The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-29 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.—No OCOC.

NORTHAMPTON MEETING.—The meeting of the North-
ampton and Pytchley Hunt, as it it is called—though
for what reason I know not, as there are no hunters' stakes
or cross-country work in the programme--commences
to-morrow, at half-past one, with the Trial Stakes of
10 sovs. each, with 40 added (one mile). Eleven nomi-
nations have been obtained to this stake, not more than
four or five of whom are likely to be found at the post.
Russborough does not run, and Conmore, Kingston,
and Llanforda are, I believe, in the same position. The
running of Truth is also rather dubious. The field, I
take it, will consist of Extacy, General Gilbert, Young
Norval, Longbow, and perhaps Dear Me. The termi-
nation of the race, I have but little doubt, will show
LONGBOW first, and Young Norval second.
The Triennial Stakes of 10 sovs. each (once round,
which is somewhere about forty yards short of a mile
and five furlongs) will only be contested by FRANTIC and
Convulsion ; and, of course, the former, with Nat up,
will be "the winner. Should'Frantic win the last heat
of thifi stake, he will be the first horse that has won a
Triennial in each of the three years.
The Great Northamptonshire Stakes of 25 sovs. each,
15 ft, &c. (two miles), will, in all probability, have the
largest field at the post that has ever started for this
stake. Kingston, who figures as the top weight at Bst
131 b, is to have the assistance of one of the first jockies
of the day ; and I have no hesitation in saying that he
will finish very forward, perchance obtain a place,
although the weight he has to give away is enormous.
Newminster and Joe Miller remain at home. The run-
ning of the-King of Trumps or Lindrick is very uncertain—
neither can win. Lucio is rather overweighted, or he would
have obtained a place ; as it is, notwithstanding his being
much fancied by his jockey (Oates), I must pass him
over as possessing but little chance. Muscovite is a
runner ; more I cannot say in his favour. Attack and
Trifle are non-starters. The Bishop, Tremble, King of
Troy, and Lady Harriet are in the same position. Alp,
they say, is to have young Osborne up, who will, no
doubt, do his best for the stable : the horse is, however,
too stale. Harrier is in capital condition, and at half a
stone less would be about winning. The six-years old
Sweetheart, with 6st. 71b. up, with his bad temper, is
not attractive in my eyes. Hambletonian has about the
best chance of the four-year-old class, and I shall re-
serve him as a sort of forlorn hope from the out-
side division. May Day is a thorough bad one,
but has been so leninently treated by the handi-
capper, that she may run forward, - but cannot
win. The same remarks will apply to Madeline. The
crack, Defiance—indubitably by many pounds the best
three-year-old in the entry—has, I'm afraid, a little too
much to carry, considering the trying nature of the
course. Lady Blanche runs, and has a few admirers.
Happy Joe is a bad one, or with only sgstelol:lbantod L
carry,
he would win.
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race. Molasses and Tobolski, although runners, will
finish in the ruck. In conclusion, I opine that' the
winner, without he is to be found
in my forlorn hope—
Hambletonian—will spring from the three year old class,
and with all due deference to the speed and staying'
powers of Defiance, I must pass him over, and look for
the winner in POSTULANT, ,Dabehick, or NERVA, first
and third for choice.
The entries for her Majesty's Plate have not yet come
to hand.
The Whittlebury Stakes of 10 sovs. each, with 100
added (three-quarters of a mile), has mostly " dark "
nominations. It will be useless examining their chances
one by one, therefore I will jump to a conclusion by
stating, that, in the absence of Spinaway—who, I be-
lieve, will be reserved for the Althorp Park Stakes—l
shall place my faith upon BRIGLIADORO and LADY
AUDREY, expecting to see the filly by the Hero in the
third position.
The Pytchley Stakes, which will bring the first day's
racing to a conclusion, does not close and name until this
evening.

THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.

Captain J. G. Egginton, 41st, being about to form a
matrimonial alliance with a young lady. in the vicinity
of Boyle, and sell out, has purchased on advantageous
terms an extensive tract of land in the county of
Ros-
common, which he has commenced spiritedly to culti-
vate on the high Yorkshire system. The gallant officer
purchased all his commissions, and previous to joining
the 41st served in the 45th at the Cape during the
campaign of 1846, where he was actively engaged in
several minor but spirited affairs with the insurgents.
Limerick Chronicle.

EASTER AMUSEMENTS.

DRURY-LANE

The holiday entertainments at this house commeiced
with the popular play of The Lady of Lyons, respecting
which it is only necessary to say that—thanks to the
exertions of Miss. F. Vining, Mrs. Griffiths, Mr. Daven-
port, and Mr. Charles Selby, in the several characters
of Pauline, Madame Deschapples, Claude Melnotte, and
General Dumas--it was received with cordial and well-
merited applause by a large and good-humoured audi-
ence. Mr. R. Sands' " grand antipodal experiment,"
of walking across a marble slab with his feet up and his
head downwards, was then introduced. After which
came the principal Easter novelty, which was aeseribed
in the bills "as a seasonable attempt by one of the
authors of The Sphinx, the last edition of Ivanhoe,
Enchanted Isle, &c. (the brothers Brough, of course),
to get up a few magic effects with the assistance of Sir
W. Scott's Talisman, and to illustrate the story of ./09
Richard Oceur de Lion and the Knight of the Couch.rt
Leopard in a series of entirely new views, calculated, it
is hoped, to gratify the panoramic zest of the age." We
are sorry we cannot say much for its success. Of story or
plot there was next to none. A few only of the detached
incidents in the history of the Crusades have been seized
upon by the author, and reproduced in the form of
a burlesque—laughable enough in parts, it must be ad-
mitted, but exceedingly flat as a whole. There is, how-
ever, some good music (under the direction of Mr. J. G.
Reed), several pretty fairy dances, and at least one
beautiful piece of scenery, viz., " the Grand Fairy
up," which is radiant with Wind-

" Such magic light and rainbow dyes
As dazzle even the steadiest eyes."
The principal characters in the burlesque were King
Richard, by Mr. Charles Selby; Sir Kenneth of Scotland,
the Knight of the Couchant Leopard, by Miss P.Horton
(who made her first appearance during the present ma-
nagement, and who, we regret to say, was too unwell to
perform the whole of the music attached to her part) ;
Queen Berengaria, by Miss Kate Saxon ; the Lady Edith
Plantagenet, by Miss F. Reeves ; Saladin, by Mr. Moor
house—of whom, it is only fair to say, that if the piece
failed it was from no fault of theirs. The curtain fell
amid several determined hisses and a few faint cheers•
The performances concluded with a new ballet, entitled
L' Artiste de Terracina, which few remained to witness,
it being past midnight before it commenced.

HAY-MARKET.
Mr. Buckstone last night inaugurated his accession to
the management of the Haymarket by a new extrava-
ganza entitled Buckstone's Ascent of Mount Parnassus,
the purport of which we took to be an allegorical inti-
mation to the theatrical public of the new manager's
desire to give a poetical elevation, worthy of the Muses,
to the future amusements at this theatre. In the com-
mencement, Mr. Buckstone is discovered in his private
room meditating on his future prospects, and the course
to be pursued to hit the taste of the town. Fashion, in
the dress of a west-end exquisite, admonishes him, and
Fortune, with her wheel, counsels him. The most pro-
minent of the furores which have been prevalent in Lon-
don appear before him in succession. Mr. Albert Smith
gesticulates in a white waistcoat from a rostrum in a
Swiss chalet ; and the duel in the Corsican Brothers, with
the ghost of the murdered man, shadows another of the
most remarkable popularities of the day. The diggings
at the Drury-lane Theatre, the scenic splendous of
the Lyceum, the Uncle Toms everywhere, agd the
polyglot varieties of the Royal Italian Opera are em-
bodied, or typified, in turn ; and Mr. Buckstone, 1)112'
zled at the diversities of the public approbation, is in-
clined to give up his task as hopeless ; but as the "As-
cent of Mount Blanc is, in his mind, decidedly in the as-
cendant," he determines "to get up—something, but is
uncertain as to what." Fortune whispers him to try
Parnassus ; and this is the pretext for an elaborate pano-
rama by Mr. Marshall, who guides him to the top of
the mountain, stopping by the way at the Castalian
Fountain, where he is introduced to the Nine Muses,
and is further regaled by a ballet, in which Pan is the
principal gymnast. The vision of Apollo at the summit
of the mountain revives his courage and his hopes.
appeals to the god, and as he promises to encourage the
poetical drama and other analogous good works, he is
fortified by the smiles of the deity, and the curtain de-
scends amid crimson fires and the plaudits of the audi-
ence. The dialogue was full of Mr. Planche's usual
witticisms, all of which told remarkably well. The
scenery and dresses were excellent, and altogether we
may congratulate Mr. Buckstone on a very successful
commencement of the campaign.

PRINCESS'S.
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this theatre last night, mainly owing, it is true, to
the admirable manner in which it is put upon the stag
In plot, incident, character, and dialogue, there is
u,
nothing very far removed from the common-place, but
the ball room scene in the second act is one of such
ex-
traordinary brilliancy and chaste magnificence the
dresses, dancing, and raise en scene so completely out was
the common run of stage productions, that the house vi•
dazzled and delighted beyond the verge of enthusiasm.
The picturesque effect of the concluding scene, where
the brigands are beheld revelling in their mountain fast-
ness is also very striking, especially in the execution of
joyous Tarantella, which was vehemently applauded and
deservedly encored. The principal , parts were admi-
rably sustained. The disguised bandit and his supposed
child were represented by Mr. Ryder, who, it is hardly
necessary to say, looked and played nobly and effectively,
and by Miss Heath ; and the gallant Captain
Pepinelli, and his fair tyrant, the gay Marchesa.
San Pietri afforded infinite amusement to the audience,
as personated by Mr. Walter Lacy and Miss Carlotta
Le Clercq with genuine comic numour. Miss Le Clercq
is fast attaining the position of one of our best comedians
from the talent, spirit, and judgment, unvitiated by any
affectation, which she has developed in a surprising
degree since the commencement of the season, and which
repeatedly and prominently told last evening ; and Mr.
Lacy, a master spirit in light comedy, never broad or
low, however humorous, did exceeding credit to his
dancing master by his grace and skill in the mazes of the
courtly cotillon. Mr. Graham, as the Monk, merits fa-
vourable mention. The pains and cost bestowed by the
management on the production of Marco Spada deserve
to be amply rewarded by the public patronage. The
piece went off swimmingly, and the performers already
mentioned were recalled at its termination. The house
was crowded to excess ; and in Macbeth, which preceded
the new drama, the acting of Mr. and Mrs. Kean and
Mr. Ryder was, if possible, more masterly than ever.

LYCEUM.
The manigement of the Lyceum treated the town last
season to a Oharin of .Events, in eight links. This year
it presents to the public a Strange sistory, in not less
than nine
,!,',chapters." The, former piece, although
marred by not a few drawbacis, afforded a picturesque
series of scenes—several of them more or less effective.
The present experiment is, however, tamer, more con-
ventional, and less vividly coloured than its predecessor,
although redeemed, we may add, by occasional passages
in which some dramatic energy is caught by the even
smoothness by which the whole is acted, and by the veil
beautiful scenery of Mr. W. Beverley. The reception
of the piece was cold ; and, had not the latter "chapters
warmed up a little, would have been colder still. The
audience were tired out, as might well happen in the
witnessing of a theatric piece of no particular interest
which lasted for nearly four hours and a half. If the
" story" has any lengthened run it will be owing to
the character of the scenery, which is very charming.
A Swiss valley—with villages on the mountain slopes,
and the river winding through the vista—opened the pleY
with great effect, while a mountain view in the ravine'
with the mist rolling down over glacier and snow slope►
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Italian
nreniat aspect.lake scene'
was remarkable for its bright warmth of aerial perspe 0
:
while a " Waterfall in the Glen" exhibited so
delightful a vista of luxuriant reen wood, rising in rocky
g
ledges, down which a stream real water—trickled into
d
the background, that the artist was spontaneously an.,
enthusiastically called for—so enthusiastically indeed.
could
that until he appeared the business of the scene
not be commenced—an ovation which, with the ex:11)i;
tion of Mr. Beverley, we never remember any scenic
artist to have received.

ADELPHL
The Easter fare at this theatre last night consisted
no
less than five pieces, enough to satisfy the most ra-
pacious appetite for dramatic entertainment ; all, how-
ever, with the exception of the first, were reproductions,
the only difference being some variations in the respec-
tive castes. The first piece is an agreeable trifle, under
ree
the title of Webster at Home in A delphi Fare of Th
Removes and a Desert. It introduces the audience to
familiar acquaintanceship with the ladies and gentlemen
of the Adel hi corps in propria persona. They assemble
in the green room of the establishment, in obedience to
" a 11 o'clock morning call," to hear a new pico read.
Madame Celeste acts as president on the occasion, and
is supported by Mr. Gallott, the prompter, that Mrs.
Harris of the Adel hi, who, though most indefatigable
in his particular vocation, seldom ever emerges beyond
the scenes to let the public have a glimpse at one who
takes so important a part in contributing to their amuse-
ment. Each " principal " arrives with some laughable,
apology for being late, a merry joke at the " early call;
and an expression of curiosity to know the name of the
author who has roused them at so unseasonable an hour.
Some giv'i vent to their peculiar likings and disliking
nae
—Paul Bedford is tired of playing Blueskins and Jo:
than Wilds, and wishes to enact the part of a sentimental
lover, Mrs. Keeley longs for something in the genteel lin 0,
and o.rSmith abandons the study of demonology for "the
love of the angels," and thinks he could " do ,o 11, chat'
racter in a higher walk of the drama. The •veritable
author of the new piece turns out to be the veteran
pg.
Webster, who, ,otheduce
hardships of a manager's life, proceeds to intro
his company authors and actors with whom he has be-
come acquainted during his career, and for this purPcse
disappears beneath the table, whence issue in succession
the principal of the new performers in appropriate cha"
ratters. The piece is chiefly noticeable fur the heart's
applause with which the audience greeted Mr. Wbster_
acknowledgments of past favours, and his promises 0
continued exertion in catering for the public taste. le,.
performances which followed were also well receifea
The house was crowded in every part.

ASTLEY'S. tige Of
We are gla'd to perceive that the fame and pres . _
the Equestrian Astley's run no danger of deteriOratl°B
of_ Mr. Cooke (who has very properly succeeded 3!!::,
Batty in the management thereof). On entezing this
renowned temple of the equestrian drama last night
and
Were greatly struck with its improved app
from this appearance of increased elegance and corsf°l;
we were at once disposed to augur well of ar. Cooke-
earance, ‘

assurance, that neither labour nor expense had been
spared on his part to secure the public favour. Introduc-
ing a new company and a new stud to the Easter sight-
seers, of course Mr. Cooke could do no other than bring
them forward in an entirely new spectacle, which consisted
of an original equestrian spectacle and drama, entitled
Amakosa, or Scenes of Kafir Warfare, accompanied with
new scenery, music, costumes, and decorations. The
drama has been written expressly for the occasion by
Mr. E. Fitzball, author of Azael, and the Prophate, and,
as its name imports, is founded on events in the recent
Kafir war. Its interest lies mostly in the remarkably
striking and difficult equestrian feats to which it is alto-
gether subsidiary, and which only after a long course of
careful training the spirited and enterprising manager
has taught his beautiful stud of horses to achieve. The
whole piece was well sustained throughout, and on se-
veral occasions during its progress as well as at its close
elicited the plaudits of the auditory. The wonderful
performances of M. Pablo on the corde elastique, which
followed, were watched with the most intense interest
and admiration, and not the less so the succeeding series
of performances, in which the great equestrian skill of
the several members of Mr. Cooke's company, and the
amazing docility, intelligence, and training of his admi-
rable stud, were brought out in forms the most striking
and varied.