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

LYCEUM.

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 repre-
sentation of Belphegor, suthee it therefore to say that
last evening he exhibited the same pathos which marked
his first performance of the character in London some
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 miss
en scene at the Princess's, in which Mr. Calhaem, hs
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
catcher'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 Florixel, the son of Polixenes, by
Mrs. A. Mellon (L\tiss Woolgar). The entry of the
latter lady in her lively hunting dress— the very Diana
of the stage—was the signal of cordial and rapturous
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 Ms success.

ENTERTAINMENT TO THE HIGHLAND
BRIG AIDS AND THE OTHER CORPS A?
DOVER.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—In 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 Gardens, the Crimean medal men of
the Highland Brigade, at present stationed near Dover ;
and as much regret thatthe Commander-in-Chief ref used to
allow the troops to be removed for such a purpose to such
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-
man," 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 bearing of the
Highlanders throughout the campaigns of the East ; and
further, that out of that suggestion has emanated the
meeting of a few gentlemen with 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 discussed, but to which an ultimate
deoision had not been given, although the ball had most
approval. The reasons for deferring the compliment to
so late a period as the 31st December were, it being
ascertained that nearly a hundred men of all ranks were
at present absent from their respective corps on six
weeks' furlough ; also, that New Year's Eve has at all
times, 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 contains
the 41st (Welsh) and 44th (East Norfolk), it was intended
to invite them also. It is a generally received fact that
highlanders in their social habits will always give a pre-
fereucie to the "dance" rather than to a "dinner." The
strength of the five regiments would be about four
thousand, for whose accommodation Mr. Edgtngton, of
Southwark, offers to provide marquees at very reasonable
cost ; therefore, an entertainment Gf the latter description
would not require a larger sum than a dinner, at the
same time having so many advantages in its favour. As
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
n 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 adjutants, and to the non-commissioned officers. I
hope that true-hearted Highlander, Sir Charles Forbes,
will move in this matter, which bas for its object the
appreciation of his beloved countrymen's gallant services
An insertion of this letter in your excellent paper wi
very much oblige your obedient servant,
14, Upper Islington-terrace, Sept. 13th.

J. C. MT.

SOMETHING. CURIOUG.—An American paper gives a
curious incident of a late thunder storm :—A little girl
was standing at a window before which was a young
maple tree. After a brilliant flash a complete image of
the tree was found imprinted on h r body. This is not
the first instance of the kind, but it is a singular pheno•
menon,