The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-24 00:00:00

(2UEEN'S THEATRE.

-

The tide of success which the excellent drama of
" Dearer than Life" turned iu favour of the new
theatre will be materially strengthened by the new
and sparkling operatic extravaganza, entitled "La
Vivandiere ;" or,True to the Corps, which was pro-
duced last night. The author of the amusing little
piece is Mr. AV. S. Gilbert. In this, as in his for-
mer production, " The Elixir of Love," he has run a
tilt with Mr. Byron, whose fame for burlesque ex-
travaganza has been long acquired, and it is but fair
to say he has outrivalled even that gentleman in
word-twisting ingenuity. In "La Vivandiere"
puns abound from beginning to end, some
good, some of the opposite description,
but all laughter-moving in the extreme. The
author has, of course, used the plot of the original
opera as far as possible, but he has introduced other
trifles into it, which, as they add to the fun, may
be well forgiven. Amongst his introductions is a
certain count, the father of Maria, unknown to
the opera, and this gloomy but entertaining indivi-
dual is represented as Count Manfred, living quietly
at Mont Blanc. This part is capitally represented
by Mr. L. Brough, whose dress and head gear are
most artistically grotesque, the latter having all
the appearance of the sable plumes so highly
valued by undertakers. Then we have the Earl
of Margate, Sir Peckham Rye, and other
congenial spirits, all of whom are disco-
vered at the rising of• the curtain " doing"
Mont Blanc. They then meet the count, and for
fun they induce him to leave his cold and snowy
home, and so arrange it that be shall meet his
loving spouse, whom he has long mourned as being
defunct. however such is not the fact. She is
not only alive, but he also discovers that Maria is
his daughter. The dashing little Vivandiere, on the
discovery of her rank, is compelled to quit the
corps, and eventually she is bethrothed to Mar-
gate's Earl; but Tonio becomes a hero, and of
course secures Maria, and the piece concludes with
general joy and a chorus. Sergeant Sulpizio of
course takes an important part in the burlesque, and
the character was supported by Mr. Toole in his own
inimitable way. Miss Hodson as Maria the
Vivandiere was particularly arch and bewitching, and
Miss Addison as the Earl of Margate delivered her
lines with point and effect. Mr. L. Brough as
Manfred was magnificently humorous, and Miss
Everard as the Marchioness was excellent. The
dresses and scenery of the burlesque are magnificent
and anything more brilliant has never been seen,
even in the splendid productions of Madame Vestris.
The music is particularly well selected, and it is to
be especially commended on account of the care
with which the music-hall melodies have been
ignored. The piece was received with the most
decided success, and at the fall of the curtain all the
principal characters received the honour of a call.
The house was crowded.

NAVAL AND 11ILI1:•11?Y INTELLIGENCE.

The 44th (East Essex) Regiment, under the com-
mand of Col. Ilart, left Aldershot yesterday morn-
ing, en route for Ireland. The regiment marched
from quarters at half-past 8 o'clock, during a heavy
shower, to tLe Farnborough station of the South-
Western Railway, whence, at 10 o'clock, it pro-
ceeded by special train to Portsmouth, there to em-
bark on board her Majesty's ship ...:i.inoom for con-
veyance to Kingstown. The marching out strength
was-42 officers, 48 sergeants, 40 corporals, 21
drummers, 556 privates, 68 women, 63 children,
and 10 horses. The regiment will be distributed as
follows :—C, E, G, and I companies, with the band,
to form the head-quarters at Kilkenny ; a detach-
ment, composed of Lieut.-Colonel Brown, C. 8., in
command, and *I) and F companies,- with Assist.-
Surg. Phillips, will proceed to Templemore ; a de-
tachment, under Major Geddes, consisting of A and
K companies, will be sent to Thurles ; a detach-
ment, under Brevet-Lieut.-Col. Fausett, and com-
posed cf II company, will do duty at Birr ; and B
company, under Capt. W. A. Wood, at Nenagh.
On the arrival of the regiment at Kingstown the
detachments will proceed by rail to their several
destinations.

The 56th (West Essex) Regiment, at Aldershot,
under the command of Col. Lacy, has been held in
readiness fur some days past to proceed to Ireland ;
but yesterday the regiment had not yet received the
route, and the date of its departure is unknown.
The same may be said of the 68th Regiment, which
is held in readiness to proceed to Manchester.
On Tuesday evening a "divisional ball," under
the patronage of Lieut.-Gen. the Hon. Sir James
Yorke Scarlett, K.C.8., was held in the Club-house
at Aldershot, which was handsomely decorated for
the occasion. There was a large attendance of the
officers of the Staff and division and of the inhabi-
tants of the surrounding districts. The band of the
54th Regiment was in attendance.

The Ist Infantry Brigade at Aldershot, consisting
of the 40th Regiment, under Major French ; the
54th, under Colonel Thomson ; and the 56th, under
Colonel Bull, proceeded on route marching duty on
Tuesday, but owing to heavy rain were compelled
to return to camp after a short march. On the
same day C, D, and E batteries of the Royal Horse
Artillery, respectively under the command of Capts.
Watson, Timbrell, and Hill, and the whole under
Col. Wintle, C. 8., marched out a short distance,
but were likewise compelled by adverse weather to
return to barracks.

The Colonelcy of the Ist (the King's) Regiment
of Dragoon Guards is vacant by the death of Gen.
Thomas William Brotherton, G.C.8., on Monday
last, aged 84. The gallant General entered the
army as cornet in the 14th Dragoons in Jan., 1800,
and served in Egypt under Gen. Sir Ralph Aber-
crombie in 1801, and also in 1805, in Germany, under
Lord Cathcart. From 1808 to 1814 he served in
Portugal, Spain, and France. He particularly dis-
tinguished himself during the Peninsular war, and
was present at nearly all the cavalry affairs and
skirmishes with his regiment, the 14th Light Dra-
goons; he was also engaged in the action on the Coa,
and was several times wounded. He was in July,
1830, appointed one of the Aides-de-Camp to King
William IV. ; and subsequently held the appoint-
ment of Inspector-General of Cavalry at head-
quarters. For his distinguished services in the Pen-
insula he was nominated a Companion of the Order
of the Bath ; was made a Knight Commander of
the Order in 1855, and a Knight Grand Cross in
1861. In May, 1849, he was appointed Colonel
of the 15th Hussars, and was afterwards transferred
to the Colonelcy of the Ist Dragoon Guards July
17, 1859. The deceased General's commissions bore
;
date as follows :—Cornet, Jan. 24, 1800 ; Lieut.
and Captain, July 27, 1801 ; Major, Nov.. 2,
N8,01v8.1111:
Major-Gen.
iae ;lot; CGoe ln Nov. 23, 1841 ; Lieut.-
. May 19, 1814 ; Col., July 22, 1830
1851; and General, April 1, 1860.

The operation of the Contagious Diseases Act,
1866, will shortly be extended by the Government
to the garrison districts of Shorncliff, Colchester,
and Cork, as well as the Curragh.
Her Majesty's ship
Pacific station. Pylades sails to-day for the

COURSE 4OF EXCILINGE.—This Evening.

Amsterdam Short. 11 17}
Ditto 3 Illouths.l2 0
Rotterdam
Antwerp — 2,5 3211
Brussels
Hamburg — 13 oi.
Paris Short 25 14
Ditto 3 Llouths.2s 30

11 18i
12 O
12 0;-
25 37}
25 371
13 91
25 22i
25 35
25 85

Marseilles
Frankfort on the Maine

25 30
120

Vienna
Triesto
Petersburgn
Berlin
Madrid
Cadiz
Leghorn
Milan
Genoa
Naples
Palermo
lessiva
Lisbon ........ ...............
Oporto ...............

12 17}
12 17;
6 26k
48i•
481
29 49
29 40_
29 10
29 40
29 40
29 40
51;

1201
12 25
12 25

:321
2tif
45!
29 50
29 50
29 50
29 5U
29 5U
29 50
511'i

RAILWAY COMPENSATION.—In the seven years,
1860-66, in which, as we recently stated, IC9 passengers
were killed in railway accidents in the United Kingdom,
and 4,4.;8 injured, both classes front causes beyond their
own control, the returns of the railway compani©s show
that they paid £1,372,621 as compensation for personal
injury, or au average of £29G per case. In the same period
the 'compauies paid 4667,155 for damage or loss of goods