The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-21 00:00:00

EASTER AMUSEMENTS.

The following list of the principal Easter am use-
mehts may be found acceptable to holiday-makers :

Her Majesty's Theatre will open for the season on Fatur-
day, the 26th inst., under the direction of Mr. J. H. Maple-
son. Verdi's opera of "Un Ballo in Maschera" will be
produced for the first time at this theatre, and Signor
Giuglini and Madlle. Titiens will sustain the leading parts,
supported by Madlle. Dario, Madame Lemaire, Signor
Giraldoni, Signor Gassier, and Signor Rossi.
At the Royal Italian Opera Rossini's grand opera of
" Guglielmo Tell" will be given on Monday, and repeated
later in the week.

The Haymarket prolongs the successful career of " Our
American Cousin," in which Mr. Sothern's Lord Dun-
dreary will minister to the mirthful requirements of the
season, and the ballet of " The Star of Andalusia" will then
re-introduce the favourite danseuse, the Senora Perea Nena,
who is engaged for the summer season. The far ces of
" John Jones" and " My Husband's Ghost" will commence
and conclude the evening.
The Princess's will present for Easter the new five-act
drama, written conjointly by Messrs. Fechter and Edmund
Yates, called " I he Golden Daggers," and in which Mr.
Fechter will represent the principal part.
The Lyceum, whilst continuing the run of the drama of
"Peep o'Day," has the new farce, by Mr. John Oxen ford,
called " I Couldn't Help It," and a pictorial and poetic in-
terlude entitled " Killarney," introducing a new ballad,
written by Mr. Edmund Falconer, composed by Mr. Balfe,
and sung by Miss Whitty, expressly engaged for the pur-
pose. Mr. Oscar Byrne has arranged some characteristic
dances, and Mr. Telbin's famous Panorama of the Lakes
will receive some important additions and embellishments
from the hand of the same artist,

The Adelphi produces a new romantic drama by Mr. Dion
Boucicault, with two scenes by Alexander Dumas, called
" The Phantom," and founded on the story of the Vampire.
With this will be associated the domestic drama in a fairy
frame, called " Dot."
The Olympic has a new extravaganza by Mr. F. C. Bur-
hand, founded on the story of " Fair Rosamond," and in
which Mr. Robson will represent the leading character.
The Strand is supplied by Mr. Leicester Buckingham
with a new burlesque extravaganza, entitled " Pizarro; or,
the Leotard of Peru." Miss Charlotte Saunders is Rolla;
bliss Ada Swanborough, Alonzo; Mr. J. Clarke, Pizarro;
and Mr. James Rogers, Cora. Some unusually extensive
effects have been introduced, the scenic artists being Mr.
William Callcott and Mr. Albert Callcott.

The St. James's will be contented with the repetition of
the new comedy, "Friends or Foes ?" in which Miss Her-
bert will resume her part of Mrs. Union, having recovered
from her recent indisposition. " Under the Rose," and
" The Boarding School" will be the other entertainments.
The Surrey, in addition to the drama of " The Four Stages
of Life," brings forward a new burlesque called " Orson the
Great and Valentine the Small," Master Percy Roselle, tho
young Roscius, embodying the latter personage.
Sadler's Wells will open under the management of Miss
Catherine Lucette with a new comedietta, an operetta, and
a protean comedietta, the stage arrangements being con-
fided to Mr. West, and the musical direction to Mr. J. H.
Tully.
At the City of London, Astley's Marylebone, Grecian,
Britannia, Pavilion, and Effingham, entertainments will be
presented peculiarly calculated to gratify the taste of tho
holiday makers.
The concert halls will infuse fresh variety into their
programmes, and with M. Steckel at the Canterbury, Henri
and Pfau at the Oxford, Leotard for his last week at the
Alhambra, and M. La Pierre at the South London Music
Hall, the trapeze will be in all its glory. The great attrac-
tions of Weston's will be further increased, though the new
cantata, with the comic strength of Mackney, J. H. Stead,
and Frank Hall, would hardly seem to require anyththg
beyond. Wilton's, Frampton's, the Islington Philharmonic,
Deacon's, the Knightsbridge, Marylebone, Middlesex, the
L radon Pavilion, Lansdowne, and the Spread Eagle at
Kingsland, which furnish, with the others, a complete round
of entertainments for the metropolitan and suburban dis-
tricts, will be sure to have a large accession of visitors.
The entertainers of various kinds are in full play.
Mr. and Mrs. German Reed will be at their elegant home,
the Gallery of Illustration, in conjunction with Mr. John
Parry, and " The Family Legend" in the bloom of its
novelty will afford the materials for passing a delightful
evening.

Mr. Charles Dickens will read extracts from his "Nicho-
las Nickleby" and the Trial from "Pickwick," at St.
James's Hall, on Thursday.

^H
Herr Wiljalba Frikell reappears at the St. James's Hall,
with a new series of illusions performed without apparatus.
M. Robin, the French Wizard, is at the Egyptian Hall,
with an addition to his cabalistic wonders under the title of
" The Problem of Archimedes."

Miss Grace Egerton is also at the Egyptian Hall, in the
Dudley Gallery, with her " Sketches of Old People."
The Christy's Minstrels are at the Polygraphic Hall with
the delineations of negro mirth and music.
The Polytechnic appeals to its multitude of patrons with
a stock of additions to its already well-supplied programme.
THE COLOSSEUM.—This instructive place of amusement
will compete for a fair share of holiday patronage. The
programme being unusually attractive comprises a new
series of dissolving views, entitled "All Round the World,"
a comic monologe, by Mr. Righton ; "Secrets of Spirit-
Rapping," by Mr. Taylor, &c., and the superb view of the
metropolis, besides the general objects of interest in the
building, which form an abundant source of recreation to
the visitors.

The Crystal Palace has a variety of attractions, with
Blondin amongst them as the chief.
GARDENS.—As the summer approaches these suburban
retreats begin to put forth their charms. Cremorne will
not open till the Ist of May. Ilighbury Barn will be in
all its glory on Easter Monday. The Zoological Gardens,
Regent's-park, will be open on Easter Monday and four
following days at 6d. The Pavilion Gardens, North Wool-
wich, open for three grand galas.

THE 2D LIFE GUARDS.--The inquiry into the
condition of the 2d Life Guards terminated last week. The
proceedings were private, but doubtless before long we shall
see some public indication of the tendency of the evidence
adduced before the three distinguished officers intrusted
with the task of informing the General Commanding-in-
Chief upon the points to which his attention was directed.
Army and Navy Gazette.
THE BURKE EXPLORING EXPEDITION.—The re-
port of the commissioners to inquire into "the circum-
stances connected with the sufferings and death of Robert
O'Hara Burke and William John Wills, the -Victorian
explorers," has been issued. The commissioners are liberal
in their censures. Burke is blamed for dividing the ex
pedition at Minindie, for the appointment of Mr. Wright,
for not having established a permanent depot at Cooper's
Creek, and for failing to keep a regular journal, or give
written instructions to his officers. Wright's conduct ap-
pears to the commissioners " to have been reprehensible in
the highest degree." The exploration committee " committed
errors of a serious nature ;" and Mr. Brahe " may be deserv-
ing of considerable censure," but the commissioners " are
of opinion that a responsibility far beyond his expectations
develv upon him; and although the commissioners con-
sider his decision to retire from his post most unfortunate,"
they " believe he acted from a conscientious desire to dis-
charge his duty," and " are confident that the painful re-
flection" as to the result of the course he adopted "must be
he might think himself undeserving of. Finally,
of itself an agonising thought, without the addition of cen-
surethe colony," they desire to
undertaken at so great a cost to
llantr and
record their " feelings of deep
while they " deeply deplore the result f
express their admiration of the.ga
fidelity of his brave
leader, " as well as of the coadjutor,
fortunate and
Mr. Wills, and their moreenduring associate
y.adnareinxgpeodfititohne
theywoulddeplorable
Mr King ;" and
sympathy with the sufferings and untimely death
of Mr. Burke and his fallen conarades."--Australian- and
New Zealand Gazette.