The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-25 00:00:00

REI? OLIJESTI'S BUCKIIOUNDS.

The Royal pack met on Friday last at Buck-bridge, ne'r
Binfield. A young untried deer was uncarted at Westley
bridge, in that neighbourhood, and went away to Jellot'b"
hill, Binfield, and on towards Billingbear, and near to the
Warren House turned back to Biufield, the bottom of Cab"
bage-hill, close by Hawthorne-hill, in Mr. Blane's Park'
Winkfiold, where it was taken after ono of the best and
fastest runs of the season, occupying ono hour and thirty
minutes, over a good country, with plenty of stiff fences,
which caused spills and loose horses to be unusually num,'"
rous. We are sorry to state that this young and promising.
deer had an effusion of blood on the chest, causing it to be
killed. Lord Colvillo was present, and rode well up to the
hounds, and escaped all casualties. Thera was a very larg°
attendance.

On Monday the meet was at Hillingdon village,. whero,
there was also a largo field, and the deer, " The Doctor,'
sas turned out at Mr. Brabury's farm, Long-lane, and
he went away pointing for Ickenham village, but being
headed by a keeper, he turned short to the left into
Swakeloy's
,Park, where ho again got headed, and turned
short back across Mr. Mills's Park, on by Hillingdon"
common, Hayes, Orawfoa, and Harlington, and ran veil
fast down by Hatton and Bedfont to the South-Western
Railway, which ho crossed near the Reformatory, and on
into Feltham village, where ho was taken in the wheel"
wright's shop, after a run of one hour and a half. Thera
woro a great many falls, and at ono fence a " double.
There were several horses down at ono time.

Covent Garden Theatre.

Performed for the first time in England, at the aboVe
'ar-famed establishment on Monday last, where it is con-
;limed nightly to crowded audiences, Offenbach's cele-
brated operatic extravaganza, " The Grand Duchess of
Gerolstein," has already achieved is great hold on public
favour, which will doubtless be considerably increased
when the work becomes more generally known and
appreciated. At the outset, however, we must be Per-
mitted to express the general opinion which provallg
amongst those who have had opportunities of witnessing
the performance at Paris, where Mademoiselle Schneider
in the part of the Grand Duchess has obtained for herself
so great a reputation, that there appears a general tame-
ness, a want of vivacity in the different parts which, at
any rate on the stage, is one of the most successful charac-
teristics of Continental nations, and, in this particular in"
stance, unquestionably most important qualification for
the success of the author's production. In the English;ver-
sion, which has been translated by Charles Lamb Kennel,
it is reduced to three acts, and several modifications
and improvements have been made since tho opening
night. The plot is by no means an intricate one, and it
intended as a skit upon one of the German Principalities
in the early part of last century. The Grand Duchess
(Miss Julia Matthews), like most young ladies of a similar
age (twenty), does not seem to know exactly what is the
matter with her, and shows an inclination to bestow her
affections in the most unsuitable direction. Moreover, 5
century and a half ago ladies of her exalted rank had op"
portunities of indulging in two passions—love and war,
her taste for which aro the leading features throughou
the piece. Private Fritz (Mr. W. Harrison) is the unfor-
tunate victim selectedlor the "ups and downs" of fortune,
and in the first act rapidly advances, through the favour
of the Grand Duchess, who singles him out at a review °f
her troops, from the rank of a private to that of Corporal,
Sergeant, Lieutenant, &c., until it culminates in his aP"
pointment as Commander-in-Chief, Baron Vermuth, Von
Boch-Bier, and Count Thschalkscoren Vergi ss-3fein-
Nicht. In the meantime, General Boom (Mr. Aynslel
Cook) suffers from the inevitable consequences
of the favouritism displayed towards Fritz, and
is removed from his command, whilst Baron Puck
(Mr. Frank Matthews), who has been preceptor to his so- •
vereign, to relieve symptoms of uneasiness and pre-occupa-
tion which have become apparent in the Grand Duchess,
has declared war, is unable to stem the tide of affairs, and
although Prince Paul (Mr. Stoyle), who is engaged to beer
Royal Highness, pathetically pleads his suit, ho is put oft
uutil another day, notwithstanding his fascinating aPPear-
ance in the gorgeous costume of a bridegroom. Wand('
(Miss Augusta Thomson), whose part is an important one,
and played to p,rfection, has caused the Grand Duchess
several disagreeable sensations from her attachment to the
favourite Fritz. The most striking melodies in the first
act are— "Oh ! I doat on the Military," and "Lo, here
the sabre of my Sire !" which were rendered by Miss
Julia Matthews in charming style, and met with an enthu-
siastic reception. This young lady is remarkably self-
possessed, dresses in excellent taste, and her attitudes on
the stage aro entirely in keeping with the character she
sustains ; but there were one or two occasions when, Ive
thought, a little more dash and spirit would have made her
acting more perfect.
Tho second act represents a scene in an apartment of
the Palace wherein Baron Grog (Mr. Odell) is introduced
as an envoy extraordinary of the Elector of Steis-Steis"
Steis Langerhosen Shortsenburg, Prince Paul's father,
and is led to suppose he is to have an audience with her
Royal Highness; but, as it turns out, General Fritz is re-
turning to court the same day crowned with victory, the
audience is deferred to a future period. A grand Court is
held in honour of General Fritz, who, at the request of
the Grand Duchess, describes in a rondo the laughable
denouement of his success. Her Highness then dismisses
the Court, in consequence of certain weighty interests of
State requiring a private interview with General Fritz,
when decidedly the most amusing interlude of the whole
affair is enacted, and poor Fritz is sorely tempted in his
faith to Wanda on behalf of a lady of the Court, in whose
interest the Grand Duchess entreats him in the most im-
passioned and fascinating manner. This may be the more
readily appreciated, if it is understood that the love-making

was on hor own bchalf. Ho resists these overtures and a"

tains the permission of her Highness to marry Wanda.
Meanwhile a conspiracy to destroy him is:being carried on
byWrince Paul, Gen. Boom, and Baron Puck, in which the
Grand Duchess joins, naturally disgusted with her favo-

rite's ingratitude-I'Th° curtain falls on a grand tableau
in which Fritz and Wanda (in bridal apparel) pay their
respects to the Grand Duchess, attended by a retinue of

the ladies and nobles of the court. In the Third Act the
Grand Duchess has an interview with the conspirators,
amongst whom Baron Grog, whom she sees for the first
time, takes her fancy, and obtains the audience which had
so long been denied him, whilst the others are despatched
to make the final arrangements for the assassination of

General Fitz. On their return the Grand Duchess has

changed her mind, and refuses to have the favorite killed,

but does not object to their playing him a trick to gratify
their revenge, and at the same time consents to a betrothal
. _

with Prince Paul. In furtherance of this school e the unfor-

tunate Fritz, who has been incessantly disturbei during
the wedding night by having too many well-wishers, i 0
suddenly called upon to meet the enemy, who are reported
to have crossed the frontier ; but General Boom at once
despatches him to a spot where, instead of finding some Of
' • '

his troops, ho meets with an indignant husband, Who OP'
posing him to be General Boom, and a surreptitious

visitor to his wife, soundly thrashes him with a walking'

stick. On limping back to the camp he describes his suffer-
ings to the Grand Duchess, who is more exasperated by
by the appearance of " the sabre of my Sire," which is SO
battered that it presents a tolerable resemblance to a cork"

screw or second-rate toasting fork. Her Highness takes
advantage of the opportunity aad strips him of all 1
previously acquired honours, but as he wants to learn to,
read and write, ho is made village schoolmaster
in accordance with his suggestion. Prince Paul is made
happy at last, but not until Baron Grog, who evidently
looked like stepping into Fritz's shoes, was discovered to
possess a wife and three small children. We had almost

forgotten to allude to Nepomuc (Mr. Fred. Payne) wh°s°
pantomimic action as an aide-de-camp was exceedingly

droll, and afforded intense amusement to the audience.
The music, which is of the most pleasing nature, 161
admirably performed under the superintendence of 311.'

Betjemann.

A meeting has been held to-day to :receive the
report of the Oriental Gas Company, which stated,
that in submitting to the shareholders a, statement
~f accounts for the twelve months ending 30th
June last, the directors had the pleasure to state
that the progress of the Company bad been
such as to satisfy their fullest expectations.
It was announced in the last report that about 200
street lamps of the existing contract remained to 11
put up, but this number was subsequently increased
to 265, to which must be added 33 public lamps
erected on the Maidau by order of the authorities,
making a total increase of 298 public lights during
the year. Since June last an order has been re;
ceived from the autho'rities for the erection of 30x
additional public lamps. The general revolt°
account shows a balance available for dividend--;
after adding £l,OOO to the reserve fund---01
£12,192 ss. 10d., from which the directors reeeni;
mend a distribution of 6 per cent., free of /nom,
tax, payable on the 3rd day of December next,
making, with the interim payment of 3 per cent. (i:
sth June last, a total dividend of 9 per cent. for tl;i
year. .