The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-18 00:00:00

ASTLEY'S 4111PHITHE.471RE.

The withdrawal of the lions having necessarily entailed
a change in the programme, the gay and dashing " hippo-
drama" of "Dick Turpin's Ride to York," a piece which
has always been held in great favour by the patrons of
this house, has been received with excellent effect ; Mr.
Walter Edwin as Dick Turpin, Mr. James Edwin
as Timothy Gudgeon, and their accomplished steed as
Black Bess, all playing their respective parts in capital
style. The pantomime of " Harlequin and the Wonder-
ful Horse," which Mr. Cuthbert's well-painted scenery,
and Miss Emily Scott's lively acting, have contributed to
render very attractive, is still received with hearty
applause ; and the " Scenes in the Arena" have been
cleverly remodelled, with a view to the introduction of
some new and expert performers. These attractions, how-
ever, promise to be of 19ut brief duration, for the public will
regret to learn that Mr. Batty has determined to dispose of
tke Royal Amphitheatre, and that the whole property will
be put up to sale at public auction by Mr. Robins on the
27th inst. For a very long period Mr. Batty managed
Astley's with such spirit and success that he realised a
large fortune, and several years ago was enabled to retire
into private life, from which, on the termination of Mr. W.
Cooke's lease, a short time since, he emerged very reluc-
tantly, and only because he did not wish to see the house
closed or occupied by an undesirable tenant. During the
ten months that have since elapsed the theatre has done
good business, and much praise is due to Mr. Oliver, who
has had the general superintendence of the establishment.
Mr. Batty, however, is anxious to revert to the repose
which, after an active career, ho has fully earned, and he
has accordingly resolved to sell his theatre. It is to be
hoped that the establishment will now pass into the hands
of some enterprising person who will respect the specialite of
the house, and devote the edifice to the same purposes to
which it has been from time immemorial applied. But it
would indeed be strange if London, with its three millions
of inhabitants, could not support one place of entertainment
where the public might gratify that fondness for horses,
horsemanship, and manly sports, which has ever been dis-
tinctive of our national character. The cycle of London
amusements would scarcely be complete without Astley's
Royal Amphitheatre of Arts, the only Arena of Equitation,
and National Temple of Equestrian, Gymnastic, and Dra-
matic novelties in Europe ; and as the establishment has
made the fortunes of several managers—Astley, Ducrow,
Cooke, and Batty in the number—there is no reason why it
should not, if properly conducted, prove equally remunera-
tive to their successors.

THE CONVICT PRISON AT CHATHAM.—An order
from the Home Office was received on Saturday, by Cap-
tain Powell, the governor of the convict establishment, for
the immediate discharge of four principal and six subordi-
nate warders. This order has caused considerable con-
sternation among the officials, as no reason is assigned for
their dismissal. The order was peremptorily carried into
effect, and the officers were all discharged before twelve
o'clock. The ten warders who have been dismissed
are to remain in their quarters and draw their pay
and rations until an order from the Home Office
arrives for awarding the pensions, according to the
length of service. The number of the warders at the pri-
son is 134, and the civil guard of the prison consists of one
superintendent, two sergeants, and '22 privates ; whether
the number of warders is to be increased is not yet known.
Captain Gambier, director of convict prisons, will arrive at
Chatham for the purpose of trying 70 of the worst charac-
ters, who took a prominent part in the recent outbreaks. It
is understood to be the intention of the Home Office to
alter the interior regulation of the prisons, making the
rules snore stringent, and investing the governor with
more power than he at present possesses. It is alleged
that order will never be restored until the chief warder
is removed from the establishment. It is an admitted
fact that the convicts have for the last twelve months
been too leniently dealt with, and pampered up, and the
leniency thus shown to these ruffians caused the out-
break. Captain Powell, no doubt, is a good officer, but
he has not that firmness to carry out the strict discipline
necessary to command obedience in a prison like Chatham.
The late Governor (Captain Buller) would not allow any
of his officers to be crippled in their authority, neither
would he permit anything to pass without strictly inquiring
into the matter brought before him. By such a course of
action he had full command over the convicts, and prompt
obedience was paid to his authority for the three years and
a half he was in command, and there was not a single
attempt at an outbreak,