The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-04 00:00:00

ROY AL GALLERY OF ILLUSTRATION,

The present entertainment at this Gallery has
been highly successful, for seldom have the Reeds
and John Parry appeared to greater advantage.
The author of the first piece, entitled " Our Card
Basket," represents a married couple, who have
handsomely furnished a villa at Richmond, and are
very anxious to form a circle of visiting acquaint-
ances. But nobody calls upon them, as nobody
knows their antecedents ; and in this dilemma the
husband sends for a garrulous old lawyer to make his
will, in which he bequeaths so fabulous an amount
of property, and connects himself and his relations '
so intimately with the aristocracy, that the once
deserted couple are enabled without difficulty to fill
their card basket. This very dramatic and light
sketch introduces a series of characters, which are
so ably sustained, that its success continues un-
abated, and repetition would appear to whet rather
than appease the desire to witness its represen-
tation. The range of character affords Mrs.
Reed ample opportunities to display her extra-
ordinary versatility of assumption. Her Miss
Clutchley earnestly expatiates upon the " advan-
tages of charity," and has the best of the argument
when she carries off a handsome donation. Her
French girl, who sings a very clever song by
Planche—her Miss Absynthe, the lisping belle of
a certain age, and her Sir Maurice Fledgling,
whose maiden speech, like a very bad pun, is wel-
come from its extravagance, are very cleverly con-
ceived in every detail with consummate art. In
" The Graces"—the Misses Pry who pay a visit to
the villa and discover the amusing characteristics
by which old maids have been scandalised " from
time out of mind," Mr. and Mrs. Reed and Mr.
Parry afford a rich treat to their pastimes. Mr.
Reed's hunting recital, and Mr. Parry's song of
Paterfamilias are agreeable features of the enter-
tainment, which is brought to a close by Mr.
Brough's very amusing " Illustration on Discord."
We recur to these performances not only on account
of their great merit, but the fact that the season
will soon close, and deprive those of our readers who
have not yet seen them of a rare opportunity of
enjoyment.

THE GREAT RIFLE MATCH AT

IVLIIBLEDON.

This morning, at an early hour, members of
volunteer corps, and others, hurried off to Wimble-
don to be present at the great prize meeting of the
National Rifle Association, which shortly after
noon to-day was duly inaugurated. Wimbledon-
common presented an animated appearance, some
hundreds of persons having been present
to inspect the arrangements preparatory to the
commencement of the more serious business of the
day. To-day's work opened with a competition for
the Queen's prizes, namely, 20 Whitworth rifles,
value £25 each, and silver medal, for the best shot.
These are open to volunteers (under standing
rules 16 and 17) and colonial volunteers. There
were also this morning prizes for " all comers,"
namely, six of £2O each at a range of 200 yards ;
seven of £35 each at a range of 500 yards; and seven
of £5O each at a range of 600 yards. These prizes
are open to all corners of all nations, including
volunteers. To-morrow morning the Prince of
Wales's prize of £lOO in money and of a £lOO
cup, will be contended for, the qualification for
candidates being that they are volunteer prize-
holders. The ranges are to be respectively 200,
500, and 600 yards, the number of shots at each
range being 5. The " Rifle Derby" is ap-
pointed to take place on Thursday next,
and is likely to be a most exciting affair, if a
judgment may be formed from the preparations
which are at present being made for it. It will be
open to all corners, the ranges being 200, 500, and
600 yards, with any ammunition and any arm
under 101bs. weight. A host of distinguished per-
sons have already paid the £2 entrance fee, which
will entitle them to be competitors. Amongst
them are Earl Spencer, the Earl of Ducie, the Earl
of Dunmore, the Earl Grosvenor, M.P.; the Earl
of Leicester, Viscount Bury, M.P.; Lord Elcho,
M.P. ; the Earl of Lichfield, Viscount Fielding,
Sir Edward Kerrison, Bart., M.P. ; Col. North,
M.P.; Mr. Deedes, M.P. ; Sir Henry Fletcher, the
Hon. H. T. Fraser, the Hon. C. H. Lindsay, Capt.
J. Darner, M.P. ; Mr. Ross (who so greatly dis-
tinguished himself at the last Wimbledon Meet-
ing), Colonel C. Kennedy, Sir R. de Burgh,
Major the Hon. W. Talbot, Major-General Sir C.
Hay, Lieutenant-Colonel Hicks, Mr. C. W. Lan-
caster (of New Bond-street), Mr. George Russell,
Mr. Alfred Sartoris, and Lieutenant Walker.
The distribution of prizes will take place on
Wimbledon-common, on Saturday, the 13th of
July, after which a review of the Metropolitan
and other Volunteer Corps will be held by his
Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief.

Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam-
bridge and the Princess Mary (attended by Lady Geraldine
Somerset and Colonel Home Purves) dined with the Queen
last evening. The Earl of Clarendon, the Earl of Malmes-
bury, and Viscount Palmerston had also the honour of
dining with her Majesty at Buckingham Palace.
His Excellency the Prussian Minister and the
Countess Bernstorff are on the eve of leaving London for
Carlsbad.
The Earl and Countess of Craven entertained at
dinner, on Tuesday evening, the Duchess (Dowager) of
Beaufort and Lady Edith Somerset, the Countess of West-
moreland, the Earl Stanhope, the Earl of Listowel, Mr.
and Lady Mary Craven, Hon. R. Grosvenor, Mr. Henry
Brownrigg, &c.
The marriage of Lord Rendlesham with the
Lady Egidia Montgomery, daughter of the Earl of Eglin-
ton, took place this morning at St. Peter's Church, Eaton-
square.
CAMPDEN HOUSE THEATRICALS.—An amateur
theatrical entertainment in aid of a charitable object took
place at Campden House, Kensington, yesterday evening.
'ho performances consisted of the comedy of " The School
for Scandal," and the farce of "An Affair of Honour." In
the course of the evening Master Gorlou Smythics de•.
livered an address written by himself, and introduced a
variety of recitations from Shakspere.
NE M" CHURCHES IN WESTMINSTER,—Thn Bishop
of London has fixed Friday, the 12th inst., for the conso-
emtion. of the church of St. Peter, Great Windmill-street,
Haymarket, to the erection of which the Earl of Derby gave
the m mnificent donation of £3,500, and £l,OOO towards an
endow anent for the incumbent. His lordship laid the foun-
dation stone Juno 25, 1860. The district for which the
church is intended is taken out of the parish of St. James's,
and contains a population of 4,000, by far the greater por-
tion of N. 4 horn are of the poorer class. The building, with the
site, will cost about £ll,OOO, towards which a sum of £lOO3
has yet to be raised. The Queen and the Prince Consort
are conti ibutors to the fund. The Bev. G. Smith, M.A.,
has been appoint vl to the incumbency. A new church, de-
dicated to St. James the Less, in tipper Garden-street, the
foundation stone of which was laid by Vice •Chancellor Sir

W. P. Wood on April 12, 1860, is rapidly approaching
completion. It is a beautiful structure, and is erected at the
sole cost of the daughter of the late Bishop of Glecester and
Prift9ll wilt was a canoe of Weatmipter,