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is excellent, and the arrangements have been well studied. As representations of nature, they may be pronounced equal to anything in this walk of art.

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No. 469. The Chase" (J. Ferneley). A large unseemly picture of three huntsmen and horses making a united effort to clear a threebarred half-broken hurdle gate. The artist has lost himself in attempting too much. There is no spirit in his design, nor action in his animals : the hounds are small, and out of all proportion with the horses; and the whole work is heavy in colour, and not admirably correct in drawing. When the catalogue announces that "360 pictures were returned from want of room," we wonder how it came there.

Here ends our sporting catalogue, and we regret to say that the general exhibition is by no means an attractive one: there is a great deficiency of first-rate works, and but few specimens of the rising school that are worthy of commendation. Among these, Bright, in landscape, is most conspicuous; and Goodall and Brandard in history and interiors. Lance, in fruit and still life, is exquisite; and Inskip and Lucas have some attractive portraits. Turner revels in all the incomprehensibility of prismatic colours: we think he must paint under the inluence of sunshine darting its rays through a lens of cut glass.

C. M. W.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS OF THE METROPOLIS.

From time immemorial Easter-tide has been the period for the director of the ITALIAN OPERA to concentrate all his forces. This present anniversary has been duly observed by Mr. Lumley, who has gathered together all the first operatic talent of the day; and brilliantly have his exertions, in catering for the public taste, been rewarded. "Il Puritani" was the opera chosen for the re-appearance of the stars, Grisi, Mario, and Lablache, all of whom shone with that lustre they are wont to do. The reception of these talented artistes was of the most hearty description-Grisi and Lablache being tumultuously greeted. Grisi's powerful organ appeared to impart the same thrilling delight to the habitues of this aristocratic establishment as in former seasons. Our obese friend is, we rejoice to say, in as fine voice as ever; and who dares gainsay that the vocal powers of Lablache cannot be surpassed? Neither must we omit our meed of praise to Mario: richly does he merit it, were it only for the delightful manner he gave "A te, o cara, amor." The manager has not brought forward any Terpsichorean novelties since the publication of our last number, but we trust ere long we shall be enabled to hail the appearance of Cerito and other ballet favourites.

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A Beggar on Horseback" continues its triumphant career at the HAYMARKET. Webster pourtrays the hero inimitably; and the Morecraft of Farren is a finished piece of acting, that well sustains the repu

tation of this talented artist. Mrs. Glover has a part which we think is hardly good enough for her; yet Job's comforter in this clever actress's hands receives all the finished point which celebrity has apportioned her. We must not forget to register a good word or two on behalf of Messrs. Brindal and Carle, who enact the characters of two servants under Morecraft to the very life; the former pourtraying the sneaking prompter of his fellow-servant, the half-willing tool of his wary coadjutor-a part, although certainly but little, yet well acted by Mr. Carle. The Easter novelty at this favourite house of entertainment is by the originator of the modern school of burlesque ; the name of Planchè will be a sufficient guarantee for a good modicum of pleasurable delight. "The Birds of Aristophanes" have been experimentalised upon by this gentleman, and that, too, right successfully; perhaps, judging from the tameness of an occasional auditory, the subject may be too classical to be justly appreciated by the multitude, although it is not problematical of gaining the hearty approval of the "judicious few." This amusing production differs entirely from the greater number of "burlesques" now-a-days paraded before the metropolitan audiences, there being infused something additional to paraphrasing the slang sayings of the house. As the Greek dramatist lashed the follies of the time in which he moved, so with Mr. Planchè, who satirizes the absurdities of the age we live in. Railway speculation receives its quietus, dabblers in scrip having allotted them several hard lines. The cold water cure is successfully performed on the excessive rage for building; in the subjoined a royal edifice is well played upon :

"A palace, of course, you must have for your king;
Nothing easier is 'neath the sun done;

Only, if you would build the right sort of a thing,
Don't look for the model in London."

The principal parts in this witty entertainment were sustained by Miss P. Horton, James Bland, and Hudson; all of whom acquitted themselves in a manner highly pleasing to the patrons of this well-managed establishment.

The FRENCH PLAYS continue to be fashionably attended. Her Majesty and Prince Albert paid a visit a few evenings since to witness the representation of "Une fille à Marier," and "Capitaine Roquefinette." In the former Mademoiselle Raoul was the chief attraction. The comedietta afforded an infinity of amusement.

The Ethiopians display their versatile abilities on the mornings now at the ST. JAMES's; and report states that Mr. Mitchell has no cause to complain of the state of the exchequer on those hilarious occasions.

On Easter Monday Mr. Batty liberally prepared a sumptuous dish at ASTLEY'S for the participation of the public, who flocked in shoals to feast on the dainties so amply provided. The first item on the bill of fare was "An original Asiatic and Equestrian Drama ;"yclept, "The Arab and his Steed; or, The Pearl of the Euphrates. Success attended this novelty, which is from the facile pen of that amusing dramatist, Mr. Leman Rede. A lengthened period has elapsed since this gentleman has written for the stage we would fain look upon the present production as the precursor of many others; for, in the present state of stage literature, ill can we spare the exertions of so able a dramatist. In "The Arab and his

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Steed," the interest does not for a moment flag; one scene of bustling incident succeeds another, the audience evincing, as the play proceeds, a growing interest in the fortunes of the heroes and heroines, both sentimental and humorous; the latter, as sustained by Barry, kept high Olympus in a positive state of " screamage;" the gods actually shrieking with laughter. Of the first appearances on this night we can favourably mention Miss Fielding, Messrs. Wallet and Dale; the last-named did not make any up-hill work of the many difficulties he had to encounter as the ill-used son of the desert." The dialogue is immeasurably beyond that generally appertaining to similar pieces; witticisms are now and then roared out, that astonishment is felt at one's auriculars being so pleasantly saluted from the boards at Astley's. The Scenes in the Circle were enlivened by the first appearance of the " Shaksperian Clown" (Mr. Wallet), who kept the whole house in one continual roar, from the quaintness of his sayings, the humour he imparted to them, and the excessive drollery of his subjects. This same artist afterwards enacted the part of Robin Roughead in the old (we differ from a contemporary, who is partial to "setting" others "to rights" in terming this a new entertainment) favourite farce of " Fortune's Frolic ;" and, from the highly creditable manner he essayed the character, we augur well of the position he will occupy at no very distant day on the London boards.

"Industry and Indolence," and "Peter Wilkins" were the holyday entertainments at the ADELPHI. The first is a monstrosity of purely French origin, so we are assured; for as to witnessing such an exhibition of maudlin inanity we positively could not. "Peter Wilkins" was "quite another thing;" that we did "assist" at, and truly gratified we were. The hero is personated by Miss Woolgar, who is attired in most becoming gear: the conception of the character was well carried out by this general favourite. Bedford's constant whining anent his blue-heyed Mary, was excessively droll. Munyard contributed his share to the extravaganza, which, it pleases us to mention, was perfectly successful.

Surprise took possession of us when the announcement was made that the OLYMPIC was to be again opened-the little temple where, when under the auspices of Madame Vestris, all the available talent of the day has been concentrated. Poor Liston! well do we remember his "I'll be your second ;" and his pourtrayal of the old stager, together with Charles Mathews's performance in Mr. Rede's clever production of "The Old and Young Stager." With these vivid remembrances, no wonder then that the present performances fail to put to the test the degree of strength of our risible muscles. The present lessee, Mr. Bolton, deserves credit for his good intentions; but a vast improvement would be effected by cutting down to about one-half the present length of the burlesque. His address should be of the multum in parvo character; the idea is decidedly good, and capable of being improved.

We have not space this month to particularise the various exhibitions ; to treat of the paintings of the SOCIETY OF BRITISH ARTISTS and THE NEW SOCIETY OF PAINTERS IN WATER COLOURS ; but we trust in our next to offer full justice, in addition to the above, to the undisputed attraction of the Oregon Territory at the POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.

348

STATE OF THE ODDS, &c.

We have really of late had so often to tell the old story of a dull month's work, that we were getting somewhat puzzled how to open ita hitch, however, of which the events of the last few weeks have, for the present, entirely relieved us. A "sensation" has, at length, been created on the matter-of-fact, sure-and-steady Derby of '46; once more has John Scott shown the power to put his foot on common calculation, and once more has the ring been roused into something like excitement. Last month we left the remains of the Great Northern Stable, with Brocardo, their long-chosen champion, in perhaps better odour than he had ever previously been; and now we find him giving way to a name scarcely heard of before-a beaten outsider, that, on the faith of a thrilling whisper, runs up from sixty to one to eleven to two! The rush upon this "nine-days' wonder" we hesitate not to say has never been surpassed, has never been made upon a less apparent foundation. The running of Scott's stable this season, if not absolutely bad, has certainly been below general expectation; and yet, in the face of all this, a private trial and a pocket full of money furnish the record for Tom Tulloch versus Sting at even odds." Brocardo naturally has suffered from this "hot," and seems now sinking as rapidly as this time last month we read him rising. Report says he will be kept for the Leger; though, for our own part-however the Two Thousand Guineas may come off to-morrow we are not quite so certain but he may figure as the Derby horse. Sting still holds his own, though the feeling of the month has, on the whole, been rather against him; while with Tibthorpe, The Traverser, Humdrum, and Fancy Boy, the effect has been decidedly favourable. Spithead, too, has come again in some force; Malcolm still finds a few friends willing to be on the safe side at forty to one; and Iago, on the negative merits of two triumphs in one day, drops down some twelve or fifteen points. Of the remainder on our list, all we can say is, that the pen may be drawn through Smuggler Bill and Lord Albemarle's lot in toto, and that if the winner is amongst the others, his party have, as yet, hardly heart to believe it.

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Public, or public-house, running gives the best clue to the greatest change in the now "early closing" business on the Chester Cup, the grand advance of Weatherbit being entirely due to his good form and place for the "Pewter" Plate at Epsom. That he may again run well we are much inclined to believe; but that he can run to win over the Chester Cup Course, we take as "quite another thing." The Stable and Co. are, however, as John Day's friends always are, full of confidence, and at one time had their horse indisputably first favourite; Sweetmeat evincing a tendency to totter, from which, though, he speedily recovered. Still the high place of first favourite has been more or less in abeyance; the Goodwood Stable just now

putting Best Bower once more into nomination, and backing him with a spirit that certainly gives him a claim to a fair share of any honour, real or ideal, connected with it. After these three we must take Vitula and Miss Burns-both of which have tried change of air, the former removing to Northleach, and the latter to Daneburyas engaging most support; and then descending to another remove, we may give the preference to Pedometer, Inheritress, the Magnet, St. Lawrence, and Glossy. Those three, "once upon a time" good favourites, Mermaid, Whinstone, and Hope, are absolutely friendless, and are inserted in our table more for mere form than any possible interest their names can now be supposed to have in the race. Farther we need not comment, but leave the interest to the issue, with the good old wish that the "best may win," and the full experience of rarely indeed but something of the best winning "the Coop." The "good out" against the "well in" we look once more for, any amount from a hat to hundred.

On the Oaks the fancy has been chiefly for Colonel Peel and Prussic Acid.

JOHN DAY, JUNIOR.-From the first we considered and spoke of the sentence on this unfortunate young man as unnecessarily severe; an opinion in which we believe we were supported by nearly all the sporting world; an attempt, however, to restore him to his former position has been very unfavourably met by the Stewards of the Jockey Club, viz., the Marquis of Exeter, Honourable Colonel Anson, and Lord George Bentinck, to whom, in the first place, it was submitted. The memorial presented was supported by every employer of the Day family, numbering, amongst others, Lord Palmerston; Lord John Fitzroy; Sir T. B. Mill, Bart.; Sir R. Pigot, Bart.; Messrs. Biggs, Wreford (senior and junior), and Gully. To each of whom Mr. Weatherby was directed to forward a copy of the following letter:

"The Stewards of the Jockey Club beg to acknowledge the receipt of the memorial which has been presented to them in behalf of John Day, jun. They regret extremely that a sense of duty prevents them from advising the members of the Jockey Club to rescind the sentence which has unavoidably been inflicted upon that individual, by which he is prevented from riding or from appearing upon any race course where the rules of the Jockey Club are in force; but having taken into consideration the anxiety which the gentlemen who have signed the memorial express upon the subject, as well as the unfortunate circumstances in which the Day family are at the present moment placed by the severe illness of John Day, sen., they beg to state that they do not wish to prevent any of the gentlemen who have signed the memorial, if they shall so think fit, from employing John Day, jun., in assisting to train their horses at Danebury, although they cannot consent to a remission of his punishment, until he shall have had an opportunity of proving, by his future behaviour, and by honest and upright conduct towards his employers, that he is heartily sorry for having betrayed the confidence of his former masters, and for having given wilful false evidence before the Stewards of the Jockey Club."

The Stewards, in fact, appear to think, in true Turf language, this "has come a little too soon;" as in fact, all things considered, so speedy a pardon would prove a bad precedent. For a time still, then, Young John must, by his good work and conduct in private, lay a second foundation for that public standing in his profession he so strangely forfeited.

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