The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-26 00:00:00

HOLBORN AMPHITHEATRE.

The American Circus Company, which was so
great an attraction in Paris during the late International
Exhibition, has arrived in London, and last night gave its
first performance at Mr. McCollum's elegant theatre in
Holborn. This company now contains most of the best
living riders, and is more complete, perhaps, than any-
thing in Europe, except Herr Renz's establishment in
Berlin. Riders like Robinson are not to be surpassed,
either for grace or daring, and the general company is full
of male and female acrobats and equestrians who are in
the front rank of their profession. Each act is short and
sharp, with clowning that is amusing without being ob-
trude., and the only weak point is the band, which is not
strong enough for such a building or such an entertain-
meet. The theatre was well attended.

Mr. Spurgeon has, it is stated, received another
1,0001. for his orphanage from an anonymous Mend.

- -
Vsauvws ne Eaurnote.—This lava eruption
increases daily in force and beauty, and promises a dura-
tion of some weeks, if not months. It has sent forth an
immense quantity of lava, converting the surrounding
crater into a lake of fire. The correspondent of the Times,
at Naples, describing a visit to the mountain, says:—
"To the edge of the crater it was impossible to approach,
the heat was scorching ; and what would have been the
consequences had the lava boiled over and come down upon
us? It was difficult, therefore, to form any fair estimate
of its size, but one might have supposed that it was not
more than 70ft. in diameter. It was not a moment,
however, for figures when nature was exhibiting her
power in one of its grandest forms. There was
a roar and a shock, and then shot forth flames
and stones fully 1,000 feet in height, at intervals
of from one to five seconds, according to the watch
of one of the party ; these tremendous oonvnlaMns
were repeated, and then came the descending shoe er, com-
posed of atones of various sizes' come certainly half a ton in
weight, judging by the bulk. We could mark their course
by the eye es long as they retained their red heat, but on
approaching the earth they blackened, and then the ear
I alone could tell what was spotting and pitting the earth
I around. By the same person who had already acted as
calculator it was declared that the descent occupied five
seconds—much in excess, I should imagine, of the actual
time. Precision, of course, was impossible in the excite-
ment of such a scene, and if we say that 1,000 feet was the
height attained we shall not be wide of the mark. It was a
nervous proximity to danger on which to stand, so
the whole party soon decamped, and got back to Naples
shortly after midnight, awe-struck by a scene which never
can be forgotten. Yet, without the fatigues of an ascent,
anyone can from the city enjoy a spectacle of marvellous
beauty, only diminished in proportions as compared with
that which I have just described. There is no sound, but
there are those everlasting flames, across the centre of
which is sometimes drawn a swathe of dark clouds, giving
to their summits the nppeatance of greater height and
the sky is glaring with a deep-red colour ; and mighty
stones, reduced by distance, are falling like myriads of
stars on the summit of the mountain, the foot of which is
wrapped in darkness. What a gorgeous scene, and how
much more gorgeous it promises to be !"