The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-21 00:00:00

LONDO N,

TUESDAY EVENING,

newly erected in front of the palace, exhibitions take
place by day and night ; posturing by acrobats of un-
usual India-rubber capabilities, poses plastigue, and
tableaux vivans. The alto-relievo representations on
the base of the Nelson Column, by Carew and W?od-
ington, is the subject selected to display the artistic
talent of the Deulin family, producing an effect we
never saw equalled. The death of Nelson has been
done by Keller and his company, illustrating the
monument in the Exchange in Liverpool, also by
Mr. Thompson at Cremorne last season ; it is, however,
a subject so interesting to Englishmen, that it cannot
weary the eye, nor pall upon the sense. The
Deulin family also sustained the new ballet, The
Valley of Sweet Waters; or, the Fairy Guardian,
which is produced under the direction of Herr
Deulin. These artistes will be well remembered by
the public in all the ballets produced last season, and
later they bring with them the prestige of unbounded
success in the pantomime at Drury -lane last Christ-
mas. They aro very clever, and the ballet is lively
and spirited throughout. The Deulins were sup-
ported by a beautiful and efficient group of coryphees
and corps de ballet. Now come we to a difficult
question of criticism—tbe band. With Jullien in
the field, and the remembrance of the baton of
Laurent, any gentleman of mediocre talent would
stand but a sorry chance of success as a conductor
before a public sharpened into hyper-criticism by the
prejudices which the idolatry of favouritism too often
creates. Contending with these adverse circumstances,
Borini waived his baton for the first time at Cremorne
last night. his success was complete ; it was not an
ordinary triumph, his performance was hailed at
intervals with merited bursts of applause. Mr. R.
Hughes, the leader, is so well known that nothing
need be said in his praise ; as usual, his performances
were masterly. The dancers were enthusiastic, and
those not joining in the sport fantastic were equally
charmed with the combined excellence of the band,
which contained fifty performers. Mortram had
evidently made himself up for Whitsuntide ; his dis-
play of fireworks, the instantaneous illumination of
the temple, &c., were in his usual artistic style. The
gardens are brilliantly lighted with oil and portable
gas, under the direction of Mr. Duffell, late of
Vauxhall. We sum up our somewhat lengthy notice
by remarking that everybody was pleased.

FREMONT'S PANORAMA OF THE OVER-
LAND ROUTE TO OREGON AND CALL

FORMA.

The facility with which We may now travel to the
most distant parts of the world, if we will only allow
free scope to our imagination, is wonderful indeed,
and thanks to the laudable efforts of some spirited
caterers for public amusement, many have now visited
the classical banks of the Nile, explored those of the
Mississippi, reached Calcutta through the Mediterra-
nean and Egypt, and now, incited by the almost
fabulous renown of the new El Dorado, comfortably
seated, and free from all casualties contingent upon
hard and positive travelling, we lately followed an
intelligent and communicative guide, whose verbal
instructions, we are in justice
. bound to say, only
ceased to give way to occasional strains of most pleas-
ing melody, to Oregon and California, making our-
selves acquainted with magnificent scenery, and all
but witnessing some of the most painfully interesting
adventures on record in that portion of literature
which treats of travels. It is true that we have not
returned with a lapful of the. produce of the washings
—that we have not, allot toiling hard, run the hazard
of the,die at San Francisco—that, very far from being
in consequence of our excursion provided with gold
dust, we have not even had to shake the common
dust off our garments ; but we believe we are the wiser
for our trip, and we think that if any there are who
yet labour under the Californian fever, they will
acquire by a visit to thi▪ s interesting panorama
the conviction that prevention is better tban
cure. In an artistical poi▪
nt of view the scenery
here represented is entitled to much praise, and, though
is very effective. It was a happy
rapidly executed,
thought which led the owners
to connect with this
now too popular route the chief incidents of Colonel
Fremont's journey through the Rocky Mountains, in
pursuance of a mission from the American Govern-
ment ; we were particularly pleased with the closing
scene, which reminded us of the heroism of Lady
Sale, under different circumstances of course, and
we trust the patronage of the public will am ply repay
the proprietors for their outlay and trouble in the pro-
duction of this panorama.

MONSIEUR VICTOR ROBERT'S PASTEL
PORTRAITS AND FANCY PIECES.

Among the many exhibitions which at this period
of the year assert a claim to public attention as being
intended to instruct or amuse, there is one which we
have recently visited in Oxford-street, and which,
however unpretending in its extent, we think highly
deserving of a visit from all those who like to patronise
talent. It; consists of a small number of beauti-
fully executed portraits and fancy pieces in parte/
or coloured chalks, and we confess we could
scarcely credit our own eyes when we saw the effect pro-
duced by the artist in handling the materials which
he employs. With those who admire chiefly the nice
and minute finish of a miniature we fear Monsieur
Victor Robert's style may not be a favourite, seeing
that it does not bear too close an inspection, but when
viewed at a proper distance the effect is admirable,
and the taste he displays in the choice and distribution
of the ornaments is entitled to great praise for its
freedom of manner and elegant simplicity. We
scarcely know which we are to congratulate most,
Monsieur Victor Robert, on his good fortune in hav-
ing had such fair forms to pourtray as those he pre-
sents us as actual portraits, or the fair ones on theirs,
in having had such an artist to record their features.
And as for these pictures, which he has endowed with
the gift of poetic ideality, much more by the touch of
his pencil than by the names inscribed, we fear we
must, at the risk of being deemed presuming, give
it as our opinion that they are but the beautiful
transcript of fair reality—in other words, they are in
a twofold sense nature itself; and whether we gaze
upon one in silent admiration, and call it
Jessica, or whether we consent to view others,
as Aurora, Morning, Evening, or as Flowers, Fruit
—whether, in short, we behold the greater efforts of
the artist in his beautiful picture representing the
Princesse de Lamballe, we can but trace nature in all,
and wonder at the truth of delineation and elegance of
design. Nor is the artist less successful in his por-
traits of men, as instanced in a striking likeness of the
Lord Rokeby, and. another of Monsieur V. Robert
himself. But we confess that No. 5, " The Portrait of
a Young Lady," seemed to us the acme of perfection
of the artist's style, and we recommend all young
maidens who may wish to be artistically, truly, and
effectually transferred to canvass with the bloom of
spring-time on their cheeks, to see this picture, and
say with us—

"Loveliness
Needs not the foreign aid of ornament,
But is, when unadorned, adorned the most."

THE NATIONAL GALLERY.
This gallery appeared also to be more crowded
than is usually the case even on Whit-Mondays.
From the opening till the close there was a continual
influx of visitors, who availed themselves of the op-
portunities afforded them of inspecting some of the
finest examples of the old masters extant, and also the
specimens of British art comprised in the Vernon
collection, which is still on view in the basement of
the building, not one of the pictures having yet been
removed to their next, and it is to be hoped more ap-
propriate resting-place—Marlborough House.

THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
The fineness of the weather yesterday probably in-
creased at the Museum the number of holiday visitors,
who doubtless found in the rich stores of objects of
natural history, ethnography) and the sciences, and
in the remains of ancient art and manufacture, de-
posited there, ample materials to entertain the mind
and gratify the taste. No less than 20,114 persons
were admitted during the day. Last Whit-Monday
only 17,370 persons visited the Museum.

THE WHITSUN HOLIDAYS.
During the last week preparations on an extensive
scale have been making in the metropolis and the
suburbanltovvas and villages to gratify the curiosity of
the sightseeing crowds, who at this season of the year
perambulate the streets, overburden the steamboats,
fill the omnibuses, and rush in thousands to have a
trip on " the rail." Greenwich on this, as on:similar
occasions in previous years,
_ was one of the principal
points of attraction. From an early hour a conti-
nuous stream of human beings floated down the
river, poured along the road, and swept down the
railway, and by midday the fair, the park, the streets,
and Blackheath were covered with gaily dressed
and lighthearted persons anxious to see and be seen,
and enjoy the pleasures of Greenwich fair and all its
various amusements. Brighton, Gravesend, Dover,
Richmond, and, as the sportsman would say, other
outlying localities, had their attractions and their
visitors. All the metropolitan railway stations were
crowded with passengers hustling and elbowing each
other in order to secure the first and best seats, and
it may with truth be said that " in the memory of
the oldest inhabitant" no preceding Whit-Monday
exhibited more numerous or (apparently) more happy
crowds of persons proceeding in all directions to en-
joy a holiday. The various exhibitions in the West
end at present open were crowded to overflowing
throughout the day.

THE REV. IL COBBOLD S NEW WORK, " FRESTON
TOWER."—The popular author of " Margaret Catchpole" has
just produced a new work that promises to be of great inte-
rest to readers of every class.' It bears the title of
.6 Freston lower; or, The Early Days of Cardinal Wolsey,"
and conveys a lively illustration of the career of that cele-
brated prelate, founded upon documents lately discovered in
his native Ipswich, by his townsman the Rev. Mr. Cobbold,
who, with such assistance, has been able to throw much light
on obscure passages of the Cardinal's history, and has suc-
ceeded in producing an admirable story of life and manners
in the olden time.