ing the nigger melodies consisted in imparting a dark hue to the countenance. Accordingly, these would-be vocalists daubed their faces, and attired themselves in Holywell-street toggery, that had "done the stage some service." This being effected, they appeared on the boards of one of the minors as "Minstrels," of some state or other— a wretched one, for a certainty. The result was, just as any sane person would naturally conjecture, these ignorant darkies lost their time, and their landlord lost his rent and good temper. "The Royal Fox-Hunt; or, Life's Course of Man and Steed" is now running its course at ASTLEY'S. The wild enthusiasm of the "noble sportsmen" here knows no bounds. Every night they appear to be as fresh as ever (would that we could declare as much for their cut-aways) in their pursuit of the varmint. Altogether their peculiar style and gait cannot be very easily got over. On every occasion of the meets, the fox makes away for the same covert; and, singular to relate, gives a precisely similar double. On the completion of this accomplishment, Master Reynard effects a turn, and looks his impetuous pursuers full in their faces, with all the mauvais pleasantrie of that most renowned of the species-the fox of Ballybotherem. At the same time the audience justly appreciate this Fox's Creamof the joke. As faithful chroniclers, we must not omit to observe that in order to throw a halo around the "Life of a Racer," as depicted at this establishment, Mr. Batty has succeeded in procuring Sir Gilbert Heathcote's Miss Love. The varied evolutions of this thorough-bred appear to be highly relished by a discriminating and sporting "sweep"-speculating public. The new vocalists, Miss Bassano and Miss Anne Romer, are important acquisitions to the PRINCESS's. Their voices are unquestionably good, and by avoiding manifold faults of style, both ladies will undoubtedly, at no very distant period, prove to be bright ornaments to the musical sphere. Miss A. Romer possesses a countenance of a very pleasing kind. There is a truthfulness in her expression that favourably impresses you, even at a glance. We hope her career will be as brilliant as the commencement appears to augur. Miss Bassano would materially add to the favourable opinion she has created, if she would wisely abate her many imperfections in acting. Her grimaces are most atrociously appalling, and hideously frightful to behold. The poor leader at one time appeared in perfect agonies as his approaching fate, and, like the affrighted dentist, when a lady patient opened her mouth so extensively that the distracted operator cried out, "No thank you, madam! I'd rather remain outside!" this flourisher of the bâton entertained the propriety of not being quite so contiguous to a cavern of such dimensions as that from whence issued such mellifluent sounds. Knowing perfectly well that the representative of Norma will take our advice in the spirit that it is thrown out, we proceed to call her attention to the utter absurdity of adjusting her arms like direction-posts. This we point out in a friendly manner, because by relinquishing her present habit of attitudinising, this lady will most assuredly gain a step on the thorny road to fame. It is hard to determine whether it be to the extreme parsimony of the manager of this establishment, or to the neglect of the salubrious duties which devolve upon the laundress of the company, that must be attributed the dingy and seedy state of the mouldy dirty bed-sheet-looking-like togas that envelop the attenuated forms of the commingled Hebrew and Christian supernumeraries which undoubtedly should "flourish;" but, alas! now only "fade" in Bellini's "Norma." By the persuasion of a friend, and the fleetness of a steed of rightgood mettle, we have positively gained the New River Head, and we have not lost by a visit to SADLER'S WELLS, where our gratification in witnessing the latest novelty, "Feudal Times," repaid us for undertaking so lengthened a tour. Miss Laura Addison is an actress of great merit, and it is greatly to be regretted that she should be lost in such a locality as Islington, when there are theatres in the most habitable part of the metropolis to which she would prove a most valuable adjunct. Evidently there is some error in the affiche in attributing the representation of the Earl of Mar to Mr. Phelps, when there is no mistaking that the character personated by Mr. G. Bennett is marr'd from first to last. The indomitable perseverance of this gentleman, in persisting in tearing and twisting the portion of the dialogue allotted him, so that it is quite unintelligible to his auditory, must not be entirely lost sight of. To the admirers of the watch-dog kind of growl, and of the old Cobourg fifth-raters' snarl, Mr. Bennett's bite-your-nose-off-nish style must be deliciously refreshing. Chance and a heavy shower of rain occasioned us to seek shelter in the OLYMPIC; and grateful to the gods we felt for conducting our steps to a spot so prodigal of mirth. The bill set forth that the amusements would commence with the "admired" drama of "The Blind Boy." It is an indisputable axiom that there exists amongst a great social community a vast difference of opinion on the same matters. In former audiences, doubtless the source of admiration originated from a very different kind of feeling to that inspired by the performance we witnessed of the melodrama in question. The characters that peradventure in days gone by drew tears from the agitated beholders, in this instance drew down long and hearty guffaws. "Time works wonders" indeed. In the present particular case the wonder is not how many of "The Blind Boy" cast got on the stage, but how they get on off the stage. We must not altogether pass by the representation of Rodolph; such an omission would be quite unjustifiable. The name of the histrionic who figured in this part is Mr. Robertson, an actor, some perhaps not very distant day, destined to reach the summit of a coal-shed, or the top step of an omnibus. For the first post he possesses the regular coalheavery qualification of imbibing half-and-half-a process we espied him pursuing when at the side wing. For the other stage his voice is peculiarly adapted to hail the promiscuous passenger. The WALHALLA, the ST. JAMES'S ASSEMBLY ROOMS, the ADELAIDE GALLERY CASINO, and the CASINO DE VENISE continue to receive their numerous votaries. The POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION is well attended, both on mornings and evenings. The lectures delivered at this institution by competent professors are the fruitful sources of great gratification, and of infinite instruction to numerous and attentive auditories. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. HUNT CLUB.-A metropolitan club of this character, under the title of "The Union Hunt Club," has just now some promise of becoming established. Circulars have been sent to the heads of all the hunts in the kingdom, and arrangements made for opening house on the premises lately occupied by the Navy Club, in Bondstreet. We have now, consequently, two more candidates for the countenance of the London lounger, of purely sporting attractionsthe Turf and the Union Hunt; and we are inclined to believe there is room for both to rise and flourish without a particle of opposition or hostility in their growth. STEEPLE CHASING.-The following acceptance out of sixty handicapped for the Grand National, at Liverpool, on the 3rd, augurs well in quantity and quality for an average, or in others an excellent For "The Grand Military," to come off at Leamington on the 18th and 19th, the different stakes have closed thus: FIRST RACE.-A SWEEPSTAKES of 10 sovs. each, h. ft., with added, for horses bona fide the property of officers on full pay; 12st. each; winners extra; to be ridden by officers on full pay in the army; three miles. H.R.H. Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar ns. Salute Hon. R. N. Lawley's (2nd L. G.) b. g. The Roarer Capt. Gambier's (R.A.) b. g. Gog Cor. M. Fenwick's (K.D.G.) ch. g. Pullaway Lieut. J. Coles's (4th D.G.) b. g. Edmond Lieut. H. L. Carter's (Carabiniers) b. g. Tilly Slowboy (late Homiharriho) Cor. Littledale's (R.D.) ch. g. The Slave Captain Grant's (R.S.G.) gr. h. The Marquis Hon. G. Noel's (11th Hussars) b. h. Lopez Cornet D. C. Buchanan's (R.S.G.) b. m. Matchless Lieut. S. Barry's (12th R.L.) ch. g. Tommy Tinkle Eighteen other officers did not name. SECOND RACE.-A SWEEPSTAKES of 5 sovs. each, p.p., with added; riders, horses, and course as in the first race; 11st. each; the winner to be sold for 100 sovs. if demanded, &c. Viscount Neville's (2nd L.G.) b. g. The Pearl Lieut. A. Hawksley's (2nd L.G.) b. m. Pauline Lieut. H. Johnstone (2nd L.G.) ns. Seven Stars (late Warwick) Captain Gambier's (R.A.) ch. g. The Parson (late Forester) Captain Travers (K.D.G.) ns. Pickwick Lieut. Lockhart Little (K.D.G.) ns. Carlow Captain Forrest (4th D.G.) ns. Rowland Lieut. J. Coles's (4th D.G.) b. g. Edmond Captain Conolly's (5th D.G.) Liberty, by Emancipation Cornet H. L.ce Carter's (Carabiniers) Tilly Slowboy Cornet G. Littledale's (R. D.) ch. g. The Slave Captain Dawson's (11th H.) b. g. Peeping Tom, by Sir Grey Lieut. Smith Barry's (12th R.L.) ch. g. Tommy Tinkle Hon. H. Forester (G.G.) ns. b. h. Mortgage Hon. E. R. Boyle (C.G.) ns. Water Lily Lieut. Gordon's (R.R.) br. m. The Queen of Hearts Lieut. H. Duberly's (68th L.I.) Lucy Long, by Welcome Lieut. D'Arcy's (89th regiment) Chasm Lieut. Kennedy's (89th regiment) Hot Joint Five others did not name. The WELTER STAKES, a Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, h. ft., with Lieut. J. Leslie's (1st L.Gd.) Charon Lieut. H. Johnstone (2nd L.Gd.) ns. Seven Stars, late Warwick - Captain W. Allen's (K.D.Gd.) Ploughboy Cornet H. Lee Carter's (Carabiniers) b. m. Flora added; 13st. Lieut.-Col. Lawrenson's (13th L.D.) ns. b. g. Crusader Six others did not name. The fourth race will be a handicap for beaten horses. Prince George of Cambridge, Lord W. Paulet, Viscount Scahani, the Honourable Major E. R. Boyle, and Captains Forrest, Gambier, and Newland are the stewards. The other chases fixed for March, one glance at the list in our diary for the month will show both in number and importance to be all they have promised. STATE OF THE ODDS, &c. ALTERATIONS IN THE QUEEN'S PLATE ARTICLES.-A new set of rules for these royal prizes have lately been issued from the office of the Master of the Horse, in which "showing" and certain other oldfashioned formula are very properly omitted. A Queen's Plate is now, in short, to be run under the generally-acknowledged laws of racing-thanks, no doubt, to the sharp practice lately adopted near home. SALE OF BLOOD STOCK.-The late Mr. Phillimore's horses were sold at the Corner, on Monday the 1st, at fair prices; Potentia, covered by Touchstone-the pick-for three hundred and fifty-five. On the following Monday Mr. Wall announced his retirement, through the means of the same celebrated firm, and brought up a longish string of all sorts. Of eleven in training, The Crown Prince went for four hundred, and the other ten at an average of a pony a-piece. Among the brood mares, Game Fowl, covered by Coronation, was valued at a hundred; Old Bellissima, covered by Venison, at ninety-four; and Dauntless, covered by Venison, at seventy-eight guineas; while Zelinda, by Rubens, and covered by Loadstone, gave a per-centage to the worthy auctioneer on three! Zelinda, Rubens, Zuleika-what names to go for sixty shillings the bunch! Mr. Osbaldestone, too, has at length found a customer for The Saddler; not, however, much to the profit of the purchaser, as the horse died on his passage to Ostend, en route for Bohemia, The now pretty general cry of things being flat and bad may certainly be applied in full force to the business of the betting world. A worse February was perhaps never known in the memory of man, and such a milk-and-waterish opening on that grand feature of spring speculation, the Chester Cup, quite as unlikely of precedent. Notwithstanding the more than usually good acceptance, always sure to be great, but this year reaching one hundred and sevendespite this and the long list of names we have drawn up as priced somehow or other for it-the interest, the attraction of the race appears to be gone. Of the handicap we shall say nothing here, as its |