who have cause to be well satisfied with the enormous success of "Love's Sacrifices." "Wives as they were, and Maids as they are,' affords Mr. Webster's company excellent opportunity for full scope of their varied abilities; Mrs. Glover, Farren, Mrs. Nisbett, and Miss Julia Bennett, being the most conspicuous in the faithfulness of their portraitures in this old comedy. Farren's growing indistinctness of speech is much to be deplored. Wigan is completely out of his element: this gentleman, in Mrs. Inchbald's comedy, suffers greatly in comparison with his previous performances. We should like to see this clever actor provided with a suitable part: since his sojourn at this house the opportunities he has had of bringing his abilities into full play have been rare indeed. Keeley and his wife continue nightly to keep the audience in a perfect roar by their quaint oddities and drolleries.

The company of the Palais Royal will be imported in a few days by Mr. Mitchell; who is doing everything that can be accomplished by manager for his courtly subscribers to the FRENCH PLAYS. The pieces to be produced are of that light drawing-room sort of style, more calculated to entice people into a theatre than all your heavy dramas, that take some sixteen hours in their representation. Depend upon it, your play-goer would rather be amused by the continual sparkling mots and piquancy of a vaudeville than have the narcotic administered to him in the shape of Dumas's historical dramas.

The ST. JAMES'S THEATRE must be attended by the reader on some Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday, for the purpose of witnessing one of the most perfect pieces of natural magic ever yet attempted. We say, the reader must go to the St. James's, and see Robert Houdin; because, if we failed to urge any one who had not been present at one of these marvellous performances, we should ill perform our duties as honest chroniclers and well-wishers to the public. Henry, the Wizard of the North; Phillippe; and even the great Döbler himself, must one and all "hide their diminished heads," for here is one that surpasses, eclipses, and triumphs over them all, individually and collectively. Everything that is perfectly inconceivable this dealer in the magic art is capable of bringing to pass. He can extract maraschino, whiskey, rum, gin, brandy, and Hollands from one bottle; from a portfolio he can conjure bonnets, bootjacks, flowers, or even a bedstead; and other little devilries of similar lively description this mighty magician of the south makes no bones in enacting. Then, again, there is the offspring of this superhuman agent, whom he quietly extinguishes one moment, and who is the next moment reflecting a sardonic grin from one of the boxes in the body of the house. The easy self-possession of this extraordinary youth, who renders important aid in the performance of his sire's several transmogrifications, is somewhat great; and too much commendation cannot be awarded him for his effortless achievements. No one can properly appreciate the deep and wondrous mysteries of the occult art without paying a visit to Robert Houdin.

At ASTLEY'S, "Timour the Tartar" is in course of enactment; abounding in tournaments and all kinds of pageantry. There is "a most terrific combat" on "horse and foot," between the rival chieftains, Sanballat and Kerim; over which both warlike gentlemen take their time. If Mr. Batty would take our advice, he would utterly eschew the after-pieces, and in their stead substitute something new and striking in

the circle. He would find his treasury improved by imparting a variety to the entertainments.

Mr. Kerschener has met with only moderate success at the SURREY. At Whitsuntide it is his intention to introduce several novelties of a popular kind. His exertions, we trust, will meet with a proper support. VAUXHALL and CREMORNE, with the View of Constantinople of the former, and the new entrance by landing-pier of the latter, will find that patronage awarded to which their deserts entitle them.

The POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION is strong in its novelties of knowledge, and, what is more, the directors are determined to add to their attractions at Whitsuntide; for which extensive preparations are being made. BURFORD'S PANORAMA of PARIS deserves our tribute of praise for its pleasing accuracy.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

PRINCE ALBERT AND THE PRINCE OF WALES CRICKETERS.The admirers of the "noble game" will, without doubt, be gratified to hear that it is the intention of her gracious Majesty and her royal consort to have the Prince of Wales initiated in the "arts and mysteries" of the healthful and manly pastime of cricket, and it may be presumed that in the course of the season the "sire and the son" will be frequently seen entering the field "bat in hand," from the fact of Mr. Robert Dark, the cricket-bat, ball, &c., manufacturer, at Lord's Cricket Ground, having recently executed orders by "royal command." From the known celebrity of Mr. Dark, it will readily be believed that he executed the "commission" with which he was honoured with great taste and ability. A very handsomely-fitted up rosewood case, containing bats, balls, stumps, india-rubber gloves, and other " appurtenances," for both Prince Albert and the young prince, has been despatched to Buckingham Palace, and in the case were also drawings of the five positions at cricket. The whole met. with the entire approval of Prince Albert, who immediately commanded a warrant to be issued, appointing Mr. Dark bat-maker, &c., to his royal highness, an additional and unsolicited honour, for which Mr. Dark has expressed the liveliest feelings of gratitude.

The Jockey Club have decreed that in future no descriptions of the races run at Newmarket shall accompany the official returns. It is only within these few years that such innovations have been allowed, and the regulars are now to return to their primitive purity.

The trainers of England are getting up a fund to bear out Mr. Forth in his action as to the assumed lien on race-horses which were seized in his stable, though the owner, Mr. Worley, was indebted considerably to Mr. Forth at the time. John Scott heads the list, with a subscription of ten pounds.

DEATH OF HENRY VANSITTART, Esq.-This gentleman, who was a most liberal supporter of the turf, and an eminent breeder of bloodstock, died a few days ago at Eglinton Castle, whilst on a visit to

the Earl and Countess of Eglinton. Mr. Vansittart was the breeder of Darioletta, Galaor, Magawiska, Slight, Rubini, Sepoy, Raffle, Elisena, Van Tromp, De Witt, the Flying Dutchman, and other distinguished horses. He was in the sixty-fifth year of his age.

DEATH OF Mr. ETTY.-It is with the most sincere regret that we announce the death of this gentleman, which took place at Liverpool on Friday morning last, after a long and very trying illness. Mr. Etty was for many years clerk of the course at Manchester and Newton, and for the last three or four years was lessee of the Liverpool Race-course. In each capacity he had the rare fortune to see his efforts for the promotion of the interests of the meetings entrusted to his management crowned with the most complete success, and to win the good opinion of all who knew him. His private character requires no eulogium, it was above all praise.

Butler, for ten years huntsman to the Badsworth, is now out of commission, in consequence of a change in the management of these hounds. "Go where he may," says a correspondent of Bell's Life, "his experience with hounds, and his respectful and easy demeanour, must gain the good wishes and esteem of all fox-hunters; for a more honest, upright man, or better huntsman, does not exist.

OXFORD ANGLING SOCIETY.--The Oxford Angling Society, for the preservation of fish, has gone on most prosperously, considerable numbers of the followers of Izaak Walton having recently joined it, and the committee having added to their already-extensive fisheries that splendid portion of the Isis reaching from Freewater Stone, near Oxford, to the island at Kennington. If the stringent portions of the bye-laws are strictly enforced, the waters round Oxford will abound with fish of all descriptions, affording plenty of sport to the lovers of the rod and line during the approaching season.-Local Paper.

REMARKABLE LONGEVITY.-Mr. Sharp, farmer, Newton of Kiltearn, has in his possession a small Highland pony, whose history is certainly somewhat extraordinary. This beautiful little animal was first brought from Orkney to Cellardyke, in Fifeshire, in a fishing-boat. He was then full-grown, but his age was not known. He was purchased by Mr. Sharp's late father, by whom he was used as a riding pony for many years; next by his son, who is forty-five years younger; afterwards by his grandchildren, the youngest of whom is eighty-five years younger; and lastly by his great-granddaughter, who is one hundred and seven years younger. The most remarkable circumstance connected with this pony is, that, notwithstanding his extreme age, he is still lively and vigorous, and could trot at the rate of ten miles an hour, on a good road, with ease. The late Lord President Hope, in 1822, informed a friend that he had then a horse forty-six years old; still I question if this famous charger ever attained the age of little Donald, or performed the same services to four generations.-Inverness Courier.

END OF VOL. XVIII.

Printed by Joseph Rogerson, 24, Norfolk-street, Strand, London.

INDEX

THE EIGHTEENTH VOLUME

THE SPORTSMAN.

(NEW SERIES.)