The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-16 00:00:00

LYCEII

This theatre opened last evening for the winter season
under the direction of Mr. Charles Dillon. The list of
the company comprises a number of the London fa-
vourites, and also the names of several ladies and gen-
men new to London. The piece selected for the opening
night was " Belphegor the Mountebank," in which Mr.
and Mrs. Dillon sustain the principal parts. We have
already spoken in eulogistic terms of Mr. Dillon's repro•
sentation of Belphegor, suffice it therefore to say that
last evening he exhibited the same pathos which marked
I his first performance of the character in London some
I short time ago. At the termination of the melodrama
Mr. and Mrs. Dillon received the honour of a "call."
The novelty of the evening was a burlesque from the pen
of Mr. Brough, entitled "Perdita ; or, the Royal Milk-
maid." It is a travesty of the " Winter's Tale "as mise
ea scene at the Princess's, in which Mr. Calhaem, as
Leontes, gives a striking imitation of the Leontes of the
Oxford-street boards. Mr. Brough, the author, re-
presents Polixenes ; Miss Harriet Gordon, as Time,
introduces the piece in a song to the air of the " Rat
oatcher's Daughter," the refrain in the present instance
being the " Poor old dramatist's slaughter." The out-
line of the piece is the same as Shakspere's. Perdita,
the lost daughter of the King, is represented by Miss
Wilton ; and Prince Florizel, the son of Polixenes, by
Mrs. A. Mellon (Miss Woolgar). The entry of the
latter Indy in her lively hunting dress-- the very Diana
of the stage—was the signal of cordial and rapturouk,
applause from all parts of the house, which was re-
peated again and again. Mrs. Buckingham White
made a noble Queen, and Mr. Toole as Autolycus was ,
amusing as usual. The success of the burlesque was
decided. It has been placed on the stage in the most
gorgeous manner; and Mr. Dillon seems determined
to uphold the reputation of the Lyceum for the pro-
duction of splendid burlesques. The house was quite
full, and he has our best wishes for kis success.

ENTERTAINMENT TO THE HIGHLAND
BRIG AND THE OTHER CORPS A 7
DOVER.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sln,—ln common with many of my countrymen in the
metropolis, it afforded me much pleasure to observe from
your impression of yesterday evening that it was the in
tention of the Highland Society to entertain at dinner,
in the Royal Surrey Gardena, the Crimean medal men of
the Highland Brigade, at present stationed near Dover ;
and as much regret thatthe Commander-in- Chief refused to
allow the troops to be removed for such a purpose to euel
a distance from their quarters. Without at all wishing
to detract from the Highland Society the credit which
this patriotic act would have awarded them, I beg at the
same time to observe that to a letter signed " A Scotch-
roan," in your paper of 14th August last, belongs the
merit of first drawing attention to the propriety of insti
tuting some demonstration to mark the sense of their
countrymen in London of the chivalrous hearing of thr
Higblanders throughout the campaigns of the Rest ; an,
further, that out of that suggestion has emanated tbr
meeting of a few gentlemen w:th that view, at which the
question whether it would be more practicable to dine
or to give them a ball on New Year's Eve, in the neigh-
bourhood of their own camp, rather than dragging them
to London, was discuserl, but to which an ultimate
decision had not been given, although the, ball had most
approval. The reasons for deferring the compliment to
late a period as the :Het December were, it being*
ascertained that nearlyet hundred men of all ranks were
at present absent from their re.pectiva cerps on six
weeks' furlcu.;li ; also, that New Year's Eve has at al;
(Imes been an evening of festivity in Scotland ; adding to
these the fact that at a ball their wives could also join
them. As the division to which they belong contain:.
the 41et (Welsh) and 44th (East Norfolk), it was intender'
to invite them also. It is a generally received fact that
Mighlanders in their Social habits will always give a pre
fereece to the " dance" rather than to a "dinner." The,
strength of the five regiments would be about four
thousand, for whose accommodation Mr. Edgington, of
Southwark, offers to provide marquees at very reasonable
cost ; therefore, an entertainment of the latter description
would not require a larger sum than a dinner, at the
came time having so many advanta;es in its favour. AP
the Highland Society is an organised and a popular body,
if they would take ,the same view of the subject as here
submitted, and convene a meeting, admitting others as
u ell as their own members to it, I have no doubt that a
successful and creditable demonstration would be secured.
To remove any question that might arise as to the carry
ing out of its details, it may be well to observe that they
might be safely entrusted to the colonels commanding,
the arijutaute, and to the non-commissioned officers. I
hope that true-beerted Highlander, Sir Charles Forbes,
aid move in this matter, which Las for its olject, the
appreciation of his beloved countrymen's gallant services.
An insertion of this letter in your excellent paper will
very much oblige your obedient servant,
14, Upir..r Islington-terrace, Sept. 13Lh.

J. C. MT.

SOMETHING CURIOUS.—An American paper givesa
curious incident of a late thunder storm :—A little girl
was standing at a window before which was a young
maple tree. Aft:r a brilliant fl isle a complete image of
the tree was found imprinter! on h 7 body. This is not
the first in9tance cf the kind, but it is a singular pheno•
menon.

-F. IV St
TEFirr