The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-25 00:00:00

'arewell season of Mr. Benjamin Webster as Lessee and Manager,

ON BOXING NIGHT

Will be performed the popular and highly attractive Comedy of
MASKS AND FACES; or, Before and Behind the Curtain—by
Messrs. Benjamin Webster, Leigh Murray, Stuart, and Parselle;
Mrs. Stirling, Mrs. Leigh Murray, Miss Rosa Bennett, and Miss
Fanny Maskell.
After which (first time), a new Grand Extravaganza, entitlel
LEO, THE TERRIBLE, by the entire strength of the Company.
After which, the Farce of BOX and COX MARRIED and
SETTLED.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
Under the Management of Madame Vestria.

On MONDAY, Dec. 27, will be performed the Comic Drama
called A PHENOMENON IN A SMOCK..FBOCK, Characters by
Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Horncastle ; Miss F. Baker
and Miss C. Mitchell.

After which (first time), a new and original Fairy Extravaganza,
entitled THE GOOD WOMAN IN THE WOOD, in which Messrs.
F. Matthews, Suter, Homcastle, and Templeton ; Madame Vestris,
Mum Julia St. George, Miss Robertson (her first appearance at this
Theatre), Miss Martindale, Miss Ellis, Miss Wyndham. Mies Egliu-
ton (her first appearance at this Theatre), and Miss Rosina Wright
will appear.

To Conclude with LITTLE TODDLEKINS. Characters by
Messrs. C. Mathews, Baker, Butler, Miss F. Matthews, Miss Oliver,
and Miss Ellis.

Sole Agent for the Private Boxes, Mr. W. Allcroft, 15, New
Bond-street.

THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI.
Open for the Season.
Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste.
On BOXING NIGHT, the already popular Drama of SLAVE
LIFE; or, Uncle Tom's Cabin—by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, Cullen-
ford, 0. Smith, and Emery ; Madame Celeste, Miss Woolgar, Miss
Harding, and Mrs. Keeley.
After which (first time), a new Grand Christmas Pantomime,
called NELL GWYNNE ; or, Harlequin Merrie Monarch, by Messrs.
Fleamore, S. Honey, T. W. Barnes, and James Regeis ; Miss Laura
Honey, and Mdlle. Anriol.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. C. Kean.
On MONDAY, Dec. 27, will be presented THE IRON CHE3T.
151 r Edward Mortimer, Mr. Charles Kean.
After which will be produced a new and original Grand Comic
Christmas Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN CHERRY AND
FAIR STAR; or, The Green Bird, the Dancing Waters, and the
Singing Tree. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clovn, Mr. Hu•ine (first
appearance here) ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; Columbine, Miss Car-
lotta Leclercq.

ROYAL OLYMPIC: THEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. Farren.

On MONDAY, December 27, will be presented ABELARD AND
HELOISE. Supported by Messrs. Compton, W. Farren, jun.,
Cook, Clifton, and Edgar ; Mesdames H. Gordon, and A. Phillips.
After which, an entirely new Grand Comic Christmas Pantomime,
entitled ROMEO AND JULIET ; or, Harlequin Queen Mab and tilt,
World of Dreams. Hanle .uin, Mr. Forest; Columbine, Miss Marie
Charles ; Sprite, Mr. G. Thompson ; Pantaloon, Mr. G. Tanner ;
Clown, Mr. Edward Edwardes.

Box-office open from Eleven till Five, under the superintendence
of Mr. Edward Chatterton.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty.
Immense attraction of the Christmas Holidays. First Night of the
new Grand Equestrian Comic Pantomime. 30th Night of Uncle
Tom's Cabin. Entire change of Scenes in the Arena.
On MONDAY, December 27, and during the week, the Enter-
tainments will commence with the highly successful Equestrian
Drama of UNCLE TOM'S CABIN, with all its original effects.
To be followed by unuenally brilliant and novel Scenes in the
Circle, by the most eminent Artistes of the day.
To conclude with, for the First Time, the New Grand Equestrian
Christmas Comic Pantomime, entitled FORTHNIO AND HIS
HORSE COMRADE; or, Harlequin and his Seven Gifted Men.
Produced on an unequalled scale of splendour, and in which the
following talented Pantomimists will appear for the first time here.
Harlequin, Mr. Melbourne Ellar ; Columb ne, Mdlle. Christine ;
Clow a, Mr. Gardner Bolino ; Pantaloon, Mr. Priorson ; Sprite, Mr.
R. Hemming.
Doors open at Half-past Six o'clock. To commence at Seven.
Pox-oince open daily from Eleven to Four. Stage Manager, Mr.
W. West.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Ina DAY —Morning 4 min. after 1 I Evening 24 min.aft. 1
Tc-Moaaow—Morning 42 min. after 1 Evening 2 min.aft. 2

THE WEATHER.—Suer OFFICE, Dec. 25.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
51—highest since noon yesterday.
46—lowest this morning and during the night.
47—this day, at noon.

BAROMETER went down to 29'77, now up to 29.83.
WIND, W. by S.—Light airs and fine sunshiny weather,,
with a clear sky, and promise of better weather.

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LONDON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1852.

Christmas-day surely never before came upon
us with more utter confusion in the whole frame-
work of our Constitutional Government. Eng-
land, indeed, may be said with truth at this yule-
tide to be without rulers—white, black, or GREY
—Whig, Tory, or Radical—Derbyite, Peelite, or
Conservative. Yet we are bold to aver, without
fear of contradiction, that the country was never
more prosperous. We have at this moment more
reason, if possible, than ever to be grateful for the
benignity of DIVINE PROVIDENCE. Industry finds
in almost every direction the most encouraging
employment. The marts are filled with the pro-
moters of maritime and mercantile enterprise.
The revenues of the country are in a condition so
flourishing and satisfactory as to be almost wholly
unexampled. Pauperism has decreased within
the last twelve months. Crime has in the same
interval diminished. Agriculture has recovered
considerably from its rather prolonged and la-
mentable depression. Manufactures are every-
where multiplied. Our exports as well as our
imports have been appreciably extended in variety
and importance. Beyond all which there is some
degree of security for the future in the increasing
thrift—as shown in the savings-bank system—of
the industrial part of the population. Deposits,
there, have been gradually more numerous, en-
couraged by the additional percentage in the way
of interest granted by the State upon their in-
vestments in the public funds; and this, moreover,
in spite of numerous allurements in the shape of
most tempting and attractive speculations. Pros-
perity like this has naturally enough very greatly
heightened the amount of national happiness.
Queen VICTORIA reigns at this hour not only over
a loyal but also over a contented people. Even
poor Ireland is partaking in the spread of good
fortune. England is no longer dismayed by the
repeated record of agrarian outrages. Agitation
has died out with a gradual and perceptible re-
turn to good government. Testimony of this
kind is reaching us continually from all quarters
—even from the apparently reluctant evidence of
Irish Representatives. The beneficial changes
commenced under CLARENDON have, from their
own innate vigour and vitality, developed them-
selves under EGLINTON. It is with this dawn of
better days brightening on the horizon, that Dub-
lin is preparing for the next year a copy from our
great Industrial Exhibition. Destitution is no
longer heard of, thanks be to GOD ! as devastat-
ing the primitive and simple-minded population
of the Highlands. Scotland appears to be par-
taking yet more largely than Ireland, if that be
possible under the circumstances, in the generous
influences arising from the growth of commerce
and the diffusion of comfort, more or less through-
out the various shires of England. Meanwhile,
with this internal activity, we have the joy of
witnessing the uninterrupted maintenance of ex-
ternal tranquillity.
Revolutions no longer convulse the Continent.
Peace has spread not merely along the northern
coasts of the Baltic, but also along the southern
shores of the Mediterranean. There is no longer
a suppressed panic about the outbreak of such a
Conspiracy in behalf of Terrorism, and Socialism,
and Communism, as the earth even in its most
evil days has never witnessed. The deadly con-
sPracies at one period rife—conspiracies against
all that is held sacred by the cultivated intellects
of civii;_4'lx.
4°on, against order, and family, and pro-
PertY, and religion conspiracies to root up
society from its
very foundations, and dash it
tion—have
down in a ehaosofof calamity, blood, and desola-
a
resistless will ji
Europe respires again now that
there has been removed from her bosom
the weight of all the
tions. Amity has
.horror of these
long superincumbent
ra
hitherto at open variance.
been restored to nations
Treaties of alliance have been S
between them, and mercantile igned and sealed
ellLerprizes have
begun once more to assume the upect
of a
international development. What has not grand
known for a considerable time past—th been
e unds
have been simultaneously sustained for
F
- pro-
tracted interval at an unusual height at the Bourse
in Paris, and at the Royal Exchange in London.
Credit is good on the average. The rate of wages
is satisfactory. Food is cheap and abundant.
And as additional and very significant " signs of
the times"—while the mortality has diminished
the births have astonishingly increased, and mar-
riages have been much more numerously contracted.
Externally, as we have shown, there is quietude
—internally there are prosperity and happiness.
Surely, with all these exhilarating prospects of
a " Happy New Year," we have, as a nation,
very good reason indeed for spending, upon this
day, a " Merry Christmas !"
Numerous, of course, we admit at once, have