The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-13 00:00:00

ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE.

A perfect novelty was produced here last evening
in the shape of a hippodramatic farce. Hitherto
horses have been, dramatically speaking, almost ex-
clusively tragedians, but Mr. Batty has opened up
to them a new career of histrionic renown,
and has proved that if he can train equine Kemblek,
and Keans he can train equine Listons and Mundens
also, nay more, equine Garricks ; for Beda, who ap-
peared last night for the first time in a low comedy
character with the most triumphant success, has long
been celebrated as the first equine tragedian of the
day. The title of the new hippodramatic farce is
The Pleasures of llouse-keeping and Horse keeping ;
the farce itself is a dramatic illustration of the
career of Punch's Mr. Eriggs; and we have a
series of tableaux vivans; of the Briggs' adventures,
as detailed and illustrated in Punch, from the first
announcement of " the loose tile" to the last of Mr.
Briggs' equestrian adventures. The Fulham-
road scene is admirably managed, carriages and four
driven by postilions, and filled with parties to
ladies ; gigs, carriages and omnibuses ; carts, and
costermongers ; ladies and gentlemen on horseback,
Life-Guardsmen mounted on heavy horses, and
children mounted on ponies, pass and repass in-
cessantly across the stage, forming a scene, as
novel as it is animated and amusing. The veteran
Moncrieff has adapted the piece to the stage, and we
are glad to find that, notwithstanding his age and his
infirmities, he still preserves his good spirits
The piece was received throughout with shouts of
laughter and applause, and was completely successful.
It was preceded by the scenes in the circle, in which
M. Roche; the clown, and his son, a child
of apparently not more than six years
old, went through a series of performances
which are to the full as wonderful as those of the
Risleys—they are, in fact, the grotesques of the
Risley school. The young Rochez must be made of
caoutchouc, or he never could tie himself up into all
sorts of knots in the manner in which he does. The
Prophet, that most magnificent of spectacles, still
continues to draw crowds to this favourite place of
amusement.

James Matheson, Esq., M.P. for Ross and Cro-
marty, along with his brother, Colonel Matheson, MT.,
arrived in Edinburgh on Tuesday from Lewis, on their
way to visit Sir J. Hall Dounglass, Cockhurns-path, and
thereafter will proceed to London.
CALEDONIAN AND EDINEUEGII AND GLASGOW
RAlLWAYs.—Various conferences have been held
between a deputation of the Edinburgh and Glasgow
directors, and the Committee of Investigation lately
appointed by the shareholders of tho Caledonian Railway,
with a view to the amalgamation of these companies.
The result is, that the above parties have agreed
that an amalgamation, in fair . terms, would
be mutually beneficial. In the meantime, and to bet p
matters open, it has been agreed to give the necessary
Parliamentary notices for a Bill to sanction the amalga-
mation. But of course when the terms of the amalga-
mation are further matured, the shareholders of both
companies must be respectively convened to give their
opinion on the expediency of this amalgamation, which
we need not say, if. Fventt!ally.carried out, of which there
is a strong probability, will be an important era in our
Scottish Railway annals.—Caledonian Mercury.
ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.--The following
gentlemen, having undergone the necessary examina-
tions for the diploma, were admitted members of the
college, at the meeting of the court of examiners on the
9th mgt.: —Messrs. Alexander Williams, Army; Ralph
Holt Kaye, Ratcliffe-bridge, Lancashire; John Robin-
son, Medhurst, Sussex; James Howell, St. Clere, Car-
marthenshire; Henry Nuttall, Syston, Leicestershire;
Thomas John Warburton, Betley, Staffordshire; George
Peat Dunn, Ltdbury, Herefoidshire; Walter Hook
Bolton, Carriekmines, county Dublin; George Fowler,
l3odington, South Colfield, Warwickshire; and William
Bratt, Stratford-on-Avon. At the same meeting of the
court, Mr. William Newman Brake passed his examina-
tion for naval surgeon. This gentleman had previously
been admitted a member of the college, his diploma
bearing date May 16, 1844,