The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-13 00:00:00

ROYAL GARDENS, CREMORNE.

Notwithstanding the very unfavourable afternoon of I
yesterday these gardens were very fairly attended. It
would appear as if the attraction held out had been too
great to allow anything like a general interference with
the pleasure-seekers' determination. The programme
of amusements was of the most liberal cast, and included
a vocal and instrumental concert, in which upwards of
50 performers were engage :—a troupe of performing
dogs, whose trick_s and sagacity were both extraordinary
and amusing—a clever display, called the Sports of
Atlas, by the Brothers Hutchinson and Thomson—an
entirely new ballet, termed " The Island of Roses, or
War, Peace, and Plenty "—a grand circus performance,
and a ball, of course, which did not afford that pleasure
al fresco dancing would have given, but which appeared
to be entered into with much spirit. Of these we may
select the cirque and the ballet for especial commenda-
tion. In the former a host of talent has been collected
sufficient to form an evening's entertainment of itself,
and of the latter it may be said that it is a great success.
It is from the pen of R. K. Philps, Esq , who has in-
fused anew spirit into this description of performance.
which has been apparently taken up by the composer of
the musio (Bosisio), and partaken of by the ballet com-
pany, whose efforts to please met with a general and
hearty applause from the assemb.ed visitors.
The varied alterations and new features in and about
the grounds we shall.take some future opportunity of
describing. Suffice it to say, they are more numerous
and important than in any former year.
Nor are these the only matters in which the enterprising
lessee has merited petbUc patrona“3, The musical en-
tertainments on Sundays continue to attract large num-
bers, who prefer innocent and intellectual amusements
to "the bitter observants " which are now attempted to
be enforced. The selections of the pieces performed
have been made with great care and judgment. They
are ealculated to improve the minds of the auditors. Let
the Sabbatarians say what they will, it is undoubtedly a
better mode of spending leisure hours than sitting in
the confined and polluted air of apartments overcrowded
• during the week, and which cannot be ventilated and

purified on a single day. Let any unprejudiced person
visit Cremorne on a Sunday afternoon, let him wit-
ness the demeanour of the crowded audience, and
honestly and fairly state his impressions, and whether
the opportunity so handsomely afforded must not be
considered as a boon of no ordinary magnitude to the
many who have to earn their daily bread by their daily
labour.

The public will also hear with much satisfaction that
under a new arrangement with the General Omnibus
Company, new, elegant, and commodious three-horse
carriages will run from the Gardens to the Dank, after
the close of the performances, an accommodation
which has been much required, and which reflects great
credit upon the management of the company for their
spirit and liberality. The first was started last night,
and was universally admired by the visitors. It is
built to carry forty passengers.

BRITISH MUM:M.—A. holiday period like the pre-
sent has never passed by without witnessing a great ac-
cession of visitors to this receptacle of whatever is curious,
time-honoured, instructive, or interesting. The scene
yesterday formed no exception to the rule—indicated no
declension of taste on the part of the masses to whom
the Museum is crdinarily a closed building. Bef9re four
o'olock about ten thousand persons had already passed
under the massive pediment on their way to inspect the
varied contents of the Museum ; and, despite an inop-
portune and an annoying rain, which commenced about
three and increased in violence as the afternoon ad-
vanced, the influx continued, and did net cease till late
in the day. Every one appeared observant and happy.
It is a curious fact that the founding and gradual exten-
sion of this national museum anticipated, as it were, one
of the greatest improvements in modern systems of in-
struction—namely, teaching by means of objects ; and,
whatever difficulty there may be in obtaining sufficient
specimens in educational establishments, here ,at least
there is abundant material for illustration and reference.
A walk through some, at least, of the departments, is in
itself a considerable advance in this objective kind of
education ; and this peculiarity of the museum appears
to be duly appreciated by the working classes, who con-
stituted the vast majority of the visitors yesterday.
NATIONAL GALLERY.—The dark and rainy weather
was very unfavourable to pictorial exhibitions, and con-
sequently the National Gallery was much less crowded
than usual on holiday occasions. Still, however, a good
number of people were engaged in perambulating the
various rooms while we were there, from twelve to one ;
land doubtless the number of visitors during the day
' must have been considerable. They appeared to belong
chiefly to the working classes, and conducted themselves
with the utmost propriety, examining the works of art
with much attention, and showing judgment in choosing
the things most worthy of observation.
THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, REGENT'S PARK.—This
popular establishment as usual attracted great crowds
of visitors from a very early hour in the morning, the
influx having become pressing on the gate keepers by
11 o'clock. The long interval of rest which the winter
season imposes has apparently been turned to the best
account in perfecting the magnificent collection of ani-
mals, for which the Zoological Society have a world-wide
reputation. The Carnivora are especially well illustrated
by singularly fine groups of all the principal species. The
liberality with which the system is carried out may be
fairly understood, when we report that the lions and
tigers alone amount to twelve in number. The pair of
Hippopotami are enormously increased in size, and all
the old favourites appear to be in their places. Tee
Aquarium is in a remarkably brilliant state, the sea
water being in most of the tanks as limpid as crystal.
Tho wonderful plant-like Zoophytes expand themselves
beautifully in the subdued green light, which has been
applied to the tanks for the purpose of assimilating their
condition, as nearly as possible, to that of nature. Not.
withstanding the rain, which set in soon after 3 o'clock,
the number of visitors admitted during the day ex-
ceeded 18,000.

PANOPTICON.—The Panopticon finds excellent account
in the concerts which have hitherto been given on Mon-
day evenings. This week there will be three, the first
of which took place yesterday. The singers engaged for
these performances are Mi:s Poole, Miss Lasc,lles, Ma-
dame Anna Thillon, Mr. Augustus Braha'n, Mr. Rang-
ford, the Spanish Minstrels, and others. The enterprise
thus evinced by the directors will not, we apprehend, be
without its reward. The magnificent organ which graces
the gallery of tlye superb edifice is alone worth a visit.
The usual lectures are delivered at stated intervals dur-
ing the day, and the luminous fountain, the public in-
terest in which can never, we are sure, subside, is shown
both morning and evening. •
THE ILLUSTRATIVE GATHERINGS OF MISS P. HORTON
are still drawing nightly crowds of visitors to the new
domain of this gifted and versatile lady at the Gallery
of Illustration. The success of this entertainment has
been unbounded, not only in town but in the provinces.
It is now enjoying as much favour in the aristocratic
quarter of Regent-street as it did in the less distinguished
region of Long•acre.
ALBERT SMITH'S MONT BLANC seems to have become
a fixture at the Egyptian- Hall. The number of times
which this pleasant gentleman has told his story is now
beyond count. He goes on from year's end to year's
end, and never fails to have an audience.

LOVE'S ENTERTAINMENTS.—This ingenious professor
of the arts monopolological and imitative has had his
thousand representations in common with his contem-
poraries, Mr. Albert Smith and Mr. Woodin. But
there is every warrant for this vast and unyielding suc-
cess. Mr. Love is the only ventriloquist that we have.
His peculiar ability has demolished all other aspirants,
and he is now in the sole possession of the field. A
visit to his "Lucubrations " at the Regent Gallery may
fairly be counselled.
THE AFRICAN ENTERTA/NIIENT of Mr. Gordon Cum-
ming has also invited a large measure of patronage,
including that of Royalty. Mr. Cumming, a pursuer
and slayer of lions, tells his narrative of peril and adven-
ture in Southern Africa with most agreeable tact and
bonhommie. His dinramic illustrations, too, are capital,
and replete with a curious and exclusive kind of interest;
while the trophies with which the walls of the exhibition-
room are hung are startling proofs of the desperate
nature of the sport in which Mr. Cumming has been
engaged.
DR. KaHN'S ANATOMICAL MUSEIIII.—A. number of
persons visited this most instructive exhibition. During
the day several interesting lectures were delivered by
Dr. Kahn, on the structure and functions of different
portions of the human frame. The room in which the
models are displayed has recently been re-decorated, and
the collection has received several additions. It now
forms a complete anatomical museum, and it is impos-
sible to visit it without obtaining valuable information.
MADAMS TUSSAUD'S.—This is one of the oldest exhi-
bitions in the metropolis, yet it is ever new. No time
is lost in adding to the collection the figures of the cele-
brities of the day. One of the latest additions has been
the King of Prussia, who was admitted into this Wal-
halla of the world as soon as his representatives had
been invited to join the Congress of Paris. The rooms
were visited by an immense number of persons during
the day. The Napoleon room formed one of the prin-
cipal points of attraction, but the Chamber of Horrors
was scarcely inferior in interest.

CANTERBURY HALL.—Among the many musical en•
tertainments that have been put forth to secure the
patronage of the public at this holiday occasio❑ of the
year, none seemed to have secured a larger measure of
success than the Canterbury Hall. The place last night
was filled to overflowing, and the applause be.st)wed
upon the different compositions proved it to be a discri-
minating and attentive audience. The concerts are
under the direction of Mr. Caulfield, and the selection
of pieces are enlivened by the celebrated Sam Cowell,
who never fails to violently excite the remarkable fea-
tures of his audience. The Hall surpasses anything of
the kind in the south of London, and is well worttir of a
visit.

PARISIAN AUTOMATA, EGYPTIAN HALL. —This exhibi-

tion consists of a number of figures representing animals,
in which are placed machinery whereby they are made
to imitate the actions of life, which they do with great
minuteness and truthfulness. It is a curious exhibition,
" werth seeing some," as our American brethren would
say, and it had its share of holiday visitors.
THE WALPOLE ISLANDERS.—The sights and exhibi-

tions of London have been augmented this week by the
arrival of a party of British North Americans from Lake
Huron, Canada West, who are illustrating at St. Mar-
tin's-hall their national dances, modes of warfare, &c.
The party consists of six warriors, four squaws, and an
infant in the cradle. They are fine-looking men, and
express sympathy with our Queen, they having tendered
their services in the late war. The great chief wears a
medal given by George the Third to his father for ser-
vices rendered to the Crown in 1312. The exhibition
must be interesting to all, as making us familiar with
the race of aborigines who are stated to be nearly ex-
tinct, and who have come, as they say, many thousand
miles to see their Great Mother, Queen Victoria. The
different features are explained in an interesting lecture
by Mc. Henry Eicke.
Ties ADELAIDE GALLERY, LOWER HALL, LOWTHER
ARCADE.—MR. BOURRENIE'S DIORAMIC TRANSPAREN.
ClES.—This exhibition comprises 84 views, including
scenes in Russia, the Crimea, Venice, France, Italy,
Holland, China, and England. They all evince great
skill as works of art, and in some of them the effect pro-
duced is really wonderful. There was a good attendance
throughout the day.