The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-06 00:00:00

VICTORIA.

The Easter Monday entertainments commenced at
this theatre with an entirely new spectacular roman-
tic drama, in three acts, entitled The Forger's Vow;
or, Sidi Barossa the Bedouin chief of Jarra. The
plot of the piece itself, though possessed of some in-
terest, was necessarily sacrificed in a great measure
to its spectacular character, in which it certainly ex..
celled. The various accessaries of dresses, scenery,
&c. &c., were certainly en a most extensive scare,
while the performance itself was maintained with ta-
lent and spirit. The curtain fell amidst
loud applause. This piece was succeeded by
a drama, adopted from the French, entitled
Donzella, or the 3fonh and the Assassins. It was
tolerably well calculated to keep up the interest which
had been excited by the first piece, until the com-
tnencement of the third, which was entitled the
Reefers Wrongs; or, the Wreck of the Aurora. This

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.
The visitors to the institution yesterday were
exceedingly numerous. Every part of its spacious
area—the Great Hall, galleries, and theatres—was
crowded ; and we suppose that not less than 3,000
persons enjoyed the treasures of science and art which
are presented to the curious of every class, the old
and the young, the learned and the untaught, in its
varied lectures and its replete and matchless collection
of mechanical, artistic, and natural wonders. The
principal novelties of the season now commenced are
—a splendid pair of the Gymnotus Electricus, or
Electrical Eel, and a most interesting course of
lectures upon " Animal Mechanism," by T. Rymer
Jones, Esq., F.R.S., the eminent Professor of Natural
History to King's College. To these we may add a
new series of very beautiful dissolving views, the
interest of which is greatly heightened by the intro-
duction of new and appropriate music, which does
the highest credit to the very able musical director
of the institution, Dr. Wallis, whose compositions and
performances have repeatedly been the subject of high
commendation in the columns of The Sun, as well as of
the other metropolitan journals, and on no occasion more
deservedly than on the present. Dr. Bachoffner's
lectures on Armstrong's Hydro-electric Machine
continue to form one of the most attractive features
of the day's entertainment; but we cannot help re-
peating our regret that this learned and eloquent pro-
fessor does not continue the whole year round his
charming lectures on astronomy, which, illustrated
by his admirable dissolving orrery, are by far the most
instructive and popular we ever heard upon the sub-
ject. The value of his discourses is enhanced as much
by the simplicity of his manner as by the clearness
and unstudied elegance of his diction. Our good-
humoured friend, who submits his classical, and, at
the same time, extremely merry countenance, to ex-
hibition in the Physioscope, adds very much, by the
rich and varied play of his expressive features, to the
amusement afforded by this curious invention of the
ingenious Secretary, Mr. Longbottom. Space will
not allow us to go into further detail of the match-
less variety of combined entertainment and instruc-

tion to be-enjoyed in a day's promenade through the
wonders of the " Polytechnic ;" but the public are
already so much influenced by their attractiveness,
that all who have a zest for the choicest possible
combination of the useful with the delightful, will
crowd to the Institution, without any need of our
exhortation to that purpose.

COLOSSEUM.
The doors of this splendid establishment were yes-
terday opened to the public at a reduced price of ad-
mission, and the new system appeared to be rewarded
with deserved success, upwards of 1,000 visitors
having been present in the course of the day and
evening. The entertainments comprised the pano-
ramas of London, by night and day; the exhibition
of sculpture, stalactite caverns, prize cartoons,
Sze., wbich have already acquired their meed of po-
pularity among the sightseers from town and
country.

BRITISH MUSEUM.
No less than 19,170 persons passed yesterday
through the collections of this institution. As an in-
stance of the increasing interest which the public
takes in this national collection, we may state that on
Easter Monday, 1845, the number of visitors was
15,316; whereas yesterday there were 19,170. Dur-
ing the year 1841 there were 319,374, whilst during
last year there were 750,601. An effective body of
police was dispersed throughout the rooms, superin-
tended by Sergeant Neale. The magnificent hall
leading into the building was expected to be thrown
open; but, in consequence of the works not being
sufficiently advanced, the public was unfortunately
deprived of a sight of that splendid piece of archi-
tecture.