The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-02 00:00:00

SURREY.

Mrs. Davidge has secured the services of Madame
Vestris and her talented husband for a limited number
of nights. " The Vestris" is as fascinating, and Charles
Mathews as versatile, as ever. It may seem paradoxical
to my that the latter is the first of light comedians be-
cause he is the most profound of thinkers, but so we
believe it is. He studies laboriously and he acts with
ease. He discriminates with judgment, and he never
oversteps the modesty of nature. Other favovrites have
their popularity, because, as in Dutch paintings, their
humour is exhibited in broader and str.nger lights.
Charles Mathews, on the contrary, is chaste to a degree ;
he never courts approbation by the exhibition of a
broad grin ; his acting is legitimate ; the manner
of the man, the witticism of the text commands the tri-
umph. Madame Vestris's reputation as an accomplished
artiste is too widely diffused to require any euiogium
from us. Last night in the popular burletta of the Loan
of a Lover, as Gertrude, she sang some of her best songs,
and was encored in all of them. This distinction, how-
ever flattering, is nevertheless painful, and it would be
well if our Surrey friends did not so frequently test the
lungs of the singers. Charles Mathews was, of course,
the Peter Spyk. Both were well supported by Messrs.
Johnstone, Heslop, and Lewis, and by Mrs. H. Hughes.
The evening's performance commenced with the comic
drama Used Up, which was first brought out at the
Haymarket, where it ran for seventy-seven nights. Sir
Charles Coldstream; by Mr. Mathews ; Sir Adonis
Leech, Mr. Rodgers ; John Ironbrace, Mr. Johnstone ;
an Lady Clutterbuck, Miss Martin. The piece
of the night, however, was a new grand
romantic oriental spectacle, replete with situations,
Combats, and dances, and magnificent water effects,
entitled the Dark Falcon of the Attruck; or, the Prince
-Diver and the Shah's goblet. The promise held out in
the portion of the bill quoted was amply verified. We
are on honour when we affirm that six soldiers, with
conical caps, bearing a striking resemblance to Prince
Albert's chef d'auvre, were killed in each battle, and
miraculously resuscitated behind the scenes, in order to
take part in the one which followed. The plot itself
Was of the hybrid order—a cross between a tale out of
the Arabian Nights and Schiller's Diver. It would be
impossible to trace it through all its ramifications, and
equally impossible to account for the extraordinary
situations in which the principal characters found them-
selves. We leave the hero who gives the name to the
spectacle safe in wind and limb in the streets of Tehran,
and we find him in the coral caves of Amphitrite, be-
neath the salt salt sea. We cannot explain why, we can
only wonder how the devil he got there. The piece is
wound up with (we quote the bill spin) " a tremendous
and powerful denouement. Some of the scenes
explosioa
boutifully painted. The house was respect-
were very
.filled, and the ;audience seemed
ably, if not in..llY
highly delighted With the amusements provided for
them.

VICTORIA.
A new drama of interest, entitled The Flitting _Day '
Irias produced here last evening. The plot may be
Judged by the title. We have the old characters—a
father farmer, ruined by bad crops, acted by Mr. E. F.
Saville ; a virtuous daughter, acted by Miss Vincent,
who, after being exposed to all sorts of trials and
temptations, is rewarded with the hand of a rich and
titled lover ; a villain uncle, who would fain sell her to
a roué seducer, both of whom, at the fall of the curtain,
are brought to condign punishment. These are
the pie old mcea-
!erials, but they are well put togethr nd
is, moreover, admirably acted. The audience were in
extacies of delight ; and The Flitting Day will continue
to flit for many nights, before it finally flits in reality.
The house was crammed.

ASTLEY'S. . .
The Seikh Invasion ; or, Our Victorieslniclianm• rB
of 1846,
l R 4
has 6,
is the title of the grand specrue which
got up for the amusement of his
is.
the patrons,opening
and a most gorgeous spectacle
scene we have the revels of the Seikhchieftshe passage in Lahore bei
fore setting out ou the expedition, then
the Sutlej by the Seikh army, then the forced
io march
whiho
and night bivouac of the British tr, I?s,
;vas -excellently battle of Moodkee.
managed, and then the
The review of the British troops at Ferozepore was ad-
enirabl managed ; and the Battle of Sobraon was fought,
on both sides, with the utmost spirit of gallantry. The
audience were delighted, and we have no doubt but that
the Seikh Invasion at Astley's will last at least twice as
long as did the Seikh Invasion of la,lia.

VA UXIIALL ---6..-A p p, ~.
Whitson td
is the season 011-"A,-r:NS.
ilt this season of the when sunshine and
un-
doubtedly Yeaerlida).s' and most
festivity court p_eople out of doors, it
of festivals. Whitsuntide, how ma is the most joyous
all the plea-
ses'', and yet not One without a Vauxhall "ve
we
all those
things which speak of an amalgamation
o—t one of those
through
sures that enlighten and relieve the dull u,a
who journey straightforwardly and steadfastly
this most busy world. We have seen manyY
halls, but never one that pleased us so uiVutix-
as
nothing
a,
the Vauxhall of last night. There w
to distinguish last night from any other oft itnhge
joyous nights spent in this most joyous of the halls of
üblic amusement, save and except that there were
fresh introductions, and new souls in the bodies
of the numerous promenaders who studded the
well and variously-coloured lighted walks, like freshly.
scented flowers breathing their perfume in the eloquence
of a moonlight night, full of music, and all the attrac-
tions of flesh and Ltood, capable of conveying all the
sensations that relieve !be dulness of every-day exist-
shall by gaslight, but were
ence. e went to see Va:.'
most agreeably disappointed :0 *we it not only by
the light of the moon, but by i.(e light of all the
light that ever threw their lustre on dui: coaimon-place-
'less the light of three thousand eyes beamit:g with the
satisfaction of having been well entertained, and capable
of expressing the satisfaction that they were so elevaikd
and social as to be capable of expressing the fact in il2e
sweetest and most amiable manner. Vauxhall ! We
smite our notice of the various attractions in a kind of
bewildered and unintelligible dream; yet we enjoyed
°4"elves. We recollect a number of very stirring facts,

but we are incapable of giving to them a ammo and an
expression, so that they may be rt co mised by those
who were less wide awake than ourselves.
There were numbers incalculable of ladies
v.',11 behaved and well dressed ; there were gentlemen
who mix ,d in the throng and did not forget themselves;
there were strangers, from far-off parts, who gazed and
were satisfied, and did not depart without audibly ex-
pressing the fact. In addition to the brilliancy of the
gardens themselves, the proprietors, still maintaining
their well-known liberality, provided an exceedingly
full programme of attractive entertainments, which were
performed in different parts of the ground, and at speci-
fied periods of the evening. In the first place, there was
the performances of " a celebrated brass band," who, exe-
cuted a number of Donizetti, Strauss, and Rossini 's best
productions ; and then came a vocal concert, in which
Messrs. Hodges, Sinclair, J. W. Sharp, Binge, and
Darcie, and Mesdames Aveling Smith, and J. Roe, took
part. The vocalists were accorapanied by a numerous
and efficient orchestra, and won for themselves an oc-
casional encore. The concert was no sooner over than
there was a tremendous rush to the Rotunda Theatre,
and in five minutes afterwards the place was literally
crammed from end to end. By dint of some vigorous
pushing, crushing, and squeezing, we managed to get a
restricted view of the equestrian performances in " the
new and capacious circle," and although, to speak vulgarly,
we melted down to a very jelly, we must admit that
we never witnessed scenes in the circle which we more
enjoyed. Madame Louise Tournaire, if possible, ex-
celled herself in her daring fetes of horsemanship; while
Mons. Benedict, Mons. Ferdinand Tournaire, and
Madame Klatt, exerted themselves wonderfully, to give
satisfaction to their audience. One would have thought
that, after this, would have terminated the amusements
of the evening, but no, the cream of the thing had yet
to come, and it is so graphically described in the printed
circular of the establishment, that we cannot do
better than introduce it, and here it is:—" A
gorgeous procession! introducing a faithful representa-
tion of the Emperor Teaou Kwang reviewing his Tartar
troops before the imperial pavilion, or Palace of the
Golden Bells, amidst a display of fireworks upon a novel
and extraordinary scale, by that celebrated pyrotechnic
artist Mr. Darby. In the distance, the lofty pagodas
and monstrous Dragon Tower, 120 feet h.gh ! from
which Il Joel Diavolo will make a terrific descent as
Victory !' on a fiery dragon ; and in his descent will
cast the wreath of victory' at the feet of the successful
knight of the tournay that is supposed to have taken
place. The whole scene terminating with one of the
most imposing and brilliant discharges of fireworks that
has ever been attempted in this or any other country.'
This portion of the entertainments, as may be ima-
gined, occupied a considerable time in the representation,
and while the first part was glittering and gorgeous the
latter was terrific and startling. The dancing com-
menced some short time before we left, and when we
did leave the lamps were about to put on their night-
caps, as the dawn of another day began to peep in
between the leaves of the lofty trees that surrounded
Vauxhall.

SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.
Never since we remember these gardens have they
been so crowded, as they were last evening. As early
as seven o'clock it was with the greatest difficulty that
the visitor could make his way from one part of the
gardens to the other, and long before nine, the crush in
front of the lake was so great that locomotion became
impossible--volition was in abeyance, and the unfortu-
nate wight, who was in " the press," was forced to
surrender his free will to the crowd, and to move as
they moved. We had the curiosity to make inqui-
ries as to the number of persons who had
been admitted into the gardens, and ascertained that
there were upwards of 16,000 persons present at nine
o'clock. In addition to the other attractions of the gar-
dens, there was last night exhibited for the first time,
" Calypso's Fairy Grotto," a master-piece of dio-
ramic effect, from the magic pencil of Denson, who has
in this instance completely realised the poetic
dream of the author of Telemachus. The grotto,
which is approached by the gothic bridge, is
illuminated in part brilliantly, whilst in other parts
dimmed lamps cast a " pale, religious light," enhancing
the poetry of the scene. In the interior we see Tele-
machus relating his adventures to Calypso, and the
grouping of these figures is admirably arranged. This
beautiful grotto will henceforth be a great feature of
attraction in these gardens. As a guide to the visitor,
it is as well to state that it is immediately
behind the gothic bridge, and may be approached
by crossing it, and that it opens at eight, and is closed
before the eruption begins. The eruption appeared to
us to be even grander than on any former occasion, but
this perhaps may have been owing to the extreme bril-
liancy of the evening. The perilous descent of Signor
Fannelli in his fiery chariot, from the pagoda to the lake,
elicited loud applause, and the immense concourse seemed
highly gratified with the whole of the entertainments.
After the conclusion, there was a stream of human beings
pouring forth from the gardens continuously for upwards
of an hour. Never before have so many persons been
congregated together within the precincts of the Surrey
Zt.ological Gardens. Even the monster audiences at
J when's Monster Concerts last year, shrink into com-
parative insignificance.

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.
It must be admitted that the proprietors of this Insti-
tution have not come forward with any extraordinary
novelty for the entertainment of their holiday visitors,
except, indeed, that the absence of anything entirely
new is of itself so rare an occurrence as to he well
worthy the name of a " novelty." If, however, there is
nothing that has not been seen or heard before, there is
nothing that will not bear to be seen and heard again,
and the sterling value of what is fully compensates for
the want of what is not. Professor Bachoffner's lectures
on the objects exhibited by the gas microscope continues
as amusing and entertaining as on the very first day
that the microscope itself was introduced into the Insti-
tution; and Dr. Ryan's able discourse on the nature and
use of the diving apparatus was listened to with great
interest. The diver's dress, the inventicn of Mr. Heinke, by
which a sufficient quantity of air to support life for more
than a quarter of an hour is carried down in a condensed
state, so as to be available in case of any accident to the
air-pump or hose, which might cut off the further
supply--the signal dial (also invented by Mr. Heinke)
by which, inst, ad of relying on the uncertain method
of conveying the wants of the diver by the sound of a
bell, they are pointed out by an index on an engraved
plate, are valuable improvements in this most useful ap-
paratus. The series of views from Oregon which have
lately been added to the dissolving views, including
" The Mouth of the Columbia," " Cape Disappoint-
ment," " Fort Astoria," &c., &c., met with the applause
that their great beauty called for. A small tract de-
scribing the territory, and more especially the scenes
represented in these views, was distributed to the
visitors at the door. There was but one drawback;—
the music accompanying the dissolving views might
have been better selected and might have been better
performed. But, on the whole, the night's entertain-
ment was calculated to afford satisfaction to the visitors;
and if we might judge from the frequent and hearty ap-
plause, it did afford it.

ADELAIDE GALLERY.
The principal novelty produced yesterday at the
Adelaide Gallery was a model railway and train, repre-
senting the contrivance lately invented by Messrs.
Austin and Quick for obviating the isconveniencea re-
sulting from the break of gauge. The model railway
occupies nearly the whole length of the long room, and
has two lines of rails, with sidings, upon two gauges,
the narrow being about 5 inches. The two gauges run
into one another abruptly, the narrow being carried—for
a distance about equal to the circumference of one of the
wheels of the carriage—within the broad. Each carriage
is provided with two sets of wheels, one within the
other, the inner being adapted to the narrow, the outer
to the broad, gauge; and one and the same carriage is
thus enabled to run upon both gauges. It would be ne-
cessary, of course, to use a broad gauge engine on the
broad gauge line, and a narrow gauge engine on a
narrow gauge line, but of the carriages, not one need
be removed, and neither passengers nor goods need be
shifted in passing from one line of rails to the other.
In the model, the change of gauge is made abruptly, and
at the moment of passing the break, each carriage rests
partly on the broad and partly on the narrow rails. It
is hardly possible that this could be necessary on the
railway ; but if it became so it would be perfectly prac-
ticable, as one engine might be removed and another
substituted by means of sidings. As far as it is possible
to judge from the models, no oscillation would be ex-
perienced in making the change. The model carriages
are of a breadth somewhat greater than the distance
between the narrow gauge wheels, but smaller than that
between the broad, so that they extend without the
wheels when on one gauge, and within them on the other.
We are not aware, however, that any inconvenience wilt
result from this, and there is no doubt the plan will
be successful. A small model of Webster's patent
roof and drain tile making machine has been added to the
collection, and a number of tiles made by it are exhibited
as proofs of its efficiency. The machine is worked by a
l
t hmakethe
greatestlarg e
o
rapidity. Tiles m
numbers
b oeyf
tiles
h t
ofh
formaednegyrbe ates t ease,r
s h a
paen ad t ihl
this instrument are very ex-
tensively
The
ec oentcheertt. ,
et
hh
tee
ret xa hi-
bitionn of then micros, ol ps ,d and T
tensively used in rsaieo
i nri
Y
and the fineness of the day was highly favourable
gass mterda as attractive and as varied as
M
ever,
process. M. Claudet had, as might
were
to the daguerrotype p
ments,
b r of sitt in the course of
a lare num e
be expected, g more than usually
Ilery was even
ers
the day, and the ga
crowded.

Possible
order to give every P
yesterda afternoon, and in
DRURY LANE THEATRE.—
Nladlle. Carlotta Grisi ar-
rivedeffect to the representation of the new ballet of Paguita, In
e which she is to appear, the theatre will be closed this even-
ing, for a night rehearsal. We are given to
aen
understand that
an
unusualprincipal
degreepart o
fo f
the splendour
costumesw
the
THE bTATE APARTMENTS AT V 4 INDSOR CASTLE.—
WHITSUN NV EElC.—The State Apartments at Windsor Castle,
and also the Round Tower, have been commanded to be
iilbe
having d is
pb leed madein thisin Paris.work
open to the public during every day this week, from eleven
till four o'clock, for the accommodation of the holiday
visitors to the town. It was not, however, known to Sykes,
the porter at the tradesmen's entrance to the Castle, until
nearly one o.elock yesterday, that any new regulation for
the Whitsun week had been determined upon. Several
parties from London, who had arrived at the Castle before
that hour were unfortunately turned back, although possess-
ing the Lord Chamberlain's tickets, in consequence of no
official notice on the subject having been given to the porter. As it was, but very few persons arrived in the town pro-
vided with tickets of admission. Monday being one of the
days, since the commencement of the year, on which the
State Apartments and the Round Tower are closed. This
to visitors during the remainder
pehlic notification, it is hoped, mad-be the means of prevent-
ingorders Wailer disappointment
54f(Pr9o- s mwithout tickets, dated within one week of the
da
, on which they fire
resented are peremptory, and most
~
strictly Acted upon.