The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-24 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBEit 24, 1855.

existed. Even I could not make myself into two Wizards,
and as for finding another Wisard, or anybody else at all like
one (though I have frequently been ridiculed for my modesty)
I was bound to reject the idea as preposterous and out of the
question. Could I improve my magic ? I could vary it, as I
do every night; but to quote my respected friends, the linen-
drapers' assistants (half price at 9 o'clock gentleman), " the
quality of the article would remain the same." Could I do
anything towards improving the personal comfort of my pa-
trons in the matter of seats, warmth, ventilation, &c. I Can-
didly, I did not see much room for improvement in that di-
rection, though I made a memorandum of the idea as a small
item to be attended to in my debt of gratitude. Would it be
any use multiplying the Bottle Trick by two hundred dozen
and sending away my guests in a state of unusual exhilara-
tion No ! that would be a coarse and vulgar admission
that my friends only came to see me for what they could get.
Would it be any gratification to the public if I were to
stand to be shot at by the best marksman in London,
(say my friend, Gordon Cumming) with a real non-enchanted
bullet ? I was perfectly willing to risk any sacrifice, even my
if., in such a cause ; but then came the terrible afterthought
—what would be the condition of London the next day, on
finding itself without a Wizard? As a last expedient I thought
—Could I give my patrons their money back I I deliberated
over this momentous question for some hours, and at last
came to the understanding that it was impossible ! I had
almost given the matter up as a bad job, and come to the dis-
heartening conclusion that nothing could be done but to go
on in the old course, introducing, if possible, more splendour,
more novelty, more bewilderment into my tricks than for-
merly; making my theatre more like a palace—or like a
home— than ever. But no !—in painstaking devotion to the
amusement of my patrons—in untiring exertions, in the
humblest and most energetic desire to please, I could not
alter. I had arrived, I repeat, at this desponding conclusion,
when a practical friend called upon me and threw out the
following suggestion "If you have got so much money that
you don't know what to do with it, and wish to ged rid of it
in ono lump for the amusement of the public, why don't you
take Covent-garden? There was certainly something in that.
Still I hesitated a moment, when he added—" And open
with a Pantomime." Eureka ! I had found it. I wrung
that practical friend's hand with fervour —took his advice—a
cab—and Covent-garden Theatre within the hour. lam
bound to state that the preliminary expenses of the Covent-
garden Pantomime have triumphantly answered their ex-
pected purpose. Nevertheless, great deliberation and inge-
nuity were necessary, in order to bring the outlay up to the
desired mark. In the first place, a subject necessitating un-
paralleled splendour and gorgeousness of spectacle, scort_ry,
and decorations was indispensable. I was some time in find-
ing one cf sufficient costliness, but at length decided on an
Australia-California-Rothschild Koh-i-noor-Bank-of-England-
parlour species of pantomime —to be entitled Ye Bello
Alliance; or, Harlequin Good Humour and the Field
of the Cloth of Gold. This subject was extravagant
enough, in all conscience, for the most golden ago of
pantomime. The next question was to secure au author
on appropriately ruinous terms. The namo of Sterling
Coin naturally suggested itself ; but that gentleman having
o _her engagements. I cast my eyes about among the gold
mines of the age's intellect, and decided upon Mr. Harris
and Mr. George Augustus Sale, two jewelled ornaments to
the Augustan Era of burlesque literature—the riches of whose
imagination would naturally call for an adequate rate of ex-
change in the current coin of the realm. These gentlemen I
employed to write the opening for me ; and I am bound to
say, the skill and workmanship they have displayed in ham-
mering out and fashioning the precious ore into the daintiest
shapes and devices, is worthy of a Goldsmith. My next step
was to engage a scene painter, Mr. William Beverley, a gen-
tleman who has been rolling in gold and jewels all his life. It
is needless to say that when he has been engaged it has not
been for nothing ; and few will dispute the right of any pic-
ture he ever painted to be set i❑ the most sumptuous gold
frame. Mr. Beverley was accordingly secured. But even
now the inroads on the doomed exchequer were barely per-
ceptible. I looked about for the disengaged musical com-
poser and director, whose notes were worth most gold in the
market, and was so fortunate as to come to terms with Mr.
Leder, whom I instructed in playful north country phrase to
spare no amount of brass in his orchestral arrangements.
The balance on baud was still tremendous. At this time
Monsieur Guerin, from Paris, a distinguished operative in the
spectacle lino, relieved mo of a considerable amount, by
arranging the ocular department of the entertainment, so as
to astonish the weakest optic nerves, and enable me to defy
any other establishment to produce a pair of such geld spec-
tacles I I was compelled to mask my intentions for a while
by the employment of Mr. George Ewing, a model of model-
lers, whose sterling talent rendered him most fitting to model
my sovereigns, Henry VIII. and Francis I. The tailors' and
dressmakers' bills also, of Mr. Smichers and Mrs. James, who
were ordered to spare no lavishness of goldcloth, gold thread,
gold lace, gold beater's skin, and what not, added to a docu-
ment of immeasurable length (which I speak of in my hu-
mourous way as the golden legend) from Mr. Priscott, the
property man, or fashioner of appointments, whose charges
for gold leaf, gold watches, gold rings, golden numbers, golden
ointment, and golden syrup, are something fearful ; these did
begin to dip somewhat deeply in what my clown facetiously
terms, " the tureen of mint sauce." And -when I came to
calculate the enormous sums I had been tricked out of by two
gentleman named [bough, another called Harris, and a third
by the name of Dorrington (especially the latter) for the
tricks and changes, I felt that a trick must be good indeed
that called for such an intolerable quantity of change, and
began to feel that my accumulated sovereigns had indeed un-
dergone a large amount of the process vulgarly known as
sweating. I was not yet daunted—in spite of the consider-
able amount I allowed Mr. B. Barnett, as ballet master, with
au innumerable corps of golden-haired nYinplu4, to dance away
with. I solicited Mr. Flexmore (stamped current as the
shining sovereign clown) in popular phrase to " tumble into"
whatever salary he liked to name. (It is needless to say that
he named It go3d one.) W. A. Barnes, the groat transatlantic
pantomimist, Mr. C. Brown, and Miss Emma Horne I engaged
as pantaloon, harlequin, and columbine. It will readily he
seen that each of these eminent " legs " stopped into a tole-
rable sum. Another " little treasure," in the shape of Miss
Harriet Gordon (who plays Good Humour in the opening),
had to be provided for, as well as Mr. Harry Pearson, with
an efficient company of comedians each entitled to a crown
in his various department. Some hundreds of supernume-
raries, scone shifters, carpenters, and " extras" in every de-
partment, who may be regarded as so many piles of " small
change" in the financial scheme, were found to mount up pro-
' digiously. Having shown the public that the money with
which they have been kind enough to entrust mo has been
faithfully laid out for their amusement, I will proceed to
describe the items of the investment.

The subject of the Pantomime is one of national importance,
illustrating, by an historic parallel, the greatest event of this
or any other age within the history of the two nations,

THE ANGLO-FRENCH ALLIANCE

Tho piece, as will be seen by an explanatory lino in the bill,
is entitled

" A LEGEND OF THE MEETING OF THE
MONARCHS."

And the various circumstances which attended tho meeting of
Henry VIII. and Francis I. on the Field of the Cloth of Gold
are RO introduced as to bear on recent occurrences. The
reader shall hoar in what manner.
Scene I.—" The Subterraneous abode of the Gnome Brita-
nicus."

Scene 2.—" The Land's Mud, Cornwall, with the departure
of the Gnome Britanicus to France."
Diorama No. 1. " The entry of the Emperor Napoleon to
London."
Diorama No. 2. " The visit of Victoria and Napoleon to
the Tomb of Napoleon I. in the Invalides at Faris."
Scone 3.—" The Dock of the Royal Harry, 128 guns—the
Departure of Henry VIII. for France."
Diorama No. 3. " The Voyage from England to Franco."
Scene 4.—" The Chateau of Francis I. at Guisnos."
Scone 5.—" The Field of the Cloth of Gold, including a
grand Ballet and the Groat Tournament, after Holbein's cele-
brated picture."

Scene 6.—" The Bedchamber of the Monarchs."
Scene 7.—" The Farm-house of Bloudetteo."
Scene B.—" The immense Transformation Scene (painted
by W. Beverly) of the Abode of the Fairy Good Rumour in
the Realms of Eternal Starlight."
The concluding Scene,
designed by M. Guerin, painted by.
Mr. W. Beverly, and on which an expenditure of many hun-
dred pounds has been incurred, will forte a Grand Military
Spectacle, representing tho " Apotheosis of England and
Franco, with the descent of the Genius of Victory with the
Coronals of Valour."

The Band will be conducted by Mr. Chas. Hall, nod will bo
the largest in London, the performers being first-class.
The extensive and complicated Machinery by
Mr. 11. Slo•
man.

On Wednesday, Dec. 26, the Doors will open at Half-past
Six, commence at Seven.
The Box-office is now open, under the direction of Mr.
O'Reilly. Private Boxes (which may also be taken at the prin.
eipal Libraries), 3/. 35., 21. Es., 1/. 18., and 12s. Grand Bal-
cony, 4s. Upper Boxes, Es. 6d. Amphitheatre Stalls, 2s. Pit,
2s. Gallery, le.
Half-price at Niue o'clock,
The care of the front of the house will be committed to Mr.
Hingeton, who will, doubtless, endeavour to care most cour-
teously for everybody.

•,

PUBLICATIONS.

INTERESTING LITERARY PRESENT.
Now ready Jag vols., with Illustrations, 21s bound,
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A LISON'S HISTORY OF EUROPE.
I.
THE HISTORY of EUROPE, from the
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ATLAS of 109 COLOURED MAPS and
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OUR DISTINGUISLIED PENINSULAR GENERALS.
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Webster and Co., 60, Piccadilly.

FRASER'S MAGAZINE forJANUARY, 1856,
Price 38 6d., contains—
Friends in Council Abr.:•ed. Part 11.
Prescott's Phi.ip the Second.
Famidar Epistles from Ireland, from Terence Flynn, Esq., to
Dennis Moriarty, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, London.'
Browning's Men and Women.
Six Months in India. Part I.
Kate Coventry, an Autotiography: Edited by the Author of
" Digby Grand."
Professor Owen and the Science of Life.
Last August in the Baltic. Second and Concluding Part.
Scotch University Reform.
London : John W. Parker and Son, West Strand.

THE BRITISH QUARTERLY REVIEW,
No. X LT., price 63., will be publisliCil January I .

_
CONTENTS:
1. Prescott's Philip 11.
2. Thunderstorms—Arago.
3. Mormonism—Whence came it?
4. 23ngsof the Dramatists.
b. Influence of Romanism and Protestantism.
6. Men and Women, by Robert Browning.
7. Theology—The New Oxford Movement.
8. The War—its Ethics and Object.
9. Our Epilogue on Affairs and Books 1
London: Jackson and Watford. 18, St. Paul's Churchyard; and
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WYLD'S. LARGE FOLIO ATLAS,
containtqg 66 Maps, including all Recent Discoveries. New
Edition. Half-bound Russia, I 11. 1 Is. This is the largest and best
atlas published. Smaller atlasses of every iescription. James Wyld,
Geographer to the Queen, Charing-cross East, next door to the Post-
°tree, and 2, Royal Exchange.

ENTON'S 350 PHOTOGRAPHS taken in the
F CRIMEA, under the patronage of her Majesty, and with the
sanction of Oe Commanders-in-Chief. The Exhibition of Mr. Fen-
ton's Photographs is Removed to the New Water Colour Gallery, 53,
Pall-mall (next to the British Institution). Daily, from 10 to 5, and
in the evening from 7to 10, Admission One :billing.

CHRISTMAS HOT. ID AYS.—Unrivalled
Attractions at the ROYAL FASOPTICOS, Including a New
Dloralna. Lectures on Natural Magic and Chemistry for the
Young, a Christmas Musical Melange, Luminous Fountain, &c., &c.
hours of Exhibition, 11.30 to 2,3 to 5 30, and 7to 10. Admission,
One Shil!ing. Schools and Children, half-price. Stalls, 2s.

GREAT GLOBE, LEICESTER-SQUARE.-
CIIRISTMAS BOLT GAYS. VASTOPOL, MODEL of
the SIEGE of, CItONSTADT, the BALTIC, SWEAIIORG, &c.
Lectures on Russia, the Crimea, and the War—Arms, Dresses,
Pictures, and Trophies captured from the Missions—Superb Paintings
of all the Armies of Europe—Model of the Earth. Admission to the
whole building, One Shilling; Children and Schools half-price. Open
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hibition in London, visited by 1,290,000 persons."

EVASTOPOL, MODEL of the SIEGE and
1.7 CAPTURE ef, at the GREAT GLOBE, with the positions ot
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upon the It,dan and Malakhoff.—Great Globe, Leicester-square.
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Shilling; Children and Schools half-price.

CRONSTADT.—GREAT GLOBE, Leicester-
square.-11 largo MODEL of CRONST ;DT, with the Forts
and Batteries: Sweaborg, and the Ptaltie.—Great Globe, Leicester-
square. Admission to the wh,,le building On• Shilling ; Children and
School.! half-price. Russian Infernal Machine, taken front off Cron-
stadt, explained every half-hour.

CRIMEAN MUSEUM, GREAT GLOBE.-A
COLLECTION of AR NTIS, PI 'TU'RES, DRESSES, and other
trophies, captured by the killed Armies from the Ituftsians, at the
Great Glebe, Leicester-square, Open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Ad-
mission to the whole building One Shilling ; Children and Schools
half-price.

ILITARY GALLERY, GREAT GLOBE.
—Splendid COLLECTION of PAINTINGS of the ARMIES
•f EUROPE.—Great Globe, Leicester-square. Admission to the
whole building Ono Shilling; Children and Schools half-price.

311[-- ONT BLANC TO-NIGHT, at 8 o'clook,
and WE DNESDAT, THURSDAY, and FRIDAY, at 3 and
S. Egyptian Hal', Piccadilly.

RGYLL ROOMS.-LA URENT'S CASINO
NOW OPEN for the winter seemon. Prin •Ipal Cornet
a Piston, M. Boulcourt.—Doors open xt S. Admission One
Laurent's new Varsoviana every n'ght.

OTTOMAN CLUB.-A GENERAL MEET
ING of the Nfembers of the Club will be held on MONDAY,
3 let of December, at the Club H. use, at Three o'clock.
By order of the Committee.
CAPRI, A. CURWOOD, Hon. sec.
Ottoman Club, 14, Regent-street, Dec. 18th, 1655.

LOAN.—The NEW RIVER COMPANY are
prepared to rocelve TENDERS for SUSI:4 of MONEY (raised
under the provisions and regnirentrnts e•f their Acts of 1852 and
1.51) on Bonds of not less than 5091., for three, five, or seven years
at 4 per cent. 'Corot t, payable halt-yearly.
Further information may be obtained, if required, of the under-
signed, at the New River Office, New River Head, Clerk nwell, be-
tween the hours of Ten and Four, to whom Tenders are to be addressed
for the Directors.

fly or. ler. FRED. INGLIS, Clerk.
New River 0111ce, Nov. 31, 11435.

PURSUANT to a Decree of the High Court of
Chancery, male In a cause of MA itKE against MARK F,
the creditors of SE DLEY BASTARD MARKE, late of Plyinonth,
In the county of Devon, Esquire, who died in or about the month of
February, 1855, are, by their solicitors, on or before the first day of
Fchruary, 1556, to come in and prove their Debts or Claims at the
Chambers of the Vice-Chancellor Sir Richard Torin Kindersley, No. 3,
Stone-huildlngs, Lincoln's-inn, Middlesex, or, in default thereof, they
will he peremptorily excluded front the benefit of the said Decree.
harsday, the ith day of February 11356, at Three o'clook in the
afternoon, at the said Chambers, is appointed for hearing and adjudi-
catin; upon the claims.

Dateit this 21st dsy of December, 1855.
CHAS. PUGH, Chief Clerk.
11. COWI,ARD, 14, Lincoln'sdnn-fields, agent for GURNEY
and LETHBRIDGE COWLARD, of Launceston, Cornwall,
Plaintiff's Solicitors,

GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY COMPANY of
C kNADA.

NOTICE I 3 lIERETIT GIVEN., That the Transfer Books of the
above Company will he Closed from Tuesday, the let day of January,
1851, to Tuesday, the 15th, both days inclusive, for the purpose of
making up the half Year's Interest accrued on the " Series,
Queb-c and Richmond, St. Lawrencl and Atlantic, and Toronto and
Guelph I,suas of Grand Trunk Shares.
Each of the Prop/let-Ts registered on the 3154 December, will have
a warrant forwarded to him for the amount of Interest to that date.

Notice is also given, that the Interest at the rate of six per cent.
per annum accruing on Debenture Certificates, No. 1 (or Company's),
anti Debenture Certificates, No. 2 (or Government), up to the 31st
December, will be payable on anti after the 16th January, 1856,
the Certificates to be deposited at this office three clear days prior
to the receipt of the Interest.
By order of the Board.
C. P. RONEY, Secretary.
Offices of the Company, 21, Old Broad•street, London,
19th December, 1955.

-PO COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS and
11_ Others.—The TRAVELLERS' and MARINE INSURANCE
COMPANY grant Potides of Insurance against EVERY DESCRIP-
noN of ACCIDENT, whether occurring whilst travelling or other-
wise.

CAPITAL, 250,0001.
TILIIIITELS.

The Right IfonouralTieiariFitzwilllam, K.G.
Matthew Marshall, Esq. (Bank of Englaud).J
William Srnee, Esq. (Bank of England).
Sir Charles Fox.
EXAMPLE OF RATES.

Annual Premium. I Sum at Death. I IVeekl♦ AIIOM,I iee.

£2 0 0

£l,OOO

1 .435 0 •

ti 5 o 1

.e. 500 I £3 0 0

Forms of Propos tl, Prospectuses, Scc., may be obtained at the
Chief Offices, 42 and 43, Poultry, London, between 19 and 4 o'clock.
FRANCIS COBIIAM, Registrar.