The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-27 00:00:00

~'.~'x,

EVENING SUN.

. .
the dockyard, on Saturday last, and was accompanied by
Captain Ehipps Hornbv, C. 13., Superintendent of th
, ard, dpring his examination, of several of the depart-
ments. The Charon, steam-vessel, Second Master E. C.
Ratter (Acting), left Woolwich, on Saturday, for Do-
Ver. Thd Acheron; steam-vessel, Lieut. Kennedy, was
paid off, and taken into the basin, on Thursday. The
Growler, steam-vessel, Conimander H. C. Buckle, will
not leave Limehousc for Chatham heron, the middle of
January. The Shearwater, steam-vessel, Commander
John Washington, arrived at Woolwich this forenoon
from the North Sea. The Vixen, steam-frigate, Com-
mander Henry Boyes, is in the river, opposite the dock-
yard, ready for sea, and will sail at eight o'clock on Mon-
day morning, for Portsmouth, previous to her departure
for service at Brazils.

Ships in the Harbour.—William and Mary yacht;
Driver, Vixen, Lightning, Myrtle, African, and Shear-
water,steam-vessels..

In the Basin.—Rhadamanthu9, Acheron, Salamander,
Comet, Confiance, and Fearless, steam-vessels.
The Lords of the Admiralty have directed the muster
shipwrights of Plymouth, Portsmouth, Chatham, Sheer-
ness, and Woolwicit dockyards, to assemble at Woolwich
on the 3d of January next, to take into consideration Mr.
Blake's improvements for strengthening the bows of
ships, and the system of ship-building generally, with
the view to the adoption of some fixed principle in a
matter of such vital importance as the construction of our
ships of war.

THE PANTOMIMES.
DRURY-LANE.

This national temple of the drama ripens on Mon-
day evening, as our readers are well aware, for the
representation of Sbakspeare's plays. Thet heatre has
undergone a thorough renovating, and will present an
entirely new appearance, the alterations being under
the direction of Mr. Beazley, aid executed by that
well-known artist and decorator, Mr. Cruse. A. slight
description of the improvements in the interior may not
be quite unacceptable. The ceiling has been repainted
in the inner circle after the Elizabethan style ; or, as
it is sometimes called, the Vatican order. The alle-
gorical figures surrounding the circle remain as usuall,
but the circle has a brilliant blue ground ; the second
circle a blue ground also. In the dress circle, the
Shaksperian subjects, by Lemboulett, have been re-
moved , and in their stead a scroll ornament, painted
in relief upon a buff ground, surrounded by a handsome
gold ornament. The line of the proscenium surround--
ing the stage is picked in with a deep blue, better
known in the artistical world as the Victoria -blue:
The private boxes, formerlyon a level with the pit,have,
with the exception of the one belonging to Miss Ana-
gela Burdett Coutts, and one opposite, been entirols
removed, and thespaceadded to the pit, making an addi-
tional number of seats for one hundred persons. The
pit seats are covered with handsome red cloth, with
backs stuffed and covered with crimson, each person
sitting in a separate stall ; in the centre is an opening
enabling the spectator to quit and return to his seat
without inconvenience. The saloon has been entirely
repainted and decorated, and a splendid Brussels car-
pet, laid down for the first time. The corridor and
coffee-room, on the Vinegar-yard side, have been parted
off by an elegant and substantial screen, painted a
marble colour, to which there is access by a new en-
trance from Vinegar-yard, and a staircase, made ex•
pressly for the occasion, laading to the upper boxes.
This is exclusively appropriated for the reception of
that class of visitors hitherto permitted to promenade in
the principal saloon, but who, Pram the present arrange-
ments, are entirely excluded. The figures of Kean and
Garrick, in the Rotunda, have been cleaned, and re-
moved beck into the niches originally appropriated fhr
them ; the Rotunda has also been painted in imitation
of porphyry and white marble. This part of the thea-
tre is known to all judges of arebitectural beauty, as
being in design and execution the most perfect specimen
of taste in any public building. The whale of the
boxes have been numbered, and on the beck of each
box the number of seats contained therein is given. The
new curtain, containing one thousand yards of crimson
velvet, with gold fringe, lace, &c., will ' open in the
centre; on one side ate the Royal Arms, splen-
didly modelled and gilt, and on the other
those of the Prince of Wales, carried out on
each side with musical trophies, surrounded with gold
wreathe. It will be seen by our report that no expense
has been spared by the lessee and proprietors to render
the theatre worthy the patronage of all the true lovers
of the drama, which, with the high purpose of the pre-
sent management, we trust will not fail to be accorded.
It may be as well to observe, that the whole of the
scenery for The Merchant of Venice has been painted
by Messrs. Marshall and Towkins, and that of the pan-
tomime by Mr. Denson. Mr. Stanfield is now actively
engaged at the Theatre Royal English Opera in paint-
ing a new pictorial effect for one of the earlieit revivals
at Druty-lane Thea►tre, the crowded state of the paint-
room there, in the preparation for the opening, not af-
fording room for him as usual.

The new comic pantomime by Mr. H. Younge is
unusually splendid. The first scene presents us with
the hall of Good Cheer. The deity Good Cheer,
seated on as enormous plum pudding, calls for the
assistance of Music, when a number of animated
violins enter with the conductor of the Musard con-
certs, who commence playing some popular airs. Mer-
riment and his crew then enter, and the former
states that he wishes the aid of Good Cheer on a
love affair. Duke Humphrey the Good has sent his
ward, Lady Joan, to Lye at the castle of Sir Lazarus
Skelton, in order to compel her to wed his son, Spider.
legs, and by that means make her fortune. Mischief is then
summoned to their councils, when the scene changes to the
bowers of Mischief. Sir Lionel Breakspeare is intro-
duced to the Lady Joan by Mischief, and informed by
him that the only way to obtain her band is to engage
Jack Cade and his band to carry her off, to which he
assents. The scene is then changed to a view of Lon.
don, with the Tower in the background. Jack enters
with his mob, who pull down an ale-house, and kill the
King's guard. They are met by Sir Lionel Break-
speare, who engages Jack to carry the lady off. Thd
castle of Sir Lazarus Skelton is then seen, with a view.
of Starvation Hall ; a chorus of starved domestics are
heard crying for food. Sir Lazarus enters in great
alarm to inform them that Duke Humphrey has paid
them a visit, and will take lunch, which, as he is such a
glutton, will ruin them. The Duke then enters, pre-
ceded by his fat servants. They are set down to a
meal of red herrings and water. The Duke, highly in-
dignant at this, quits the hall. Jack and his band then
enter and attempt to carry off the lady, but are re-
pulsed. The hall of Duke Humphrey is then seen,
and the whole of the cortege pass in to dinner. Jack
and his band next enter with Sir Lionel Break-
speare, and, through a secret passage, make their
way to the dining hall below ; the Duke and
his suite are then discovered at dinner ; a shout is
heard, Jack and his party make their appearance, and
take the deke anti lady prisoners. Sir Lionel claims
the lady, but is opposed by Jack, in whose favour the
lady declares herself. The duke refuses his consent,
when the scene changes to the Temple of Good Cheer,
who forthwith changes the characters, and the bade-
quiaade commences. In the comic part of the panto-
mime are several hits at the passing events of the day
—the two Houses of Parliament, the railroads, Prince
Albert's stock, the sale of " the royal property," intro-
ducing the shade of the immortal Simpson. The pan-
tomime concludes with a representation of the launch
of the Trafalgar. The costumes are by Mr. Smythers,
and are slid to exceed in splendour and correctness all
that has hitherto been seen at this theatre.

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.
Madame Vestris has taken the field with what
we understand to be a most
original pantomime,
though the title is not new, entitled " Guy, Earl
of Warwick ; or, Harlequin and the Dun Cow." We
present an outline of the story, the title of which is so
familiar to our youthful recollections. The first scene
presents a view of the hermit's cell. The hermit (Mr.
Granby) is discosered at his book. It will be observed
that the pictorial effects in this pantomime are of new
principle, consisting of dioramic views, which are in
continual motion, and carry on the story with the per-
formers
whole of the opening. A view of
Warwick
during
Castle,
thewith the town in the distance, is seen.
ast i e
Guy, Earl of Warwick (Mr. Payne), and Sir Tristram
(T. Ridgway), enter, fatigued with a pilgrimage ; they
are not recognised by the domestics. Millis, Guy's
betrothed, and Flounce-bells, Sir Tristram's mistress,
are then introduced, and, after much explanation, an
eclaircissement takes place, and the great Guy discovers
himself, the tenantry enter in great numbers, and he is
borne with his squire in triumph to the castle. The
diorama then presents the great hall in the castle ; the
warder is seen asleep ; a• huge bell is heard to ring,
when the warder in anger tears out the tongue of the
bell. A number of dwarfs then enter, and prepatations
for the grand banquet in honour of Guy's return is about
to commence. Guy himself enters, and, finding the
servants absent, he is compelled to turn cook in his own
castle. The villagers now enter in a fright, headed by
the Earl of Jonas, whose daughter has been carried off
by the Monster Cow, and taken to the castle of the
Giant Colbrand. Guy heroically undertakes to vanquish
him, the giant, and the Dun Cow. The viPagers take
their leave of Guy and Tristram, and here a long diora-
mic effect is produced, which continues to the arrival of
the knight and his esquire at the magic castle of the Giant
Colbrand. An encounter takes place with the giant, who
yields to the victorious sword of Guy. The Dun Oow
then plunges from its brazen cage, and with nostrils
streaming fire, and tearing up the earth in rage, fu-
riously attacks Guy. He, nothing daunted, lays about
with his mighty sword, and the monster reels beneath
his lusty blows. Sir Tristram now assumes courage,
and flies to the rescue of his
master, and seizing the
Dun Cow by the tail, it elongates by magic, and carries
Sir Tristram round the castle. After a furious onslaught
both enchanter and cow bite the dust. The diorama
now arrives at a splendid fairy palace, where the bar-
liquinadc commences. Phoebe (afterwards Colum-
bine), Miss Fairbrother, with Harlequin, Mr. J. Ridg-
way, and Pantaloon (Ireland), now commence their
mirth-exciting tricks. During the pantomime some
smart hits on the local Events of the day take place.
During the comic scenes we have the Cannon Brewery
changed to Prince Albert's Gate, a chemist's and a