence in the witty powers of the Brothers Brough, which were by no means disap• pointed by their new spectacular burlesque. The brilliant romance of " Ivanhoe" has so few characters Or whose ultimate welfare one cares a single dolt— none, indeed, except the noble-minded Rebecca, the chivalrous Cceur-de-Lion, and the faithful thralls, Wamba and Gurth, for the hero and Rowena savour of the mawkish, and the rest are brigands, ravishers, gormandisers, Etc, that we felt that no flagrant sacrilege was committed against the manes of the tkriosto of the north, by perpetrating a travestie of his knightly chronicle. In " the late" edition of Ivanhoe, with all the newest improvements, there was nothing outre in the costumes, which were perfectly correct, and littl e i n the action, save the achievements of the Templar, Wilfred, and the Black Knight in the Tournament, nor was there any very striking scenic effect. The entire force was thrown into the dialogue and songs, and in that essential department never was a more deservedly successful effusion of this nature produced. In the accessaries of scenery, costume and ballet, the lovers of the modern burlesque may find a far richer treat at the Lyceum, Princess's, or Adelphi, but neither the georgeously mock-majestic Honey, the ferocious Wynn, nor even the piquant and melodious Vestris, or the all-accomplished and fascinating Woolgar, can carry off the palm from the Keeleys, Priscilla Horton, or J. Bland. If we do not include Buckstone, Mrs. Fitzwilliam, or Selby, in the pre sent category, it is only because their casts in Ivan hoe were hardly equal to their talents. Wamba and Robin Hood were but secondary parts, and, in our opinion, the portrait of Brian de Bois Guilbert, how ever admirably the conception was carried out by the red-cross Selby, was the least felicitous hit of the talented Germini. The opening scene was " the Saxon mansion" of Cedric (Mr. J. Bland), in which that " fine old English gentleman" gave an excellent parody of the popular ballad of that WHIM, and capped his patriotic prejudices by getting royally intoxicated. Then follow in succession " The Cheap Clothing Establishment" of Isaac of York (Keeley), which afforded scope for some smashing allusions to the present puffing system of certain dens of habilimentary humbug, and where Ivanhoe (Mrs. Keeley) gave a famous account of a Jew discounter in a parody on "I do remember an apothecary ;" " The Tournament of Ashby de la Zouch," which elicited roars of laughter ; " Life in the Merry Greenwood," developing Robin Hood (Mrs. Fitz william) as a flagrant land-schemer; " The Turret Chamber," in which Miss P. Horton, as Rebecca, sang a grand scene with wonderful power and exe cution; "The Dungeon," in which our old friend Isaac of York (Keeley) came out with inimit able effect, most Fagin-like in appearance, and haunted by the ghosts of a ground-down needle woman, a " gent," pitifully taken in by the purchase of a rotten Paletot, a bill-ac ceptor poisoned by the villainous wine which he had to stand from Isaac in addition to 60 per cent., and the phantom of Wilfred, to whom he had supplied such vile armour that it fell to pieces in the lists, until the Israelite vows to take a dose of " clo-reform" and utterly mend his extortionate ways—and, finally, "the Castle ramparts," where, after deadly combat, the tyrannous Templar is overthrown, and the coal-black and victorious Richard (Mr. Braid) discloses himself to the loyal lieges ; the whole terminating by a toler ably effective scene representing " the Grand Exhi bition of all Nations." Ivanhoe very properly gives the preference to Rebecca over the Saxon lady, and Prince John is spared, else, as he justly pleads, "Who would tbere be to sign Magna Charta ?' It would be quite impossible to convey a fitting idea by a few ex tracts of the exuberant witticisms which in continuous volleys excited the hilarity of the audience without the slightest flagging. The performers without ex ception acquitted themselves admirably. Bland por trayed the groggy bull-headed Thane in capital style. That most talented artiste, Miss Horton, was " great" in the Jewish maiden, especially in the scene before mentioned. In giving full point, without the remotest approximation to vulgarity to burlesque dialogue. Mrs. Keeley stands unrivalled, and must hare glad dened the authors' hearts as much as she delighted her hearers ; and Keeley, whose parody on " Sam Hall," was deliciously woe-begone, fairly immortalised him self by his delineation of the rascally old Jew. Those who desire to hear an incessant fire of humorosities said and sung, responded to by the sympathising cacbinations of an extatified auditory, should beware how they fail paying a visit to the Haymarket during the run of this clever and triumphant novelty. The house was completely crowded, and, to the credit of its occupants be it spoken, they had the good taste to abstain from exacting an encore throughout the piece, so that all went off smoothly and rapidly, and the performances were over by twelve o'clock. ADELPHI. The novelty provided at this place of entertainment for the holiday folks was a new historical and anec dotal vaudeville, evidently an adaptation from the French, called Playing First Fiddle; or, Follow my Leader. The aim in such productions is of course less the development of any kind of plot, or the pre senting a concatenation of circumstances ending in a happy denouement, a s t o co ll ec t t oge th er so m e slight materials for a brilliant exhibition of all the resources of an establishment. In this respect the enterprising managers of the Adelphi were successful last night, though the piece was received with some slight marks of disfavour. To attempt to describe within a small compass a production in which so many fantastical matteis are introduced would be difficult, but we may give a general outline , of the manner in which it is constructed. The time in which the piece is laid is 1652, and the opening scene is the kitchen of the Chateau Choisy. The aspirations of the chef de cuisine (Mr. Lambert) are concentrated in the culinary art, and he exercises the utmost of ,his skill to please the palate of his mistress, the Duchess of Montpensier (Miss Emma Harding), whose tastes are as Capricious as she is fastidious in the selection of a husband. This hero of the kitchen has a numerous body of cooks in embryo, who are marched and paraded with military exact ness, and whose i ncongruous procee di ngs a r e in the highest degree humorous. Among them is Lulli, a young Italian of nineteen (Madame Celeste), who is invested with the honour of the legion of stewpans for his invention of maccaroni, but he disdains his occupation, and his imagination soars from soups and stews to the more delightful art of music. Philippe Quinault, a baker's boy, aged 17 Nisi • Woolgar), writes a satirical ballad upon the Duchess, which is set to music by Lulli, and the circumstance comes to the knowledge of one of her „repulsed a uit o r s , th e M argrave de Bareuth (Mr. Bedford), and he conceives the idea of circulating it at court and making it popular out of doors. The ballad is brought to the Duchess by . Jeanneton, her tirewoman (Miss Kathleen Fitz william), and she is so annoyed at the prospect of being made a subject of ridicule for hesitat ing in selecting a husband, that she determines in despair to marry the Margrave, but this is prevented by the sudden appearance of the Duke de Lawzun, who is her favourite lover, and the curtain falls just as the angry Marquis is discovered by the whole household ascending a ladder to carry away vi et armis, his lady love. Madame Celeste and Miss Woolgar made very pretty and charming cooks, and Miss Emma Harding , played the part of the Duchess with her usual fascination and grace. Miss Kathleen Fitzwilliam made a most successful first appearance at this theatre, and was well received. The scenery and decorations were splendid, and the dresses of the most superb and expensive kind, and we have no doubt the piece will have a successful run throughout the holidays.. The other entertain ments of the evening consisted of the Mothers' Dream, the extremely laughable farce of My Pre cious Betsy, and Mr. Haynes Bayly's popular piece called Tom IVoddy's Secret. LYCEUM THEATRE. • Time has once again brought Easter on his wings —that joyous season to the youthful heart that knows no sorrow greater than the return to school, and had no hope so full of promise as the welcome back again to home; and many there were last night, at this elegant theatre, who, by the able ma nagement of Madame Vestris, w e re satisfied to the full bent of their inclinations with gorgeous spectacles and fairy splendours, that brought back to our recollections the brilliant imagery of an Eastern tale. And many, too, there were of riper years, who seized this oppor tunity, apart from the every-day cares of an anxious life for a few fleeting hours, to cheat Sorrow of its sting, and make companionship with " Sport, that wrinkled Care derides, And Laughter, holding both his sides." Lest season the Seven Champions of Christendom were awakened from their tombs to exhibit their prowess before the eyes of an admiring audience, and we ques tion if, in the olden time the mighty deeds that have chronicled their names could have elicited more genuine applause than was bestowed then upon their fitting representatives. But this year we were lead away from the scenes of martial strife, to wander in the peaceful shades of sylvan groves, where the Dryad wanders and the gentle shepherdess listens to • a tale of love. Cymon and Iphigenia is the title of the new Easter spectacle at this house, and styled a lyrical, comical pastoral. The scene opens under the sign Taurus, March retiring and April coming in, accompanied by Mr. Charles Ma thews, as April the First, King of Tomfoolery. Tnis character occasionally makes his appearance through out the piece, as a kind of censor of the age, hurling sly hits and wicked witticisms at the pre vailing follies of the day, and even daring an assertion that he could not swallow all that even Macaulay had written. The Enchantress Urganda (Miss Isabella Dickinson), the wife of the Arch Magician Merlin (Mr. F. Cooke), is in love with Cymon (Miss Julia St. George), to the great wrath of Merlin. Cymon is living under the protection of Urganda, listless and unimpassioned, and a very sim ple Cymon indeed; but Merlin, by his magic power, brings into his presence the beautiful shepherdess Iphigenia (Miss Manners), and a spell more potent than any that Merlin can conjure—the spell of love— works wonders. His intellect brightens, his manners improve —in fact he is in love. Urganda dispatches her handmaiden Fatima, (Mrs. Humhy), a garrulous femme de ehambre, to watch the lovers, but by Merlin's power, as a punishment for her prying propensities, she is deprived of the utterance of any other words than the two monosyllables "yes" and "no ;" so that when she returns to report progress to her mis tress the sad confusion that occurs may be easily imagined. Dorus (Mr. Harley), an humorous old justice of these Arcadian regions, is smitten with the charms of Daphne, who is jealous of Iphigenia, and the Justice promises to remove the hated rival, whom he had never seen ; but just when Iphigenia appears, and by her excessive beauty works a change in the old gentleman's intention, and Daphne is driven in disgrace from his pre sence, Cymon enters, and is ordered into custody by the pompous magistrate, but love nerves his arm, and the myrmidons of the law are compelled to fly. In the meantime Urganda raises some evil spirits to work mischief upon the innocent Iphigenia, but King Tomfoolery now interposes, the lovers are transported to the Isle of Paphos, and are united, to the great content of all interested in the welfare of these in teresting personages. The scenery is very beautiful, especially the garden front of Urganda'a Palace. Several airs from Dr. Arne are pressed into the service, and some ballet dancing, arranged b y Mr Oscar Byrne, materially heightens the attrac tions of the piece, which was received with unmixed applause, and promises to reward the management fur th ei r liberal efforts to amuseo trouble or expense. Miss St. George, Mr. the public w ith ou t re and Mr. Ch ar l es M athews were called before curtaint gli h a e arrdlety at the conclasion of the spectacle, to re ceive the usual honours. The evening's entertain ments were concluded by a repetition of the Island of Jewels, and an Appeal to the Public, to the evident satisfaction of a crowded and fashionable audience. PRINCESS'S. last Mr. Maddox has produced as an E aster p i ece ( wd u ha n ip d eth e a, t i r hne with H Queen of R oses ) an exce ll ent Haley's musi c i s at present drawing crowded houses every night t o th e O pera C omique adaptation a Scr i bemaeie T o of ~ s the new piece L a F ee = R oses , in Paris, and we believe that every pains has been taken to make the mise en scene of the Princess's ver sion a fac-simile of the mise en scene of the original, Mr. Maddox having undertaken a journey to Paris to see the original in order to insure the greatest pos sible accuracy. The plot runs much as follows : Atalmac, a sorcerer (Mr. Ryder), swart, ma jestic, and mysterious as a sorcerer should b e, ,hoNmerihlhea, whom h e h as l a t e ly is loves noug h t b ut roses, desperately in love. The gafhati b e autiful, , r and slare w , i s t h h la o v ir w e ever, u n g and a ft erwar d s t h e " argal" she loves not Atalmac. I n hi s a b sence one day, two friends of hers, Gulnare an d C ar di ge, Per sian grisettes, pay her a visit, and, the three young ladies light on the sorcerer's book a a g n i d c s p ta o ff, we a r n s d . amuse lhey themselveswfirhs whole l e s efturan i b bt y ur roeo,m exertingpr danc i n g ,oci their ci an extremely novel effect ; chairs, tables, stools, Vases, trip in a very quaint and fantastic style, to the great merriment of the fair usurpers; but when they wish to still the uproar they have raised they are sadly puzzled, and the magician catches them in flagrante delicto. As, however, they have done no mischief, he does not punish them, hut stops the frantic dance. He then prosecutes his suit, and promises anything and everything to Nerilha if she will be his. He creates her Queen of Roses, with almost unlimited powers; but all these she is to forfeit if she confesses love for any mortal. With regard to his own hopes, he trusts that time will alter her sentiment, and so she ascends, in a magnificent corbeille of flowers, to take possession of her fairy realms. Her first regal act is to realise the dreams of her two friends, and, accordingly, Gulnare suddenly finds herselfa princess, about to be married to Prince Badel Badour, Sultan of India. Cadige is united to Hailoun, a gardener, a lover of hers, who is forthwith appointed head gardener to the aforesaid Sultan. Gulnare is spoilt by her sudden elevation, and be comes vicious and imperious, behaving with contempt to her former friends, and allowing Aboulfaris, the Vizier, to charm her with his sweet voice and ele gant pen= t o s uc h A degree that we tremble for the Sultan's honour, should it be committed to her keeping. To punish her, the Queen of Roses ordains that whoever kisses her shall receive a box on the ear, and that any one " popping the question" he shall receive a sound flogging. Poor Aboulfaris, receives, accordingly, abundance of blows, and when, at last, he makes his declaration, innumerable birches start up from all parts of the stage, and bestow an unmerciful flagellation on him. In vain he attempts to escape ; they meet him onall sides,yet never hit the wrong one. This novel effect was highly surprising, and convulsed the audience with laughter. Nerilba falls in love with the Sultan, who equally adores her. Being pressed, she confesses her love—and instantly returns to the slavery of the sorcerer in caves below the sea. His anger knows no bounds, and he changes her into an old woman. From this state she can never escape till she shall' prevail on a lover to kiss her. Atalmac then leaves her, but again she obtains his magic book, and by its power transports herself to the Court of the Sultan, whose nuptials with Gulnare are about to take place. She presents to him a magic white bouquet, which, if his "intended" is faithless to him, will turn red, and claims as her reward a kiss from Badel Badour. Gulnare receives the bouquet, which instantly turns red, and the old woman asks the Sultan to kiss her,—this he does, though not without much reluctance, and in a moment the wrinkled old hag is changed into the blooming and lovely Ne rilha, who marries the Sultan, to the discomfiture of the magician. Gulnare isgiven to the 'Vizier, and every body is, of course, a very great deal more than happy. The scenery was magnificent. The enchanted gardens in the Vale of Cashmere, the Valley of Desolation, the Sultan's Palace and distant view of Jelhi, were masterpieces of scenic art, and reflect the highest honour on Mr. Gray. The dresses were gorgeous— in fact, the whole play has been "got up regardless of expense." Tne dances were short and pretty, and the success of this graceful Persian tale was as complete as it was merited. The Queen of the .Roses will have a long reign at the Princess's. NEW STRAND. The Vicar of Wakefield continues so attractive here as to supersede the necessity to which, under ordinary circumstances, managers submit, of an Easter specialty. It was followed last night by His First Champagne and Out on the Loose. The house was crowded. The already very strong company has been still further strengthened by the Addition of Mr. Compton. SURREY THEATRE. The bill of fare at this theatre presented two no velties on its re-opening last night—The Adventurer, a romantic drama, in three acts, by the author of The Secretary, and a fairy extravaganza, entitled The Three Princes, from the pen of Mr. J. Kingdom (author of the Old Ferry House, &c.) The plot of The Adventurer is laid in Spain, in the time of Philip the Third, and his Minister, the Duke de Lermes, both of whom figured prominently on the stage. Pequillo Alliaza (Mr. Creswick), the Ad venturer, a sort of Spanish Japhet, is engaged in search for a father, in which he displays all the energy and perseverance of his English type, accompanied by the generous bravery and insouciance of Don Caesar de Bazan. This search is the chief object of his life, and he prosecutes it through a variety of adventures, in which it is his fortune to cross the intrigues of the Duke de Lermes (Mr. Raymond), and Don Escobar (Mr. Butler), the, chief of the Inquisition. Philip the Third (Mr. J. Mead), by the arts of his Minister and the Inquisition, has become estranged from his wife, Marguerite of Austria (Miss Daly), and is pining for some one to share his heart without his throne, whenthe:portrait of Carmen (Madame Ponisi), the daughter of a Spanish rene gade noble, then imprisoned in the dungeons of the Inquisition, is thrown in his way, and shortly after wards, by the same machinations, he meets the origi nal herself; his heart is lost, but he is obliged to leave her before he can declare his passion. The fortunes of Pequillo and Carmen are in some sort interwoven ; she, like him, is in search of her father • he has saved her from d rown i ng at Valencia, and in the ' second ac we find them together in the dungeons of the Inqui sition, she disguised as a male novice to assist her father's escape, and he a prisoner on a charge of sacrilege, on which he has been arrested by the fami. liars of the Inquisition, just after his fourth adven ture, where he helps the King to escape from the un pleasant situation into which his pursuit of Carmel has led him. Delascar de Alberique, the renegade, and Pequillo escape; but the sex of Carmel is disco vered, and she is condemned to be'burnt at the next au to-da-fe, from which she is rescued by an insurrection of the mob of Valencia, led on by Pequillo, and con nived at by the King. The third act opens with Carmel at the palace, protected by the King, Delascar restored to fortune, and a decree for the restoration of the Moors is planning. This does not suit either the minister orthe Inquisition. A plot for the poisoning of Carmen is set afoot, which is discovered by Piquillo, in the course of one of his adventures, and intercepted by him just as the King is about to drink off the cup which had heen prepared for Carmel at an entertainment in the royal gardens. The King's gratitude makes Pequillo Prime Minister in the room of the Duke de Ltruies, but, what is of more consequence to him, he discovers his father in the person of Delascar de Alberique. A powerful scene follows between Pequill3 and his sister Carmen, in which she declares to him her love for the King, and implores Pequillo to save her from dishonour. An Prime Minister Piquillo issues a decree, ordering all Mahomedans to remove from the Spanish territory. Carmen has confessed her Moorish faith, and she pre pares to obey the decree. The King's passion op poses her, but Pequillo's manly and patriotic expos tulations restore him to his better self, and the play concludes with the full re conciliation of the King and his wife, and the departure of the Adventurer and his new found family to Algiers. The dialogue of the piece throughout was very good, and the parts well cast. The Three Princes, like most pieces of the sort, has but little plot. The Princess Brighteye (Miss Bromley), daughter of Hi Ski Cloudy (Mr. Widdicombe), has been stolen away by an evil genius, which sets the whole court in a state of consternation. A proclama tion is issued offering the lady's hand to her rescuer, and three princes —Prince Jealous (Miss Daly), Prince Blush (Miss Laporte), and Prince Faithful (Miss Jane Coveney)—set out on the expedition, which is attended by numberless horrors and perils. Prince Faithful, however, having secured the assis tance of the fairy Good-friend, is the only one who can obtain entrance into the Enchanted Castle, where he arrives only in time to save the other two princes from being set down to the fire to roast for the En- chanter's — dinner. He penetrates into the chamber where the Princess is confined, pops the question to her, puts an end to the Enchanter's power, and restores the young lady to her parents only to de prive them of her himself. Into this plot is interwoven a running fire of jokes, witticisms, and clever allusions, the interest of which never flags, and the application is never obscure. Every pawing event furnished a mark, and none were allowed to pass by. The political hits were very clever and told remark. ably well with the audience. Of the scenery and me chanical effects we cannot speak in too high terms. The last scene, the Lake of Gems, was •ne of great magnificence and splendour. Throughout the whole piece the audience were kept in a state of alternate admiration and laughter. Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick have certainly produced one of the best ex- travaganzas on the stage; and they have no cause to be dissatisfied with its triumphant reception. We must not forget to mention the many adaptations of ropular melodies which were given in the course of the piece. They were well arranged and sang with great spirit. A trio by the three princes was de servedly encored. and had an infallible ordeal ly.fore which all must go who claimed to be his daughter. This is no other than a crown which strikes to death those who approach it with an untruthful intention. The fair damsel of the Valley of Roses, rescued from death in a thousand hideous shapes by the gallant Roland, son of Aymon, has already stood the test, and challenges Mangis and his daughter to follow her. They ac cept the challenge, and, accompanied by their four familiars, are all at once dispatched to Orcus. Odette is then acknowledged by Charlemagne ; Roland is received as her affianced, and in the royal tent of Charlemagne the triumph of the four sons of Aytnon is accomplished amid a glorious tableau. The splendour of the decorations, the gorgeousness of the costumes, the magnificence of the spectacle, and the novelty of the effects, far surpasses anything that hos been hitherto achieved even at this, the theatre, par excellence, of spectacle. The applause was en thusiastic, and the Four Sons of Arnim will no doubt draw crowded houses for one hundred nights to come. Scenes in the Circle followed, of which the novel and brilliant entree of the dames of the foxhunting chase pleased us most, hut each scene had its admirers. Toe re-appearance of the Young Hernandez especially created an immense furor. Astley's, under Mr. Batty's management, more than sustains its well earned reputation. THE EXHIBITIONS. THE WALHALLA. The Earl of Carlisle, at a recent l}elgravian assem bly, convened to assist the mighty gathering of 1851, congratulated the age in which we live upon its free dom from superstition or brutality, denouncing with nervous energy the dismal ceremonies of the Romans, and the sanguinary struggles of the gladiator ; but " out of evil sometimes cometh good," and while we lament the terrible incidents which characterised the amusements of old, we should never forget the advan tages we derive from the imperishable mementos they have left behind. Emmerson, the American lecturer, tells us somewhere that sculpture owes its origin to architecture. Doubtless the magnificent structures of the ancients served to promote, encourage, and develope that divine art, but it is in the gladiatorial struggles within the amphitheatre, rather than in its external walls, that we must look for its cradle. But what has all this to do with the Walhalla of Leices ter-square ? Why, a good deal, for the Walhalla not only recals to the reflective mind the games and pastimes of a race of men whose genius, if not their deeds, will live in history for ever, but it serves to bear out the opinion which some of Emmerson's opponents have advanced in America upon the origin of sculpture. Painting and sculpture are but the sha dows of existing scenes and animate beings, and if they afford amusement and delight to the man of taste, no wonder that the originals, not as they are seen in the artist's studio, but, assisted with costumed illusions, gives him equal pleasure. Anything more complete in its way, anything more removed from the vulgarity of a mere model, or anything more classical, can hardly be conceived than Madame Whar ton's Tableaux Vivans, and it is therefore not at all surprising that her gallery comes in for a fair share of patronage at this festive period of the year. ARGYLE ROOMS. M. Laurent, jun., still waves his baton at this magnificent salle de danse, the appearance of which has been greatly beautified by the erection of a costly and brilliant chandelier. There is always a mania of some sort prevailing, and dancing seems to be all the rage at the present time. From the prince to the peasant, dancing has its charms, and a holiday never occurs now-a-days without a plentiful accom paniment of balls, routs, and quadrille parties ; and if you happen to see a man struggling through his steps clumsily depend upon it he is fast sinking into "the sear and yellow leaf "—he is of a bygone age. The young spark performs his evolutions with the ease and skill of a professor, and you may judge, by the perseverance with which he pursues the pleasure of dancing, that it has become part and parcel of his existence The Argyle Rooms are, therefore, im mensely patronized just now, and the scenes which they nightly present are highly diverting. The grave and gay, the young and old, jostle together in won derful confusion, and there is not a set made up in which you cannot find some fine specimen of the sur face life of the great metropolis. Here you have the bearded, chattering Frenchman—there the pale-faced, spectacled German or Yankee. Here you see the undoubted " Gent. out on the loose," with his stunted imperial and ponderous watch-chain—there the fiercer mustachioed militaire ; in fact, every conceivable species of West-end idler, all twisting and twirling round gaily-attired ladies, with languishing looks and masculine paletots. He, then, who wants to dance in a mob, or study the manners and customs of men upon town, should go to the Argyle Rooms, which were last night thronged with holiday-seekers, country cousins, and provincials. CASINO DE VENICE. This admirably conducted Casino still continues to draw nightly a most crowded and fashionable com pany. We know of no other place of entertainment in the metropolis that we would recommend to the votaries of Terpsichore sooner than the Casino of Venice, for there they enjoy a quiet and uninterrupted dance. The music is excellent, and let us, en passant, just make mention of Mr. O'Brian's new piece entitled the " Donnybrook Quadrille." Since it was first played it has been rapturously encored every night, and for ourselves we may truly say that it is the prettiest quadrille music that we have heard for many a long day. 'We are satisfied that it has only to become known to be universally sought after and its musical talent duly appreciated. The ar rangements on the whole for the accommodation of the visitors are quite complete ; and, indeed, nothing whatever is wanting to render this saloon one of the moat attractive lounges in that quarter of the town. LOVE'S ENTERTAINMENT. We were delighted to find that the Music-hall, Store-street, was again crowded last evening by a highly fashionable audience. The public will cer tainly never tire of the entertainments which Mr. Love can place before them. Each visit we make we become more and more amazed at his extraordi ❑ary polyphonic talent, and as a ventriloquist he certainly stands unrivalled. His personifications of the agreeable old man, the chatty young lady, the spark, &c., are inimitable, and the rapidity with which he changes his dress is truly startling. In short, whenever we go to these entertainments we are satisfied of being at least amused, if not instructed. We would advise those country folks who are spend ing their Easter in town not to leave the metropolis without paying Mr. Love a visit. As before stated, the hall is crowded at every entertainment by a highly respectable company. ASTLRT'S. The new chivalric hippodramatic Easter spec tacle, entitled The Four Sons of Ayinon; or, The Days of Charlemagne, of which report spoke so highly, has more than realised the most extravagant expectations which had been entertained of its gorgeous splendour as a spectacle, and of its great interest as a drama. It is from the practised pen of Mr. Fitzball, and thus runs the plot :—Charlemagne, the illustrious son of the equally illustrious Pepin the Small, has, when our tale commences, lost his only daughter, who, stolen from him in her youth, leads a virtuous but inglorious life as a peasant girl in the Valley of Roses. There she is seen and loved by Roland, one of the sons of the Count of Aymon, who is ignorant of her real condition, and loves her for herself alone. The only impediment to the happiness of the youthful pair appears to be the en mity of one Count Mangis who, having killed the father, has a natural antipathy to the sons, and, not content with human means, has recourse to the sor cerer's art, in which he is an adept, to prevent the consummation of their wishes. But the malicious Count is no match for the four sons, who are also aided by the powers of enchantment—fur their mother was a powerful spirit—and are enabled to countervail all his horrible machinations. However, in a drama which endures through two acts, it i s riot to be supposed that either side gains the day in a moment. There are many moving accidents by flood and field, innumerable plots laid, but success fully counterplotted, divers snug schemes devised, but eventually rendered abortive. In fact, the sons can not be vanquished by earth, air, fire, or water; but they can by their passions—and, alas ! the de mons of love, war, wine, and gambling, are at the command of the wily Count. The mention of this little circumstance may enable the reader to imagine the sore of perils the fuur gallant sons have to encounter. The malicious Mangis even attempts to palm off his own daughter as the long-lost child of Charlemagne ; but the Emperor, who, we are told in his history, was a great encourager of learning, although he probably could not write his OVA name, possessed some knowledge of the mystic, BRITISH MUSEUM. Easter Monday is invariably a grand day at this national establishment ; and the fine weather which prevailed yesterday attracted to it a ♦ery large num ber of visitors, who promenaded the various galleries of antiquities and objects of natural history with order and decorum. During the whole of the day a continuous stream of people poured into the build ing, and the number of visitors could hardly have been less than on any previous similar occasion. NATIONAL GALLERY. The numerous specimens of the talent of old and modern painters, some of them the finest in ,the world, which adorn the walls of this institution, at tracted yesterday a crowd of visitors, who seemed to enjoy the treat which so fine a display of art is cal culated to afford. The Vernon collection of pictures has not yet been removed to Marlborough House, but it is expected that very little time will elapse be fore the removal takes place. BRITISH INSTITUTION, PALL-111ALL . One of the earliest galleries establi s h e d i n t h e metropolis for the exhibition of pictures of old and living artists, has its walls covered at thi s season with a very good selection of the works of the latter. Easter Monday naturally attracted thither a larger concourse of spectators than ordinary. The same remark applie s t o t h e S u ff o lk -street Gallery,instituted by the S oc i e t y o f B r i t i sh Artists, w hose exhibition, for the season, was opened about a week ago. THE COLOSSEUM. The proprietors of this establishment, magnificent as it is, are not disposed to relax their efforts in main taining its prestige and superiority. The general features remain the same, but some changes have been made which, no doubt, will give the exhibition renewed popularity during the holiday season. The waterfall is now coupled with a view of the Tete Noire Pass and Valley of Trient, the effect of which is extremely striking and imposing, wearing at the same time an emphatic air of reality. Other views, though upon a lesser scaly, court the attention of the spectator, among them paintings by Mr. Damon, of Netley Abbey, near Southampton, and Tchin Schab, in China. The Cyclorama, which forms a separate branch of the Colosseum, will likewise have its patrons. This costly piece of mechanic4l contrivance delineates, it is a thrice-toll tale to tell, the city of Lisbon and the vicinity prior to the approach of the terrible earth quake of 1755, as welt as the catastrophe itself—the horrors of which are portrayed, as we ha►e often remarked, with ingenious and impressive vividness. TILE D.IOI?AMA. The Castle of Stolzenfels, recently opened, pro mises to be one of the mos t attractive of th e wor k s which have, from time to time, challenged the atten tion of the public. The spectator looks d own upon the fortress, and the coup deed which is presented to him is remarkable both t . or scenic beaut y an d expan sive variety. The painting, by Nicholas Meister, is highly meritorious as aw . ork of art. Tha ,Shire of the NAtivi ty, executed by lienoux from a drawing by Mr. David Roberts, is the revival of an old picture—of one calculated to win the patron.. age of many to whom the subject has an interest irre spective of other considerations. Judged upon these grounds its resuscitation was advisable, notwithstand ing its comparative inferiority to other similar pro ductions at the same establishment. B URF R U'S PANORAMAS. The anxiety at present as to the " whereabouts" of Sir John Franklin gives a peculiar interest to the new panorama of Mr. Burford, representing the Arctic regions. Nothing that this gentleman has produced has been more felicitous than this, either as a work of art or as an instance of scenic effect. The drawing has been made from sketches by Lieutenant Browne, who accompanied the recent expedition in the Enterprise, and therefore the stamp of truth is impressed upon it. The panorama con sists of two serni•circular views, portraying the frozen seas under the different aspects of summer and winter. Altogether, these two views are extremely interesting, and well deserve the praise that has been bestowed upon them. The Panoramas of Cashmere and Pompeii occupy the other circles. The former is a remarkably fine Oriental landscape, presenting Nature under a very opposite condition to that of th e A rct i c regions. Warmth and luxuriance are the characteristics. The richest hues predominate, and the foliage is of that large and exuberant growth which is only found in these tropical latitudes. The waters which meander through the valley give relief to the ememble, and the general effect is enchanting. The view of Porn peii possesses an interest of a totally diff erent kind. There is the exhumed city just as it appears aft er th e recent excavations--a melancholy picture of a huge and overwhelming catastrophe, and at the same time, historically instructive as a disclosure of domestic life two thousand years ago. WORKS of ANCIENT and MEDIZEVAL ART. One of the most unique and remarkable exhibitions of the present year is that now occupying the upper rooms of the Society of Arts in the Adelphi, elaborate notices of which have already been published in the leading journals. The interest, therefore, of an exhi bition of this historio- artistic nature speaks for itself; and the scrutiny to which it has already been sub jected betokens the intelligent relish that has been awakened on the part of the public. THE POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION. This attractive haunt enjoyed its usual extensive patronage yesterday, and visitors flocked in by hundreds during the whole day. The programme evinced the customary varieties of incidents, the lectures by Dr. Bachhoffner and J. H. Pepper, Esq., mingling pleasantly with the experiments with the diving -bell and the dissolving views, the latter (a new set) containing a series of views of the island of Ceylon, the Arctic regions, &c. Bitt it is impossible to enter into any detail of the " doings" at the magnificent gallery of popular science. The entertainments are sufficient in num bar to occupy the spectator from morning till night, emprising not only several specific discourses on some definite branch of science, copiously illustrated by experiment, but a museum of mechanical, philoso phical, and artistic objects of an extent unparalleled in a popular institution. The energy of the directors is rewarded by the unceasing countenance of " the people," for we never remember to have visited the place without finding a numerical audience that no other exhibition ever enjoyed with such undeviating permanence. But the nature of the establishment commands this manifestation of sympathy and interest. Amusement and instruction are here so happily blended as to give it a character per se ; and while it is conducted upon the liberal and judicious principles which at present prevail, its public interest is not likely to fail. MADAME TUSSAUD'S. This popular exhibition still continues a centre of unabated attraction ; and yesterday, from an early hour in the forenoon to an advanced one at night, an unintermitted stream of eager spectators was kept up, crowding, at times, the grand hall, the Chamber of Horrors, and the Napoleon-room, to an inconvenient degree. The building was brilliantly lit up in the evening, and presented altogether a ►ery gay and animated scene. MISCELLANEOUS EXHIBITIONS. The success which attended the American exhibition of Mr. Banrard has had the usual effect, and various others, upon similar or analogous principles, have been constructed. In most cases, however, the ordi nary condition of rivalry has not been observable, for the imitations have been better than the original, talent of a very superior kind having been expended in working out certain pictorial spectacles, with re sults more or less artistic. The works which this new class of voluminous painting has generated are several, and we believe that others are in progress to swell the list. The NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY' has furnished Mr. J. W. Allen with subjects for a series of sketches illustrative of certain localities between Primrose-hill and the Britannia Tubular Bridge, comprising Wolverton, Coventry, Birmingham, Chester, Conway-bridge, Snowdon, &c. The execu tion of these scenes is skilful and effective, as we have already declared, while the oral discourse delivered by Mr. Clarke is an informing and well-digested ac companiment. The building in which this panorama is shown adjoins the Polytechnic Institution, to which it may be considered an appendage. Mr. Phillips's DIORAMA OF IRELAND, in the old Chinese exhibition room, is likewise a clever work. The entrance to the theatre fitted up for the reception knd display of the picture, is prettily decorated with a representation of the Mardyke at Cork, and the inner room is liberally decorated as a reception chamber. The diorama passes before the eye without detention, and the spectator is regaled with views of the Queen's progress through the Emerald Isle in the autumn of 1849, beginning with Queenstown, and pursuing the royal route as far as Belfast, that is, de picting those points of the journey the most remark able in themselves, and the most suitable for transcript. Among them we have the Lakes of Killarney, Clon tarf, Drogheda, Armagh, Mingo-, and other places of notoriety. The views in NEW ZEALAND, by blr.G.C.Brees, the late surveyor of the New Company, are still to be found in Leicester-square. The circumstances under which they have been produced establish their claim to authenticity, and the scenery of these regions has never before been so carefully and imposingly demon strated. The AUSTRALIAN DIORAMA, by Mr. Front, at the Western Literary Institution, a set of re flected views, illustrates the same rising and important country. The GALLERY or ILLUSTRATION, depicting the route of the Overland Mail, painted by Messrs. D. Roberts, Herring, Telbin, Grieve, and Absalon, promises to take a very important rank as a fashion.. able haunt, for everything that can conduce to the comfort as well as the gratification of the visitor, has been supplied in an unsparing spirit. The fittings up of the edifice (the south wing of the Parthenon Club House, in Waterloo-place), are superb, the en trance hall and the ante-room being richly orna mented and furnished, while the theatre in which the spectator finally finds himself is as commodious as it is architecturally tasteful. The diorama moves be hidd a large opening, delineating the vicissitudes of scenery which the traveller experiences when jour neying from England to India, commencing with the Isle of Wight, the Bay of Biscay, the Me diterranean, and the Desert--with the incidents appertaining thereto. The breaks in the rolling canvas disclose several magnificent set scenes depict ing Gibraltar, Malta, the island of Ceylon, and Cal cutta. The finished style in which the paintings are executed gives the diorama distinguished credit as an exhibition, as well as a s p ec i es o f pre - em i nence as to scale and elaboration which merits the highest encou ragement. The fame of the artists who have been associated in the prosecution of the work is a strong credential of practical excellence, and the expectations gentlemen. But suggested by their names are more than realised. h e o s f e be an d adduced the ~1 e w e t h u e r r e e .” tyThe details of the journey across the Desert gi ve great variety to a subject in itself n ecessarily mono tonous ; the figures by Mr. Absolon, and the anim a l s by Mr. Herring, being drawn with the usual life-like sentiment peculiar to the pencils p enci public ls o of has t But special instances need not abi lity is so generally displayed throughout. The dio rams is largely instructive as a levelopment of locali ch • both heard and talked mu , 1 ties respecting which Mr. Stoqueler has the advantage o f emanating from an indvidual who is intimately acquainted with the subject, and who has gone observantly over the ground describe. he professes to , Mr. m in vard s new P ANORAMA OP THE Onto dis plays t h e same ki n d of crude art which was the c h a racteristic o f the " three mile" iree painting ; but as portraitures of the several places on the "great wes tern waters," the interest involved is far from in considerable. Tim COSMORAMA having been closed for a few days, re -_opened yesterday with a slight infusion of new _sulJecls, exe cu t e d b y t h e same art i sts as those whohave hitherto been employed by the proprietor. They consist of the Valley of Tombs at Palmyra and the Rope Bridge of Penope, in South America, in addi tion to the former views of Interlacken, Venice. Rome, St. Peter's, the Kamschatcan Volcano, and the Memnon statues. Half an hour may be agreeably spent in sauntering through the room which contains these pictures. Seen through strong magnifying glasses, and fenestrated aper tures, the effect is precisely that of surveying either a landscape or an architectural locality from u lofty building, and certain dioramic effects, ingeniously in troduced here and.there, contribute much to the illu sion. The now paintings are worthy the attention of the Amusement seekers. .ri