The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-27 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 27, 1862:

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, Gray's-inn-road,
in the immediate vicinity of the Great Northern Rail-
way Terminus, at Ring's-cross.

Patron—The QUEEN.
President—The Duke of BUCCLEUCII, R.G.
Treasurer—Edward Masterman, Esq.

This was the first hospital to introduce the principle of free
and instant admission to the destitute sick, without the for-
mality of governors' letters. It is entirely devoted to desti-
tution in its most pitiable form—viz., that which is accom-
panied by sickness and disease, and is now of sufficient
magnitude that, with adequate support, it may be rendered
capable of admitting into its wards a very large proportion of
the casual sick of this great metropolis. It requires but the
funds in order to have 500 beds available for the reception of
these the most wretched of our fellow-creatures. Moreover,
it gratuitously affords medical advice and medicine to more,
on the average, than 3,000 out-patients a week.

The Weekly Board feel it their Imperative duty to make an
EARNEST APPEAL to the public for continued support,
to enable them to admit and relieve the distressing cases that
daily present themselves.
Contributions are received by the Treasurer, Edward
Mas rerman, Esq., Nicholas-lane; also by Messrs. Coutts and
Co. ; Drummond and Co. ; Herries and Co. ; Ransom and
Co. ; Prescott, Grote, and Co. ; Smith, Payne, and Co. ; Glyn
and Co. ; Jones Loyd and Co. ; Barclay and Co. ; Denison
and Co. ; W Iliams, Deacon, and Co. ; Overend, Gurney, and
Co. ; Nisbet and Co. ; Messrs. J. Barned and Co., Liverpool ;
and at the Hospital.
STANFORD S. SMITH, Secretary.

THE GREAT _ EASTERN RAILWAY

COMPANY.
FOUR-AND-A-HALF PER CENT. PREFERENCE
STOCK.

The GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY is pre-
pared to receive applications for sums of £lOO, or upwards, of
the above Stock, bearing a fixed Preferential Interest of 41
per cent. per annum.
Interest commences from the date of payment.
Applications to be made ei her personally or by letter to
the undersigned,

J. B. OWEN, Secretary.
Bi- hopsgate Terminus, December, 1862.

TIIE GAS LIGHT AND COKE COMPANY.
Office, Horseferry-road, Westminster,
I ?6, 1862.
DO HEREBY GIVE NOTICE That, pur-
suant to the Bth Bye-Law of this Company,
MAYOW WYNELL ADAMS, Esq., and
FRANCIS CHIPPINDALE, Esq.,
two of the Proprietors of this Company, have severally given
me notice, in writing, of their intention to stand for the
Office of Director, to supply the vacancy which has occurred
in the Court of Directors by the resignation of Frederick
Pollock, Esq.. at the election which will take place at the
Company's Gas Works, Horseferry-road, Westminster, at
twelve o'clock, on THURSDAY, the Bth day of January
next.

By order,
JOHN OR WELL PHILLIPS, Secretary.

(ARNAMENTS for the Drawing-room, Library,
v and Dining-room, consisting of a new and elegant assort-
ment of VASES, Figures, Groups, Candlesticks, Obelisks, Ink-
stands, beautiful inlaid Tables Paper weights, &c., in Italian,
Alabas er, Paean, Marble, Bronze, Derbyshire Spar, &c.
Imported and manufactured by JAMES TENNANT, Mine-
ralogist to her Majesty, 149, Stand. W.C., London.
Mr. Tennant arranges elementary collections of SHELLS,
!JINERALS, ROCKS, and FOSSILS, which will greatly
facilitate he interesting study of MINERALOGY, CON-
CHOLOGY, And GEOLOGY, at 2,5, 10, 20, 50, to 100 guineas
each.

PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION in GEOLOGY acd MINE-
RALOGY is given by Mr. TENNANT. at 149, Strand, W.C.

the performances the warmest applause was signi-
fied ; and the enterprising and liberal spirit in
which they have been produced will be certain to
receive abundant encouragement in a season of un-
surpassed brilliancy.
The pantomime went off admirably. It is en-
titled " Harlequin Beauty and the Beast," and is
from the fruitful pen of Mr. Henry J. Byron, and
has been put upon the stage with really sumptuous
magnificence.

The transformation scene is one of the most
gorgeous of its kind ever presented, and both in
conception and in execution is extremely happy.
It is painted by Mr. William Calcott, who was
called before the curtain to receive the com-
plementary tribute of the house, expressed in
hearty and sustained cheering as soon as all its
beauties were brought forth. The transformation
itself is managed very neatly and ingeniously.
Prince Perfect becomes Harlequin (Mr. Frederick
Payne), Beauty (Miss Louisa Laidlaw) becomes
Columbine (Miss Bertha Adams), the Squire is
transformed into Pantaloon (Mr. A. Barnes),
and Muddlehead into Clown (Mr. Harry Payne).
The two brothers Martinette are included in the
pantomimic troupe as Sprites. The pantomime
itself is smartly written, and is plentifully inter-
spersed with puns, :some of which are extremely
good, and the whole course of the story as de-
veloped in the action is extremely well sustained,
down to the splendid transformation scene. The
petty larcenies of the Clown, and his man-of-all
evrtrir, Pantaloon, aro full of that rough humour
which is so appropriate for the occasion, and
several of the tricks can boast of originality. The
scenery, dresses, and appointments are all of the
highest order, and nothing is wanting to realise
to the full the most sanguine expectations of the
holiday-keepers.