Royal Arch.

proposed a vote of thanks to the Visitors , and before the Chapter was closed a centenary jewel was presented to M . E . Comp . Lancaster , in recognition of eminent services rendered . A banquet followed , at whioh Col . Crease presided , the proceedings being interspersed with musio by tho string band of the Royal Marine Artillery .

PATRIOTIC CHAPTER , No . 51 .

THE installation meeting was held on Thursday , 8 th inst ., when there was a large attendance of members and visitors . The chief business of the evening was the installation of Principals , whioh was most ably performed by Comp . John J . C . Turner , the Companions installed being : —George Harrison M . E . Z ., T . G . Mills H ., J . T .

Bailey J . The Officers of the Chapter were invested as under : — Comps . T . J . Railing S . E ., R . D . Poppleton S . N ., A . S . B . Sparling P . S ., Thomas Rix Treasurer , Munson Janitor , A . Wright Assistant Janitor . At the conclusion of the ceremony a vote of thanks was passed to Comp . Tnrner , for the able way in which he had performed

the installation ceremonies , and a Committee was appointed to revise the bye-laws of the Chapter . Letters regretting their inability to attend were read , among others from the Grand Superintendent of the Province ( Comp . Fred A . Philbrick , Q . C , Grand Registrar ) , Comp . A . Lucking P . Z . 1000 , and others . Between 30 and 40

afterwards dined together at the Cnps Hotel , and during the evening the usual toasts were given and responded to . The greatest heartiness and unanimity characterised the whole proceedings , and the Companions greatly enjoyed a rich musical programme given by Bros . J . Brown , Franklin Clive , and E . Dalziel , with Comp . Turle Lee .

SUN , SQUARE AND COMPASSES CHAPTER , No . 119 .

THE annual meeting was held on Friday , 26 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Whitehaven . The Chapter was opened by Companion Cowman G . P . Sojourner Z ., assisted by his Officers . The minutes were read and confirmed , and Companion Paterson H . was presented and installed Z ., ° Gowan H ., and Johns J ., and the following

Companions were invested as Officers : —Companions Ray S . E ., Allinson S . N ., Bewlay Treasurer , Brakenbridge P . S ., Starkie First Assistant Sojourner , Tyson Second Assistant Sojourner , Smith and Shepherd Stewards , and Casson Janitor . The other Companions present were : —Barr , Dalrymple , Tyson , Atkinson , Hodgson , Moffatt

Roll , Atkinson , and Matthews . A vote of thanks was passed to Companions Barr and Tyson for the able manner in which they had installed the Principals . One candidate was proposed for exaltation , and with other general bnsiness the Chapter was closed , and at the invitation of Companion Paterson , the Companions subsequently dined together , and spent a very pleasant evening .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Princess ' s . —It is not often that a drama , on the first night of its production , gives so much satisfaction to an audience as Mr . Henry Pettitt's "Hands Across the Sea" did on Saturday last . Situation after situation was applauded to the echo , while the work of the different characters was followed with intense interest . Mr .

Pettitt has undoubtedly written a most stirring drama ; it starts happily , only to be checked , in the second act , by the villainy of the hero ' s enemies . The first two acts aro perfect ; then we have the one great fault of the piece . The audience aro asked to believe a man can break out of a cell while a dozen or twenty warders are

looking on . This demands a stretch of imagination , and the play would be improved if tho prison scene were amended . After this the play goes along in spirited style , the most effective incident occurring on board the ship , between husband and wife . Mr . Pettitt winds up his story with true melodramatic force , and it goes without

saying that the troubles of the hero and the heroine are speedily put an end to . The excitement is well sustained , the interest never flags for a moment . The play opens in Devonshire , where Jack Dudley , having come into a fortune , marries his sweetheart Lilian Melford , much to the displeasure of her cousin Robert Stillwood . Disappointed

at the loss of Lilian , Stillwood contrives a plan to ruin Dudley . He entices him to France , where Lilian ' s namo is compromised with that of a French Count . Stillwood then takes Dudley to a gambling hell ; here he meets the Count , whom he assaults . This brings about a quarrel , and on the Count leaving the

house he is waylaid and murdered , —by Stillwood and an accomplice , Dudley , coming out just afterwards , is accused of the ; crime , and eventually is sentenced to death . On the morning of his execution Dudley escapes from his warders into tho courtyard ; hero they are about to shoot him down , when Lilian arrives with a reprieve . This

situation , although far fetched , is very effective . We are now taken on board a liner , bound for Australia ; hero wo have all the principals on board , except Dudley , who has been sent to New Caledonia with a batch of convicts . Two castaways are picked up , aud on one of them being brought before tbe captain , we recognise Dudley . Husband aud

wife meet , but dare not acknowledge each other . A French Officer uow comes ou board and demands to see the mon picked up , for he is looking for two escaped convicts . Dudley denies that he is one , but Stillwood denounces him . Dudley claims the protection of tho British flag , and tho captain , knowing Lilian ' s story , refuses to givo him up .

On arriving at Sydney , villainy is soon overcome by Si ill wood ' s accomplice , De Lus-mc , denouncing him ; and afier a most powerful scene , in which Do Lussao is seized witii an apoplectic fit , ail is set right . As Jack Dudlev , Mr . Henry Neville waa seen at his best . He

put forth all his wonted earnestness , power , nnd manliness , aud throughout earned the sympathy of his audience . Miss Mary Rorke gave a most tender aud affectionate rendering of Lilian ; her scene on board ship being admirably conceived . Mr . W . L . Abingdou once

The Theatres, &C.

more made a careful aud painstaking villain , never for a moment flinching at the work he had undertaken . Mr . E . W . Garden , as a friend of Dudley , had plenty of scope for his comedy powers , and was cleverly backed by Miss Webster . These artistes helped materially to the success of the piece . Mrs Robert Pateman , as a

gamblingden tout , aroused the house to enthusiasm by his powerful acting , while Mr . Edmund Gurney made a capable captain . Mr . H . H . Morel 1 was amusing as a Chicago pork merchant , while Mr . Julian Cross rendered substantial aid as Lilian ' s father . Mr . Bucklaw was

not at ease as the French Count , but the smaller parts were in capable hands . The scenery is beautiful , the ship scene realising a perfect piece of stage-craft . There were calls for artistes and author at the close . "Hands Across the Sea" is a well written and well acted drama , and should prove attractive for many weeks to come .

Avenue . —It is scarcely matter to be wondered at the success achieved by "Nadgy " at this theatre when we take into consideration that the services of snch popular favourites as Mr Arthur Roberts and Mdlle . Tanoni have been secured . Whether the " first night" verdict will be sustained remains to be seen ; unquestionably ,

if it is , it will be more by the ability of the artistes than by any special merit in the work . " Nadgy " is described as a comio opera , in three acts ; musio by Chassaigne , libretto by Alfred Murray . The story is uninteresting and thin , and is one that has been used again and again in this character of entertainment . The book does

not give Mr . Roberts as much to do as Avenue audiences like , while the business of of Mdlle . Vanoni is almost identical with that shown at the Alhambra by this lady . As we have said , there is little in the plot . By order of the Emperor , De Rosen is to marry Etelka ( a Hungarian Princess ) . He , however , is in love with Nadgy ( leading

dancer in the opera ) , while Etelka is in love with Rasoczy ( a Hungarian patriot ) . They agree to marry , on the understanding that they take steps to proenre divorce the day after . This can be done by the parties taking advantage of a provision in the matrimonial code of Austria . After the marriage Do Rosen is struck with the

beauty of Etelka , and decides to postpone the divorce . Rakoczy hears of this , and , aided by his followers , secures Etelka , who is now identified as the missing Hungarian Princess . In the end De Rosen advances his claim to the hand of Etelka , and consoles himself with Nadgy , who has been true to him throughout . Of

course the author has introduced other characters into the atory , but they do not affect the plot . The music will hardly raise Chassaigne in the estimation of his admirers ; it is very poor . The most sue cessfnl numbers were " Now , list to me , " " An hour , an we may fly , " the "Tzig-a-zig" duet , and " Lightly , lightly . " Miss Ginlia Warwick

sang with marked effect as Etelka , and gained several deserved encores , while Mr . Joseph Tapley made the most of his opportunities to display his pure tenor voice . The talents of Mr . Alec Marsh were almost wasted on the small part of Rakoczy ; still his duets with Etelka were beautifully rendered . Mr . J . J . Dallas was very amusing

as the Margrave of BobrumkofF , and Miss Sallie Turner was good as the attendant on Etelka and wife of Pharagas . Of Mr . Arthur Roberts we can say nothing that would be fresh . He is as droll and

amusing as ever , and seems to thoroughly absorb the attention of his audience . He is ably backed by Mdlle . Vanoni , whose vivacious and spirited way seems eminently suited to the taste of her audience . Mr . L . Roche and the Misses Clara Graham and Florence Melville

scored in small parts . The opera is beautifully mounted and staged , while the orchestra , under the leadership of Mr . John Crook , is excellent . Mr . C . Hawtrey , having taken over the management of the Strand , will produce to-night ( Saturday ) a burlesque , in three acts , entitled

"Atalanta , " in which the following will appear : —Messrs . F . Wyatt , T . Sqnire , Fleming Norton , Rudolph Lewis , F . Wensley , W . F . Hawtrey ; the Misses Alma Stanley , Carlotta Zerbini , Florence Lancaster , Mary Glover , G . Baring , Nellie Bennett , Stella Leigh , S . Baring , and Marie Linden . The burlesque will be preceded by " A Highland Legacy . "

"The Lady of Lyons" will be revived at tho Shaftesbury to . night ( Saturday ) , with the following cast : —Pauline Deschappelles , Miss Wallis ; Madame Deschappelles , Miss Robertha Erskine ; Widow

Melnotte , Mrs . H . Leigh ; Claude Melnotte , Mr . Forbes Robertson ; Colonel Damas , Mr . Mackintosh ; Beauseant , Mr . Bassett Roe ; Glavis , Mr . Allen Thomas ; M . Deschappelles , Mr . Charles Arnold ; Gaspar , Mr . Matthew Brodie .

Playgoers in the north of London will be glad to hear that the conveniently situated Grand theatre , in the High-street , Islington , will be opened on Monday , the 26 th instant . It will be in the recollection of our readers that the Grand was destroyed by fire soon after Christmas last , but we are glad to say it has now been restored , with

all modern improvements , under tho supervision of Mr . Charles Willmotfc . The opening piece will bo " The Still Alarm , " with scenery and effects from tho Princess's . Mr . Charles Glenney will play the lead ; he will be supported by a strong company . Mr . H . A . Freeman will again undertake management in the front of the house .

M . Chanffat , a French gentleman , uow lies afc the Alexandra Palace in a trance or sleep , which commenced on Saturday , the 10 th insb ., at y . 30 a . m . Ho continues in fche samo state aud shows no signs of awakening . His pulse and fcemporafcnre are about normal . He is

kept in a warm room , and carefully tended , and is fed regularly with "Bovril . " He can bo visited by medical men and others between the hours of 10 and 4 daily . Every effort has been made to awaken tho patient but without success .

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