14. 20. But where policemen keep the "O'Rourke! O'Rourke!" the Irish 16. The race began. grass shriek, The Baron earns no barren bread, The mudded For he has put on Garrick's Head, Was thickish and soft-hearted; The coats were squeezed, pass flew to pass, And then the horses started. 17. The clouds were still so very thick E'en of the Isle of Skye. 18. Hurrah! Away! The start is fair! 19. The telegraphs are sped to town And cry "Quick gold” to-day! We belong to the unpopular family of Tell truths, and would not flatter Apollo for his lyre."-ROB ROY. Novelty it is that lends a charm to matters mundane, for nothing palls upon the palate more than the toujours perdrix. And this applies to all alike-perhaps not in the same degrec, but still in the same nature. The reference it has to things theatrical may be pretty accurately guessed by the wearisome feeling engendered by witnessing the dull repetitions so often to be met with. The only wonder is that the managers of those theatres where this feeble sameness is painfully apparent should feel any surprise at lack of patronage. Look at the HAYMARKET and the ADELPHI, for instance; there you have seen for years the same comedy, the same farce, the same melodrama, with the same characters: the honest but poor lover, the rich rogue, the bullying adventurer, the wealthy and vulgar old father, with a "stuck-up" wife, and a daughter with pretty looks and a susceptible heart. So much for the comedy. In the melodrama there is the same amount of balderbash in the shape of sentiment, only with the difference of the characters receiving an addition in the shape of a very comic man, and his butt, together with an industrious, but unfortunate, servant, whose peace of mind is disturbed by a Ha! ha! villain who has gained a secret influence over the timid girl's father, through a weakness for beer and poaching which leads him into the tempter's hands. With such monotonous fare can any one in sober seriousness affect astonishment at the manager's pasteboard nightly superseding the public's money? If there be not any positive novelty at either of the Operas, at all times you are sure of listening to the work of some eminent composer treated scientifically by those whose talents entitle them to rank high in art, both vocal and instrumental. At HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE a committee of noblemen and gentlemen are providing ample entertainment for the subscribers, who have every reason to be satisfied with the direction. With Madame de la Grange in "Lucia di Lammermoor" and " Prova D'Un Opera Seria," Mdlle. Cruvelli in "Sonnambula," Norma," and "Ernani," and Rosati and Mdlle. Regina Forli (a pleasing acquisition) in ballet, an assurance is given of the proper feeling which actuates "the powers that be." 66 The most pleasing matter of contemplation of late has been the exquisite singing of Mario in "I Puritani" and "Il Barbiere"; thus at once boldly refuting "those prophets of the past," who foretold the loss of this great tenor's voice. To the great and brilliant reception of these operas THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA has also to number amongst its successes "Il Flauto Magico," which has met with even greater enthusiasm than on its production last season. Novelty after novelty has been brought forward at THE FRENCH PLAYS in constant succession, the last engagements having been those of Rose Cherri and Mons. Nuna, both exceedingly trutliful and clever in their impersonations. Still, however clever the former's and Lafont's acting in Brutus lache Cesar," it must be said that the rendering of the same characters by Mr. Charles Mathews and Madame Vestris in "Delicate Ground," at the LYCEUM, was more earnest, real, and pleasing. Ever on the qui vive to minister to the taste of the intelligent portion of society, Mr. Mitchell now enters fresh fields, by bringing forward for the first time in this country a company of German actors. This announcement of the performance of German Plays" at the ST. JAMES'S is replete with interest, there being an apparent anxiety to witness the representations of the chief actors of a country, which that it has a school of its own it is not too much to declare, after hearing those great dramatic vocalists, Staudigl, Formes, and Pischek. To the chief productions of Goethe, will be added some of the best works of Shakspeare, and an adaptation from Sheridan Knowle's "Love Chase." With good works and excellent illustrators, surely Mr. Mitchell is entitled to " 'the suf frages of the worthy and independent" members of society who wisely vote "Variety's the very spice of life." NOTES OF THE MONTH PAST. From the finish of the Epsom week closing up the month as well, we are denied our usual paper on the state of the market, and have so to include our racing memoranda amongst our more general notes of the month past. Imprimis, then, the sale of blood stock at Hyde Park, on Monday, the 10th, estimated Lord Lurgan's horses as follows: On the Monday succeeding, some drafts from the Duke of Bedford, at the under-mentioned rates of exchange :— Artist Cogniac Bedford On the same day, the Oakley Hunt horses were bought up, but their average, it will be seen, was not a high one : Cyclops 50 Oakley. 33 | Levi 17 On Monday, the 24th, Lord Spencer's yearlings were knocked down at the following good prices : .... GS. 325 165 155 63 Br. . by Cotherstone, out of Sequidilla (Mr. Jones).. Sister to Stilton, by Cotherssone, out of the Wryneck (Mr. Padwick).. 320 Br. c. by Cotherstone, out of Drogheda (Mr. Gully) B. f. by Cotherstone, out of Cloak (Captain Lane) B. c. by Cotherstone, out of Conscience (Mr. Jones) Br. c. by Cowl, out of Lady Gay Spanker (Mr. Stephens) Ch. c. by Cotherstone, out of Empress (Mr. Cooper) B. f. by Cotherstone out of Peeress (Mr. Harvey Coombe)..... B. f. by Cotherstone, dam by Sultan (Mr. Harvey Coombe) Ch. f. by Cotherstone, out of Sister to Ainderby (Mr. Armstrong) Br. f. by Cotherstone, out of Polydora (Mr. Groves).......... Captain Lowther has resigned his appointment as a Steward of the Jockey Club, and General Anson reigns in his stead. The disputed race at Lincoln has, at length, been decided in favour of Edward of York. The Willesden Stud Farm has fallen as the lot of Mr. A. Bulley, for £10,450. It ought not to be a bad bargain; and we believe Mr. Bulley, a gentleman well known to the frequenters of the Corner," intends to give the place every opportunity as a breeding establishment and general depôt of superior stock. The following curious proclamation has been made-why, or for what, "an early answer" may perhaps tell us : I CERTIFY that I sold a chesnut mare, called POISON, by Plenipotentiary, out of Arsenic. This mare, Poison, won the Oaks in 1843, and was afterwards sold by me, in 1844, to Mr. Rhodes, to go into Bohemia. GEORGE FORD, Esq., 8, Henrietta-street, Covent-garden. I therefore publish the mare, Poison, in Sir Joseph Hawley's stud, false. May 20th, 1852. R. RHODES, 21, Eastbourn-Mews. Scarcely less curious in its way is the following epitome of a young lady's accomplishments :-- A member of one of the leading clubs in London, and a master of fox-hounds, will back a young lady, for from two thousand to five thousand pounds, to ride against any other lady in England, as follows, viz., to ride from London to Birmingham in twelve hours, using two horses. To ride four miles over Newmarket Course. To ride a four mile steeple-chase over Hertfordshire; or to hunt the Hursley Foxhounds in October next, and to kill a fox with them. If all, or either of the above matches be accepted, the money will be found in the hands of B. Pinniger, Esq., Wilts and Dorset Bank, Chippenham, to whom all communications may be addressed. Although the nomination is so far "sealed up," we believe this fair "Champion of England" may be seen most mornings in Piccadilly and the parks, and really looking like doing nearly all her pastors and masters promise for her a rare seat, beautiful hand, and nerve enough to ride anything that will carry a side-saddle. If she does worry her fox with the Hursley, we shall, of course, have a sketch and engraving for the magazine. Having, at length, got on something like another theme, we may make a good retreat with the gratifying announcement that Mr. Conyers has made it up with his Essex friends, and that he will continue to hunt the country he has so long presided over. On Friday, the 21st ult., a number of the members of Christ's College, Cambridge, presented to R. N. Phillips, Esq., as a testimonial of their esteem and respect, a handsome silver cup. Mr. Phillips, when an undergraduate, several years ago, was captain of their boat club, and has done much to encourage the manly science of rowing, whilst he has, in various other ways, deservedly obtained the regard of his college and contemporaries. The cup is a large double-handled one, of elegant form, ornamented with fruit and flowers, in a rich style of chasing. On one side, the College arms are engraved, and on the other the following inscription: JOHN SCOTT'S.-West Australian, Break-o'-Day Boy, Umbriel, Hobby Horse, c. by Melbourne out of Giselle, Eaton, Honeydew, and Rosenfeld. JOHN DAY'S.-Erycthon, Straitjacket, Vanderdecken, Sir Walter, Cusworth (named by Col. Wyndham), The Lion, c. by Hetman Platoff out of Infidelity, The Adjutant, Vaultress, Ireland's Eye, Lascelles, Lamboy, Ga |