The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-29 00:00:00

the boxes greeted the fair a?tistes. Mr. T. Mead, who ,
pleycd A'Leiter T:uewerth, was &so cllltd for, anti ap-
peared before the 'curtain to testify his acknowledgments.
A grand pas de deux, from the ballet of Le Las des
Fees, by Mdlle. Louise and Mdlle.Therese Cashnie, from
the Royal Italian Opera, followed the piece, and gave
general delight. The fair ladles were also honotead with
a shower of bouquets. The performances were con-
cluded with the original drama to which we have
refer: ed, entitled the Lily of the Dese: t and
the Arab Su with the incidretel ballet
and characteristic dances being arrangal by Mdlle.
Louise, the fair danseuse, whom we hare alrcaiy
mentioned. The scene of the drama, which is in three
acts, and replete with interest and scenic effect, is laid in
Algeria during its occupation by the French General
Bonfoire (Mr. Nestle), commandant of the town and
forces, ho is greatly' chagrined On discoveting that a
wandering tribe of Arabs, of whom Ibrahim Bey (Mr.
Emery) is the chief, procure secret in:OrLeation of his
projects. The General eventually di€covers, from the
confession of Bela (Miss Merds.unt), the " Lily of the
Desert," an Arab girl of French extraction, that she has
been for some considerable time acting in the capa-
city of a spy on the movements of the French
troops, justifying her conduct by her natu-
ral desire to rescue her nomacial tribe and people
from the hateful domination and oppression of their
conquerors, the French. Baia, who had been previously
betrothed to Ibrahim Bey, is brought into circumstances,
where, heedless of her betrothal to Ibrahim, who had
retied her more by fear than love—she conceives an
ardent attachment to Victor Larouse (Mr. T. Mead), a
young cadet in the French service. This intimacy ex-
cites the enmity of Lieutenant Camille (Mr. Raymond),
a rover and gambler, who seeks to compass the destruc-
tion of Larouse, his more favoured rival. By and bye
an opportunity for accomplishing his purpose presents
itself to Camille; he accuses Larouse, before General
Bonfoire, of having deserted his post, and exposing the
French troops to imminent jeopardy ; the fact
being that Larouse had merely quitted his post
for a few minutes to save the life of Baila, the idol of his
heart, who had been precipitated over a cataract. La-
rouse is arrested on the spot for this breach of duty, but
is afterwards rescued by the intervention of Bails, and
after wandering about the desert for some time in com-
pany with the Arabs, is on the point of being shot by
the troops sent in pursuit of him, when General Bon-
foire unexpectedly appears upon the scene, and having
been made acquainted with the victory of Camille, grants
a pardon to Larouse. Baila eventually turns out to be
the niece of General Bonfoire, by his sister,
who had been abducted by a party of Arabs
many years before. The denouement exhibits and
contrasts the felicitous union of Larouse and Bails
and the ignominious death of the infamous and treach-
erous Camille. The main plot of the piece is agreeably
diversified by the odd adventures, vagaries, and hair-
breadth 'stapes of Mr. Winkins Spinks (Mr. Widdi-
comb), a railway stag, contractor, and speculator, who
having made Capel-court too hot to hold him, emigrates
to Algeria, taking with him Mrs. Winkin Spinks (Miss
C. Tellet), his better half, " a poor deceived creature," and
Mr. Solomon Dumps (Mr. Rogers), his head clerk from
the City, and sets up on his own account as civil engi-
neer. The piece was upon the whole well received, and
bids fair to become a favourite.

ASTLEY'S EOYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
An abundant bill of fare was last night provided for
the pleasure-seekers of the metropolis by the spirited
proprietor of this agreeable place of entertainment.
Long experience had convinced him that he might safely
rely upon a fair share of patronage from those anxious
to enjoy the holydays to the uttermost, and he was re-
solved to deserve that success by the quantity and qua-
lity of the entertainments provided for the public
amusement. We are happy to say that none were dis-
appointed. Every part of the theatre, boxes, pit,
and gallery, were crowded to excess. The arena was
completely filled during the performances of the
gorgeous spectacles which commenced and concluded the
evening's entertainment, and the stage was thronged
with a densely-packed multitude while the scenes in the
circle were exhibiting. All, however, was good humour
and contentment. No complaints were, uttered; all
were too well satisfied with the exertions made on their
behalf, and submitted with a good grace to the trifling
inconvenience of the crowd, consoled by the comidera-
Lien that that inconvenience carried with it the legitimate
reward to the proprietor for his unceasing efforts to pro-
mote the public amusement. Moultan an 4 Goojerat; or,
the Conquest of the Seihhs, the new grand equestrian
military spectacle, which, according to a time-honoured
custom, was produced for the first time to a Whitsuntide
audience, was indeed brought out as truly described by
the bills, "on an unprecedented scale of grandeur."
All the gigantic resources of the establishment were
put in requisition. Nothing was left undone, and
perhaps never was there a more successful result. The
plot of course was slight, it being intended chiefly as a
vehicle for the production of the varied groupings and
scenic effects, for which Astley's has ever been so remark-
able. Good comic parts were, however, provided for
those established favourites, Adrian and S. Smith; while
Miss Rose henry, as the captive wife of a British offi-
cer, contributed materially to the interest of the piece.
In the first scene, the march of British troops, cavalry,
infantry, and even artillery, and their embarkation for
India, was admirably managed. The storming of
Moultan, the scaling of the walls, and the
terrific combats of equestrians, elicited the most
rapturous applause; and the final group, " An
allegorical representation of the triumph of Great
Britain," was also greeted with well-merited cheers from
all parts of the house. The scenes in the circle were
what was termed a " Ladies' Fete," in which female
equestrians only performed, which they did most admir-
ably. " Marie Macarte," who was styled the " Eques-
trian Enchantress," made her first appearance, and fully
sustained the high reputation she has already achieved
in America and on the continent This talented young
lady will form a most valuable addition to Mr. Batty's
corps. The performances concluded with the Whits
Maid of California, which still maintains its attractions.

EIRE _ESCARP...
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—Your
frightful details of loss of life, through the burning of a
paper of late again presented us with
house in King William-street.
Notwithstanding the frequent recurrence of such dire
calamities, the citizens of London and of other towns in
England (although compelled to take their nightly re-
pose on seconds, and troisienies and quatrienzes, and as-
scending thereto over rnatAwood staircases) do adopt
so few individual
precautions against accidents that one
might almost suppose the "voluntary system" to have re-
placed that of fire and faggot of olden times, consecrating
the modern sacrifices.

If otherwise, however, permit me, through the me-
dium of your journal, to suggest a simple and not ex-
pensive apparatus as a fire cs2ape, and which, in a mul-
titude of instances, might have been perhaps, and may
be, the means of saving life, and would always, if at
hand, supersede the cruel necessity of leaping from a
window. _

Let the window of every sleeping room be furnished
with a strong iron hook firmly planted at the upper part
thereof. Let every inmate of the same keep ready at
hand a stout, thick rope, with a ring of preportiJnato
strength at one end;
this rope should be of sufficient
length to admit of an open angle or long line of descent,
as much so as the position or locality will allow. Be-
sides this will be required a broad belt, or long jacket or
waistcoat made of carpeting, with five or six button
holes, strongly worked, and doubled with leather or
sailcloth; in place of buttons, are to be fixed on with
packthread, five or six rings of a size sufficient to allow
passage to the ring on the rope. Thus, in a critical
moment, a pereon buttons on the jacket, passes the ring
of the rope through its buttons or rings, beginning with
the lower one, hooks on the rope to the window, the
people below make fast or hold on to the other end
thrown out, and down the individual glides in safety.
I remain, Sir, your very obedient servant,
JAMES NIOI-10LbOlsi.
Brussels, May 19, 1849.

- - -
DISTRESSED NEEDLEWOMENS' SOCIETY. - There
was a meeting of this society on Saturday last at the
Llanover-square Rooms, at which Alderman Fare-
brothc r presided. The principal speaker was
Mr. J. L. Hansard, who gave a detailed account
of the operations of the society from its commence-
ment in 1844 to the present time; frcm which it

apperesultsaredgreatly
m a tyh abi
mte
confidentlypt hr
oe y
ecircumstancesthat
ateofd,
stilltoefd
,t l :mos
po
enr
ceeeiafdal Ili? wuiorf me a
bl
thene
society continnes to be supported in the way that it
deserves. Several resolutions were pa_ssisleodrilnyaccordance
with the objects of the meeting, and thanks having
been voted to the chairman the company separated.
conlaagErikitaatiNounoL7oka CoeuNt rthLiAsGoaßoArTnliOnNg:An t beforeextensive
two
o'clock, in Willow-walk, Bermondsey, by which a vast
amount of property has been destroyed. The flames
commenced on the premises belonging to Mr.
Clapham, a tanner and leather-dresser. The
moment the discovery was made an alarm was
given ; but before assistance could arrive the greater
portion of the works were enveloped in flames. The
engines of this London, West of England, and parhh,
were quickly on the spot, as well as the fire escapes. The
flames were then rushing so high as to illuminate the
whole of the ME tropolis. As soon as water could be procured
the whole of the engines were set to work, but in spite
of the endeavo urs of the firemen the flames crossed
the carriage road and fired almost simultaneously the
extensive works of Mr. Hugman, in the same line of
business. The se latter buildings were equally capacious
as the former. Mr. Inspector Freud, with a strong mus-
ter of the police, were on the spot; and were guarding
divisionslN ERosf. the London district of
the property removed as well as keeping a space clear
for the firemen to work, but was ultimately got under.
--- WOOLWICH, MAY
t
2CBll:elilsre HrEahPe WoolwichCeilnEsiLonEeikrsl)Erwere prevented assembling on Wool-
wich-common to-day for the inspection of Colonel Tulloh,
in consequence of the heavy rain which fell from au
early hour in the morning until the afternoon. They
have now receiived orders to hold themselves in readi-
ness to proceed to London, on Thursday next, to be
present at an early hour for review in Hyde-park, on
Friday, June 1, when the Peninsular war medals will
be presented to all those entitled to them.
BEATING A CHILD TO DEATH.---A labouring man,
named Holloway, living in li:inlanbheimat
until him withhplace,
e ai sed. strong
Southamp-
ton, has been te,ken up for beating his child (a boy about
ten years old) •to death, on Saturday last. The boy had
d-
il was dead, the
d
been guilty of some very trifling offence, and his father
strap, and kicked
brute took the body to the back of the house and poured
When buckle
the
poorad child
water on it, in the hope of bringing it to life egain.
The man is a drunken, bad character, and has been in
he habit of using his wife and child very cr144,1y.
The horse that ran second for the'Derbf, and was
.vithin half a length of winning the stakes, is the pro-
earte of a, Wiltalire agrioulturist, Mr. Godwin.--
Wilts Gerald.