The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-19 00:00:00

ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE.

Mr. Cooke, the lessee of this popular establishment,
has already put forward his bill of fare for the Christmas
holidays. The performances are to commence with the
equestrian edition of " Macbeth," as lately produced at
this theatre ; a more than usually attractive amount of
scenes in the circle ; and an equestrian comic pantomime
entitled "Paul Pry on Horseback ; or, Harlequin and
the Magic Horse-shoo." Should it only prove half as
entertaining as we are led to believe it will from the
"bill of the play" which has been forwarded to us, we
can safely promise the patrons of the establishment a
rich treat, especially for the little responsibilities at pre-
sent at home for the holidays, and to Mr. Cooke an over-
lowing exchequer. There are a double set of the
especial pantomime characters, the Harlequins being
Messrs. H. Hemmings and Firth ; Clowns, Thorne and
Lindon ; Pantaloons, A. Bradbury and J. Smith ;
Sprites, J. Gee and Master W. Gee ; and Columbines,
Misses Julia Weston and T. Avery.

THE COURT.

OSBORNE, Daa. 18.

The Queen and Prince, with the Princess Royal, at-
tended by the Duchess of Athol!, the Hon. Emily Cath-
cart, and Captain the Hon. Dudley de Ros, drove in an
open carriage yesterday afternoon.
Lord Stanley of Alderley, arrived in town on Wed -
nesday evening from a visit to Earl Spencer at Althorp
Park.

Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial
office from the Governor of the West India Colon ies.

THE EXPECTED VISIT OF HER MAJESTY TO MAN-
CHESTER.—It is said that a letter has been received from
his Royal Highness Prince Albert by the executive of
the Art Treasures Exhibition at Manchester, in which
his Royal Highness promises to honour the opening cere-
monial of the exhibition in May next with his presence,
and states that there is reason to hope that the Queen
will honour the exhibition with a visit at a more ad•

vanced period of the year. It is probable, we are in-
formed, that in the event of her Majesty's visit, she will
stay at Abuey Hall, Manchester, the seat of Mr. James
Watts, the Mayor of Manchester, situated about nine
miles from the Art Treasures Exhibition.

WINDSOR OAS= THEATRICALS.—The performances
at the Castle, which were postponed in consequence of
the death of his Serene Highness the Prince Von Leinin-
gen, will commence on the 15th of January next. Ow-
ing to the continued and very severe indisposition of
Mr. Alfred Wigan, the oast of the comedy (Sheridan's
"School for Scandal), will be slightly altered. Mr.
Leigh Murray will play Joseph Surface, a character in
which it will be remembered he appeared with so much
acceptance during the farewell performances of that
gifted actress Mrs. Glover, in conjunction with the
elder Farren, Mrs. Stirling, Compton, Sce., &c. Mr.
F. Vining has been selected as the representative of
Trip In other respects the cast remains as previously
announced. Mr. Leigh Murray is not at present en-
gaged at any metropolitan threatre, a source of regret
to his very many admirers—i.e., a legion of playgoers.
The Duke and Duchess of Bedford are entertaining a
distinguished circle at Woburn Abbey. The usual
Christmas festivities will be kept up this year with the
noble duke's accustomed princely hospitality.
We are glad to learn that the Earl of Ellesmere is
recovering from his recent severe illness. The noble
earl remains at Bridgwater House.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, yester-
day, honoured the establishment of Mr. C. F. Hancock,
of Bruton-street, with a visit.
Tae Marquis and Marchioness of Winchester have
been staying on a visit to Sir William and Lady Middle-
ton, at Shrublands Park, Suffolk.

Sir Robert and Lady Emily Peel are entertaining a
large party at Drayton Manor. The company includes
—The Countess of Tankerville, the Earl and Countess of
Chesterfield and Lady Evelyn Stanhope, the Earl of
Lincoln, Lord Cavendish, Lord Ashley, General Peel,
Admiral Rous, Admiral Eden, Mr. Monckton Milnes,
Captain W. Peel, Lieutenant Ward, Mr. Calcraft, Mr.
Arthur Peel, Mr. Bagge, Mr. Phinn, and Mr. Clifton.
The gentlemen have had capital sport in the hon. baro-
net's well-stocked preserves.
A requisition is in course of signature, calling on
Major-General Sir William Codrington, K.C.8., to allow
himself to be put in nomination for Greenwich.
We (Worcestershire Chronicle) hear that the Hon.
Frederick Lygon, youngest son of the Earl of Beauchamp,
intends to offer himself as a candidate for the borough of
Tewkesbury, in the Conservative interest, whenever a
vacancy may occur.
It is stated—and we believe not without foundation
—that Major-Generals Sir George Anson and Nicholas
Hamilton will have the coloaelcies of the 55th and 82d
Regiments.
The Admiralty have accepted the undermentioned
ships for the conveyance of stores, viz., the Irene, for
Cape Town ; Rival, for East London ; Swanley, for
Jamaica ; and the Dorothy, for the Mauritius.
ADUISSION or ATTORNEYS.—The number of applicants
to be admitted as attorneys in the forthcoming Hilary
Term is 123. The number of attorneys on the rolls
exceeds 10,000.
SICRILEGE.—About ten o'clock yesterday morning
the churchwardens of St. Nicholas, Deptford, were in-
formed of the discovery that the churah had been broken
into during the night, and the cest containing the
sacramental plate, consisting of silver plates, chalices,
tankards, spoons, &c., stolen. It is believed that more
than one person must have been engaged in the affair,
as the chest was very large and heavy.
A letter from St. Petersburg mentions the death of
General cheremetieff, Minister of the Domains, from a
second attack of apoplexy, as also that of Count Strogo-
i noff, a veteran Russian diplomatist, who died at a very
advanced age. The same letter states that the health of
the Marquis de Courtavel, who, it may be remembered,
was seized with a severe illness in consequence of ex-
posure to cold, has much improved.
NEW RULES FOR THE COUNTY COURTS.—The new
rules will be forthwith issued. They are nearly all new.
A .bulky appendix contains the forms to be used. The

pra,tice will be greatly altered.
TAts Eastern Counties Herald reports the loss of the
stem uer Eglintun on Willow Island, Rugen, making the
third Hull steamer which has been wrecked in the
Baltic during the present winter.
A litter from Munich, in the Emancipation of Brus-
eels, says :—" The direction of the Post-otlice has pub-
lished a, notice that the admission of Prussian and Saxon
paper money at the public offices is provisionally sus-
pended."
It is cx.fficially announced that the cholera, which made
a slight inroad at Konigsberg and Pillau, has totally
disappeared.
THE ENSUING ELECTION OF COMMON COUNCILMEN.—
In consequence of St. Thomas's Day this year falling on
a Sunday, it has been determined by the Court of Alder-
men that the election of Common Councilmen of the
Corporation should take place at the different wards on
the following day (Monday) Dec. 22.
A let';er from Vienna, in the Post Ampt Gazette of
Berlin says :—" According to accounts from Milan,
it appears certain that a portion of the Lombard
nobility still refuses to quit its reserve, and attach
itself sincerely to the Imperial House."
According to a St. Petersburg letter of the 9th, in
the Nero Prussian Gazette of Berlin, the hopes that
had been entertained of a certain degree of liberty
being allowed to the press of Russia had been disap-
pointed, the journals having been again subjected to
restrictions, and even the Nord of Brussels, the Russian
organ, has frequently articles blotted out.
‘Ve hear that the Hon. Frederick Lygon, youngest
son of the Earl of Beauchamp, intends to offer himself
as a candidate for the borough of Tewkesbury, in the
Conservative interest, whenever a vacancy may occur.—
Worcestershire Chronicle.
A letter from Coblentz of the 13th, in the Carlsruhe
Gazette, says :—" Although there have been yet no war-
like preparations, properly so called, on the part of
Prussia against Switzerland, there are symptoms which
show that it is intended to have recourse to military
measures. In the arsenals of the Rhine supplies of
ammunition are being actively prepared."
RECOGNITION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICEE OF
SOUTHWOOD SMITH.—(From a Correspondent.)—VVe are
informed that at a private meeting of noblemen and
, gentlemen, recently held at Lord Sha,ftesbury's residence,
• to consider the best mode of testifying their personal
' esteem towards Dr. Southwood Smith, it was resolved,
"that a bust of Dr. Southwood Smith be presented to
some suitable institution as an enduring memorial of his
eminent services in the promotion of the public health."
The bust will be executed at Florence by the American
sculptor Mr. Hart. A large number of the most dis-
tinguished statesmen and legislators (of all political
opinions), and sanitary reformers, have joined in this
recognition of Dr. Smith's exertions in promoting the
welfare of mankind.