The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-11 00:00:00

THE BOIS DE BOULOGNE.

I liked to drive cut beyond the barrier, when I would
dismiss the vehicle and take a solitary ramble in the Bois
de Boulogne, which was not then ornamented, as it is now,
with artificial lakes, adorned with monster rocks, trans•
ported, like obelisks, from their native home and picturesque
chalets—the whole scene resembling some pantomime re-
presentation of Fair..? land more than anything else, waved
into existence, as it seems to have been, by a shako of his
Imperial hand. Neither was it yet laid out, as it now is,
as an extensive pleasure-ground for beauty and fashion to
air itself in. _ _ _

The Bois de Boulogne was a magnificent wood, which
art and the landscape-gardener had not yet re-constructed.
Its trees and underwood were allowed to mat together ia
any. sort of way that pleased them. Wild flowers and weeds
were permitted to flourish in unrestrained luxuriance. Toe
merry grisette walked about undisturbed on the arm of her
favourite and favoured ' blouse.'

Part of the hero's adventures are of a theatrical
character. Among them are some interesting
reminiscenes of Cheltenham and its

PRIVATE THEATRICALS.

Earl Fitzhardingo gave the most laborious study to
every part he undertook ; he got thoroughly acquainted
with the author's meaning, and was always letter perfect.
Nor would he allow any play to be represented until it had
been attentively rehearsed. His height was, however, very
much against him, especially in such small theatres as
Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, and there was a stilted man-
ner which seemed to bo put on with a costume character,
from which the noble lord was exempt when in plain mo-

dery attire.
A few exceptions to this ruling may be made, for he
looked " every inch a king" in " Henri Quatre ;" as Brutus
he appeared " the noblest Roman of them all ;" and was
equally successful as Faulconbridge in "King John;" it
was in characters like Bromley in " Simpson and Co.:" and
My Lord Duke in " High Life below Stairs," that he greatly
excelled. His conception of the henpecked husband Jerry
Sneak was perfect, but his appearance rendered the farce

too broad and ridiculeus.
The Honourable Augustus Berkeley ranked much
higher as a tragedian and comedian than his elder brother ;
indeed in many characters he could not have been excelled
on the regular hoards. His Othello would have itnmorta•
find any professional actor, both as to his expression, in
grandeur of soul, and gentleness of nature ; as Mark An-
tony, he was dignified; as the impassioned Romeo, he was
the beau zdeat of the Veronese youth, who " was beloved
and loved again;" as the Italian villain lachimo ho was
pre-eminently great, and his melo-dramatic acting in that
difficult scene,when he approaches the chaste bed of Imogen,
was a master-piece; as the fat knight Falstaff, I may quote
from the poet, and say " the world will never (among ama-
teurs) look upon his like again."
Cheltenhanx is thus graphically described :
Cheltenham in those days was the most delightful town
in the world ; the sportsmen found pleasure with the Ber•
kelcy, Badminton, and Warwickshire hounds, the races,
steeplechases, and pigeon shooting ; the gourmet could revel
in the most luxurious repasts—le bon vivant was never at a
loss for an excellent dinner ; while the bad liver from the
East could procure an appetite by recruiting his enfeebled
constitution at the bubbling spring, which Nature has so
lavishly bestowed on this favoured spot. Dowagers with
their penniless daughters had ready access to thew hist
table and ball rooms; and heiresses were there to be run
down by needy fortune hunters. Veterans from India
could indulge in Oriental grandeur, free from monsoon and
mosquito—idle men about town could flirt and dance with
some of the prettiest girls in England ; young ladies could
fled objects of romance and sentiment, as they promenaded
under the beautiful avenues of lime-trees under the old
Wells ; while invalids could regain their strength and
vigour from the salubrity of the climate. In short, old
and young, patricians and plebeians, rich and poor. mar-
ried and single, the healthy and the infirm, the robust and
the maimed, drew life and spirit and glory from the radiant
smiles of this Queen of Spas."
From the above extracts it will readily be seen that
the " Adventures of a Man of Family," apart from
its interest as a tale, abounds in lively descriptions
and pleasant reminiscences.

Bathlynn. By the Author of "The Saxon in
Ireland." Taree Vols. Hurst and Blackett.
Another" Saxon in Ireland," namely, Mr. Frank
Wyville, here recounts to us, in a very delightful
manner, his experieeces during a v ery serious under-
taking, namely, that of reclaiming and cultivating
the waste lands and neglected estate of Rathly tan, the
purchaee of his father, " the Admiral." These experi-
ences Mr Frank relates to a very good-natured uncle,
who sympathises with good humoured dismay in his
nephew's love affairs with two charming Irish lassies
—Mary Donovan and Florence Fitzpatrick, com-
plicated by the counter mar couvres of the faithful
Larry and the treacherous Thady. The story, as
related to the uncle, terminates in mid career, and
in the denouement, which later on takes place, this
uncle is called upon to play a very important part,
for which his accidental acquaintance with his
nephew's perplexities renders him fortunately well
adapted. We take leave of " The Saxon" with the
regret one feels on parting with a pleasant acquain-
tance,.

TUE FAMOUS
BANK FoRGEn Giraud of Gate,
bourse, whose talent in counterfeiting Bank ol
France notes was so notorious, escaped on the Bth Septern•
ber last from Cayennn,
where he was un ergoing the punish-
ment of hard labour for life. The banks have a shiver come
r!
over them at the berg anuounconeat.