The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-31 00:00:00

STRAND THEATRE.

The first appearance of the African Opera Troupe
drew an excellent audience last evening to this
pretty little theatre. Encores were awarded to the
songs of "Emma Snow" (Harris), " Sally White"
(Templeton), " Stop dat knocking" (Harris), " Oh,
Lud, Gals" (Pell and Williams), and to a capital ex-
travaganza on the violin by Harris. Pell on the
bones, and divers other features of sable minstrelsy,
evoked considerable applause, and the entertainments
passed off to the perfect satisfaction of the house.

MARYLEBONE THEATRE.
Last night this deservedly popular suburban theatre
was re-opened to the public, after a short recess,
during which its enterprising lessee and manager,
Mr. E. T. Smith, has considerably enhanced its at-
tractions, by decorating it in the highest and most
profuse style of art. In the scenic department es-
pecially the powers of the artist have been oalled into
vigorous action. Altogether, the effect of the interior is
exceedingly elegant and pleasing, and the Marylebone
must henceforth take higher rank in these respects
among the theatres in the metropolis. An over-crowded
audience assembled last night, to inaugurate the build-
ing in the pride of its new and dazzling splendour.
The performances were extremely well selected for
the occasion, were admirably sustained throughout,
and received the unqualified applause of the audience.
Fitzball's much approved drama, entitled Alice May,
was the first piece, which was followed by the laugh-
able farce of The Shower Bath, the whole concluding
with Margaret's Ghost. At the conclunion of the
first piece the National Anthem was mug by the
whole company, when Mr. Smith was called before
the curtain, for which compliment he briefly, but
appropriately, returned thanks, and was greeted with
three hearty cheers.

HENRY RUSSELL AT THE LYCEUM

THEATRE.

Last night the Lyceum Theatre was crowded with
numerous admirers of Mr. Henry Russell, the
vocalist and composer, who first started the entertain-
ments with which Wilson, Templeton, and others
were popular and successful. His performance chiefly
consisted of a new olio—of music, singing„ speaking,
and painting—illustrative of the " Progress of an
Emigrant from England to the Far West." There
are some pleasing panoramic views, from the start
from Liverpool to the emigrant's arrival in the Far
West. A great many new songs, from
the pen of Charles Mackay, are included in this new
entertainment, and several old favourites which have
won a world-wide popularity. "Cheer, Boys, Cheer"
is a stirring melody, and " To the West, the Land of
the Free," a heart-moving lyric. The
performances
are to run through this week—but in the present
dearth of public amusement they will bear a much
more extended career. It is worth a journey from
Cairo to Suez to hear Henry Russell's instrumenta-
tion—the piano does all but speak under his touch.

VAUXHALL GARDENS.
MUSIC IN THE CLOUDS.
The balloon ascent which took place yesterday, ac-
companied by the military band, piloted by the veteran
Green, attracted many thousands to the gardens.
The effect of the brass instruments, as the Great Nas-
sau sailed into the air, was both novel and delightful.
The music, as it descended from the various degrees
of elevation, mellowed by the distance, became soft
and dreamy as the tones of an Aolian harp. The ex-
periment was quite successful, and no apprehension was
felt by the dense crowd who witnessed this reallyin-
teresting exhibition.

CREMORNE GARDENS.
ASCENT OF MADAME POITEVIN AS EUROPA.
Often as it has been our pleasing duty to refer to
this popular place of amusement, we do not recollect
that any occasion has called for more pointed notice
than last evening, whether as regards the loveliness,
the beauty of the night, the number and importance
of the visitors, the variety of the amusements, or the
novelty of the attractions. The Hippodrome com-
menced at the usual hour, and presented a variety of
new and exciting performances, among which we
would mention the capital hurdle race, by the first
lady and gentleman riders in the establishment, and
which was won by the fairest of the competitors upon
the post by a neck only. At seven o'clock, a flourish
of trumpets announced the lady aeronaut, Madame
Poitevin, who was drawn into the Hippodrome by
four horses, in a Roman chariot, and soon after came
the splendid bull. A signal being given, the hand-
some balloon rose, bearing away, in most classic style,
the beauty and the beast. About eleven o'clock, the
lady returned to the Gardens. She had safely de-
scended; at Ilford, where the lady and her bovine
steed were most kindly received, end the animal hos-
pitably stabled.

LIVERPOOL ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
During the week the pleasing :performances of Mr.
Webster and Madame Celeste have attracted numerous
audiences, who have been moved to alternate tears and
smiles by the pathos and humour of the artists. The
only new piece in which they have appeared is a three-
act comedy, by Mark Lemon, entitled Mind Your Own
Business, which met with very great success at the Hay..
market Theatre. The plot contains little that is novel,
either in incident or situation; nor are the characters
entire strangers. The language, however, is natural and
easy ; the pathos affecting;and effective, without mawkish-
ness; and the humour genial and hearty, without
coarseness. The performance of
.Mr. Webster, as Ver-
don, plunged into vice by disappointment, is most admi-
rable; one of the
best, in fact, we ever witnessed;
manly, hearty, and pathetic to a degree; abounding in
quiet touches of nature, and elaborated with most
artistic skill. He was most enthusiastically applauded
throughout. The other characters were well sustained
by the stock company. Madame Celeste, an actress un-
rivalled in her peculiar walk of art, is as pleasing as of
yore. Her performance in the Mysterious Stranger may
be specially noticed, for the wonderful skill with which
she personates so many opposite characters. Buckstone
and Mrs. Fitzwilliam appear next week.—Liverpool
Times.

THE HARVEST IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT.—"
NEWCASTLE.ON-TYNE, AUG. 28.—The harvest in this dis-
trict has now become very general, and, from personal obser-
vations in the northern division of the county of Durham,
and throughout the principal part of Northumberland, ouh
r
correspondent states that the corn crops are not so muc
injured by the recent heavy rains as was anticipated, and at
no period was there so large a breadth of corn ready for cut-
ting, There is a demand for shearers,
Irish labourers. Wa d • ges during the pas and a scarcity o
t week in this town
have been from 3s. 6d. to 35. per day; Morpeth, women
2s. 6(1. per day ; men, 3s. 6d. ; men, raper their victuals in
the house, getting from 15s. to 183. per week. The same
wages are asked in Alnwick. with the exception of pota-
toes, which are diseased in some districts, it is admitted that
the crops will be a good average.
Her Majesty's ship Hercules is about to be docked
in order that she may be immediately devoted to emigration
Purposes. Sh& will be lent by Government to take out
emigrants.