The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-18 00:00:00

174
(rlxuaor* end=

HER MAJESTY, &c•

OSBORNE, Dec. 17.
Princess Louise and Prince Leopold attended
Divine Service at Whippingham Church
yesterday•
The Rev. George Prothero oflicia,ted.
The Queen and Princess Louise walked and
drove in the grounds this morning. Prince and
Princess Christian walked out, and Prince Leopold
and Princess Beatrice went out also.
Dr. Jenner left to-day for London.

The Ballot.

-+--

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR, —ln the Devonshire town of Barnstaple, or
Barmy', as it is sometimes called for brevity—ag
Sarum is for Salisbury—the ballot system was used
prior to the month of September, 1690, with .re'
spect to municipal elections. in one of the by°
laws of this borough, of that date, it was provided
that, when the mayor for the year ensuing cannot
be agreed upon by common consent, " the more part
of the common council shall advisedly and discreetly
nominate four such men of the common council as
be of ability convenient and meet for the office
.of mayoraltie, then for the next year fol-
lowing, and the name of two of theta
incontinently shall be written, separated, and
fixed severally on two potts for the same piirPngs
therefore made, then and there as hath been used
and also accustomed to be sett in a certain place al)"
pointed, and every of the said mayor, aldermen, and
council to have one ball in their hands also provided
for the same, and holding both their hands close'
shall put one hand into one pott and the other hall'
into the other pott, at one instant time : and letting
his ball fall secretly into what pott he list shall take
his hands out of the same potts, showing them forth
openly in such ways as it may not be knows; for
whome he giveth his voyce, nor, in what pot'
he putteth his ball, which being so done and
perused particularly, from the lowest to the
highest, the same potts forthwith to be seen, tha
it may be known in what potts—most balls be--
and then the names of two other menne of the Com-
mon Council shall be written severally, and set upon
the potts, and to be perused by the Mayor, Alder
men, and Common Council, with balls, in like
manner, and forme as it was done before removing
the two first names—and afterwards those two mons
names having most voices and balls to be again the
third time, sett separately, on the said two
in such manner as it was before—and then at the
last, he whose name is fixed on that pott wherel3
most balls shall be found—shall be preferred to the
h
office of the Mayoraltie of the said borough and par's,
for the year next following as hath been accustomea'
The same plan was directed by the bye-law's t° be
observed in the election of aldermen, coninini;
councell-men, and recorder, whose appointor
were vested in the corporation'. In 1830 the Mal",
would have been balloted for, if a contest had o_o_,
curred, as would be' the case, it seems, even nowy;
The cups are wooden, and furnished with 13011°,0
brass pans, in which are holes through which the
balls drop, and one of them bears the following 111
potts,
scription—viz. : " Potts and Balls, m.DLYI:,,
would be interesting to know whether a similar
custom has prevailed in other boroughs in the olden
time.—l am, Sir, yours obediently,
London, Dec. 17, 1866. CHIT. COOXE•

NEW CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT'

AT THE ALHAMBRA.

The theatrical, musical, and miscellaneous Per'
formances at this Theatre of Varieties have been
entirely changed for Christmas. A new grand We'
tacular and allegorical ballet, representing the w°ll-
- of Industry, and employing the services of one
hundred coryphe'es and fifty juvenile figurantes'
has been placed upon the stage, backed by °13,,
of those marvellously constructed and brilliantly
painted scenes, with novel changes, that have wOll
for their painter, Mr. William Callcott, a Europel
reputation. This spectacular ballet is called "1114
Bulrush Fens and the Golden Lake; or, the Trion'
of Industry." The dances and movements have been
arranged by Mr. Milano, acknowledged to be the
leading ballet-master of London, who has been °Pie;
cially engaged this Christmas toy produce this bale
and another romantic ballet of action, called 1.,
Mountain Gorge; or, the Brigand's Strongbelj'i
which is part of the new programme, and is full:s,
the most striking evolutions and dances, executecl4
one hundred female dancers and pantomimists. ,
scenery for this second ballet has also been pai°,,teo
by Mr. William Callcott. No care nor expense:,o
been spared to make the costumes in both tu,ret
ballets worthy of the scenery. To give proper Tile.
to the dances, the management have
Theatreengagedl"-
Anais Tourneur, principal danseuse of the f
Imperial du Chatelet, Paris, and Mdle.
the English and Continental Theatres. A j3-t-,
and effective company of the best pantorainai,s
e
h
including MM. D'Auban and Warde, from a
Porte St. Martin Theatre, Paris, have als° beeto
engaged for a pantomimic ballet, appropriate.oil
the season, called " Where's the Police ?" whari e
some extraordinary illusions and novel dances 0
introduced, and in which Master Tommy Pot
Master Perks, the cleverest children on the stage Dt.
their peculiar way, will take a prominent Parer,
To give proper effect to the theatrical and intro
'
mediate music, the band, conducted by M. giviefo.
has been permanently increased to sixty bla,aci
mentalists, who are provided with all the best ade,
latest musical novelties. The vocal and eeulie
obi
partments have been strengthened, the principal „0
ject of the management being to exclude obtruslol,
vulgarity from the latter ; and the gymnastija
al
tertainments, which always have formed, an h
~..
ways will form, a striking feature at this estanl'a
ment, will be chiefly supported by the Moo
Farinis, father and son. The auditorium has Al) its
re-decorated, re- carpeted, and enlarged • 513" y
comfort, size, and brilliancy are now unequalled of
any similar establishment in the world. A series flt
fashionable morning performances will be give°
Christmas, commencing on Boxing-day.

MR. J. STRIDE'S BENEFIT.—To-morrow eve
Mr. J. Stride, of the Box Department of Dr-ail:is
Theatre, takes his benefit, on which occasion the of"' last
classical play of "Faust" will be performed for tho
rr.
time. The politeness and attention the habitues of 9rutitlo
lane Theatre invariably receive from Mr. Strido etb-nr,
-i
him to a very substantial acknowledgment, and top°%rj
row evening will enable those who appreciate his la

to make him an adequate return. ,oro•
A NEW MASS, by M. Amedee Mereaux, °-
st•
duced at the Church of St. Vincent, at Rouen,

Cecilia's Day.
THE OLYMPIC has, it appears, passed 4' duct
new management, that of Mr. Webster, who Will collc eot
it on a broader principle than that adopted by the rtenolt
conductor. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mathews pionlise

in
anearlype
weara ancer.e surprised to learn, goes if
seth:
Mr. TOOLS,
Holborn Theatre, and Mr. Belmore will transfer la"
vices to
VlCTORstotheA deiphitheatre
. °
Huoo is said to be building a
near his residence in Guernsey where two unPell°l, Are
plays by him, " Torquemada " and " La Grand'tar°/
to see the footlights. 0- f
MR. A. MELLON announces an operetta 00
composition, " The Terrible Hymen," in which 31'"14.0 be
5
m artorelli Garcia and Signor G. Garcia will apPc4ri
performed before the pant „
omime. ;d
THE DUCHESS OF MALAKOFF.—The (;)000
Duchess of Malakoff has been staying at COECIP:;:iot6'
on a visit to her Empress cousin. Thefollowing
a led
was related the other day of the circumstances which
of
to the marriage of the fair Spanish aristocrat and the 6p,
dicr Pelissier. At one of the Court balls'the 31001131 11.:ed
pencil to be standing near a flower-stand, and perceibi
Donna Valera, who had just gathered a rose. " 3°15,0
venture to hope,, madam, that you would bestovi
flower on me 2" "No," was. the somewhat discour::o,
reply ; "but if it were a laurel branch I should do so.
-Dia
couraged by the gracious termination of the reply, D'9
it' hero of Sebastopol took a seat next to the fair cousin of 1
three
gracieuse souveraine, and commenced a siege which ort,
months ended in the captuxe of the lady's hand and
Ile
—Utter from Paris.