The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-17 00:00:00

SADLER'S WELLS.

A considerable attraction has been added to the usual
amusements at this theatre, by the addition to the esta-
blishment of the whole of the stud, and all the principal
assistants of the late much lamented Mr. Andrew
Ducrow, which made their appearance here for the first
time, last night. In consequence, of this addition to the
:establishment, the theatre has assumed to itself another
name, and it is now denominated, " Theatre Royal.
Sadler's Wells, and New Amphitheatre of Arts."
In order to bring the whale strength of the
united companies into play, a new piece, entitled
Harry of England, or The Trumpeter's Horse, and the
Conquest of Harfleur, written, we believe, by W. T.
11Ionerieff, Esq., was produced last night, with a great
deal of new scenery, dresses, and appointments. Were
we inclined to enter into a detail of the plot of this
piece, we should scarcely be able to do so,
as the noise . incidental to a house crammed to
suffocation, wholly prevented us from hearing the
dialogue ; suffice it fOr the present to say, that the
piece %% as produced on the stage with great care. An
immense number of supernumaries have been employed,
and the whole of the dresses and appointments are of
the most magnificent character. Everything which
could tend to produce stage effect has been put into re-
quisition, and, on the whole, we must pronounce this a
most gorgeous spectacle, and one which will no doubt
be long a favourite with the, public. Mr. Lyon/ and
all the favourites of the united company, play in the
piece, and all gave satisfaction by their efforts
to please. Some of the new scenery, which is by Mr. T.
Pitt, is exceedingly good, more especially the Dell of the
King's Well, in the New Forest of Hampshire, by moon- I
light, the town-gates of Harfleur, with the moat, bat-
tlements, &c. The curtain fell on a splendid tableau,
amidst the most vociferous applause, and' the announce-
ment by Mr. Lyon that the piece would be repeated every
evening until further notice, was received with great ap-
plause. Mr. Honner, the spirited lessee, was then called for.
The whole of the stage was then removed by mechanical
means, in the space of about twelve minutes, when an
area covering a space of upwards of 300 feet, was dis-
covered. " Scenes in the Circle" followed, in which
Signor Hillier, Le petit Ducrow, Messes. Stickn7,
Hicken, Widdicombe, and Adams, with Mesdames
.1111-
Bier, Adams, Susanne, and Stickney, were most
conspicuous. The evening's entertainments con-
cluded with the popular little farce of The Lottery
Ticket, in which Messrs. Herbert, Williams, and Dry,
with Mrs. R. Barnett, and Mrs. Morgan, played admi-
rably. A comic song, by Mr. Herbert, was charmingly
executed, and met with a double encore. The expense
incurred by the management in the production of the
novelties which we have noticed, must have been very
great, and we trust success may crown his efforts in
catering for the public amusement. The appearance of
the house last night certainly presented an earnest of
golden harvests yet to be reaped. The performances did
not conclude till past two o'clock.
MR. WILSON'S ENTERTAINMENT.

Mr. Wilson gave his first entertainment, illustrative of
English minstrelsy, last evening, in the Music-hall, Store-
street, to a crowded and fashionable audience. We know
not when we have been so much pleased as we were with
this entertainment. It opened with a short dissertation
on our old national songs, and Mr. Wilson instanced
many in refutation of the assertion that England has no
national songs. One of these songs, "'Twas merry in
the hall," Mr. Wilson sang with admirable effect ; in-
deed, we never before thought the air contained so much
exquisite melody. The execution of this old song by Mr.
Wilson was one of the richest treats we have experienced
for a considerable time. In the course of his entertain-
ment Mr. Wilson traced the orin of the well-known old
English " Derry Down," which, though appa-
rently anuonrmus ofeaning sound, is, in truth, derived from an
old chaunt used by the Ancient Druids in their religious
processions. Mr. Wilson then recited (as it was too long
for him to sing) the well-known ballad of " King John
and the Abbot of Canterbury," the conclusion of which
elicited a round of hearty laughter. The next song
Mr. Wilson sang was honoured with a unanimous
encore. It was the line old song of " Sally in our
alley." He afterwards gave a short history of this
song ; how it was at first ridiculed, but afterwards ob-
tained to the height of celebrity and the praise of Addi-
son. It is not, perhaps, genertoly known that the author
of this song, Henry Carey, after having founded a bene-
volent institution for the relief of decayed musicians, put
an end to his own existence at the advanced age of
eighty years. After his death, it was discovered that the
whole of his earthly possessions were compromised in
one single half-penny. Mr. Wilson then gave a picture
of olden times, as illustrated in Collins's songs, several
of which he sang. He also graphically described the old
May-day sporting, with the customs of England, Ireland,
Scotland, and Amerca. The gem of the evening was the
song of the " Old English Gentleman," which met with a
burst of applause and a unanimous call for a repetition. Mr.
Wilson read a letter from James Dewar, the composer
of the song, in which he stated that he composed the
song on the back of a letter; having drawn lines with a
pencil, and, further, that he did not now, nor did he
ever, consider the production a work of merit, notwith-
standing its popularity. Mr. Wilson then sang " Black-
eyed Susan" beautifully, and concluded the evening's
entertainment with a song by the same author—the
" Roast beef of Old England." • Mr. Wilson intends re-
peating his entertainment on Monday next, and we
should recommend all lovers of genuine music to avail
themselves of an opportunity of listening to Mr. Wilson's
performance, which, we can assure them, will be a treat
of the highest order.
SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.

Thistrdoof impervious delightful summer lounge opened for the season
winter
lualsth a evening
with a grand Whitsun festival. During the
of the a newgallery has been constructed in the grounds,
to rain. This gallery, which
commands an excellent view of the model of Rome and
dating a thousand persons. Underneath the gallery is a
Pyrotechnic exhibition, is capable of accommo-
grand Gothic vestibule, fitted up as a refreshment-
room, with tables, &c., where, among, other things,
tea and coffee are provided of excellent quality, and
at a moderate charge. The erection of these places of
shelter is a great improvement on the state of affairs of
last year, when visitors were exposed to the pittiless pelt-
ing of every chance shower. The refreshment room,
especially, will be found a great accommodation to pic-
nic parties coming to spend the day at the gardens.
The colossal model of Rome has been repainted, and in
many parts remodelled ; and the lighting up is effected
upon a new principle, with much greater rapidity and
brilliancy than heretofore. The girandola and pyrotech-
nic exhibition, IN as even on a more magnificent scale than
last season. The cascade of fire at th conclusion was a
perfect triumph of the pyrotechnic art. The band has
been augmented and strengthened, and, during the
course of •the evening, performed several favourite airs,
overtures, and quadrille:. Among them we must not
omit to mention the beautiful. " Casta Diva," from
Norma, with a clarionet obligato by Mr. Dean, and a
flute obligato by Mr. Saynor. This exquisite scena was
given with great taste and judgment, and was loudly
applauded. We would just hint to Mr. Cross, en passant,
that it would be an improvement, if he could so manage
the performances, as not to let quite such a long interval
elapse between the conclusion of the promenades musi-
cales, and the commencement of the fireworks. The
Gardens were crowded to excess, and every one seemed
delighted with the amusements.

•
BuTTER.—:—A friend writes me from Penrith, that
on last market day butter was 6d. per lb., and 'not good
to sell at that price. This reduction is not awing to any
additional ppplies, but simply to the want of Consump-
tion during the winter. Salted butter is now like to be
sold off, or ohertly it would not be. fit to tise.