The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-07-21 00:00:00

ROYAL DRAMATIC COLLEGE.

The Grand Fancy Fair and Fete in aid of the
Dramatic College, will take place this day, at the
Crystal Palace. The following humorous com-
position, written by our townsmen, Mr. J. H.
Nightingale, will be sold at the various stalls of

the pretty actresses who are •to attend the fete.
It will be enclosed in an envelope with a pictorial
illustration of a " Dey " after the fair, the back of
the envelope being endorsed as follows :
Grand Prize Conundrum, composed expressly for the
Fancy Fair and Fete, at the Crystal Palace, July 21,
1860, by the Cabinet ministers.
(Fuom THE COURT CIRCULAR.)

Yesterday, a meeting of the Cabinet Ministers, called
by special circular, was held at the Treasury, to consider
what ought to be done by the Ministry with reference
to the Fancy Fair and Fete in connection with the
Royal Dramatic College, at the Crystal Palace, on the
21st July.
The chair was taken by the Premier, who said that, as

the leading servants of her Most Gracious Majesty the
Queen, they were bound to consider what ought to be
done relative to the Fancy Fair, to be held at the Crys-
tal Palace, in connection with the Royal Dramatic Col-
lege. (Hear, hear.) The Prince Consort, thanks to what
he had seen in Scotland, where "putting the stone" was a
national pastime, had done his best to give a firm founda-
tion to the college by laying the first stone in a manner
which provoked from a working bricklayer who was a spec-
tator ofthescene the complimentary observation that H. R.
H. was a "regular brick." (A laugh.) As Cabinet Ministers
and old politicians, they could not but feel an interest in

theatres and all connected with them. Were not many
of their so-called legislative labours often little better
than farces and comedies, though now and then they
had to act in serious tragedies ? He himself had been
called a "comic old gentleman" by a celebrated amateur
actor and professional writer, and he would rather be
worthy of.that title than of what is termed " first heavy"
or "heavy father." (Applause.) Who knew better
than they (the Ministers) how easy the public were
gulled by glitter, show, and high-sounding phrases, and
how little of reality there was in their tremendous

"scenes" and quarrels, as performed on the boards of
St. Stephens,—
"Full of sound and -fury,, signifying nothing ?"
For instance, did,,Robert Houdin, or the Wizard of the
North, ever puzzle the public more thoroughly than he
(the Chairman) had done in the matter of the Reform
Bill, and not even Scribe himself had ever imagined a
bit of intrigue more effectual and bewildering than the
motion of his friend Monteagle?
Qui nescit dissimulare, nescit regnare.

Why, their very political name—Whigs—was asso-
ciated with theatricals,—(a laugh)-,and none knew
better than some of those around him the value of a
clever prompter, when they lost their cue and did not
know how to continue a smart dialogue—on Friday
nights, for instance. Many people had imagined that
he (tile Chairman) had for some time back been the chief
actor in the drama of " Used Up," but he fancied that
those who were so very anioNcs to step into his shoes
would find that the " enervating atmosphere of the gilded
saloons" of Cambridge House had not yet 'affected the
stamina of its owner. (Cries of " Question !") Oh,
yes ! the Dramatic College. Well, what would they
propose should be done for it ? He would be glad to
hear what they thought oligilt to be flone for so laudable
an object.
Sir George Cornewall Lewis—Let's send a present of
blue-books to the stalls.

The Premier—Sir George, do you suppose those who
go to the stalls will be asses enough to read and strong
enough to digest such dry leaves as those of blue-books ?
No, that won't do.

Sir Charles Wood—Could I rehearse a speech I've in
preparation about the Indian Budget, on the terraces ?

The ?reniier—That would be an Indian pickle.
Therm not going to play .44,imqn Crifsse, Sir Charles,
and it would never do for you to make a t‘ desolate
solitude" of the palace gardeus.
Lord John Russell-4 have 4 home (butt this is a
secret between ourselves) a room-full of copies of my
tragedy of Don Carlos. Now, suppose I make the
ladies at the stalls a present of them ? No doubt they
would sell well.

The Premier—My dear Lord John; you, as Foreign
Secretary, ought to know that Carlin: is dead, and I'm
afraid the fair artistes and the public would find your
tragedy a " sell," in every sense of the word but a
pecuniary one.

The Premier--. Come, Mr. Secretary of War, can't
you volunteer something more striking than the pro.
posals of our right honourable friends ?

Mr. Sidney Herbert—As Secretary of War, I think
we ought to patronise the three sticks a-penny" game,
or, as the vulgar term them, " cockshies," of Backstone,
Paul Bedford, Toole, and their humorous confreres.
It's capital practice ; and, putting a " Napoleon " at
the top of the "sticks" which are aime4 ittt, would
excite the patriotic ardour of the throwers immensely.
The Premier—Well, Mr. lierbert, I can easily pro-
viac the " sticks,— as I have much to do with board, if
you'll get the "Napoleons:"
Bien de plus eloquent que l'argent comptant.
Come, now, Mr. Gibson, you, at all events, ought to give
us a Bright idea, for all these are very dull ones.

Mr. Milner Gibson—Well, I would advise that, on the
da.y in questiqq, the Times should be publicly burnt
before tlie assernbleil 4 pviish.n3ent l'or its
recent condiot,

The Premier—Ah! I see, Mr. Gibson, but that, like
all your recent efforts, would only end in smoke. How-
ever, I dare say the Tibay people will let you burn as
many copies as you choose to pay for, but even then the
Times might still further obscure your favourite 'Yarning
Star. But has Mr. Gladstone nothing to say ?
Mr. Gladstone—Of course I always have, as you know
but too well. I propose that we each send down to the
refreshment stalls samples of the new foreign wines my
Budget has admitted so cheap.
Tie Premier ! And so nasty. Don't you think a
receipt 1(4 the eictia penny of Incom they will all
have to pup would phase them better ? as
usual, I see you can all imagine nothing reasonable or
seasonable, so I shall have to propose a plan to benefit
the College myself. Let us make a conundrum. A
conundrum is so truly ministerial—very puzzling when
first viewed—yet so simple when-found out, and every-
body is so vexed that they didn't think of the answer.
Besides, it posts uotbing.

All : Of coyfrs, that will do.
The Premier : But, ATn't 411 e CE9lpbeils c.oming!'
out With anything ?
The Lord Ohancellor : Taliciag of 01111011 M o, how
would this do :—" Why am I a paradox !" Do you give
it up ?
The Premier : Of course, we'll give up anything
sooner than be bored.

The Lord Chancellor : Well, here it is. " Because I
neicir was so liroi c.s when I got the sack !" Ah, ah
you can't beat tiutt:
The Premier (sotto voce) : I shall be very glad when
you get it again. (Aloud) : Well, but gentlemen, to
business.

All : As usual, we suppose we must say g 4 Do what-
ever you like."
The Premier : Well, gentlemen, let's adjourn for an
hour, and each send in his conundrum.
The ministers then adjourned for an hour, and on
their re-assembling the following conundrum was con-
cocted by
The Premier,

The I:l44ncelloT of the Pichequei,
The Lora Chancellor, • -
The Secretary of War, and
The Foreign Secretary.

And universally agreed to :
Q.—Why is To-morrow like an ancient Ruler of
Algiers chasing his wife ?
A.—Pecau.se it's a day (Dey) after the fair !
Mr. Gladstone—rye m' doubts if tilat's original.
The Premier—Never mind, it will do. I don't think
anything is original now-a-days—not even sin.
The meeting then broke up, and it was agreed that
the conundrum should be printed, placed in envelopes,
and sent to the ladies' stalls, with the compliments of
the Premier and the rest of the Ministers.

SUPERFLUOUS.—The Emperor is said to be about to
establish a National Rifle Association. Considering the
case of Nice and Savoy, the Empire itself seems some-
thing like a National Rifle Assocation already—composed
of Louis Napoleon; Cavour, and Company.—Parch.
SALISBURY RIFLE CORPS.—Wednesday, the 25th
inst., will be grand day for the members of tkis corps,
as well as one of considerable interest to the general
public. Sir Alexander Malet, Bart., envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary at Frankfort-on-the-Maine,
having offered an elegant silver goblet to the best shot,
the prize will be competed for on the above mentioned
day, by members of the first and second classes, on the
practice ground at Laverstock. Great interest having
naturally been excited in this event, the Mayor of Salis-
bury (W. Woodlands, Esq.) has generously offered
another cup, to be awarded to the second best shot in the
same classes. Certain fees to be paid by competitors in
in these classes will go towards a fund for providing a
prize for the best shot in the third class, and here also
the mayor has generously come forward with a silver
cup, which will fall to the lot of the second best shot in
that class.

A Tows rx n PEc.—The lifessager of Nice says :
“Nrire have receive 4 the folloy4ng statement of the sin-
gular position in which the town of Liensola, in the
upper valley of the Tinea, is now situated. On the one
hand, the Governoy of Coni has ordered the cure of
Lieusola to remove the french gag from the steep 4,
and to pray for the King of Sardinia. On the other,
the cure has received instructions from the bishop to
celebrate a solemn mass for the late Prince Jerf.ime.
Again, the inhabitants of Lieusola have justice adminis-
tered to them in the name of the Emperor, being in the
jurisdiction of the juge de pain of St. Etienne. The
population of the commune have sent an address to the
Emperor, through the prefect, praying that they may not
be separated from the arrondissement of Nice."