moorland and woodland scenery, at that season of the year when grouse and woodcock-shooting are in full play. It is a matter of no little difficulty to transplant the effects of so eccentric a genius as Turner, but Mr. Hogarth has done much towards it. The prints, which of course depend almost entirely on the merits of the landscape, will have many admirers—the cover-shooting subject more particularly. It is no bad example of this master's style. The companion-plate is in no way so good; the sportsmen and their dogs, which are here inade more of in the composition, truth compels us to say are simply ludicrous. PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS OF THE METROPOLIS. "I belong to the unpopular family of Telltruths, and would not fatter Apollo or his lyre."- Rob Roy. Vires acquirit eundo-not the snow, but the theatrical ball, which is kept rolling by the influx of holiday visitors. The game being made, the speculator awaits “ the hazard of the die ;" his investment in some instances being fortunate, in others the reverse, after the fashion of weightier matters. His first “ throw-in” is good, the treasures of the Lyceum rewarding him for his pluck in perilling the safety of his precious body through myriads of beings. The chief agents in this prize are Mr. and Mrs. Mathews and Mr. Beverley. The former in bestowing so vast an amount of care, painstaking, and capital ; the last for his great talent in illustrating the Christmas entertainment of “ Once upon a Time, there were Two Kings !” The author is not up to the standard elected of one who has written so many clever works of the kind. No, strange to say! Mr. Planché has not availed himself of many of the topics of which the day is so fruitful. Perhaps the most telling of the dialogue is a smart allusion to the dreamers who speculate in ifs : "Supposing I was you, Supposing you was me, I wonder who we'd be ?”. There is not anything remarkable in the way of character ; but the little there is, is made the most of by Madame Vestris, Miss St. George, Miss Mason, Mr. J. Bland, Mr. Frank Matthews, and Mr. Wright. But as a spectacle this must be viewed, after all ; and then it is before all other spectacular attempts. In Sea-Weed Hall, Mr. Beverley has presented a Lyceum audience with perennial delight “A thing of beauty is a joy for ever." From these pictorial presentments of Fairy Land, full of excitement, the pleased spectator makes his way for the HAYMARKET, where he soon becomes 'acquainted with Mr. Buckstone's “Three Bears." For his safe guidance he is greatly indebted to Miss Lydia Thompson, who, as w Silverhair, proves to be a most charming cicerone. Indeed, he is almost disposed to grieve when obliged to part company with so pleasing a pioneer, which the pantomimic portion of the entertainment makes absolute. Now he begins to laugh at the absurdities of Clown, the misfortunes of Pantaloon, and the allusions to passing events. Then he can but admire the graceful movements of Miss Brown, the Columbine; and the mechanical contrivances so ingeniously wrought fail not to come in for his share of wonder. But, above all, most tickled is he with Clown's imitation of Paganini, this one-stringed feat of Mr. Marshall being of itself compensatory. Meandering along the Strand, Mr. Webster's flaming posters touching “ Number Nip" catch the wanderer, who soon arrives at the conclusion, that all the magicians and fairies that ever were or ever could be, could not make anything of this ; therefore, being like Tristram Shandy, who “ cannot bear suffocation-and bad smells worst of all," he quickly forces his way from the ADELPIT. For a little fresh air he crosses Waterloo Bridge, and is attracted by the wonders of AsiLEY's, where the adventures of " Billy Button," the hero of pantomime, pall before the Wise Elephants of the East. ' Never did such huge creatures perform such tricks; all the pantomimes in the world could not contain anything half so extraordinary as these zoological gymnastics. Henceforward the remark of “playful as an elephant" will lose its irony from Mr. Cooke's surprising tuition of the Wise Elephants of the East. Thither he takes a spin at DRURY LANE ; but is sorely puzzled to make head or tail of “King Humming Top”-albeit, the clown does talk so inveterately. By the way, the scene lately enacted here on the occasion of that which was termed a Bal Masqué, reflects greatly on the committee of the theatre in allowing it to become the rendezvous of all those degraded forms that disgrace humanity. The parish authorities, too, take the most exquisite pains in putting to the rout the owners of some cigar shops in Brydges-street, but quietly permit proceedings at a large house which, for open licentiousness, obscenity, vicious doings, and contaminating influence, far outdo whole colonies of the small fry condemned. " That in the Captain is but a choleric word, Which in the Lieutenant is rank blasphemy.” Whilst in the neighbourhood it is but a turn to Wych-street, and he is not long in discovering that “ Columbus” at the OLYMPIC is not very amusing ; indeed, Mr. Taylor's pantomime is not provocative of mirth, although the masks are good, and there are some funny things in the opening ; the dresses and scenery are also good; still, it is not a recommendable pantomime. The people who play in the introduction are not clever, the clown has no humour, the pantaloon talks, the harlequin is a bad dancer, and the columbine is charming, graceful, pretty, and light as a feather. The opening of “ Columbus” requires good pantomimists to render it laugh. able, which the Olympic does not possess; the situations and plot are good, but the actors want the sense to enable them to work them up; so all is dull, tame, and wearisome. As for the harlequinade, it is dreary in the extreme; the clown will think that his talking is funny, but it is not ; neither is tumbling, for the sake of tumbling, a good quality. Then the old conventionalities are brought in, and played with in the same way as they have been for the last fifty years; and of course there are tricks and illusions which nobody can make out, and in every scene you see openings for fun that never comes until in the dark scene, if not before you arrive at the profound conclusion that pantomimists are the most stupid people in creation, and you are almost tempted to think all theatrical people just as stupid when you see the dreadful, inartistic, ginger-bread, rainbowy groupings and effects of the “ last scene of all." The pantomime is not a hit: people go to the Olympic to see Robson ; he has made three mediocre burlesques run well, and the audience delight in his acting. Let then Mr. Wigan keep to Robson, extravaganza, and amusement, instead of attempting pantomime, stupidity, and dulness. To visit half of the exhibitions would occupy so much of the time of the seeker of amusement that he is content to take SMITH'S TOUR or Europe, in Leicester-square, which, as a faithful presentment, is worthy of remark ; the POLYTECHNIC, with its lectures and experiments ; BurFORD'S PANORAMA, with the view of Constantinople ; and the HUNGARIAN CONCERTS, at the Marionette Theatre, with the playing and signing of the Distins, and Miss Somebody, with most killing eyes, as pianist. All this, surely, is enough thus early in the New YEAR. STATE OF THE ODDS, &c. 20 SALE OF BLOOD STOCK. GE. Rataplan, by The Baron out of Pocahontas, three years old (Mr. Howard) .. 650 A Brown Yearling Colt (brother to Royal Hart), by Venison out of Red Rose 410 Helmet, by Cowl out of Minerva, two years old......... 230 A Bay Yearling Colt by Collingwood out of Tarella (Mr. Howard) ........ 100 Port Philip, by Melbourne, two years old (Mr. Cartwright)........ Nerva, by Charles XII. out of Jennala, three years old (Mr. Serle) ........ 16 A Brown Yearling Filly by Pompey out of Melrose's dam (Mr. Morris).. .... 15 Brother to Royal Hart and Helmet go into A. Taylor's stable, at Fyfield. Young Cotherstone has been sold to go to Australia ; Chief Baron Nicholson and Old Dan Tucker to go to Bohemia. Mr. Drinkald has sold Nabob to Mr. Howard, and Mr. John Osborne has disposed of Brown Brandy and Bridesmaid at high prices. Mr. P. Matthews, of Annagar, has purchased Anglesey, by Cotherstone, as a stallion. The Duke of Richmond has sold his brood mares in a lot, it is said, to M. Lupin. Sir James Boswell has bought Tom, or Tommy, by Malcolm, of Mr. T. Dawson, in whose stable the colt remains. Sale or HUNTERS AT YORK.-On Monday, December 19, by Mr. Tilbury, jun., the property of Sir Clifford Constable : GS. The Cool of the Evening, b.g. (Mr. Ilutchinson)......... 210 The Prize, gr. g , by Priam, dam by Lottery, six years old (Mr. Mason) .. 190 Contest, b.g., by Contest, dam by Archibald (Mr. Holmes) ... 180 The Sheriff, b. g., by Sandbeck (Mr. Williamson) .... ........ 180 The King of Diamonds, ch.g., by Worlaby Baylock, dam by Catterick, ciglit years old (Mr. Mason) .... Brown) ............. six years old (Mr. Willoughby) ............ Lumley)...................... On the following day, by Mr. Robert Johnson, the property of Lumley Hodgson, Esq. : Gs. Perion, by Perion, dam by Bob Logic, seven years old (Mr. Willoughby) .. 150 Thc Maid of Wensley, by Bay President, dam by Jack Spigot, five years old (Mr. Day) .......... .......................................... 125 Ruth, by Bay President, six years old (Mr. Clarke) ...... Twig Topper, five years old (Mr. Handley) ..... Robin, by Robin Grey, dam by Luck's-all, grandam by Syphon, six years old (Mr. Clarke) ............................................... 80 Charley, by Charley Boy, dam by Remembranccr, four years old.......... 70 A very slack month for the man of business; what has been done is chiefly in favour of King Tom, Dervish, Boiardo, and Meteora, the first named of these having the best of it; and Hesse Cassel as certainly the worst—the feeling is altogether against him. Autocrat has scarcely been quoted, and few of the others to be found on rather a long list enjoy but little more frequent notice. THE DERBY, 1854. Dec. 5. Dec. 12. Dec. 19. Dec. 29. King Tom.......... 1000 .. 30 100 .. 1 100 THE CHESTER CUP.-40 to 1 agst. Virago, 50 to 1 agst. Tom (late Mountain Hawk), and 66 to 1 each agst. Newminster and Catspaw ; 100 to 1 each agst. Red Lion, Heapy, Joo Miller, Talfourd, Muscovite, Master Adam, and Towton. LIVERPOOL STEEPLE CHASE.—7 to 1 agst. Miss Mowbray, EMBELLISHMENTS. F. BUTLER, THE CELEBRATED JOCKEY; ENGRAVED BY J. D. HUNT, FROM A PAINTING BY HARRY HALL. |