The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-25 00:00:00

The Agricultural Hall.

On Saturday a dress rehearsal of the equestrian
entertainments to be given at the Agricultural Hall,
at Islington, during the Christmas holidays, took
place at that establishment, in the presence of not
less than from 8,000 to 10,000 spectators, and with
a result which bespeaks a perfect success. The en-
tertainment surpasses anything of the kind ever
witnessed in this country. The most remarkable of
which were the extraordinary performances of Herr
Otto Motti, a German juggler on horseback, the
rival giants, a comic act by the Clowns ; Joan
d'Arc, by Madame Bridges, from the Cirque Napo-
leon ; Mr. John Henderson on the flying wires,
Mdlle. Rose Massotta in a daring act on a swift steed,
Jean Bond on the magic ladder, and the German
rider Herr Gerard Goldschmid. There were also
Roman chariot races, still more exciting Competitions
with couriers, each riding and driving four horses,
bare-backed steeds, steeple and hurdle races, together
with the graceful performances of the highly-trained
horse of the manager, Soliman, ridden by Madame
Bridges. The event of the evening, however, was
the "Chivalrous Tournament," founded on " The
Field of the Cloth of Gold," the pageant connected
with which employed upwards of 100 horses, men
in 250 suits of real armour, and 500 performers.
The parts of Henry the Eighth and Francis the
First were severally sustained by Mr. J. H. Pearson
and Mr. Giuseppe ; Queen Catherine, Madame
Taclot ; Queen Claude of France, Miss Hunter;
Queen of Love and Beauty, Miss Hanson and Le
Duo de Bourbon (Champion Knight), Mr. J. Hen-
derson. The procession was marshalled with care,
and the marching, led by the band, who were evi-
dently trained soldiers or volunteers, under Mr.
Sibold, bandmaster of the Victoria Rifles, was un-
exceptionable. The tournament was carried out in
a manner which drew down several rounds of ap-
plause, and Mr. Rudkin and his manager were called
upon more than once to receive the plaudits of a de-
lighted audience. The illumination of the grand
hall of chivalry by the Messrs. Defries is
of unexampled brilliancy. The grand chandelier
—the largest ever constructed, and designed ex-
pressly for the occasion—is truly a gigantic piece
of workmanship, presenting, as it does, an entirely
new feature in its combination of light and decora-
tion. In addition to the immense size of this mag-
nificent chandelier, it has been so artistically treated
as to render it one of the chief decorations of the
hall. With its shields, flags, helmets, ribbon, and
other heraldic emblems, in crystal, gold and silver,
it blends happily with the true baronial style of
decoration adapted so successfully to the interior
of the building, and presents to the beholder a
coup d'oeil of imposing grandeur and inconceivable
beauty ; the play of colours and the brilliancy of
light reflected from the whole mass of crystal pro-
ducing a most dazzling effect. In addition to the
large chandelier are numerous other crystal devices
of great beauty : eight reflecting rings designed
with remarkable chasteness, stars, Prince of Wales'
feathers, monograms, with crown of England, &c. ;
all of which are completed with that taste and due
regard for the arrangements and decorations of the
building, that ever characterises the undertakings
of this eminent firm.

THE AMERICAN BLOCKADE.--In the Admiralty
Court on Tuesday, before Dr. Lushington, in the ease of
"The Helen," an important motion arose as to the
American blockade. The plaintiff, as master of the
Helen, sued the owners for wages, but they alleged that
the case must be dismissed as the engagement was to
break the American blockade, and being an " illegal"
transaction he could not recover. His lordship, how-
ever, ordered the case too proceed to a hearing, and held
that it was not an answer to the action. Then Mr. E.
C. Clarkson applied, on the part of Captain Wendell, for
the inspection of certain documents in the possession of
defendants. The agreement entered into was necessary,
to be examined, and other documents. Mr. Pritchard, on
the part of the owners objected, and contended that there
was nothing to refer to the registrar and merchants.
His lordship thought there was too much. The regis-
trar would consider the documents necessary for the
attainment of justice, and if any difficulty arose ho would
report to the court. Order accordingly.