The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-27 00:00:00

THE ADELAIDE GALLERY.

The curriculum of amusement and instruction at
this institution has also been specially arranged for
Christmas, and with even greater regard to the enter-
tainment of the year than the Polytechnic. Science
for the time holds company with magic and music.
A conjuror diversifies the lectures on chemistry and
astronomy by showing the deceptions of art, and the
properties of different bodies in colouring flame are
exhibited in brilliant fireworks. There are also dis-
solving views, the microscope, and some mechanical
wonders to amuse, whilst the electrical eels continue
to shock with their usual force. At night the en-
tertainments consist of "Concerts a la Jullien," in
which forty performers are engaged.
BRITISH MUSEUM.

This national repository of curiosities, and of re-
mains of the works of nature and art, comprising
the productions of the present time and those of ages
long past, even beyond the creation of man, will not
fail to have its crowd of visitors at this season. The
collections of specimens of natural history, and the
gallery of antiquities, are the parts of the Museum
now in the most perfect order—and, compared with
former years, the Museum is, in these departments,
far better than it was ; nevertheless, the confusion
produced by the new buildings, and the never-ending
arrangements, give the stranger an unfavourable idea
of this great national establishment. A short winter's
day is over before one half the objects worthy of notice
can be examined. For those, therefore, whose time
is limited, it will be better to walk first through all
the rooms and return to those that most interest them,
for to see all in one day is impossible.
NATIONAL GALLERY.

The charm of " nothing to pay" operates wonder-
fully, perhaps as much from its novelty as from the
parsimony of the public at holiday times, consequently
the National Gallery is always crowded at these
seasons. There have been no important additions of
late ; but the many productions of the best ancient
masters in the collection may be admired again and
again, whenever opportunity occurs, as at this time of
general holiday.

FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE.
DEPARTURES.

The Hon. Sydney Herbert, M.P., from the Admiralty,
on a visit to the Dowager Countess of Pembroke, at
Wilton House ; Colonel and Miss Colvile, for Windsor ;
Mr. and Mrs. D. Heming, from Fenton's Hotel, St.
James's-street ; Colonel French, for Brighton ; the Rev.
E. R. Eardley Wilmot, for ditto ; Lord Thurlow and the
Hon. Captain Thurlow, from the Burlington Hotel,
Cork-street, for Ashfield Lodge, Suffolk ; Lieutenant-
Colonel Clitherow (Coldstream Guards), on a visiting
tour in Norfolk. _ _

CHANGES.
Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart., M.P., from Wynn-
stay, Denbighshire, on a visiting tour ; Sir Henry and
Lady Webster and family, at Westfield Lodge, from
Brunswick-terrace, Brighton ; Lord and Lady Delamere
and the Hon. Miss Cbolmondeley, at the Vale Royal,
Cheshire, from Denbighshire ; Sir J. Cunningham
Fairlie, Bart., at his seat, in Ayrshire, from a visit to
Mr. Wallace, M.P., at Kelly, Renfrewshire ; the Hon.
J. N. Delaval Ashley (2d Life Guards), at Lord Hast-
ings' seat, Melton Constable, Norfolk, from a tour ;
Capt., Pechell, M.P., at Castle Goring, Sussex, from
Brighton ; Lord and Lady Abinger and the Hon. Miss
Scarlett, from a visiting tour in Norfolk, for their seat in
Sussex ; the Bishop of Oxford and Lady Harriet Bagot,
at Blithfield, Staffordshire, from the Deanery, Canter-
bury.

PUNCH'S ALMANACK FOR 1845.
We subjoin the following extracts :
" SOLILOQUY OF A SHERIFFS OFFICER.

" Hilary Term ! Pshaw ! There's nothing hila-
rious about our terms now. This is a precious land
of liberty, this is! ven a sheriff's officer can't find a
shoulder to turn his hand to. Time vas, ven I took
my two bottles and my six bodies a-day. But nuw I
thinks brandy-and-eater a luxury, and hasn't as much
as a diaman' ring to my finger ; I yonder ven they'll
gladden'my heart vith a execution ?' for the sheriff's
officer who wouldn't serve a fellow-cretur in a distress
isn't vorthy of the name of Levy ! So I may as
yell sell ➢Sadanie Tassaud my top-boots to stand by
them figures of Vellington's and Blucher's.

CLIWATE OF LONDON.

" Professor Howard, in analysing the climate of
London, took some fog home in a basin, and found it
to contain nine parts smoke to one part porter. He
undertook to extract a pint of stout from the atmos-
phere of Oxford-street on a very foggy day, if the fog
only lasted till he had completed the operation.
" EXTRAORDINARY STATISTICAL TACT.
" A lady in Fitzroy-square has a cat which in the
course of last year broke fifty plates, six cream -jugs,
two brass candlesticks, three soup tureens, fifteen tea-
cups, and one poker and has eaten no less than thirty
chickens, two sweetbreads, seven turkeys, three legs
of lamb, ten gooseberry pies, and three pots of pre-
served apricots. Nevertheless, this extraordinary cat
is the greatest favourite with the cook and all the ser-
vants.

" WORTHY OF ATTENTION.
"Advice to persons about to marry—Don't.
" THE ART OF PACKING.

" A carpet bag should be packel by placing the
clean linen in first, including the frilled shirts. After
which stuff in the colts and bouts, garnish with shaving
tackle, and ram down with hair brush. It the pack-
ing is not then successful, insert your foot into the
bag, and pull fiercely at the handles. It does not
matter about the carpet bag being wide open at both
sides, so as it is closed with a padlock in the middle.
" MUSTARD.

" The lodging-house variety is very scarce. It
may sometimes, however, be raised in about a
week from the kitchen, by ringing for it regularly
every morning.
" THE LANGUAGE OF DOOR-KNOCKERS.
" Bar signifies—Pots, taxes, pa-per, duns, D'ya
want any apples ?' physic, the dustman on boxing-
day, and servants' followers.
" RAT-TAT announces—the postman, the comical
cousin, and the downy' dun.
RAT-TAT-TAT—is the signal of a poor relation, a
charity-touter, or a bill of exchange.

" RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT•TAT—RAT•TATETT - in-
dicates a footman in full powder, the polka-professor,
the pet-parson, or the chimney on fire.
" RATTA•RA-TATI-but no, a gentleman's knock
cannot be described by the most ingenious phono-
graphy.
" APPROPRIATE BIRTHDAY GIFTS.
" The most appropriate birthday gifts are such
things as nobody wants, or nobody would use. Velvet
braces lined with satin, and embroidered with but-
terflies, are the best adapted for any relative engaged
in a light fancy business, as a South Sea whaler, Stc.
Painted French garters will do well for a grand-
father with one leg in the grave ; a silver-mounted
riding whip is likely to suit an uncle in the navy ;
and a cocked hat is just the thing for a friend who is
a Quaker.
" TO EPICURES.

46 4 WHAT TO EAT--WHAT TO DRINK—WHAT TO
AVOlD:—Turtle, Champagne, and ' Ham sandwiches
a penny.'
" AMUSEMENTS FOR THE YOUNG.

" A kitten should always be kept where there are
children ; when they are tired of pulling its tail,
they can put it into their father's boots. A box of
colours is also a source of great amusement, affording
them an opportunity of daubing their faces, and of
appearing in illuminated pinafores. It is well to let
them know where the preserves and pickles are kept,
so that going after the jam they may get a bite at a
capsicum. On wet days they should be allowed to put
peas into the piano, and thump the keys with their
drumsticks. Train them to pull gentlemen's whis-
kers, and wipe their lollipopped hands on ladies'
dresses.

" ORNITHOLOGICAL DEBUT.
" The cuckoo makes its first appearance before a
British public early in spring, and trusts to that in-
dulgence which an English audience is never known
to withhold from strange birds, who come in the cha-
racter of foreign vocalists.

" DIRECTIONS FOR FINDING A POLICEMAN.
" Look down every area in the street; if you do not
by accident see one, ring the bell and inquire if the
policeman is in the kitchen. Repeat this at every
door, and you cannot fail eventually to find one.
"BOILING.
" The boiling point varies in different localities. In
Bel grave and Grosvenor-squares, Mayfair, and S pring
gardens, the pot can hardly be boiled under 3,0001.
a year ; whereas up at Camden-town the pot will
boil at 1501. or 200 l.; and about St. Giles's or Spital-
fields, at 7s. or Bs. per week.
" LITERARY.
" June is Nature's publishing season, when she
sends forth several of her periodicals. That splendid
annual the strawberry begins to appear in parts, and
the gooseberry comes forth in numbers. Some apples
and pears may also be expected, as specimens of some
early editions of those beautiful standard works in
Nature's library.