The Sun. — London, England, 1853-12-27 00:00:00

SHARE MARKETS-(THIS DAY). all 51s. 100 20 11i 100 BRITISH RAILWAYS. Closing Prices Saturday. 22 - 22A 1 5 - 5A 9 - 10 11— 9dl 18 19 1 5i 4idi 98 - 100 55i - 56 16 - 174 14 - 15 46 47 8i - 8i 5 - 5i 3i 4 13a-- 13 0 40 - 44 30 - 32 64 - 66 64 -- 66 22 = gti g‘p 129 - 131 104 - 106 -83 i 95 -100 1 13 - 144, 67 - 67 - 131 -13 i 8i -- 8a lip 90 -- 100 1034 -- 104 - 2 p -1) 78 79 12 11 d 10 9 d 23i - 24 - -0 63 -63 i 37 39 54 56 d par 4i 2 - 3i 6 - 8 52 - 54 3$ - 3i 31 - 32 8 - 10 1i - 24 - 51 53 Sid' par 1p 37 - 38 91. - 93 57 - 58 58 - 60 55 60 24 2dis 15 17 74 86 11 13 3i 3ad 15 -- 17 61A 624 33A 34 3 -- 2 d 4 5 27 - 30 2i 3, 3 / 4 15 16 6 - 7 28 - 30 8 ... - . 63A 64i1 84 —84 d 4 47i —48 A 47i 8 Baldness done this day. xr:DA C ' t. boat State s J Sa iled b,l 'Otigh, from th in st. el te n Tt 2 sin tha t pr per ad t" the e P , 7, ) rt >lry oft rats Cede d te lc( d cic no 'rile' Of the pfd :li°l4 r 9 P ° . rted e si 1, 1 0111 ; " . ii zll b6 0 rieSrls 0 00 50, o ivel Lu. si 01 : 3 0 5 ein 0 ; 'O)3 14 16 31 4 3 ' - A ea] l e s '; )I ", e r roc • 'to 00. da )15. e t ' b og beg' oe, 'l6 l ' ve r I° ‘ d. t 4 !jii ) g' ae "L n • Ise. Oa ,b 1 s RAILWAYS. ...... St. 20 271 . 22 2$ 50 20 11i 10' raid] Aberdeen ....... Ambg. Nottng. Bost & Eastn. Junc Belfast & Ballymena Btrmng. Wolverh. & Stour Valley Birkenhd. Lancsh. & Cheshire Janet Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O & £25 Cons—. Do., £20....... ...... Blyth & Tyne original £25 (iss. at £45) Bristol & Exeter— Caledonian.. ....... Chester & Holyhead Cork and Bandon Cork, Black. & Pass t Cornwall Dublin&Belfast June Dundee Perth &Aber deen Junction Do. New !East Anglian (£25 L 50 St. 16 16 20 20 10 10 10 26! 13i 20 20 St. 10 St. 25 20 20 50 20 & E. &D.)..... all Do., (£lB E. & H.).. all Eastern Counties..... 100 EasternUnion,A. stk. 100 :Do., do. B Sk Do.NewA(lateThirds) 100 East Lancashire ...... 100 Edinburgh&Glasgow 3i Edinb. and Peebles... 100 Edinb.Prth.&Dundee 1 Forth and ClydeJunc. ' 100 'Glasgow & S. Western 100 'Great Northern Stk.. 100 Do., A. Stock 100 Do., B. Stock ..... 100 Gt. Sth. &West. (Ire.) 100 Great 11 'lrish South - Eastern. all Lancaster &Carlisle. 11 Do., Thirds 100 Laneash. &Yorkshirt 17i Do., Fifths 114 Do., Wst. Riding Un all Leeds Northern all Liv. Crsby. &So utbpt all London & Blackwal: 44 100 100 47 17 all 100 5 17i 74 all 100 3 100 2.2 1(X) 100 100 100 2.2 all , 16i 1100 Loud. Tilb. & Sthond. Lond.Bright. & S.Cst. London & N. Weston, Do. Fifths Do. ,16/.Sh.,M&B 0 Do. Eighths London & S. Wester' Do., £50......... • Do. X4O Lndildrry.&Colerainc Lndndrry. & Ennisk. Manch .Shef. &Lincln 98 55i i i 6 i 6Gi 7,} 7 i 1018 3i 4 77i 8 Do., Man. &Lin. Un. Midland . . Do. Birming. di Derb3 Midland G.West.(lr.) Do. Shares .......... Newcastle &Carlisle.. l Newmarket............ Do. Bury Extensions Newpt.Aberg.&lltfd Newry & Enniskillen Newry Warrenpoint & Rostrevor Norfolk.. Northn. Counties Un North British North Devon, No.l Do., No. 2.. Dc., A Deferred Do., B Guaranteed North London N. & S. Wstn., Hamp stead, and City Jn North Staffordshire North Western N. & S. Westrn. June Nuneaton, Hinckley, and Leicester Oxford Worcester & Wolvernampton Scottish Central Scottish Midland Shrewsbury & Birmg Do., L. & N. Westn Guaranteed Stock Shre wsby. & Herefd Shrewsuy. & Chester (Nor. W. Min.) Do. Halves, do Do. Oswestiy .., Shropshire Union Do. A, B,C, &D, fully paid up at per cent. South Devon South Eastern South Wales.. S. Y orksh. River Dun 24i 63i Staincs,Wok.,&Wok. Stockton & Darling Stockton & Hartlepl Taff Vale Do. £lO shades Do. Pref., No. 1., Thames Haven Dock and Railway Vale of Neath Waterfd. dr Kilkenny Waterford&Limerick West Cornwall.. West End of London and Crystal Palace West London Wmbledou &Croydon York Newctl. & Berw. Do. Extensions. Do. G.N.E. Purchase York & N. Midland 30 1 30i 621 2 6641 4 FOREIGN. 10 6 Antwrp &Rotterdam 2 —15 d 4 5 3 Belgian East. Junet. 1 1.5 20 8 Beziersto Graissessac 3 2 d . . ... Central of Italy . 20 all Charleroi & Erquelin 13 15 17i all Demerara — 20 10 Dijon and Besnon 2 3 11 , 20 8 Dutch Rhenish 20 all East Indian 3 —44 p 20 2 Do. Extension —l p p 5 all Gt. Indian Peninsula k —15 p 20 10 Gd. Junet. of France 2i 3 p ... 10 Gd. Trunk, of Canada Shrs. and Bonds 3 2 d 20 8 Gt. Central of France 1 p 205 20i Gt. Westn. of Canada Shares id par 105 ... Do. bonds(l i55.)1857 ••• •.. Do.bonds(2iss.)lB62 20 foi Hamilton & Torontc par 1 p leo all Do. 6 per cent ••• ••• 20 5 Lake Const. & Basle 5 4 Lucca and Pistoja, 5 per cent. pref. 20 15 Luexembourg ll5 —ll 11 10 10 Do. (Railway) 74 74 74 5 2Do l5. 25 5 3 Do. (Canal) 2 2 10 5 Do. 6p. cent. pref. # p 20 12 Lyons & Mediterran. p —4 p 20 10i Madras 335 29 Maria Antonia 10 10 Do. New ••• ••• 20 2 :Melbourne Dk. & Ry. ..• ..• 20 all Namur & Liege (with interest 7 84 20 all Do. (ex interest) — 16 all Northern of France 34i 354 35 20 all Do. 20/.3 p. c. Bds [fmy.B.&Ams.Shs ] 10 all vorwegianTrnk.Prof 72 20 10 Paris and Lyons 164 — l7 r 264 40 40 Do. bonds 20 all Paris and Orleans 46 48 20 all Paris and. Rouen 4l 43 20 all Paris and Strasbourg 324 33/ 32i 35 20 4 Paris Caen& Cherbrg. 3 4 p 104 101 Quebec & Richmond id 4 d 20 all Rouen and Havre 19 20 20 9 Royal Danish ld par 5 2 Royal Swedish l— 4 d 20 all Sambre and Mouse B4 94 9 10 6 Do. 54 per cent. pref. 20 2 S.E. of France ••• 20 6 Southern of France.. 4 6 p 20 6 St. Andrews & Quebec ... ••• 20 2s. Upper India Scrip ... . . . 84 all West Flanders 45 5 20 10 Do. 5,4 per c. Prof d 20 10 Western of France 74 p 1G 4 West, of Switzerland 14 id 20 2 Wiesbaden•2o 12 Zealanfl 45 4 d LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS. Leasing Closing Prices Business Shr. Paid RAILWAYS. Compans. Saturday. this day. 50 all Bedford and Lu.&N.W. Bletchley St. 100 Buckghamsh L. &N.W. 101 103 50 all Clydesdale Jc, Caledon... 51 52 102 St. 100 E.Lincoln. gr. 6p. cent Gt.Northn 112 145 25 all Glas. Barr. dr Caldonian. Neils. Direct. 25 all Do. New Do — 25 all Glstr.&Dn.Fr. Gt.Westn 3O 32 100 all Hrtlpl. Dk. & Yk. New Railway & Berw.. 50 all Hull & Selby Y.&N.Md. 109 111 25 all Do. Shares Do s4i —65 i 12i all Do. Shares. Do 27 28 12 all Lon.&Greenw S.Eastern l3 —l4 20 all Do. Preference Do 24a —25 St. 100 Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent... Norfolk St. 100 Do. 6 per ct. Do — all Manch.Bxton. Ln.&N.W and Matlock & Midld 2 - 3 50 all Middlesbro' & Stckton & Rede,ar 100 all Midld.Bradfd Midland... 99 101 50 all Northern and Easternsp.c. E. Count.. 60 62 5 all Do. 6 per ct Do • --- ••• 5' all Do.Fixedsp.c Do . . 2.5 all Prest. & Wyre L. 6t . IN . W dtLn& Yk 1 12 Do. Shares. Do B 100 Roystn.drllit. Gt.Northn 142 145 , s B- - 100 Do.Sh e pth.St. D o 142 --145 lq Shef. Roth. & Lancash.& Gooleg.s.p.c Yorksh d 12. 9i S. Staffo r d s h.. MrMClean . 2 lad ew all WearValleygr Stookt. & 26 . all , per cent Darling., ... Do o 3oi 31 , 31 Bt.. 100 WiltsUoranst GlG.Westa 99 100 all 13.5 24i Agua Fria Anglo Austrin Gold Anglo Californian ... Australasian Australian Australian Cordillera Australian Freehold Ave Maria Baden (Gd. Duchy of) Blmnarvon Iron and Coal British Austrin. Gold British Iron Brazilianlmp.(issued at ,E 5 pm Do. Comes & Cuiada Do. St. John Del Rey Carsons' s Creek Cobre Copper Colonial Gold Copiapo (Copper Min. of Eng, Do. Pref. 7A p. cent, English ana Austin, Copper Smeltg. Co, General Gt. NuggetVeinScrp Do. Registered Great Polgooth Lake Bathurst Liberty Li nares . . Lond.&Californ. Gold Quartz Crush. Co_ Mariquita ........ Mexican&S.Americn New Granada Isie iv Linares Mining and Smelting Co_ Nouveau Monde Pontgibancl Silvei Lead Min. & Smelt Port Philip Quartz Rock Rhymney Iron Do. New Santiago do Cuba South Aus'aalian Tin Croft United Mexican Waller West Granada West Mariposa Worthing Mining of Australia Yuba all all all all 12fa. St. 25 50 20 PREFERENCE SHARES. Aberdeen Do., No. 2, 7 P. c... , Blyth & Tyne 10 per et. pref. (iss. at£so) ristol & Exeter 4 pr cent., stock.... Do. Do., shares tedonian £lO . Chester & Holyhead Guar. 5i per cent Cork&Bandon 5 ip.c Dundee Perth&Aber deen EastA nglian (£3los) 6 per cent Do. (E 5) 7 per cent Do. (£7l7s) 7 p. et Eastern Counties Ex tension, 5 p. c. No.l Do., No. 2....... Do., New 6 p. c. St Eastern Union, Scrip Guar. 6 per cent Do. £lO Deben. Sh Easthancash. 6 p. cts East & West Yorksh Junction Fifths Edinb. Prth. &Dundecl 4 per cent. Glasgow & S.Westerni guar. 5 per cent. 1 Great Northr 5 p.c Do. 5 p. c. , Redeem. , at 10 p. c. prom Do. 4 percent. Scrip Gt.N. of Scot. ,lst Prof Gt. Southn. &Wcstn. (Ireland) Eighths Do. 4 per et. pref. St Gt. Westu. (Berke & Hants Ex. 5 p. c.) Do. con. & red. 4l p.c Do. do. 4 per cent Do. iiTedeein. 4 p. c Lan. & York. F. £2O, Do., 6 p. c., Stock Leeds Nu. 6p. c. No. 1 Do. Quarters,lB4B London and,Brighton Guaranteed 5 p. c Do. Pref., 5 p. c. St Do. Convertible, 5 p c., 1852 Do. New Guar. 6 p.c Loud. & N. W., Coy & Nun., 5 per cent ' London & S. Western, Cou. Thirds Londonderry& Coler. Shares ....... Londy. & Ennis. Manch. ,Shef. , &Lin., Shares, No. 1 Do. New, £lO Marypt. &Carl. 4 p. c Do. 4 per cent Do .. Mid. Consol. 6 p. c. St. Do. Consol. Bristol & Birm. 6 per cent Do. Pref. 4i per cent Norfolk Debent. Sh Norfolk Extension Do. Pref. WI per ct Do. Way. Val. 5 p c North British North Staffordshire Oxford Worcester . & Wolverh.ls,6p.c Do Scot. Cen., New Pref. Shrews& Vrm. N. G. Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor.W.Min),B p. c. Do. 5 per cent South Devon Do. New S. Eastern (Reading Ann.,) of £1 Os. 6d. S. Yorksh.4p. c. Guar. Waterfd. &Kilk. 6p. c. York Newcastle and Berwick, 4 p.c.Pref. Do. York& N. Midland H & S. Purch ioo 7 3.6,3 6i -- 6a 4i -- 4 5 i ...- 64 1 r ih -- 1p 4 -1) -- 14 20 -' 21 21 - a 121 - 122 109 110 a 131'i 8 - 8i 6i -- 7 1 101 -- 103 95 -- 100 98 -- 100 id --, par 143 -- 145 2i - 3 12i - 13 7 - 8 10 -10 i i - i P 1 141 143 —. id 106 - 110 112 - 116 23 . 101 -106 -lp --- 16 -16, 11 -13 13 - 15 id- ip 24 - 24 17 - 19 I - 96 - 99 4. - 4A 0 - PI MINES. P 6 d ... par d AP 11— d 3 36 t 4d dd 10 12 8 —10 d 5i 6i 2i 32 —34 x par 45 47 —BP 12 13 70 80 6 - 8p 2i— 3dl 14 —l6 2i 2i d d— Ad 11 ... 12xn par t 7 8 d — P ..• - ... i . - iP 4 P 31 33 9 10 54 6i id— -5 7 4f —4/ - d 4 - d —a, JOINT-STOCK BANKS. 40 all Australasia 7B 80 704 40 all British Colonial Bank ... and Loan Company 50 all British N. American ... 20 2 Chrtd. Bnk.of India, Austral., and China Idis 25 5 Chrtd. Bnk. of Asia. 14 idis 100 25 Colonial 100 20 Commercial of Lond — 20 10 English Scottish and Australian Chrtd ll id 20 15 London Chrtd. Bnk of Australia — 1 p 50 20 London and County ... 50 10 London Joint Stock — 100 20 Lond.andWestminst , 40 10 0 35 National Provincial of England 20 10 Do. New — ••• 50 22, National of Ireland — 6 0 20 all New South Wales.,,, 42 44 25 all Oriental Bank Cor poration 100 25 Provincial of Ireland ... 10 all Do. New. . 5 1 Royal Australn. and Gold Imp. Co Ad— par 25 25 South Australia — . . 25 all Union of Australia 73 y 75 21 Do. Now 7a 81 50 10 Union of Loudon 40 all Union of Madrid MISCELLANEOUS. 5 5 Aubin uou.l and Iron 25 171 Australian Agiicult. 45 46 43t 20 12 Australsn.Pcific Mail 10 8 Australn, Royal Mail 10 21 Berlin Water Works 50 381 Brit, American Land 70 75 5 1 Brit. & Coln. Smeltg. and Reduction Co._ 100 321 Canada Company• 5 5 Crystal Palace — 2 p 6 5 4 Do. Now 4 2 Crystal Pal, of France 20 3 Eastern 5team....... 25 20 Electric Telegraph (A) 16 18 25 15 Do. (B) ll 13 1 1 Electric Tel. of Irel 15 14 Gen. Steam Navigat 20 18 General Screw Steam 20 71 Irish Beetroot Sugar 20 6 Magdalena St. Navig. 1 all Nat. Pt, Steam Fuel 10 4 Netherlands Land 2 2 1 N. S. W. Coal & Inter- Stem. Nay. Co all N. B. Australasian i p 1 1 Do. New .•• • ••• 20 10 Nrth.ofEuropeSteam • 5 all Peel Rr. Ld. & Minrl, Ap 50 all Peninsular & Oriental 67 ad & b 50 25 Do. 2 all Portland Iron Co 100 60 Royal Mail Steam..,. 1 all Scot. Austral. Inves. 11 lip 2A 25 25 South Austral. Land 39 41 39 8A 1 all Submarine Telegraph Ad p 100 281 Van Diemen's Land 15 16 We understand, says the Worcester Herald, that Sir J. Pakington has finally declined to undertake the charge of the Manchester and Salford Education Bill in the ensuing session of Parliament. We hear that the Right Hon. Baronet was unable to concur in the views of the committee as to the religious instructions to be given in schools built out of the rates in poor districts and therefore unconnected with any particular religious denomination. WARLIKE PRECAIITIONS.—We understand that almost every infantry regiment now stationed in Ireland are under orders for foreign service, whilst orders have been sent to every corps at home, cavalry and infantry, to have the whole of their subalterns examined as to their eligibility and fitness for promotion. This savours much of 2d battalions, and 10 troops a cavalry regiment.— Urvitcd Service Congo. 14. pm pm THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY , EVENING, DECEMBER 27, 1853. CHRISTMAS AMUSEMENTS. DRURY LANE. The lessee of Drury Lane is the greatest of all mo dery " Smiths." Last night he achieved another ma nagerial triumph in the production of a right good pantomime "and no mistake," entitled King Humming Top and the Land of Toys—a glorious pantomime from the pen of E. L. Blanchard, a veteran in good "acts," though (in years) one of the youngest of our dramatic favourites, renowned among all laughter-lovers as the author of the Artful Dodge, and dear to the hearts of a whole generation of children as the author of Harlequin Budibras. On the rising of the curtain we are introduced to the Realms of Novelty, situated above the sun, because, as it is stated, there is nothing now under it. The attendants and ministers of the Empress Novelty— Fashion, Design, Capital, and her follower, Success — are awaiting the return of their mistress, who has been presiding at the Dublin Exhibition, and who returns in her triumphal Emerald Car; and Miss Featherstone illustrates the novelties of the past year in a series of brilliant parodies. What may then be termed the Mas que of this tripartite exhibition commences, and we are introduced to Prince Chameleon, who, blasjd by excess of every sensual delight, is seen in his prismatic palace, the victim of ennui. Wearied of his existence, he is about to cast himself into the stream that flows through his delicious gardens, when lie is stayed by the Spirit of Happiness (Miss F. Williams), who transports him to the realms of King Humming Top and to the Land of Toys, thus renewing his boyhood, and, with it, all the freshness of soul he so languishes for. In this territory of Toys, and in this region of Youthful Delights, he meets King Humming Top and his army of Tops, the Princess Skipping Rope and her attendant bevy of Kites and they receive all the representatives of the various Toy nations. Processions and revels ensue here, which do great credit to the artistio ingenuity of the property superintendent, who has shown great fancy and fertility of invention in the adaptation and masking the innu merable symbols of toyish and boyish life. It need scarcely be said, this scene absorbed the wonder and the admiration of all the juveniles in the house. An alarm of toy trumpets interrupts the revelry, and the Queen of Beauty invades the youthful territory. Cricket, rowing, archery, &c., are arrayed against her, but in vain—the imperious Queen triumphs. The Prince penetrates her labyrinthe bower, and finds Happiness by the possession of true love. This concludes the first part of this ela borate piece. The transformation now takes place, and leaving the real of fancy, we light upon earth. King Humming Top becomes Clown, and the familiar "How d'ye do," and " Here we are," of our old jocose friend, Tom Matthews, greets our ear. Mr. Halford, dropping the petticoats of Dame Nutcracker, hobbles out as dear old silly Pantaloon, and the Prince (heretofore elegantly performed by Louise Blanche) is turned into the rest less Harlequin. True Love, becomes the gentle and faithful Columbine. M. Milano is an excellent Harlequin, dexterous, agile, and animated—full of indefatigable spirit and activity, and an admirable dancer to boot. Madlle. Annie Cushnie looks extremely handsome and lady-like as Columbine, and enacts the part with effective graceful ness and accomplished expression in the "poetry of mo tion." These artistes are a valuable acquisition to the Smith establishment, and on this, their first appearance here, completely secured the cordial affections of the audience. The same may be said of Madlle. Terese Cushnie, one of the most skilful and pleasing danseuses of the present day, and who, by her brilliancy and faci lity of execution, drew down great applause. Madlle. Louise Blanche was splendid in appearance, and excel lent both in her acting and dancing. Wonderful were the-evolutions displayed in the comic part. A band of grotesques, the Ethair family, pile themselves up to the ceiling, and toss themselves about, as if made of India rubber. A monstrous real giant is subjected to the gibes of the wondering Clown and Pantaloon. A swarm of young Clowns and Harlequins appear, and Master Beckett almost rivals as a miniature Clown the great prototype before him. The adventures of the illus trious quadruple or rather quintuple party, for Miss Charles appears as Harlequina, involve allusions to the events of the past year—Sydenham Palace, Penny Re ceipt Stamps, Turkey and Russia, and other domestic and foreign transactions, are hit at with the usual panto mime satire. One of the best of these is the putting the Pantaloon into an envelope ; and the scene where the respective residences of Mr. Harlequin, Mr. Clown, and Mr. Pantaloon are shown in juxta-position, is very humorous. It is, however, impossible to particularise all the incidents, frolic and fun, and we opine will be useless, for certainly no one who takes any interest in such matters but will see this production overflowing with attraction for children, great and small. If girl hood and boyhood are still made of the same stuff, and the schoolmaster has not too much invaded the season of holiday, we predict for this pantomine a very long and jolly career. Whatever its fate, the unremitting energy of all concerned, and the liberality and costliness shown by the lessee in getting it up must deserve applause. The verdict, however, rests with our little friends, and their imprimatur was given with a roaring laughter which was indisputable ; and this being followed by that of their parents and guardians, Old Drury can boast of a success and a pantomime that resuscitates the glories of the day, or rather the night, of Mother Goose. In conclusion let us not forget Tom Matthews, whose clown was as jovial, and bustling as ever, and provoked shouts of laughter from all parts of the house. between the acts of the first piece, and between the first piece and the pantomime raised their sibillant remon strances, their presence would never have been brought to the notice of the rest of the audience, description. The various performers did their parts ad mirably. Madame Vestris, "ever fresh and ever young," appeared for the first time this season, and had a very hearty reception from the audience. A numerous and excellent ballet corps, with Miss Rosina Wright at the head, added greatly to the attractions of the piece, which at its close received the marked approval of a crowded and enthusiastic house. The performances terminated with the comic interlude of Patter versus Clatter, in which Mr. C. Mathews, as usual, kept the audience in a con stant roar. carried through the "Realms of Air," attended by a train of fairies, to the "Town of Toys." The inhabi tants of the town are represented by 100 interesting loolrin.,-; children, expressly engaged for the occasion. Kiiag Nutcracker arrives, attended by the kernels of his various regiments, which are composed of picked men from, the best toy-boxes in the Lowther-arcade, and other equally celebrated military depots. A juvenile military band performs martial airs, and a grand review of infantry and cavalry takes place, followed by a sham battle, in which the latter are overthrown by an egregious puff. The town is afterwards besieged by General Bonbon at the head of artillery, and a gun laden. with brandy balls, peppermint drops, and ladies' fingers, having been discharged against the battlements, the imhabitants gladly capitulate. The arrival of the fairy Abeirnethia puts an end to the hostilities, and the usual transformations take place, Mr. Flexmore appearing as Clown, Mr. Bologna as Harlequin, Mr. Griffiths as Pan taloon, and Miss Goward as Columbine. The tumult of the -pantomime now proceeds with the usual well-pre pared accidents and feats of posturing, diversied by Flex more, with a new ditty by E. L. Blanchard, called A Chapter of Clowns, and a solo and various imitations on the penny ophicleide. Tie dialogue of the introductory portion of the piece was sharply written, witty and effective, abounding with numerous political hits. It was well supported by the performers, whose acting, and the greater portion by far of them were children, drew forth loud and continuous praises from the audience. The piece was well received. The scenery, which was well painted and appropriate, was magnificently got up, and the style in which the whole piece was put upon the stage was highly creditable to the management of the establishment. The theatre had been newly decorated, and the gallery considerably extended—improvements which add greatly to the appearance of the house. The performance yes terday commenced with the operetta of the Irish Emi grant, in which the principal characters were taken by Miss Rebecca Isaacs, Miss Reeves, and Mr. George Hodson, who made his first appearance this season. The afterpiece, which prolonged the evening's entertain ment to a very late hour, was Stirling's new farce, The Pet of the Public, in which Miss Rebecca Isaacs took the part of Mdlle. de Laney. It is hardly necessary to say that the house was well attended. HAYMARKET. The amusements of boxing night at this theatre con sisted of Mr. Stirling Coyne's comedy, The Hope of the Family ; and a pantomime, the first ever produced at the Haymarket. Harlequin and the Three Bears ;or Little Silverhair and the Fairies, is the name given to the pantomime in the bills. It is said to be founded upon a popular story of Southey's, and to have been written and invented by the lessee, Mr. Buckstone. The outline of the story, developed in the harlequinade, is as follows :—Little Silverhair, while playing in the forest, is allured by some sweet music to the abode of fairies, and passes the night gaily in their company. The fairies pay her great attention, and woo her to stay among them by all manner of fairy devices, the term of their existence being at an end if they fail in inducing her, or some other young and good girl, to be their midnight guest. After passing the night with them Little Silverhair returns to her mother's cottage, but quite changed in her nature, and with a strange desire to touch and meddle with everything she sees. She re jects the squire who comes and proposes for her, b u t carries off all his presents. Her lover returns from sea, and offers to share his prize-money with her, but she snatches it from him, and betakes her self once more to the forest, her lover, her mother, and the squire following in hot pursuit. They all enter the house of the Three Bears, who happen at the moment to be out while their porridge cools. Little Silverhair tastes of the porridge in the three pots, sets in the three chairs, lies down in the bed of each of the bears, and at last falls asleep on the couch of Bruin the Youngest. On their return the bears soon find out what had been done, and, seizing Silverhair, are about to cut off her head, when she begs as a boon before she dies that they will give her a hammer and a long nail. The simple bears furnish her with what she has asked for. She immediately nails all their tails to the floor, and is on the point of escaping, when the bears, break from their moorings again seize tier, but this time the Queen of the Fairies comes to her rescue. The Fairy Queen, finding that all the parties are in the house, Silverhair having been followed thither by her lover, changes him to Harlequin, the girl herself to Columbine, the Squire into Pantaloon, and his man into Clown ; so that Silverhair, after a time may recover her natural disposition and be made happy with the lover, all of which is brought about after the usual manner of pantomimes. The harlequinade is re markable for the grotesques which appear in it ; for a Beauty and the Beast sort of interest ; arising from Silverhair's intercourse with the Bears ; and for some magnificent fairy scenery by Mr. W. Callcott. The ruined Abbey by Moonlight, changing to the Lotus Lake and 'aterfalls, is surpassingly beautiful in its way, and told at once with the audience. The business that followed the transformation was of the same kind as of yore, with a difference. The cab strike, the camp at Chobham, and a London fog gave full scope to the ingenuities of Clown and Harlequin, and to the scenical and mechani cal resources of the theatre. A solo on the violin, by the clown, was encored from the unexpected neatness of of execution it displayed. The parts generally were effectively sustained. Miss Mary Brown was a charm ing Columbine. Nothing could be more graceful than the Harlequin of Mr. Joseph Marshall, as nothing could well have been more deliciously droll than the Clown of Mr. Harry Marshall—a gentleman, whose varied abilities and agilities render them remarkable acquisitions to the company at the little Haymarket. Little Silverhair was most appro priately represented by Miss Lydia Thompson. The last scene of all was Spithead, with the Queen of England in her yacht, the Fairy, leading tha British fleet out to sea. The spectacle part of the pantomime is, perhaps, the best, but still, as a whole, the experi ment of pantomime at the Haymarket must be pro nounced as having been successful. The gods were wonderfully quiet, and had not the unpardonable delays , PRINCESS'S. Under the title of Harlequin and the. Miller and his Men, or King Salamander and the Foary of the Azure Lake, a gorgeous, glittering, and gameskome pantomime has been produced, remarkable, even at the Princess's,' for the splendour of its mounting, and 'the perfection of its arrangement. Nothing can exceed the beauty of the scenery, the richness and taste of the decorations and dresses, and the picturesqueness of the :lotion ; while the risible faculties are frequently titillated by sundry chefs d'ccuvre of well-ordered fun. It would be a somewhat long-winded task to give a detailed account of the plot and proceedings of this sparkling and hilarious hotch potch which commanded the delight a nd admiration of an audience of all ages, from the rising to the falling of the curtain. Suffice it to say, that the first scene opens with the " Azure Lake," and the entry i;nce of the Fairy Queen (Miss Kato Terry) and her atten. Sant fairies, who are the natural foes of King Salamander- (Mr. F. Cooke). Her Majesty having got into hot watt a with her royal enemy respecting Grindoff, the miller, a note is drawn up for his acceptance, and despatched 1 her Majesty's Envoy-Plenipotentiary-Extraordinary, John Dory (Mr. F. Collins, a very odd fish) ; but, desp'i - te the efforts of the Peace Congress, he resolves to be j wepared for war. Scene the second represents the King ii a the " Boudoir of the Palace," with the imps in waitin kg, devils of the bed chamber, and fiends of the back st airs, crowding in the anti-chamber. The King having been shaved and dressed, is about to sit down to break fast, when he is suddenly called away to scene the third, the " Grand Hall of Audience," where John Dory presents his de spatches, and is only saved from being dispatched him self by the timely arrival of the fairy army. A declara tion of war ensues, and hostilities at once commence, which, after a fierce struggle, ends in the triumphant defeat of King Salamander by the fairy forces. The King, after his subjugation, is permit ted to revisit on earth, on the condition of his becoming: the friend and ally of Grindoff, and the scene changes to the " Banks of a River, with a distant view of the Mill, the Jolly Anglers, and the Cottage of Kelmar," an old fisher man, who is desirous of securing the _rich miller as his son-in-law. His daughter, Claudine, however, is destined to a counter flirtation with Cunt Friberg, a traveller in search of the beautful. A grand combat de deux takes places between the miller and the count, and the former is on the point of being victorious, when the fortunes of the day are changed by the ap pearance of the Fairy of the Azure Lakes. The audience is then introduced to the " Enchanted. Realms of Fairy land," when the transformations takes place. The principal performers in the :Etarlequinade ac quitted themselves with exceeding eclat. The mis chievous pranks and marvellous antics of Clown were achieved in first-rate style by Mr. Huline, who intro duced sundry feats of gymnastic and light-limbed dex terity that immeasurably delighted the spectators. The wonderful little man experienced a highly friendly reception, and cordial felicitations were likewise lavished on his sagacious poodle. ND-. Cormack, the most finished and brilliant of all Harlequins, danced to perfection, and leaped and flitted with inexhaustible vigour and spirit and Miss Des borough, a young lady of high promise and ability, graceful, intelligent, and pleasing in, all she under takes, makes a very charming Colambine, both in appearance and execution. Plaudits were repeat. edly showered on the exertions of these pantomi mic stars. Two characters, pas de deux, particu larly the one a la Watteau, elicited much admiration, being dressed and danced beautifully by Mr. Cormack and Miss Desborough. The tricks and changes are skilfully designed, and went off admirably ; and the entire business of the "comic scenes," alias the harle quinade, must be allowed to reflect a large amount of credit on Mr. George Ellis and his assistant, Mr. Cor mack. The great features of the entertainment were the Fairy Army, headed by the glorious little Kate Terry ; the "Infantry Evolutions at the Chobham Camp"; a " Great Hit ;" and the indescribable formation of a colossal head in " the Palace of the Fire King," a most magnificent scene. We have seen more broadly laughable pantomines, on the whole, but none more striking as a spectacle. In the first piece, The Corsican, Brothers, Mr. Mea dows, being indisposed, the character hitherto sustained by him in that favourite melo-drama was filled by Mr. Saker with an amount of comic ability that proves him equal to undertake more prominent parts than he has yet appeared in at this theatre. In the pantomine, he was extremely hideous as Karl, Count Friberg's " Jeames." We should not omit mentioning a most singular "change." Harlequin and Columbine, finding them selves in a room but scantily inrnislied, the former has recourse to his wand, and transforms several women who happen to be in the apartment, into chairs, a clock, and a dressing-table. The women thus converted into draw ing-room furniture were living persons—real flesh and blood. At one moment they were standing erect on the stage, in the next they were as many chairs elaborately carved and gilt, and not a vestige of the human form was visible. This was not all ; the chairs were afterwards sat upon by the Clown and Pantaloon, who indulged in some rather rough romping, which the chairs bore with a firmness that would gain a reputation for any uphol sterer. The trick is so ingenious—may we say so won derful ?--that we believe few of the audience understood it ; the greater portion, perhaps, imagining that the women so strangely transformed were only so much lath and pasteboard. The house was crowded to suffocation, and the "gods" were unusually noisy. LYCEUM. The public have so long been accustomed to associate with the Lyceum all that is magnificent in spectacle, brilliant in decoration, and tasteful and correct in cos tume, that they will be prepared to hear of the perfect success, in these respects, of the new piece with which the theatre last night opened for the season. The Lyceum has, indeed, on this occasion, fully sustained the reputation which it has acquired, and we may confidently predict for the extravaganza just put upon the stage a run of popularity quite equal to that which some years ago attended the Golden Brands, the Island of Jewels, and other pieces, the production of the same author. The performances last night commenced with the "Bachelor of Arts, a comic drama which was then repeated for the 23d time, and this was followed by the great attraction of the evening a "new original fairy extravaganza," called Once upon a time there were two Kings. The merit of the piece lies chiefly in its scenic effects, the excellence of the costumes, which belong to the close of the 17th century, and the music, with which it is plentifully interlarded ; for the dialogue, though smooth and occasionally pretty, is greatly want ing in that point and piquancy which are so highly relished in this class of performances. Of allusions to the leading topics of the day scarcely any were given, and these were so lightly touched as hardly to be recog nised by the groat body of the audience. The story of the piece, like that of most others which are enacted on fairyland, it was not very easy to unravel from the per - formances. Periwigulus the Proud, King of Human fief' (Mr. J. Bland), sends his son Brutus the Crooked (Mr. Wright), who is Prince Royal and Generalissimo of the Forces, upon a warlike expedition, and the latter re turns victorious, leading captive, among other prisoners, the Princess Carpillona (Miss St. George), the eldest daughter of King Placid the Easy, a dethroned monarch (Mr. F. Mathews), and his Queen Dominania (Madame Vestris), supposed by thorn to have been drowned when a child, and who is unconscious of her rank. Brutus the Crooked enters into a conspiracy, with the dutiful object of depriving his father of the crown, assuming the reins of government, and retaining for him self his beautiful prisoner, but is pacified by his father consenting to forego all claim to the lady and to hold only a nominal place in the government. Meanwhile Carpillona, aided by the fairy Amazona (Miss Martin. dale), makes her escape through a neighbouring forest, pursued by the relentless Brutus, who is determined to make her his bride, and, after a succession of stirring incidents, finds herself in " the verdant valley," where her father, Placid the Easy, ex-King of the Peaceful Islands, and his wife and daughters, arc living i ncog. and in rural simplicity. Here she becomes known to her parents, and falls in love with Corin, a foundling (Mr. F. Robinson), who has been adopted as his son by the good-natured Placid. At last Corin and Carpillona are carried off by Brutus the Crooked, and in the council chamber of his father (King Periwigulus) are condemned to be cruelly burnt. Preparations are making to carry out the horrid sentence, when, by a mark on his shoulder, Corin, is found to be the eldest son of Priewigu his, who had been put out of the way by Brutus when a child, who, even now, when he has discovered his brother's identity, is resolute in his determination to take his life. At this juncture the good fairy Amazona interposes, and converts what was to have been an execu tion into a triumphant deliverance, which is effected by the " prdtecting powers" under circumstances of great pomp and rejoicing. In the development of this plot there are several truly magnificent scenes and spectacles, especially one designated " Sea Weed-hall, the Ocean home of Aquamarina, a Sea Nymph,"and the de:neament of the piece, which includes a scene of the most gorgeou6 ADELPHI. At this house the performances commenced with the popular drama of The Thirst of Gold, which proved far more acceptable to a holyday audience than the dull and tedious plays, such as Jane Shore, The Stranger, or George Barnwell, with which managers were wont to excite the tempers of their more exalted patrons on "Boxing night," and whet their appetites for the anxiously •expected Christmas piece. Eschewing alike burlesque (which might have proved a better venture), and the almost worn-out entertain ment of pantomime, the management of the Adelphi reverted to the repertoire of fairy tales, and there found materials for a new " magic spectacle," entitled Num ber Nip, and the Spirit Bride. The p'.ot is certainly not remarkable for simplicity, nor would it be an easy task to trace the progress of the story through all its complications ; but the main feature of the piece is the hostility existing between the Gnomes and the Sylphs, which, according to stage usage, involves the happiness of some couples of mortals. The result is that Count Rudolph von Wolfenstein (Miss Wool gar) is happily united to his foster sister Ida (Miss Mary Keeley), while Fritz (Mr. James Rogers) receives the hand of Bertha (Miss Emma Harding) a pert and pretty waiting maid. The King of the Gnomes was as absolute and exacting a sovereign as he could be made by Mrs. Keeley, and Madame Celeste sustained most gracefully the part of the Sylph Estella, the guardian angel of the lovers, who assumes various disguises to subvert the machinations of the Gnome. Paul Bedford, as a swaggering pirate, who bears in mind the trite pro verb, that "the better part of valour is discretion," corn. manded, of course, his full share of applause from an Adelphi audience. The piece is admirably put upon the stage. The scenes of the charcoal burner's hut in the Hartz mountains, a view by the seashore, and a repre sentation of an eastern slave market, are most creditable to Messrs. Pitt and Turner, by whom they have been painted and arranged. Several incidental dances are introduced in the course of the spectacle, and in one of them La Tauromachie, a Terpsichorean representation of a Spanish bullfight, Madame Celeste made a decided hit, and was enthusiastically applauded. The last scene, re presenting "the emancipation of the Gnome and apo theosis," is very brilliant, and will show to still greater advantage when the machinery is brought into good working order. ASTLEY'S. The combination of the " Wise Elephants," the "In comparable scenes of the circus," and the new Christ mas pantomime, both comic and equestrian, brought to gether such an assemblage of spectators last night that the theatre was scarcely big enough to hold them, and numbers went away disappointed. There was, indeed, an " overflowing" audience, and an uproarious one to boot. The first two parts of the entertainment never theless went off well, and the patience of the "gods" remained unruffled from 7 o'clock till a quarter past 10, at which hour the pantomime, by no means a short one, commenced. Billy Button's Journey to Brentford at once suggests a subject eminently fitted for humorous treatment. In the hands of an experienced workman like Mr. Nelson Lee it was not surprising that a.ll should have been made out of it that was possible. The opening burlesque, the fairy introduction excepted, is one of the most amusing that has been seen for years. An equestrian panto mime being essential at "Old Astley's," out of two subjects John Gilpin and Billy Button, both especially equine the latter is selected. Billy Button, and his misfortunes on his way to Brent ford election, are treated with infinite felicity. The principal character in the burlesque is that represented by the horse, who may also, without detri ment to the other performers, be pronounced to have been the best actor. The demon of mischief could not have been more piquantly impersonated. The mishaps of the wretched Button, who, mounted on his four footed tormenter, or thrown from his back, amid the jeers of the bystanders, presented an equally ludicrous appearance, were followed, one after another, by screams of laughter and applause that shook the roof. All the personages in the burlesque were extremely well por trayed. The principal Clown (Mr. C. Adams) is very good—not merely active, which is not absolutely neces sary in a clown, but funny, which is indepensable. The Pantaloon (Mr. Lehmann) accepts a great variety of knocks, thumps, and other unintentional insults, with undisturbed equanimity ; the Harlequin (Mr. Hem mings) is nimble enough, and the Columbine (Made• moiselle Christine) is young, well looking, agile, and a good dancer, matters of no small importance in the general interest of the harlequinade. The pantomime was thoroughly successful, and will doubtless have a run. SURREY. A denser multitude never assembled within the walls of this favourite transpontine theatre than was seen last night, when the new pantomime of King Mullin or Hari gain Hearteake and the Fairies of the Golulvorm Glade was presented to a delighted audience. The pantomime is written and illustrated by Alfred Crowquill, whose graceful pencil has been employed in designing dresses, masks, and decorations ; and as the costumes are new and brilliant, and the scenes by Phillips and Dalby are beautifully painted, the inhabitants of the Sur rey side of the water have an opportunity of admir ing the' fairy-like scenes and elegancies of the Ly ceum reproduced with suitable changes to adapt them to the less aristocratic atmosphere of the Sur rey. Harlequina and Columbine were gracefully re presented by Miss G. Gunniss and Miss E. Gun niss, two excellent prentii;res danseuses. Harlequin was personated by M. Alexandre, Pantaloon by Mr Bradbury, and Sprite by Signor Remolino. Mr. Doughty was an effective Clown. The pantomimic scenes of course presented the audience with a phase of the Eastern question. Bruin out upon his travels meets a live turkey, which he seizes, embraces; and is about to devour, when John Bull and a French National Guard interpose between him and his prey. A chorus of indig nant byestanders also assail the voracious animal with groans and sibillations, and Bruin sneaks off exposed and discomfited. Among the other hits at the follies and topics of the day, were the rage for Cochin China fowls, which hatched under the superintendence of Clown and Pantaloon, were big enough to be harnessed to a coach and run off with it. The pantomine concluded with a tableau, which, at a very late hour sent home every on• in good humour with the liberality and enterprise of Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick. SADLER'S WELLS. Harlequin Tom, Thumb, or Gog and Magog and Mother Goose's Golden Goslings, is tho title of the pantomime at this theatre. Now the plot of this piece is difficult to unravel ; for when Tom's adventures are being worked out, the Goose, or the Goslings, or a fairy or Gog, or a mythical personage of some kind or other, comes in and hopelessly embarrasses it; but, so far as could be ascertained, the pantomime was not at all injured by want of lucid argument. Miss Caroline Parkes made a graceful Columbine; Mr. Nicolo Deulin a capital Clown ' • Mr. Naylor a good Pantaloon ; and Mr. C. F en t on was a respectable Harlequin. The tricks, dresses, and de corations were all carefully prepared, and Mr. Framp ton's young people added much to the amusement by their bit of genre dancing, which proved how well they are trained, and how intelligent they must be. OLYMPIC. After the drama of Plot and Passion, came the new pantomime, historico-geographical, as its name implies, for it is entitled, Columbus, or the Old World and the New. It is—what cannot be said for more more than a very small proportion of these Christmas productions — a really clever piece of seasonable nonsense, in which the gravest spectator will find something worth being amused at, and where facile laughter has occasionally a decent excuse for throwing itself into fits of uproariou s . ness. Tho se w h o go t o th e Olympic, attracted by curi osity about Harlequin Columbus, will, we assure them not be disappointed. STRAND. The renowned Flexmore, the eminent clown and un rivalled buffo dancer, came out in all his glory last evening on the boards of this elegant little theatre. The Christmas entertainment here is introduced under the title of Harlequin, and King Nutcracker ; or, The World of Toys. The first scene represents the arrival of the spirit Malaria at the dwelling of poor Rein hold, and its ultimate defeat and disappearance, under the influence of the fairy Abernethia, who is perpetual chairwoman of the Industry and Good Health Associa tion. A clever pictorial illustration of the model lodg ing-houses in St. Giles's and St. James's follows. Rein hold is a boy under the special guardianship of the fairy, and, as a reward for his exemplary behaviour, he MARYLEBONE. The performances commenced with a new drama, called Broken Toys, which, as is not unusual on Boxing nights, was played in dumb show. The pantomime is the production of Mr. Nelson Lee, and is entitled Bar lequin King Ugly Mug and My Lady Lee of Old Lon don-bridge. To attempt to give an account of the plot of the pantomime, would be a work of some labour, suf fice it to say, it was as good—we will say much better than plots of such pieces usually are. It was eminently successful. The scenery was exceedingly well got up, and drew forth the deserved applause of a very crowded house. POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION. The lectures and the variety of models which fill the galleries of this well-known institution were yesterday as attractive to the public as on any former occasion. The place was attended for several hours by the votaries of rational amusement, who appeared greatly gratified with what they saw and heard. In addition to the more scientific portion of the bill of fare presented to the visitors, there were musical entertainments, dissolv ing views, and that class of exhibitions by which the younger portion of the community are delighted in holyday time. The whole was well arranged and con ducted. MADAME TUSSAUD'S. We scarcely ever remember to have seen this exhibi tion attended by so many persons as it was yesterday. At 4 o'clock the staircase were thronged by the curious and it was not without difficulty that an entrance was obtained. The appearance of the great room was ex tremely brilliant, the gilded mouldings of the walls and ceiling, and the splendour of the costumes, illuminated by numerous candelabra and chandeliers, forming a most gorgeous coup d'a3il. HUNGARIAN PROMENADE CONCERTS. If numbers and a warm appreciation of each musical novelty presented at the Royal Marionette Theatre be a proof of the estimation in which these concerts are held by the public, and of the merit of the performances, then may we with confidence assert that last night was a great success. The same precision and effect which has been so often the subject of praise on former occasions way equally remarkable, equally apparent in the selection from Lombardi, in Jullien's " American Quadrille," and in the " Cuckoo Galop," by the Hungarian Band. Of the operatic selection (Meyerbeer) arranged to include the Brothers Distin, with solos for Herr Horanyi, we must speak in terms of warm commendation. It was a performance the spirit and truthfulness of which was marked by unmistakeable applause from all parts of the house. We would not omit to mention the efforts of Miss Julia Warman in terms of high praise —her fantasia "1 Puritani," and " We're a' noddin," being responded to by a universal encore. We have no doubt the present success is only a forerunner of the future, as the price of the entertainment is within the reach of all classes. ST. MARTIN'S HALL. Moirato's excellent concerts are nightly increasing in public estimation. The Hall was very well attended last night, when the following pieces were encored : " The War Polka," by Moirato ; a new romance, called "The Lover's Walk," written and composed by Mr. and Mrs. H. St. Leger, which was sung by Miss Cecily Nott with the most charming naivete and expression, and which was accompanied on the pianoforte by the fair composer. The ballad " Bonnie Dundee" was sung by Miss Ellen Rowland. In the course of the day the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Vernon Collection, the cathedral of St. Paul's, Westminster Abbey, &c., were visited by many thousand people. It is obvious from the fact of the appearance and decorum of these thousands of visitors, that a great improvement has taken place in the national tastes and habits ; and it is also gratifying to observe that, although the streets were crowded by holydaymakers, there were few of those scenes of drunkenness with which, not many years ago, they were on " boxing days" rendered impassable to decent people. THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON 111. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—I am ono of the million, and the name which, in obedience to your very proper rule, is appended to this letter, I am content and desirous should remain unknown. Nor do I seek to intrude upon my countrymen the opi nions of an obscure individual, nor--believing as Id o that mine are shared by many of my order—do I flatter myself that I am better qualified than others to give them expression. But humble as I am, I feel deeply ashamed as an Eng lishman of the tardy recognition by the people of this country (misled b y obstinate and malicious calumniators) of a brave, wise, and great max. Brave ! Aye, may it not be said of him as of that staunch soldier, whose statue France but yesterday was raising to his well-earned pedestal of glory--" Among the brave, the bravest ?" If not Louis Napoleon, who was ever brave ? And are we the sons of little men Are we so infatuated with our shopkeeping prosperity, so degraded by the luxury of these piping times of peace, so infected by the maudlin cant of anti-take-your-own part societies, that we have ceased to honour the brave ? No ! by the names of oar dead heroes, by the blood of our living veterans, no ! Bravo is he to a fault, this third (since he pleases to be N a poleon. Rash, say you ? B e i t even so ; third) but, sir, the height of rashness may he under some cir cumstances the height of sagacity, and the French— valiant every mother's son of them—do not troons. When, with a handful of followers (and a tame eagle was it ? true or false, who cares ? let us learn that part of the story of the valets de chambre)—when, almost unattended, he threw himself for the second time an adventurer upon that France which he was destined to govern, who said he was a mad-brained fool ? Why, we all said so. I among the rest, knowing no better. Who suspected that among the subjects of the crowned humbug who then swayed the sceptre of that fair land, reigning by corruption, the heir of the empire could count his adherents by millions '? When, seduced, as we said, by th e mere splendour of a name, (for we could not gainsay the splendour) or directed, as it is high time we begin to understand, by the finger of Providence, the French nation called upon this man virtually to reign over them. Said we, then, that the French nation had stultified itself ? It was rash to say that of a nation, but we did say so. I, with the rest of the million, said so, following the press which followed the leading jour. nal, which said so, and has gone on saying that, and worse, ever since. Folly, sir, folly and• perversity, which it is time should end ; or if an editor or two must needs persist in waging this stupid and malignant war against the man whom France delights to honour, let them slander and snarl as they list. Let the dogs bay the moon, but let not the people of England howl with them. Brave is he, this Napoleon, and wise and great l What man in these three kingdoms, or for that matter in all Europe, with a head not brainless, a mind not perverted by party feeling, or wedded to prejudice, and a tongue free to speak his thought, will deny the wisdom which, from his first act of government to the present hour, has cha racterised the ruler of France ? Yes, nobly, indeed, has he lived down the calumnious assaults of the English press. He might have fallen in what history would then have called a vain-gloriou s e n t er prise, lie might hare failed in , r • , • ~ what would then have beim f --, ,lstigMatind'qui,.2.-trous attempt against the fiber a , of his %witty Ilils taincey a traitor ?), and such faiile . asi hi iihti aliAltl-• , have perished with him. '4 l ohetalosidia449boi.,. ' fiding in his high mission, Artnaginjo:4aiglity -t ~ pose on and in the favour of Heaven (lesohe,legraa--Vt,ettambre account for it in another wise);lie hairg-aniaished and enchained the monster anarchy, asserted his own great ness, and saved an empire ! For which, let every honest Frenchmen give humble and hearty thanks to the King of Kings, and to Napoleon his servant ! But if brave, and wise, and great, how account for it that he came upon his enemies furtively in the night sea son ? why does he gag the press and circumscribe the liberty of speech and action of his subjects, and other wise govern after a fashion which England (whose Con stitution is the perfection of human wisdom) calls un constitutional ? Can there be wisdom which is not our wisdom, or a constitution at all which is not a constitu tion after our model ? Above all, why did he break his oath and slaughter unoffending people ? So runs the indictment, I think, Mr. Editdr, for so In effect, though endlessly varied in form and repeated ad nauseam, it may be collected from any two or three of the disingenuous leading articles fulminated against the French Emperor by the Times, and servilely echoed by so many of our journals. The same Times, in order to damage an illustrious man of another kidney the other day by means of its precious correspondent (who was in and out like a dog at a fair, between two hostile camps, and contrived to send from each his military bulletin enlivened by scandal), raked up a cock-and•bull story about his robbing an orchard or some such matter in his youth. Did the Times demolish Kossuth ? Shall the Times make us all eat dirt about Louis Napoleon ? Sir, I know that I have by no means the task before me of convincing you that the reigning Napoleon is no rascal upstart, but an illustrious monarch—the MAN in deed of his time. You have wisely and fearlessly ad mitted and asserted his merits. It is commonly sup posed, however, that because the majority of our plea persevere in assailing him so unscrupulously, the majority of the British people are silly enough to side with them. I trust not—l believe not. Many there be, doubtless, who, once possessed with an idea however fallacious, can but with the utmost pain and difficulty get themselves disabused thereof ; but many there must be—many I know there are—who, like me, chose to judge for them selves, and laugh at the idle tirades of rabid journalists, who, having a bone of their own to pick with Louis Napoleon ' must be expected to growl so me d ea l over i t. For he did put down the press —therefore the press must put him down (that is the formula as I take it.) He did restrain liberty, did he ? Does he ? Does he per mit any number of men who are fond of plotting and like to play with deadly weapons to congregat e w h en and where they have a mind, and say and do what they have a mind, and teach other men and children that propriete c'est le vol, if they think so ? No, my dear madam, he does not permit all that ; and many an honest old lady in fair France, and many a bearded man too, who, loving political liberty, loves yet the more th liberty to keep his own life and property from invasion by other freemen, is thankful from the bottom of his heart that it is even so and not otherwise. When we shall have seen this England of ours within the compass of a long lifetime twice a republic, twice an empire, and thrice a kingdom, when we have a brace of Pretenders, each with numerous partisans and no end of republicans moderate and the reverse, when another rump Parlia ment plots against another protector, when that time comes—if it ever comes, which Heaven forefend !—then will soldiers be arrayed in London -streets and cannon thunder through them ! The thing has happened, and should it happen again, it will behove people who do not mean fighting to keep out of the way. Alas ! even then a strong shot may carry its billet to a wrong address, and spill innocent blood upon some hearth which no one wished to desolate ! I only hope that the Prince of that day, if such day ever be—will have some mercy for his foes, and especially if there be among them any fiery old Generals who have served their country well, and may, for aught we know, serve her again, but who have pluck enough and influence enough to turn the coming scrimmage to a battle, and aggravate the bloodshed to hecatombs—l hope, I say, the Prince will have so much consideration for these worthies that he will carry them off—in their nightcaps, or otherwise as it may happen—before the row begins, aceommodating them in the Quee n ' s B enc h, or elsewhere, out of harm's way until it is over. Listen to Burke, (that is, if Burke said so, for I quote at second hand)—" Men must have a certain fund of moderation to qualify them for freedom, else it becomes noxious to themselves and a perfect nuisance to every body else." There, Monsieur Ledru Rollin ! or Mon sieur Proudhon ! Put that in your pipe and smoke it ! But, about the oath ? A fearful thing is perjury, and a fearful deal of it there must have been in France dur ing all that scene-shifting which could not go on with out an awful amount of swearing among the lieges. But let us be candid. Is there such a thing as keeping the word of promise to the ear and breaking it to the hope ? because if there be, then the reverse is also pos sible. If I promise my friend to stand by hint, whatever betide, and we have to cross a brook with a plank for a bridge a foot wide, shall I literally keep my word with him ? because if we insist upon continuing check by jowl, one or both must tipple over. I think the less we say about swearing the better for all parties. Did Louis Napoleon swear to be the tool of the Assembly or the servant of France ? Let France herself answer. Sir, the Emperor Napoleon has resided long enough in this country, and is familiar enough with our institu tions to know that the sovereign has the pleasantest berth who reigns over a free and happy people, who have not many among them disposed to go to logger. heads with the rest about the propriety of his continuing, or of anybody's continuing to govern them at all, among whom the stump orator may bawl from sunrise to sun set, or the converse, about rights of man and the rest of it, and no dagger start from its sheath, no barricade rise at his bidding ! And if it were possible by Napoleonic Decree to endow every Frenchman with the " certain fund of moderation," I venture to say for his Imperial Majesty that his subjects would soon be all free as heart could wish. Aye ! he belongs not solely to France, this great man ! We have partly had the making of him, and may be proud of it. But he is no blind theorist, and knowing amongst other things that it's ill preaching to an empty belly, so first giving his starving population of ouvrters a good feed, he afterwards treats them to a lecture on political economy, and leaves digestion and conviction to progress together, Let him come ; let him revisit us, this magnanimous and mighty Prince, aforetime an almost lonely exile ! I do not blame our nobility who ignored him then. Pro priety and respect for the de facto reigning family re quired them to stand aloof from a rival aspirant. The same propriety now requires that we do honour—Queen, Nobility, and people—to the chosen of our neighbour nation--personal considerations and attachments not withstanding. Nothing can be more natural, and no greater compliment can he pay us than to come among us, as I ardently hope he soon will, and introduce to Court and people the lovely consort he has taken to his right manly and imperial heart. All honour to thee, Napoleon, if only for that honest, defiant, and truly majestic deed ! Happy augury for the liberty of a people whose Sovereign dares himself be free ! Happy Napo leon ! Who would not run the gauntlet through a double file of musketeers and barricade-men as long as Oxford street, beard any number of swaggering representatives, and offend any number of able editors to make the woman he loves an Empress ? Come, Napoleon, come ! Come ! Unpopular is it ? Why, they cheered the Em peror Nicholas, and would cheer him again in spite of all they have heard about knouts and what not. It is piti ful to malign even a foe. Let us rather say he is a great man, too, andr.agretthat he should be for oncefalse to his greatness ; but it is an ill wind that blows nobody good, and if the brave Turk has not gained by being roused to remember himself, Europe is greatly mistaken,—that's If Napoleon could persuade the talents which govern ourselves to be of his mind for a bit, would the stable door even now get slammed to with a vengeance before the steed is lost ? I think so. If Messrs. Aberdeen and Co. had been without the countenance and co-operation of the man whom some of them have helped to vilify, would the brave Sultan have been left wholly in the lurch ? I fear so. Come, Napoleon, Eugenie, come, Imperial pair, worthy to reign ! Come and be assured of popularity in Britain by many A VOICE FROM THE PEOPLE. MALTA. MALTA, DEC. 21.—The non - arr ival of any mail steamers from the Levant pre cludes us from for warding by this mail any ulterior tidings o f the combined fleets of England and Franc e , or of the doubt full on theparti naval engagement between the Turkish. and Rus 3sioatihl s N q uoav Cir em o b n e s r i , n bi t i l t ie of h i a r r i b li o c u h r n o o f reached t e a ach th ed is E p n o g rt la h n a d ve v vice Vienna. limited to ienna. cu T la i r ie s movements have the arrival, on the 16th December, of the Aga memnon from England, after along passage under canvas of 26 days, from Plymouth, and her depar ture under steam for Constantinople, on the 19th. The Spitfire surveying vessel and Syra on the 20th -to lay arrived from Candia ay up during the winter, when the surveying suspended. labours at sea are necessarily The Prussian frigate Gelion, with the broad pendant of Commodore Schroder, and the Mercure store-ship, arrived from Portsmouth on the 16th, and left on the 20th for Vourlah Bay and Smyrna. The Dutch frigate Prins Van Oranje, bearing the flag of Admiral the Chevalier Ilouricius, and the Dutch frigate Doversbank, sailed from Malta f or Messina, Naples, Leghorn, and Spezzia (in the Gulf of Genoa) on the 20th December. The Penin sular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Indus arrived at Malta from Southampton and Gibraltar on the 13th ; left for Alexandria on the same night, and returned with the Indian mails on the evening of the 21st, after a fine run there and back of less than eight days. She leaves early to-morrow morning for Southampton, whilst the Valetta carries on this evening to Marseilles the overland mails for England. BADEN. From Carlshruhe, of December 22, we learn that the Chambers have been convoked for the 9th of January. The Catholics remain refractory. Au Austrian mediation is mentioned as probable. Tiffs 4., $(l9 V I vo• t 4 1 0 00 r . , eafr' dr the y he d A t Pry tho lee d o rho " o c °l' . :sea ati a alflti 10 25 10 L. 0.6 100 100 100 6 100 St.' 20 12i St. 126 126 25 12 126, 12, St. , all all 10 100 100 100 100 100 100 all iOO St. St. St. 20 15 8. 10 10 all 14 all 1 10 1 1