The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-27 00:00:00

THAMES.

BOXING DAY ORGIES.—There were only four
drunken charges from the K or Stepney division,
and two from the H or Whitechapel division, this
morning. The two divisions have the preserva-
tion of the peace and the protection of life and pro-
perty in a district containing a population of 330,000
souls. There were 21 other charges of the usual
miscellaneous description.

Mary Macarthy, an Irishwoman, was charged
with stealing eleven gunney bags, valued at 55.,
from the warehouse of Mr. Henry Schlemann, sack
and bag maker, of Langley-place, Commercial-
read, East.

The prosecutor carries on a large business, and
he has been most extensively robbed. lie has been
plundered of 4,000 bags in the course of tho last
four years. He had lately received information
that the prisoner was plundering him. He was
slow in believing this, as the prisoner had been in
his service 19 years, and he laboured under an im-
pression that she was an honest woman. Yesterday
afternoon he met her in Prescott-street, White-
chapel, and carrying a large bundle under her shawl.
He asked her where she was going, to which she
replied that she was going to a laundress with
some linen to be washed. He pulled her shawl
on one side, and found there eleven new bags,
his property, which had been stolen out of his
warehouse. The prisoner said she was innocent
and that the forewoman of Mr. Schlemann's estab-
lishment gave her the bags. This turned out not
to be the fact. The prisoner, in her defence, en-
deavoured to make it appear that she was only the
innocent tool of another woman, but failed iu
making out that defence.

Mr. Schlemann said he would not have prose-
cuted if he had not been robbed to a large amount.

Mr. Paget—There is no occasion whatever for
you to excuse yourself. The prosecution is a very
just and proper one. It is the case of a servant
robbing her employer, whose interests she was
bound to protect.

Mr. Schlemann said he wished the case to be
summarily disposed of.

Mr. Paget—l cannot do that. The law does not
allow summary jurisdiction in a case of this sort, a
servant robbing her master. The prisoner is com-
mitted for trial.

LIVERPOOL COTTON Atil.llKE7 —This Day.

Sales probably 8,000 bales. Market dull and in-
active.

MURDER OF A GAMEKEEPER. —Oll. Thursday an
inquest was held at Wavendon, near Newpert Pagn,;l,
on the death of John White, a gamekeeper in the cmplo•!,--
meat of Captain Swabey. The facts elicited were briefly
as follows:—While the deceased, in company with an
under-keeper named Edward Farr, were in Wavendon
Wood on Christmas Eve they were met by James Inwood,
a lathrender, and William Emmerton, bricklayer, belong-
ing to Woburn Sands, who were out on a poaching eype•
dition. On finding they were discovered I,:mmerton ran
away, and he was pursued by Farr. When they had gut
away a distance of fifty yards, Farr heard a- shot fired,
and on looking round saw White falling to the ground.
Farr ran back to render assistance, and as he returned
the deceased cried out, " Farr, I'm a dead man, and it's
James Inwood that has shot me." Inwood ran away.
Farr lifted White up, but he soon afterwards expired.
Emmerton could give no account of where he was at the
time of the occurrence, but, on his way to the Fenny
Stratford Police-station, he made a statement to the fol-
lowing effect :—" I, William Emmerton, was in a field
adjoining Wavendon Wood on Christmas Eve, between
five and six o'clock, with James Inwood, going in search
of game, when we saw two men before us. We then
stopped and stood still, when Inwood said, `Shoot 'em
and I said I would not. He then said, `God strike me
dead, I will ;' when the men commenced running towards
us. I said, ' Run,' and commenced running away. When
I had got some distance I heard the report of a gun. I•
then went home." The jury returned a verdict of
" Wilful murder against James • Inwood," but expressed
their conviction that there was no evidence against
Emmerton. Inwood treated the matter with the utmost
iudiligenek

Age st lb
Sharpshooter .. 512 7
Ace of Trumps ... a 12 0
Triumpher 6 12 0
Hence 5 11 10
Woodbury Hill (h b) a 11 7
... a 11 4
Trap ... 11 4
Brandy Apple ... all 4
Tho Robber ... a 11 2
Foxholes ... 5 11 2
Savannah... ... 6 11 2
Harcourt ... 6 11 0
Hopvine 411. 0
Heurlys ... a 11 0
Risk 5 10 12
The Grand Filing and South Country Steeplechase Han-
dicap of 15 sovs each, 10 ft, and 3 if declared ou or be-
fore Monday, Dec. 23, to Messrs. Weatherby only, with
100 added; any winner of a steeplechase after Dec. 16
(at eight p.m.) 71b, twice 101 b extra ; about three miles
and a half ; 17 subs.

Ago et lb
Sprite (including
lUlb ex) a 12 8
Hornet
Cabin Boy (h b)
Arlescott (h b) a 11 7
Fairy Mount 6 11 7
Hippolyte .....
Garus a 11 2
Sinite a 11 0
Bishopton 5 10 12
The Half Bred Hunters' Stakes of 10 sovs each, 3 ft, with
100 added, for half bred huntors ; 12st each ; winners of
any handicap hurdle race or handicap steeplechase 31b,
of two handicap hurdle races or handicap steeplechase,
141 b, of three handicap hurdle races or handicap steeple-
chases 211 b, four or more 281 b extra; gentlemen riders,
professionals 51b extra ; about three miles ; 21 subs.

Age st lb
Nabocklisb. (inc. 71b
extra) 6 10 11
Sylph - 5 10 9
Pixie
Birdie a 10 7
King Alfred 6 10 7
Captain Crosstree a 10 7
Balham glO 7
Badminton

Ganymede, Kate Terry, Lawrence, Corvedale, High-
flyer, Arlescott, Walterstown, Meerschaum, The Miller,
Patience, Northern Light, Sincerity, Kingfisher, Leicester,
Orleton, Darkness, ' Sensation, Sugar Hun), Emigrant,
Tally-ho, and Forest Lane.

PROGRAMME OF ST. ALBANS STEEPLECHASES.

SATURDAY.

the St. Albans Open Steeplechase Handicap of 15 sovs
each, 10 ft, with 100 added; the winner of the Grand
Metropolitan Steeplechase at Croydon 101 b, and the
second in the same 51b, or any other winner after Nov.
22 (at nine a.m.) 71b extra ; weights not to be accumu-
lative ; about three miles and a half ; 25 subs. The
highest weight accepting being list 121 b, it has been
raised to 12st 71b, and the others in proportion.
Age st lb Ago st lb
Sir Bobby ... a 12 7 Arlescott a 11 2
Benazet al2 5 Cabin Boy (h b) all 1
Despatch ... 11 13 Badminton ... 5 10 13
Tally-ho(in.slb ex.) a 11 12 Spatchcock ... a 10 13
Hornet ... ... all 11 Hiply3lyte ... alO 13
Chimney S weep(in- Greenland ... 6 10 12
eluding 101 b ex.) 5 11 11 Lawrence (11 b) ... a 10 9
Pensioner (pd) 6 11 7 Highflyer „. a 10 9
Sprite 11 7 King Alfred ... 610 9
Patience (h b) ... all 5 Harcourt (pd) 610 9
Tusculanum ... 5 11 5 NorthernLight(n b) 6 10 9
L. S. D. ... all 4 Polestar ... 510 9
Clansman 5 11 4 Bishopton ... 5 C
The Local Cup (the gift of the licensed victuallers in the
tow and neighbourhood of St. Albans), for horses the
property of persons residing within 40 miles of St.
Albans, except winners of a handicap steeplechase ; llst
each; and any winner over country 71b extra. Once
round the Steeplechase Course, starting in frcut of the
Grand Stand.

The Maiden Steeplechase Plate of 30 sous; llst 71b each;
if beaten three times previous to the time of starting
allowed 71b, twice 51b; winners after the day of entry
bib extra ; the winner to be sold for 50 sous ; about two
miles.

The Earl and Countess of Warwick and family
intend to winter in Nice, and will probably make a tour
in Italy afterwards. The noble earl and countess do not
propose returning home till after Easter.
Viscount and Viscountess Amberley are expected
home from their tour in the United States early in March.

Lord and Lady Headley and family have arrived
in town from their seat, Aghadoe House, Killarney.

&TER RIF I C GAS EXPLOSION.—On Wednesday
night about 10 o'clock there was a tremendous explosion
of gas in the dwelling-house of Mr. Samuel French, 46,
Exmouth-street, late Holmes-street, Stepney. There was
an escape of gas in the back parlour, and Mr. French went
into the apartment with a lighted candle. A loud report
followed, the front door was blown off the hinges into the
street, nearly every pane of glass in the windows smashed,
a panel of the shutter covering the front window shat-
tered, and the back of the house blown out. Mr. French,
who is upwards of 60 years of age, was seriously injured
by the explosion, and his face and head were scorched.
Great fears are entertained that the calamity will prove
fatal. He has been in the service of Giesler and Co.,
the wine merchants, in Fenchurch-street, for 35 years.
SENTENCE OF A COURT-MARTIAL.—The sentences
passed by the general courts-martial which recently as-
sembled at Chatham garrison for the trials of Privates
Thomas Roche, 14th Regiment ; John Jackson, 82d Regi-
ment ; and Henry Cardock, 2d Regiment, were promul-
gated to the troops at head-quarters yesterday morning.
The prisoners were all tried for acts of gross insubordina-
tion, Roche having assaulted Lieutenant Cre. gh, an
officer of his regiment, and the prisoner Jackson having
threatened to shoot any person who attempted to appre-
hend him at the time he was absent from the barracks
without leave. The court sentenced each of the pri-
soners to two years' hard labour, and in addition awarded
Roche fifty lashes, and sentenced Jackson to be marked
with the letters " 8.C." and to be dismissed from her ita•
jesty's service with ignominy.

A glorious holiday audience assembled last night
at "Old Drury." Long before the opening of the
doors the crowd of holiday makers congregated
before every one of the numerous entrances of the
theatre, was far beyond all former Boxing-nights,
and when the massive doors were thrown open,
had the occasion been the gratuitous distribution
of Bank of England notes, the crush to
obtain 'admission could not have been greater.
IVithin 10 minutes every available seat was occu-
pied, yet such was the intense anxiety of the out-
riders that, in spite of all remonstrance, they in-
sis-ed upon still itig for adinis.,„ion, in the hove
of securing CVPiI StalidiPg MUM. 11:0F!! N‘lin 01,7
t:: ined even this very questional;le comfot t
felt content, i,s it Cluistmns time,
and those who failed had nothing left but to e-
turn to the pay-box and there receive their money
back, which hundreds were compelled to do. The
appearance of the interier of the grand theatre,
crowded from floor to ceiling with laughing, jolly,
good-tempered people, is of itself a sight worth a
great deal of trouble to witness, as on no other
occasion than " Boxing-night" is a similar sight
to be seen. Everybody has come to see the
pantomime, and the farce that invariably precedts
it is merely looked upon as a breathing time for
the crowded and delighted audience, who are not
slow in passing their opinions aloud upon the merits
of the perfoimers. The farce over, excitement reaches
its climax as Mr. Tully makes his way up the centre
of the orchestra to lead the overture. The bell
rings, three slight taps are beard of the musical
director's baton, and then the harmonious introduc-
tion to Mr. E. L. Blanchard's great pantomime for
1867 commences. The selection of music is of course
highly appropriate to the merry occasion, and
therefore it embraces most of the melodies that have
become popular during the year. Each air has its
admirers, but when the first few notes of the comic
song " Not for Joseph" is heard the whole
of the " gods" take up the strain, and join
the chorus with such hearty goodwill, as to
make the walls ring again with uproarious
delight. Cheer after cheer followed the close
of the jolly chorus, and an attempt was made to
obtain its repetition, but the many amongst the
gigantic audience were so anxious for the panto-
mime that the overture was allowed to pro-
ceed to its conclusion, and then up went the
curtain on the latest production of our
King of Pantomime writers, which is entitled,
" Faw Fee Fo Fum ; or, Harlequin Jack the
Giant Killer." First ;,we have a view of the
Giant's Causeway by moonlight, with a bevy of
Leprechauns with glowworm lamps, seeking the
four-leaved shamrock. They don't find it, how-
ever, but are alarmed by the coming of the Giants,
who have convened a " monster meeting" at this
appropriate spot. Here we have same clever phan-
tasmagoria of giants going to the meeting, and
finally the great gathering of the Irish giant, Brian
Boroihme ; the Greek giant, Mr. Titan ; the Chi-
nese giant, Mr. Chang ; the Syrian giant, Mr.
Anak ; with Messrs. Og, Gog, Magog, Polyphe-
mus, and other big-boned personages. For their
resolutions, which, with the Irish giant in the chair,
are of a most Fenian character, we must refer to
their debate as given in Mr. Blanchard's report of
the meeting. The alarmed Leprechauns turn in-
formers, and convey the particulars to the Fairy
Ondine (Miss Poole), of the Peerless Pool. Of
course this leads to a complication ; but, all interior,
Miss Kate Harfieur as Nectarine, chief of the Fruit
Fairies, makes some pretty speeches, in a very
pretty dress, to a crowd of very pretty fairies, in a
very pretty garden, and Miss Poole sings a very
pretty song, " I am a light, bright, water sprite," to
a very pretty tune, scored by J. 11. Tully. After
all these pretty things, which young masters and
misses must go to see, we come to a clever change
of scene, wherein, by slidings horizontal and ver-
tical, and workings which a Yankee would describe
as " slantinglicular," the fairy gardens become a
village on the Cornish coast. The Duke of
Cornwall (Mr. Moreland), his daughter Adel-
gitlia (Miss Edith Stuart.), with his knights,
returned from the Holy Land, al:pear, and Jack,
who seems to be " Nobody's Child," comes in flying
a kite. The giant Corn-loran swims from St.
Michael's Mount, discomfits the Duke, carries off
his daughter, and the brave knights run away. Not
so Jack; he pursues the giant, cuts off his head in
the sea, rescues the duke's daughter, and returns
in triumph to hear the triumphant distich—

" This is the valiant Cornish man,
Who slew the giant Cormoran !"

" The Logan Stone," on the road to St. Ives, is
the next scene. The man with seven wives, in
terror of a two-headed giant, comes in. Jack
drovs Blunderbore, the Welsh giant, into a hole
" whence ships take ballast when they go to sea."
Here he receives the Sword of Sharpness, the Coat
of Darkness, and the Shoes of Swiftness, with
which his after-exploits are achieved. 'The in-
terior of Fee-Faw-Fo-Fum's Castle shows us the
three-headed giant at home, mourning the fate of
Blunderbore. The old legend of the log of wood
which Jack places in his bed to be pounded by the
Giant's club is represented, and finally, to the air
of " Not for Joseph," the log gets the clubbing in-
tended for the bones of Jack. Finally, Jack per-
suades the Giant to perform the hasty-pudding
trick, by taunting him to follow his example, and
the three-headed Giant falls a victim to his con-
queror. The battlements of the Giant's Castle, in
ruins, lea 7s up to the " Fairy Boudoir, and Presen-
tation of the Bridal Gifts" of Jack and Adelgitha.
This, the gra at transformation scene, is one of the
most resplendent beauty and refined taste. The
sprays of the four-leaved shamrock open and dis-
close to view. a palace of lacework, and drooping
orient pear's, in the centre of which is a gigantic
specimen of fairy jewelry, resplendent with glitter-
ing diamonds. Fay 3 in sparkling attire flash out
the splendid prismatic rays of the rainbow, and
when to that is added the effect of emerald and
ruby-coloured fire and the electric light combined, a
scene of dazzling brilliancy is disclosed, altogether
eclipsing anything that bas ever yet been produced
even by the renowned scenic artist Mr. Beverley. The
applause was tremendous, and before anything ap-
proaching silence could be procured the painter had
to bow his acknowledgments. The harlequinade now
commences with three sets of pantoinimists :—Three
Harlequins (Messrs. J. Currnack, S. Saville, and
Alger), three Columbine:; (Mesdames Adele Marian,
Fanny Lauri, and F. Valckeneare), three Panta-
loons (Messrs. Barnes, J. Morris, and J. Rus-
sell), three Clowns. (Messrs. 11. Boleno, C. Lauri
and Tom Dot), and two Sprites (Messrs. Sidney
and Jelina).
Mr. Chatterton Las, in this instance, as on all
other occasions, kept his word—he promised the
most gorgeous pantomime ever produced on the
boards of the theatre over which he presides ; and
anything more brilliant or splendid could not have
been imagined or invented. The entire audience
were pleased beyond measure, and the Christmas
annual for 1867 must be pronounced a great and
well-deserved, in fact, a gigantic buccess.

Gilbert A'Beckett ; the scenery by Matt. Morgan,
Hawes Craven, and Messrs. Pitt, Willey, and
Cuthbert ; the music by Mr. Betjeman ; and the
stage arrangements by Mr. Augustus Harris. Of
the plot it is first "our cue to speak," and, so far
as we understand it, it is after this wise :—Black
Diamond, the Coal King (Mr. Lingbam) seated
upon his throne, and appropriately surrounded by
blackguards, opens the burlesque by drinking a
health to his lady-love, Brilliantina. While dwel-
ling on his passion for the Diamond Queen he
receives a telegram from his old friend the Baron,
who, worried to death by his troublesome nephew
and niece, thus asks his advice. Black Diamond
replies, and has no sooner despatched the mes-
s:tee than his guards, who have been on the look
out for her, announce that they have captured
B: Oft s Florence Evelcigli), Black
Diamond threatens her pith his vengeance, when
she, art fully feigning affection for him, suddenly
snatches him from Lis charmed sceptre, and
transports him forthwith to her own palace in the
regions of the White Diamond. The Baron (Mr.
W. 11. Payne) has been undergoing an unusual
amount of annoyance at the hands of his two
little charges—the two babes, Mileudo (Mr. Fred.
Payne) and Primrosehilina (Mr. J. Clarke) —who
devote the whole of their day to the destruction
of the china, glass, furniture, and perishable
property belonging to their uncle. Maid Marian
(Miss Maria Harris), their nurse, does her best to
defend them, but in vain, and affairs are brought
to a crisis by the arrival of Black Diamond's
telegram, recommending the Baron to summon
his Villain (Mr. J. D. Stoyle) and get him to
" spiflicate" the children in the wood. The fearful
purport of this message is caught by Maid Marian,
who, threatening to call in the assistance of Robin
Hood, is thrown into a dungeon by the order of the
Baron. Freed from the nurse he sends for his
creature, the Villain, a bargain is soon struck—the
children are fetched, and overcome, notwithstanding
the Villain's unprepossessing appearance, by the
attractions of some sugar-sticks, and induced to
accompany him for a walk in the wood. Robin
Hood • (Miss Amy Sheridan), with Little John
(Miss M. Marshall), Will Scarlett (Miss Nelly
Harris), and the Merry Men happen to be holding
a pic-nic in the forest. Marian arrives, and an-
nounces the danger that is hanging over the babes.
All determine to capture the Baron, and depart in
search of him. The Villain at length reaches a
secluded spot with the children, and is about to de-
spatch them, when their tears move him, and he
abandons his guilty design. The Baron, however,
who has been suspecting something wrong, and
watching, intervenes, when a fight ensues, in which
the Villain is worsted, and the defenceless babes are
left to their fate. Making up their bed of leaves,
they are about to terminate their career in the usual
manner when Brilliantina appears and sends the
Robins to their assistance. Instead of burying the
birds arouse them, and at length come in such num-
bers that the babes are struck with the idea of taking
them home to attack their uncle. For this pur-
pose they drill them, and all of them march off
toward the Castle. The Baron has in the mean-
time been caught by some of the Merry Men, and
and " ducked" in a neighbouring stream, while the
Villain, who has patched himself up with sticking
plaster, has been found by the others, whom he has
joined, after having promised to reform his ways.
The Baron, having dragged himself home, goes to
bed with a severe cold. Here he is tortured by his
nephew, his conscience, and the cat, and is at
length aroused by the news that the castle is
attacked on all sides. Eager for the fray, he puts
on his armour, flies to the battlements, where a
desperate struggle of all concerned ensues, leading
to the mutual intervention of Black Diamond and
Brilliantina, and an adjournment to the transfor-
mation.

THE SUN, LOIND

what in danger of being obscured by the very ela-
borate machinery with which it is worked out.
The first scene is Dismal Swamp. The plot is
laid ; Cock Robin is to be destroyed ; Miasma (Mr.
Thompson) will do it ; he is the agent of Satana
(Miss Goodall) ; those renowned villains, Sparrow,
Cuckoo, and Raven are the instruments selected.
The scene changes to the abode of Fresh Air, a
splendid abode. An assemblage of all the little
" dicky birds" takes place, a gathering our juvenile
friends will never forget ; the marriage just about
to be celebrated by the wicked plotters. Court-
martial is held, the villains are condemned, and
saved only by the transformation into bears.

The next scene shows us the interment, then
follow the transformation into mortals, the home of
the beaux, who have become compound house-
,holders—with a vote—then ensued rapidly Gaffer
and Farmer Gray's cottage, a fairy aquarium, an
enchanted wood, a mystic fountain—a series of
scenes very brilliant, and closing with a St.
James's Palk after a snow storm. The
ballets introduced into these scenes would
require a long description to do them
justice. The corps are extremely numerous, and
the dresses very striking. In the transformation
scene no effort of colouring has been spared. Much
of their effect was lost in consequence of mecha-
nical " hitches," which are apt to occur on boting-
night, but a few rehearsals will repair this defect.
It is equally impossible to speak of all the characters
who deserved a good word. Miss Caroline Parkes
as Cock Robin, Miss Goodall as Salimir, and
Miss Furtado as Jenny Wren, distinguished
themselves in such a way that we cannot omit re-
ference to them. The harlequinade produced bois-
terous laughter. There are fcur clowns, two harle-
quins, two columbines, two pantaloons, five sprites,
&c. Mr. Lauri, in this part of the performance,
merits a special mention. The piece lasted rather
too long—over four hours. It can be made a little
brisker with advantage. Attention, however, hardly
ever flagged. Mr. Smith has been in possession of
the Lyceum for only ten days, and considering that
fact, the way in which the piece has been presented
is marvellous. Though he had to ask the forbear-
ance of the public, a few rehearsals will make this
elaborate pantomime one of the most popular—or
we mistake.