The Express.
London, England, 1851-04-22 00:00:00

SADLER'S WELLS THEATRE.

That part of the public which habitually resorts
to this well-managed little house, evinced a determination
to be compensated for out-of-door disappointment by
thmnging thither for sheltered enjoyment, the pit espe-
cially being densely crowded. The performance opened
with the "The Merchant of Venice.' Of this little need
he said. Shylack being of course appropriated by Mr.
Phelps, the only noticeable feature was the first appearance
of Miss Goddard, a young lady from the northern provinces,
in the character of Portia. Tke difficulty of the task thus
undertaken was evident ; but, on the whole, it was creditably
executed. At the commencement, a slight nervous agitation

was perceptible, as usual, in a want of is..lf-possession-, and in
consequent deficiency of graceful action and natural intona-
tion; but as the play proceeded, there was a better realisation
of the exquisitely beautiful points of the character. In the
court scene there was great but not strained animation, the
climax with regard to the effect of the bond being well
wrought up. fhe subsequent ring denouement was ren-
dered with great vivacity by Portia and her friend Nerissa
(Miss Fanny Iluddart). Miss Goddard is no doubt (what
young actress is not ?) susceptible of improvement, but she
is also apparently capable of it ; and with a rather more
sparing or less professional use of the organs of sight, atten-
tive observation, and careful study, the debutante may obtain
a satisfactory position. At the close of the piece there
were boisterous and lung continued calls fur her appearance
before the curtain ; but, whatever may have been the rea-
son, there was a pertinacious refusal to respond. The
second and last portion of the evening's entertainments was
Mr. Plunchi•'s fairy extravaganva of " Fortunio and his
Seven Gifted Servants," which has long been a favourite
further west, but was nevertheless well revived here, and
alforded considerable amusement.

BRITISH MI'SEUM, &e.—The British Museum and
the National Gallery were both crowded with visitors, as
usual on Easter Monday; and the Glass Palace in Hyde-
park was also honoured by the admiring glances of some
thousands of holiday makers. The hoarding in front of
Buckingham Palace having been removed, and the new
railings and entrance in front of it having been exposed to
view, excited great attraction, and crowds of persons
assembled in front of it during the day. Amongst the
many who perambulated the streets during the day we ob-
served many foreigners, who appeared to view the number-
less sights of London with great interest and curiosity.
The river presented a bustling and animated scene. All
the piers were crowded, and the river was thronged with
craft of every description, filled with pleasure parties pro-
ceeding in various directions, but chiefly to Battersea and
Greenwich. Greenwich-park as usual had its amusements,
and Greenwich Fair its frequenters, but not in such num-
bers as have visited it on many former occasions. This is
attributable to the uncertain state of the weather ; but,
altogether, Easter Monday, 1811, may be said to have
passed off with all the usual honours,"

SPORTING.
FIRST SPRING MEETING
MONDAY.

HANDICAP SwEnraranza of 20 soya. each, it ft, for 3-
yr olds and upwards. T.Y.C. (3 subs.)
Colonel Peel's b I by Mane out of tandem 3gm Get 71b
(O. Menu) 1
Hake of Bedford's Weetow, 5 yea, Sat 71b (F. Butlor) 2
Lard 131wdow's Nundoreript, 3 yrs, 3st le% (T. Month); 13
SWEZPSTAAHS oflo sues. each, for 3.. yr olds; colts, Bst 71b,
fillies, Bst 41b. The winner to be sold for 200 soya. if de-
manded, &c. T.Y.C. (4 subs.)
Lord Menley's Croupier (P. Duller) 1
Mr. Barn's Trinket . (Fletanun) 2
Mr. R genes Harp (ll6lNrs) 3
Mr. Thiamine's liuy )(angering .. ~. (Parthotureen) 4
Betting • 9 to 4 agst Trinket, 5 to 2 agst Ilarp, and 3 to 1
each agst the others. Trinket and Croupier waited on
Harp into the cords, and thence, singled out, contested the
race to the end, Croupier whining by a head ; Harp a bad
third. Run in 1 min. 16 KT.
SWEEPSTAKES of 200 sous. each, h ft, for 3-yr old fil-
lies, Bst Sib. The winner of a sweepstakes value 600 soya.
to carry 61b extra. Ab.M. (5 subs.)
Mr. breville's Barcelona, Set Ho. (Platmen) 1
Lord Litlen'e 03Lcule. 1,4 Mb
Betting : 6 to 4 on Barcelona, who made all the running
and won in a canter by ten lengths. This race was not
timed.
DWEEPATAXES of 50 *ors. each, for 3-yr olds ' • colts,
fist 71b ; dillies, fist 31b, out of mares that never bred a
winner ; those by stallions that never got a winner allowed
31b. A.F. (10 subs.)
Sir J. Ilerley'a Balsamo, ht 71b (J. Marne) 1
Mr. GratwWieb the squaw, Bat (Batman) 2
Mr. Howard's Chrstibe, Set 31b
dEzater'e Phlagotbon, 64 alb . (Norman) 4
Mr. Celebes the Tteloper, be: lib (KW.)
Lord Egiustaale Jurgenmut,ll4 7lb
Betting : 5 to 2 apt the Squaw, 5 to 2 agst Balsam°, and
7to 2 agst Juggernaut. Phlegethon, attended by Jugger-
naut and the 'trapper, made the running until half-way
down to the Bushes-hill, where the two front places were
taken by the favourites, the mare leading ; half way up the
cords &dm= challenged, and after a tine race won by a
head ; balf a length between the Squaw and Christina,
Phlegethon an indifferent fourth. Rua in 2m. 35 see.
Fins' POUNDS for 4-yr olds, 7st 1011) ; five, Bst 91b ;
six and aged, 9,d. Last three miles of B.C.
Mr.Gre Title's Cariboo, 4 yrs (ratmen) 1
Lord Exeter's Nutcracker, 4 yrs (Norman)
Dake of Rutland's hie-Eater, 3 ;re (ltobinva) 3
Mr. H. Strafe Pernbill, 6 yrs (Rwenq 4
Betting: 7to 4on Cariboo. Fernhill cut out the work
to the Duke's Stand, where Nutcracker, who had been in
waiting, took it up and carried it on into the cords; Cari-
boo then went up and won cleverly by three parts of a
length. The rain prevented our timing this race.
MATCH : D.M. ; Uric!, 5 yrs, 94., received 100 ft. from
Lord Glasgow's Nondescript, 3 yrs, Est 71b.
MATCH: T.Y.C.; Duke of Bedford's Bordeaux, Bst 71b,
received 100 ft. from Sir R. Pigot's California, 7st 121 b.
Maven, 200, h ft. T.I.C. Duke of Bedford's Bor-
deaux, list 121 b, received 60 ft from Sir J. llawley's Merry
Peal, ist 71b.
The racing this afternoon, although not positively bad,
Smiled very little interest ; the weather, after the first two
mess, was bad, and the company not by any means so large
na we have usually seen on the heath at the commencement
01 the first spring meetings.
BETTING AFTER TILE RACES.