Public Amusements.

criticism . The leading man invariably tore every passion to the most dilapidated tatters , and the clowns always spoke an infinitely deal more than was set down for them . The last named defect , however , was lessened in gravity hy the fact that the text of the piece was uniformly so bad that no extemporised trash could he inferior to it . The new lessees have made many changes , and all in the right direction . They have gathered together a company of artists of all of whom it 11133- be fairly

said that while giving full effect to their delineation of the emotions which they havo to portray , they never o'erstep the modesty of nature . They pay careful attention to the mounting of their pieces , enriching them with scenic accessories at once picturesque in conception ancl excellent in execution , ancl thus affording large unci pure gratification to the eye . Last , not leastthey produce pieces which possess merit as intellectual

, efforts , and which , while tbey feed tbe appetite for sensation , are adorned by well-written dialogue , free from tuvgidity in its sentiment and from vulgarity in its humour . The latest novelty here is a new and original drama , " The Trail of Sin , " written by Bro . Henry Leslie , who as the author of " Adrieniie" is already favourably known to the playgoing

¦ public . Of his new piece we are happy to be able to speak with cordial commendation . It is thoroughly adapted to serve as an efficient agent in forwarding tho good work which the management lias taken in hand , for without aiming too high it reaches a level far above that to which the audience at this

house has been accustomed . Mr . Basil Potter , an actor of tried and sterling ability , gives a well-studied , unforced , and strongly emotional portraiture of Papa Maurice ; Mr . Frederick A illiers brings into rugged relief the brutal villany of Captain Blackrock , and the half-witted Gentleman Willy of Brownlow Hill is one of the best-conceived and most-happily elaborate character portraits we have seen for some time upon the stage . May Iledfern miht certainlhave found a better representative than

g y Miss Julia Lester , who lacks both genuine feeling and dramatic power ; hut the Euth Eeelfern of Miss Adelaide Boivering is an excellent impersonation , full of vigour and real emotion , and Miss Maria Daly as Matilda Ann worthily wins many a hearty laugh , assisted thereto by Mr . George Yarnold , an old favourite in these regions , as Superior James . Much of the scenery , painted by Mr . Frederick Fenton , is highly picturesque , and

conceived ancl executed with nflmivahie artistic skill . The rift - in the sea cliff in the first act andthe ruined chapel by moonlight in the second both merit cordial commendation , but the Mousetrap Rock in the third act , with the surging waves settling down gradually from tempestuous force into the swelling surge which follows a storm , is the culminating triumph . No moving sea picture of anything like equal excellence has been seen

since Mr . Clarkson Stanfield ' s famous sea scene in "Aeis ancl Galatea" at Drury Lane . " The Trail of Sin" is a great and legitimate success , and it was a real treat to watch the effect which it produced upon the dense throngs which filled every part of the capacious house .

EGYPTIAN HALL . Mr . Telbin ' s diorama of the Holy Land , shown at tho Haymarket Theatre when tho Prince of Wales ' s Eastern tour had given a new interest to Palestine and its neighbourhood , has been enlarged hy the addition of five new views , and is nonexhibited in the large room formerly occupied by the late Mr . Albert Smith . The pictures are from sketches made by

Mr . Telbin and his son , who travelled to the East for the express purpose , ancl comprise views of Cairo , Philoe , Jerusalem , the Holy Sepulchre , the river Jordan , tbe plain of Jericho , the Dead Sea , Nazareth , the Sea of Galilee , Mount Ilermon , Damascus , a Turkish Interior , Baalbee , Beyrout , Smyrna , unci Constantinople . A descriptive lecture is read by Mr . Arthur Matthisonand some of the views are illustrated b ieces of

, y p sacred music , sung by Miss Fosbroke and vocalists . The great talent of Mr . Telbin in producing works of this kind , tho truthfulness of his delineation , the richness of his colouring , his command of diorumic effects , are universally known ; and of all the moving picture that have been exhibited of late years this reminiscence of the East and tho views of Killarney shown at the Lyceum Theatre will hold the highest rank . That the

removal of the "Holy Land" from the Hayniarket to tbe Egyptian Hall will insure for it an increased amount of patronage there can bo no doubt , for many persons who take an especial interest in Scripture geography are precisely those who abstain from theatrical amusement .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COURT . —Her Majesty and family continue in Scotland , where they appear fully'to enjoy tlie beautiful scenery by which they are surrounded , paying frequent visits to the points of interest in the neighbourhood . The Prince of Wales , Prince of Hesse , and Prince Alfred amuse themselves with shooting and fishing . The Crown Prince ancl Princess of Prussia , with their children , left Potsdam on Monday evening , on a visit to this

country , and it is understood will forthwith proceed to Balmoral on a visit to the Queen . It is understood that the stay in England of their Eoyal Highnesses will be of some duration . It is also intimated that the Prince and Princess of AVales are about to leave Abergeldie , as the Princess is anxious to see horhrother before he goes to take possession of the Greek throne .

HOJIE NEWS . —The health of London has settled down toahout the average point . The ten years' average of mortality for the last week is 1240 ; the actual number for the week . 1233 , being seven below the average . Infant mortality- is , however , on tlie increase , the deaths from scarlatina having risen to 148 in the course of last week . The births for the week did '

not reach more than 1801 , which is 79 below the ten years' " average . On the 19 th ult . there were 139 , 865 persons receiving parochial relief in the cotton districts . This shows a decrease , as compared with the returns of the previous week , of 2 , 115 , and of 19 , 000 as compared with those of tho corresponding week in 1862 . Prince Napoleon has arrived in London .

The object of his visit—whether it is of a political or a private nature—is not known . The text of the letter in which Mr . Mason notified to Lord Russell tho termination of the Confederate mission to England has been made public . Mr . Mason , of course , acted under instructions from Eichmond , and wo learn from the despatch directing him to withdraw from London ,

that the main complaint against her Majesty's Government is , that it " has determined to decline the overtures made for establishing , by treaty , friendly relations" between this country ancl the Southern States . In this state of things , President Davis considers that his envoy ' s continued residence in London would be " neither conducive to tho interests nor consistent with

the dignity" of the Confederate Government . Tho fact is , Mr . Mason has never been recognised in any way by Lord Eussell , and he now retires to Paris , where his colleague , Mr . Slidell , enjoys free access to the Emperor and his Ministers . The-Index—the Confederate organ in this country—points out that " Earl Russell has now succeeded in establishing absolute

noniiitercourse with the Confederate States , because we know through the press , that of the three British Consuls who remained in the Southern States , Mr . Bunch at Charleston and Mr . M'Gee at Mobile , were recalled by this Government ; and Mr . Moore , at Eichmond , was dismissed by the Confederate-Government for contumacy . " The Bishop of Oxford has

delivered an interesting speech on local examinations and university training . His lordship , it will be seen , attaches great importance to these examinations , in connection not only with the discipline of the pupils , but with the status of the masters and the subsequent University career . Lord Russell , who has for some weeks past been residing at

Meikleour , in Perthshire , with his family , was on Saturday entertained at a banquet by tbe tenantry on the estate . The dinner was given at the Town Hal ! of Blairgowrie , and was preceded by the presentation of two addressess—one from the people of Blairgowrie and the other from the Meikleour tenantry . At the banquet , the noble Earl , in responding to the toast of his health , reviewed at some length the foreign policy of her Majesty's Government . Referring to tlie Polish question ba