The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-30 00:00:00

Canterbury Hall.

The Optical Illusions at this establishment seem to have
lost none of their attractions—indeed the audiences appear
to be as much delighted as ever. When we paid it a visit
on Saturday last, we witnessed a very cleverly written
sketch, by Mr Vandervell, entitled " The Tercentenary ;
or, a Night with Shakspere," in which Mr Randall per•
senates a Mr Mulberry Muggs, beadle of St. Anthony the
Good, and informs us that his parishioners do not intend
to erect a statue in honour of England's immortal bard, but
will have private theatricals instead—and have appointed
him to perform the part of Romeo, whilst a sweetheart of
his, one Miss Jemima Waggs, will undertake the part of
the love-sick Juliet. Muggs then begins to study his part,
and between learning and liquor falls asleep, and dreams—
and a very capital dream it is—and which is produced by
Professor Pepper's well-known Ghost illusion. At first
he beholds Juliet leaning over her balcony (enacted by
Miss Hayes) who gives a very fair imitation of the inimi-
table Stella Colas. Shakspere then appears, and after des-
canting on the decline of the drama, commands his chil-
dren to appear. Ariel (Miss Townley) obeys the summons
and sings " Where the bee sucks" very sweetly. We then
see Othello (Mr Wm. Morton) who gives a sort of stump
speech, in a style worthy of the renowned Unsworth. King
Lear then appears, and gives a very clever representation
of the celebrated mad scene. Hamlet entreats the weird
sisters to let him know the ultimate fate of Denmark, and
the dream is brought to a close by the sudden appearance
of Richard and Richmond, mounted on real basket horses,
who fight a terrific combat, which ends with the death of
the Hump-backed Tyrant. These two characters were
personated by the Messrs. Morton, whose excellent fencing
and burlesque acting kept the audience in one continued
roar of laughter, which so disgusted Shakspere that he
vanishes, and Mulberry Muggs awakes. This sketch,
which was first produced on the 23d of April, bids fair to
rival the celebrated Prince Blossom, by the same author,
which has now reached its 200th night. The admirable
manner in which these illusions are produced reflects great
credit on Mr Charles Morton. who seems to have spared
neither trouble nor expense in getting up this class of en-
tertainment. Air Hilton, the ventriloquist, appeared in a
new sketch entitled the " Anthropophaginian." There
was also a sensation performance by Messrs Talliot and
Burnetti, besides a grand selection from " Erman'," in
which the prima donna, Miss Russell, made her first ap-
pearance atter her late indisposition, and was received
with a tremendous ovation. She sang charmingly, and
proved herself to be one of the best vocalists of the present
day.

SERIOUS COLLISION ON THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

.—An alarming accident took place yesterday morn-
ing on the main line of the Midland Railway at Stavely
Station, near Chesterfield, which it is feared will be attended
with fatal results to the Poet-office guard who had charge
of the mails. The train leaving Leeds in the morning at
3 a.m. had proceeded to Stave!), without anything unusual
having occurred. The mail trains do not stop at this sta-
tion, and as the driver saw the signal indicating that the
line was clear he went on at full speed, and the engine
dashed into the goods train from Derby, which, by an error
on the part of the pointsman, had been shunted across the
main line instead of into a siding to await the passage of
the mail. An awful crash was the consequence. The
engine completely cut the goods train in two, and several
carriages were shattered. The Post-office van was turned
completely over, and the officar in charge of the mails re-
ceived such injuries that his life is despaired of. The
line was completely blocked, causing the stoppage of the
whole of the trains about two hours beyond the usual time.
THE EXTRAORDINARY BANK NOTE ROBBERY AT
FLEETWOOD.—At the Preston intermediate sessions on
Saturday, Mr Pope, on behalf of Joshua Bond, who is
charged with steeling two £5O Bank of England notes, the
property of the New Fylde Timber Company, at Fleetwood,
applied for a postponement of the trial, and also that the
prisoner might be set at liberty on giving bail. The court
agreed to take bail for £lOO, the prisoner in £2OO and two
sureties of £lOO each. A large number of Fylde were in
the court.

SALE OF ESTATES IN THE LAKE DISTRICT.—The
valuable estates of Wasdale Hall and Stang End, situated
near Wastwater, Cumberland, were brought to the hammer
last week. Wasdale Hall sold for the sum of £15,000, and
Stang End for £10,500, Both estates wore purchased by
Mr Musgrave, of Whitehaven.

TIRED OF HIS BOARDING-HOUSE.--A prisoner of
war advertises from Johnson's Island in a New York
journal for a substitute to take his place in the military
prison there :—" Wanted—" A substitute to stay here in
my place. He must be 30 years old, have a good moral
character, A 1 digestive powers, and not addicted to writing
poetry. To such an one all the advantages of a strict re-
tirement, army rations, and unmitigated watchfulness to
prevent them from getting lost, are offered for an indefinite
period. Address me at Block 1, Room 12, Johnson's Island
Military Prison, at any time for the next three years, en-
closing half a dozen postage stamps.—Ass HARTz."
THE LORD-LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND.—Since
the Earl of Carlisle has been at Castle Howard his general
health has improved. His lordship is reported somewhat
better, and seems to benefit by the drives in the country.
His lordship was able to attend Divine service on Sunday.
EXTRAORDINARY LONGEVITY.—There are at
present residing in the same mansion in Cardiganshire three
sisters, whose united ages fall but 17 years short of three
centuries. The sisters have reached the respective ages of
92, 94, and 97 years, and are ono and all in the enjoyment
of good health and unimpaired faculties. Even the oldest
of the three is able at present to dispense with the use of
spectacles in reading—a circumstance almost unprecedented
at such a ripe age.

PROFESSOR FAWCETT.— Report says that a
marriago has been arranged between the Hon, Miss Eden,
daughter of Lord Auckland, Lord Bishop of Bath and
Wells, and Mr Henry Fawcett, who was not long since an
unsuccessful candidate for the representation of Brighton.
Professor Fawcett, as is well known,ls blind, but, notwith-
standing this severe affction, ho possesses many of the
highest attainments as a scholar, and seems determined, at
any cost, to obtain Parliamentary honours. Miss Eden is
by no means unknown as an author, several works, the pro-
duct of her pen, having issued from the press within the
last three or four years.—Bath Chronicle,
ANTICIPATED VISIT OF A PORTION OF THE
F RENCII FLEET,—lnformation has been received by the
mayor of Sunderland that a portion of the French fleet, now
cruising in the North Sea, may shortly be expected to visit
that port. The visit will not ho made by the whole of the
fleet now cruising, but by a frigate and some gunboats, the
first of which is expected to arrive in a few days. The
commander of the frigate when here will examine the ac-
commodation of the port ; and if' he is satisfied that it is
such as will accommodate the whole fleet, there is every
probability that Sunderland may next summer be honoured
with a visit from the entire squadron, the summer b3ing
now too far advanced to admit of the visit this year,—
Oatokfad QbBet ter.