The Express.
London, England, 1857-11-24 00:00:00

ASTLET'f!.

Historical events, provided theT are in themselves
interesting, seem to dosses • matenal for dramatic pnr-
poem more congenial to the taste of transportoe audieuees
than the meat ingenious efforts of the imagination. Those
which are best adapted for stage purposes are obviously such
se relate to the vicissitudes of wsr and thematic( the battle-
field—first, becaues they afford the greatest variety of Inci-
dent, the moat telling eituatione, and the most hazardous ex.
Oohs ; and, secondly, because, provided they sr contempt-
, MOM+ with the proem+ time, Of nearly so, everybody is
more or lees f .miliar with them. Ilene* the extraordinary
=ocean whichtheplay-wright eversionsof theconfle tabetween
British power in India in its earlier days and Hyder Ali, the
storming of Seringspetam and the defeat and (leather Tippoo
gait—sad coming neater home the Battle of Waterloo, and
more recently the Crimean campaign—have commended at
the theatres south of the Theme., and more erpecially at
finery'', which tree peculiar capatelitiee in its numerous
and well.rraiaed stud for the representation of military evo-
lutions. The mutiny of the Bengal army, and the sangui-
nary murder. andthsexciting occurrence. whieh her marked
the preemie of the struggle from the first outbreak until the
capture of Delhi, which may be regarded as the end of the
first sot of the political drama, have her seised upon by our
anterpriaing managers on the other eide of the water ae
the sobiset of novelties, whieh even in the dull
Thep before Cturstmee they hope fill their honer., and
keep financial perm from their doors. The Astley's var-
ies of " the stoning and capture of Delhi" presents us
with all the main feature. of the war, as far sa yet known.
We have the distribution of the chapattis cakes and the
lore dowse—the outbreak at Barrackpore, end ahootiog
of the European Olken the MONO* at Cawnpors,
bet, with a pardonable stage departure from truth,
softened down into little more than • frustrated
attempt, r rewirds the murder of the women and
children the defeat of Naas ftalrib, who Rpme
is the dramatic east u the Rajah of Shifter; and, Willy,
the blowing op of the pre, the aerelt, and the final capture
of Delhi. There ts no attempt at • pies, the incidents being
strung together in order, but like a series of acted instead of
written deepatches, with certain comic interpolations permits-
lug to the eccentricities of Irish onrporals—whoes humour it
Is to discard " brown Besa," whether in the shape of Dirket
or rine, end to encounter with the ever-triumphant
ehillelal whole regiments of
th mutinous Serno armed
to the teeth—Gaelic sergeants, who, ough hire
as lions, In fighting against terra and rebel-
lion And strict discipline not redly resonant with
Illghland wetter in a country where mosquitos are apt to
take somewhat unwarrantable liberties—and "own cm-
reepondente," who combine the duties of photographier,
newspaper reporter., volunteer soldiers, aid pliant motet.
tors of no end of Fermented maidens. There Is an *lr-
eton to the unsuccessful interference of Mr. Cornmisoloner
Grout to save the murderous &mop' who were condemned
to death by the military autboritler-and the manner in
which it was received by the audience proves that as for as
the }requesters of Astley's are concerned there is no very
great sympathy with the commiaerter.
The sormery is for the most part new and appropriate, and
err of the groupings, more particularly thole where the
various wool of the military service are displayed together,
are eacertegly good; the settee, especially the emote
per, which were tilled by Mr. W. C. Adams, Mr. Lloyd,
Mr. M. W. Cooke, jun., and Miss M. Darcy, was effective;
and judging from the applauas with which it was frequently
greeted it may be said that to the p•trons of Astiere this
.smut Of the program of the war IS far as it has gone is
iminently satisfactory.

Boma iIItaINOTON MUSEUIL—During the week
ending Nov. 22, the 'Aguas bays been se follow.
Monday, Tneeday, sad Saturday (free dove), 2,611 ;on
Monday and Tuesday (Me evenings), 6,107 ; on the time
elniente days (adodadott to the public, 6d.). 481; sae
seedwite. eveaia g (Wednesday), 164 ; total, 5,94.