The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-28 00:00:00

Henderson, us Clown, and Mr. Rivolti, as Pantaloon,
throughout the wholo piece kept the audience in
continued laughter, while the dancing of Mr. and Mrs.
W. H. Harvey, as Harlequin and Columbine, was
i repeatedly applauded. The mechanical transforma-
tions were cleverly designed and skilfully executed,
and we cannot give too great praise to the manage-
ment for the spirit and liberality which has been
displayed in the placing of this piece on the I
stage. Many opportunities were afforded by the
plot of introducing Mr. Batty's beautiful stud,
and we are convinced that where enjoyment of genuine
mirth is the object in view Astley's will be the place
first to be chosen by all the sight seers of the season.
So the audience seemed to think on Thursday, as was
testified by their frequent and long-continued applause. i

CITY OF LONDON THEATRE,
On Thursday, at this newly-decorated theatre, which
is under the management of that chief of panto-
mimist, Mr. Nelson Lee, there was an overwhelm-
ing audience. Five minutes after the time an-
nounced for opening the doors, the whole of the
house was filled, so that those who were not punctual
had to suffer from the absence of that convenience
which is always the handmaid of comfort upon such
occasions, notwithstanding the fact that the spirited
proprietor had, by his recent arrangements, furnished
additional accommodation in the boxes for 130 per-
sons acated, with a large extra amount of standing
room. The drama of Giralda having been most
efficiently performed and excellently received, even by
the tumultuous " gallery gods," the main feature of
attraction—the p tntomime— was produced. It was
entitled Knife, Fork, and Spoon ; or, Harlequin
Breakfast, Dinner, Tea, and Supper, a comic repre-
sentation, the production of Mr. Lee himself, the whole
of the working being superintended by the author.
In " plate the first" is represented the magic halls of
" Knives, Forks, and Spoons," where the cooks con-
nected with the " gastronomic retreat" are attending
to their several duties. In the " Golden Grove of
Prosperity," in Fairyland, the Queen of the Fairies
(Mrs. Richard Barnett) opens the fairy court by
summoning the fairies, and the revelry commenced.
A grand ballet was then performed, at the conclusion
of which the Queen (Plenty) arrived in her magic
cornucopia, being assisted from the same by Mirth.
A solo by the Fairy Queen having been introduced
(which is a good parody upon the well-known convi-
vial song, " For be's a jolly good fellow,") and
heartily encored by the audience, the banquet was
proposed, to which the whole of the fairy court, of
course, consented, they being specially willing to
assist the Queen in her novel idea. Breakfast,
afterwards Columbine (Miss Slater), Dinner (Mr.
W. Milbourne), Dame Tea (Mr. Cureno), and
Supper, afterwards Dandy Lover (Mr. W.
Stevens), are then introduced, when the scene
changes to the " Council Chamber at the Guildhall,"
where Turtle (Mr. Harmer), Gourrnond (Mr. Wilson),
and Blowout (Mr. Green), are seen assembled it,
great consternation, finding that Dinner had bolted
with Breakfast. A c ;uncil was thereupon held, and
the swordbearer summoned to capture the Dinner.
A troop of " infantine" beef-eaters were consequently
summoned by the Sword-bearer, who started on his
mission, the Aldermen swearing by " Gog and Magog
to furnish him with supplies." After singing the fol-
lowing song in chorus:—
" To eat and drink is our delight,
We luxuriate from morn till night;
The city feasts will bear the belle,
Our Corporation a tale will tell,
Thanks to the Roast Beef of Old England,
Oh the Old English Roast Beef,"__
Aldermen depart, and the scene changes to the Halls
of Plenty and Good Cheer. Dinner arrives with his
Bride (Miss Ross) Breakfast, and the whole of the
meals of the day succeed in honour of the event. After
this Dinnerchanges to Harlequin, Breakfast to Colum-
bine, and Supper to Clown (Mr. George Parry.) A view
of the Great Industrial Exhibition for 1851, is admir-
ably given, as are also those of the several shops :
these, we believe, are by Mr. Morelli, who has ad-
mirably done his part, as has also Beaumont, the
painter of the scenery. Walker, the furnisher of the
masks and decorations, and Mr. Wilson and Mr. Her-
ring, the inventors and preparers of the many and very
various dresses used throughout the pantomime, seve-
ral of which are very splendid, and all of them of a
most modest character. Of the entire performance,
it is only necessary to say, that it was well received
throughout, and if the pantomime reflects additional
credit upon the ingenuity of the talented pantomimist
who has produced it—which it does—its worth is
rendered greater by the very excellent, spirited, and
careful manlier in which all parties assisted in laying
it before the public. To judge from the exhibition of
Thursday on the part of the audience, a long run,
with bumper houses, is certain. The illuminated
finale was received with the most rapturous applause,
the curtain falling just before twelve o'clock.

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.
The galleries and lecture-rooms of this establish-
ment were crowded on Thursday for many hours with
visitors anxious to inspect the numerous models of in-
genious inventions, and to hear the lectures on
chemistry and natural philosophy delivered by Pro-
fessors Bachhoffner and Pepper. The former of these
gentlemen explained the nature of voltaic electricity,
and the latter lectured on fire and its antagonists.
These lectures were illustrated by experiments, and
were well adapted to a popular audience. A lecture,
in which appropriate ballads were introduced, was
given by Mr. G. Barker, entitled an " English
Christmas." The great variety of models of railway
carriages, machines used in the fabrication of various
articles of commerce, and the numerous contributions
of ingenious coi.trivauces and inventions, render this
institution amongst the best of the public institu-
tions of the metropolis. The arrangements at this
time are remarkably good : everything is numbered
and placed in its respective class, so that by
reference to the catalogue the visitor can comprehend
and profit by what he sees. In addition to these
things, there were for the amusement of the younger
branches an exhibition of dissolving views, and a
vast number of amusing recreations connected with
science.

MADAME TUSSAUD'S.
A more than usually large concourse of persons
visited the curiosities of this exhibition on Thursday ;
indeed, the place was so well filled that the company
and the wax figures formed at intervals a perfect mob
of the living and the effigies of those who were once
alive. The great room has been made much more
extensive than it originally was ; indeed, it is now so
large that it is amongst the largest rooms in the
kingdcm. In the alterations and additions good taste
has been consulted; the great room is admirably pro-
portioned and gorgeously decorated ; the decorations
are, however, in proper keeping with the character of
the edifice, and are neither fantastic nor barbarous. A
judicious alteration has been made in the situation of
the rooms in which the " Horrors " the relics of Na-
poleon, and the detached portions of the collection are
placed. What is called the Hall of Kings" is a
noble room, and, in addition to the numerous figures
of monarchs, has a collection of full-length paintings
of many crowned heads and royal personages. The
ffect of the whole is very magnificent, the coup d'ail
being very imposing. There has been a completely
new arrangement of the figures, and a new outfit of
costumes, robes, lace, jewels, and the glittering para-
phernalia of Courts.

THE COLOSSEUM.
The proprietors of this place made, as usual, proper
preparations for the amusement of? their Christmas
visitors, and were honoured during the day with a cor-
responding amount of public patronage. The interior of
the immense building presented a noble appearance,
and contained, in addition to the galleries of sculpture,
the panorama of Lisbon, and a list of other things
worth being seen, a new view, painted by Messrs.
Danson, in their best manner, of the Lake of Thun
and the scenery of the adjacent country. This view
occupies the place in which were formerly exhibited
the views of London and Paris, and is on the same
large scale of pictorial illustration. The view is taken
from an eminence to the northward of the town of
Thun, which is represented in the foreground, and
the peculiar buildings of which contrast well with the
rugged scenery of the mountains in the distance.
The reputation of Messrs. Danson in painting pano-
ramic views is well established, but it will be in-
creased by this, their most recent work. The view is
very correct as a representation of the lake, the town,
and the environs, it is well relieved by the introduc-
tion of various groups of figures, and the tone of
colouring is subdued and natural. This great work
elicited the praise of the numerous spectators by whom
it was seen.

MR. BURFORD'S PANORAMAS.
The attendance of visitors to this very old and
very meritorious place of exhibition was on Thursday
both numerous and respectable, and it is plain the
place has lost none of its original attractions, though
surrounded with rival exhibitton3 of a somewhat
similar character. The novelty for the occasion was
a very beautiful view of the lake and tower of Lu-
cerne, with the adjacent landscapes backed by the
Alpine range. This view has afforded the artist, Mr.
Robert Burford, an opportunity of exhibiting his
knowledge of his art in the various paints in which
he most excels, and he has availed himself of them in
his usual excellent manner. The water of the lake
is beautifully transparent, and reflects the objects
around precisely as in nature. The magnificent
scenery in the background is made to cantrast effec-
tively with the trimness of the landscape in the fore-
ground, and the almost grotesque buildings of the
town relieve the eye which has been g:mng on the
summit of M,lunt Pilate and its kindred hills. The
whole is painted with great care and pains, and a
closeness to truth is the result. Groups of figures,
boats, &c., are introduced, and enliven the general
scene. The tone of colouring is good ; there is a fine
(sunny effact, and a brilliancy without glare.