Public Amusements.

orig inal feature . The vocal force is , in many respects , good , but the want of a singer of the calibre of Titiens , to give adequate weight and distinction to the higher class operas , now that Grisi has abdicated the throne she so long filled , is a palpable deficiency . Mr . William Beverley retains his post in the scenic department , assisted by Mr . Grieve and Mr . Telhin , and Mr . A . Harris also that of stage manager . Mdlle . Salvioni and Mdlle . Battalini rejoin as principal dancers .

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE . Mr . Mapleson , the new lessee of Her Majesty ' s Theatre , has put forth his prospectus . In the preamble to his catalogue of artists engaged and works to be performed , Mr . Mapleson most - emphatically expresses his deep sense of the onerous duties which , in becoming the lessee and manager of Her Majesty ' s Theatre , he has taken upon himself ; and further , with equal

force and earnestness , declares his determination to discharge those duties in the most satisfactory manner possible . He points to his brief managerial career last year at the Lyceum with exultation , and very reasonably asks the public to draw from that an inference favourable to his future endeavours . Mr . Mapleson ' s list of singers is so rich in novelty that our remarks upon it must necessarily be brief . Foremost among these stands Madlle . Titiens and Signor Giuglini , who , we need

scarcely say , are to he the great " stars" of the company . Next may he mentioned Madame Guerrabella ( a first-class soprano ) , Signor Gassier ( a capital baritone ) , Madame Lemaire ( an efficient contralto ) , and , in conclusion , those experienced and able performers of subordinate parts , Signor Soldi and Signor Castolli . Of the rest of the singers , numerous though they be , we know but very little . Some possess a Continental reputation , others seem to be as yet quite unknown to fame .

That the orchestral arrangements will be satisfactory the engagement of Signor Arditi as conductor should he a sufficient guarantee . AA e learn , too , that those admirable players , Messrs . H . Blagrove and H . Cooper , are to he the principal violins , and that the band will consist chiefly of members of the present Philarmonic orchestra . Among the " revivals " promised are Meyerbeer's" Roberto il Diavolo , " in which Mdlle . Titiens is to play Alice for the first time in England ;

Donizetti's " Linda di Chamounix , " with Guiglini also for the first time here as Carlo ; Mozart's " Le Nozze di Figaro , " with two debutantes , Madlle . Trebelli and Madlle . Kellog , respectively as Cherubino and Susanna , and' Madlle . Titiens as the Countess ( likewise for the first time in England ); and AVeher's *• Oberon , " which Mr . Benedict has been engaged expressly to conduct . The scenic artist will be Mr . Callcott ; the principal dancers . Madlle . Lamoureux , Madlle . Bialetti , Madlle . Morlacchi , and Signor Garbagnati ; the ballet-master , as in former years , H . Petit .

GALLERY OF ILLUSRATION . " The Family Legend , " which was to have been brought out last Monday is announced for tomorrow evening . AVe hearthat Mr . Tom Taylor , in his new entertainment , has cleverly catered for the tastes of the cosmopolitan multitude which is likly to patronise the gallery during the Exhibition , for among the " Illustrations " are those of English , Scotch , AVelsh , Irish ,

and French character , relieved by a variety of new ballads , concerted pieces , and selected music , calculated to display to the best abilities of Mr . and Mrs . German Reed and Mr . John Parry .

MADAME TUSSAUD'S The proprietor of this place has been indefatigable in his additions to his galleries and saloons . He has , within a very few days , placed a perfect resemblance , in the composition in which his artists produce their portraits , amongst the continental monarchs , of the present Prussian monarch . Those who have seen the king will recognise the felicity of the resemblance , and all foreigners , as well as Englishmen , will confess that the difference between him and his alter ego , is almost imperceptible .

The committee which was appointed some time since to consider if it were desirable and practicable to form a great Italian Exhibition at Naples , has decided and reported in favour of both those points , recommending next year as tbe period for carrying out the idea . It is to be hoped that this thing will really be done .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COUET . —Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess of Prussia ( Princess Royal ) left Windsor on Monday , and emharked at Gravesend on hoard the Victoria and Albert , Captain George Seymour , C . B ., on her return to the Continent . The embarkation was conducted in the most private manner . It is also expected that her Majesty will leave AVindsor Castle in the course of the week , and return to Osborne , where she will spend some time before proceeding to Balmoral .

IMPERIAL PAELIAMENT . —In the House of Lords on Thursday , 27 th ult ., the Duke of Argyll , in reply to a question from Lord Airlie , stated that the Government had received no information of the abolition of the licence tax in India . His Grace , however , added that the financial position of our Eastern empire was most hopeful , and that as soon as possible the Customs duties would he modified . Several hills were advanced a stage . On Friday Lord Dungannon called attention to the case

of three men who were recently sentenced to penal servitude for having taken part in a " trade outrage , " in the neighbourof Rotherham . The noble Lord submitted that the conviction was against the evidence , and urged the interposition of the Crown in behalf of the convicts . Lord Granville stated that the Judge who presided at the trial had represented to the Home Secretary that the newspaper reports of the case , upon which Lord Dungannon had apparentlbased his opinionwere

y , not quite accurate , and the noble Earl added that no petition in . favour of the men had yet been sent to the Home Office . The Lord Chancellor ' s Lunacy Bill was read a third time , aud passed ; and several other measures were advanced a stage . On Monday the Charitable Uses Act ( 1861 ) Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed ; the Australian Government Act Amendment Bill was read a second time ; while the Mutiny Bill passed through Committee . On

Tuesday the business transacted was unimportant . In the House of Commons on Thursday 27 th ult ., Sir George Bowyer called attention to another alleged Italian " proclamation , " and received a rebuke from Mr . Layard , who told the hon . Baronet that Her Majesty ' s Government was not responsible for articles in Italian newspapers or for the proclamations which the Italian authorities may have thought proper to issue . With

respect to the document referred toby the member for Dundalk , however , he had to state that it was drawn up hy an officer who was not in the service of Victor Emmanuel . It ha never been printed , and he was at a loss to imagine how it came into the hands of Sir George Bowyer . Sir F . Smith gave notice of his intention to ask the Government to-night , whether , in the face of the result of the engagement between the Confederate ironplated frigate Merrimac , and the Federal gunboat Monitor ,

they did not intend to suspend the construction of large armour-cased ships , until the question of plated gunboats had been fully considered . The adjourned debate on Mr . AValpole's motion was resumed hy Mr . AVhiteside , who strongly condemned the " revised code , " and appealed to the House to preserve a system which was " oue of the glories of Victoria's glorious reign . " Mr . Bernal Osborne defended the Government scheme , and complimemted Mr . Lowe on the courage with

which he had grappled with the existing cumbrous , costly , and unsatisfactory system . He commented in strong terms on the nature of the opposition with which the proposed reform had been met , and held up to ridicule the singular spectacle of « religious gentlemen who hated one another for the love of God in other things uniting with such wonderful unanimity to storm the Treasury . " Mr . Gladstone contened that | the present systemif fulldevelopedwould in a few years impose upon

, y , the country a charge of five millions ; and it was therefore the duty of the Government to check a "disgraceful scheme , " which was utterly condemned hy the royal Commissioners . Indeed , in his opinion , the revised code did not go far enough , and he hoped the House would know how to resist the pressure brought to hear upon it hy interested parties . The debate was continued by Mr . Adderley , Sir John _ Pakington , Mr . Barnes , and other members . On Friday , Sir James Elphinstone

addressed a question to the Secretary of the Admiralty , bearing upon the somewhat serious discussion which has arisen with reference to the capability of Portsmouth harbour to accommodate ships of war of the largest class . Lord Clarence Paget stated , in reply , that on the 17 th of the present month , the height of water on tho bar was 23 J- feet . The Warrior draws 26 i- feet ; but there was sufficient water on sixteen days in the month of February to admit of her entering OT leaving the