The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-14 00:00:00

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\ Second Night Balloo
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I I" •<11,4, • • TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE S . per
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1t44 - Sir,—The increase of themperature Atilt
ry 105+
met with on the night ascent of the 2d
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‘5iO(.V `•+..]) 4.4/4 7, ag
IE Ai 44MAiiiik ',lir 401, DROIz. made it very desirable to ascend again at
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the same circumstances—viz., with a cl,

PRICE 4 d.
STAMPED 3d:

The Theatres at Christmas.

T

There has been for many weeks past evidence of

activity in the larger metropolitan theatres, which

promises greatly to contribute to the enjoyment of
the holiday folks, who are eagerly looking forward
to the celebration of Christmas. Stage-managers,

scene-painters, machinists, and pantomimists are
now throughout the day, and some of them through-

out the night, busily occupied in practically illus-
trating those wonders of fairy-land which certain
authors at this season delight in depicting for the

gratification of the younger, and the attraction of
the older, generation of playgoers. Reserving till
a future occasion a complete account of all that has
been done for the proper observance of the festive

period which dates its Commencement from "Boxing

Night,"_ we may be allowed to afford our readers a

slight glimpse of the proceedings behind the curtain,
and, in accordance with our social custom, supply
a hint of the various subjects on which the artistes
of the principal establishments are at present en-
gaged.

The Royal English Opera will again distinguish
the season by a costly pantomime founded on the

most popular story in the " Arabian Nights' En-
tertainments," and of which an entirely new ver-

sion has been rendered by Mr. E. L. Blanchard
under the title of " Aladdin and the Won-

derful Lamp ; or, Harlequin and the Fly-
ing Palace." The scenery, designed and
painted by the eminent artist, Mr. T. Grieve,
will present an extraordinary series of pictures illus-
trative of China, and culminate in a Transforma-
tion Scene of remarkable novelty and beauty. The
orchestral and choral resources of the theatre will

be brought into requisition. The costumes will be
notably splendid and characteristic, and to the ex-
perienced Mr. William West has been confided the
arrangements of the production. Miss Rachel
Sanger makes her debut here as Aladdin ; Mr. W.
H. Payne is the Magician, Abanazar ; Mr. Charles
Steyne, a provincial comedian of good reputation,
the Widow of Ching Ching ; and Mr. F. Payne is
the dumb slave, Kazrac. The harlequinade will be

be supported by the Payne Family, assisted by the

veteran Paul Herring as Pantaloon.
Drury-lane will be furnished, as usual, with a
comic annual, written by Mr. E. L. Blanchard,
and entitled " Little King Pippin ; or, Harlequin
Fortunatus and the Magic Purse and Wishing
Cap," for which Mr. William Beverley has been
for some weeks past preparing remarkable scenic
effects. A great number of children will be engaged
in the representation of King Pippin's Court, and
Mr. Robert Roxby is again the deviser and superin-
tendent of the complicated stage arrangements. The
story has a curiously interesting literary history.
" Fortunatus," the title of one of the best people's
books ever written, originated about the middle of
the 15th century, though many of the tales and le-
gends included in it are of much earlier date. The
oldest printed edition of the book extant bears the
date, "Frankfort aux Maine, 1509." The substance
of the book is that Fortunatus, and his sons after
him, are the possessors of an inexhaustible purse of
gold, and a wishing cap, which, however, in the end
prove the cause of their ruin. The moral is, that
worldly success alone is insufficient to produce hap-
piness. The first to dramatise the subject was Hans
Sachsin in his " Der Fortunatus mit dem Wunsch-
sekel" (1553), after whom comes the English Thos.
Decker, with his " Pleasant comedic of old Fortu-
natus" (1600), a work which had the honour to
make its re-appearance in Germany about the year
1620. The most poetical form of the story is that
given by Tieck in his " Phantasus," published in
Berlin in 1816. In its present form an entirely ori-
ginal view is taken of the adventure that befel the

hero. Master Percy Roselle is the representative
of the owner of the wishing cap, Little King Pippin,
Miss Augusta Thompson is Fortunatus, and Mr.
Ilenri Drayton strengthens the cast by appearing
in the opening at the embodiment of Mammon.
Mr. G. Belmore, Mr. Weston, Miss Falconer, Miss
llazlewood, and Mr. Barsby sustain the principal
characters, the harlequinade will have the usual ad-
vantage of a double company of Pantomimists, in-
cluding the well-known names of Mr. J. Cormack,
Mr. and Madame Boleno, and Mr. Charles Lauri.
The designs, by the renowned Dykwynkyn, are emi-
nently characteristic, and no expense seems to be
regarded by the management in rendering perfect
the completeness of every department.
The Haymarket will bring Mr. Sothern back to
the metropolis, and present him once more in his
famous character of " Brother Sam." The special
novelty will be an extravaganza by M. Planche, in
which the famous " Orfee aux Enfers," will be amus-
ingly travestied. The principal members of the Hay-
market company have parts in the burlesque, and
the celebrity of the author's name will be a guaran-
tee of the amusing and witty manner in which the
subject will be treated.
The Lyceum will rely on the new dramatic ver-
sion of " The Bride of Lammermoor," here called
" The Master of Ravenswood," and in which Mr.
Fechter sustains the chief character.

The Princess's Theatre will preserve an unchanged
bill, and the drama of ".N ever Too Late to Mend"
will be considered sufficient for the amusement of
its Christmas patrons.
The Olympic will keep the drama of " Henry
Dunbar," founded on Miss Braddon's novel, for its
most prominent attraction, and supply a slight
afterpiece as an additional relish to the programme.
The Adelphi will continue to keep Mr. Jefferson
for the chief attraction, and supplement the present
programme with a new piece, in which Mr. J. L.
Toole will again resume his old position as principal
comedian.
The Prince of Wales's Theatre is furnished by Mr.
Henry J. Byron, who now devotes his valuable ser-
vices exclusively to this establishment, with an ex-
travaganza founded on Mozart's celebrated opera,
and called " Don Giovanni." Mis Marie Wilton is
the gay Don; Mr. J. Clarke, Leporello ; Miss Josephs,
Masetto ; Miss Hughes, Donna Anna; and there are
good parts for Mr. Montgomery and Mr. Collier, an
addition to the company, Miss Larkin, Miss A. Wil-
ton, Miss B. Wilton, and Miss Weston. The new
scenery, by Mr. C. S. James, is spoken of as likely
greatly to enhance the attraction of one of Mr.
Byron's best extravaganzas.
The Strand Theatre adds to its popular burlesque,
L'Africaine," the new drama by Mr. J. Brougham,
called " Nelly's Trials."

Blackheath, Dec. 11.

Foreign Mail Packet List.

MAILS DUE.

The New Royalty is to present a burlesque by Mr.
Reece, called " Prometheus ; or, the Man on the
Rock."

The St. James's produces a new burlesque on a
classical subject, in which Miss Herbert plays the
principal character.

Astley's is sure to be well provided for by Mr.
E. T. Smith, who has wisely secured Mr. T. L.
Greenwood for his pantomimic career. Some fami-
liar nursery rhymes have been ingeniously linked
together, and " The Little Pigs who went to Mar-
ket" will figure conspicuously in the title. The
scenery, dresses, decorations, and stud of horses are
to surpass all previous representations at this house.
The Victoria has for its subject, " Old 2Esop ;
or, Harlequin Dr. Syntax and his Animated Alpha-
bet," the scenery, by Mr. F. Fenton, being an im-
portant feature of the opening.
The Marylebone links together " Fayre Rosa-
mond" and "Robin Hood," thus supplying the sti-
mulants to Christmas curiosity.
The other theatres east and northward have pan-
tomimes for the gratification of their patrons. It is
at present sufficient to say, from all we hear, that
unusual efforts are being made in every direction to
maintain the repute of each establishment for this
peculiarly English style of entertainment, and, con-
sidering the numbers to which it gives employ-
ment, and the numbers to which it affords harm-
less amusement, it is to be hoped the day is far dis-
tant when any lack of support will be evinced by
the British public.

rvspAPER

c-x
Z=7 t ,

elatior?
of October
night under
Lear sky, to
confirm the results then obtained. On Saturday, the
2d of December, the sky was cloudless, but after
sunset it became covered with dark black clouds.

During the afternoon, and as long as the sky was
clear, pilot balloons, after attaining a certain eleva-
tion, were noticed by Mr. Orton to change their
direction from N.W. to N.E., indicating a S.W.
upper current. • It was, therefore, resolved to keep
in the lower current for an hour, so as to have a
good space of country to run over, if the wind at
higher elevations should prove to be towards the sea.
The balloon left the Royal Arsenal, Woolwiob, at
511. 16m., nearly an hour and a half after the sun
had set. The wind was from the S.E. We kept in
this current till Gh. 18m. ; at this time we were
nearly over Tring, at an elevation of 3,500 ft., when
a strong wind was felt, proving that the balloon was
at this instant in one current and the car in another.
Shortly afterwards we entered a S.S.W. current,
and moved N.N.E., till 6h. 48m., at which time
while adjusting an instrument the lamp fell over the
side and the jar caused the light to go out. On de-
scending the S.E. current was again met with,
and, as near as could be determined, at the same
elevation.

The temperature on the ground as determined by
Mr. Howe was 38.3 deg., it declined to 36.2 deg. at
the height of 1,500 ft., it then increased to 37.2 deg.
at 1,800 ft., then declined very gradually, with
occasional slight increases to 27.2 deg. at 4,100 ft.,
above which there was no change to 4,700 ft.,
shortly after which at Gh. 48m., having had the -
misfortune of losing my light, further experiments
were necessarily discontinued.

The air was nearly saturated with moisture on the
ground,
and up to 1,8001 t., where it was quite satu-
rated, then somewhat short of saturation to 2,600 ft.,
where it was again saturated; at heights exceeding
this the air was drier, and most so at about 4,000 ft.,
where the temperature of the dew-point was 8 deg.
below that of the air.

Two terrestrial radiation thermometers read seve-
ral degrees below the shaded thermometers—one
when 4,000 ft. high read 18 deg., and the other 19
deg. ; the bulb of the latter was on wool, while that
of the former projected into space.
The path of the balloon on leaving was N.W.,
crossing the River Thames diagonally into Essex,
from there nearly over Stratford, at sh. 28m. ; across
Middlesex, nearly over Tottenham, at sh. 36m. ;
Clapton, eight minutes afterwards ; near Totteridge,
or Barnet, at sh. 52m. ; thus passing the north of
London, into Hertfordshire, near St. Albans, at
6h. 10m., and onwards towards Buckinghamshire;
the North - Western Railway, near Tring, was
directly under us at 6h. 18m., having travelled at a
rate exceeding 30 miles per hour, and trains looked
like continuous meteors. After this we changed our
direction, and moved nearly southward, or N.N.E.,
leaving Dunstable on our right at about 6h. 30m.
After the light went out our only course was to
descend. Looking downwards the earth seemed
without inhabitants, not a light was visible, and not
a sound was heard ; looking in the direction we
were proceeding there were many woods, and we
resolved thus to journey till we could have assist-
ance. Presently we saw a light, and shortly after-
wards several, so Mr. Orton, with the utmost dex-
terity, brought the balloon to the ground, without
a bump, in the nearest field to the village of Ridge-
mount, Bedfordshire, where I determined the tem-
perature to be 401.
The results of this ascent are very different from
the preceding night ascent, but the circumstances
were totally different. In the first case the sky was
cloudless ; in the latter it was covered with cloud.
Some of the clouds were within 1,000 feet of the
earth ; one such cloud was over London, so that,
although passing north of London near to it, and
not in cloud ourselves, not a single light or any
effects of London lights were seen. This cloud did
not extend to Greenwich, for the lights at Woolwich
and Greenwich were very brilliant. Great was the
contrast in this respect between the two ascents, as
was experienced in other particulars, while passing
over the country in the first ascent the reflection of
the moonbeams lighting up the river, and many
other solitary sheets of water over the country,
suddenly bright and as suddenly leaving them in
darkness, and brightening up others. These suc-
cessive illuminations were quite wanting on the
second ascent, the moon herself was invisible, the
earth covered in many places with detached clouds
far below, some of large extent covering many miles
of country, and others of small extent ; while above
the sky was uniformly black, and kept this appear-
ance throughout even when we were one mile high.
The upper clouds must have been very high. Al-
though the moon and its effects were wanting,
there were many highly interesting views of the
distribution of cloud and of the different effects of
the diffused light on woods and fields, which prevails
over the earth ; so that the boundaries of fields could
be seen even at our greatest elevation, and enabled us
to determine satisfactorily our path by noting the
angle the balloon crossed fields in comparison with
the position of the magnet-needle.
The place of descent is more than 50 miles from
Woolwich. The balloon must have passed over
more than 60 miles. The anenometer at the Royal
Observatory, Greenwich, registered in the same in-
terval 15 miles.
Observations at the Royal Observatory were
made every ten minutes under the superintendence
of Mr. Nash, and at my house by Messrs. Yair and
Howe, and at both places the temperature increased
instead of diminished, from 391 deg. to 41:4 deg.
My best thanks are due to all the officers of the
Arsenal, and particularly to Mr. John Anderson
and Mr. Wallace, the gas engineer, for his care in
the preparation of the gas.

JAMES GLAISHER.

Australia and New Zealand, via Southampton.— —Dec. 19.
Ditto, via Marseilles Dec. 13.
Brazil and Cape Verde, by British packet ...... .• • •Jan- 4.
Ditto, by French packet
Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Ilelena Dec. 22.
China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton Dec. 19.
Ditto, via Marseilles Dec. 13.
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar, via Southampton
India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton...lDec. 19
Ditto, via Marseilles ........ . .......... Dec. 13.
India (Bombay), via Southampton.
Deo. 27.
Ditto, via Marseilles Dom' 21.
Mauritius, via Southampton Jan. 11.
Ditto, via Marseil:es. Jan. 5.
Dec. 20.
Newfoundland
.....Jan 4.
Portugal ................
Ditto, by private ship to Lis
United States and British North Lisbon..
America,
Dec. 20,
tish packet
Ditto. by
United States packet, via Southamp-
tonn—
by 8ri-
.....

Ditto ♦ia Cork
Ditto, by Canadian packet, via Londonderry.. Dec. 22.
West Coast of Africa. Madeira, and Teneriffe Jan. 10.
West Indies and Pacific (except Bahamas, Cuba,
and Mexico
Cuba and Mexico Dec. 29.
Bahamas, via New York. Jan. 11.
Bermuda, ditto Des. 20.

THE CASE OF THE REIT. S. HAWORTH.—It wi
be remembered that in September the Rev. S.
Haworth, vicar of Salhouse and Wroxham, Norfolk, was
fined by the Tavel-ham magistrates for an assault on A
young girl whom it was alleged ho had seduced. A com-
mission appointed by the Bishop of London to investigate
this and another charge has come to the conclusion that
and
prima facie case has been made out for further inquciryu,ratnof
the matter will therefore be proceeded with in "e
Court
Arches. Tll3 proceedings before the commission—which
was presided over by Mr. C. Evans, Chanlecseelldo
cess of Norwich—were conducted with
Ointmentc and Pills.—
rdoeferths.e Dio-
LADVERTI SEMENT.i —Holloway'
prove troublesome, though rarely dangerous,
throat, or chest may
Cold and damp are the frequenticasudsessgeorfeasisl:nuesnitessswehuilcph.
ably neglected. A cold in t.htieously
cured by rubbing be safely safely stopped and expech
appropriate a andte doseschest,
o f andhis
by aiding its curative powers.joint and reciprocal agency of
purifying pills.
loway's ointment twice a day
The
conjoint
the highest salutary effect
these medicaments axe
lar and secretory systems which
over the mucous, el)e
withn thea
p p
of breath
shortness gradually disappear under
cough, and
and the strength and vigour of the
colds always inconvveansieunse, and disarrange. The phlegm,
this rational treatment,
_constitution are increasedmmelied during
rather than du
the COllll4O of cure. • •