The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-12 00:00:00

LITERATURE.
THE OVERLAND ROUTE.
Thom who had the good fortune to join -
,
,e Bartlett in his last year's cruise in the Nile BOA" fOl
Lo e who,. the year before, followed him in his deligets
" Forty Days' Journey in the track of the Israelitee:a
will need no second invitation to perform this Yro.
the overland journey in the same pleasant- ands
it
. fitable company. In some respects this voltlde,
even superior, in all it is fully equal, to ite Plebi
cessors. The various points of interest passe'
on the journey are not merely
when the occasion admits, they are miloPtdi:etd4 ;bell"
jects of interesting investigation. Thus, Malta ihsicsj,
theme of some delightful chapters of a geog." P--to I
historical, and romantic nature. In addition
beautifully engraved view of the island (the the
plentifully adorned with beautiful iilustratiOnl)einal
various situations of the harbours and fortiftoo7o
are made plain by means of a very comprell
"plan." In referring to Malt:, also, the rornentle;ohis
WV and .eventful vicissitudes of the famous l'n7tiog
of St. `John are related in a very ivtere't bad
episode.- The unfavoured few,_ who have as Yeh the
no glimpse ,of the overland route, either throng of
instrumentality of Albert Smith or the Gllll,erSit,
Illutration, will do well at once to close wtu rat
Bartlett's offer, and make the momentous J°llo,o,
under his sure auspices; while those who hale of
templated-, the moving picture under one P°. them
view will IN-quire little recommendation to
Induce t
to regard it iu another..

A PO&T'S GIFT. lO
In this little volume (tastefully arrangr'•dig of
and gold) are contained a selection frotn the vof to
Robert Montgomery, printed for the benefiret;
Ro3 al Asylum of thd Sc. Ann's Societyspot
mirers of Montgomery will gladly welconle tte
which contains some of his best productions, trtied/
merits of the charity in whose behalf it is publis ,"/
an asylum for those who have seen " better &Iv
will undoubtedly increase the popularity of
Poet's Gift."

SOHO THEATRE• ,ELLI"S
AMATEUR PERFORMANCE FOR MISS
BENEFIT. °erre°
The amateur company which a few weeks since , 91fej
at this theatre, Mrs. Centlivre's Comedy of the BuleOlL
and Richard ones's farce of To. Late for Dineriii;ss• B.tbewe;
those performances last evening for the benefit eilr:„a
whose circumstances, we -regret to state, are .fit 5.,0711
so prosperous as the friends and lovers of the u'civs‘l'ot
have hoped and expected, and who has been flell'es
what means it boots not now to inquire) of the I*w 4,11
this theatre, in,which she. had invested the saviing„lieble• sad
The house last night was crowded. The roYant';
fashionable patrons of the drama well responded.' reie At
that was made upon them, and when the curtain of Pll
amateurs found
_themselves in the preseace of finea
most crowded andbiilliant audiences ever assembled I).Y fha
the walls of a theatre. The comedy was preceded
fa lowing -
Prologue, written expressly for the occasion by
Kent, and delivered by bliss E. E. M. Kent.
Actors in sport that mirth 'may be increaseef
Our play's in earnest for one night at least!
Gladly we'll strive our purpose to fulfil
For one whose genius is remember'd still.
Hers are the solaces she most could prise,
And hers the aid that every ill defies :
The self respect from years of honour born.
Of-moit th' ambition, though of some the see'
Once in the noonday of her bright career, teSr
When gleamed the smile, or glittered forth the
At the wild mandate of her fitful glance,
Her powers impelled the drama's bold advance.
Let then the memory of those times gone 11
Sustain the hopes our efforts here imply ;
Enforce the lesson that our tongues Would tes
And win from all, the sympathies of each.
Joy to the actress while your acts impart,
Cherish the artist, those who love the art.
To-night a generous aim success ensures, s:
The grace'and worth of which must all be Yu
Th e merit of your share, tongue fails to tel
Fain would I think we'll do our parts as we',"
Yet though our efforts meagre praise demanuo
Yield us the guerdon of one cordial band ; rids,
Pardon whate'er your judgment least commends
And sink the critics in the warmth of friends.
Three separate reasons for dispelling blame
With kindly sentiments, my lips shall none:
The first in order, though the last in choice,
That mine though bold is but a woman's Voice •
The next that, while al ig
l Vorousldesigned,
Our PlaY's the produce of a womayn, s
And last, and best, to win your heart's app
We've met.to vindicate a woman's cpse• efal P-00.
Miss Kent delivered this prologue in the most gre:ii the
ner ithaginable, and, acted the part.of Isabioda toy erbe
medy with exquisite taste •her costume was 17,(4 ines6 sir
tally correct, but was, as all Spanish costumes geof
coming. She looked the character to the life- ratee'helt
Francis Gripe of Mr. Kent, and of his Frank PePr high 0
F the a
have spoken on a former. occasion in terms o._ -flans
praise, and our experience of last night full.' e°
lot °ft OA
the opinions we then expressed. The e.-• ithoe-woil
W. C. Kent was full of spirit and whim, Yelbis prl:d
slightest tinge of vulgarity; notwithstanding 1",, this, rsai
and misadventures, Marplot is a gentleman,,tlugent._.,d
feature was always kept in view by Mr. N'T nf car'
Robin Rafter in the farce was a rich pieee -and.vr
rusticity. Miss Sullivan was admirable in PIL°-'fonileo4
her.
„giti „ than confirmed the favourable impression which
personation of the character had produced. She n of To
Moore's melody, " The last rose of summer," into a' 00rd
scenes of the comedy, and sung it exquisitely ; seldom ate 6;i9
heard that delightful melody rendered with greate,r,„-,lesi'do
ign
pathos. The characters of Sir George Airy and P"siren
Traffic were admirably sustained, and the f
of Mrs. J. Arnould was replete with the spirit 0 sober,f
comedy. Between the play and the farce Mr. Ellis otioe
the Welsh harpist, performed two of his exquiej,L° enditesl6
melodies with great taste, and elicited from te.„.o sel'es•
most rapturous expressions of applause. We 7f cole°l
witnessed . an amateur performance so deserving
datiou as these.