The Sun.
London, England, 1850-11-26 00:00:00

MARYLEBONE THEA TRE.

This theatre, which was opened last week under
the management of Mr. Joseph Stammers, the former
director of the London Wednesday Concerts at Exeter
Hall, is progressing prosperously. Mr. Stammers
has taken the theatre for the purpose of devoting it
to the representation of the legitimate drama and of
English opera. In consequence of the engagement
of Mrs. Nisbett and Mr. and Miss Mordaunt, Thalia
is at present the goddess of the ascendant at the
Marylebone, and sterling comedies have, during the
course of the last week, been represented to crowded
houses. Last evening Bourcicault's first and best
comedy, London Assurance, was performed here, in
which Mrs. Nisbett appeared in her original character
of Lady Gay Spanker, and never have we seen this
fascinating actress perform the character better; she
was full of vivacity and sparkle, and her
ringing silvery laugh told with immense effect. Miss
Mordaunt made a most graceful and ladylike Grace
Harkaway ; indeed we know of no lady on
the stage at present who could perform the cha-
racter better than Miss Mordaunt. Mr. Mor-
daunt rattled through Dazzle in excellent style.
The other characters were ably supported by the re-
gular members of the company, among whom are
Mr. W. H. Angell, Mr. R. Romer, and Mr. John
Herbert. The performances concluded with Buck-
stone's interesting melodrama, A Dream at Sea, in
which Mrs. Nisbett sustained the character of Biddy
Nu tts.

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.
We have had occasion several times lately to com-
pliment the gentlemen forming the management of
the Polytechnic Institution, for their taste and discri-
mination in securing the services of Mr. George
Barker, the eminent vocalist. That gentleman, as our
readers are no doubt aware, has for a few months
back been delivering a lecture on the ballad mthic of
England, and in which he sings some of his own
beautiful ballads by way of illustration.
Last night, however, he for the first time gave an
entirely different lecture on the same subject, even
more pleasing and interesting than the former, and
instead of his own compositions in illustration, we
were favoured with some beautiful "Lays of the
Foresters; or Songs of Robin Hood." It is not to be
expected that the lecturer could give a biography
of the bold outlaw in the short space of half an hour
(that is about the time the lecture takes in delivery),
nor is it at all necessary that he shoilld, for who is
unacquainted with the romantic history of the forester
and his equally celebrated chaplain, Friar Tuck, the
stalwart priest, who could bring down a fat buck with
a cloth-yard shaft with as much ease as he could re-
peat his paternosters. Mr. Barker merely touches on
the more prominent events is the lives of these two
worthies, and sings some appropriate ballad to illus•
trate each. The song in which the brawny friar is
described is as amusing and droll as the other, which
Robin Hood is supposed to have sung to Richard Cesar de
Lion, when that King questioned him as to his parent-
age, is plaintive and beautiful. The former song received
a unanimous encore, and indeed the whole lecture was
well received by a crowded audience, who frequently
Interrupted the lecturer with hearty rounds of ap-
plause. This pleasing entertainment will tend to raise
the Polytechnic even higher in public estimation than
it bas hitherto stood, and Mr. Barker will become, as
he deserves to be, a general favourite. It is pleasing
to see the number of people who, evening after even-
ing, visit this most admirable institution, in which
instruction and amusement are made to go hand-in-
band, and we must say that the management deserve
well of the public for the excellent manner in which
they cater for their entertainment.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
TATTERSALL'S—YESTERDAY.
The betting turned chiefly on the Chester Cup, fcr
which Langton, Brother to Dough, Clarissa, and Wall-
flower, were in considerable force, the investments in
almost every instance being at 1,000 to 20. The Derby
transactions were in small sums, and at the old prices:—
NEWTON (SOUTH LANCASHIRE) STEEPLECHASE.
5 to 2 agst Volatile
7 to 2 agst Hazard
5 to 1 agst Young Dutchman
CHESTER CUP.
50 to 1 agst Mr. W ilkin's Langton—taken
50 to 1 agst Lord Milltown's Brother to Dough—t
50 to 1 agst Lord Strathmore's Montague—taken
50 to 1 agat Mr. Greville's Clarissa—taken
50 to 1 agst Mr. Treen'a Rhesus—taken
50 to 1 agst Lord Chflen's Wallflower—taken
1.000 ro 15 agst Mr. Pilling's Lady EJen—taken
1.000 to 15 agst Lord Strathmore's Garforth—taken
1.000 to 15 agst Mr. Meiklam's Snowstorm—taken
1,000 to 15 agst Mr. Peck's Melody—taken
1,000 to 15 agst Sir Richard—taken
1,000 to 10 agst Mr Foster's Musician—taken
1,000 to 10 agat Mr. Fuller's The Swindler—taken
DERBY.
13 to 1 agst Mr. Osbaldeston's Mountain Sylph colt
—taken
20 to 1 agst Sir J. Hawley's Teddington—taken
20 to 1 agst Mr. Powney's Lamartive—taken
40 to 1 agst Sir R. Bigot's Faugh•a-ballagh colt—t
50 to 1 agst Mr. Hill's Ipsus—taken
SALE OF BLOOD STOCK.—A draft from John Day's
string was put up for sale yesterday, consisting of Mag-
Chatterer, Oster-
The two first were
(e 3 t, cpaanst
rJohndand of
PeepL e )d,
u'-
d,yearlings;
Boy.
sold at extremely low prices, Chatterer for 40 guineas,
and Osterley for 80 guineas; the "cracks" were bought
in. Lady Evelyn, the property of the King of Holland,
was also bought in.

COURAGE OF THE MOCKING BlRD.—During the
time of incubation neither the cat, dog, animal, or man,
can approach the nest without being attacked. The cats,
in particular, are persecuted whenever they make their
appearance, until obliged to retreat. But his whole vengeance
is more particularly directed against that mortal enemy
of his eggs and young, the black snake. Whenever the in-
sidious approaches of the reptile are discovered, the male
darts upon it with the rapidity of an arrow, dexterously
eluding its bite, and striking it violently and incessantly
about the head, where it is very vulnerable. The snake
soon becomes sensible of its danger, and seeks to escape,
but the intrepid defender of its young redoubles its exer-
tions, and unless his antagonist be of great magnitude, often
succeeds in destroying him. All his pretended powers of
fascination avail him nothing against the vengeance of this
noble bird. As the snake's strength begins to flag the
mocking bird seizes it and lifts it up partly from the ground,
beating it with its wings; and when the business is com-
pleted he returns to the nest of his young, mounts the sum-
mit of the bush, and pours forth a torrent of song in token
of victory.
THE " SCRIP" SYSTEM OF THE SCOTTISH IRON
TRADI.—We understand that much attention has been at-
tracted of late to the injurious effects of the " scrip" system
of buying and selling in the Glasgow iron trade— a system
by which a slip of paper represents iron which is yet in the
bowels of the earth, and by the fictitious operation of which
the trade 'n the metal, which already exists in stock, has
been seriously damaged. We are assured that there is no
more need for scrip in the iron trade than in the cotton,
sugar, or any other trade; but it has crept in till now the
shadow is found to injure the substance. A meeting of the
leading parties was held in Glasgow last week, preparatory
to a general meeting to be held on Friday first, with the view
of adopting measures to substitute satisfactory documents for
the delivery of
pig iron, in lieu of the scrip now in circula-
tion. It is expected that deputations from London and Li-
verpool will be present.— Glasgow Herald.
ELoPEMENT.--On Monday morning last an appli-
cation was made to the Rev. Yate Fosbrooke, vicar of St.
bridge (a collegian
tboy
tab
ey o
qu
an
egs
tl
iaedays ; abs
ku te
da sb
Ives, by a gentleman who had previously arrived from Cam-
), at the Golden Lion Hotel, accompanied
I i eesv. s
w ertiorrveegrya t
eu, the
n s ti fpaacrt
toireys,
yhisthreep Rev.
took their departure, note little chagrined, for a neighbouring
village. Shortly after, we understand, they were warmly
pursued, but have not heard if they were overtaken.— Cam-
bridge independent Press.

QUIVT IN HARNEss.—At Newcastle-Emlyn fair,
hst Keck, Mr. La,cell.s, a barrister. purchased a mare on
the assurar,ce aid warranty of the dealer tnat she wa- quiet
in harness. Next day he tried her in his dog cart, when the
animal lay on the ground as "quiet as a lamb." Nothing
could induce her to move ; she was literally " quiet in her
nese—North Wales Chronicle.