The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-14 00:00:00

ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.

_
The new "classical" burlesque of " Vesta" is put on
the stage of this theatre in a manner that is highly
creditable to the management, and the scenery proclaims
another, triumph for Mr. Hann. The burlesque is laugh-
able, and the audience on the first night of its production,
by their frequent encores and rapturous plaudits, shewed
that they, at all events, were satisfied with Mr. H. B.
Farnie's latest extravaganza. As to its merits, we our-
selves think that, with a large number of like productions,
its success will mainly rest on being well mounted, having
some lively songs introduced into it, and, what is quite as
essential, some good breakdowns. As to the plot, there is
but little, and that of not a very intelligible kind ; but
with Mrs. John Wood in the principal part, and Messrs.
Brough, Cox, Leeson, and others as able coadjutors, a
long run may be, with a great degree of confidence,
prophesied.

From papers washed ashore at Palrefield, it is
believed that the brig Zephyr, of Hartlepool, bound
thence for Exeter, has foundered off the Norfolk coast,
with all hands.

The statement which has appeared in some of our
contemporaries that the Greenwich Theatre has been
taken by three young ladies, is incorrect. Mr. Belton,
who is well-known on the metropolitan boards, more
particularly as " Belphegor," and who has been the lessee
for eleven years o the Exeter Theatre, has succeeded to
the lesseeship of the theatre in question.

There was a heavy fall of snow in South Lanca-
shire on Saturday night, and the drift was so great in
some districts that railway communication was inter-
rupted to a serious extent. On Sunday rain fell freely
and the snow disappeared.

Small-pox has spread so rapidly in the parish of
Westminster, that application has been made to the
Metropolitan Board of Works by the local authorities
for permission to erect a temporary iron building as a
hospital on the vacant land lying between Cannon-row
and the Victoria Embankment.

About three o'clock yesterday morning an alarm
of fire was raised at the residerice of the Dowager
Marchioness of Lothian, 16, Bruton-street, New Bond-
street. The fire, which had been caused by the over-
heating of a stove, was confined to the coachhouse, which
was nearly burned out. A coach that it contained was
almost destroyed, and the adjoining stables, as well as
the rooms at the back of the dwelling-house, were
damaged.
THE NEW RECRUITS.—Although the number of
recruits obtained for the Army has increased somewhat
lately, the quality has decreased in proportion. The
physique of the men now joining the service is certainly
worse that it has been for many years, and it would be an
interesting fact to know how many of the undesirable
class now joining will manage to hold out over the period of
their training. We imagine there will be but few, and it
is scarcely fair to the public to enlist men who cannot
soldier for a year.

Yv
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EXPENSES OF THE LORD MAYOR'S BANQUET.—
From the account of receipts and expenditure for the
last Lord Mayor's Day, we learn that the total cost of the
day's proceedings was £2,966 3s. 4d. Of this sum the City
Lands Committee furnishes £2OO ; the Sheriffs contribute
£692 10s. 10d. each, and the balance is made up by the
Lord Mayor. The principal item on the account is, of
course, the charge for the dinner, wines, &c., which is set
down at £1,245. The cost of decorations amounts to
£B5B ld., of which £5O is for the scenic representation
of the opening of the Suez Canal. Eight bands took part
in the procession, the charge for their services being
£15615. The banners and bearers cost £29 8., which with
othes matters, brings the expenses of the procession up to
£286125. 6d. The music for the evening amounted to
£48175. ; printing and stationery cost £2OO 17s. 4d. ; and
an item of £326105. sd. for general expenses, brings up
the total to the sum named.—City Press.