There might be a couple of hundreds of people assembled. On came the huntsmen with their stag in a covered cart. The chief huntsman blew dismally on a tin horn, the cart stopped, the door was opened, but out did not come the stag. It appeared a tame one hired for the occasion, and quite contented to remain where it was. Six hounds following the cart— the whole splendid pack!--waited with the same nonchalance till the huntsman roused the stag, and compelled it to spring out of the cart. Once out, however, it did not seem at all alarmed at the sight of men or dogs. The dogs were equally quiescent. Neither stag nor dogs seemed desirous of the trouble of a run; but as a hunt there must be, the stag was actually driven off by the huntsman, and hooted off by the crowd... . . . . The stag had a large label attached to its neck-I suppose to warn any one against killing it......in fact, more like a bottle of hartshorn than a hart of grease." ...." And yet, amidst the numerous customs and games of past times, what should banish the brisk foot-race and the game of foot-ball on the village-green? In the holidays of the future, taste will banish vulgarity-but not hilarity."

We hope not; we had rather see rural life less genteel, and more jovial. Any worm but Mawworm.

THE METALLIC BETTING-BOOK.-The Messrs. Ackermann, of the Strand, have just published a little manual, in form of a pocket-tablet, under this title. It is well and tastefully got up, and will be found very convenient for all who bet on horse-racing, whether professionally or It is particularly portable.

en amateur.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS OF THE METROPOLIS.

"How vain and flitting-how unreal and unsubstantial are popular favour and popular applause! Well and truly were these hollow triumphs called by Lord Mansfield the echo of folly and shadow of renown."-HERALD.

Popular applause is ever variable. One day the Radcliffe school of literature reigns paramount; another day the fiction of Sir Walter Scott takes precedence of every other class of composition in public estimation. Then Bulwer und James lead for a period, to be succeeded by Dickens. So with things theatric. Tragedy, comedy, opera succeed one another. The performer that drew crowded houses yesterday, to-day performs to empty benches. Mrs. Butler's late engagement verifies our position. Some few years back this actress was the sole means of the vast area of Covent Garden being nightly filled. But a few weeks ago the same artist appeared on the boards of one of the metropolitan minors without creating the least sensation.

The high state of excitement anent Jenny Lind begins to abate: whereat we are not greatly astonished; for however deliciously enchanting may be-and that it is enchanting no one can gainsay

the warbling of this gifted child of nature, it is hardly reasonable for people, in such times as these, to mortgage a moiety of their estates for the few hours' tenancy of an opera-box.

A grand coup has been achieved by the management of THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA producing "Don Giovanni." It is generally admitted by the first musical critics of the day, that Mozart's chef d'œuvre never received such justice at the hands of the performers in this country as it now indisputably meets with at the new theatre. This opera is put upon the stage with great splendour, boasting of a triple orchestra and a double chorus. Here it is that the vast superiority of the new Italian Opera over the old house becomes remarkably apparent. Such a band of instrumentalists, and such an effective chorus, as are collected together at Covent Garden, never shone in the Haymarket hemisphere. Grisi as Donna Anna; Persiani, Zerlina; Corbari, Donna Elvira; Mario, Ottavio; Rovere, Leporello; Taglifico, Mazetto; and Tamburini the Giovanni, form a most powerful and attractive cast. Grisi's recitative in the first scene is a perfect gem of itself. Persiani is perfection in the gentle and delicate morceaux, which she renders with unexampled purity of style. Mademoiselle Corbari is an excellent Elvira in every respect. Mario's chest-voice tells in this opera most electrically. The Giovanni of Tamburini is great beyond comparison, both for singing and acting. The ballet department at this establishment is considerably augmented, and thereby greatly improved. First among the agile disciples of choregraphy stands, or rather flies, Fanny Ellsler, the universal favourite. Her graceful boundings positively startle you, from the extraordinary agility evinced by one that is popularly imagined to be human, although generally spoken of as divine. The ballet of "Salamandrine" continues to attract.

Report speaks highly of Mr. Bell's new comedy of "Temper" at the HAYMARKET. The cast includes Farren, Webster, Tilbury, Hudson, Mrs. Glover, Miss Fortescue, Miss P. Horton, Mrs. Seymour, and Mrs. Humby. Surely as his "Temper" is pronounced to be good, the lessee will continue to keep it-on the stage. The four Hungarian instrumental vocalists completely astonish the audiences of this house in the development of their extraordinary powers. Mr. Webster, although his present bill attracts good houses, is determined to deserve public patronage, by producing several novelties, the first of which will be an original farce.

The ST. JAMES'S continues to be the resort of the haut ton. The fairest and noblest of the land attend the clever representations of the French Plays, and attest the very superior manner Mr. Mitchell caters for his subscribers. "Un Coup de Lansquenet" has been admirably performed. Regnier as Desrousseaux, and Mademoiselle Denain as La Marquise de Puzy, could not have succeeded better in their impersonations. The former convulsed the house, while the Denain charmed the audience by her easy, winning, arch, and vivacious manner. May she be induced to visit us next season; for not only is she a clever actress, but she is a very pretty woman.

The ETHIOPIANS are about to take their departure. We therefore, in a spirit of philanthropy that we feel fully confident will be properly appreciated, earnestly exhort our country friends to attend the

final performances of these sable serenaders without delay. It is perhaps christianlike on our part to caution our fellow-kind, on the occasion of their visit, to carefully eschew tight vests. This humane suggestion will be gratefully treasured by the listener of the droll instrumental and vocal eccentricities of Messrs. Pell, Harrington, Stanwood, White, and Germon.

The music of "The King and the Piper," at the PRINCESS's, is light, unpretending, and pleasing withal. The piece itself is, without question, one of the most foolish, insipid, and common-place affairs it has ever been our unhappy lot to take cognizance of. It is generally believed that the air of the black-hole of Calcutta is the most pestiferous in the world: henceforth we shall take this to be a proverbial fallacy feelingly, from bitter experience, we will positively aver, without the slightest fear of contradiction from any pitiable specimen of humanity who has breathed the pestilential air of this house, that it is perfectly impossible for an atmosphere to be more deteriorating, more foul, or more deadly in its effects upon the human frame, than than that of the Princess's Theatre.

Mr. Batty has provided attractive novelties of a high order, both on the stage and in the circle, for the especial delight of the Whitsuntide folks, who have mustered pretty strongly at ASTLEY'S._The spectacle of "The Golden-footed Steed; or, The Charmed Horse of the Black Valley," is just now enjoying the full-flowing springtide of popularity; and it must be observed that the hearty reception accorded it is richly deserved, and the getting up of the piece speaks much for the abilities and taste of Mr. Broadfoot, the stage-manager.

The dynasty of the Keeleys, at the LYCEUM, will in another week be at an end. The last burlesque produced under the present management certainly does not boast of the same pretensions to success as many of its class which have preceded it. "The Wood Demon," albeit possessing some of the attic, is not the more attractive from the extreme antiquity of many of the allusions. Ideas that have been

worked out in more than one periodical or weekly paper are here pressed into service. The jokes anent the Gibus hat, and the balletgirl shirts, form only two examples: the former is worn out, and the latter has long since danced the dance of death. Take it altogether, it may be safely asserted that " The Wood Demon" does not possess the lignum vitæ.

The WALHALLA is numerously and fashionably attended. The energetic proprietor diligently graduates in the Addisonian school by achieving, more than commanding, success-by deserving it. The care, attention, and great exertions bestowed upon the general arrangements of this exhibition fail not to insure the results being as satisfactory to the visitors as they are pleasing to the director. The Royal Academician Cooper's Joan of Arc is well and faithfully pourtrayed by Madame Warton; whose Innocence, by the way, should not be entirely lost sight of by any ardent admirer of the really rare, and certainly classic. Extensive preparations are being made for a grand morning performance of the " Marble Statues."

66

CREMORNE just now is in full feather, what with Mr. Ellis to superintend general arrangements, Mr. Laurent, jun., to preside over the musical portion of the entertainments, Mr. Daws as the head of the pecking department, and Mr. Green to be continually winging his

flight in balloons of all sizes, makes, and names. What more would you desire?

Last, but not least, in our catalogue raisonnée we arrive at VAUXHALL GARDENS: and arrivals out of number there cannot fail of being, with such enticing weather for al-fresco amusements as we are now enjoying. The arrangements made by the never-failing-toprovide-liberally-for-the-public lessee, Mr. Wardell, are really gigantic. The Grand Square of St. Mark's, Venice, is the subject of this year's model in the Waterloo Ground; and when the names of the Messrs. Adams are mentioned as the artists, memory will recall their former efforts as a guarantee of the subject being well treated. The vocal corps has been considerably added to; and we are afraid to declare how many thousand "extra lamps" will "throw a light" upon the and festive scene, from the fear of understating the number by some 0,000's. In addition, there is a whisper that negociations have been pending that the whole surface of Ice bounding Wenham Lake may be reserved exclusively for these Gardens. Visions round us steal of fair dames and gallant cavaliers luxuriating to a degree perfectly unprecedented in mint-juleps and sherry-cobblers.

gay

THE FINE ARTS.

In the sporting department of the fine arts the Messrs. Fores, of Piccadilly, rank first among the London publishers. They have, during the last two or three years, given us a gallery of such subjects. Their "Coaching Recollections," their "Stable Scenes," their " Racing Scenes," their "British Stud," and other works of the kind, are a credit as well to the matters of which they treat as to those to whom we are indebted for the manner of their execution.

They have recently brought out a print of the celebrated Irish steeplechase mare, Brunette, by Harris, after a painting by Herring, senior. The name of the artist is guarantee of the truth and excellence of the portrait. Its production is worthy a place in Messrs. Fores' Gallery-we could not pay it a higher compliment.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

YACHTING.

At the monthly meeting of the members of the Royal Yacht Squadron, fifty guineas were voted for a monument, to be placed over the remains of the late Commodore, Mr. W. H. Harrison.

A Royal Welsh Yacht Club has been established at Caernarvon, under the patronage of her Majesty the Queen Dowager. The Lords of the Admiralty have granted the Club the blue ensign of her Majesty's

fleet, bearing in the fly thereof the Prince of Wales's plume, rising from a coronet, as the distinguishing device of the Club.

Vice-Commodore Hamborough, of the Ryde Club, has resigned his

flag.

The Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club is now established, but with two instead of three divisions, as at first contemplated: Whitby the "Northern," and Hull the "Southern Station." The Earl of Mulgrave for Commodore.

The Cottesmore country will be hunted next season by Henry George Greaves, Esq., who has purchased the Shropshire hounds, and engaged a whip from the Badsworth as huntsman.

The Mary-le-bone Cricket Club opened the season on Thursday, May 13th, at Cambridge, in a Match with that University. In consequence of several engaged in it being compelled to leave, only one innings each was played, at which period the gownsmen were in a majority of four

teen.

COMFORT FOR THE "SWEEPS."-In a Bow-street case two members of the Swan Derby club, held at Mr. Middleton's, Long-acre, applied to Mr. Henry for assistance to recover a "ticket" for Van Tromp, drawn for them, or one of them, and obtained in their names, without their authority, by another person, who sold it to a Mr. Barrow for £2. Mr. Henry said that he regarded Derby clubs as connected with gambling and horse-racing, and he could therefore give them no assistance. The applicants said that this was a case of fraud or robbery, and they thought it called for the interference of a magistrate. Mr. Henry thought otherwise, and said the law did not protect property acquired by gambling. The club must settle the matter amongst themselves. The applicants said the treasurer was of opinion that every prize must be given up to the holder of the ticket entitled to it, because the tickets were saleable, and the club was not competent to settle disputes as to the right of possession in the actual holder. They thought it hard that the magistrate would not interfere, and that they should be robbed with impunity. Mr. Henry could not help it. Surely these sporting-save the mark-societies will soon make head enough to attract the attention of the legislature. A more destructive innovation was, perhaps, never known nor permitted than that which encourages the petty tradesman to take odds, and the shopman or clerk to make up his book. How great the difference 't'wixt Tweedledum and Tweedledee when "hells" are routed out by stealth, and "sweeps" advertised in the broad light of day! Horseracing is a national sport, with a true aim and object; the sporting "sweep" one of the lowest kinds of gambling, without one redeeming feature connected with it.

STATE OF THE ODDS, &c.

THE SETTLING.-Everybody expected a good one, and nobody ever knew a worse. Why the give and take should have been anticipated as easy we cannot pretend to say. The winner, imprimis, was first favourite; then he was located in the most powerful stable of the day; and