The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-21 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDE T THEATRE.

The pantomime which is to be produced at this
theatre on the 26th, under the sole management of
Mr. Alfr*ed Mellon, and which has for several
months past been in active preparation, will be of
a character so original and costly as .quite to mark
a new epoch in the annals of this sort of entertain-
ment. The ever-fruitful Arabian .Nights supply
the plot, which is nothing less than " Ali Baba and
the Forty Thieves," a subject by the way, which
though often previously handled is still ever fresh,
affording, as it does, such ample scope for new treat-
ment, and possessing those excellent dramatic capa-
bilities so essential to a piece of this class. The
burlesque opening is from the pen of Mr. Gilbert it
Beckett, the scenery from the pencil of Messrs. T.
Grieve, Matt. Morgan, Watford Grieve, Dayes,
Perkins, Caney, and Thompson, the dances ar-
ranged by Mons. Desplaccs, and the music by Mr.
Montgomery, while the whole is produced under the
immediate direction of Mr. Harris, a fact that in
itself, no less than the engagement of the Messrs.
Paynes, speaks volumes of promise for the, ap-
proaching season at this theatre.

Subjoined is a brief outline of the plot :
Orchobrand, Mr. Lingham, a disreputable money
lender, who supports joint stock companies and does
a large business at 80 per cent., is discovered in his
cabalistic office whereheis visited byAbdallah, Miss
Kate Carson, the object of whose call is the renewal
of a bill. Being a member of the "Forty Thieves
Club," and consequently extremely fast, Orchobran d
refuses, but on the solicitation of Abdallah-and a
prospect of making something out of it, he consents
to give three days' grace. About to deposit the do-
cument with others in his strong box he is surprised
by the sudden appearance of the Genius of the Ara-
bian Nights, Miss Bennett, who censures him severely
for the course he is pursuing, threatens him with the
consequences, and warns him of his inevitable doom
at the hands of the Genii, who are watching his evil
career. Abdallah returns delighted with his three
days' grace, which, with a proper disregard of his
financial condition, he celebrates by a magnificent
fete in the cavern. A neighbouring pacha is robbed,
his wealth supplying the table and his Bayaderes and
Circassian Ahnees the guests. While the Forty
Thieves, however, plunder the forest on the one
hand, Ali Baba the wood cutter, Mr. Payne, de-
stroys it gradually on the other, picking up his bread,
but very little of it, by felling the trees. 'While be-
wailing his fate withGanem, his son, Mr. P. Payne,
and his donkey, he is seized by the Bagdad Inspec-
tor, Mr. Thompson, who with his police has been
long on the look out for the Forty Thieves, and for
the captain of whom he takes Ali Baba to be. A scuffle
frees Ali Baba, who with his son and donkey finds
himself at the entrance of the Thieves' cavern. In
his flight he has been wiled hither byDryadella,Miss
Graham, and her sister wood nymphs, who; despair-
ing of their lot, harassed by the thieves on the one
hand, and cut down, a sister falling with every tree,
by Ali Baba on the other, determine to play off one
evil against the other, help the wood cutter to dis-

cover wealth to free him from the . obligations of
toil, and by his discovery hasten on the final de-
struction of the robber horde. He goes home, and
to measure his newly found wealth, sends Morgiana,
Miss Harland, to borrow a sieve of his elder brother
Cassim, Mr. Sanger, who, suspecting something, is
kind enough to come round himself. Cassim soon
discovers the treasure and worms the secret of its
acquisition out of Ali Baba, who, however, refuses
to tell where the cavern is situated. This difficulty
18 spec lily cleared up by Ganem, who produces a
carrot with which Cassim bribes the donkey. The
latter, spite the efforts of the whole family, tears off
for the cave with Cassim after him. Here the two
arrive just after Abdallah has been seized, at the
expiration of his three days' grace, in the very midst
of his revels. Cassitn is of course rapidly disposed
off, but the donkey,• evading the Thieves, makes
good his escape, pursued, however, by Hassarac,
Miss Sanger, who has succeeded to the command of
the Forty. The plot now thickens, Hassarac hav-
ing followed the donkey to Ali Baba's door, where
be is met by Orchobrand, who, under the guise of
au old-clothesrnan, supplies him with a merchant's
dress, and fortflars labelled " Cod liver oil," with
which he is to introduce himself and thieves into
Ali Baba's confidence and premises. Morgiana,
who makes use of the Inspector's weakness for her,

to set justice on his tract, suspects Hassarac and his
professions. Ali Baba, however, admits the stranger
and his supposed oil, and after,a skirmish between
the Inspector and Ganem, who resents the former's
attention to Morgiana, all is going well till night time,
when a series of catastrophes and discoveries take
place in Ali Baba's garden. Ganem serenades
Morgiaua on the trombone, a method of declaring
his heart in the right place, which naturally awakes
the whole neighbourhood. •Ali Baba is aroused,
and armed with a blunderbuss wreaks his vengeance
on the cats. However, still unquiet in his mind,
he comes out with a ladder to see if any one is on
the other side of the wall. Ganem has also brought
his ladder with a view to a short cut to Morgiana's
chamber. Both father and son grope about in
the dark, finally setting their respective ladders
against each othe. They meet at the top with the
natural denouement and consequences. The In-
spector rushes in at the noise. . Cogia rushes out
with the watering pot, and justice is dealt out pretty
freely in the dark in every direction but the right ;
the Inspector being finally drenched and overcome.
When all is again still Morgiana quits the house,

hoping to meet Ganem, -whose rob() has managed to
arouse her, but her lamp going out, she at once be-
takes herself to the cod liver oil hard by, to make
the discovery that every jar contains a thief. At
this crisis the Inspector revives, and in triumph an-
nounces, that his plan is now to be crowned with
success. He motions to his who have been
concealed, to approach ; gets Morgiana to give Has-
sarac's signal, when the whole Forty Thieves rise
up to be captured in a body by the Bagdad Police.
Hassarac alone remains, but he has made the most
of his time inside the house, having emptied
the plate basket and robbed everybody he
has come across. Ali Baba, who has
been indulging freely in the bottle, calls for a dance,
and Hassarac endeavours to turn it to account by
stabbing his host, who joins, as well as he can under •

the circumstances, in the exhilarating amusement.
At last Hassarac makes his grand coltp, but is foiled
by Morgiana, who has parried every thrust. He
shouts for his thieves, but his call is answered by
the Inspector, by whom he is seized. Justice is
vindicated, as Orchobraud rises to meet his doom
and receive his sentence in " the Enchanted Home
of the Genii, on the golden heights of Sunshine."
When it is added that the comic business is sus-
tained by Mr. Fred Payne as Harlequin, Mdlle.
Esta as Columbine, Mr. Paul Herring as Pantaloon,
and Mr. Harry Payne as Clown, and that one of the
features of the after part will be a representation of
Oxford and Cambridge boat race, it may be gathered
that the manager of this great theatre has spared
no pains or expense to maintain its reputation as
the home of colossal spectacle.

THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE FRENCH TROOPS FROM
MEXICO. —PARIS, Dec. 19.—The Moniteur de Sow, in its
weekly political bulletin, says The expeditionary corps
in Mexico continues its movement of concentration with-
out encountering any serious difficulties. At the same time
the necessary preparations for the return of our troops •are
actively prosecuted upon a largo scale. The transport Var
:,as already left fur Vera Cruz. Other vessels will start for
the same port without delay. The squadron destined to
bring back our troops will be promptly assembled, and all
measures are taken that the evacuation en masse may be
accomplished within a brief period.
THE SEWING-MACHINE AND TIIE BLIND.--Blind-
ness is a calamity which ever excites our deepest sym-
pathies, one reason being the comparative helplessness of
those so afflicted. Any plan, therefore, which places before
them the means of self•support deserves approval, while
commendation is duo to those who suggest or invent it.
This praise is cheerfully accorded to the Grover and Baker
Sewing-machine Company, whose machines we lately saw
in use at the Industrial Classes for the Blind, at 500, New
Oxford-street, and of which the secretary said he could not
speak too highly of its adaptation to the blind, owing to the
simplicity of its construction, the regularity of the tension,
and the saving of time occupiod with other machines in
filling of spools and fastening of ends, the latter advantage
being of special benefit to the blind ; so much so that nine
other machines have been replaced by the above. All who
have means shoul t visit these classes, and assist the Chris-
tian efforts to relieve their physical deprivation.

"rk "14
Pl/4
etralk

HER MAJESTY, &c.

OSBORNE, Dec. 20.
The Queen, accompanied by Princess Chris-
tian, drove out yesterday afternoon, attended by
the Dowager Duchess of Athole, and her Majesty
walked in the grounds this morning with Princess
Christian.

Princess Louise and Prince Christian rota out
yesterday afternoon. Prince Leopold and Princess
Beatrice walked in the grounds this morning.

A committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most
lion. Privy Council sat yesterday at the Privy
Council-office, 11'hitehall, on the subject of qua-
rantine. The Lords present were—the Lord Presi-
dent, Viscount Cranborne, the Right Hon. Spencer
Walpole, the Right Hon. H. Corry, the Right Hon:
E. Hatnmond; and the Right Hon. Sir Stafford
Northcote. The Attorney-General and Solicitor-
General were also present.

A committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most
Hon. Privy Council sat yesterday at 'Whitehall on
matters relating to the cattle plague. Mr. Harrison
and Dr. Alexander Williams attended the coal-
Luit tce.

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.—GUNTON, THURS-
DAY.—His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh
who has been passing this week with Lord and Lady
Suffield at Gunton-hall, has been enjoying excellent sport
in the noble lord's preserves. A large party of the aristo-
cracy aro staying at the hall, and last evening Lord and
Lady Suffield gave a ball, which was attended by about
60 ladies and gentlemen. Dancing was kept up till two
this morning, to the music of Mr. Walter Howlett's band
from Norwich, an elegant supper being served about mid-
night. Among the party staying at the hall are Viscount
Newry, Lord and Lady Alfred Paget, Lord and Lady
Rendlesham, Colonel and Lady Emily Kingscote, the
Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Coke, &c. The ball last evening was
opened by the Duke of Edinburgh with Lady Suffield,
Lord Suffield dancing with Lady Alfred Paget. The duke
is expected to leave Gunton on Saturday .
His Serene Highness Prince Teck and her Royal
Highness Princess Mary Adelaide of Teck have returned
to Cambridge Cottage, Kew, from Visiting their Royal
Highnesses the Duke and Duchess d'Aumale at Wood-
norton, Worcestershire.

The Duke of Hamilton's shooting party at Easton
Park, Suffolk, separated yesterday. The Duke and his
friends have had excellent sport. Several thousand head
of game were killed in the three days' shooting.
The Earl and Countess of Dunmore intend to
leave town to-day for liolkham, Norfolk, to pass the
Christmas with the Earl and Countess of Leicester.
The Earl and Countess of Durham arrived in
town a few days ago from Lambton Castle. The countess
and family go to-day or to-morrow to Lambton. The noble
earl will go to Lambton Castle next week.

. The Earl of Warwick had a narrow escape whilst
shooting with a party of friends the other day. His lord-
ship's gun exploded as he was in the act of firing it; but,
although the stock was rent to pieces, the noble earl
escaped uninjured.

Viscount-Hamilton, M.P., has left town to join
his ExceHaney the Lord Lieutenant and the Marchioness
of Abercorn and family at Dublin.

HEALTH OF LORD LYTTON.—Lord Lytton has
just now moved on from Paris to Nice. His friends will
learn with pleasure that his lordship's hearing has been
very considerably improved under the care of Dr. Turnbull.